See all forum discussions about NC-2009 EAc4
 Subscribe to new posts about NC-2009 EAc4 Post a new question aboutNC-2009 EAc4
See LEEDuser’s guidance on NC-2009 EAc4»
FAQs about EAc4 :

We plan on pursuing this credit only if we need to do so to meet our certification target, i.e. if another credit we are counting on gets rejected. How late can we apply for this credit?

I'm working on a renovation project and we'll be keeping some of the existing equipment. Shoud we include these systems in our calculations?

Which portions of a VRF/VRV system should be considered for this credit?


For a split system, does the cooling capacity refer to the cooling power of the interior device (evaporator) or of the outdoor unit (condenser)?

What is the required timeline for completing a CFC phase-out for EAc4?

How can I document a longer equipment life (20 or 30 years) than what is listed in the LEED Reference Guide?

Do the requirements apply to portable fire extinguishers or only permanently installed building-wide fire suppression systems?

View answers »

Forum discussion

NC-2009 EAc4:Enhanced Refrigerant Management

Heat Pipes

Here's a stumper for y'all. A "heat pipe" uses refrigerant migration (without compressors) between two coils for heat recovery. If I am using a heat pipe system, do I include that refrigerant charge in my calc for EAc4? If I do, how do I determine the tonnage?

4
Post a reply

You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?

LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.

Go premium for $15.95  »

Profile picture for user swanson.bill
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical Engineer
Integrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
516 thumbs up

Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:25

There doesn't seem to be a lot of practical, usable numbers available for this technology. I'll let anyone else jump in here, I have no experience with heat pipe. I'd say if the refrigerant is part of the HVAC&R equipment then it should be included in the credit calc. I see one company uses de-ionized water. Regarding tonnage, I thought this was a load calculation based on climate, internal loads, and building envelople. A ton of cooling is equal to a ton of cooling, regardless of the equipment doing it. If a room needs 10 tons of cooling then that's the size of the heat pipe system specified. The type of heat pipe, ambient temp, and orientation will affect how much energy it can transfer. I think it's up to the manufacturer to tell you a tonnage. And you may need to do a watts to ton conversion. Interesting links I found. Now I know a little more about heat pipes. http://www.enertron-inc.com/enertron-resources/library.php http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/pdf/FSEC-FS-27-84.pdf

Add new comment

To post a comment, you need to register for a LEEDuser Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.