Monitoring the performance of solar heated and cooled buildings. Volume 2. Measuring instruments - selection, calibration and installation. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5491389

Armstrong, P R

Measurements needed to assess the thermal performance of solar heated or cooled buildings are discussed. A handbook of measuring functions and principles is presented. Transducers most appropriate for SHACOB monitoring are discussed in detail. These include, for temperature: semiconductor sensors, thermistors and thermopiles (a new thermopile sensitivity function is 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 concern 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: 5491389
• Report Number(s): EPRI-ER-1239(Vol.4)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
BUILDINGS
CALIBRATION
DATA PROCESSING
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
HEAT FLUX
HEATING SYSTEMS
HUMIDITY
INSOLATION
INSTALLATION
MANUALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MONITORING
NOISE
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
PROCESSING
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSDUCERS