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Title: Monitoring the performance of solar heated and cooled buildings. Volume 2. Measuring insruments: selection, calibration, and installation. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5359976

Volume 2 is concerned with measurements needed to assess the thermal performance of solar heated or cooled buildings. It is a handbook of measuring functions and principles. Transducers most ppropriate for SHACOB monitoring are discussed in detail. These include, for temperature: semiconductor sensors, thermistors, and thermopiles (a new thermopile sensitivity function if presented); for flow: positive displacement and propeller meters with pulse train outputs and heated sensor probes; and for insolation: thermopile and photovoltaic pyranometers. The measurements of conncern in passive buildings: heat flux, temperature-time trajectories and mean radiant temperature; and the measurements generally needed to compute thermal capacitance rates in air systems: pressure and humidity; are also discussed. Calibration, installation, and signal interfacing considerations are reviewed. Special techniques for measuring fluid flows and enthalpy rates associated with fluid flows (using Btu meters) are described and some new designs proposed. Also presented are a transducer selection procedure, an analysis of sampling error and error propagation, and a review of grounding and shielding practice.

Research Organization:
Altas Corp., Santa Cruz, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5359976
Report Number(s):
EPRI-ER-1239(Vol.2)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English