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Mechanical Project Proposal

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Mechanical Depth

The Metropolitan Aquatic Center has three different pools and is located in the Washington, D.C. area. The 49,450 SF building has many spaces with different functions, which required a careful mechanical system selection. Currently the facility is served by seven different rooftop units. The public and office spaces are served by a variable air volume rooftop unit with 100% outdoor air supplied. In the natatorium, a semi-passive cooling and exhaust design was implemented in addition to the dehumidification system.

The following design alternatives were examined for the purposes of this report:

  • Replacing the variable air volume system with a radiant cooling system and dedicated outside air unit.

  • Improving indoor air quality with a source capture and exhaust strategy.

  • Implement a combined heat and power system for pool water heating.

Because the primary function of the Metropolitan Aquatic Center is to serve as a natatorium, the redesign will focus on improving the natatorium space through the last two options. By utilizing a source capture and exhaust strategy above the pool surface, the concentration of chemical vapor in the breathing zone can be reduced. This will improve the environment for the occupants. Additionally, the current hot water heating system will be redesigned as a combined heat power system to improve efficiency and reduce the building carbon footprint.

Electrical Breadth

A CHP system simultaneously produces electricity and useful thermal energy. Although a CHP system is designed to meet thermal load requirements, it is necessary to understand the electric loads associated with system. The system must be able to connect to the facility grid to meet the electrical demand in the building system. An electrical load analysis and energy model will be performed to assist in the design of the CHP system.

Lighting Breadth

After modelling the Metropolitan Aquatic Center in Trane Trace 700, it was observed that the facility has an unusually high lighting load. In order to reduce the energy consumption of the lighting systems, different types of energy efficient solutions, such as LEDs will be evaluated. Additionally, the lighting levels will be assessed on a room by room basis to determine if spaces exceed the required amount of lighting needed for the function of the space.

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