Enhancing Performance of Large HVAC Systems in Libya to Optimize Energy and Water Consumption

Libya is a large country in northern Africa and the majority of its land area is desert. This research is a comparison of the performance in Libya between water-cooled and packaged air-conditioning for large buildings. This study utilized the simulation software eQUEST which is based on DOE-2. The steps of how to make models with this software and the selection of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are discussed. The research needed multiple input data sets that are difficult to obtain for Libya. First, this thesis describes the climates in Libya and what factors affect them. Then, how to create a weather file is described after collecting data from a weather station. The next needed data for this research was about the available energy resources which are electricity, water and natural gas. The last point that the research project needed before the simulations was about the HVAC systems that can be used in Libya. The HVAC units are divided into three groups which are split systems, unitary systems and chiller systems. Chiller systems are used for the large buildings of this study with water-cooled (cooling towers) and packaged (dry condensers) are the heat rejection options. Conclusions are drawn after the monthly and annual energy consumption are determined from eQUEST, and recommendations are made for Libya and future research.