When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 6 modules in this course
Building energy systems are responsible for moving energy around in buildings through air, water, and refrigerant distribution systems to meet heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) needs of the occupied spaces. This course will train engineers and architects to design these HVAC systems based on the engineering foundation established in the previous course. Students will learn the design objectives dictated by occupant comfort and health, apply engineering principles to heat and mass exchangers, design both air and water distribution systems, and explore alternative methods for providing indoor environmental comfort to occupants.
HVAC design begins in the building occupied zone. In this module, you will learn the anatomy and functional characteristics of both air and water distribution and delivery systems. The design of these systems is driven by occupant needs for comfort, health, and productivity. Our exploration of thermal comfort and acoustic considerations will inform the design, especially at the interface with the occupied zone.
What's included
10 videos6 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 123 minutes
Specialization Introduction•3 minutes
Introduction to the Course•5 minutes
Introduction to HVAC Distribution and Delivery Systems•9 minutes
Air Distribution System Anatomy•13 minutes
Hydronic Distribution System Anatomy•9 minutes
VAV Terminal Units•12 minutes
DOAS Terminal Units•9 minutes
Thermal Comfort•28 minutes
Introduction to Acoustics•14 minutes
Acoustics for HVAC•21 minutes
6 readings•Total 56 minutes
Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
Introduction to HVAC Distribution and Delivery Systems•5 minutes
Anatomy of Air and Water Distribution Systems•10 minutes
Terminal Units•5 minutes
Thermal Comfort•30 minutes
Acoustic Considerations•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 65 minutes
Thermal Comfort: The PMV Method•20 minutes
Thermal Comfort: The Adaptive Method•15 minutes
Distribution and Delivery System Anatomy and Design Consideration•30 minutes
Delivery of HVAC to the Occupied Space
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will explore the range of possibilities for achieving comfort, health, and productivity in occupied spaces. The possibilities include air delivery strategies for fully mixed zones and alternative displacement methods that involve intentional stratification, as well as radiant methods either as separate systems or integrated into the building structure.
What's included
6 videos5 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 84 minutes
Introduction to Diffusers•11 minutes
Diffuser Selection•10 minutes
Displacement Air Delivery•13 minutes
Underfloor Air Delivery•12 minutes
Radiant Delivery Systems•25 minutes
Thermally Activated Building Systems•15 minutes
5 readings•Total 60 minutes
Delivery of HVAC to the Occupied Space•5 minutes
Fully Mixed Room Air Delivery•20 minutes
Displacement and Underfloor Air Delivery•15 minutes
Radiant Delivery Systems•10 minutes
Thermally Activated Building Systems•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 120 minutes
Space Air Diffusion•30 minutes
Displacement Air Delivery•10 minutes
Radiant Delivery Systems•20 minutes
Thermally Activated Building Systems•20 minutes
Delivery of HVAC to the Occupied Space•40 minutes
Air Distribution System Design
Module 3•7 hours to complete
Module details
Moving conditioned air around in a building is an exercise in fluid dynamics. In this module, you will understand pressure profiles in air distribution systems and layout and design air distribution systems using two common design methods. You will also understand how fans interact with duct systems, leading to application of engineering guidelines for their selection and operation.
What's included
8 videos5 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 118 minutes
Pressure Development in Air Distribution Systems•27 minutes
Pressure Development: Example Calculations•15 minutes
Design using the Equal Friction Method•9 minutes
Equal Friction Method Examples•15 minutes
Limitations of Equal Friction Method for Multistory Buildings•9 minutes
Static Regain Method•9 minutes
Fan Performance•15 minutes
Fan and System Interactions•18 minutes
5 readings•Total 80 minutes
Air Distribution System Design•5 minutes
Pressure Development in Air Distribution Systems•20 minutes
Design using the Equal Friction Method•20 minutes
Design for Multistory Buildings•15 minutes
Fans and Their Performance•20 minutes
5 assignments•Total 240 minutes
Pressure Development in Air Distribution Systems•30 minutes
Equal Friction Method•30 minutes
Design for Multistory Buildings•30 minutes
Fans and Their Performance•30 minutes
Air Distribution System Design•120 minutes
Water Distribution System Design
Module 4•7 hours to complete
Module details
As with air, moving hot and chilled water around in a building is an exercise in fluid dynamics. In this module, you will understand pressure profiles in water distribution systems and layout and design water distribution systems using a common design method. You will also understand how pumps interact with piping systems, leading to application of engineering guidelines for their selection and operation. Finally, you will compare and contrast performance benefits of air and water distribution systems.
What's included
7 videos5 readings4 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 102 minutes
Hydronic Systems and Pressure Loss Principles•24 minutes
Pressure Development: Example Calculations•12 minutes
Equal Friction Method: Principles•14 minutes
Equal Friction Method: Example Calculations•18 minutes
Pump Performance•14 minutes
Pump and System Interactions•10 minutes
Benefits of Water Distribution•11 minutes
5 readings•Total 82 minutes
Water Distribution System Design•5 minutes
Pressure Loss in Water Distribution Systems•30 minutes
Design using the Equal Friction Method•15 minutes
Pumps and Their Performance•30 minutes
Benefits of Water Distribution •2 minutes
4 assignments•Total 210 minutes
Pressure Development in Water Distribution Systems•30 minutes
Design using the Equal Friction Method•30 minutes
Pumps and Their Performance•30 minutes
Design of Water Distribution Systems•120 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchangers
Module 5•8 hours to complete
Module details
Heat and mass exchange are foundational processes in building energy systems. In this module, you learn about the functional characteristics of heat and mass exchangers, analyze their performance, and select heating and cooling coils for HVAC applications.
What's included
5 videos5 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 97 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchanger Applications•26 minutes
Sensible Heat Exchangers•28 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchanger Analysis•20 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchangers: Example Calculations•13 minutes
Heating Coil Selection•10 minutes
5 readings•Total 125 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchangers•5 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchanger Applications•5 minutes
Sensible Heat Exchanger Analysis•45 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchanger Analysis•60 minutes
Coil Selection and Performance•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 240 minutes
Sensible Heat Exchanger Analysis•30 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchanger Analysis•30 minutes
Heat and Mass Exchangers•180 minutes
Final Assessment
Module 6•2 hours to complete
Module details
This final exam comprehensively tests your understanding of all five modules of this course through a set of conceptual, equipment selection, and quantitative questions. Some of the conceptual questions will involve simple arithmetic calculations, while for the quantitative questions, you will need to employ your computational tools that you developed. Review these tools and have them ready before you embark on the final exam.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Exam Information•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 120 minutes
Design of HVAC Distribution and Delivery Systems•120 minutes
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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Is financial aid available?
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