Anatolijs Borodinecs

The extensive analysis of building energy performance across Baltic sea-region

In designing energy-efficient buildings, it is important not only to achieve well-balanced energy consumption but to also provide high parameters of indoor quality and thermal comfort, as well as to minimize environmental impact. Comprehensive analysis of many factors, such as thermal insulation, HVAC systems, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable architectural design, makes it possible to obtain such results. This research is devoted to some of the most important parameters, thermal insulation and ventilation, which have an effect on both the indoor air quality and the buildings energy efficiency. This study focuses on energy consumption analyses in major cities of Baltic Sea region, including the cities of Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Saint Petersburg. Currently, Saint Petersburgs regional construction market is significantly growing. That citys energy performance requirements are very different from Baltic countries with similar climatic conditions; the main reason for this discrepancy is the low price of fossil fuels. However, international leading construction companies are looking forward to implementing European Union best practices in Russia. The main goal of this study is to prove that the Baltic Sea regions energy-efficiency standards can be implemented in the Saint Petersburg region. This article provides a comparison of the countrys requirements for building energy efficiency and how the application of different standards in combination with ventilation alternatives in each analyzed city affects annual energy consumption in the Saint Petersburg region. IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (ICE) 4.7 dynamic simulation software was used to evaluate each countrys normative requirement effect on building energy consumption in different areas of the Baltic Sea region.

A study of the passive cooling potential in simulated building in Latvian climate conditions

In this paper authors point out that overheating in buildings during summer season is a major problem in moderate and cold climates, not only in warm climate zones. Mostly caused by solar heat gains, especially in buildings with large glazed areas overheating is a common problem in recently constructed low-energy buildings. At the same time, comfort demands are increasing. While heating loads can be decreased by improving the insulation of the building envelope, cooling loads are also affecting total energy demand. Passive cooling solutions allow reduction of heat gains, and thus reducing the cooling loads. There is a significant night cooling potential with low temperatures at night during summer in moderate and cold climates. Night cooling is based on cooling of buildings thermal mass during the night and heat accumulation during the day. This approach allows to provide thermal comfort, reducing cooling loads during the day. Authors investigate thermal comfort requirements and causes for discomfort. Passive cooling methods are described. The simulation modeling is carried out to analyze impact of constructions and building orientation on energy consumption for cooling using the IDA-ICE software. Main criteria for simulation analysis are energy consumption for cooling and thermal comfort.

Review of Heat Pumps Application Potential in Cold Climate

Nowadays heat pumps become very popular in the Latvian construction market. The most actual types are air to air and air to water heat pumps. The main reason is low initial investments. The overall season efficiency of heat pump is not widely addressed in existing researches. This paper aims to analyze already existing experience of heat pump application in cold climate. The most appropriate simulation tools were defined and simulation modules were developed. In addition, paper provides deep analysis of Latvian climate in order to get objective data on outdoor air and soil temperature fluctuation. Obtained results allow to reach European Regional Development Fund project “NEARLY ZERO ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR UNCLASSIFIED BUILDINGS” Nr. 1.1.1.116A048 main targets and provides collection and analyses of information for development of optimal mobile energy source.

Influence of Building Envelope Thermal Mass on Heating Design Temperature

The stability of indoor air parameters is a very important factor, essential for such institutions as museums, schools and hospitals. Nowadays the use of renewable energy for space heating became one of the top priorities in modern building design. The active and passive solar energy as well as heat pumps are widely used nowadays. However, such technologies have a limitation in cold climates and often are not able to cover maximal heating loads.This paper is devoted to analysis of influence of building envelopes properties and outdoor air parameters on indoor air thermodynamic parameters stability in winter time. It presents analysis of thermal mass impact on building energy performance and indoor air parameter stability in cold climate. The results show that the thermal mass of building envelope is able to cover extreme winter temperatures as well as in case of emergency heat supply break.

Analysis of Micro CHP Potential in Latvia

The self-sufficiency in the energy field of Latvia is only 35,9 % therefore it is important to think about more efficient and local energy production to provide energy safety whilst reducing the dependence on external factors. [11,12] The current legislation is not favourable for micro CHP unit implementation due to high requirements for electricity sales, however on-site consumption is an option. A good example is Carnikavas Darznieks Ltd micro CHP project, which helped the company to reduce gas consumption of 608 450 m3 and CO2 emissions of 1680 tons per annum. The awareness in Latvia is high due to the experience with CHP plants and there is an interest from foreign companies. With the right application, micro CHP is perspective new technology in Latvia.

Renovation of Multi-Apartment Building in Latvia

Residential buildings in Latvia are one of the essential heat consumers during the heating season. The majority of Latvian as well as European residential buildings were constructed within the period from 1965 to 1990. The average heat transfer coefficient of typical homogeneous single layer external wall of Latvian multi apartment building as well as all buildings constructed in USSR is 0.80 till 1.20W/(m2∙K) [1,2]. Paper presents study on multi apartment buildings renovation specifics in Latvia and its influence in total energy consumption.

Gradient composite metal-ceramic foam as supportive component for planar SOFCs and MIEC membranes

A novel approach to the design of planar gradient porous supports for the thin-film SOFCs and MIEC membranes is described. The supports thermal expansion is controlled by the creation of a two-component composite metal-ceramic foam structure. Thin MIEC membranes and SOFCs were prepared on the composite supports by the layerwise deposition of composite functional layers including complex fluorites and perovskites. Lab-scale studies demonstrated promising performance of both MIEC membrane and SOFC.