Secondary Author(s)

Chasar, Dave; Moyer, Neil; Chandra, Subrato

Report Number

FSEC-PF-370-02

URL

http://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FSEC-PF-370-02.pdf

Keywords

Cooling; Buildings; Manufactured Houses; HVAC; Ventilation; Ducts, Duct repair; Ventilation modifications; Manufactured houses; Cooling energy; Moisture control; Air conditioning units; Energy savings; Humid climate

Abstract

Two nearly identical houses situated next to each other in Bossier City, Louisiana were studied in an effort to better understand moisture and cooling energy related problems in manufactured houses with low thermostat set-points during the cooling season. By design, the major difference between houses was the type of air conditioning units. House A had a standard split air conditioner and House B had a two-speed split air conditioner.

In an effort to make the buildings more similar, the building airtightness was adjusted until it was the same in each house, and duct leaks were sealed so that the ducts were tight and there was equal tightness in both houses. A ventilation system was also added at the same time of duct repair. Duct repair and the ventilation modifications resulted in significant impacts on the cooling energy, temperature, relative humidity, and building pressures. Cooling energy decreased 37% in House A and 18% in House B, while the floor space dewpoint increased significantly. It is estimated that 35 % savings was due solely to duct repair in House A and 17% in House B. The primary cause of House A savings being twice House B is attributed to House A operating at nearly twice the capacity most of the time and had more duct leakage repaired. This resulted in higher system pressures and therefore greater duct leakage than in House B. Before building modifications, House A used 15.4 kWh per day (32%) more than House B and 3.4 kWh per day (11%) more after modifications. A method of characterizing interstitial spaces using dewpoint measurement is presented and shows that the belly space became 2.6 times more like outdoor conditions after repairs in House A and 2.0 times more in House B.

Date Published

5-15-2002

Identifiers

576

Notes

Reference Publication: Withers, C., Chasar, D., Moyer, N., and Chandra, S. "Performance and Impact from Duct Repair and Ventilation Modifications of Two Newly Constructed Manufactured Houses Located in a Hot and Humid Climate", Thirteenth Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates, May 20­22, 2002 Houston, Texas.

Subjects

Air conditioning; Dwellings--Energy conservation; Buildings--Environmental engineering; Humidity--Control; Energy consumption; Building fittings

Local Subjects

Buildings - Cooling; Buildings - Ducts; Buildings - HVAC; Buildings - Manufactured Houses; Buildings - Ventilation

Type

Text; Document

Contributor (Linked Data)

Chasar, Dave [LC]

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

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Rights Statement

In Copyright