CE3HVA-Heating Ventilation and air conditioning design

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Mehdi Shahrestani
Email: m.shahrestani@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module introduces the concept of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system design. In addition, students are introduced to one or more commercially available software package to assist in the design of buildings and their services. Examples of programmes which may be used include IES, EnergyPlus, Trnsys or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) packages.

In this module, students will be able to further develop the knowledge they gained in the module of “Building Services2: Fundamentals (CE2BSF)” and learn a new simulation package to assess the thermal and energy performance of buildings and building environmental services. This integrated approach enables the theories and concepts learnt in CE2BSF to be used and applied in this module to help better understanding the concept of building services as well as its application.

Aims:

The aim of this module is to provide students with the knowledge and techniques to assess the thermal and energy performance of buildings and design appropriate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems considering climate conditions, type of the building, occupancy patterns and profiles, required indoor thermal conditions and indoor air quality.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Describe the difference between a zone and a space in heating, ventilation and air conditioning system design,


• Calculate the maximum cooling and heating demand of a building,


• Categorise the main heating, ventilation and air condition systems,


• Simulate a simple building and its associated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems usingthe introduced software package for modelling,


• Design heating, cooling and ventilation systems for a building together with sizing the main components of the system,


• Evaluate the energy performance and energy-related CO2 emission associated with main systems used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning,  

Additional outcomes:

• To compare main air distribution systems including constant air volume (CAV) and Variable Air Volume system (VAV),  


• To appraise the main hot/chilled water distribution systems including variable and constant flow systems,


• To compare the energy performance of central heating and cooling system including gas boiler, electrical heater, air-source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, combined heat and power systems,


• To assess the risk of overheating in buildings and describe the health issues in buildings services.


• Understand the code of professional conduct and ethical principles.

Outline content:

• Categorisation of central heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems,


• Air distribution system design,


• Hot and child water distribution system design,


• Thermal comfort and indoor air quality,


• Control strategies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and their impacts on the energy performance and energy-related emissions of the building,


• Simulation of buildings and air conditioning systems using a simulation package,


• Sizing the design capacity of the main components in a simple heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.


• Code of professional conduct and ethical principles.

Global context:

The skills and knowledge that students will acquire from this module have global applications.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching in this module will be by means of lectures, tutorials and practical classes using facilities available in the computer laboratory. These sessions will be complemented by project activities and guided independent study.

Independent study hours needed depend on the learning style of each individual. The following guide for independent study hours is just an example.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Practicals classes and workshops	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	5
Wider reading (directed)	5
Peer assisted learning	5
Advance preparation for classes	12
Preparation for tutorials	5
Preparation of practical report	40
Revision and preparation	6
Reflection	2
Total hours by term	100	0	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Project output other than dissertation	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

There will be a project report (2500-3000 words) which will be assessed summatively and should be submitted online by the end of week 11 of the autumn term.

Formative assessment methods:

This module includes formative assessment of exercises and problem-solving practices about the design and sizing of the main components of central heating/cooling systems and air/hot/chilled water distribution systems.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark 0f 40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Students who have failed in their first attempt will be provided with a resit project brief and they should submit a project report (3000 words) online.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023