SL-90-14-2 -- Use of Building Thermal Mass to Offset Cooling Loads PDF

Describes two experiments carried out on the Independent Life Insurance buildings in Jacksonville, Florida. The objective was to 'pre-cool' the building at night and during the weekend to reduce daytime cooling loads. Supply air temperature and flow rate were measured on a floor that was being pre-cooled and on a control floor operated in a normal manner. Temperature and heat flux measurements at the concrete floor surface revealed the extent of charging and discharging of the thermal mass. Diurnal heat capacity calculations were used in analysing the experimental results. States the results showed an 18% reduction in cooling energy supplied during the daytime. There was no reduction in peak demand.

KEYWORDS: Air conditioning, cooling, precooling, offices, cooling load, measuring, USA, subtropics, experiment.