Content

• Programs
• Technology Awards
• Membership Promotion
• ASHRAE Winter Meeting "Word Bites"
• Regional Dinner
• Catch some Rays with Radiant Heat
• Cryogenic Air Separation-Advanced Refrigeration
• Spacecoast Chapter of ASHRAE
• Business Card Ads (Sponsors)

Programs

Past President’s Night and joint meeting with West Coast and Space Coast Chapters.

Topic:  Refrigeration – The Technology for Survival

Presenter: Ron Vallort, P.E., ASHRAE President, Fellow ASHRAE

Date:              Thursday February 3rd, 2005

                                                                                                                        Ron Vallort

It is with great pleasure that I announce our February meeting speaker, Ron Vallort.  Mr Vallort is the 2004 - 2005 president of ASHRAE.  During his term, President Vallort is emphasizing the widespread benefits of refrigeration as the technology for survival and ASHRAE as the strongest link in the cold chain. Mr. Vallort has been quoted as saying: “We need to advance the technology of refrigeration to enable all the people of the world to enjoy its benefits. And this refrigeration should be more economical and foolproof to construct and operate, while still being friendly to the earth.”

The timing of Mr. Vallort’s presentation is perfect as ASHRAE celebrates the centennial anniversary of the founding of The American Society of Refrigerating Engineers, a predecessor society.  President Vallort received a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.  He is past chair of the International Association of Cold Storage Constructors and the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration.  President Vallort is an ASHRAE Fellow and has received the Exceptional Service Award, the Distinguished Service award and a Regional Award of Merit.  He is president of Ron Vallort and Associates in Oak Brook, Ill.                                                      

Please register by Tuesday, February 1st , 2005.  Don’t miss out on this great event!

Last Month's Program:

Thanks to all of those who attended our meeting last Thursday.

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If you weren't able to make it to the meeting here is what you missed.

(This summary is intended to be a synopsis of what was presented and the author of the summary does not warrant and will not verify that the presented information is accurate).
 

By: Todd Moore, P.E.

President Elect & Programs Chair

Technology Awards

Each year ASHRAE recognizes members who design and/or conceive innovative technological concepts that are proven through actual operating data, communicate innovative systems designs to other ASHRAE members and highlight technological achievements of ASHRAE to others, including associated professionals and societies worldwide, as well as building and facility owners.  They do this through the ASHRAE Technology Awards. 

The first phase of this process is the Technology Awards at the chapter level.  Chapter award winners are then forwarded on to the Regional competitions, and Regional winners compete for awards at the Society level.  These awards are very prestigious within our industry.

The application deadline for the Chapter awards has been attached to this month’s Dewpoint.  Please return your completed application by 2/11/2005 to the following address:

ASHRAE Technology Awards

If you have any questions or comments regarding the Technology Awards please contact Brian Mirus or Bob Egan at began@grgce.com.

-Brian A. Mirus

Membership Promotion

Dues

Please check the status of your ASHRAE dues and remit if due or overdue. You should be getting a call if you are on the list of non-paid dues members.

Forms and Information

If you need forms or information on member status, please contact me at bcarlock@bellsouth.net

Thank you for your help,

ASHRAE Winter Meeting “Word Bites”

HVAC Contracting and Service Organizations….Don’t miss the ASHRAE Winter Meeting and Product Show, Orlando February 5^th through the 9^th!

This year at the Orlando Convention Center over 45,000 people will attend the ASHRAE Winter Meeting and AHR Expo! You will see and be able to talk to all of the major manufacturers about their products and how you can use their products to be more productive or be able to add more value for your Customer. You cannot afford to miss this opportunity as your competition has already registered to attend! In addition there will be in access of 80 Technical Forums, Seminars, and Papers delivered at the various ASHRAE Technical sessions, so don’t miss this opportunity to reward your top Project Managers and Technicians by bringing them to this major industry event that is right on your door step! What better opportunity will you have to expose your Associates to current state of the art and forth-coming trends in our industry? Register for the meeting today @ http://www.ashrae.org/orlando and they will assist you with hotel accommodations and schedules. In addition contact William M. Dillard @ bdillard@msifla.com for any specific information. See you at the ASHRAE Winter Meeting!

Kindest Regards,

William M. Dillard
General Chairman
ASHRAE Winter 2005 Meeting
Feb 5-9, 2005
Orlando Florida

Regional Dinner

For those of you who have had an opportunity to participate in a society meeting, you likely know the wide variation in events, meetings, and opportunities that are available. For our region, a can't miss event is the regional dinner.

We have a long-standing tradition of organizing a fun dinner that includes all our Region XII participants along with those from Region IV (Georgia, SC, NC, and the surrounding area), Region XIII (all of Asia), and the Region-at-Large (primarily Europe and the Middle East). Its an awesome opportunity to meet folks within our industry from different parts of the world (Georgia is another world... isn't it?) in a VERY casual atmosphere.

Significant others are encouraged to join the fray. Please see the attached flyer and contact Ross for reservations.

Rob Risley
RVC

Catch some Rays with Radiant Heat

Radiant heat transfer affects everyone.  It is radiant heat transfer that warms the surface of the Earth and allows us to enjoy an 80°F day from a source of energy almost 100 million miles away.  It is also why we feel warmer on a sunny 20°F day than on a cloudy 20°F day.  Radiant heating has been around for centuries and was used by the Romans as early as 60 A.D. in which they channeled hot air under the floors of their villas.  Today a more efficient and cost effective radiant heating is available for many different applications.

            A basic expression for Radiant heat transfer is:

q_rad = h_rA(T_s – T_sur)

 h_r = εσ(T_s + T_sur)(T²_s + T²_sur) (radiation heat transfer coefficient) 

(Borrowed from Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 5^th Edition. 

Frank P. Incropera & David P. DeWitt)

            From the formula, we can see that radiant heat transfer is a function of the difference in surface temperature of the object (T_s) and it’s surrounding (T_sur).  The area (A) of the radiant transfer is also a factor.  It is important to realize that a “line of sight” needs to be established for effective heat transfer.  This is why on a cool sunny day we feel warm, until a cloud blocks the sun and we then feel cold. 

            Radiant energy transfer is caused by a warm surface giving up its heat to a cooler surface.  Whenever there is a temperature difference between two surfaces, both surfaces will attempt to equalize.  Radiant energy travels through space without heating the space itself.  It only turns into heat when it contacts a cooler surface.  Our human comfort relies just as much on radiant heat transfer as it does on air temperature.  By controlling both the air temperature and the radiant transfer of heat to nearby objects a radiant system can deliver a high level of comfort. 

            Radiant heating systems fall into three categories: 

• Electric cable radiant heating
• Hydronic systems
• Gas-fired surface heaters and reflector-focused heaters

Electric cable radiant heating systems use a wire with a resistance considerable higher than that of standard copper wire.  The cable is usually placed under concrete floors or buried in the plaster of walls or ceilings.  These systems offer good thermal storage capabilities that tend to reduce temperature swings.  Those capabilities, however can slow response time and reduce setback opportunities. 

            Hydronic Systems have a major advantage over electric heating systems – they can provide cooling as well as radiant heating.  The systems make use of metal pipes or plastic tubing that can be buried in floors or ceilings and then covered in concrete or plaster.  Wall panels and metal fin systems are also available.  If a hydronic system is to be used for cooling, care must be taken to account for humidity control.  If surface temperatures fall below the dew point of the air, condensation can occur.

            Gas-fired surface heaters and reflector-focused heaters are commonly used to heat industrial facilities and to provide heat and drying for manufacturing processes.  Gas-fired surface heaters combust fuel on or near the surface of ceramic or stainless-steel materials without using an open flame.  The surface of the heated material radiates that energy to the other surfaces and objects that need to be warmed.  Reflector-focused heaters combust fuel and the hot combusted gases flow through a series of exhaust tubes suspended above the area that is to be heated.  The tubes are usually shrouded with a reflector that directs the radiated energy to the desired area.

            When designing a project that requires heating applications, especially in climates where buildings are heating driven, consider using radiant heating to reduce ductwork needed, decrease energy consumption and increasing efficiency while providing a more comfortable environment for the occupants.         

Robert J. Egan

ASHRAE - Central Florida Chapter

CTTC Co-chair (technical)

Cryogenic Air Separation-Advanced Refrigeration

     In the engineering world, nitrogen, oxygen and argon gases are used quite often.  Oxygen aiding as an oxidizer with fuels for rocket propulsion, nitrogen forming into a variety of compounds such as ammonia (a refrigerant) and argon aiding in welding applications are just some of the possible uses.  But have you ever wondered how to obtain these individual substances from the air which they originate?  It is through advanced refrigeration techniques known as cryogenic air separation that engineers accomplishes this.

     Design equipment and choices are made depending on how many products are desired (the type of air separation plant):  nitrogen, oxygen, both, argon, required purities, liquid or gas phase etc.

      Dry air containing all the substances desired is first introduced into the system as the main feed.  The first step is filtering and compressing the air (most commonly to 90 psig). It is then cooled to approximately ambient temperature by passing through a water or air cooled heat exchangers. 

     The next step which is critical is removing the carbon dioxide and water vapor from the feed using a molecular sieve (absorber bed).  This step insures that freezing at the very cold stages of the process would not occur. 

     Additional heat transfer in a brazed aluminum HX chills the air to cryogenic temperatures.  The cold actually comes in the form of recovery of the gases exiting the separation (distillation) process downstream. One or more elevated pressure streams of gases which can be waste or product gases are reduced in pressure (expanded) by the form of a turbine.  Then the turbine would drive another compressor removing more energy and therefore reducing its temp more so than simple expansion across a valve.

      The separation process (distillation column) downstream of the HX requires two phases (gas and liquid) to effectively work.  Therefore, the HX is designed to cool the air to -170 F and at 10 atmospheres (from the compressor) so that it just starts to liquefy.  Now that the feed is at its desired temp, it enters the distillation column where the air is separated into its desired products.  The column separates the more volatile (able to vaporize easier) nitrogen and the oxygen which comes off as the distillate product.  The column contains a series of trays which aid in separation and is usually a couple of stories tall.  The products are now separated (both liquid and gas depending on desired product) and then pumped and stored ready to be shipped for usage. 

The following flow diagram below describes the process:

1. Air Feed
2. Compressor to compress air to required pressure.
3. absorber bed to remove water, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons
4. HX:  cold product gases or waste stream gases (depending on the plant) are used to cool incoming air. 
5. Cold air introduced to the distillation column
6. Liquid product whether it be Nitrogen, Argon or Oxygen are extracted. 
7. Waste gases or Gas product are expanded to create cold feed temperatures as well as produce power.
8. Gas products are extracted or waste products are purged. 

 NOW THAT’S COOL!

Greg Romanczyk

CTTC Co Chair

  Visit the Society web page at www.ashrae.org

Last modified: 08/17/08