Client
Simon Fraser University
Location
Burnaby, BC
Service Areas
Prism carried out an investigation of SFU’s South Sciences Building (SSB) as part of BC Hydro’s Continuous Optimization Program for Commercial Buildings. The objective was to identify deficiencies and improvements in the operation of the facility’s mechanical equipment, lighting, and related controls. This would then help identify opportunities for corrective actions that reduce energy consumption and preserve the indoor environmental quality.
Fume Hood System Reconfiguration
There are over 100 laboratory fume hood exhaust fans in the SSB, most equipped with ¾ or 1 HP motors. Fume hoods are equipped with throttling dampers that enable reduced flow and fume hood face velocities. The fume hood exhaust fan motors are operating at low load factors because of previously implemented airflow reduction initiatives. An analysis was undertaken to determine the potential energy savings from removal of individual fume hood fans and operating solely with the stack exhaust fans.
Redesign Stack Exhaust Heat Recovery
The fume hood stack exhausts systems are equipped with glycol run around heat recovery coils. The system is configured so the outdoor air damper is located upstream of the fume hood exhaust, and the heat recovery coil is downstream of the fume hood exhaust. The existing system configuration results in reduced heat recovery performance due to mixing lower temperature outdoor air. We identified potential to improve heat recovery performance by relocating the outdoor air damper and heat recovery coil.