Laboratory design loads -- What we know, don`t know, and need to know
- ADP Fluor Daniel, Tucson, AZ (United States). Advanced Technology Group
Laboratory facilities are wide and diverse, classified according to research or teaching and devoted to one or more natural or physical sciences. Because of the many types of labs and their function and use, equipment loads can vary from 2 W/ft{sup 2} to more than 60 W/ft{sup 2} with use or load diversity factors ranging from less than 10% to almost continuous. The primary challenge to a laboratory designer is correctly assessing the laboratory equipment loads for sizing the mechanical system. This requires knowing not only the magnitude of the load and the equipment diversity factor but how the load is partitioned--that is, how much is dissipated to the ambient, removed directly by process cooling, and rejected to equipment exhaust. While some system design margin is usually warranted for future flexibility, too much conservatism is costly. Additionally, an undersized system will not satisfy functional requirements. The purpose of this paper is to present guidelines on what is known about equipment loads; however, what is more important is to identify what isn`t known and needs to be known in order to increase the confidence/reliability level of system design. Ideas and recommendations on how laboratory owners/users and equipment vendors can help fill the information gap will be explored.
- OSTI ID:
- 392500
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960254--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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