Mistakes lead to “experience” – that is, knowing what you never want to have happen to you again. It’s a lot less painful to learn from other people’s “experience.”

This seminar, originally presented at an ASHRAE annual conference, covers common chilled water system mistakes; and more importantly how to avoid or mitigate them. Chilled water systems covered include new, retrofit, conversion/addition, and replacement. In addition, control options are also discussed.

Whether novice or experienced, come shake your head, laugh a bit, and learn together.

“Decarbonization” has become a hot topic. But what is it, how do we estimate emissions reduction and how can HVAC systems be designed to reduce emissions? This presentation focuses on reducing emissions due to design choices, building operation and from the electric grid providing building power. Subjects include decarbonization definition, goals, example calculations of emissions, key HVAC components and effects, and a few system solutions. The presentation does not cover subjects such as embodied carbon or carbon emitted during construction. Consult materials available from the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization for much more information.

Recommended audience:Engineers, architects, contractors, facility managers, educators, students, sustainability coordinators

This presentation covers many common chilled water system decisions, benefits and adverse effects of those decisions, and reasons a design team may want to choose a particular option.

The chapter will get to pick approximately 7-8 topics from the following list in this fast-paced presentation.

• Bypass line sizing
• Ice tanks upstream or downstream of chillers
• Use of existing coils
• Minimum and maximum flow limits
• Valves: Balancing or triple duty
• Pumps: Manifolded or dedicated
• Pressure independent valves
• Buffer tank size
• Variable condenser-water flow
• Series counterflow savings
• Controlling chillers in series
• One or two pump misperception

You, your actions, decisions, character, motivation, dedication to excellence and volunteerism have impacts today, and for generations yet to come. Each of us has the privilege and responsibility to share experience and insight as we strive to fulfill ASHRAE’s Mission, “To serve humanity…”

As inspiration for each of us to “Feed the Roots,” reflections from more than 41 years in the industry as well as wisdom imparted by ASHRAE Members while serving as President (2021-22) are included and celebrated in this presentation.

Recommended audience:

Principals, company leaders, students, consulting engineers, architects, companions, facilities managers, contractors, …you get the picture.

Developed by TC 1.07 (Business, Management & General Legal Education), this interactive session has participants break into small groups and discuss ethics cases that have been adjudicated by the NSPE (or by State Boards). Due to the interactive nature of this seminar, you will have the opportunity to engage in spirited debate in a small group setting, present “your findings,” and not just listen to the presenter talk about ethics.

Three to four cases will be presented, along with the final outcome. Real cases are used because they have generally reached an official conclusion that has been published, along with the reasoning behind the outcome. You’ll discover that there are nuances and also surprises as you consider responsibilities and ethics.

Chilled water systems have been used for more than 80 years. During that time, there has been a consistent effort by manufacturers and system designers to develop equipment, design strategies and control methods that result in the highest performing chilled water systems possible.

This presentation discusses system configurations, design parameters and system control techniques that can help owners and design teams reduce chilled water first costs, system operating costs and environmental impact.

When we consider a chilled water system configuration, such as VPF, it is beneficial to examine and compare the new system with conventional systems. While VPF systems have now been in use for over 20 years, the system still must be designed and operated properly to provide the expected benefits to the building owner.

• A brief overview of primary-secondary systems, and a comparison with VPF
• Why are people considering VPF today, when it was not allowed in the past?
• Challenges associated with varying water flow through the chiller’s evaporator
• Plant sequencing, and various chilled water plant configurations that might be considered
• Control, specification and operating issues
• And even systems that should not be considered for VPF design.

Ah, yes, mistakes continue to abound and warrant a sequel.

Part II, a follow-up of the original, was delivered at a more recent ASHRAE winter conference. It delves more deeply into the topic and expands the scope by sharing further mistakes as well as questioning past design philosophy.

Whether novice or experienced, come shake your head and laugh a bit more as we all learn together.

The two “YEA Member” presentations work well together – for example one in a technical session and the other during the main meeting.

Existing chilled water systems provide the capability to cool buildings efficiently. Yet there are often ways that these existing systems can be upgraded and improved to increase efficiency, better serve building occupants and use existing infrastructure to keep projects cost effective.

This presentation:

• Discusses chiller retrofits and replacement
• Explores different design parameters (flow rates and temperatures) and the opportunities they offer existing systems
• Examines use of variable flow in existing systems
• Considers controls to optimize and reduce system energy use