Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena
Indoor ice rink arenas are among the foremost consumers of energy within building sector due to their exclusive indoor conditions. A single ice rink arena may consume energy of up to 3500 MWh annually, indicating the potential for energy saving. The cooling effect of the ice pad, which is the main s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/4/693 |
| _version_ | 1811299548250767360 |
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| author | Mehdi Taebnia Sander Toomla Lauri Leppä Jarek Kurnitski |
| author_facet | Mehdi Taebnia Sander Toomla Lauri Leppä Jarek Kurnitski |
| author_sort | Mehdi Taebnia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indoor ice rink arenas are among the foremost consumers of energy within building sector due to their exclusive indoor conditions. A single ice rink arena may consume energy of up to 3500 MWh annually, indicating the potential for energy saving. The cooling effect of the ice pad, which is the main source for heat loss, causes a vertical indoor air temperature gradient. The objective of the present study is twofold: (i) to study vertical temperature stratification of indoor air, and how it impacts on heat load toward the ice pad; (ii) to investigate the energy performance of air handling units (AHU), as well as the effects of various AHU layouts on ice rinks’ energy consumption. To this end, six AHU configurations with different air-distribution solutions are presented, based on existing arenas in Finland. The results of the study verify that cooling energy demand can significantly be reduced by 38 percent if indoor temperature gradient approaches 1 °C/m. This is implemented through air distribution solutions. Moreover, the cooling energy demand for dehumidification is decreased to 59.5 percent through precisely planning the AHU layout, particularly at the cooling coil and heat recovery sections. The study reveals that a more customized air distribution results in less stratified indoor air temperature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:37:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b86ebe063664b71962bb6a923112b81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:37:29Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b86ebe063664b71962bb6a923112b812022-12-22T02:57:50ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-02-0112469310.3390/en12040693en12040693Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink ArenaMehdi Taebnia0Sander Toomla1Lauri Leppä2Jarek Kurnitski3Aalto University, Department of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 12100, 00076 Aalto, FinlandGranlund Consulting Oy, Malminkaari 21, PL 59, 00701 Helsinki, FinlandLeanheat Oy, Hiomotie 10, FI-00380 Helsinki, FinlandAalto University, Department of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 12100, 00076 Aalto, FinlandIndoor ice rink arenas are among the foremost consumers of energy within building sector due to their exclusive indoor conditions. A single ice rink arena may consume energy of up to 3500 MWh annually, indicating the potential for energy saving. The cooling effect of the ice pad, which is the main source for heat loss, causes a vertical indoor air temperature gradient. The objective of the present study is twofold: (i) to study vertical temperature stratification of indoor air, and how it impacts on heat load toward the ice pad; (ii) to investigate the energy performance of air handling units (AHU), as well as the effects of various AHU layouts on ice rinks’ energy consumption. To this end, six AHU configurations with different air-distribution solutions are presented, based on existing arenas in Finland. The results of the study verify that cooling energy demand can significantly be reduced by 38 percent if indoor temperature gradient approaches 1 °C/m. This is implemented through air distribution solutions. Moreover, the cooling energy demand for dehumidification is decreased to 59.5 percent through precisely planning the AHU layout, particularly at the cooling coil and heat recovery sections. The study reveals that a more customized air distribution results in less stratified indoor air temperature.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/4/693ice rinksair distribution solutionsindoor air temperature gradientair handling unit configurationbuilding energy efficiencybuilding performance simulationenergy and HVAC-systems in buildings |
| spellingShingle | Mehdi Taebnia Sander Toomla Lauri Leppä Jarek Kurnitski Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena Energies ice rinks air distribution solutions indoor air temperature gradient air handling unit configuration building energy efficiency building performance simulation energy and HVAC-systems in buildings |
| title | Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena |
| title_full | Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena |
| title_fullStr | Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena |
| title_short | Air Distribution and Air Handling Unit Configuration Effects on Energy Performance in an Air-Heated Ice Rink Arena |
| title_sort | air distribution and air handling unit configuration effects on energy performance in an air heated ice rink arena |
| topic | ice rinks air distribution solutions indoor air temperature gradient air handling unit configuration building energy efficiency building performance simulation energy and HVAC-systems in buildings |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/4/693 |
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