Introduction

Properly designed and operated HVAC systems are critical to support comfortable and healthy building indoor environments. This practical course will develop your knowledge of the principles of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems found in commercial building applications. Attend and learn more about HVAC technologies to help you better understand how and where they are applied.

Target audience

• Facility managers 

• Facility engineers 

• Architects

• Project managers with HVAC responsibilities 

• Anyone needing an overview of HVAC systems

Outline

Introduction to HVAC

• The need for HVAC

• References, standards, and codes

• Terms, definitions, and units

• HVAC system type overview

• Ventilation and air quality

• Buildings and energy efficiency           

Psychrometrics

• Properties of moist air

• Psychrometric chart

• Sensible and latent

• Combined processes

• Mixing of air streams

Heating and Cooling Loads

• Loads and energy

• Heat transfer

• Weather data

• Infiltration and ventilation

• Cooling load calculations

Refrigeration

• Definitions

• Refrigerant selection

• Safety considerations

• Pressure and enthalpy

• Phase change concepts

• Vapor compression cycle

• System components   

All Air Systems

• Definition of “all air systems”

• Types of all supply and return air systems

  • Recirculating / Mixed Air Systems

  • Dedicated Outside Air (DOAS) Systems

  • Overhead / Dilution Type: Constant Volume (CAV) and Variable Volume (VAV)

  • Displacement / UFAD Type

• Types of exhaust systems

  • General – Toilet, etc.

  • Laboratory, process, or other specialty systems

• Types of central equipment

  • Packaged / Unitary systems

  • Split systems

  • Air handling units

  • Fans

• Types of terminal equipment

  • Air Terminal Units / VAV Boxes

  • Grilles, Registers, & Diffusers

• System Comparison – Advantages / Disadvantages

• Hybrid approaches

  • Applications / Examples 

Hydronic Systems

• Definition of “Hydronics”

  • Comparison to air systems

• Types of hydronic systems

  • Heating Hot Water

  • Chilled Water

  • Condenser Water: Tower and Geo-exchange

  • Glycol Water

• Types of central equipment

  • Boilers

  • Chillers

  • Cooling Towers / Fluid Coolers

  • Pumps

  • Heat Exchangers

• Types of terminal equipment

  • Coils

  • Unit Heaters

  • Fan Coil Units

  • Chilled Beams

  • Radiant

• System Comparison – Advantages / Disadvantages

Steam and Steam Condensate

• Definition of “steam”

  • Comparison to air and hydronic systems

  • ASME Codes / Safety

• Types of steam and condensate systems

  • Low Pressure

  • High Pressure

  • Condensate Collection: Gravity return, Pumped return, Vacuum

• Types of central equipment

  • Boilers

  • Heat Exchangers

  • Make-up water systems

• Types of terminal equipment

  • Coils

  • Humidifiers

  • Unit Heaters

  • Fan Coil Units

  • Radiant

• System Comparison - Advantages / Disadvantages

• Applications / Examples

Field Tour - Wisconsin Energy Institute

Controls: Building Automation Systems

• Definition / Purpose of “Building Automation System (BAS)”

• Types of HVAC control systems

  • Local

  • Centralized (Building-wide)

  • Pneumatic

  • Direct Digital Control

  • Pneumatic-Hybrid

  • Programmable Logic Control (PLC)

• Type of control equipment

  • Valves

  • Dampers

  • Actuators

  • Sensors and thermostats

• Types of Controls

  • Proportional/Modulating Control Concepts

  • Open/Closed Loop Control 

• Wisconsin Energy Institute 

  • Sequence of Operations

  • Mechanical Flow Diagrams