A common challenge for industrial spaces that utilize make-up air, especially in hot humid environments, is keeping the air cool and humidity low in the Summer months. Spaces that exhaust large amounts of air need to replace that air with make-up air, typically from outside. Conditioning that air in the Winter months is relatively simple. […]
Category Archives: Blog
There are several things to consider when replacing HVAC coils. The first of which is, why did the coil fail? As with any replacement component, the technician should consider why this component failed. If it was because of age, the component reaching its full service life, there may not be anything else to consider. But […]
The theory behind temperature control and steam flow through a heat exchanger ( a term which includes air heating coils) is represented as Q= UxAxdT. In this expression, Q= flow; U = a fixed number, based on the conductivity of the tubes; A= the area of heat exchange; and dT is the temperature difference, or […]
In spaces where there is the possibility of carbon monoxide fumes, garages, repair bays, indoor race tracks, etc…, carbon monoxide can be a potential problem. However, it doesn’t have to be. The simplest and most efficient way to control carbon monoxide fumes is through ventilation, monitored and controlled with an effective Carbon Monoxide Gas Detector. […]
A typical problem with industrial and institutional buildings is negative pressure. As noted in an earlier post, the remedy for this is Make-up Air, simply replacing each cubic foot of air that is exhausted. This can be a challenge if the load varies, for instance if there are several exhaust fans that may stage on […]
Our goal in condensate management is to recover as much of the treated water and heat energy as we can, and return this to the boiler. To that end, a significant challenge we are faced with is the potential losses via flash steam. 10% to 15% of condensate is subject to flash back to a […]
One of the biggest mistakes made when sizing condensate return lines is to size them based on water flow in GPM. There are formulas and charts for determining liquid pipe sizing based on gallons per minute. However, this is not the correct way to size condensate return lines as they carry two-phase flow. Because hot […]
Many steam systems waste condensate. And the potential savings can be staggering. Considering the various pressures at which many steam systems operate, the inconvenient location of some steam traps, and the various lift requirements and back-pressures, it is not uncommon to see condensate leaks diverted to drain and /or steam traps discharging to the atmosphere. […]
With increased concerns of healthy indoor air quality and energy efficiency, there has of late been a higher demand for gas detectors and IAQ controllers in the HVAC market. Specifically, the most common type of gas detector/ventilation controller is the CO2, or Carbon Dioxide Detector. These controllers sense CO2 levels and, once they reach a […]
A regular program of testing and maintaining steam traps is crucial for energy efficiency. Unfortunately, in many steam plants the traps are ignored until a problem develops. However, the cost of testing and maintaining the steam system is almost always much less than what is lost in wasted energy and repair costs. Fuel, water, and […]