Experimental Facilities UNSW

Laboratories and Experimental Facilities

In addition to the capability in strategic studies and local climate modelling, our research group has a strong experimental background, with the full capacity to assess the future implementation and the mitigation performance in the area under consideration. This is demonstrated by the relevant experience that includes both numerical modelling and experimental activity, and by the equipment available to our lab.

List of Equipment

Mobile Devices and Equipments

Energy Bus

It’s a moveable weather station with sensors mounted on an aluminium mast, extensible up to 20 m. The sensors include three weather stations to monitor at different heights the air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction. A net radiometer placed on top of the mast allows to measure incoming and reflected solar radiation (short-wave) and incoming and outgoing infrared radiation (long-wave), namely the thermal radiation emitted by the built environment. With the EnergyBus it’s possible to perform local measurements and assess the impact on the thermal balance of mitigation strategies. With the two pyranometers (which are part of the net radiometer) is possible to measure the albedo of an area when on the mast, or, on a tripod, of a limited extent surface such as a roof or a parking lot.

Drone

The drone is equipped with a fully radiometric infrared camera (measuring in the 7.5-14 μm wavelength range) and can perform aerial surveys (images and videos) of the surface temperatures in the built environment. A photo-camera provides images in the visible range as well. It may be used to assess the surface temperatures before and after mitigation.

Thermal Comfort Meter

It measures the mean radiant temperature, air temperature and relative humidity and wind velocity and may be used indoors and outdoors. It may be used to characterize the thermal comfort parameters in a precinct before and after a mitigation intervention (for instance a pilot study).

Air quality monitoring device

It may be used indoors or outdoors to measure the concentration of the following pollutants: ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and VOC (general), together with temperature and relative humidity. It may be used to assess the ozone levels in overheated areas.

Infrared camera

High performance thermal camera (type FLIR T540-42) and software. It may be handheld or mounted on the mast of the Energy Bus, where flying drones is restricted (e.g., close to airports). It provides infrared images (in the 7.5-14 m wavelength range) to the surface temperatures in the built environment. It may be used to map the temperature of urban surfaces in the precincts of interest.

Infrared cameras 

Compact, and fully featured thermal imaging camera, designed to fit into a shirt pocket.

• 80 x 60 infrared resolution (4,800 temperature pixels)
• 0.1°C thermal sensitivity for thermal imaging of subtle temperature differences
• Measure temperatures from -10°C to +150°C
• FLIR's patented MSX image enhancement technology

Temperature loggers (sensors and supporting structure)

LogTag TRIX-16 temperature recorder. High resolution temperature readings -40°C to +85°C, resolution: 0.1°C, accuracy: ±0.5°C for temperature between -20°C and +40°C and ±0.7°C for +40°C and +60°C

Portable cup anemometers

For instant wind speed measurements. Lutron Electronic CUP ANEMOMETER/BAROMETER/HUMIDITY/TEMP.

Model : ABH-4224

* Air velocity : 0.9 to 35.0 m/s, ft/min., km/h, mile/h, knots.

Infrared Thermometers (Pirometers)

 It provides a simple and convenient method of temperature measurement, without contact, so that the user is able to take fast temperature measurements in hard to reach places. Fast and Easy

• Non-Contact Surface Temperature Measurements
• 24:1 Distance to Spot Ratio
• Rugged, industrial design - Drop tested to 3 Metres
• Bright built in work light to illuminate dimly lit areas and targets
• Laser Guided Measurements
• Measurement Range from -30°C to +650°C

Mobile Thermal confort kits

It is a portable tripod able to measure air temperature and mean radiant temperature. Useful to make heat maps.

Surface temperature sensors

Plate-made sensor for surface temperature measurements. Its compact dimensions facilitate installation even in small spaces. It can be easily fixed using silicon, adhesive band or thermoconductive paste.

• Principle Pt100 1/3 DIN B (Class AA)
• Measurement range -50÷70°C/td>
• Accuracy 0,15°C (@0°C)
• Output Pt100 DIN-IEC 751 table (EN 6075)
• Resolution 0,01°C (M/R/E-Log)
• Response time (T90 air) 35 sec

Photometric Sensors

They measure light as seen by human eye. The LI-210R Photometric Sensor measures light with the same sensitivity as a typical human eye. The photometric sensor is ideal for evaluating illumination in work areas, exhibits, interior lighting, and in public spaces. Measurement units are lux or klux.

Air quality sensors

The Air Quality Egg version 2 Model D is a Wi-Fi enabled sensor unit which detects temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2). It displays readings on the front panel and uploads them to the internet via your Wi-Fi network.

Tracer gas, Gas monitoring instrument

Typical applications:

• Air Change Rate, or Age-of-air determination
• Infiltration (or inleakage) characterization
• Volumetric or mass flow rate measurement using tracer gas dilution
• Contaminant spread analysis, Re-circulation or re-entrainment testing
• Capture efficiency of extraction systems

Lab Equipments

UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer with integrating sphere

It’s a laboratory instruments to characterize the solar spectral reflectance of materials used in the built environment (and transmittance, for transparent materials). It measures in the 250-2500 nm wavelength range.
It may be used to measure how much materials reflect the sunlight (over the whole solar spectrum) and select them, prior to their large-scale deployment.

Emissometer

This is a portable differential thermopile emissometer that measures the hemispherical thermal emittance of opaque materials (according to the ASTM C 1371 standard).

Thermal constants analyser

This instrument is used for determining the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity from a single measurement. It utilizes specific sensors, to measure the thermal properties of solids, powders, pastes and foams.

Xenon arc weathering chamber

Xenon Arc chamber used to perform accelerated exposure of materials to full spectrum sunlight and rain.

Weather stations

12 weather stations measuring air temperature are already deployed in the Greater Sydney Area. 12 more have been procured and will be installed by the end of 2019. Two full weather stations measuring air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, and rainfall will be installed by the end of 2019, one on the coast and one in Western Sydney.


For more, visit :
https://www.be.unsw.edu.au/research/research-activities/high-performance-architecture-research-cluster/laboratories-and