Environmental Chamber

The contract involves the design and installation of an automated air enthalpy chamber with a capacity ranging from 60,000 to 300,000 Btu/h, intended for testing and environmental simulation purposes. The chamber will feature a stacked configuration, reaching a total height of 26 feet, with the upper chamber measuring 14 feet and the lower chamber 12 feet, both occupying a 22 by 22-foot floor area. The upper chamber must operate over an ambient temperature range of -32 to 66°C (-25 to 150°F), while the lower chamber is designed to simulate indoor temperatures from 7 to 66°C (45 to 150°F). The facility must comply with specific testing standards, including ASHRAE 37, and incorporate airflow tunnels (code testers) in each chamber, which should be integrated with an automated Data Acquisition System (DAS) to ensure accuracy, ease of use, and reliability. These code testers are to be designed and constructed in accordance with ASHRAE 37 standards, serving as secondary performance verification methods using either the Outdoor Air Enthalpy or Refrigerant Enthalpy test methods. The solicitation, posted under the number PR329505, is managed by ORNL UT-Battelle LLC for the DOE and is open for responses until December 19, 2024. The project is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with the primary point of contact being Laura Hyden. The contract aims to fulfill detailed specifications outlined in the attached documentation, ensuring the facility meets all required environmental and testing standards for performance validation.