UFC 3-400-02
28 FEBRUARY 2003
2-6
DATA SET PAGES 5 THROUGH 9: TEMPERATURE BIN DATA. Figures
2-5 through 2-9 are examples of Data Set Pages 5 through 9, respectively. These
tables show the number of hours that temperatures occur in 5 Fahrenheit degree (3
Celcius degree) bins of specific 8-hour daily periods during a given month. The 8-hour
periods are based upon a 24-hour clock and displayed in Local Standard Time (LST).
For each month, the number of observations for each temperature bin during each of
the specific 8-hour periods of the day appear in a column under the specific Hour
Group (LST). The total number of observations (hours) in each temperature bin is
displayed in the "Total Obs" column for the month. The mean coincident wet bulb
temperature is the mean value of all those wet bulb temperatures that occur
coincidentally with the dry bulb temperatures in the particular 5 temperature bin. At the
upper, or warmer, end of the mean coincident wet bulb distribution, the values
occasionally reverse their trend because the highest wet bulb temperatures do not
necessarily occur with the highest dry bulb temperatures. There are 13 such tables,
one for each month and one representing the overall annual summary (Data Set Page
9).
2-6.1
Suggestions for Use. Binned summaries are used by many different
technical disciplines for different purposes. They are useful in making informal
estimates of energy consumption by cooling and heating equipment, and for gaining a
general understanding of patterns of temperature and moisture at different times of the
day, month, and year.
NOTE: Do not use these binned summaries to calculate design moisture loads.
2-6.2
Comments. These particular binned summaries are based on the dry bulb
temperature. After each observation has been placed into a dry bulb bin, the average
humidity ratio is calculated for all observations in each bin. Consequently, dry bulb bins
underestimate the magnitude of dehumidification and humidification loads because the
averaging calculation "flattens" the peaks and valleys of humidity ratios. The amount of
the underestimation varies according to the intended humidity control level.
15