Thermodynamics and HVAC Principles & Practices

1. Understand the concept of heat energy and its correspondence with work and other forms of energy in the thermodynamics realm.

2. Understand the concept of specific heat and its role in calculation of heat associated with change of temperature in thermodynamic systems.

3. Understand conversion of energy from fuel form to heat, from heat to steam, from steam to work, and work to electricity – illustrated through a comprehensive, multistage, case study.

4. Learn about the concepts of enthalpy, entropy, internal energy, work, and power.

5. Understand the difference between sensible and latent heats, and their role in the change of phases of substances.

6. Gain understanding about the role of saturated and superheated steam tables in thermodynamics system analysis and determination of the phase of water.

7. Understand the practical significance and the difference between various thermodynamic processes, i.e. isobaric, isenthalpic, isentropic, adiabatic, isochoric, isometric, isothermal, etc.

8. Learn about Mollier’s diagram, the psychrometric chart and their applications in design and optimal operation of HVAC Systems.

9. Understand the refrigeration cycle and get insight into refrigeration process through review of pressure-enthalpy performance of DuPont® 134a refrigerant.

10. Get an appreciation of energy conservation and process optimization value offered by direct digital, or automated, control of HVAC Systems. Learn about the typical architecture of automated HVAC systems.

- Fundamentals for Thermodynamics o Definition, units, and law of conservation of energy o The concept of “system” as it pertains to thermodynamic analysis

• Importance of correct assignment of signs to work, and energy of various sorts, including heat energy
• Energy conversion and heat calculation case study o Definition and calculation of power in thermodynamic systems
• “Steam to Wire” flow of energy and power
• Energy unit conversions and associated case study
• Enthalpy and entropy
• Heat transfer and illustration of entropy calculation through a Case Study 
• Heat of Fusion, heat of evaporation and heat of sublimation and phases of Water

- Saturated and Superheated Steam Tables

- Class exercise to reinforce understanding and use of steam tables

– predicting the phase of water, at given pressure and temperature

- Critical point, triple point and critical properties of water

- Mollier diagram and associated exercise

- Closed and open thermodynamic systems

- First law of thermodynamics

• Development and understanding of SFEE, Steady Flow Energy Equation

- Second law of thermodynamics

- Thermodynamic Processes

• Adiabatic, isobaric, isochoric, isometric, isentropic, isothermal, throttling, quasi-static, quasi-equilibrium, polytropic, reversible, and irreversible processes

- Topping cycle, bottoming cycle and combined cycle processes

- Turbines

• Impulse vs. reaction turbine

- Station Zebra case study

- Psychrometrics and psychrometric chart

• Simple vs. comprehensive psychrometric charts
• Understanding and application of psychrometric charts
• Instrumentation commonly used to acquire psychrometric chart data 
• Comprehensive psychrometric chart case study

- HVAC and refrigeration cycle

- Automated HVAC system

- Refrigeration cycle case study

• DuPont® 134a refrigerant pressure enthalpy graph-based analysis

1. Does the term thermodynamics sound intimidating to you? After this seminar, it should. Your instructor, Professor Rauf will explain those elusive, abstract, and hard to understand thermodynamics concepts, principles and analytical techniques in an easy to understand fashion.

2. How often do you get an opportunity to attend a workshop or seminar conducted by the author of a text book on the subject matter? In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn from and interact, live, in person, with Bobby Rauf, author of Thermodynamics Made Simple for Energy Engineers. (A copy of the book available at additional cost)

3. Do you manage mechanical engineers, thermodynamics experts, or HVAC engineers, but you are rusty in thermodynamics concepts, analytical techniques and design considerations? This workshop provides you the opportunity to brush up on that knowledge and those skills, so that you can understand the challenges confronted by your subordinates and colleagues more clearly, and can make informed objective decisions.

4. Have you ever wondered how those power generating plants can take water and produce electricity out of it? Through an illustrative case study, your instructor will show you how to harness electrical power starting with sub-zero ice.

5. If you are unfamiliar with, or are rusty on the use of psychrometric charts, and would like to refresh yourself or learn how psychrometric charts are used to analyse HVAC performance and design, then this workshop is a must for you.

6. If you are an engineer who has little or no thermodynamics background, then, this workshop will serve as an excellent opportunity to cross train and enhance your knowledge about a subject that your colleagues, around you, might be more familiar with.

7. Are you in a facilities management or maintenance management role? Do you wince every time you confront the high energy bills associated with the operation of those large chillers and refrigeration machines? Do you feel perplexed and feel as if you lack sufficient knowledge to understand the root cause behind expensive repairs associated with those large chillers and refrigeration machines? Then, this workshop will help you lift the veil of complexity associated with refrigeration cycle and you will get an opportunity to see through the intricacies of refrigeration cycle through a review of DuPont ® 134a pressure-enthalpy graph.

8. Remember those saturated and superheated steam tables? Perhaps you were never introduced to them? Not to worry. By the end of this workshop, you will gain appreciation for the role of steam tables in assessing the transformation of phases and the conversion of heat energy into work and power.

9. Last, but not least – If you are not a licensed Professional Engineer, but aspire to be one, and if you are rusty in the fundamentals of thermodynamics concepts and principles, then this two (2) day course could serve as a “warm-up” on some of the thermodynamics mechanical engineering principles, concepts and problem analyses techniques.

- Licensed Professional Engineers, who need to meet the annual or biennial license renewal PDH (Professional Development Hour) or CEU (Continuing Education Units) requirements.

- Engineers who are not familiar with the principles of thermodynamics and HVAC

- Facility Managers, Engineering Managers, Program/Project Managers and other executives or leaders who feel a lack of adequate thermodynamics and HVAC knowledge to hold meaningful discussions and to make informed decisions in their interactions with their mechanical engineer direct reports or colleagues.

- Non-engineers, including technical writers responsible for developing operations and maintenance manuals for thermodynamic or HVAC systems.

- Procurement/purchasing professionals who are responsible for acquisition of thermodynamic or HVAC equipment.

- Candidates aspiring to take the FE or PE exams.

- Energy Managers or Energy Professionals

- Maintenance Engineers and Maintenance Managers

- Other professionals whose annual PLP, Performance and Learning Program, includes engineering/technical courses/seminars/workshops.

Bobby Rauf, P.E, C.E.M, MBA

Bobby Rauf is the President, Chief Consultant and a Senior Instructor at Sem-Train, LLC. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, in the State of North Carolina and is a Certified Energy Manager.

Mr. Rauf was inducted as “Legend in Energy” by AEE, in 2014. He is a published author of multiple engineering and energy books and professional development courses and holds a patent in process controls technology. He’s a member of ASEE, American Society of Engineering Education.

Mr. Rauf develops and instructs professional development or continuing education, energy and engineering skill building, and engineering cross-training courses. Some of his major clients include accredited universities in the US and abroad, major US and international corporations, and governmental institutions. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Gardner-Webb University.

During his long career with PPG Industries, Inc. as Senior Staff Engineer, his responsibilities included development and management of energy and ergonomics programs for multiple manufacturing plants, in the US and overseas. He also provided consultation and training services in the energy, electrical engineering, industrial safety, ergonomics and arc flash arena.