Meet Peter
Name: Peter Armstrong
Research interest: Water and Environmental Engineering
Email: parmstrong@masdar.ac.ae
Research Summary
Estimates of daily electrical cooling load for a city of 800,000 are developed based on the relationship between weather variables and daily – average electricity consumption over 1 year. The relationships found to be nearly linear above a threshold temperature. Temperature and humidity were found to be the largest, at 59%, and second largest, at 21%, contributors to electrical cooling load. Direct normal irradiation intercepted by a vertical cylinder, DNI sin θ, was found to be a useful explanatory variable when modeling aggregates of buildings without a known or dominant orientation. The best study case model used DNI sin θ, and diffuse horizontal irradiation (DHI) as distinct explanatory variables with annual electrical cooling load contributions of 9% and 11% respectively. Although the seasonal variation in electrical cooling load is large – on peak summer days more than 1.5 times the winter base load – the combined direct and diffuse solar contribution is essentially flat through the year, a condition at odds with the common assumption that solar cooling always provides a good match between supply and demand. The final model gives an electrical cooling load estimate forAbu Dhabi Island that corresponds to 40% of the total annual electrical load and 61% on the peak day.
Peter’s Work
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Selected Publications
(Further details on Peter’s ResearchGate profile page)
Zakula, T., N.T. Gayeski, P.R. Armstrong and L.K. Norford, 2011. Variable-speed heat pump model for a wide range of cooling conditions and load, (in review) ASHRAE Transactions
Journals, Transactions, Invited and Peer-reviewed Conference Papers
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Laughman, C.R., et al. Power signature analysis, IEEE Power and Energy, 1(2):56-63, 2003.
Armstrong, P.R., S. Katipamula, and D.R. Conover, New Technology Field Evaluation of Gas-Engine-Driven Rooftop Air-Conditioning Equipment at the Willow Grove (PA) Naval Air Station, 1994 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (see also Reports: Armstrong and Katipamula, 1996).
Armstrong, P.R., C.E. Hancock and J.E. Seem. Commercial building temperature recovery–Part II: Experimental verification of the step response model, ASHRAE Transactions, 98(1) 1992
Seem, J.E., P.R. Armstrong and C.E. Hancock. Algorithms for predicting recovery time from night setback, ASHRAE Transactions, 95(1) 1989
Bechtel, T.N. and P.R. Armstrong. Room air stratification model for TRNSYS, Proceedings of the American Section, International Solar Energy Society. Boston, 1988.
Armstrong, P.R. and P.D. Heerman. Microprocessor-based hot-wire anemometry system for measuring air movement within the CSU Solar thermal test facility, First National Conference on Microcomputer Applications for Conservation and Renewable Energy, 1985.
Armstrong, P.R., Analysis of Building Dynamics in the Frequency Domain, Invited Paper, SERI Workshop on Frequency Analysis Methods (January 1985) Golden, CO.
Burns, P.J., P.R. Armstrong and C.B. Winn, Summertime Test Results from the REPEAT Facility, ASME Solar Energy Division Sixth Annual Technical Conference, 8-12 April 1984, Las Vegas, NV.
Burns, P.J., P.R. Armstrong, C.B. Winn, Passive Solar/Gas Fired Heating System Characterization and Development, ASES Passive Division Conference, September 1983, Santa Fe, NM.
Winn, C.B. and P.R. Armstrong, Solar Heating and Cooling Control Subsystems, commissioned survey paper, National Bureau of Standards Workshop on Controls, 12 Aug 1983; also appears as Appendix B of Research Priorities for Improving the Effectiveness of Active Solar Hot Water and Space Conditioning Systems, by Robert D. Dikkers, et al, NBSIR 84-2980, 1984 Gaithersburg, MD.
Armstrong, P.R.. Instrumentation of solar heating and cooling systems at CSU, invited paper, Second Annual Workshop on Performance Monitoring, Florida Solar Energy Center, 1983
Cox, Michael and P.R. Armstrong. A statistical model for the incidence of large hail on solar collectors, Solar Energy, Vol. 26, No. 2 (1981) Oxford, U.K.
Armstrong, P.R., and T.N. Bechtel, An integrated discrete-state controller module for TRNSYS, ASME Systems Simulation and Economic Analysis Conference, 1978
Karaki, S., G.O.G. Lof and P.R. Armstrong, Space Heating with Solar All-Air Systems–CSU Solar House II, Proceedings International Solar Energy Society Conference, Jan 1978, New Delhi.
Bechtel, T.; Armstrong, P.; Karaki, S., Instrumentation and performance analysis of Solar House II, Proc. U.S. Section, International Solar Energy Society Conference , June 1977, Orlando, FL.
Armstrong, P.R., Intermediate-Level-of-Rigor Method for Solar Heating System Performance Prediction, Proc. U.S. Section, International Solar Energy Society Conference , June 1977, Orlando, FL.
Armstrong, P.R. Optimization of solar heating systems, Colorado Engineer, 71(2) 1975.
Conference Papers and Presentations
A. Qadir and P.R. Armstrong, Hybrid liquid-air transpired solar collector: model development and sensitivity analysis, ASME IMECE2010-40571 Vancouver, November 2010
Meyers S., A. Qadir, I. Rubalcaba, M. Mokhtar, M. Chiesa, and P. Armstrong: “Development of a correlation between luminous intensity and solar flux for the beam-down tower configuration. SolarPACES 2010 Conference
Mokhtar, M., M.T. Ali, P.R. Armstrong and M. Chiesa, “Solar cooling in Abu Dhabi: prospects and challenges,” Int’l Conf. Renewable Energy: Generation and Applications, Al Ain, UAE, March 2010
Rubalcaba I., S. Meyers, A. Qadir, M. Mokhtar, S. Mirzaie, P. Armstrong and M. Chiesa: Modeling a PCM storage unit for solar thermal cooling in the Masdar City, SolarPACES 2010 Conference
S. Katipamula, P.R. Armstrong, W. Wang, N. Fernandez, H. Cho, Efficient low-lift cooling with radiant distribution, thermal storage and variable-speed chiller controls, CLIMA 2010, May 10th, 2010, Antalya, Turkey
Armstrong, P.R., Advanced cooling strategies with focus on active core cooling and optimal model-based predictive control, Uponor Technology Seminar, Hamburg, DE. May 2010.
Chiesa, M., Y. Tamaura and P.R. Armstrong , Concentrated Solar Power Deployment in the UAE: Research Needs, Int’l Conf. Renewable Energy: Generation and Applications, Al Ain, UAE, March 2010.
Ali, M.T., M. Mokhtar, M. Chiesa, P.R. Armstrong, Analysis of weather sensitivity to electrical demand in Abu Dhabi Island, Int’l Conf. Renewable Energy: Generation and Applications, Al Ain, UAE, March 2010
Stenner, R.D., D.L. Hadley, P.R. Armstrong, J.W. Buck, B.L. Hoopes, G.M. Gelston, and M.C. Janus. Indoor Air (Complex Building) Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Health Modeling and Assessment System (IA-NBC-HMAS), Risk Analysis (Society for Risk Analysis) 2001
Armstrong, P.R., E.E. Richman, D.R. Dixon, and S. Rowley, Large-Scale DSM Verification at Fort Drum, New York, ASHRAE Annual Meeting, San Diego, June 1995.
Armstrong, P.R., and D.R. Conover, Field Evaluation of Gas Engine-Driven Rooftop Air-Conditioning Equipment at the Willow Grove (PA) Naval Air Station, EPA 1994 Energy & Environmental Management Conf., PNL-SA-23880, March 1994.
C. B. Winn, A. Kirkpatrick, and F. de Winter, A Gas-Fired Heat Pipe Zone Heater for Passive Solar Buildings, Proceedings of the 8th National Passive Solar Conference, ASES, Santa Fe, NM, 1983.
Armstrong, P.R., and T.N. Bechtel, An Integrated Discrete-State Controller Module for TRNSYS. ASME Systems Simulation and Economic Analysis for Solar Heating and Cooling Conference, June 1978, San Diego, CA.
Karaki, S. and P.R. Armstrong, Experience with Instrumentation, Data Acquisition, and Monitoring Systems for an Air Heating Solar System, Conference on Performance Monitoring Techniques for Evaluation of Solar Heating and Cooling Systems , 3-4 April 1978, Washington, D.C.
Karaki, S. and P.R. Armstrong, Air Conditioning by Nocturnal Evaporative Cooling of a Pebble-Bed,. Solar Cooling Conference, 15-17 Feb 1978, San Francisco, CA.
Laboratory Directed R & D Reports
Armstrong, P.R., and M. Friedrich, Off-peak Cooling by Flash Freezing of Water, Phase II Final Report, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, December 1995.
Armstrong, P.R., and M. Friedrich, Off-peak Cooling by Direct-Contact Open- and Closed-Cycle Ice Making, Phase I Final Report, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, October 1994.
Booklets, Patents, Communications
Books
ASHRAE, Handbook: Systems, Building Operation Dynamics (contributor) Chapter 38 of 1996 edition., Chapter 41 of 2010 edition.
Hunn, Bruce, editor, Engineering Principles and Concepts for Active Solar Systems, Chapter 12 on Instrumentation and Monitoring, SERI/SP-271-2892 (1987) Golden, CO.
Armstrong, P.R., N. Carlisle,,W. Davis, B.D. Hunn,T.A. King, C.F. Kutscher, J.G. Shingleton, T. Swanson, S. Weinstein, and C.B. Winn, C.B.
Theses and MIT ‘H-level’ Term Projects
Armstrong, P.R., Model Identification with Application to Building Control and Fault Detection, PhD Thesis, Building Technology, MIT, 2004 (see 2006 ASHRAE papers)
Armstrong, P.R., Pump Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) Based on Electrical Startup Transient, MIT ME 2.141: Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems, 2002 (see also MIT ME OCW)
Armstrong, P.R., How Weather Persistence Affects the Performance of Solar Space Heating Systems, MSME Thesis, Colorado State University, 1980.
Reports
Katipamula, S., P.R. Armstrong, W. Wang, N. Fernandez, H. Cho, W. Goetzler, J. Burgos, R. Radhakrishnan, and C. Ahlfeldt. Development of High-Efficiency Low-Lift Vapor Compression System – Final Report. PNNL-19227. 2010. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Katipamula, S., P.R. Armstrong, W. Wang, N. Fernandez, H. Cho, W. Goetzler, J. Burgos, R. Radhakrishnan, and C. Ahlfeldt. Cost-Effective Integration of Efficient Low-Lift Baseload Cooling Equipment: FY08 Final Report. PNNL-19114. 2010, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Chassin D.P., P.R. Armstrong, D.G. Chavarria, and R.T. Guttromson. Gauss-Seidel Accelerated: Implementing Flow Solvers on Field Programmable Gate Arrays. PNNL-15435, 2005, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA.
Armstrong, P.R. and M. Kintner-Meyer. Volume, Weight and Energy Requirements of Automotive Air Conditioners with Special Reference to SOFC Waste-Heat Actuated Machines, PNNL Internal Report, October, 2000.
Armstrong, P.R. and D.P. Chassin. White Paper: Distributed Terminal Heat Pump Concept for Better Comfort Control and HVAC Energy Efficiency, Internal Report, March 2000.
Armstrong, P.R., E.E. Richman, D.R. Dixon. Fort Drum Interior Lighting Retrofit Savings, FORSCOM Electronic Report, May 1998
Armstrong, P.R., J.A. Dirks, R.G. Lucas, B.Y. Nekrasov, D.W. Winiarski, V. Xhromchenkov. Measurement of Thermal Resistance of Apartment Building Walls in Four Russian Cities, report to the Foundation for Enterprise Restructuring and Financial Institutions Development, May 1998
Armstrong, P.R., B.Y. Nekrasov, R.W. Reilly. Equipment Installation Completion Report: EHDP Energy and Water Consumption Metering Equipment, report to the Foundation for Enterprise Restructuring and Financial Institutions Development, April 1998
Armstrong, P.R., D.L. Hadley, J.A. Dirks, R.G. Lucas, R.W. Reilly, D.W. Winiarski. Infiltration and Ventilation Model for EHDP Buildings, report to the Foundation for Enterprise Restructuring and Financial Institutions Development, January 1998
Armstrong, P.R., B.Y. Nekrasov, I. Sultanguzin, Infiltration Leak Characterization by Blower Door Tests, report to the Foundation for Enterprise Restructuring and Financial Institutions Development, November 1997
Reilly, R.W., P.R. Armstrong, and L.A. Klevgard, Post-Retrofit Energy Consumption-Ryazan Demonstration, Enterprise Housing Divestiture Project Report, July 1997
Reilly, R.W., P.R. Armstrong, and L.A. Klevgard, Pre-Retrofit Energy Consumption–Zhukovskij Demonstration, Enterprise Housing Divestiture Project Report, August 1996
Reilly, R.W., P.R. Armstrong, and L.A. Klevgard, Pre-Retrofit Energy Consumption–Ryazan Demonstration, Enterprise Housing Divestiture Project Report, May 1996
Anon. FORSCOM Executive Summary: Energy Savings Verification at Ft. Drum, 1996.
Armstrong, P.R., and J.M. Keller, Energy Use in Two Modular Office Buildings at Ft Irwin, California, PNL-8952, January 1994.
Armstrong, P.R., K.K. Daellenbach, and D.R. Dixon, Fort Drum Integrated Resource Assessment–Volume 1: Executive Summary, PNL-8424, September 1993.
Armstrong, P.R., C.R. Batishko, A.L. Dittmer, D.L. Hadley, and J.L. Stoops, Mobile Energy Laboratory Procedures, PNL-8838, September 1993.
Armstrong, P.R., J.M. Keller and D.R. Dixon, Griffiss AFB Integrated Resource Assessment–Volume 3: Resource Assessment, PNL-8545, March 1993.
Armstrong, P.R., C.E. Hancock and J.E. Seem, Temperature Recovery in Commercial Buildings, Theory, Experiment and Design Procedure, Final Report, ASHRAE Project 491-RP, March 1991.
Armstrong, P.R., et. al., Environment for Structured Implementation of General and Advanced HVAC Controls, Phase II Final Report, DOE Contract DE-AC02-85EWR80290-A003, January 1989.
Armstrong, P.R., et. al., HVAC Controller and Algorithms for Passive Solar Commercial Buildings, Final Report, DOE Contract DE-AC02-85EWR80290-A000, August 1986).
Armstrong, P.R., P.J. Burns, Allen Kirkpatrick, C. Byron Winn, Passive Solar/Gas Technology Characterization and Development, Final Report, GRI Contract No. 5082-243-0728, 1985.
Armstrong, P.R. and C.B. Winn, Control of Solar Collector Flow Rate at SFBP Site 1576, for Rockwell ETEC/FEMP, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, October 1985.
Winn, C.B., R.C. Winn, C. Bear and P.R. Armstrong, Systems Controls for Solar-Heating and Heat- and Cool-Storage Systems, Final Report, EM-3542, Electric Power Research Institute, May 1984.
Armstrong, P.R., P.J. Burns, A.T. Kirkpatrick and C.B. Winn. 1983. Passive Solar/Gas Technology Characterization and Development. Final Report, GRI 5082 243 0728.
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