Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
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Item Analysis of energy and savings of using ground loop or steam to change temperature of the bulding heat pump loop in Norm Asbjornson Hall(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2023) Kuikel, Shraddha; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Kevin AmendeThe need for efficient and sustainable environmental conditioning systems in buildings has become increasingly important in the face of rising energy costs and environmental concerns. This thesis aims to assess the optimization of the control logic to maximize energy savings and costs associated with utilizing ground loop or steam to modify the temperature of a heat pump loop in ground source heat pumps (GSHP) in Norm Asbjornson Hall (NAH) building at Montana State University (MSU). The study begins by providing a comprehensive review of existing literature on GSHP systems, their working principles, and the various methods employed to alter the temperature of the heat pump loop. The research methodology involves determining the conditions under which it is economically viable to operate ground loops and/or a steam heat exchanger to maintain the heat pump loop temperature within a set operating range. This is done by deriving an equation that utilizes the coefficient of performance (COP) and entering water temperature (EWT) of the heat pump loop. Energy and cost analysis is then conducted to assess the energy efficiencies for different cases. The findings reveal that both steam and ground loops can effectively alter the temperature of heat pump loops, providing enhanced temperature control and increased energy efficiency. The analysis shows that each strategy does have important financial and environmental implications, nevertheless. Due to the equipment, infrastructure, and operational expenditures, steam injection is primarily utilized to raise the loop's temperature for heating mode only, and at extreme situations when the ground loop cannot provide enough energy to maintain the heat pump loop temperatures. However, compared to steam injection, ground loops, which can be used for both heating or cooling, offer significant energy savings and lower long-term maintenance costs, albeit needing a sizable initial investment. In summary, the thesis explores how to optimize control logic to save energy and costs using ground loop or steam to adjust building heat pump loop temperature. The study evaluates energy, cost, and environmental impact of the proposed control logic optimization approach. The findings aim to provide insights into informed decision-making regarding the adoption of this alternative method.Item Efficient energy modeling : a low carbon source energy assessment of proposed building interconnections based on emerging market modeling tools(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2014) Talbert, Joshua William; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Kevin AmendeBuilding energy consumption studies based on whole building energy consumption modeling (Energy Modeling) are not widely applied for performance planning and assessment. The origins of energy modeling as a design resource extend back almost 50 years, but recent developments in computing power and international attention to green house gas emission reduction has brought the benefits of energy modeling to the forefront of building designers, managers, and policy makers. The research herein provides a two-fold benefit to the Montana State University and energy modeling communities by providing energy assessment information and proving the efficacy of modern energy modeling tools currently under development. The procedure followed in this research proves that effective energy modeling can be completed with a significant reduction in the time resource required by harnessing the new energy modeling tools and methods. The University also gains ownership of valuable assessment tools for future application towards energy upgrades, building maintenance, and capital expenditure decisions. Features employed in this research include photographic based model development, model calibration, and proposed system component assessment. The University, based on its need for information about the carbon footprint of campus buildings, commissioned this research through Facilities Services. Modeling results support an overall reduction of campus building related green house gas emissions and prove that emerging energy modeling tools can significantly reduce the time spent on accurate model development.Item Energy expenditure analysis of wilderness backpacking participants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2014) Chumbley, Stewart Perry; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wade G. HillEnergy balance during multiday remote backpacking has not been sufficiently studied among general populations. Activities such as hiking that are conducted under a fixed energy input or rations and can result in an energy deficit in the body. Continued energy deficit can result in a myriad of medical problems such as injury, muscle cramping, depression, dehydration, and reduced coordination, which can lead to collapse, hypoglycemia, energy electrolyte imbalance and depressed immune function. The purpose of this study is to define the energy expenditure balance among a sample of participants engaging in strenuous outdoor activities. Anthropomorphic, resting metabolic rate and body mass index measurements were taken pre and post course. Course diet logs were taken as well as trip route logs, which included kilometers traveled as well as meters climbed in elevation. Energy expenditure was calculated using distance traveled and climbed and resting metabolic rate. Energy intake was calculated from diet logs. Results suggest that subjects in the study operated in an overall energy surplus but significant differences over the 7-days course were found when comparing energy balance day by day. A repeated measure ANOVA (actual and results) showed significant differences in energy balance over the course of the seven days. Post-hoc analysis suggested energy balance deficits differed significantly between day one and day two, day one and day four, day two and day six, day three and day four, day three and day six, and day four and day six. Many variables could have contributed to deficits on these days such as human factors, stress, event timing and increased energy expenditure. Understanding the pattern of energy deficits may help prepare those planning to engage in strenuous outdoor activities as well as inform organization that lead such activities.Item Regeneration architecture(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2010) Hudson, Daniel Alexander; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David Fortin; Christopher Livingston (co-chair)In a world of excess, people rarely stop to realize their impact on their environments. Our built environment is especially feeling the effect of our irresponsibility, and the solution is only a matter of re-wiring our perceptions of energy usage. Many technologies make it possible to have the impossible, but nobody stops to question whether or not these advances are beneficial. A presumably sustainable system turned out to be one of the most energy wasteful ones in existence. In the complex process of getting food from the field to your house, the best solution is to simplify. Nature will do most of the work; we need to learn to work with it. Current building practices can benefit greatly from this concept, to rethink the existing process by simply cutting out the unneeded steps and using the free energy available to us every day. Our values need to change. Because the corporation controls so much of our daily lives, they are the ones that will bring about the change in consciousness we desperately need. By re-designing Sysco headquarters to do everything that the company claims to do (and currently doesn't), and interact with the public in a new and radical way, not only can we make changes to how we think about the built environment, but we can also start to show that a change in awareness is entirely possible. If we can change the values of those that make the biggest differences in our world, then we've effectively changed an entire populations' way of thinking.