This course introduces the fundamentals of air-conditioning and refrigeration, essential components of HVAC system design. As a foundational course, it prepares you for more advanced topics by covering the properties of air and vapor, the principles of psychrometry, and the main components and processes involved in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. The course delves into the basics of heat load calculations, a critical aspect of designing efficient HVAC systems. It covers principles of thermal comfort, both outside and inside design conditions, and the role of ventilation air. Key topics include solar heat gain through glass, conduction and transmission heat gain, as well as internal heat sources, infiltration, and ventilation dynamics. Learners will gain a thorough understanding of sensible and latent heat, cooling coil performance, by-pass factors, coil apparatus dew-point temperature (ADP), and on-coil and off-coil temperatures. The course further enhances your understanding of heat load calculations by examining key factors and differentiating between external and internal heat gains. It also includes detailed sample calculations and an exploration of the properties and processes of psychrometry.

Course Objectives

• Explain the principles of air-conditioning and refrigeration and be familiar with psychrometric properties and processes
• Clarify essential heat load calculations, thermal comfort principles, heat gains, and cooling coil performance for efficient HVAC design
• Compute comprehensive heat load estimations for given space through step-by-step calculations