Engineered Systems articles from February 2003

Engineered Systems archives from February 2003

The month in HVAC: travel plans and instructive typos. (Editor's Note).
February 1, 2003... Robert Beverly Make any resolutions for this year? After the fresh, cheery optimism of January wears off, those resolutions sometimes get less resolute in the dark, dreary mornings and evenings of February. Maybe it's cold where you are,...

Calendar of events.
February 1, 2003... March 2003 For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. March 6 HVAC/R Flow Controls and Components Refrigeration Service Engineers Society Portland, OR. For info, visit www.rses.org or call...

Concrete responsibilities. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... This letter refers to Howard McKew's "Tomorrow's Engineer" that appeared in the November 2002 issue (page 118). Thank you for writing the article on equipment room layout. I was particularly interested in the eye wash requirement. I suspect...

Watch those voltage drops. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... In regard to the November 2002 letter authored by Byron Byraiah of Setter, Leach, and Linsdtrom on the single-phase voltage drop calculations used by some software packages, there is one critical factor which would be overlooked when...

Correction.
February 1, 2003... Regarding the December 2002 issue of Engineered Systems, Joel Spring was the photographer who shot the cover photo. Engineered Systems regrets the error.

Test 160: heat recovery outdoor air ventilation unit in classroom application, basic system--design test. (Back to Basics).
February 1, 2003... 1 HEAT RECOVERY UNIT (HRU-1) IN "OFF" POSITION: OCCUPIED UNOCCUPIED CONTROL, IN THE "OFF" POSITION: In classroom space with 100% outdoor air ventilation unit with energy recovery capabilities, HRU-1s and HRU-1e shall be in the off...

Test 161: heat recovery outdoor ventilation unit in classroom application, basic system--functional performance (partial) test. (Back to Basics).
February 1, 2003... ANSWERS FOR HEAT RECOVERY OUTDOOR AIR VENTILATION UNIT IN CLASSROOM APPLICATION, BASIC SYSTEM--FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE TEST: increase; open; on; open; open; modulating speed; open; open; modulating speed.

It's academic: medical center benefits from enhanced BAS. (Case in Point).
February 1, 2003... Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) is one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, and its mission is simple: putting patients first. Relying on services housed in 22 separate buildings was neither convenient for the patient, nor...

With aquarium's controls, Chicago is penguins' kind of town. (Case in Point).
February 1, 2003... It's hard to imagine any creatures loving freezing temperatures, high humidity, constant wind, and frigid water -- but for rockhopper penguins, the harsh climate of their native Falkland Islands is ideal. More importantly, it's what they need...

Dual compressor brings less noise, lower costs to high-rise. (Case in Point).
February 1, 2003... As chief engineer of Harbor Point Condominiums, a luxury high-rise on Chicago's Gold Coast, Bill Herring is responsible for providing smooth, uninterrupted service to over 1,300 residents. When the building's 30-year-old centrifugal chiller...

Canadian cartography: repackaging the large-building automation industry requires a smart roadmap and a unified effort. (Building Automation).
February 1, 2003... In the last few decades, our industry has evolved from low visibility subcontractors supplying thermostats, dampers, and valves, to our present position of partnering directly with owners to simplify, enhance, and automate building operations....

EMS documentation: hurried control sequences shut the door on success early, but there's room for error at every stage. (Commissioning).
February 1, 2003... One of the key elements of any commissioning process is documentation -- documentation of design intent, documentation of the process of verifying achievement of that intent, and documentation of as-built system operation. This month, we are...

Follow the money: designs get more efficient when you understand your client's electrical bill. (Current Affairs).
February 1, 2003... HVACR designers put much effort into specifying systems and equipment that use electrical energy efficiently. To ensure you are making the right decisions when justifying the cost of improvements in system efficiency with savings to be realized...

An AAON[R] encore.
February 1, 2003... The model LL chiller continues the tradition of excellence. Just as AAON[R] innovation changed the unitary rooftop market in 1988, the Chiller market is now being transformed. The AAON Model LL air and evaporative cooled chiller has...

Weather report: December 2002.
February 1, 2003... ECONOMIZER OPTIONS -- TOE TO TOE Waterside economizers can be expensive to install but are sometimes the only option, especially when dealing with unitary systems, data centers, or other process loads. The installation of an airside...

Operating online: a real-time system integration update.
February 1, 2003... The building automation business is overrun with new terms that try to describe "state of the art" in controls. Real-time system integration may simply be one more such term, the author says, but it does capture the challenge and the...

Is your chilled water plant ready for adaptive control?
February 1, 2003... From managing variable-speed pumps to sequencing chillers to adjusting to fluctuations in return water temperature, adaptive control might be the ticket to a better COP for some plants. Examine how this process, already used in other...

Layered automation helps chart college's course.
February 1, 2003... Western Michigan University needed a new steam and chilled water plant. However, what it wanted included flexibility regarding fuel sources, safe remote capabilities for the boiler and chiller controls, and room for future expansion. It also...

Commercial kitchen ventilation design: what you need to know.
February 1, 2003... At least three major industry-related groups have made changes in codes or expectations for exhaust systems in the last two years. Stir in the need to stay on top of improved equipment options, local codes, and a variety of usual design issues,...

Choosing chiller technologies.
February 1, 2003... With the variety of chiller options on the market today, it is imperative to determine which approach will provide the lowest operating costs over the long term. Here, the author provides a procedural method for factoring in the variables...

2003 ISH North America Show announces six seminar tracks. (Issues and Events).
February 1, 2003... The organizers of the ISH North America 2003 Conference & Exposition have announced they will introduce six seminar tracks as part of the conference program. The conference program, which will run parallel to the ISH NA Exposition, will allow...

Association agenda.
February 1, 2003... ASHRAE recently published Understanding Psychrometrics, a practical A/C desk reference book that features answers to frequently asked questions, and information about altitude effects, fan temperature rise, etc. The Association for...

Emerson Climate Technologies. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... Emerson Climate Technologies recently announced that Aaon, Inc. will use Copeland Scroll[TM] compressors inside its entire line of commercial A/C products.

Power Measurement. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... Power Measurement was recently selected by the University of Mississippi to monitor its new on-campus diesel power plant.

SimplexGrinnell. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... SimplexGrinnell provided corporate sponsorship for a new fire-safety video intended to reduce the number of fires that occur in college dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses. Titled, "Graduation: Fatally Denied," the video helps...

Wandell Industries Inc. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... Wandell Industries Inc. recently announced its selection as the exclusive air system supplier for Keeco Asia Limited's upcoming Hexavalent Chromium VI program in China.

Steril-Aire[R], Inc. (Places and Faces).
February 1, 2003... Steril-Aire[R], Inc. announced that Robert M. Culbert, P.E. has joined the company as director of engineering, and Charles T. (Tim) Jones has been named plant manager.

McQuay International. (Places and Faces).
February 1, 2003... Julian de Bullet has joined McQuay International as senior field application manager.

Amrep, Inc. (Places and Faces).
February 1, 2003... Amrep, Inc. announced that Dennis Nolan joined the firm as senior vice president of operations.

Buckman Laboratories, Inc. (Places and Faces).
February 1, 2003... Buckman Laboratories, Inc. promoted Greg Spencer to systems integration manager.

Cannon Design. (Engineering Beat).
February 1, 2003... Cannon Design announced that David M. Carlino has been promoted to principal.

Al Shields. (Engineering Beat).
February 1, 2003... Al Shields has joined Murphy Company Mechanical Contractors and Engineers, St. Louis, as a service project manager.

Vanderweil Engineers. (Engineering Beat).
February 1, 2003... Vanderweil Engineers is providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design services for the Maryland State Police Crime Laboratory, a new $14 million state police crime laboratory that will encompass 60,000 sq ft.

The Stellar Group. (Engineering Beat).
February 1, 2003... The Stellar Group has been awarded the National "Eagle" Award of Excellence in Construction for the design and construction of Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville, FL.

Energy monitoring. (Computers & Software).
February 1, 2003... Cutler-Hammer[R] EnergyDirector[TM] software is a reporting and analysis tool designed to help users control energy usage and patterns. It monitors and measures the energy usage of any electronic point or metered service, including gas,...

Building design and documentation. (Computers & Software).
February 1, 2003... The latest version of the Revit[R]5 building design and documentation system is a building information modeling solution that provides expanded capabilities for use on larger and more complex projects, more efficient memory management, and...

BACnet standard. (Computers & Software).
February 1, 2003... The new BACnet[R] CD 3.0 can access all updates to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135-2001, BACnet - A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks, which allows building equipment and systems manufactured by different...

Siemens Building Technologies. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Siemens Building Technologies recently announced the launch of its APOGEE Compliance Solution, a bundled technological and procedural solution to 21 CFR Part 11 that electronically captures building operation and environmental conditions.

Pump-flo solutions and Technicon. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Pump-Flo Solutions and TechniCon plan to interface their software applications to deliver selection, configuration, and sales automation software to the fluid handling Industry.

Power measurement. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Power Measurement's ION Setup[TM], a meter configuration tool for metering and control products, is now available for download, free of charge at www.pwrm.com/products/software/ionsetup.

Automated logic. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Automated Logic released the latest version of its Web-based building control technology, WebCTRL. It features interactive logic pages, enhanced support for legacy systems, new reports, and manual commands for fast access to system data,...

Arc Second, Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Arc Second, Inc.'s PocketCAD Software Development Kit is based on the Windows CE.NET embedded operating system, the newest version of the Microsoft Windows CE embedded operating system.

Quest Technologies. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Quest Technologies' new NetLink II System connects to the QUESTempo 34 and converts the data to a format that can be accessed across a company's existing Ethernet network.

Pump-flo solutions. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... Pump-Flo Solutions recently announced that Griswold Pump has awarded it a contract for its Web-based selection software.

QuickPen International. (Bits & Bytes).
February 1, 2003... QuickPen International has released AutoBid Mechanical 3.5, the latest update to its windows-based estimating system. It offers enhanced data sharing for project management, allowing users to export information like cost codes and labor...

PlumbingHVAC.com. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... PlumbingHVAC.com, located at www.plumbinghvac.com, offers a complete collection of product information, website links, news, and services specifically related to the plumbing, heating, and HVAC industries.

BOMA International. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... BOMA International recently launched an interactive website at www.boma.org that will provide its members with 24/7 access to vendors exhibiting in The Office Building Show and array of additional information.

Purolator Air Filtration. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Purolator Air Filtration has updated its website, located at www.purolatorair.com.

Engineered Software. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Engineered Software has posted its 2003 training schedule on its website at www.engsoftware.com/products/flomaster.htm.

ProjectManual.com. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... ProjectManual.com offers an extensive library of contract documents, technical specs, and product specs at www.projectmanual.com.

DuctSox. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... DuctSox's Fabric Duct Ventilation Design Handbook, which provides information about fabric duct air distribution design, sizing, selection, and other engineering, guidelines, is available at www.ductsox.com.

Ebtron, Inc. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Ebtron, Inc. offers information about its entire product line at www.ebtron.com.

Halcyon Technologies LLC. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Halcyon Technologies LLC announced the launch of its new website at www.halcyontec.com.

Honeywell Automation & Control Solutions. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Honeywell Automation & Control Solutions' Notifier division has introduced its new UniNet[TM] Online, a Web-based service designed to offer facility managers convenient access to information on building systems integrated on the UniNet network....

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products. (World Wide Web).
February 1, 2003... Heatcraft Refrigeration Products has redesigned its website, located at www.heatcraftrpd.com.

Fans. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company's Whisper-Warm[TM] fan features a light, nightlight, and heater, and provides an HVI-certified sound level of 1.0 and 1.1 sones for the two available models, and air volume at 110 cfm. -- Panasonic FREE INFO: 303

Evaporatively-cooled chillers. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company's line of evaporatively cooled chillers, the ECDX, uses HCFC-22, is compatible with HFC refrigerants and is available from 85 to 260 tons. The ECDX eliminates the need for towers, condenser water piping, pumps, valves, strainers,...

Metasys gateway. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company's FS-2010-01 gateway is a protocol transfer to enable any device to interconnect to Metasys devices and networks. The driver library includes drives for Metasys N2OPEN, and DX9100 protocols. The gateway is a true protocol...

Lighting control. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company has released its CC-BACsoft system integration software for its Complete Control lighting control panels. The system allows the use of a single BAS software package to monitor multiple control systems, including lights, HVAC, or...

Stick meter. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The HS33 digital stick meter features a magnetic hanger and test lead storage, and LEDs and a beeper to warn of dangerous voltages. Parameters that can be tested include AC amps, rh%, noncontact temperature, microns of mercury, wc in., CO, and...

Infrared heater. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company's Vantage[R] HE gas-fired, low-intensity infrared heater features a moisture-resistant burner; aluminized tubing; vinyl-coated, stainless steel flex gas connector; and stainless steel reflectors and endcaps. The unit is equipped...

Thermostatic valves. (Products in Focus).
February 1, 2003... The company's RA200 nonelectric, two-way thermostatic valve is designed for radiant floor heating installations to permit zone control of individual rooms without any wiring. The valve is engineered to accept typical PEX tubing connections. The...

Glossary.
February 1, 2003... 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 AFD -...

Manual labor: for a good O&M manual, know when to change tradition, then make it up as you go along. (Tomorrow's Engineer).
February 1, 2003... For a few years now, I have been advocating change in the method and process by which an O&M manual is compiled for a construction project. The problem lies in the fact that the O&M is put together near the end of the job or, worse yet, after...