HVAC Lab

Energy spent on heating ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) accounts for 30-50% of a building’s energy requirement. The HVAC Lab Course is designed to introduce the discipline of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning within the context of energy efficiency and energy performance. –Engineering concepts of HVAC include vapor compression cycles and associated thermodynamics; heat transfer, psychometrics, pressure and flow; fan/blower selection; indoor air quality/air contaminants, and filtration theory. –Hands-on experience in measurements of infiltration and ventilation rates; air pollutants; flow measurements, monitoring refrigeration cycle, power consumption. –Simulation of different HVAC systems is carried out and the possibility of low/hybrid energy cooling systems is explored. Concepts of commissioning, best practices, thumb rules are also presented with case studies by experts in the field. The course will include some field trips. Frequently assigned readings, class assignments, and projects with in-class presentations will require considerable student effort throughout the course.