Engineered Systems articles from June 2002

Engineered Systems archives from June 2002

You're probably done with taking exams, but you can still go back to school. (Editors Note).
June 1, 2002... As part of this month's university and college hvac issue, I decided to do something a little different and see what I could find online about today's crop of ASHRAE student chapters. I didn't expect much in the way of current material, since...

New to engineering. (Letters to the Editor).
June 1, 2002... This letter refers to "Back to Basics" Test 139 that appeared in the March 2002 issue of Engineered Systems (page 14). Number 2 on the Commissioning portion of Back to Basics raised some confusion on my behalf (I am a rookie engineer, so...

Designing plant systems. (Letters to the Editor).
June 1, 2002... I am an employee in the plant engineering department. My background includes a B.S. in electrical engineering, but I am not a registered P.E. I have been getting more involved in the design review and installation of the plant hvac systems....

Test 144: Rare Book Room(s) With Building Automation Interface -- Design Test. (Back to Basics).
June 1, 2002... 1 "ON-OFF" CONTROL, IN THE "OFF" POSITION: Outdoor damper D-1 and chilled water cooling valve V-1 shall be closed, steam reheat RH-1 shall be off, humidifier H-1 valve V-3 closed, supply air fan SAF-1 is (on, cycling off), and the bas...

Test 145: Rare Book Room(s) Building Automation Interface -- Commissioning test. (Back to Basics).
June 1, 2002... Note: Test procedure assumes that the "on-off" control is in the on position at the start of testing. 1 Switch the system off at the control panel. Verify that: a. Supply fan stops and a (status, temperature, humidity) alarm is sent...

Boilers help UCSB go 'green'. (Case in Point).
June 1, 2002... On April 19, Donald Bren Hall on the University of California Santa Barbara, (UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA) was not only dedicated, but it received the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design...

Diffusers star in Five Points Plaza's pursuit of more efficiency in tight spaces. (Case in Point).
June 1, 2002... Leaking radiant panel valves had become an expensive maintenance problem for the Five Points Plaza building in Atlanta. Replacing the radiant ceiling system with a vav system could solve that problem, but the only available ductwork was the...

Simultaneous campus projects enlist duct liner to promote an "air of calm" before and after completion. (Case in Point).
June 1, 2002... Coordinating the complete mechanical work on two new facilities under construction at James Madison University (JMU) located in Harrisonburg, VA -- while working with two different engineering firms and two sets of drawings and directions --...

Vertical a/c units contribute to upscale environment in new wave of student housing. (Case in Point).
June 1, 2002... Most traditional college dormitories do not have swimming pools, computer labs, fitness centers, and a host of other desirable amenities. In fact, student housing built by higher education facilities has traditionally consisted of rooms or...

"Invisible" exhaust stacks give pharmaceutical maker a cure for uncommon code. (Case in Point).
June 1, 2002... The new research facility of Syrrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is somewhat unusual, in that its roof exhaust system's stack is not very visible at all. This 84,000-sq-ft high-tech facility, designed for advanced pharmaceutical research applications,...

Training for the long run: assess needs, then address logistics. (Commissioning).
June 1, 2002... Last month, I highlighted some of the potential costs and benefits of a post-commissioning training program. This months column addresses the foundation for a systems approach to training: the objective assessment of training needs. ...

Less taking off, more logging on: online training can work for building automation. (Building Automation).
June 1, 2002... The importance and necessity of online training for our industry has reached a new level. In the past, online training concepts gained ground, but recent events have increased industry focus on the value of training online. Travel...

Past meets present: updating historic buildings requires a modern but respectful touch. (Smoke & Fire Control).
June 1, 2002... When researching the building code requirements for smoke and fire control systems for higher educational facilities, the one place you need not look is in the requirements for educational use groups. Educational use groups only address...

Leave a clear paper trail: what is (or, should be) in an engineering calculation? (Current Affairs).
June 1, 2002... If your design is questioned, do you have the calculations to support it readily at hand, in a complete and presentable format? Do you ever shuffle through stacks of notes to double check a pipe or control valve size? When an engineer...

Weather report April 2002.
June 1, 2002... FULL STEAM AHEAD INTO SPRING AND SUMMER Although the number of economizer hours in April can be significant in many cities, the free cooling ride will soon be over. It's that time of year to wrap up routine winter maintenance on major air...

MEC coordination. (Hvacr Designer Tips).
June 1, 2002... Mechanical-Electrical-Communication (MEC) coordination is highly important in the design phase of a job. As an hvac designer, you can ensure that this happens before things "don't fit" or there isn't service to your equipment. If you use the...

The work of art.
June 1, 2002... From humidity and filtration requirements to noise issues, from gallery aesthetics to studio exhaust needs, its demanding environment makes safe and effective hvac design for campus arts facilities anything but paint-by-numbers. Buildings...

Constant results from VAV lab systems.
June 1, 2002... How to maximize fume hood performance? Generate consensus among interested parties beforehand, brush up on air changes and heat loads, and work with lab staff to find the happy medium between convenience and efficiency. The result will prevent...

A new school of systems controls.
June 1, 2002... Spurred by motivators including its insurance company, Catholic University has spent several years implementing a gradual hvac overhaul. Campus energy efficiency has increased with each retrofit, but new metering has also earned extra credit by...

Research for researchers.
June 1, 2002... Called the Berkeley Hood, a new fume hood design employs a "push-pull" airflow approach intended to improve safety and shave major expense from traditional operational costs. While field tests have yielded encouraging results, conventional...

ISH North America draws other industry-related events. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... ISH North America is rapidly becoming an anchor for a variety of industry-related events, and international exhibitor and buyer interest in the show is steadily rising. According to Messe Frankfurt, the ISH-NA expo total has reached nearly 300...

Chinese government selects chillers for its first green building. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... Carrier Corporation (Farmington, CT) has been chosen to participate in a collaborative project with the Chinese government and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to demonstrate how designing a truly "green office building" can reduce energy...

Johnson Controls now offers Power Assurance Services through a strategic alliance with Eaton Corporation. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Johnson Controls (Milwaukee) now offers Power Assurance Services through a strategic alliance with Eaton Corporation's (Cleveland) Cutler-Hammer business unit.

Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network (Ann Arbor, Ml) offers a wealth of information about the organization at www.wepan.org.

Engenuity Systems Inc. has signed an agreement with TAC Americas. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Engenuity Systems Inc. (Phoenix) has signed an agreement with TAC Americas (Dallas) to distribute the TAC Xenta[R] 100 application-specific product series, which includes controllers for fancoil units, chilled ceiling units, vavs, and rooftop...

MagnaDrive Corporation and M-I/Swaco. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... MagnaDrive Corporation (Seattle) and M-I/Swaco (Houston) recently announced the signing of an exclusive OEM contract for MagnaDrive's products.

Emerson recently introduced Emerson Climate Technologies. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Emerson (St. Louis) recently introduced Emerson Climate Technologies, uniting 13 Emerson divisions under a single brand to serve customers worldwide in the hvacr industries.

Ritchie Engineering Company Inc. has acquired Corrosion Consultants. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Ritchie Engineering Company Inc. (Bloomington, MN) has acquired Corrosion Consultants (Roseville, Ml), a manufacturer of ultraviolet leak detection devices.

Peerless Heater Company. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Peerless Heater Company (Boyertown, PA) recently announced the dates and locations of the 2002 "Colors of Heat" training seminars. For more information and seminar costs, contact the company at 717-285-9345, e-mail...

Environmental Support Solutions recently announced that it has acquired the assets. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Environmental Support Solutions (Tempe, AZ) recently announced that it has acquired the assets, intellectual property, and customer base of Essential Technologies Inc. (Rockville, MD).

Pameco Corporation and Tecumseh Cool Products. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Pameco Corporation (Golden, CD) and Tecumseh Cool Products (Clinton, Ml) recently announced an agreement for Pamecoti dustribute fractional compressors and condensing units to the OEM and aftermarket refrigeration business.

Lennox International Inc. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Lennox International Inc. (Dallas) recently announced it has entered into a memorandum of agreement for the formation of a joint venture with Outokumpu Oyj of Finland, Outukumpu was slated to purchase a 55% interest in Lennox's heat transfer...

Teletrol Systems Inc. (Industry News).
June 1, 2002... Teletrol Systems inc. (Manchester, NH) recently announced that two additional companies have joined its Authorized Systems Integrator program. FaciliTech of Charlotte, Inc. ( Charlotte, NC) and St.Martin Electrique Inc.(Laval, PQ, Canada)join...

Environmental Support Solutions. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Environmental Support Solutions (Tempe, AZ) recently announced the appointment of Patrick Pfeifer as the company's senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Colmac Coil Manufacturing. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Colmac Coil Manufacturing (Colville, WA) announced three recent staff promotions in its sales engineering department. Jerry Francis was promoted to manager of the Refrigeration Products group; Randy Carstens was promoted to manager of the Heat...

National Institute of Standards and Technology. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Arden L. Bement, Jr., was recently named as the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, MD).

Jeffrey Addison has been named comptroller and director of administrative services of ASHRAE. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Jeffrey Addison has been named comptroller and director of administrative services of ASHRAE (Atlanta). Addison formerly served as the society's accounting manager.

Watts Regulator Co. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Watts Regulator Co. (North Andover, MA) recently announced that Kevin Stumm has been promoted to the position of vice president of customer service.

Hansen Technologies has appointed John Yencho to vice president of engineering and business development. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Hansen Technologies (Burr Ridge, IL) has appointed John Yencho to vice president of engineering and business development; Harold Streicher to North American sales manager; and Tay Seck Guan to regional sales manager for Asia in the new...

Clark W. Gellings was appointed to the position of vice president. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Clark W. Gellings was appointed to the position of vice president, power delivery and utilization sector, of the Electric Power Research Institute.

Invensys Energy Solutions (Raleigh, NC) has made the following appointments: Enrique Santancana. (Places and Faces).
June 1, 2002... Invensys Energy Solutions (Raleigh, NC) has made the following appointments: Enrique Santancana, president, Invensys Energy Solutions; Mike Booth, president, IMServ; Clay Newman, president, Vertical Markets; Willie Ozbirn, president, Local Area...

Guilty plea entered in CFC smuggling case. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... The efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Customs Service have resulted in a guilty plea from a Michigan man accused of CFC violations. James M. Dolmetsch pleaded guilty in March 2002 to...

Faye Bernstein & Associates. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... Faye Bernstein & Associates (San Francisco) provides information about its varied services at www.fbaengineering.com.

Guttmann & Blaevoet Consulting Engineers recently announced that Margarita Gorokhovsky. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... Guttmann & Blaevoet Consulting Engineers (San Francisco) recently announced that Margarita Gorokhovsky has been promoted to vice president of operations.

Consolidated Engineering Services has appointed Steven Gulley. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... Consolidated Engineering Services (Arlington, VA) has appointed Steven Gulley as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... David Mead, P.E. has been named vice president of business development for A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. (Chicago).

Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (Detroit) served as the designer of record for all building portions of the $340 million Phase III Powertrain Expansion Program to the DaimlerChrysler Technology Center. Services provided by the firm included...

J.S. Alberici Construction Co., Inc. (Engineering Beat).
June 1, 2002... J.S. Alberici Construction Co., Inc. (St. Louis) has announced it will now be known as Alberici Constructors both in the United States and Canada.

Boiler injuries increased in 2001. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... The total number of injuries sustained as a result of boiler and unfired pressure vessel incidents increased dramatically last year, according to the "2001 National Board Incident Report," released by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure...

Dow fizzles, INVIRONMENT[R] Industrial Average sizzles. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) had a negative growth in 2001 of -4.59%, the Chelsea Group INVIRONMENT[R] Industrial Average (IIA) index leapt ahead by 11.16%. The IIA is comprised of 24 publicly held companies with a significant...

Health care construction outlook stays sanguine. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... A recent article in Hospitals & Health Networks reports that aging buildings, changing health care delivery systems, and innovations in medicine are some of the factors that will push construction spending on hospitals and nursing homes from...

[CO.sub.2] extraction method under development at Los Alamos. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory are studying a simple, cost-effective method for extracting [CO.sub.2] directly from the air -- which could allow sustained use of fossil fuels while avoiding...

Nonresidential building slips in March. (Issues and Events).
June 1, 2002... The value of new construction starts dropped 11% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $468.9 billion, according to the Dodge division of McGraw-Hill Construction (New York). "The pace of construction activity in January and...

Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). (Association Agenda).
June 1, 2002... Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International (Washington) has named Lone A. Damon, Ph.D. as its director of education. In other news, the organization now offers the International Code Adoption Resource library online at...

ASHRAE. (Association Agenda).
June 1, 2002... Papers presented at the sold-out IAQ 2001 conference sponsored by ASHRAE (Atlanta) are now available. The "IAQ 2001 Conference Proceedings" CD contains 34 papers and discussion presented at "IAQ 2001 Moisture, Microbes and Health Effects:...

The National Electrical Safety Foundation recently changed its name to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. (Association Agenda).
June 1, 2002... The National Electrical Safety Foundation (Washington) recently changed its name to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. The name change comes as the foundation, the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to...

The International Code Council. (Association Agenda).
June 1, 2002... The International Code Council (Falls Church, VA) helped sponsor "Future of Our Schools: Inside and Out," a television program produced by Information Television Network and also sponsored by the U.S. Access Board, The U.S. Department of...

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. (Association Agenda).
June 1, 2002... Two updated Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (Arlington, VA) standards -- Standard 730-2001, "Flow-Capacity Rating and Application of Suction-line filters and Filter-driers," and Standard 750-2001, "Thermostatic Refrigerant...

Sales automation. (Computers & Software).
June 1, 2002... The Sales and Engineering Automation Tool (SEAT) is used for design and configuration of complex custom-engineered products. Selection and configuration of a product is captured through a user-friendly interface. ZEMA Systems, Inc. ...

Flow of fluids. (Computers & Software).
June 1, 2002... Flow of Fluids software enables engineers to meet the requirements for computerized fluid piping system design using the calculations, formulas, and technical data to draw, analyze, and troubleshoot systems of up to 25 pipelines. Crane...

Duct design. (Computers & Software).
June 1, 2002... CADvent 3.2 is a full-featured application designed to streamline duct design, product selection, drafting, and estimating processes into one integrated and automated solution for hvac designers. Lindab, Inc. Stamford, CT FREE...

Power Measurement's. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Saanichton, BC, Canada) MeterMail[R] technology allows users of the company's ION meter to send critical alert messages to any internet e-mail address worldwide, including pagers and cell phones.

From Phoenix Controls. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Newton, MA), the new Celeris[R]2 control platform retains the venturi valve as the primary component, and adds LonWorks[R] technology to create a distributed control architecture.

Informative Graphics Corp. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Phoenix) recently announced expanded support and enhanced functionality of MYRIAD 5.2, the latest version of its document, drawing, and model view, and redline program.

Meridian Project Systems. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Folsom, CA) recently unveiled a new application, Prolog Scheduler, a Web-based collaborative scheduling and resource management application for the construction market.

PUMP-FLO Solutions. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Lacey, WA) recently announced the launch of ePUMP-FLO[TM] 3.0, designed to be a powerful, cost-effective, Web-based selection software program.

Vistagy Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Waltham, MA) has released new versions of its EnCapta design software, a CAD-integrated software that enables engineers to capture, structure, and communicate specialized nongeometric design data for product definition.

Teletrol Systems Inc.'s. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Manchester, NH) eBuilding system combines BACnet[R] and Information Technology open standards to provide hvac equipment interoperability, software integration, and connectivity.

Web4, Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
June 1, 2002... (Lacey, WA), a subsidiary of netGuru, Inc., recently announced it has partnered with Engineered Software (Yorba Linda, CA) to offer a Web-enabled version of PIPE-FLO Professional software through Web4's Solution.

Quest Technologies. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (Oconomowoc, WI) has announced the relaunch of its Heat Stress Monitors website at www.getheatinfo.com.

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

ProTech Systems, Inc. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (Albany, NY), a designer/manufacturer of natural draft and pressurized vent systems for residential and commercial heating equipment, has announced the launch of its website at www.protechinfo.com.

Universal Air Filter Co. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (Sauget, IL) now offers round-the-clock free prototype service for use by design engineers worldwide, via its enhanced website at www.uaf.com

The Radiant Panel Association's. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (Loveland, CO) RadNet at www.radiantpanelassociation.org, is a public-use bulletin board designed to make it easy for anyone to ask questions or discuss issues surrounding radiant heating.

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (ARI) (Arlington, VA) has developed a website, located at www.coolcareers.org, to introduce the industry to career seekers.

Graham Corporation. (World Wide Web).
June 1, 2002... (Batavia, NY) has updated its website at www.graham-mfg.com/pr.html.

Air distribution unit. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The company's NetworkAIR RM air distribution unit is a rack-mounted fan unit that works with an existing precision air conditioning system to deliver cool air to the equipment contained in a rack enclosure. American Power Conversion West...

Gas-fired hot water heaters. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The Flo-Direct hot water heater features water temperatures from 130[degrees] to 185[degrees]F, which are available within 15 to 20 sec of the demand. Other features include a two-pass flow of hot gas to ensure a 98% or greater fuel efficiency,...

Humidity/temperature sensor. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The SHT11 is a combination humidity/temperature sensor and transmits a fully calibrated digital signal to measure rh (+3.5% rh, +2% on request) and temperature (+0.5[degrees]C at 20[degrees]C). The unit can be directly connected to a...

Hvac programmable controller. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The Raptor (R) programmable controller uses the LonMark (R) protocol and is a freely programmable, 32-point controller. Features include a high point count -- 8DO, 8DI, 8AO, 8AI -- for controlling large mechanical equipment or coordinating...

Engineered board. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The company's new Engineered Board is designed to offer comprehensive strength, sound control properties, and thermal resistance. The board is made from 100% recycled material, and is manufactured to use wherever acoustical or thermal...

Direct-drive plenum fan. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The company is offering a direct-drive plenum fan as an option on its Vision [TM] air handler. The fan is designed to eliminate airstream particulates caused by belt dust and grease from belt-driven fans. Typical applications include...

Ductless ac unit. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The company has introduced a new, larger capacity dual zone ductless split system air conditioner. The unit features approximately 19,000 Btuh and a 10.5 SEER, and is designed for cooling two adjoining or long, narrow rooms; or to provide...

Drain valves. (Products in Focus).
June 1, 2002... The Sentinel Series drain valves can operate in programmable modes as well as in response to an optional liquid-level sensor for zero air loss draining. Model MDV-400L features a keypad for timing adjustments and an LCD cycle status readout....