Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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AE 5480 - Hydronic Heating and Cooling Design

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This course focuses on hydronic heating and cooling design for commercial buildings of all sizes.  The course will include a review the foundations of pumping configurations, calculating pump head, hydronic accessories, as well as investigating alternative hydronic systems used in the industry.  Alternative systems to be discussed include water and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal, chilled water storage, ice storage systems, chilled beam systems, condensing boilers, and radiant systems such as in-floor heating and snow melt systems.  The course will also cover thermal expansion in piping systems and focus on district heating and cooling systems. (prereq: graduate standing)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Identify the required components in a hydronic system
  • Calculate how to size equipment to meet full-load and part-load conditions
  • Discuss the types of piping and joining methods used in HVAC hydronic systems
  • Explain the various methods for controlling hydronic system thermal expansion and identify when piping layout requires expansion compensation
  • Discuss the various methods of flow rate measurement
  • Explain the factors required to size and select an expansion tank
  • Explain control valve characteristics including valve authority, rangeability, and selection
  • Recognize the importance of proportional balancing
  • Identify the differences between low temperature and standard hot water systems
  • Discuss the options in solar thermal collectors and system design configurations
  • Explain the differences between water source and ground source heat pumps
  • Calculate the size requirements for a ground loop geothermal system
  • Calculate the capacity required for a chilled water or ice storage system
  • Identify the design considerations for a chilled beam system
  • Explain the options for piping distribution in district energy systems
  • Discuss the requirements for water treatment in open and closed loop systems

Prerequisites by Topic
  • HVAC design

Course Topics
  • Hydronic systems overview
  • Piping materials and joining methods
  • Pumping and piping configurations
  • Air elimination and control
  • Thermal expansion in piping systems
  • Water flow measurement
  • Control valve characteristics
  • Control valve sizing and authority
  • System balancing
  • Low temperature hot water systems
  • Condensing boilers
  • Hot water system retrofits
  • Radiant heating systems
  • In-floor heating systems
  • Snow melt systems
  • Solar panel collectors
  • Solar thermal heating systems
  • Water source heat pump systems
  • Geothermal/ground source heat pump systems
  • Ground loop designs
  • Radiant cooling systems
  • Chilled beam systems
  • Chilled water storage systems
  • Ice storage systems
  • District cooling systems
  • District heating systems
  • Water treatment

Coordinator
David Grassl



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