UNDERFLOOR AIR DISTRIBUTION (UFAD)

COOLING LOAD DESIGN TOOL

User Notes
7/9/2010

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

These user notes describe how to use the spreadsheet-based (Excel 2007) version of the UFAD design tool for calculating
the design cooling load and zone design cooling airflow required for an Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) system.

LOADING (OR RUNNING) THE EXCEL SOLVER

The spreadsheet uses the Excel 2007 Solver and Visual Basic (VBA) Editor macros to calculate the outputs of the UFAD
design tool. Therefore, the Solver should be installed as an add-in (add-in: A supplemental program that adds custom
commands or custom features to Microsoft Office.) in Excel and in VBA, and macros should be enabled.

Loading the Solver add-in in Excel 2007

The Solver Add-in is a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 add-in program that is available when you install Microsoft Office or
Excel. To use it in Excel, however, you need to load it first.
1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options.
2. Click Add-Ins, and then in the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins.
3. Click Go.
4. In the Add-Ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK. Tip: if Solver Add-in is not
listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse to locate the add-in. If you get prompted that the Solver Add-in is
not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it.
5. After you load the Solver Add-in, the Solver command is available in the Analysis group on the Data tab.

Loading the Solver in Visual Basic Editor (VBA)

To use the spreadsheet you need to establish a reference between the Solver add-in and the Visual Basic Editor. To activate
the Visual Basic Editor choose “Developer-Code-Visual Basic” or press “Alt+F11” in Excel. To establish a reference, click
References on the Tools menu, and then select the Solver check box under Available References. If Solver does not appear
under Available References, click Browse and look for it. It is often, not always, located in the folder C:\Program Files
(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\Library\SOLVER.

OVERVIEW OF THE UFAD COOLING LOAD DESIGN TOOL SPREADSHEET

The design tool is composed of eight worksheets but just the "Model" and "Comparison" should be used. The other
worksheets are for calculation purposes and should be accessed only by expert users. The “Calculation2”, “Calculation4”,
“Calculation6”, "WorkingData", "NonDimensionalTemp" and "DiffuserType" worksheets should not be modified; they
cannot be hidden due to VBA limitations. Only IP (Inch-Pound) units can be used.

In the "Model" worksheet, user inputs are entered only in cells with a light blue background and the outputs (calculated
values) are displayed in cells with a gray background (see Figure 1). The data input and output are organized into three
sections, named “Common Inputs”, “Zone Inputs”, and “Results”. In the “Common Inputs” section there is only, in this
version, one input that specifies the underfloor plenum configuration. Most of the inputs that characterize the building are
inserted in the “Zone Inputs” section. The results are displayed in a tabular form in the "Results" section and some of the
most important results are displayed in the five graphs reported next to the table. On the right-hand side of the page, there
are three groups of figures. In the first are shown the temperature stratification profiles and the plenum temperatures of the
interior and perimeter zones. Below this first group are cooling load charts, for interior and perimeter zones. These charts
show the loads for the UFAD system being analyzed and for an equivalent overhead system subject to the same heat gains
(and from which the UFAD loads have been derived). For the UFAD system the figure shows how the cooling load is
divided between the cooling load in the supply plenum, the zone (room) and the return plenum. On the far right side, there is
a histogram of the design cooling airflow rates for both the interior and perimeter zones. A detailed description of the inputs
and outputs are listed below under "Input and Output Descriptions."

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Figure 1. UFAD cooling load design tool spreadsheet.

The "Comparison" worksheet is shown in Figure 2. This worksheet is used to compare two different cases. Only two cases
can be compared at the same time. The inputs and outputs are automatically copied from the "Model" worksheet when the
"Compare" button at the bottom of the page is clicked. It is not possible to decide if the inputs and outputs in the "Model"
worksheet should go to the case A or B. All the results in the tabular output can be compared. The temperature profiles and
the design airflow rates are also compared in a graphical format on the right.

Figure 2. "Comparison" worksheet screenshot.

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INPUT AND OUTPUT DESCRIPTIONS
Table 1 lists and describes the user input data in the order of appearance in the worksheet. The output data are listed and
described in Table 2.
Table 1. Description of user inputs for UFAD cooling load design tool
Common Inputs
Using the drop-down menu, the user may choose among the following four plenum configurations:
 “Series” – The conditioned air is first supplied to the plenum of the interior zone from which it flows
to the perimeter zone.
 “Reverse Series” – The conditioned air is supplied first to the plenum of the perimeter zone
(directly from a shaft, duct, or air highway) and then flows to the interior zone.
Plenum Configuration
 “Design Interior and Perimeter as Independent Zones” – The conditioned air is supplied
independently (different airflow rates and (optionally) different supply temperatures) to the interior
and perimeter zones.
 "Common" - The conditioned air is supplied to the plenum that is considered well-mixed. The
average diffuser discharge temperature is the same in both the interior and perimeter zones.
Zone Inputs
Parameter Zone 1 Unit Sym Description
Room Height I-P ft Hft Height between the raised floor and the suspended ceiling.
Floor Area I-P ft2 Af Floor area of the zone analyzed.
Using the drop-down menu, the user may choose among the following
three floor levels:
Floor Level I-P - -  “Ground Fl.” – The floor slab is in contact with the ground.
 “Middle Fl.” – The floor is between other floors.
 “Top Floor” – The floor under the roof.
Using the drop-down menu, the user may choose among the following
two diffuser types for interior zones:
Diffuser Type I - -  “Swirl” – ‘Standard’ swirl diffusers
 “VAV Directional I.” – Diffusers that automatically vary the
airflow rate and keep the throw height constant
Using the drop-down menu, the user may choose among the following
two diffuser types for perimeter zones:
 “Linear Bar Grille” – Linear bar grille diffusers are used. When
Diffuser Type P - - this option is chosen the software will ask the user to enter the
length of the bar grille. The default value is 18 in.
 “VAV Directional P.” – Diffusers that automatically vary the
airflow rate and keep the throw height constant
Number of diffusers I-P - n Total number of diffusers for the analyzed zone.
Design cooling load calculated using traditional cooling load software
(e.g. ASHRAE RTS method, etc.). This cooling load is the sum of the
kBtu/hr
zone and the return plenum cooling load. The design cooling load for the
Design Cooling Load
analyzed zone should be calculated using the assumption of well mixed
Calculated for an or
I-P WOH air. The overhead cooling load should be calculated for the same
Overhead (mixing)
setpoint temperature used for the UFAD system ("Design Average
System Btu/(hr
Temperature in the Occupied Zone - Toz,avg,d). The user has the option to
ft )
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input the cooling load in kBtu/hr or Btu/(hr ft2) by using the drop-down
menu in the "Units" column.
Design Average Room (or zone) design air temperature setpoint. In an overhead system
Temperature in the I-P °F Toz,avg,d this is the thermostat temperature setpoint. For a stratified environment,
Occupied Zone it is the average occupied zone temperature.
Category 2 leakage is defined as uncontrolled air leakage from the
pressurized underfloor plenum (through gaps between panels, electrical
Estimated Category 2 floor outlets, etc.) that enters the room and can still contribute to the
I-P cfm/ ft2 qleak,2
Leakage removal of the heat load. For well sealed raised floors (carpet, tape,
etc.), a typical range is 0.05-0.1 cfm/ft2; for not well sealed raised floors,
a typical value is ~ 0.25 cfm/ft2 or greater.
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Setpoint Temperature of
Air Entering Supply °F Tplenum Temperature of the air entering the supply plenum.
Plenum
Design number of occupants in the interior zone; should be consistent
Number of Occupants I - m
with original overhead load calculations.
Using the drop-down menu, the user may choose among the following
Zone Orientation P - - four zone orientations for perimeter zones:“North”, “East", "South" and
"West".
Length of the External
Wall of the Perimeter P ft LP Length of the outside wall of the selected perimeter zone.
Area
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Zone. I-P = the description is applicable to both interior and perimeter zones; I = the description is applicable only to
interior zone; P = the description is applicable only to perimeter zones.

Table 2. Description of output data for UFAD cooling load design tool
Results
Parameter Zone 1 Unit Sym Description
Airflow (through diffusers) I -P cfm Q Total room airflow rate delivered by the diffusers only in the studied zone.
Design airflow (through Total (combined) room airflow rate; sum of airflow rate through the
I -P cfm Qroom
diffusers & leakage) diffusers (Q) and Category 2 leakage.
Temperature of Air
I -P °F Tplenum Temperature of the air entering the supply plenum.
Entering Supply Plenum
Diffuser Discharge Temperature of the air entering the room from the diffusers. This
I -P °F Ts
Temperature temperature is equal to the average temperature of the plenum.
Air Temperature at 4 in.
I -P °F T4 Air temperature at 4 in. (ankle height).
Height
Thermostat setpoint temperature. This temperature is different from the
Setpoint Air Temperature average temperature in the occupied zone. This is the temperature that
I -P °F Tset
(at 48 in.) has to be set at the thermostat to obtain Toz,avg in a thermally stratified
environment.
Air Temperature at 67 in.
I -P °F T67 Air temperature at 67 in. (head height for a standing person).
Height
Temperature exiting the room at ceiling height and entering the return
Return Air Temperature I -P °F TR
plenum.
Temperature exiting the zone return plenum. This is not the air
temperature going to the AHU. The return plenum air temperatures for
Return Plenum Air the different zones on a given floor have to be properly weighted
I -P °F TRP
Temperature (depending on airflow rates) to calculate the average air temperature
returning to the AHU from that floor. This calculation is not performed in
the design tool.
Average temperature in the occupied zone. The design tool determines
the airflow rate that, for the given boundary conditions, makes Toz,avg =
Average Temperature in
I -P °F Toz,avg Toz,avg,d. We believe that this temperature is closer to the one perceived
the Occupied Zone
by people in a thermally stratified environment, as opposed to the
setpoint temperature at the thermostat height of 48 in. (1.2 m).
Air temperature difference between head (67 in.) and ankle (4 in.) heights
Temperature difference of a standing occupant. According to ASHRAE 55-2004, the maximum
between the head and allowable temperature difference between head and ankle is 5.4°F (3°C).
I -P °F ΔToz
the ankle (from 67 in. to 4 If the temperature difference is higher that 5.4°F a red circle appears
in.) next to the number, if it is lower than 5.4°F a green circle appears, and if
it is equal a yellow circle appears.
Airflow (through diffusers) I -P cfm/ ft2 Q Airflow rate through the diffusers expressed in cfm/ft2.
Airflow rate per diffuser. In the design condition this value should be
Airflow per diffuser I -P cfm/ diff. Q
equal to or less than the value recommended by the diffuser vendor.
Design airflow (through
I -P cfm/ ft2 Qroom Total (combined) room airflow rate (Qroom) expressed in cfm/ft2.
diffusers & leakage)
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Design Cooling Load
Calculated for an Design cooling load calculated for an overhead (mixing) system
I -P W WOH
Overhead (mixing) expressed in W.
System
The UFAD Cooling Load Ratio (UCLR) is the ratio of the cooling load
UFAD Cooling Load
I -P UCLR calculated for UFAD to the cooling load calculated for a well mixed
Ratio (UCLR)
system (e.g. Overhead or mixing ventilation).
Supply Plenum Fraction The Supply Plenum Fraction (SPF) is the ratio of the cooling load
I -P - SPF
(SPF) removed in the supply plenum to the total UFAD cooling load.
The Zone Fraction (ZF) is the ratio of the cooling load removed in the
Zone Fraction (ZF) I -P - ZF
zone (room) to the total UFAD cooling load.
Return Plenum Fraction The Return Plenum Fraction (RPF) is the ratio of the cooling load
I -P - RPF
(RPF) removed in the return plenum to the total UFAD cooling load.
UFAD Cooling Load I -P W W Design cooling load that the UFAD system has to remove.
UFAD Cooling Load I -P W/ft2 W Same as above, but expressed in W/ft2.
Supply Plenum Cooling
I -P W - Cooling load in the supply plenum.
Load
Supply Plenum Cooling
I -P W/ft2 - Same as above, but expressed in W/ft2.
Load
Zone Cooling Load I -P W - Cooling load in the zone (room).
Zone Cooling Load I -P W/ft2 - Same as above, but expressed in W/ft2.
Return Plenum Cooling
I -P W - Cooling load in the return plenum.
Load
Return Plenum Cooling
I -P W/ft2 - Same as above, but expressed in W/ft2.
Load
Length of the Linear Bar Grille in inches. The value is input in a pop-up
Length of the Linear Bar box when in the “Linear Bar Grille” option is selected in "Diffuser Type"
P In. -
Grill input field for the perimeter zone. The default value is 18 in.
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Zone. I-P = the description is applicable to both interior and perimeter zones; I = the description is applicable only to
interior zone; P = the description is applicable only to perimeter zones.