Engineered Systems articles from January 2002

Engineered Systems archives from January 2002

Editor's Page.
January 1, 2002... The expected and the unexpected, developing in Atlantic City. Welcome to this year's AHR Expo issue, or the "Show Issue" as it's also called. You're already registered for this issue, so before you read any further, go ahead and proceed...

Ventilation question. (Letters to the Editor).
January 1, 2002... This letter refers to "The Dilemma Over Demand Control Ventilation," by Joanna Turpin that appeared in the August 200l issue of Engineered Systems (page 64). I very much appreciate this timely article. I am presently working the design of...

Engineering shortage. (Letters to the Editor).
January 1, 2002... This letter refers to Howard McKew's "Tomorrow's Engineer" column that appeared in the October 2001 issue of Engineered Systems (page 106). Bravo, your column was an excellent summation of the need for employees for this industry. I would...

Reader's past experience: radiant cooling ultimately impractical. (Letters to the Editor).
January 1, 2002... This letter is in regard to the Nov. 2001 article "Dedicated Outdoor Air in Parallel with Chilled Ceiling System," by Dr. Stanley Mumma (page 56). I have always believed that our industry is doomed to repeat past mistakes on a 20- to...

Back to Basics[TM].
January 1, 2002... Test 134 CONDENSING BOILER SYSTEM, BASIC SYSTEM -- DESIGN Boiler B-1 is off and hot water pump P-1 is (off, on, modulating). 1 ON-OFF CONTROL, IN THE "OFF" POSITION 2 ON-OFF CONTROL, IN THE "ON" POSITION B-1, "on-off"...

Retrofit "drives" chiller performance at One America Plaza. (Case in Point).
January 1, 2002... As energy deregulation continues to roil the California market, the retrofit of two 1,000-ton chillers with variable-frequency drives (vfd's) at the One America Plaza office tower in San Diego last year has made a dramatic impact on the...

Wheels turning for energy savings at high school. (Case In Point).
January 1, 2002... The anticipation surrounding the construction of a major new school facility is often tempered with concerns about long-term operating costs, particularly recently due to rapidly increasing utility costs. In Northville, MI, this concern was...

Controls help complex ascend to "Energy Star" status. (Case In Point).
January 1, 2002... Lakeway Center is a commercial, class A Complex consisting of three buildings totaling over 1 million rentable sq ft of office and retail space. One Lakeway is 14 stories and 289,000 sq ft, Two Lake-way is 19 stories and 441,000 sq ft, and...

Despite tight budget, pool project comes out on top. (Case In Point).
January 1, 2002... Budgetary restraints were challenging, but they didn't foil attempts by engineers, architects, and contractors to construct a state-of-the-art natatorium for Mainland Regional High School in the Atlantic City, NJ, suburb of Linwood. Funded by a...

SAS Institute opts for 'Cadillac' bas. (Case in Point).
January 1, 2002... There isn't much, if anything, that Jim Thomas, senior facilities engineer, doesn't know about the electrical and mechanical systems in the buildings at the SAS Institute campus near Raleigh, NC. In 1983, Thomas worked for Square D Company and...

Commissioning: getting it right[TM]; Fire alarm commissioning vs. code official testing. (Getting it Right).
January 1, 2002... Before occupancy in a new building, with a fire alarm system, a code official conducts a fire alarm system test; a successful fire alarm system test is part of the requirements for a certificate of occupancy. If the new building has the...

It's a wired world: Building automation globalization: the pace continues. (Building Automation).
January 1, 2002... Access to global media is everywhere, proven by the fact that I am preparing this month's column in Australia. The global acceptance of browser-based interfaces with a standard Internet protocol is an amazing phenomenon of the new century....

The November 2001: Weather Report.
January 1, 2002... GIVE YOUR CHILLERS A BREAK Continuing last month's subject of economizer "free cooling": November is the first month for initiating waterside economizer systems in many cities. In fact, the wet bulb temperature in Denver was below...

A roll of the dice.
January 1, 2002... The September 11 damage in Manhattan has created an unforeseen ripple effect, causing hesitation that has influenced the hvac industry in New Jersey's gaming capital. Nevertheless, the area's largest new hospitality project is still on course,...

Cooling the bottom of the rock.
January 1, 2002... MCI WorldCom's new telecommunications switch center at Chicago's famed Prudential Plaza turned to an unusual, but reliable cooling source: the Chicago River. Read how the project employs this natural and efficient resource while observing the...

Avoiding Mold-Related Liability.
January 1, 2002... Fungus-related illness can cause a startling host of physical problems. Recent history also proves that related lawsuits can create serious financial problems for defendants as well. Your best insurance: get educated, maintain a clean building,...

Rising from The Plains of Plano.
January 1, 2002... Retrofits are common. Even telecom retrofits happen regularly. Then again, an underground building made to withstand Cold War fears presents a special case. And replacing hvac, domestic water, and fire/smoke systems in such a facility with no...

The HVAC engineer's learning curve: Can it be smoothed out with a plan of action and the right resources?
January 1, 2002... This two-part series focuses on the trajectory of a design engineer's education over the course of a career. The first half looks at the "learning curve" concept as well as techniques for self-education and professional growth. Next month's...

A real floor show.
January 1, 2002... No, you won't find a dazzling light show or a cadre of dancers and musicians, but this preview of products from exhibitors at the upcoming AHR production can help you organize your time and travels at the Atlantic City Convention Center before...

Building Information System. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... AcquiSuite[TM] integrates pulse and analog signals from building automation systems and existing sensors and meters to produce one uniform report and eliminates the need for costly customized software. FREE INFO: CIRCLE NO. 220

Pressure vessel design/inspection. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... OptiVessel 2000 is a set of computer programs for the design, checking, and optimization of pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and storage tanks. It is designed to reduce calculation time, and the need to refer to tables and charts in the...

Cooling tower toolkit. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... Toolkit Vol. 2 is a set of software tools that assists in cooling tower performance evaluation, prediction, and monitoring, with the ability to produce individual performance curves from field test data. FREE INFO: CIRCLE NO. 222

Energy management. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... ION Enterprise[TM] Web-ready software is a complete energy information management solution offering control capabilities, comprehensive power quality, and reliability analysis. It can help reduce energy-related costs and allows management of...

Flow analysis module. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... FIoCAD[R] is a thermal desktop module that allows a user to develop and integrate both fluid and thermal systems within a CAD-based environment. With FloCAD, the mechanics of building fluid submodels is very similar to that of building thermal...

Design of experiments. (Computers & Software).
January 1, 2002... Design-Expert[R] 6.0 for design of experiments, provides engineers, researchers, and quality control professionals with the power to go beyond standard six sigma goals. This specialized design of experiments package is designed to not only...

SDL. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... SDL (Cincinnati, OH) has released DSPdeveloper, which is designed to offer an array of capabilities including graphical programming, datalogging, plotting, debugging, and monitoring.

MC2 Engineering Software. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... MC2 Engineering Software (Miami) has launched the CL4M Commercial Cooling and Heating Load program, which uses strict ASHRAE methods and algorithms to calculate loads in commercial buildings using superoptimized code.

Marinsoft, Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... Marinsoft, Inc. (San Rafael, CA) has announced the availability of Duct Calculator, an hvac duct calculation and sizing program that can be used stand-alone with Microsoft Windows, as well as integrated with Autodesk[R] Building Mechanical, a...

Algor, Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... Algor, Inc. (Pittsburgh) has introduced new features for reducing the time it takes to perform all FEA analyses.

AEC Design Group. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... AEC Design Group (Gaithersburg, MD) announced the release of CADPIPE 2002, including CADPIPE Industrial, Commercial, HVAC, and Building Services packages. CADPIPE 2002 is compatible with the AutoCAD 2000i, AutoCAD 2002 and Architectural Desktop...

Ashrae. (Bits & Bytes).
January 1, 2002... ASHRAE's Toolkit for Building Load Calculations contains the FORTRAN 90 source code needed for the new heat balance load calculation procedures introduced in the 2001 ASHRAE Handbook, Fundamentals.

Grand Eagle, Inc. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... Grand Eagle, Inc. (Richfield, OH) has announced an updated website at www.grandeagle.com that features information about the company's expanded support.

Indeeco Controls. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... Indeeco Controls (St. Louis) has introduced instant online pricing of custom controls on its new website at www.indeecocontrols.com.

Motor Decisions Matters. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... Motor Decisions Matters (Boston) features an in-depth motor planning kit with information, statistics, helpful links, and tools designed to assist companies in developing motor management plans and save on energy costs, at www.motorsmatter.org....

PIA Group Inc. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... PIA Group Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) has launched an interactive website designed to allow customers to securely view documents, photographs, and engineering drawings related to the status of their machines under construction, at www.piagroup.com.

The Dow Chemical Company. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI) has announced that customers throughout North America can now order DOWTHERM or DDWFROST inhibited glycol-based heat transfer fluids online through the company's enhanced website at www.dowtherm.com.

Issues & Events.
January 1, 2002... AHR Expo 2002 news Continuing education classes and short courses will be presented by ASHRAE at its Winter Meeting, Jan. 12-16, in Atlantic City, NJ as will be a new mix of free educational seminars offered by AHR Expo and several...

Air Conditioning. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company's Network AIR Wall Mount Series is a vertical, wall-mounted air conditioning system that is designed to meet the increasing cooling and ventilation needs in telecommunications huts and other equipment shelters. Features include high...

Remote monitoring system. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The Sensaphone[R] SCADA 3000 monitoring/reporting system is designed to protect hvac and refrigeration systems 24 hrs a day by detecting changes in critical conditions that could lead to costly problems. The system tracks temperature changes,...

Purge guard. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company's new "Purge-Guard" is designed for low-pressure centrifugal chiller purge units. It works independently of the purge unit's purge fault protection and guards against pump-out of either liquid or vapor refrigerant in the event of...

Electronic pressure switch. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The features of the 90EP adjustable electronic pressure switch include multiple pressure ranges between 0 and 75 psi and 0 to 30,000 psi, and the option of one or two relays. Other features include a choice of factory-set switching points or...

Infrared heaters. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company's Suntube Stainless Series of gas infrared tube heaters are designed to withstand high humidity and corrosive environments. The heaters have a reflectional efficiency of 91.7% and the reflectors rotate from 0 to 45 degrees. Radiant...

Fan/filter unit. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The MicroPleat EC is a programmable fan/filter unit that uses an electronically commutated dc motor that runs off ac power. As a result, the unit uses 100W of power at 90 fpm, while standard ac-powered units use up to 400 W at the same rate of...

Flowmeter support. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... Both FieldTool[TM] and FieldCheck[TM] packages provide commissioning, process visualization, troubleshooting, verification, and predictive maintenance for flowmeters. The tooling packages area available with the new line of electromagnetic...

Gas-powered steam humidifier. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The Humicontrol gas-powered steam humidifier has 20% to 100% modulation with combustion efficiency at 94%. It is designed to automatically detect excessive buildup of mineral scale on the heat exchanger, and has a water preheat circuit to allow...

Pressure transmitter. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The Model 5-23 pressure transmitter is specifically designed for pressure measurement. Model 5-23 features 4-20-mA output, an operating temperature range of +40 [degrees] to 121 [degrees] C, accuracies down to +0.50%, and long-term drift of...

Damper actuators and control valves. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company has released a complete line of LonWorks[R] compatible products. The UK24-LON is an interface device that allows the company's actuators with Multi-Function Technology[R] to be linked to LonWorks systems. The AF24LON US spring...

Water heaters. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company's new "bantam weight" gas water heaters are designed for small office and light commercial buildings. Features include a 3-in. vent hood opening, 180[degrees]F thermostat, installed temperature and pressure relief valves, and a...

Fabric duct. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company has added two new colors to its selection of finishes for fabric ducts: light grey and black. The company offers fabric ventilation ducts in any color needed, with custom colors adding to the cost and delivery time for a project....

Aluminum Motors. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company has added aluminum NEMA T-frame motors from 1 to 20 hp to its product line. The motors have EPACT efficiency ratings; are UL recognized; and have 1.15 service factors, Class F insulation, and prelubricated bearings. All ratings meet...

Protocol translators. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... FieldServers are both protocol translators and Ethernet gateways, enabling different devices to communicate with each other, even if they use different protocols. Data from the controller is sent to the FieldServer where the data is separated...

Contractors. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The CDP definite purpose contractors are available in one-, two-, and four-pole units and are rated to 40A. Both the actuator and base assembly are made from high arc-resistant polyester, and contacts are composed of heavy-duty silver cadmium...

Air Measurement. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The Solomat MP Surveyor Pro features a built-in micromanometer, a thermocouple, and two additional sockets to allow for simultaneous connection to Solomat Smart Probes. The probes allow the monitoring of up to eight parameters: temperature,...

Carbon dioxide meter. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The GM70 handheld carbon dioxide meter measures carbon dioxide from low concentrations (0 to 2,000 ppm) to high (up to 20%) concentrations of [CO.sub.2]. Features of the unit include the uses of the silicon-based Carbocap[R] sensor, a...

Steam traps. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The SS5NH (horizontal) and SS5VH (vertical) steam traps are designed for high-pressure, superheated steam mains and turbines. Features include a high shock rating, constant water seal, patented three-point seating, and a durable thermostatic...

Direct expansion chillers. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The company's direct expansion chillers are available in standard single or dual circuit in sizes 5 to 300 normal tons refrigeration. Features include removable heads for servicing, mounting legs, lifting brackets, and insulation. The working...

Water source heat pumps. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The Genesis GC is the new addition to the company's line of water source heat pumps. The new unit meets the 2002 federal minimum efficiency requirements and also features factory-mounted hangar brackets, high static blower options, control...

Variable-speed drives. (Product Profiles).
January 1, 2002... The SCM series variable-speed drive is designed for single-phase 220V supply and covers the power range from 1/3 to 3 hp. The control terminal block has 11 terminals to configure input and output logic and analog inputs and outputs. Maximum...

Tomorrow's Engineer[TM].
January 1, 2002... Why are we a commodity? For most of my business career, I have strived not to be a commodity. It is a discussion I have with so many of my counterparts in the engineering community, and although we may agree, they don't want to change...

Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), Inc. (World Wide Web).
January 1, 2002... Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), Inc. (Indianapolis) has announced that access to RAPID/Web, its comprehensive hydraulic pump selection software, is now available at www.peerlesspump.com.