Month: November 2017

Air Handling Units

Air Handling Units

Air Handling Units

11/12/17

“How can we regulate the flow of air in a building’s ductwork?”

 

Air in a building ductwork needs to be regulated and circulated in order for our HVAC systems to work. However, this can not be done automatically and requires a machine to do so. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to solve this problem? Well, what if we were to simply construct a machine that can take in air, heat or cool it with a coil, and then return it as circulated air? Well, this is the fundamental idea behind an air handling unit and has become a staple of buildings worldwide. Air handling units often have integrated control systems to assist in dealing with complex environments

Industrial Applications of Humidifiers

Industrial Applications of Humidifiers

Industrial Applications of Humidifiers

11/11/17

“How can we design humidifiers for industrial needs?”

 

Humidifiers are widely used to make personal spaces much more habitable. However, can this technology be utilized for industrial applications as well? Well, it turns out that many processes actually need to be undertaken in less dry conditions because static air friction becomes more prevalent. To illustrate, the this buildup of dry air in data centers and manufacturing facilities could cause static electricity to discharge. Art museums also need to keep paintings at a certain humidity to protect works of art. As you can see, there are in fact many many industrial applications of humidifiers!

Humidifiers

Humidifiers

Humidifiers

11/10/17

“How can we increase the humidity of a building using machinery?”

 

When humans are immersed in overly dry environments for too long, they may develop health issues such as dry mucus. However, given that we are in the modern technological age, we can stop this issue if only we apply our engineering mindsets. The fruit of such an effort is a contraption known as a humidifier, which adds moisture to the atmosphere to create a more habitable environment.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Displacement Ventilation

Benefits and Drawbacks of Displacement Ventilation

Benefits and Drawbacks of Displacement Ventilation

11/09/17

“What are the benefits and drawbacks of displacement ventilation?”

 

Displacement ventilation is a technology with quite a bit of potential behind it. These systems typically provide better indoor air quality through natural ventilation. This also saves large amounts of energy and gives it lower airflow rates for the same or better quality. The lacks of mechanical parts improve acoustics which lowers pressure losses through diffusers. Unfortunately, the novelty of these systems means that they are usually not well known by contractors. Their specialized geometry requires coordination of building features and diffuser locations, require larger quantities of air where cooling loads are needed, and the ceiling based filtering systems also means that higher ceilings will be needed.

Displacement Ventilation

Displacement Ventilation

Displacement Ventilation

11/08/17

“How can we make an air ventilation systems that relies upon pulling natural air?”

 

Air ventilation systems typically rely upon controlling artificial air to supply co into a surrounding environment. However, this can consume a large amount of energy and can make a large amount of noise. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to fix this problem? Well, we know that at all times buildings will have clean air surrounding it. And if we could get some of this into our building, then it would make the internal environment much nicer. So what if we were to use diffusers near the floor of an edifice to siphon outside air at low velocities into the interior, and then let the waste heat rise and recycle it into the exterior? Well, this is the fundamental concept behind displacement ventilation. Displacement ventilation is quite popular in Scandinavian countries.

Deep water source cooling

Deep water source cooling

Deepwater source cooling

11/07/17

“How can we use nature to make an efficient AC system?”

 

Many HVAC systems work by using chilled water to control the built environment. However, chilling this water can expend a massive amount of energy, as can providing a reliable heat sink. So how can we use our engineering mindset to make this system more efficient? Well, if we were to take our water from a source that is already chilled and use it as a heat sink, we will be able to have massive energy savings. One source of very cold water comes from deep water areas, such as lakes and oceans. So what if were to simply use this chilled water for our system? Well, this is known as deep water source cooling and is a most innovative way to solve the heat-energy problem. An example of these systems in action is Cornell University’s Lake Source Cooling project in Ithaca, New York.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation

Post-Occupancy Evaluation

Post-Occupancy Evaluation

11/05/17

“How do we evaluate buildings after they have been built and used?”

 

Modern Buildings are designed to function in a certain way. However, after they have been built, unforeseen factors can disrupt things and cause inefficiencies. So how can we evaluate buildings in an effective and rigorous manner after they have been constructed? Well, after many years of research, building professionals in both the U.S and Scotland have developed something called a Post-Occupancy Evaluation, which involves authorized individuals to arrive onsite an perform audits. Once an evaluation has been done, further action can be commenced to bring the unit to full operation

ASHRAE Standard 55

ASHRAE Standard 55

ASHRAE Standard 55

11/05/17

“What exactly specifies what is the proper working conditions for buildings?”

 

Proper working conditions are vital to the operation of the modern world. And one of these conditions includes thermal comfort, which consists of temperature, thermal radiation, humidity, and airspeed. And because buildings are constructed in all sorts of operating environments, we must need some form of standard that stipulates what are the proper indoor conditions. Well, after much debate, the good engineers of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have developed a protocol known as ASHRAE Standard 55, which takes in the operative temperature, wet bulb temperature, humidity ratio, and relative humidity to create a thermal comfort zone. You can see a demonstration of this in action at http://comfort.cbe.berkeley.edu/, provided by the Center for the Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley

Variable Speed Drives

Variable Speed Drives

Variable Speed Drives

11/04/17

“How can we implement powerful yet controllable motors for industrial processes?”

 

Industrial motors are marvelous for being able to coordinate highly intricate processes in an efficient manner. However, sometimes we may need to adjust the speed on these machines using traditional models. So how can we use our knowledge of industrial control systems and our engineering mindset to achieve this? Well, let’s get down to the basics. We know that controllers can be used to provide feedback to electric devices, such as motors. So what if we were to simply implement a controller based motor into industrial processes? Well, this is the fundamental idea behind variable speed drives, which are commonly used as energy savers in pump and fan appliances.