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Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Copyright© 2019 Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings MANAGING STACK EFFECT IN TALL BUILDINGS Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. American Institute of Architects This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Course Information This course explores stack effect impacts in tall buildings. Stack effect represents an uncontrolled energy loss and can cause irritating noise, infiltration of humidity or odor, drafts and thermal discomfort, etc. Viewers will have an increased awareness of how to control and manage stack effect through passive strategies. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Learning Objectives 1. Describe physics of stack effect and what it means for sustainable, efficient building design and occupant comfort 2. Discuss how to control location of neutral plane, and its importance for stack effect and natural ventilation 3. Articulate role of ventilation system in managing stack effect impacts 4. Illustrate methods of controlling stack effect to meet sustainable building and energy reduction goals through use of case study examples Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Presented By Duncan Philips, Ph.D., P.Eng Principal Duncan is RWDI’s Global Practice Leader for Building Performance, heading up a talented pool of building performance engineers and scientists as they develop climate-responsive design strategies for individual buildings and masterplans. Clients benefit from Duncan’s ability to solve tough building physics problems by analyzing air flow and heat transfer phenomena. Duncan has been involved in the design of tall and supertall buildings across the planet, in both hot and cold climates. He has assisted in stack effect mitigation for existing buildings in cities ranging from Dubai to Chicago and presented at multiple conferences on stack effect. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Agenda 1. Introduction to Stack Effect 2. Criteria for Assessment of “Problematic” Conditions 3. Locating the Neutral Plane 4. Effects of Building Pressurization 5. Managing Stack Effect in Buildings Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Introduction to Stack Effect Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. What is Stack Effect? It does not happen because “hot air rises” • Can exist in all buildings • Induced by buoyancy force originating from indoor-outdoor temperature differences Winter Stack-Effect Driven Airflow Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. What is Stack Effect? Benefits • Natural ventilation • True in all climate types +15 °C (60 °F) +25 °C (77 °F) Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings What is Stack Effect? Stack Effect Stack Effect Stack Effect Driving Force Issues/Impacts (Pressures) Cannot get rid of Can reduce issues and driving force impacts through design Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. What is Stack Effect? Frequently asked question… “How can I get rid of stack effect in my building?” Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. What is Stack Effect? The right question… “How can I reduce the frequency of stack effect issues/impacts in my building?” Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Case Study 1999 N Broadway Denver, Colorado • 44 stories • Height: 548 ft (166 m) • Outdoor temperature: 10 °F (-12 °C) • Indoor temperature: 70 °F (21°C) • Moderately tall • Cold winter day (not extreme) Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Visualizing Stack Effect in a Tall Building Video copyright: Dave McGrail, “Stack Effect Demonstration.” Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Visualizing Stack Effect in a Tall Building Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Potential Stack Effect Impacts Whistling airflow through doors & cracks Complex issue driven by: • Shape and configuration of crack / opening • Flow rate through the crack Sound can range from whistle to hum Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Potential Stack Effect Impacts Difficulty opening & closing doors A nuisance… and a safety issue Choice of door openers and closers is important Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Potential Stack Effect Impacts Difficulty controlling temperatures on floors with excessive infiltration A space can be too cold – such as residential lobby in cold climate Upper part of a building can be too hot in warm climates Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Potential Stack Effect Impacts Elevator door operability issues & whistling Difficult to define, tends to be intermittent Different elevator door manufacturers have different mitigation methods Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Potential Stack Effect Impacts Increased building energy costs Due to uncontrolled airflow from outdoors Unclear how much energy is lost via stack effect Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Potential Stack Effect Impacts Ingress of odors from outdoors & migration of odors indoors Controlling odor migration in buildings is critical Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings How Does Stack Effect Get Setup Tube Air of Tube Tube Water of Tube Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. How Does Stack Effect Get Setup Tube Air of Tube Tube of Water of Tube Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. How Does Stack Effect Get Setup Tube Air of Tube Tube Water of Tube Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings How Does Stack Effect Get Setup Air instantly turned into water Tube Air of Tube Tube Water of Tube Water instantly turned into air Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Stack Effect Driving Force: Winter Indoors Outdoors 350 Pa H 400 m H 400 m T +21 °C T -17 °C p 1.20 kg/m3 p 1.38 kg/m3 (0.075 lb/ft3) (0.086 lb/ft3) For a 400 m column of air… 400 m +21 °C -17 °C 480 kg/m2 550 kg/m2 (1300 ft) 70 °F 0 °F 4700 Pa 5400 Pa (98.2 psf) (112.8 psf) Total Pressure Difference = 700 Pa (14.6 psf) 350 Pa Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Stack Effect Driving Force: Summer Indoors Outdoors 100 Pa H 400 m H 400 m T +21 °C T +35 °C p 1.20 kg/m3 p 1.14 kg/m3 (0.075 lb/ft3) (0.071 lb/ft3) For a 400 m column of air… 400 m +21 °C +35 °C 480 kg/m2 460 kg/m2 (1300 ft) 70 °F 95 °F 4700 Pa 4600 Pa (98.2 psf) (94.0 psf) Total Pressure Difference = 200 Pa (-4.2psf) 100 Pa Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Stack Effect Pressures ΔP 350 Pa +350 Pa (+7.3 psf) 400 m +21 °C -17 °C (1300 ft) Driving Force 70 °F 0 °F ΔP = 700 Pa (ΔP = 14.6 psf) (-7.3 psf) -350 Pa 350 Pa Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Stack Effect Driving Force Pressure Difference (Interior to Exterior) 250 – 750 Pa 1 – 3 inches water 5.2 – 15.7 psf Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Stack Effect Pressure Issues Motorized swing door Revolving door 1 set of frameless glass doors - 350 Pa on doors with airlock (two sets = approximately 80 lb force to open each door of doors) Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Criteria for Assessment of “Problematic” Conditions Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Determining Acceptability Difficulty opening and closing of swing doors Operability threshold force to set in motion • = 30 lbf • ~ 130 Pa (2.8 psf) Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Determining Acceptability Elevator door operability issues Operability threshold = 25 Pa (0.5 psf) • Difficult to define Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Determining Acceptability Whistling through doors Define a threshold at 100 L/s = 200 cfm Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Determining Acceptability Other considerations: Difficulty balancing HVAC Inability to deliver adequate quantities of fresh air Struggle to maintain acceptable thermal conditions Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Criteria Ground floor pressures Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Elevator Operability Issues Elevator door malfunctioning Difficulty closing & opening around 25 Pa (0.5 psf) pressure difference Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Winter vs. Summer Airflow Winter (normal) – cold outside Summer (reverse) – hot outside Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Locating the Neutral Plane Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Managing Stack Effect in Tall Buildings Winter: Large Opening @ Top Large Neutral Plane Opening ΔP = Indoor - Outdoor Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Winter: Large Opening @ Bottom ΔP = Indoor - Outdoor Neutral Plane Large Copyright© 2019 by RWDI. All rights reserved. Opening Winter: Distributed Openings Real buildings have distributed openings over height Copyright© 2019 by RWDI.
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