PROJECT PROPOSAL
Orginal Proposal:
Revised Proposal:
A brief description of the mechanical proposal including the additional breadth topics are shown below. For the full analysis, please click the PDF link above.
Mechanical Depth
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF), also referred to as variable refrigerant volume (VRV), is the mechanical system being proposed to replace THEARC III’s current VAV system. In VRF systems heat is not transferred from a space by circulating air through a building, but instead heat is transferred to or from the space directly. VRFs are inherently more sophisticated in terms of having multiple compressor, evaporators and complex oil and refrigerant management control systems.
This option is marketed as highly efficient due to the refrigerants having higher heat transfer rate than water as well as optimizing energy in mixed load scenarios, where part of the load is heating and part cooling, an apartment complex is likely to have a fairly consistent heating or cooling based on the time of year. It does result in large amounts of piping per floor with the tradeoff of having significantly less ductwork.
The VRF system consists of outdoor units, indoor terminal units, and a DOAS unit for ventilation. For each zone there is an indoor unit that is connected to the outdoor unit with a three pipe loop of refrigerant line that allows the system to perform both heating and cooling for different zones simultaneously.
Structural Breadth
The potential changes to the mechanical system require different mechanical equipment that immensely alter the structural loads of THEARC III. Since the proposed VRF system requires DOAS, outdoor, and indoor units a structural analysis can determine if the current structural system is deemed safe for the occupants. Also, it could be finically beneficial to alter the structural system with the new loads.
Electrical Breadth
Just like the structural system, the potential changes in mechanical equipment can also vastly effect the electrical loads of THEARC III. An improper electrical design can lead to safety hazards and can cause necessary equipment to shut off. This electrical analysis involves reorganizing the building's distribution panels, and includes the resizing of feeders, circuit breakers, and associated electrical equipment as necessary. Performing the electrical analysis can allocate the necessary electrical loads for each equipment, and allowing the equipment to operate most efficiently.