Engineered Systems articles from April 2007

Engineered Systems archives from April 2007

Better decisions, fewer collisions: when will your design project involve a super model?(Editor's Note)(Column)
April 1, 2007... Perhaps I should clarify. The question is not when, say, Christie Brinkley will be sitting in on your project team meetings, because we both know the odds are more likely that your next project will have zero changeorders. However, what I can...

Upcoming ES events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... APRIL 17--2 P.M. EST Webinar: Integrating Building Automation Sponsored by Tridium. Free of charge. Register at http://tdm.esmagazine.com. JULY 19 Owners' Commissioning & TAB Seminar Engineered Systems and RDK Engineers....

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... MAY 2007 For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. 1 First-Ever BCA Forum Building Commissioning Association. Chicago. For info, visit www.bcxa. org, or e-mail sadams@bcxa.org. 2 15th Annual Conference on...

Back 2 basics.(designing ground water source heat pump )
April 1, 2007... For April's "Back to Basics" and "HVACR Designer Tips," the HVAC system will be a 50-ton ground water source heat pump (GWSHP) installation serving a condominium complex with a two-pipe heating cooling system operating in A/C season. May's...

The culture of controls.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... I recently read Howard McKew's "Tomorrow's Engineer" column titled, "Combining the ATC with FPT" (July, 2006). Controls are something that I am continuing to learn about, and the method you proposed seems like it would assist in learning...

The [dual] path of least resistance.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... I read with pleasure, Kevin Dickens' article titled "Southern Comfort, Part II" (February, 2007, page 26). The dual path at the AHU does a fine job of space humidity control, which was your goal. But that only tells part of the story. I became...

The case for enthalpy wheels.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2007... Kevin Dickens' article in the February edition ("Southern Discomfort, Part 2," page 26) does an excellent job highlighting the issues surrounding latent loads associated with outdoor air ventilation, particularly in humid climates. His...

Device sews up temperature, humidity problems at suture plant.(Case In Point)(Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s contract with Rawal Devices, Inc.)
April 1, 2007... John Garbini had tried almost everything. As facility support manager for an assembly plant in Reading, PA, he was stuck with a nagging problem: When the humidity in the plant's Class 8 cleanrooms wasn't too high, it was too low. He had...

The least you can do: is there a minimum definition of commissioning?(Commissioning)
April 1, 2007... Last month, I talked specifically about ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning Process and its owner's project requirements document. As quoted from the Guideline, the ASHRAE document "is not definitive, but encompasses areas where there...

Buying into buying back: the situation demands less peak demand.(Building Automation)
April 1, 2007... The Automated Buildings Industry is ready, willing, and able to bring real GridWise solutions to GridWeek in Washington DC. "Many of the solutions to the shortfall in electricity will come down to reducing demand especially at peak load times,...

Design review / design build: ground source heat pump systems.(HVACR Designer Tips)
April 1, 2007... Equipment type: HP-1 Equipment designation: Ground water source heat pump (GWSHP) Area served: Condo building Barcode: 111111 Equipment location: Equipment room REPLACEMENT PHASING CONSIDERATIONS [Y] [N] * Is...

Wet 'n wild data centers: our society's thirst for computing power, which began even before Windows[R] squashed DOS, may be pointing designers toward a fitting new option for handling spiraling heat loads in data centers: liquid cooling. Stick your toe in and review these water-based ideas, as well as glimpses of other innovations such as in-cabinet cooling coils and heat exchangers located within the server itself.
April 1, 2007... Early in my career, the office I worked in was beginning to go high-tech. There had been a computer in the office, probably for the last five years or so, but it was the property of the resident genius who used it for his unfathomable...

Exhibiting control.
April 1, 2007... Displaying artwork and artifacts can involve some quite specific moisture control requirements, but those specifics can also vary depending on the particular exhibit. One Ohio museum employed 21st-century humidification and controls in...

When critical meets Green.(Syska Hennessy Group)
April 1, 2007... This thorough article provides an overview contrasting traditional design elements with approaches not usually selected for mission critical facilities. From ventilation to piping to chiller configuration to water usage, nothing is taken for...

Manufacturing the right moisture: in addition to serving as a handy reference on the various dehumidification technologies and their profiles, this article uses a manufacturing scenario to explore load-related questions and other design pitfalls. Will human occupancy make much of a difference? What valves does your humidifier have? And exactly what's in that room, anyway?
April 1, 2007... The reasons for controlling rh include prevention of mold growth/condensation, product/artifact life extension, product quality improvement, prevention of moisture re-entrainment, static electricity control, and human comfort. In fact, many of...

The terrible Too's.(hvac equipment complaints)
April 1, 2007... Several of the typical "Too" adjectives sound like a list of rejected names for Snow White's cartoon companions: Drafty, stuffy, noisy, and complicated. However, there's (usually) nothing fake about comfort complaints, and some occupants can...

Tridium presents free Webinar on system integration, energy, and security to the enterprise.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2007... Tridium and Engineered Systems are teaming up to present a free Webinar on integrating building automation, energy, and security to the enterprise. Today's facilities are equipped with a wide range of systems to control HVAC, energy management,...

Stephen R. Yurek named ARI president.(Issues & Events)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The ARI named Stephen R. Yurek president of the association. Yurek previously served as chief operating officer and general counsel for ARI. He joined ARI in 2002 as general counsel and was promoted in 2006 to the newly created position of...

Cimmetry announces first annual user event: the AutoVue Customer Cimm'posium 2007.(Issues & Events)(Cimmetry Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Cimmetry Systems recently announced the AutoVue Customer Cimm'posium 2007, its first annual user and partner conference, will be held at the W Hotel in Montreal on June 27-28, 2007. The event will showcase the company's solutions, integrations,...

Danfoss.(Industry News)
April 1, 2007... Danfoss combined its Commercial Compressors factories in Lawrenceville, GA, and Scroll Technologies in Arkadelphia, AR into a single organization effective February 1, 2007.

E-Mon.(Industry News)
April 1, 2007... E-Mon, an electric submetering manufacturer of the E-Mon D-Mon[R] product line, announced its sale by Hunt Power, L.P. to the E-Mon management team backed by private equity investor Branford Castle, Inc.

15th National Conference of Building Commissioning set.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2007... The 15th National Conference of Building Commissioning will be held May 2-4, 2007 in Chicago. Every year the conference provides an extraordinary opportunity for commercial building and energy industry leaders to learn about the latest...

Volk & Associates, Inc. offering pump training in California.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2007... Volk & Associates, Inc. will offer "Pump Training--From An Industry Expert" on April 16-18, 2007 in El Segundo, CA. Course instructor, Michael Volk, has been a consultant on pumps for the past 25 years, after working in engineering and...

TABB Conference slated for May.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2007... TABB will host the 2007 TABB Conference May 17-19 in Hartford, CT. For more information about the events, visit www.tabbcertified.org/conference, e-mail info@tabbcertified. org, or call 703-299-5646.

CFD.(Computers & Software)
April 1, 2007... Fluent[R]6.3 features numerical enhancements that offer improved accuracy and efficiency. In all, more than 100 new features are available, enhancing FLUENT software's capabilities in many areas including moving mesh, reacting flows, and...

Serial data radio programming.(Computers & Software)
April 1, 2007... RAD-Link Software, V 3.0, is a Windows[R]-based, serial data radio programming tool that includes a network setup wizard and an advanced network monitoring system. The setup wizard makes it easy to set up new or existing networks. The advanced...

Flowmeters.(Computers & Software)
April 1, 2007... This program is designed to help users select the proper flowmeter. The sizing utility program accounts for system pressure and temperature, as well as media density, viscosity, and specific gravity. Since there are many variations in the...

Data-Basics, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)(enhancement to sam pro Enterprise )(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Data-Basics, Inc. has relased version 7.0 of its SAM Pro Enterprise, the latest update to the company's accounting and service management software suite, which includes across-the-board enhancements to help service providers work more...

InduSoft.(BITS & BYTES)(product enhancements)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... InduSoft Products support Microsoft's latest Windows operating system, Vista. HMI/ SCADA users, OEMs, and systems integrators can now take advantage of the latest Microsoft security improvements and graphical capabilities.

The eAutomation Group of Advantech.(BITS & BYTES)(partnership with Cole-Parmer Instrument Co.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The eAutomation Group of Advantech has developed a new partnership with Cole-Parmer, a leading global distributor of laboratory and industrial fluid products, instrumentation, equipment, and supplies since 1955.

Johnson Controls.(launched web-based software application called Green Compass)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Johnson Controls recently introduced its Web-based software application (available at www. mygreencompass.com) called Green Compass, which is designed to simplify and expedite the LEED[R] certification process.

The National Institute of Science and Technology.(launched Loop Equation Design Method tool)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The National Institute of Science and Technology's Loop Equation Design Method tool, referred to as LoopDA for Loop Design and Analysis, is integrated with an existing multi-zone analysis tool CONTAM, and provides designers of natural...

Bluebeam Software Inc.(released portable document software, PDF Revu 5.0)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Bluebeam Software Inc. has released version 5.0 its PDF Revu. The program features advanced PDF editing, markup, and creation functionality, which adds timesaving tools designed to meet the needs of A/E/C, government, legal, and financial...

Emerson Climate Technologies.(launched its website)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, recently announced the launch of www.copelandscroll. com, an intuitive website where HVACR contractors and other customers can find information on Copeland Scroll[TM] compressors.

Keltech Incorporated.(launched its new website)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Keltech Incorporated launched its new website at www.keltech-inc.com, which features three user-friendly tools to help specifying and consulting engineers quickly identify the right tankless hot water heater for their application.

LonMark International.(has unveiled its new website)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... LonMark International has unveiled its new website (www.lonmark.org), which has a significantly enhanced user interface with simplified drop-down menus for easily accessing the company's tools and resources.

Weil-McLain.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2007... Weil-McLain recently launched a new website (www.weil-mclain.com) designed to more easily provide information to all its customers.

Unico, Inc.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2007... Unico, Inc. has revamped its website, located at www.unicosystem.com/, to be more user friendly and also to feature information on the company's training.

Johnson Controls.(has created blog services)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Johnson Controls has created the "Your Energy Forum Blog," located at www.yourenergyforum. com, and designed to provide a starting point for conversations about using energy more wisely.

Testo, Inc.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2007... Testo, Inc. launched a mini-website for its Model 330 residential/industrial combustion analyzer, which is designed for both the potential customer and 330 endusers.

ABB.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2007... ABB has added new Web-based training courses for its low-voltage drive distributors, which provide drive basics and product information via a single online click.

Actuators.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The company's "New Generation" line of actuators feature completely programmable settings, increased torque ratings, universal accessories, and is field programmable. One available accessory is Multi-Function Technology[R] (MFT) which allows...

Motors.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The AEGIS SGR[TM] Conductive MicroFiber[TM] shaft grounding ring is suited for predictive and preventive maintenance programs on VFD-controlled AC motors and large DC motors. The SGR is designed to extend motor life by protecting bearings from...

Boilers.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The Model FPS four-pass scotch marine boiler features low heat release, low furnace pressure, and a large steam space and disengaging area. The boiler is built to 5 sq ft of heating surface per bhp standards and is available from 70 to 600 bhp...

Drives.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The I-Beam design enclosure is suited for mounting the company's E7L two-contactor drive-bypass system in narrow locations. Ratings include 208V, three-phase, 1 to 10 hp; 480V, three-phase, 1 to 20 hp; 95% rh maximum non-condensing; and...

Controllers.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The company's line of LonMark[R] certified, application-specific controllers and remote I/ O modules feature a compact, plastic enclosure, and high precision outputs and inputs, and are available with LNS-based plug-ins for programming,...

Valve controllers.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2007... The company's Kelvin electronic valve controller is designed to be allow for "set and forget" electronic superheat control. The unit is able to control all of the company's EEVs as part of a true system that consists of the Kelvin, one or two...

Glossary.
April 1, 2007... Here are some common abbreviations and terms found in the pages of Engineered Systems. A A/C--air conditioning ach--air changes per hour AE--architectural and engineering; or architect and engineer ...

It's our turn to lead, mentor, and share: be the voice of experience.
April 1, 2007... In 2006, a few very special people left us, and I think it was that last person, a sales engineer in his eighties, whose obituary got me thinking of all the people who have helped me over these past 42 years in the building industry. Within...