Preparing the Next Generation of

Building Technicians

Laney's Model for Advanced Curriculum and

Laboratory Requirements

ECT Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

Environmental

Control Technology

Program (HVAC/R)

Green Collar Job Training at Laney College

In some cases “defining” the new technician

Topics

� The HVAC Laboratory

� The Controls Initiative

� New Courses

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

� Laney has had a strong refrigeration/hvac program forover 20 years

� The Refrigeration Laboratory is evolving to supportexpansion and updating of the curriculum

� A local engineering firm, Taylor Associates, prepared adesign for a commercial HVAC lab addition

� The additional equipment is about 80% installed

� New/altered coursework uses the commercial gradeair handling and hydronic components

� State of the art DDC controls are being added

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

OFFICE

STORAGE

CLASSROOM

ENTRY

COMPUTER

TRAINING

ADVANCED REFRIGERATION TRAINERS

BASIC TRAINERS BASIC TRAINERS

WORK BENCHES

RESIDENTIAL HEATERS

NEW COMMERCIAL

HVAC LAB

COOLING TOWERA/C Condensers

North

ECT HVAC Laboratory

� The Laboratory size is approximately 5500 s.f. (ofabout 7800 s.f. department space)

� The additional commercial equipment includes:

� 30 ton scroll type water chiller, primary andsecondary pumping systems and cooling tower

� 300,000 btuh hot water boiler with variable volumedistribution

� 4 air handlers

� VAV and dual duct terminals

� DDC controls

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

•Computer Simulations:

• TRACE 700

• ePrimer

•Simutech

• Internet Searches

• Problem Based Learning

presentations

• Controls Training

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

pink – heating hot water

blue – chilled water

green – condenser distribution

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

Size Matters!

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

Variable Speed Hydronics

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

VAV and Dual Duct Terminalshot water and electric reheat

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

Belimo Control ValvesPICCV

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

ECT HVAC Laboratory

ECT Laboratory

• Laney’s cirriculum is very much “hands on”

• HVAC installation classes are performing some of the

work

• TAB classes performed some of the startup

• The HVAC Laboratory is evolving:

• Coursework experience dictates adjustments

• Grants have their own requirements

• Commercial partner donations affect installation

• The Lab will be functional for Fall classes

• Some of the commissioning will be via classroom

exercises

DDC Controls Initiative

ECT Laboratory

• Funded from a State grant

• An addition of “major significance” to the HVAC Lab

• Install functioning DDC controls for the HVAC Lab and

cirriculum

• Test concepts of systems integration, particularly the

integration of BACNET devices from a number of

manufacturers

• Provide a platform for commercial partners to confirm

integration of specific components

• Includes the design and installation of a “convertible”

control panel

DDC Controls Initiative

ECT Laboratory

“The basis of the HVAC Lab BAS Controls systems design is to

provide a multi-vendor BAS(Building Automation System) for the

HVAC lab’s mechanical equipment, designated for instructional

purposes only. The BAS shall be “real world” technology, meaning

the systems shall be installed and operated as it would in an actual

commercial building environment. The unique aspect of this

training aide will be the interoperability of the different control

vendor products, and the requirement to share information and

functionality to the extent that these control systems shall be

interchangeable at the primary controller level, without limiting the

HVAC equipment capabilities.”

DDC Controls Initiative

ECT Laboratory

New Courses

ECT Laboratory

•Technical Mathematics

•Testing Adjusting and Balancing

•DDC Controls (2)

•Commissioning

•Psychrometrics and Load Calculations

•Commercial Air Conditioning

•Motors and Drives

Technical Mathematics

ECT Laboratory

•Demonstrate the ability to add, subtract,

multiply and divide whole numbers, fractions

and decimals, and interpret and solve HVAC

word problems.

•Calculate areas and volumes, and to

convert measurements between the SI and

IP systems.

•Apply math principles to the solving of

typical HVAC problems involving,

temperature, pressure, velocity, flow in ducts

and pipes and air conditioning loads.

•Draw, read and interpret graphs, and have

experience reading fan curves and pump

curves

Technical Mathematics

• Number System/Decimal Arithmetic

• Decimal Arithmetic

• Decimal Arithmetic problems

• Addition of Common FractionsSubtraction of Common Fractions

• Multiplication of Common Fractions

• Division of Common Fractions

• Practice with Fractions

• Ratio and Proportion

• Percent, Percentage and Discounts

• Equivalent Units of Temperature Measure

• Linear Measurement

• Area Measure

• Volumetric Measure

• Ohms Law and Electrical Relationships

ECT Laboratory

•Gas Laws

•Rates and Fluid Measurements

•Flow in Ducts and Pipes

•Heat Load Calculations

•Angular Measurement/Trigonometry

•Trigonometric Functions

•Graphs and Graphing

•Estimates and Bills

•Spreadsheets/Data logging

Testing Adjusting and Balancing

ECT Laboratory

•Demonstrate the ability to measure and adjust

airflow in common air handling systems,

including duct traverse, flowhoods and fan

characteristics

•Demonstrate the ability to measure and adjust

water flow in common hydronic systems

•Complete an air and water balance on a simple

all air heating system and complete sample

TAB forms

•Apply TAB principles and techniques to

measuring and the system parameters of

typical residential and light commercial unitary

HVAC systems

Testing Adjusting and Balancing

• Review of HVAC System Types

• Airflow in Ducted Systems

• Characteristics of Fans and Diffusers

• Fan Flow Characteristics and Fan Curves

• Air Dampers

• The Testing, Adjusting and Balancing report - 1

• Hydronic Systems

• Measurement of Flow in Pipes

• Centrifugal Pump Basics

• Hydronic Balancing

• The Testing, Adjusting and Balancing report - 2

• Review of Controls and Control Systems

• VAV Box Fundamentals

• Balancing of Light Commercial Systems

• Testing Residential Heating Systems

ECT Laboratory

DDC Controls

ECT Laboratory

•Demonstrate the proper and safe installation,

wiring, and programming of a building control

system.

•Generate proper documentation for DDC

systems.

•Demonstrate necessary skills for

troubleshooting both hardware and software

problems.

•Demonstrate necessary calibration

procedures for input and output devices.

•Read and write sequence of operations for

HVAC systems.

•Create comprehensive commissioning test

procedures for testing control systems.

Commissioning

ECT Laboratory

Cx

• Coursework is under development

• Generic not HVAC specific, but with HVAC emphasis

• Will pull together skills learned in other classes, TAB,

Commercial Air Conditioning Systems, Math, DDC etc.

•Will emphasize basic commissioning principles:

• Determining ”Owner’s Requirements”

• Organizing the Effort

• Exploring the resources (PECI, BCxA, PIER, etc.

• Practice...Practice…role playing…report writing and

presentation

“Building commissioning is a systematic process of ensuring that a building’s

complex array of systems is designed, installed and tested to perform

according to the design intent and the building owner’s operational needs.”

www.energydesignresources.com

Psychrometrics (load calculations)

ECT Laboratory© American Standard Inc. 1999

Relative Humidity, Dew Point,

Humidity ratio, Enthalpy, R-Value,

U-FACTOR

Psychrometrics (load calculations)

ECT Laboratory© American Standard Inc. 1999

• History of the Psychrometrics (Dr. Carrier)

• Human Comfort

• Characteristics of moist air and definition of terms

• Heat transfer , conduction convection and radiation

• The Psychrometric Chart

• Heat Loss and Heat Gain in structures

• Calculations of loads for small, simple structures

• Use of computerized load simulation tools

Commercial Air Conditioning

ECT Laboratory

Introduction to commercial HVAC

Systems, with emphasis on how building

components such as chillers, boilers, fans,

pumps, variable frequency drives, and

associated ventilation and zone

equipment work together to form complex

systems. .. This course will also cover

proper maintenance procedures for

energy conservation.

Motors and Drives

ECT Laboratory

This course will introduce the students to

motors and drives used in commercial and

industrial Refrigeration, Air Conditioning,

Heating and Ventilation applications. It will

introduce students to the different types of

motors, drives and control applications,

including electric and magnetic variable-

frequency drive for improved control and

energy savings… Students will have the

ability to build motor controls, to program

drives, and to troubleshoot circuits through

out the course.

Challenges and Opportunities

� Finishing the Lab (5 years from design)

� Meeting grant objectives

� Finding ways to increase enrollment,

especially from the commercial sector

� Continuously improving educational

delivery methods

ECT Laboratory