Oct 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Academic Catalog-June 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Academic Catalog-June
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ARE 5452 - Design of Hydronic Systems

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: ARE 5451  (quarter system prereq: AE 3422)
Note: This course is open to qualified undergraduate students.
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
  • Design 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
  • Evaluate control valve characteristics including valve authority, rangeability, and selection
  • Recognize the importance of proportional balancing
  • Compare and contrast a 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
  • Design a chilled water or ice storage system
  • Identify the design considerations for a chilled beam system
  • Communicate the options for piping distribution in district energy systems
  • Discuss the requirements for water treatment in open and closed loop systems

Prerequisites by Topic
  • None

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
  • In-Floor and radiant 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
  • Water treatment for open and closed system

Coordinator
David Grassl, P.E.



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