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Doc-20230508-Wa0013 230719 215217 (9899)
Doc-20230508-Wa0013 230719 215217 (9899)
HVAC ENGINEER
Step 1 | Review thermal-fluids
Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Fluid Mechanics
are the fundamental concepts that every HVAC
Engineer need to understand.
If you got your engineering degree a while ago and forgot some of the concepts,
don’t worry! It only takes a few weeks for you to review thermal fluid fundamentals as
you only need to refresh your memory on concepts. See next page for a list of concepts
that you need to review.
Gas Mixtures:
• Mixture of Ideal Gases
• Model of Gas-Vapor
Mixture
• Energy Equation for Gas-
Vapor Mixtures
• Adiabatic Saturation
Process
• Wet-Bulb, Dry-Bulb, and
Psychrometric Chart
By Yunus Cengel and Michael Boles By Bruce R. Munson, Donald F. by Frank P. Incropera, David P.
Young, Theodore H. Okiishi DeWitt, Theodore L. Bergman,
Adrienne S. Lavine
Air Systems
• Supply Air
Air Types • Return/Circulation Air
• Exhaust Air
• Coils (Greenheck)
• Unit Heaters (Modine)
Hydronic Terminal Equipment
• Fan Coil Units (Daikin, Carrier)
• Chilled Beams (York, Titus)
However, before using a software for energy analysis, you need to learn about the
followings to be able to have the right input for your calculation by software:
Currently, Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) and Trane Trace 700 (or Trace 3D Plus) are
widely used in the United States for HVAC system design. Both of them can provide
calculations in Metric (SI) and US Customary (IP) units. You can also import weather data
for any location in the world to the software. So, you can use them for any commercial
project, anywhere in the world!
Trace 3D HAP
Moreover, you need to learn how to layout pipes to provide heating hot water, chilled
water, or condenser water to HVAC equipment. You need to learn how to calculate
pressure drop in the piping network to select the right pump that provides the required
hydronic flow and pressure for your system.
For a small equipment that costs less than $50,000, you can typically find the right
equipment on the manufacturer’s website. For a large equipment that can cost up to
$1,500,000, you need to contact a professional sales engineer to receive the right
selection.
Below is a list of some of the largest equipment manufacturers. Make sure to check out
their website and download equipment brochures, catalogs, and submittals.
• Trane
Heating and cooling equipment • Daikin
• Carrier
• Greenheck
Fans
• Twin City
• Fulton
Boilers
• Laars
For simple systems such as a thermostatically controlled fans, the sequence of operation
is very easy to design. But for multi-component systems such as a DOAS with cooling,
heating, energy recovery, and dehumidification features the sequence of operation is
complex and requires study and coordination with the equipment’s manufacturer.
You need to learn how to design sequence of operation for HVAC systems. You can start
by learning about sequence of operation of simple systems such as split and packaged
heat pumps.
Since 2015, when companies around the world started using Revit and Building
Information Modelling (BIM) more often for new projects, AutoCAD has been mainly
used for existing building projects which are mostly in 2D. It is because Revit is a better
software for 3D design and BIM in new construction projects.
However, there are billions of constructed projects with only 2D drawings. Almost all of
these projects, which are now existing buildings and systems, need renovation in the
future. This means that AutoCAD will remain a key software for HVAC engineers for the
foreseeable future.
As an HVAC engineer, you only need to learn the basics of AutoCAD and its MEP toolset.
You do not need to spend weeks or even months to learn all the AutoCAD tools that you
will never use for HVAC design.
Revit is so widely used that almost all major HVAC equipment manufacturers offer free
Revit models of their equipment for you to use in your projects.
Revit has tools for Architectural, Structural, Interior, Electrical, and Mechanical
disciplines. Designing systems in Revit is an essential skill for all HVAC engineers, and
you definitely need to learn this skill. However, you only need to learn the basics of Revit
and its Mechanical design features. You don’t need to spend weeks or even months on
learning the tools that you will never use.