Tech Program Includes New Research Summit and New Integrated Project Delivery Mini-Conference
ATLANTA—The ASHRAE Technical Program at the 2013 Annual Conference in Denver, Colo., shares high-level concepts and rock-solid applications on what’s new in the building industry.
Beginning Sunday, June 23, the Tech Program kicks off a new format: special hour-long interactive sessions with audience participation, followed by a networking coffee break.
“Besides its technical content, networking is by far the best attribute of ASHRAE’s Conferences,” Sarah Maston, Denver Conference program chair, said. “We wanted to create an interactive and collaborative atmosphere right from the start of the conference and foster this throughout the entire four days.”
Also unique to the Denver Tech Program is the newly instituted Research Summit and an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) mini-conference.
The Research Summit—which comprises a major portion of the technical program with some 30 sessions scheduled, 22 of which are paper-based sessions—brings together distinguished researchers to present and discuss the latest research results, innovative research techniques and forecast future research directions. Topics include cutting edge absorption and adsorption cooling technologies in cogeneration and trigeneration, replacement refrigerants for R410A and low GWP refrigerants through the Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation Program (AREP), ASHRAE District Heating and District Cooling Design guides, presentations of selected papers published in HVAC&R Research, ASHRAE’s research journal, and modeling transient conditions. Shanti Pless, NREL, is the keynote speaker addressing NREL’s research and facilities, advanced HVAC development and energy systems integration facilities.
The Integrated Project Delivery mini-conference on Sunday and Monday, June 23-24, addresses the evolving method of managing a design project from conceptual design through to the operation and maintenance phase, based on the concept of shared risk/profit and teamwork. Presentations in this track focus on success and lessons learned with IPD, as well as individual roles in IPD collaboration. The keynote isRobert (Bob) Springer, Concurrent Technologies Corp., addressing integrated project delivery from multiple perspectives.
HVAC&R Systems & Equipment and Fundamentals & Applications tracks again feature a wide range of current practices and trends in the industry. Seminars address “Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems;” “Moisture Problems;” “Geothermal Heat Pumps;” and “Radiant Cooling,” to name just a few. The Systems and Equipment track keynote speaker is Otto VanGeet, NREL, “Trends in Data Center Design.” He speaks at 9:45 a.m. Monday, June 24.
The Energy Modeling vs. Measurement & Verification track investigates trends in building modeling and the realities of construction and operations and maintenance such as systemic construction issues that lead to long term non-performance and training staff to operate a building as it was designed to perform. A few sessions of interest include “Quality BIM Objects for Lifelong Building Reality in a Virtual World;” “Benchmarking Commercial Building Energy Performance;” and “Root Cause Analysis of Simulation and Performance Dissimilarity.”
The Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources track looks into new advances in alternative energy equipment and new design strategies for engineers. Sessions cover “Renewable Energy Systems in an Era of Low PV and Natural Gas Prices;” “Moving Buildings and the Grid to a Renewable Future;” and “Optimization of Thermal and Renewable Energy Systems.”
In a nod to Denver, the Mile High Efficiency and Equipment track looks into new breakthroughs in equipment and building systems that contribute to a building’s overall high-efficiency performance. Some sessions include: a case study of the NREL’s Research Support Facility, the “largest zero-energy office building in the world;” “Higher Efficiencies in Unitary and Water Heating Equipment;” and “Advanced Energy Design for Hospitals.”
The Technical Program runs June 23-26.
The ASHRAE Annual Conference and Technical Program take place at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, June 22-26. Advance registration closes June 10, after which registration fees increase to “onsite” pricing. Register at www.ashrae.org/denver.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability within the industry. Through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today.
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Source: www.ashrae.org; Amanda Dean; June 4, 2013.
