[Equest-users] Modelling plenums in eQUEST

[Dakota Kelley]

Dr. Kat,

You are correct.  I'm not sure how far into the rabbit hole you feel
like going, but let me add a couple additional points:

1) What you choose for "System per Area" in the Air-Side Wizard (Screen
1) will determine whether eQUEST creates one plenum per zone or one
plenum per floor.  Selecting "System per Zone" results in one plenum
zone for each occupied zone (in addition to the system being replicated
for each specified zone, of course), and any of the other three options
result in one plenum per floor.  This has implications for modifying
building geometry in the detailed interface in addition to return air
temperatures.  

2) The difference between an unconditioned zone a plenum zone, as far as
eQUEST is concerned, is whether or not the zone is a return air path for
its parent system (assuming non-ducted return).  Both are considered
unconditioned space types.  So, for example, you could have a mechanical
room as a zone, specify it as a plenum, and its parent system will
consider that zone's temperature when determining the return air
temperature.  Plenums do not necessarily have to be above-ceiling.

3) If you choose ducted return in the wizard, eQUEST will turn your
above-ceiling "plenum" into an unconditioned zone.

4) An unconditioned zone cannot have exhaust specified, but exhaust flow
and fan power, as well as a make-up air source, can be specified for a
plenum zone.  


Thanks,

Dakota Kelley
Telios MEP Engineers
Dallas, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: Katherine Roberts [mailto:Katherine.Roberts at arup.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 8:55 AM
To: equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
Subject: [Equest-users] Modelling plenums in eQUEST

Equesters,

I'm new to eQUEST and want to check that I'm understanding it correctly
- am I right in assuming that you do not have to actually build the
plenums into the CAD model but just assign a plenum to a space i.e. by
using the floor to floor heights and floor to ceiling heights?

Thanks

Kat

Dr Katherine Roberts
Engineer
Environmental Physics London

13 Fitzroy Street
Arup W1T 4BQ
Tel: +0044 (0)207 755 5454
Internal freecall: 55454

www.arup.com

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