HVAC Fundamentals

Book excerpt: This master volume covers the full range of HVAC systems used in today's facilities. Comprehensive in scope, the text is intended to provide the reader with a clear understanding of how HVAC systems operate, as well as how to select the right system and system components to achieve optimum performance and efficiency for a particular application. You'll learn the specific ways in which each system, subsystem or component contributes to providing the desired indoor environment, as well as what factors have an impact on energy conservation, indoor air quality and cost. Examined in detail are compressors, water chillers, fans and fan drives, air distribution and variable air volume, pumps and water distribution, controls and their components, heat recovery, and energy conservation strategies. Also covered are heat flow fundamentals, as well as heat flow calculations used in selecting equipment and determining system operating performance and costs.