James J Coogan
513 Cornell Ave
Des Plaines, IL 60016
USA
847-899-4660
Region: VI
Honorarium:
Languages Spoken: English
jim.coogan@siemens.com
Coogan

Jim Coogan is a Principal Engineer in product development and applications at Siemens Building Technologies.  In 40 years designing controls for mechanical systems, he has contributed to products ranging from simple room controllers to Internet-based operator interfaces.  His work has resulted in numerous patents. 

Jim has chaired several ASHRAE Technical Committees including, Control Theory and Applications, and Laboratory Systems.  He also chaired the committee that developed a Standard Method of Test for Airflow Controls.  Jim chaired the 2022 revision ANSI Z9.5 Standard: Laboratory Ventilation.  Jim speaks regularly at the annual conference of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories and occasionally at meetings of safety organizations.

Publications include technical papers on room pressurization and laboratory system commissioning and VAV flow control.  Jim earned his SB in mechanical engineering at MIT.

Topic
Space Pressurization: Concept and Practice

Program teaches ventilation control design for critical pressurized spaces such as laboratories, clean rooms and health care facilities.  Topics run from basic physics of pressurization, through air flow control issues and detailed design considerations.  Covers goals and concepts behind pressurization.  Emphasis on the importance of the room envelope.  Explains the common control methods, and when to choose each one.

Feedback Systems in HVAC
Control loops and tuning are covered from the most basic concepts, through advanced control algorithms. This talk emphasizes how the fundamental principles apply across a wide range of systems. What is feedback? Accuracy, stability, instability and how they come about. Control algorithms: PID, “adaptive control” and “trim and respond”. The focus is on the practical side of specifying, achieving and documenting control loop performance.
ASHRAE Guideline 36: High Performance Sequences of Operation

By developing and promoting Guideline 36, the controls community within ASHRAE aims to improve HVAC operation and building automation.  Specific goals include:

  • Higher quality in installed systems through standardization
  • Higher energy efficiency through advanced sequence design
  • Better building operation through fault detection and smart alarm strategies

This talk recounts the background and history and future direction of the guideline project.  It explains the content and intended extensions.  And it tells system specifiers how to apply the guideline now to new construction projects and renovation.