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Not many of regular office users know what HVAC system is. Some of us are aware that there is some kind of air conditioning unit installed to circulate the air in the building, but not many actually know the kind of industry involved in making us breath clean air. HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) is important because it provides a quality environment for people working in the buildings, so they can concentrate on their jobs rather then concentrating on their health. Ideal HVAC system has controlled air supply, ventilation of the clean and filtrated air and temperature control defined by the OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Agency) regulation. Put in simple terms if working in the office makes you sick, stuffy, gives you headaches and constant lack of concentration, chances are your HVAC was poorly designed/installed or maintained and needs to be fixed. In this paper, I am going to write about designing a good HVAC systems, ways of doing it, and technical progress that can make it easier. Currently, to design the HVAC systems most mechanicals engineers and HVAC consultants have to work with building architects to understand what are the certain facility’s needs. They work with architectural blueprints to calculate and design new HVAC system. All the calculations and designs are made manually, which takes a lot of time and creates a wide latitude for mistakes. For example, if the improper duct size was selected, while calculating the blueprint, the possible problems that may occur as an outcome are as follows: the piece of HVAC unit may not fit into the system of units which cause for re-calculation and re-do of that particular unit, therefore, making it hard to meet project’s deadline and causing to loose additional resources. Another possibility is that the improperly calculated piece may in fact fit into the system, but not meet the original airflow requirements creating such environment where there’s too much or not enough air coming to the building. Such mistakes can eventually lead hazardous to people spending most of their time in the buildings with bad air. Another downfall of manual calculation of HVAC is tracking existing blueprints for re-work. For instance, in case of building expansion, the existing HVAC system needs to be changed to meet the new parameters of the building. A lot of times it is very challenging for the building owners not only to track down the blueprints of existing HVAC system, but also to go through the numerous pages of those blueprints to determine how to expand. Current HVAC systems design and installations are very time consuming, costly and not always accurate. For such large industry as mechanical engineering, HVAC software that would perform accurate designs and calculations was long awaited for. Brad Fullmer, an editor of the F.W. Dodge Intermountain Contractor Magazine, in his article on HVAC says that in finding reasonable solutions for HVAC, two mechanical engineers from Salt Lake City, Ben Davis and Joe Simmons of Van Boerum & Frank Associates (VBF&A), Salt Lake City, along with VBF&A executives, have teamed up with software programming expert Alan Nicoll (formerly of Word Perfect) to develop a new Windows-based mechanical engineering software program that could have a profound impact on the industry. Team effort paid off when they came up with an intelligent new engineering software called HVAC Solution for designing and modeling new and existing heating and cooling systems. After several years of designing and testing, the software is now available for the industry. Capability to instantly see the design and effect and fast interacting features such as e-mail interactive features in thorough and presentable fashion, was one of the leading causes for approximately 10000 people to download the program since it was available on line, indicates Candice Macfarlane, an editor of an Intermountain Contractor Magazine, in her article published in December of 2001.
The development team realized a need for a software program that would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of traditional design, while aiding the continually progressive design-build market. Users will be able to visually design HVAC systems, utilizing the familiar Windows drag-and-drop format, by clicking on various system components and placing them within the schematic design. Once the HVAC components (pumps, chillers, boilers, coils, etc.) have been placed on the screen, the user simply connects the desired components together all relative information is automatically calculated. Once the components are connected into the schematic/diagram, the user has the ability to transfer information back and forth, without having to continually retrace steps and backtrack to change calculations and other pertinent information. "Its basically a big accountant that keeps track of your design/system," said Simmons. "Whatever you create on the screen, it automatically keeps a record of for system design/input you even have psychometric calculations of the system." Ben Davis, the co-founder and the president of HVAC Solutions recognized the need for a better HVAC solutions after constantly running into the problems when using the spreadsheet program Quattro Pro to help him make engineering calculations more consistent. Even though, the software was more helpful then other conventional methods of calculations, it was still very time consuming. "Necessity is the mother of
invention," said This further computer development overtime, more sophisticated CAD based engineering software emerged. Veterans of the industry acknowledged the helpful tools, but again were concerned with the fact the input data for CADs was gathered by hand or other electronic devised that did not interact with single software. The chances of accuracy were therefore diminished. Mistakes could have been made when transferring or gathering the information, and the time consumption for finding mistakes doubled or tripled. Having all these calculations inter-related to each in a single software program would be beneficial. HVAC Solution, besides its ease-of-use, provides an in-depth analysis of every aspect of a mechanical system. Unlike the current method of designs, which can easily get buried in a thick stack of papers, and filing cabinets, HVAC Solution allows the design information to be stored and retrieved easily throughout the various design and construction phases. All data is stored in a single computer file that can be retrieved instantly, and by multiple parties. This information may be passed from designer, to contractor, to owner. Completed projects can be easily modified to account for adjustments in new projects (Fullmer). A user of the system is able to make complex calculations and design changes with user friendly drop-down menus. Industry used associated equipment is pre-set and available wit a click of a button. For example, a pump can be changed to one of 12 types of pumps, including different manufacturer brands and models. Sizes, design details, different prices of equipment can be added and removed, with all changes being immediately updated and incorporated into a flow system diagram letting the user of the systems to see instantly the project changes. System also analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the changes made. "This program brings the design and construction team together by allowing options to be evaluated in a quick, efficient, and accurate manner," said Ron Peck of Ellsworth-Peck Construction, American Fork. "HVAC Solution will be a valuable design-build tool by allowing the mechanical systems to be designed to meet construction costs and fast-track schedules." (Fuller). HVAC Solution
technology may also be used to teach and train HVAC system designers and
engineers in Colleges and Universities to utilize the software effectively and
knowledgably. Val Simmons, a professor of 30 years teaching Mechanical
Engineering in the HVAC Solution
bridges the gap between HVAC theory and reality. For example, we have all had to
solve mathematical story problems. But, what use are they in real life? Lets
look at an actual example. One engineer had the following problem:
Mixed Air Enter the airflow rate of two air streams and their respective dry bulb temperatures. The mixed air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, relative humidity and enthalpy are calculated. Fan Laws Choose what you want to calculate: airflow, fan static pressure, fan brake-horsepower or fan motor speed. Fluid Properties Select a fluid type, water, ethylene or propylene glycol. Corresponding specific heat, density and thermodynamic factors are calculated. Pump Laws Choose what you want to calculate: flow, heat, brake-horsepower or motor speed (AutomatedBuildings.com). Tools described above are only a portion of the HVAC solutions capability. The software can be used in analyzing future system upgrades and modifications, it allows for situational simulations (“what if’s”), graphic displays both sides of HVAC system (hydronic and airside) by modeling them simultaneously, and last but not least tracking system capability, making it easier to evaluate possible future changes to the system (Davis). "As a company, we've always tried to be on the leading edge in our industry," said Simmons. "We want to use (HVAC Solution) as a tool to help engineers, owners, contractors and others in the (mechanical) engineering industry. This hasn't been an easy process. It has taken six years of going over equations and looking at relationships and compiling data sheets. But as far as we know, there’s nothing out there like this." (Fuller)
In conclusion, I would like to add that software development in mechanical engineering is very important. Software such as HVAC Solutions not only saves money and time in designing and calculating ventilation systems, it will ultimately affect us, building occupants, in a positive way providing us with safer and cleaner air, at less cost. Works Cited Ben Davis, P.E. “HVAC Calculations made easy”
Plant Services Magazine. April 2002 Brad Fullmer “HVAC Solution. How Mechanical Engineering Software Should Have Major Impact on Industry” Automated Buildings Magazine. February 1999 <http://www.automatedbuildings.com/frame_news.htm> Candice L. Macfarlane
“HVAC Solution – The
Intelligent New Engineering Tool” Intermountain Contractor (A Publication of The McGraw-Hill Companies). December 2001 <http://hvacsolution.com/HVAC/act_articles.php?article=3> Joseph V. Simmons
“ Automated Buildings Magazine. May 2001 <http://www.automatedbuildings.com/frame_news.htm> |
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