Engineered Systems articles from March 2002

Engineered Systems archives from March 2002

Out with the old, in with the new -- in more ways than one. (Editor's Page).
March 1, 2002... ROBERT BEVERLY A few months ago, ES art director Jake Needham and his wife welcomed the arrival of their first child, Jake also started contemplating another "project" last year: A thorough evaluation and redesign of the magazine's layout....

Learning new tricks. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2002... We very much enjoyed your column "Tomorrow's Engineer" in the January 2002 issue of Engineered Systems. You've hit some of the points we've been trying to articulate to our people for a while. Fortunately, it is possible to teach [...]...

Engineers as commodities: The hard truth. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2002... Are engineers commodities? You bet we are. We perpetuate the Dilbert image as long as we are unable to "effectively" talk our way out of a wet paper bag. It starts with the P.E.s' creed in considering the public's safety before personal profit....

Tough to cull consulting clients. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2002... Being a younger engineer (nine years' experience), I am probably a touch confused as to how the whole construction industry comes down from the owners. My first job was as an hvac engineer/project manager for a local mechanical contractor. We...

How not to do D-B. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2002... I particularly enjoyed Howard McKew's "Single-Source Solutions" article, "Design-build: How not to do it" (December 2001, page 22). Having been a partner in several successful D-B ventures, and some outright disasters, it hit home. My...

Back to basics.
March 1, 2002... Test 138 CONDENSING BOILER AND NONCONDENSING BOILER SYSTEM, BASIC SYSTEM-DEISGN 1 ON-OFF CONTROL, IN THE "OFF" POSITION: Boilers B-1 (condensing type) and B-2 (noncondensing type) are off. Isolation values V-1 and V-2 shall be closed...

Custom dehumidification units help elementary school pass makeup test. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2002... Hvac engineers are starting to realize that nearly anything can be specified into a custom makeup air unit. For example, packaged makeup air dehumidification units with reverse cycle heat pump (RCHP) and enthalpy wheel options were specified...

Humble District proud of thermal storage retrofit. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2002... Faced with 16- to 22-year-old cooling equipment that required repeated compressor replacements and couldn't meet the cooling demands of its school buildings, the Humble Independent School District (ISD) in Humble, TX, suffered from repeated...

In Kansas City, new CMMS proves just right for the long Hall. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2002... One of the sites that visitors to Kansas City, MO, remember most is the distinctive "Sky Stations" standing 400 ft above H. Roe Bartle Hall, the downtown convention center's central facility and the city's largest convention/event center....

Alabama district implements program for long-term savings. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2002... According to Wayne Lowe, energy manager for Shelby County Schools in Alabama, controlling energy costs is a major challenge facing the district. "We've placed a high priority on this area. At the rate that we're growing, we can't afford to make...

Definitions and Duties. (Commissioning).
March 1, 2002... Is commissioning undermining quality control? My December 1999 "Getting it Right" column explored the differences between commissioning and quality control. In summary, I suggested that quality control is about confirming static equipment...

Web services evolve. (Building Automation).
March 1, 2002... Improved integration leads the way. Just like the next level in a video game, moving building automation industry information and interaction to the evolving Web-services level changes everything - new rules, new power, and a new...

Atrium issues. (Smoke & Fire Control).
March 1, 2002... Aesthetics confronts pragmatism in atrium smoke exhaust design. A growing trend in architecture is to incorporate the use of atria designs within school buildings. While it is the job of the architect to create such designs that are...

January 2002. (Weather Report).
March 1, 2002... WHERE'S THE BEEF? Well, we've survived another January, and most building owners are still scratching their heads wondering when the real winter weather is going to kick in (knock on wood that it does not). Much like December, January was...

HVAC system selection. (Hvacr Designer Tips).
March 1, 2002... This is the first "Hvacr Designer Tips" in a series of checklists based around hvac design and system selection. This column will be published quarterly, addressing system selection options in concert with the quarterly Back to Basics series...

New-York state of the art.
March 1, 2002... After a quarter century of indifference, a scenic school district in the Hudson River Valley decided on a radical upgrade for its schools. This is the story of how the right work on a tight schedule produced a new, multifaceted K-12 facility...

Utah schools medal in minimizing maintenance.
March 1, 2002... For the Granite School District, the move to multiple-boiler systems led to solid, more consistent performance for schools of various ages. Inside the district's energy manager discusses the move to cast iron boilers as well as other sequencing...

The invisible touch.
March 1, 2002... New technologies and design approaches are helping classroom ventilation systems create quality, healthy learning environments. Whether it's smart vav design or a combination of geothermal and heat pump tactics, two Indiana schools show that...

A crash course in moisture remediation.
March 1, 2002... Replacing the roof of a Virginia high school helped reveal a serious moisture problem throughout the facility. Unfortunately, by then there was little recourse except thorough retrofit and renovation. While the school was being repaired and the...

Issues and events.
March 1, 2002... LEED ratings system for existing buildings launches pilot program The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently launched the pilot phase of its newest green building rating system: LEED[TM] for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB). The official...

Bas/CMMS interface. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... The Vykon/ProTeus II[TM] interface provides Web-based interoperability between modern building automation system environments and client/server maintenance management software. It allows companies to access and control diverse building...

Refrigerant compliance. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... Refrigerant Compliance Manager[TM] 2002 is a leak manager tool that uses a question-and-answer format that directs users step-by-step, through a series of yes or no questions. The leak manager then prompts users to follow the required steps in...

Compressible gas systems. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... PIPE-FLO Compressible 7.0 is an integrated suite designed for traditional fluid flow analysis, piping design, and compressor selection practices. Its enhanced features are intended to enable engineers to save time and money by designing,...

Cimmetry Systems. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Cambridge, MA) and Valor Computerized Systems (Lake Forest, CA) recently announced that the former will support the latter's ODB++(X) electronics CAD/CAM data format within its AutoVue suite of viewing/markup tools.

Yakogawa Corp. of America. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Newnan, GA) has released Exaquantum, the next generation of plant information management systems (PIMS), to the North American market.

emWare[R]. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Salt Lake City) recently announced the availability of its full suite of Device-Gate[TM] products, easy-to-implement, self-contained gateways that offer manufacturers a fast and affordable way to add remote management capabilities to both new...

Wrightsoft. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Lexington, MA) offers two-day training programs that teach designing and selling hvac systems using the latest technology.

LASCOM. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Paris) recently announced the release of Advitium, which offers a set of functions that helps manage product, process, and project information, as well as automating the business processes that support these information exchanges.

Algor. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Pittsburgh) has released a user's guide that covers all analysis types and describes, in a process-based format, how to define a finite element model from start to finish.

Teletrol Systems Inc. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Manchester, NH) released Panorama 7.3, an upgrade to its graphical user interface software for monitoring and controlling buildings.

EMG. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2002... (Halifax, NS, Canada) has introduced new software for use with Johnson Controls' Metasys digital control systems. The Nexus Alarm Monitor res-ponds to critical alarms by sending e-mail messages to designated addresses.

HVACIndustry.com. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... (Natural Bridge Station, VA) is now a distributor for hvacr-related software packages from a number of companies covering a wide variety of subjects serving the industry.

Minco Products, Inc. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... (Minneapolis) provides temperature sensor calculations and helps users create temperature and resistance tables for RTD sensors at www.minco.com/sensorcalc.

Heatcraft. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... (Stone Mountain, GA) has launched a site at www.heatcraftrpd.com that is designed to provide accurate, up-to-date information for all its refrigeration products.

The Hydraulic Institute. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... (Parsippany, NJ) has made subscriptions to Monthly Patent News: Pumps Edition available for purchase at www.pumps.org.

The Office of Industrial Technologies. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... The Office of Industrial Technologies has released a study that assesses the market for compressed air efficiency services at www.oit.doe.gov/bestpractices/technical_publications.shtml#market.

EngineerSupply.com's. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... EngineerSupply.com's website at www.engineersupply.com, has been redeveloped to offer the architectural, engineering, and construction world products and supplies, such as measuring wheels, specialty calculators, drafting supplies, presentation...

National Fire Protection Association. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2002... (NFPA) (Quincy, MA) recently launched an enhanced website at www.nfpa.org.

Terminal unit selection. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... ToolBOX III is designed for selection and sizing of terminal units. The program is based on a Visual Basic platform and uses Microsoft Access as the database. Users can enter a job into the program and within seconds, print out a complete room,...

Selection and specifying. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... Version 7.0 of this program contains more than 5,600 product CAD drawings and its enhanced compatibility includes Windows 95/NT/ME and XP operating platforms. It also comes with several new additions to better assist specifying engineers in...

Control panels. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2002... The new ACURT2 and ACURT4 Networked Intelligent Controllers support the TOPAZ access control software system. Each panel contains a 32-bit, 90-MHz Motorola ColdFire processor with 16 MB of battery backed-up RAM allowing high-speed transactions...

Ductwork. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's SilverGuard antimicrobial ductwork is designed to control the spread and growth of many types of bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus, according to the manufacturer. SilverGuard is available in all of the company's duct and fitting...

Video inspection. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The P375 flexi-cam is designed for inspections in lines 1-to 4-in, wide. Features include hand-held portability, built-in LCD screen, battery-power, 3 lux sensitivity, 360-TVI resolution, and manually set focus. Typical applications include...

Air conditioning system. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's "Eco Multi" air conditioning system uses both a standard compressor and a dual-cylinder power control compressor to respond to requirements in capacity by modulating the output of the compressor, realizing -- by using an external...

Refrigeration monitoring. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The SLE-1001 sight glass monitor can be electronically monitored through the company's KMDigital controller or other building management systems that accept 0 to 5-vdc signals. The SLE-1001 has a power supply of 24 vac, +201-15%, 50/60 Hz at...

Boilers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Series LC/LCE is a commercial, oil, gas, or gas-oil combination, forced-draft, cast iron boiler for hot water or steam systems, It is available as individual sections, assembled block, or a completely packaged unit. Combustion efficiency...

Fire detection. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The RFX radio frequency wireless interface system uses a translation device (RFX) to allow communication between a Notifier intelligent fire alarm control panel and up to 80 wireless detectors, and operates within a 60-ft radius in any...

Water cooled chillers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's Modular Chiller Series is available in 30 ton and 50 ton capacities and measures 29 1/2 in. in width, allowing them to passthrough existing equipment room doors or into standard passenger elevators, according to the manufacturer....

Coil maintenance. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company has two metal-filled epoxies that can be used to maintain compressor coils. The aluminum-filled hvac repair putty (Special F) bonds to metals, ceramics, wood, concrete, or glass and can be used to make nonrusting repairs to copper...

Building control system. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The L Connection[R] Network is a commercial building control system that is designed for easy installation and operation, according to the manufacturer. The L Connection Network consists of the network control panel system manager, integrated...

Cordless gas water heater. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Magnum Series[R] of cordless, commercial gas water heaters features the company's Millivolt technology, that enables these units to generate their own energy from the pilot and thermopile assembly to operate the flue damper. This eliminates...

Desiccant dehumidifier. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The MDS 21 is a desiccant dehumidifier system with size ranges from 4,500 to 36,000 cfm. Features include the new GTR rotor Honeycombe[R] desiccant wheel, removable panel options, and the ability to both cool and heat, as well as being equipped...

Vaneaxial fans. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company has introduced a new generation of VXD (compact Vaneaxial direct drive) and VXB (belt drivel vaneaxial fans. Performance capabilities include volumes exceeding 120,000 cfm, static pressures to 7 in wg, operational tip speeds to...

Fans. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's multi-wind X Series fans feature a twisted airfloil blade profile that is designed to attain high air volume, low power consumption, and make little noise, according to the manufacturer. The fans are available in diameters from 36...

Pressure relief valves. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's new, reduced-capacity pressure-relief valves H5600R and H5602R can be placed in halocarbon service when rupture discs are used. The valves have approximately 1/3 the capacity of the company's H5600 Series valves. Standard pressure...

Measurement and calibration. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Battery Pack converts mass flow or liquid flow meters into portable measurement and calibration instruments. When attached to the company's mass flow meter, the user can simultaneously determine mass flow, pressure, temperature, and...

Wireless sensors. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's line of WOW[TM] sensors can be customized to fit individual needs. They are battery operated with a microprocessor-controlled, 418-MHz, FCC-certified radio transmitter in a small ABS enclosure. Other features include onboard...

Control valve. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The K5 Kombat electrically actuated control valve is available is sizes 1/2 through 2 in. and features a bronze ANSI 250 body. It shuts off to 400 psi. Typical applications include hvac systems and fuel system controls in boiler rooms. --...

Differential pressure transmitters. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The 20300 Series of low differential pressure transmitters measures differential pressure in the range of 1.0 to 400 in., and includes integrated LED, square-root extraction for flow measurement, and pneumatic overload protection. Typical...

Ice flaker. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Rapid Freeze[R] Model 1000 heavy- duty, commercial-sized ice flaker has a capacity range from 1,000 to 6,000 lb of flake ice per day. Features include factory installed components and controls, diversity of refrigerants, electrical options,...

Valves. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Wafer-Sphere[R] butterfly valve features the Xtreme[TM] seat, which is designed to provide longer life and expanded performance boundaries of up to 350 psi at 500[degrees], according to the manufacturer. Other features include...

Air filters. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The OdorGuard[R] ring panel air filter contains granular-activated carbon to remove odors and gaseous and particulate pollutants. Types ranging from light to heavy-duty odor removal are available, Ring panels are available with granular carbon...

IAQ monitor. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The KD451 measures [CO.sub.2] temperature, relative humidity, and has three additional channels for use-specified electrochemical sensor configurations or external analog input options. Windows-based software allows the users to generate...

Steam water heating system. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Easiheat[R] steam water heating systems are available in single and double wall systems, as well as a wide range of capacities. The units use a plate-and-frame heat exchanger which is designed to allow for easier cleaning or future...

Expansion tanks. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The CBX expansion tank is designed for vertical installation and uses a seamless, molded butyl bladder that prevents the possible loss of tank precharging pressure due to leaking at vulcanized seams, according to the manufacturer. The tank is...

Voltage monitors. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... MotorSavere[R] Models 355 and 455 three-phase voltage monitors are designed to provide protection from incoming power problems such as loss of phase, rapid cycling, single phasing, low voltage, phase reversal, voltage unbalance, high voltage,...

Filter. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Multi-Guard surface pocket filter is made with a dual layer, electrostatically enhanced synthetic fiber media, which is designed to resist humidity, a wide range of chemicals, and will not, shed or support microbial growth, according to the...

Plate-and-frame heat exchanger. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Superchanger[R] plate and frame heat exchanger is designed to provide heat transfer coefficients from two to five times greater than shell and tube units, according to the manufacturer. Suggested applications include cooling tower circuit...

Gate valves. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's new Series 771 OS&Y and Series 772 NRS grooved-end gate valves feature PS ends and a Positive Displacement Disk[TM] (PDD) that is designed to provide bubble-tight sealing with minimal torque. The valves are UL listed and FM...

Dust collectors. (Product in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's cartridge dust collectors features a RotoPulse[TM] cartridge cleaning system that is designed to automatically clean the filter cartridges with up to 90% efficiency, according to the manufacturer. Gravity flow design brings air in...

Boilers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Vitogas 50, RS Series is available with single or two-stage burners in three input size ranges: 500, 800, and 1,050 MBtuh. Control options include the Vitotronic 100 Series for basic applications or the digital Vitotronic 200 and 300 Series...

High-output fan. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company has designed a new line -- the Aerofan propeller fan, which features a cast aluminum motor mount and an integral safety guard that allows motor wiring without guard removal. Propellers are available with a choice of five or 10...

Heat pump. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Classic 12 wall-mounted heat pump has a SEER rating of 12, and features a complete selection of factory-installed ventilation options. Other features include nominal cooling capacities of 48,000 and 56,500 Btuh and the ability to duct the...

Electric boilers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Series SSB produces steam up to 100 psig in a range from 36 to 540 pph. The units operate on electricity and no flues, fuel lines, or tanks are needed. Other features include compatibility with distilled, demineralized, deionized, or...

Boiler. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The Series SMS boiler is a low pressure, packaged, steel, three-pass fire-tube boiler of firebox design. The units are available in a range of sizes from 20 to 150 bhp, and allow for "through-the-door" installation. Firing options include...

Manometer. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The AMN2 manometer measures gas and static pressure. When used with the company's digital multimeter, measurement of gas pressures up to 20 in. wc with a resolution to 0.1 in. wc are possible. In static pressure mode, the unit is designed to...

Energy recovery. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company is offering factory-installed energy recovery sections on its Vision[TM] air handlers as optional features, These sections are designed to recover 50% more of the energy normally exhausted from a building, according to the...

Coil maintenance. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The company's new equipment protection screen is made of electrostatic polypropylene and is cut-to-fit over the fin surface. This, according to the manufacturer, is designed to keep dirt, debris, and grease from coating condenser fins and...

Water boilers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... The DR Series of steam and hot water boilers is available in sizes ranging from 6 to 25 bhp. The units are available in forced-draft gas, oil, or dual-fuel models. One key feature is a tube configuration that provides a water cooled combustion...

Mixing valves. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2002... Termomix valves are available in three- and four-way patterns, in sizes ranging from 1/2 to 1 1/2 in. The valves are engineered for use with the company's Automix 20 electronic temperature control with night setback for radiant floor heating...

BoilerRetrofits (Part 2). (Tomorrow's Engineer).
March 1, 2002... This month: Take a second look at maintenance habits and records. Last month I talked about opportunities in the boiler plant replacement and retrofit market, so this month I'm going to continue on with frequently asked about tasks...