Improved instructional techniques in HVAC control systems

The development effort was devoted to the evolution of a coordinated group of three laboratory experiments in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) control systems of the type used in commercial buildings and other large installations. Three experiments are included in the development effort, namely: (a) Single-loop control system-air; (b) Single-loop control system-water and (c) Multiple-zone economizer cycle. The systems make use of pneumatic, electronic (analog), and direct-digital (microprocessor-based) control units. All three systems are designed to have reproducible and adjustable characteristics and are fully instrumented to permit quantitative measurements and recordings of steady-state and dynamic behavior. A mathematical model built with MATLAB-SIMULINK is used to check the dynamics of the single-loop-air experiment. Initial classroom experience indicates the approach used makes possible a highly-effective instructional environment