Community Environmental Center » Mechanical Systems for Architects

Mechanical Systems for Architects

To schedule a seminar contact us!

1 hour

Purpose: To introduce HVAC and mechanical systems to architects, and how they effect the energy usage in a building.

Objectives:

1) Heat loss and heat gain, or, why we use mechanical systems.

Cooling Season
Heating Season
Relationship of “R” values; What good R-values are, and how they either let heat escape or enter, depending on the season.
Internal heat gain; Electronics, equipment, and people all create internal heat gains.
Solar heat gain; Solar heat gain places enormous challenges on creating a comfortable, uniform temperature throughout a building.

2) Boilers and heat transfer

Burning fuel; Chemical energy conversion.
Hydronic heat transfer; Transferring chemical energy to water for distribution.
Basic boiler; How a boiler works.
Condensing boilers
Why are they more efficient? A condensing boiler merely uses additional surface area on the hydronic heat exchanger to transfer more of the chemical energy from the fuel to the water.
Why do they condense? If more of the heat is transferred to the water for distribution to the building, than the temperature of the exhaust is lowered. When the temperature is lowered, there is extra condensation that accumulates within the boiler that must be disposed of.
Supporting systems to condensing boilers; Condensing boilers are at their most efficient when the water returns to the boiler at a low temperature. Certain heat exchangers work best (see #3)

3) Heat exchangers

4) Other kinds of heating

Electric resistance; Electric resistance works just like a toaster. The efficiency rate at the point of use is high, but because of efficiency losses during generation and transmission, and the high cost of electricity, it is neither cost-effective nor efficient.
Blown air; Air has a low thermal density, meaning it is much more difficult (i.e. takes more energy) to move heat via air than water, which is denser.

5) Packaged Thermal A/C units (PTACs)

6) Central Chillers

Contact
Main
More+
About CEC

Affiliated Organizations