User Note: While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of Erin Miller. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

THESIS PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL Posted: December 13, 2013
PROPOSAL (Revised) Posted: January 15, 2014 Revisions were made to the construction breath and slight work plan schedule changes.
PROPOSAL (Revised) Posted: January 30, 2014 Addition of a demand controlled ventilation and CO2 monitoring study.
Click below to view current Progress Schedule

DEPTH

Chilled Beam Expansion

Comparing the final design documents to the design development drawings, the engineers initially designed more rooms in the Auditorium to utilize a chilled beam system.  Through the “value engineering” phases of design however, the chilled beams were reduced from 33 chilled beams to 16.  The proposed alternative research is two parts.

• First, to examine, the energy impact that could have taken place if the initial design intent was kept.

• Second to compare if all the support spaces could have benefited from a complete chilled beam system.

BREADTH

Acoustic Analysis

An acoustical analysis will determine if the changes made to the air-distribution system negatively or positively impact the spaces that will be receiving the new chilled beam system.  Depending on the results, recommendations can be made to further decrease the noise transmitted to the spaces or confirm that a chilled beam system performs better acoustically.

Construction Analysis

Since chilled beams reduce the amount of airflow required by each space the ductwork sizes can be reduced while still achieving correct pressure drops and noise levels.  An analysis of the amount of sheet metal required to be installed could lead to additional cost savings in labor and materials for the project.  

The construction breadth analysis will also evaluate the overall cost implications of using additional chilled beams.  Studies into schedule impacts and subsequent labor costs will be compared to the proposed and actual schedule of the project.  Additionally, the cost impact of switch from traditional mixing boxes to chilled beam units will also be researched.

MASTERS COURSEWORK

The expansion of the chilled beam system analysis will involve aspects from 500-level course work.  Content from Centralized Cooling Production and Distribution Systems (A E 557) will aid in the evaluation of the chilled beam redesign.  Additionally, from another 500-level course, Centralized Heating Production and Distribution Systems (AE 558), a life-cycle cost analysis will be performed.