[TriLUG] OT: thermodynamics of A/C question

[Joseph Mack NA3T]

On Sat, 23 Jun 2012, Matt Flyer wrote:

> One of these days I intend to get around to improving the 
> graph and yes, the scales are one of my biggest target 
> items.  It is a $0 project

:-(

> and a matter of time getting to it.

> While it may be difficult to determine from the graphs, 
> usage and drops in energy efficiency really do correlate 
> heavily to wet bulb from our experience, to where it along 
> with dew point have become accurate predictors of 
> performance.

this is for evaporative water cooling, or regular freon type 
A/C? (I'm sure you must have said this, but I've forgotten 
sorry.)

> One other thing that I was thinking about in terms of 
> residential issues, with respect to running AC at off 
> times to super cool versus running it throughout the day 
> is that a home, doesn't have any mechanism of sufficient 
> thermal storage as the heat capacity of (dry) air is so 
> poor.

I'd forgotten about this. I remember back in the 70's seeing 
solar/energy_efficient houses with large (3" ?) diameter 
columns in the house, full of water, to store heat/cold 
(depending on the season).

> On a side note, I am anticipating owning one more house in 
> my lifetime and I am seriously considering using a two 
> water loop system, one hot, one cold, with variable flow 
> air handlers that will allow me to flow air in only the 
> rooms that it is needed.

sounds great. I'm just trying to optimise what I've got

Joe

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Joseph Mack NA3T EME(B,D), FM05lw North Carolina
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