Attachment 1 - Technical Specifications.pdf

Attachment 1

"Differential Climate Chamber"

Date: 12/3/24

BACKGROUND

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been at the forefront of durability research for advanced building envelope technologies since the 1990s. The need for an upgraded Differential Climate Chamber, is to address need for researching durability and resiliency of newer building envelope technologies. It also arises from the limitations of existing equipment, which is often overutilized, leading to delays in research progress. Current facilities cannot adequately support the expanding scope of work, especially as NREL engages in new standards for durability assessment of technologies like vacuum insulating glass (VIG) and other emerging building materials and systems. This chamber will replace aging equipment that no longer meets the rigorous demands of current and future research.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of acquiring the new Differential Climate Chamber is to enhance NREL’s capability to evaluate the durability and resilience of various building envelope technologies under a controlled environment. By implementing this advanced chamber, NREL aims to conduct comprehensive research that addresses current gaps in durability assessment protocols, specifically for innovative materials developed under DOE programs. One noteworthy example is durability evaluation of carbon negative building components developed under efforts like the ARPA-E HESTIA program. The upgrade will provide essential data for benchmarking newer technologies, leading to improved standards and performance metrics for the industry. It will also help to research and evaluate resiliency of these material.

SPECIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

Description of equipment and use

The overall system will consist of multiple chambers that allow flexibility in application of environmental stress factors across building envelope samples. Each chamber will consist of two sides in a “clam shell” format with a sample holder mounted between the two sides. One side will control climate conditions (climate side) while the second side will maintain simulated building interior ambient conditions (controlled ambient side). Samples will be mounted between the controlled ambient and climate sides to provide simulated weathering across prototype building envelope components. Technical specification of the climate and controlled ambient side chambers are summarized below.

• Climate Chambers o Will include UV lamps, water spray, humidity control, and the ability to cycle temperatures as specified below, o Will allow easy access to components (e.g., UV lamps, mist nozzles, humidity sensors) for routine maintenance, o Will maintain consistent airflow to ensure uniform conditions across the surface of the sample Control-able between 1 m/s and 6 m/s).

• Controlled Ambient Chamber o Will have a movable enclosure to allow easy mounting and removal of samples.

o Will maintain a controlled temperature, Control-able between 18°C and 23°C ± 1°C, simulating ambient indoor conditions, o Will provide consistent airflow to ensure uniform conditions across the surface of the sample replicating Natural convection environmental condition, not exceeding 1 m/s.

Environmental conditions:

Climate Side (simulated outdoor exposure)

• Temperature Range and Cycling (Programable):

o -65°C to 110°C o Minimum temperature ramp rate min 3°C/min o Chamber material shall be able to withstand these temperatures and other simulated conditions.

Minimum Cycle Requirements:

o Attachment 3 - NREL Guidelines and Specifications for Enhanced Durability Evaluation of Insulating Glass and Vacuum Insulating Glass Units -https://research-hub.nrel.gov/en/publications/guidelines-and-specifications-for-enhanced-durability-evaluation-o Attachment 4 - ASTM E2188-19 (Section 8.33)

• Relative Humidity: Controllable from 10% to 95% (during hot cycle as shown in Attachment 4 - ASTM E2188-19, FIG. 3)

• Uniform air flow across sample area (climate chambers) o Programable Air velocity 1 m/s to 6 m/s

Controlled Ambient Side (simulated indoor conditions)

• Uniform air flow across sample area (In-door condition) o Constant 18-23 +/-1 °C o Air velocity (natural convection) ≤1 m/s o Relative Humidity: Controllable from 10% to 95% https://research-hub.nrel.gov/en/publications/guidelines-and-specifications-for-enhanced-durability-evaluation-https://research-hub.nrel.gov/en/publications/guidelines-and-specifications-for-enhanced-durability-evaluation-

Sample Holder requirements:

• Surround Panel Wall (Insulation wall between Climate and Ambient

Chambers) Dimensions: Width: (90 inches (2.29 m), Height: 85 inches (2.2 m), thickness: 4 inches (0.1 m),

• A clearance of 11 inches on all sides between the sample opening and the surround panel wall top is required.

• The cut out opening in the surround panel wall to accommodate sample sizes: Width: 72 inches, height: 63 inches.

• surround panel wall made from insulating material without thermal bridging (avoid thermal short-circuit). Having insulating value of ≥R-15

• Two Filler blocks made of same material as the surround panel wall size of

13.5 in X 63 in shall be provided.

• Interior sample holder (45 in x 63 in) will be provided by NREL

Operational time and cycle requirement

• Equipment shall be operable continuously at a minimum of three consecutive months.

• The HVAC system shall provide the minimum of 3°C/min ramp rate independently for each of the four climate chambers to achieve required temperature cycles.

UV light, electrical requirement

• Electrical sockets for T12BL/HO UV lamps

• Able to withstand environmental conditions (i.e. temperature cycling and humidity)

• UV Lamp spacing o 45 +/- 20 mm from surface of specimen o Spaced 100 mm from center of lamp

Mist/water cycle o Chamber must be able to supply mist onto sample surface area evenly, o Water should be able to be drained out of the chamber.

Ambient and Climate Side Chambers

• Insulation o Chamber wall insulation should be an R-value of no less than 10

(°F⋅ft2⋅h/BTU)

• Vision area for Ambient Side-1 Chamber:

o Transparent area for viewing samples during testing.

Access to installed sample and maintenance

• Both side-1 and side-2 (Climate and Ambient) chamber will need to be easily removal to allow access to mount samples and components maintenance.

Individual environment controls

• LabView compatible controllers o HVAC controller o Temperature and Rh monitor

Other Qualifications:

- Company profile and experience making similar type instruments

- Knowledge of heat transfer

- Demonstrations to show vendor viability (RFQ)

- Performance validation to demonstrate the vendor product will meet specifications

(RFP)

- If a small business, be registered in SAM (www.sam.gov), provide Unique Entity ID

(UEI) number.

TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

• NREL Requirements (safety) o Inspection requirements

Electrical safety (EHS)

• Space Requirements/ Limitations:

o The lab space available for installation is approximately length: 16 feet 9 inches, width: 7 feet 6 inches, and height: 8 feet 4 inches.

o Access to the lab area: A roll door measuring dimension: 9ft High x 16ft Wide

Utilities available in the facility:

• Electrical: 440V and 220V available.

• Water: Both tap and distilled water, with drainage capabilities.

• Compressed Air: Compressed air supply available.

Delivery Installation and commission

• Chamber needs to be delivered, installed and commissioned at NREL’s facility

• The awarded company will provide a full system demonstration, training for NREL staff, and include an operations manual.

• The company will provide service support/maintenance for 1 year after installation

TIMELINE

• The chamber should be delivered and fully operational within six months of contract award.

• Provide Milestones for,

1. Design of chamber, including technical drawings or CAD models, and thermal properties of material used to build the chamber.

The design shall be part of the proposal and final design will be reviewed and approved for construction by the NREL technical team before build begins.

2. HVAC system: Provide specification explaining specification listed in this requirement document.

Final system will be reviewed and approved for construction by

NREL technical team

3. Complete full assembly at vendors site.

Assembling all the components of the chamber, HVAC and controls system into a complete, functional unit

4. System validation against technical requirements at awardee’s site

5. Final delivery, installation and commissioning at NREL http://www.sam.gov/

• Meeting with awarded project team and NREL o Bi-weekly meetings (or as required) between the awarded subcontractor and NREL

DRAWINGS

Chamber concept (planned view)

Sample wall:

Floor plan view

Surround Panel Surround Panel

Surround Panel Surround Panel