R. Anderson

Bio: R. Anderson is an academic researcher from National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Heat transfer & Zero-energy building. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 41 publications receiving 858 citations. Previous affiliations of R. Anderson include Office of Scientific and Technical Information & University of Colorado Boulder.

BEopt(TM) Software for Building Energy Optimization: Features and Capabilities

Abstract: BEopt is a computer program designed to find optimal building designs along the path to ZNE. A user selects from predefined options in various categories to specify options to be considered in the optimization. Energy savings are calculated relative to a reference. The reference can be either a user-defined base-case building or a climate-specific Building America Benchmark building automatically generated by BEopt. The user can also review and modify detailed information on all available options in a linked options library spreadsheet. BEopt calls the DOE2 and TRNSYS simulation engines and uses a sequential search technique to automate the process of identifying optimal building designs along the path to ZNE. BEopt finds these optimal and near-optimal designs based on discrete building options reflecting realistic construction options. BEopt handles special situations with positive or negative interactions between options in different categories. The BEopt software includes a results browser that allows the user to navigate among different design points and retrieve detailed results regarding energy end-use and option costs in different categories. Multiple cases, based on a selected parameter such as climate, can be included in a BEopt project file for comparative purposes.

Using liquid desiccant as a regenerable filter for capturing and deactivating contaminants

Abstract: A method, and systems for implementing such method, for purifying and conditioning air of weaponized contaminants. The method includes wetting a filter packing media with a salt-based liquid desiccant, such as water with a high concentration of lithium chloride. Air is passed through the wetted filter packing media and the contaminants in are captured with the liquid desiccant while the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air. The captured contaminants are then deactivated in the liquid desiccant, which may include heating the liquid desiccant. The liquid desiccant is regenerated by applying heat to the liquid desiccant and then removing moisture. The method includes repeating the wetting with the regenerated liquid desiccant which provides a regenerable filtering process that captures and deactivates contaminants on an ongoing basis while also conditioning the air. The method may include filtration effectiveness enhancement by electrostatic or inertial means.

Natural Convection on Both Sides of a Vertical Wall Separating Fluids at Different Temperatures

Abstract: This paper describes an analytical study of laminar natural convection on both sides of a vertical conducting wall of finite height separating two semi-infinite fluid reservoirs of different temperatures. The countercurrent boundary layer flow formed on the two sides is illustrated via representative streamlines, temperature and heat flux distributions. The net heat transfer between reservoirs is reported for the general case in which the wall thermal resistance is not negligible relative to the overall reservoir-to-reservoir thermal resistance.

Algorithms for optimization of building design: A review

Abstract: Building design is quite a complicated task with the design team trying to counterbalance various antagonistic parameters, which in turn are subject to various constraints. Due to this complexity, performance simulation tools are employed and as a consequence, optimization methods have just started being used, mainly as a decision aid. There are examples, amongst the architectural community, where probabilistic evolutionary algorithms or other derivative-free methods have been used with various decision variables and objective goals. This paper is a review of the methods and tools used for the building design optimization in an effort to explore the reasoning behind their selection, to present their abilities and performance issues and to identify the key characteristics of their future versions.

Energy-constrained open-system magmatic processes I : General model and energy-constrained assimilation and fractional crystallization (EC-AFC) formulation

Abstract: recharge mass and Teq, the mass of wallrock heated to Teq is Geochemical data for igneous rocks provide definitive evidence for computed and the geochemical trajectory of melt is determined as the occurrence of open-system processes in magma bodies, including magma temperature approaches Teq from its starting value, Tm°. Replenishment by intrusion of primitive magma, Assimilation of The effects of imperfect extraction of anatectic wallrock melt may anatectic wallrock melt and cumulate formation by Fractional be accounted for by introduction of an extraction efficiency factor. Crystallization. A general class of models (Energy ConservedMathematical details of a simpler model, EC-AFC (no reRAFC or EC-RAFC) can be constructed, which allow simulation plenishment) are provided. Energy-constrained models have the of geochemical paths for trace elements and isotopic ratios for magma advantage of linking thermal and chemical properties of magma undergoing simultaneous replenishment, assimilation and fractional chambers. Compared with ‘classical’ models that conserve mass crystallization during the approach to thermal equilibration. The and species only, they represent more complete assessments of general problem of EC-RAFC is formulated as a set of 3 + t the complex physicochemical dynamics governing the geochemical + i + s coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations, where evolution of open-system magma bodies. Results of EC-AFC the number of trace elements, radiogenic and stable isotope ratios simulations demonstrate that geochemical trends can differ sigsimultaneously modeled are t, i and s, respectively. Partial melting nificantly from predictions based on ‘classical’ AFC even when of wallrock, modeled as fractional melting, is incorporated, as are recharge plays no role. Incorporation of energy conservation and sensible and latent heat effects. Temperature-dependent partition partial melting into geochemical models allows important coupled coefficients are used to describe trace element distributions. Solution effects to play their natural role. of the set of differential equations, with magma temperature (Tm ) as the independent variable, provides values for the average temperature of wallrock (Ta ), fraction of melt within the magma body (Mm ),

Passive Cooling of Buildings

Abstract: Energy use in buildings in the EU represents about 40% of the total annual energy consumption. With greater awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption comes a growth of interest in passive cooling, particularly as an alternative to air-conditioning. This book describes the fundamentals of passive cooling together with the principles and formulae necessary for its successful implementation. The material is comprised largely of information and results compiled under the SAVE European Research Programme.