Energy and Sustainability in Museums. The Plant Refurbishment of the Medieval Building of Palagio di Parte Guelfa in Florence

Carla  Balocco; Enrico  Marmonti

doi:10.4236/ojee.2012.13004

Carla Balocco^*, Enrico Marmonti

Abstract: This paper presents a performance-based design of a HVAC plant and controller system of the “Palagio di Parte Guelfa” Palace, a medieval building converted into a museum in the city of Firenze. Transient simulations to evaluate the internal microclimate conditions during the year for the building and the different system plant were carried out. A comparison between the indoor microclimatic parameters obtained and the values suggested by the standards on protection and conservation of historical works of art, suggested a non-invasive and reversible plant system solution. The MuseumofHistorical Footballbuilding portion is the case study. The proposed plant, a constant air flow system coupled with radiant panels dry mounted above the existing flooring, was simulated throughout the year under transient conditions to evaluate its energy performance. This solution ensures indoor temperature and humidity values suitable for the conservation of works of art and visitor comfort. It is an example of a possible course of action for a plant refurbishment in a historic building converted into a museum, located in climatic regions characterized by high thermal and solar loads. The present paper concerns the study of an integrated and reversible architectural-plant solution proposed: reversibility of the proposed system is understood as the possibility for the present conditions being easily restored.

Keywords: Energy Efficiency; Retrofit Solution; Conservation; Museum; Reversible Plant Systems

Cite this paper: Balocco, C. and Marmonti, E. (2012) Energy and Sustainability in Museums. The Plant Refurbishment of the Medieval Building of Palagio di Parte Guelfa in Florence. Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, 1, 31-47. doi: 10.4236/ojee.2012.13004.

References

[1] A. M. Papadopoulos, A. Avgelis and M. Santamouris, “Energy Study of a Medieval Tower Restored as a Museum,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 35, No. 9, 2003, pp. 951-961. doi:10.1016/S0378-7788(03)00025-2

[2] C. Del Curto and M. Fratelli, “Historical Building as Museums: Building and Artworks Preservation; Plans for Existing System Restoration and Integration,” IL Prato, Vicenza, 2010.

[3] AICARR, “Tecnologie Impiantistiche per i Musei,” Pro- ceedings of Italian Congress, Roma, 6 May 2005.

[4] D. Del Curto, “Indoor Environment and Preservation,” Nardini, Firenze, 2011.

[5] A. W. M. Van Schijndel, H. L. Schellen, J. L. Wijffelaars and K. Van Zundert, “Application of an Integrated Indoor Climate HVAC and Showcase Model for the Indoor Cli- mate Performance of a Museum,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 40, No. 4,2008, pp. 647-653. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.04.021

[6] C. Balocco and G. Grazzini, “Plant Refurbishment in Historical Buildings Turned into Museum,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 39, No. 6, 2007, pp. 693-701. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.06.012

[7] Bentley Software, “TAS Building Simulator, 9.2.1.3 Ver- sion.”

[8] ISO 6946:2007, “Building Components and Building Ele- ments—Thermal Resistance and Thermal Transmittance— Calculation Method.”

[9] Comitato Termotecnico Italiano, “CTI Standard Year of Tuscany-Italy Referring to UNI EN ISO 15927-4:2005 Hygrothermal Performance of Buildings. Calculation and Presentation of Climatic Data—Part 4: Hourly Data for Assessing the Annual Energy Use for Heating and Cool- ing.”

[10] UNI EN 10339:1995, “Air-Conditioning Systems for Ther- mal Comfort in Buildings. General, Classification and Requirements. Offer, Order and Supply Specifications.”

[11] UNI EN ISO 15265:2005, “Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment-Risk Assessment Strategy for the Preven- tion of Stress or Discomfort in Thermal Working Condi- tions.”

[12] N. Rossi, “Manuale del Termotecnico,” 3rd Edition, Hoepli, Milano, 2010.

[13] ASHRAE, “Handbook of Fundamentals, American Society of Heating,” Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, 1997.

[14] M. Gough, “A New Method for the Calculation of Heat Transfer in Walls and Roofs,” CIB International Sym- posium on System Simulation in Buildings, Liege, 6-9 December 1982.

[15] L. A. Pipes, “Matrix Analysis of Heat Transfer Problems,” Franklin Institute Journal, Vol. 263, No. 3, 1957, pp. 195- 205. doi:10.1016/0016-0032(57)90927-4

[16] Italian Standards D.P.R. No.412:1993 and D.P.R. No.551: 1999, “Regolamento Recante Norme per la Progettazione, L’installazione, L’esercizio e la Manutenzione Degli Im- pianti Termici Degli Edifici ai fini del Contenimento dei Consumi di Energia.”

[17] Italian Standard D.M. 10-05-2001, “Atto di Indirizzo sui Criteri Tecnico-Scientifici e Sugli Standard di Funzio- namento e Sviluppo dei Musei.”

[18] UNI EN 15757:2010, “Conservation of Cultural Prop- erty-Specifications for Temperature and Relative Humid- ity to Limit Climate—Induced Mechanical Damage in Or- ganic Hygroscopic Materials.”

[19] Italian Standard UNI 10829:1999, “Beni di Interesse Storico Artistico. Condizioni Ambientali di Conservazione. Misurazione ed Analisi.”

[20] ASHRAE, “Handbook: HVAC Applications,” American Society of Heating, Refrigerating Air-Conditioning En- gineers Inc., Atlanta, 2003.

[21] D. Camuffo, et al., “Church Heating and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage,” Mondadori Electa, Milano, 2007.

[22] ASHRAE, “ASHRAE Handbook HVAC Systems and Equipment (SI),” American Society of Heating, Refriger- ating Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, 2008.

[23] M. Vio, “Impianti Energeticamente Positivi,” AICARR Jour- nal, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2011, pp. 22-31.