The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Kim D Pressnail - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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testing and simulation of a low temperature air source heat pump operating in a thermal Buffer Zone
Energy and Buildings, 2014Co-Authors: Marianne F Touchie, Kim D PressnailAbstract:Abstract Air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) are commonly used in temperate climates throughout Europe and Asia to provide energy efficient heating and cooling. However, ASHPs have not been widely adopted for heating in colder climates because the coefficient of performance (COP) is lower when outdoor temperatures are colder. While many researchers are working on improving the cold-temperature performance of ASHPs by altering the design of the equipment, this work examines an innovative way to improve performance by operating an existing ‘off-the-shelf’ ASHP within a thermal Buffer Zone. This paper shows that operating an ASHP in a thermal Buffer Zone (TBZ) created by an enclosed balcony space can improve the COP in cold temperatures. An ASHP operating in a TBZ was tested in a climate chamber where the performance was monitored under a variety of climatic conditions. The temperature drawdown of the TBZ and the associated impact on the COP were observed. The TBZ solar heat gain rates required to improve the COP were identified for a range of exterior temperatures. Then, a suite-based energy model was developed and calibrated to simulate the performance of the ASHP operating in the TBZ. The model provided a reasonable prediction of the ASHP performance below 10 °C.
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more sustainable masonry facades preheating ventilation air using a dynamic Buffer Zone
Journal of Building Physics, 2010Co-Authors: Russell Richman, C Cianfrone, Kim D PressnailAbstract:During sunny conditions, surface temperatures on masonry facades can rise to over 40°C above the ambient temperatures. Conventional wall designs minimize the benefits of this solar heat through the use of thermal insulation. However, air that is drawn from the outdoors, between the facade and sheathing, can be used to recover heat from the masonry. The system, which utilizes a dynamic Buffer Zone (DBZ), acts as a solar air collector. This system can provide an effective way to preheat ventilation air at little to no extra cost, while not compromising the architectural features of the masonry wall system. A numerical model was developed to predict the amount of heat recovery possible using a DBZ. The numerical model was verified by comparing results with a commercial computational fluid dynamics software package and by conducting laboratory experiments. Preliminary results indicate that the DBZ as a solar air collector can achieve as high as 33% daily solar efficiency and seasonal solar efficiencies of up ...
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quantifying and predicting performance of the solar dynamic Buffer Zone sdbz curtain wall through experimentation and numerical modeling
Energy and Buildings, 2010Co-Authors: Russell Richman, Kim D PressnailAbstract:Abstract The recent rise in the environmental and economic costs of energy demands a need to design and build more sustainable building systems. Curtain wall assemblies show great promise—the spandrel panels within them can be natural solar collectors. By using a solar dynamic Buffer Zone (SDBZ) in the spandrel cavity, solar energy can be efficiently gathered using the movement of air. There is a need for a numerical model capable of predicting performance of this system. This paper presents the quantification of a prototype SDBZ curtain wall system through experimental testing in a laboratory environment. Results from the experimental testing were used to validate a one-dimensional numerical model of the prototype. This research shows a SDBZ curtain wall system as an effective means of reducing building heating energy consumption. The numerical model showed good correlation with experimental results in the expected operating range of the system. Given the lack of published literature for similar systems, this research acts to validate a simple, innovative approach to collect solar energy that would otherwise be lost to the exterior using already existing components within a curtain wall. This research shows the SDBZ curtain wall has the potential to act as a significant solar collector.
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a more sustainable curtain wall system analytical modeling of the solar dynamic Buffer Zone sdbz curtain wall
Building and Environment, 2009Co-Authors: R C Richman, Kim D PressnailAbstract:Abstract Given the increases in both the environmental and economic costs of energy, there is a need to design and build more sustainable and low-energy building systems now. Curtain wall assemblies are engineered wall assemblies that are used widely in both high-rise as well as low-rise construction. These assemblies show great promise—with the minimal modification outlined in this paper they can be built better now. Often ignored, spandrel panels that comprise a part of curtain wall assemblies can be natural solar collectors. By using a new, simple, low-cost method such as a solar dynamic Buffer Zone (SDBZ), solar energy can be efficiently gathered or excluded using the movement of air. Such a method can be used in both retrofit as well as new construction. This paper will introduce and outline a proposed SDBZ curtain wall system and present the results of analytical modelling. Using these results, a SDBZ system will be shown to be a more sustainable option for traditional curtain wall assemblies.
Russell Richman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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more sustainable masonry facades preheating ventilation air using a dynamic Buffer Zone
Journal of Building Physics, 2010Co-Authors: Russell Richman, C Cianfrone, Kim D PressnailAbstract:During sunny conditions, surface temperatures on masonry facades can rise to over 40°C above the ambient temperatures. Conventional wall designs minimize the benefits of this solar heat through the use of thermal insulation. However, air that is drawn from the outdoors, between the facade and sheathing, can be used to recover heat from the masonry. The system, which utilizes a dynamic Buffer Zone (DBZ), acts as a solar air collector. This system can provide an effective way to preheat ventilation air at little to no extra cost, while not compromising the architectural features of the masonry wall system. A numerical model was developed to predict the amount of heat recovery possible using a DBZ. The numerical model was verified by comparing results with a commercial computational fluid dynamics software package and by conducting laboratory experiments. Preliminary results indicate that the DBZ as a solar air collector can achieve as high as 33% daily solar efficiency and seasonal solar efficiencies of up ...
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quantifying and predicting performance of the solar dynamic Buffer Zone sdbz curtain wall through experimentation and numerical modeling
Energy and Buildings, 2010Co-Authors: Russell Richman, Kim D PressnailAbstract:Abstract The recent rise in the environmental and economic costs of energy demands a need to design and build more sustainable building systems. Curtain wall assemblies show great promise—the spandrel panels within them can be natural solar collectors. By using a solar dynamic Buffer Zone (SDBZ) in the spandrel cavity, solar energy can be efficiently gathered using the movement of air. There is a need for a numerical model capable of predicting performance of this system. This paper presents the quantification of a prototype SDBZ curtain wall system through experimental testing in a laboratory environment. Results from the experimental testing were used to validate a one-dimensional numerical model of the prototype. This research shows a SDBZ curtain wall system as an effective means of reducing building heating energy consumption. The numerical model showed good correlation with experimental results in the expected operating range of the system. Given the lack of published literature for similar systems, this research acts to validate a simple, innovative approach to collect solar energy that would otherwise be lost to the exterior using already existing components within a curtain wall. This research shows the SDBZ curtain wall has the potential to act as a significant solar collector.
R C Richman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a more sustainable curtain wall system analytical modeling of the solar dynamic Buffer Zone sdbz curtain wall
Building and Environment, 2009Co-Authors: R C Richman, Kim D PressnailAbstract:Abstract Given the increases in both the environmental and economic costs of energy, there is a need to design and build more sustainable and low-energy building systems now. Curtain wall assemblies are engineered wall assemblies that are used widely in both high-rise as well as low-rise construction. These assemblies show great promise—with the minimal modification outlined in this paper they can be built better now. Often ignored, spandrel panels that comprise a part of curtain wall assemblies can be natural solar collectors. By using a new, simple, low-cost method such as a solar dynamic Buffer Zone (SDBZ), solar energy can be efficiently gathered or excluded using the movement of air. Such a method can be used in both retrofit as well as new construction. This paper will introduce and outline a proposed SDBZ curtain wall system and present the results of analytical modelling. Using these results, a SDBZ system will be shown to be a more sustainable option for traditional curtain wall assemblies.
Sanjay K Nepal - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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distributing conservation incentives in the Buffer Zone of chitwan national park nepal
Environmental Conservation, 2008Co-Authors: Arian Spiteri, Sanjay K NepalAbstract:Since the late 1980s, biodiversity conservation efforts have expanded to incorporate delivering social and economic benefits to communities nearby or within protected areas. Benefits can generate incentives to encourage conservation support; however, such incentive-based programmes (IBPs) have been criticized owing to their inability to provide equal and equitable distribution of benefits. This research examines the distribution of IBPs in the Buffer Zone of Nepal's Chitwan National Park (CNP). Questionnaire interview data indicate the livelihoods of Buffer Zone residents remain strained by conservation activities. While benefits under IBPs are recognized by the residents, villages distant from the main tourist entry points to the park where costs associated with conservation are highest recognize few benefits. An individual's level of participation in tourism also affects the benefits received, with those directly employed in tourism receiving the most benefit. Despite the discrepancy in benefit distribution between villages and between levels of involvement in tourism, CNP is making progress in distributing benefits beyond villages where tourism is concentrated. The main IBP flaw in CNP is a limited ability to replicate benefits throughout the Buffer Zone, providing similar levels of benefit to all villages.
Thorsten Treue - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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beyond Buffer Zone protection a comparative study of park and Buffer Zone products importance to villagers living inside royal chitwan national park and to villagers living in its Buffer Zone
Journal of Environmental Management, 2006Co-Authors: Steffen Straede, Thorsten TreueAbstract:Even after 30 years of strict de jure protection, today's de facto extraction of products from Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) and their great economic importance to local households suggests that this reality should be explicitly internalised in managing this world heritage park. Several studies have quantified local people's use of protected areas and estimated the value of such areas to them. However, few studies incorporate economic analyses to investigate the effect of management interventions on local communities' resource use and collection behaviour. In Nepal, Buffer Zones and especially Buffer Zone community forestry are seen as means to define and demarcate places, where local people may legally extract goods that are either identical to or relevant substitutes for products that are collected in protected areas. The intention is to resolve park-people conflicts over resource use. This article presents the findings of an in-depth study of the importance of natural resources to the livelihoods of 18 households. One village was located inside RCNP with no realistic alternatives to Park resources, while the other is located in the Buffer Zone with equal distance to the Park, a national forest and their community forest. For each household, the collection of products, allocation of time, and purchase and sale of goods were recorded daily through 12 consecutive months and economic values were calculated on the basis of local market prices and recorded quantities. The study shows that products from RCNP are of great importance to the livelihoods of local people. Furthermore, we find that products collected in the national forest substitute products from the Park, while the substitution effect of the community forest is small. Accordingly, the study illustrates that, irrespective of Buffer Zone community forestry, there is still a gap between local people's need for supplementing natural resources and their rights to satisfy them on a legal basis, which is likely to be unsustainable in the longer term. This calls for a thorough evaluation of actual park-people relations and how these may be improved through local participation that goes beyond the current form of Buffer Zone community forestry and the admitted 7-14 annual days of open access grass cutting within the park.
