Air-side Equipment, Inc.

Greenheck’s Airtour Mobile Learning Center was a huge success.  With three stops, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans we were able to cover our entire area and had over 50 attendees.  These attendees included both Architects and Engineers and four hours of professional credits were available.  We would like to thank everyone who attended and a very special thanks to Tony Rossi, Bob Utech and Becky Gatzke from Greenheck for the great job they did! 

The classes focused on Laboratory Exhaust, Energy Recovery and Make-up Air.  Each class was a combination of discussion and interactive demonstrations.  Included on the truck were two working demonstrations, Greenheck’s Sure-Air and Vari-Green Motor.  The Vari-Green Motor raised the most questions and eyebrows among the attendees.  Everyone who attended left with a little something, and a few people were even rewarded with Air-Side Equipment Igloo Ice Chests! 

If you were not able to attend the Airtour Mobile Learning Center, don’t worry, we will have it back again soon.  In the mean time if you have any questions or would like information on the topics that were discussed, feel free to contact your Air-Side Representative.

UV & Indoor Air/Environmental Quality

For decades now UV-C has been used in HVACR equipment to improve indoor air, and environmental quality (IAQ/IEQ). The wavelength of UV-C photo-disassociates molecular bonds of most all organic substances such that it inactivates, kills and/or destroys mold, bacteria and their products and contaminants found in most any HVACR system serving commercial, industrial and institutional buildings everywhere. This includes homes, healthcare facilities, schools as well as many critical and high security areas.

UV Resources Products – Market Specifications

UV Resources products meet all market specifications from high output fixtures (DEF HO Series) to standard output fixtures (DEF SO Series); and for built-up systems, to a NEMA 4X (SEF-N Series) product designed specifically for rooftop/outdoor applications of most any type. The Remote Lamp Mount, (RLM Series) fixtureless system is available in two distinct types. One is designed for fan coil, heat pump and PTAC units and the other (RLM Xtreme) delivers flexibility, high output and unequaled safety for built-up systems at the lowest price of any product available. All of these UVC products can be installed in new equipment or existing HVACR systems to kill surface and airborne pathogens reducing the spread of infectious agents (viruses, bacteria and mold) as well as the growth of mold on coils and in drain pans.

UV & HVAC Efficiency

Cooling coils are in dark, mostly moist environments that are loaded with organic nutrients of all kinds. They are perfect for the support of mold and some bacteria growth. Even a monolayer of this bio-film can cause airflow and heat exchanger inefficiencies sufficient enough to render a system inadequate for its intended use (common problem). The 253.7 nanometer UV-C wavelength goes to work breaking down and vaporizing these organic structures to clean a coil sufficiently to return its performance characteristics. This form of system restoration also reduces the need for costly system (coil) maintenance programs.

GREENHECK’s AIRTOUR, a multimedia mobile learning center is making stops in Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.  We are bringing this extraordinary educational opportunity to you to save you the expense and time of travel, to share our extensive knowledge about non-residential air movement  and control and to answer your questions.  But we also want  to learn more about your needs and concerns.  If you get  the opportunity, make sure your firm takes advantage of this valuable learning experience.  Stay tuned for specific dates and times!

Outside Air Measuring with Air Monitor’s VOLU-flo/OAM

The measurement of Outside Air presents a variety of challenges that cannot be overcome utilizing the standard Pitot and thermal technologies.

Among these challenges are:

• The total absence of any upstream/downstream straight duct run to obtain accurate and/or repeatable measurement.
• The potential for outside air temperature variances of 150+ ºF in certain climatic zones and installed locations ranging from sea level to 5,000+ feet elevation make a temperature and altitude air density compensating system necessary.
• Airborne particulate and condensing moisture transported by outside air will impair the functionality and accuracy of both thermal and standard Pitot based technologies.
• Varying directional wind loads and gusts cause fluctuating airflow measurements.
• Airflow velocities often down to 150 FPM are below the recommended operating range of standard Pitot technologies.

The VOLU-flo/OAM has been specifically designed to measure the airflow rate within ±5% of actual airflow in all of these challenging conditions by measuring the pressure drop across a fixed inlet resistance device, such as a louver, layer of expanded metal, etc.

The VOLU-flo/OAM consists of an Outside Reference Sensor and an Inlet Airflow Sensor, both specially designed to be unaffected by dirt or moisture, plus a temperature sensor and a microprocessor-based Monitor/Controller which converts the measured pressure drop and temperature to actual airflow utilizing proprietary algorithms, density compensation, and signal conditioning.

Components and Features:

Standard and Expanded Ranges. With its 4:1 range of measurement, the Standard VOLU-flo/OAM is ideally suited for minimum outside air applications, while the Expanded VOLU-flo/OAM’s 16:1 range of measurement will cover the full range of outside air, from the minimum set-point to design maximum.

Microprocessor Based Functionality. All functions of monitor configuration, output and display scaling, calibration, and controller tuning are performed by the VOLU-flo/OAM’s onboard microprocessor. All input to the microprocessor is via four pushbuttons and menu selections.

Air Density Correction. The VOLU-flo/OAM corrects measured inlet airflow for ambient temperature variances by means of an integral 100 ohm platinum RTD temperature sensor and corrects for atmospheric pressure by entering site altitude into the microprocessor during initial system start-up.

Continuous Display of Process. A standard 2×20 liquid crystal display (LCD) is used during the configuration and calibration of the VOLU-flo/OAM, and provides a means to display two measured processes (volume, velocity, temperature) during normal operation.

BAS Interface. While the VOLU-flo/OAM is capable of operating as a stand-alone monitor/controller, a wide variety of inputs and outputs were designed into the Monitor/Controller Module to facilitate coordinated operation with a facility building automation system (BAS). Interfaces with the BAS include:

• Digital inputs for fan system start status, switching to economizer setpoint, or to use the BAS provided adjustable operating setpoint.
• Digital outputs for high and low alarms, triggered when the measured airflow falls outside of a user selectable deadband around the control setpoint.
• Dual analog output; a 4-20mADC output corresponding to measured inlet airflow, and a damper controller output field configurable for 0-5VDC, 0-10VDC, or 4-20mADC via jumpers.
• An analog input, field selectable for 0-5VDC, 0-10VDC, or 420mADC via jumper, that is used as the controller setpoint.

Enclosures. The VOLU-flo/OAM is offered in four different enclosure packages to fit any application and installation:

• NEMA 1 rated, painted carbon steel enclosure designed to be located indoors or inside the air handler.
• NEMA 4 rated, painted carbon steel enclosure designed for outdoor locations where the ambient temperature is consistently at 32°F and above.
• NEMA 4 rated and insulated enclosure which includes a thermostatically controlled enclosure heater. For outdoor locations where the ambient temperatures may go as low as –40°F.
• OEM mounting arrangement that permits the Monitor/Controller Module to be mounted into an existing OEM enclosure.

VOLU-flo/OAM Station

The VOLU-flo/OAM Station has been designed for ease of installation and commissioning by Factory mounting its sensors

onto a layer of expanded metal of known fixed resistance welded into a galvanized sheet metal casing. In selected applications, the known fixed resistance of the VOLU-flo/OAM Station allows the overall System to be pre-calibrated at the Factory for plugn-play operation.

New Combination Fire Smoke Damper From Greenheck

Model FSD-331 from Greenheck is a three-hour rated combination fire smoke damper with Class I leakage. Featuring a high-strength airfoil-style blade, Model FSD-331 operates with velocity ratings up to 4000 fpm and a pressure rating up to 4 inches wg.  This steel airfoil blade combined with Greenheck’s profile frame design results in the industry’s lowest pressure drop.  Model FSD-331 is available in a vertical mount with a maximum size of 120 inches wide x 96 inches high.

PRICE—Your solution for noise control!

Everyone recognizes PRICE as air distribution specialists, but did you know that they are also your solution for noise control?

PRICE has just introduced it’s latest product to its already extensive line, Noise Control Products.  With the completion of the PRICE Noise Control Sound Lab in 2007, PRICE dove head first into noise control.

Sound is a common part of everyday life, but when a sound is unwanted, it is considered noise.  When noise in a room is at unacceptable levels, it can be an annoyance, distracting the occupants and in turn resulting in higher stress levels and decreased productivity.  This is why noise control has become just as important to a good HVAC system design as air movement,   temperature control and humidity management.

Price has  a complete line of Rectangular, Elbow, Circular, Packless and Specialty silencers.

Rectangular silencers are the standard for silencing noise transmitted through ductwork. Their simple design and relative low cost make them the first choice for the highest sound attenuation and lowest pressure drop on the air distribution system. They are available with a number of options that allow them to be integrated into any HVAC system with ease. A wide range of designs with low to high pressure drop and a large selection of media options can be applied  to systems typically ranging from 0-2500 FPM.

Elbow silencers have many of the same performance characteristics of rectangular silencers but are extremely versatile and an excellent choice for systems where straight lengths of ductwork are not available.

Elbow silencers perform at or above the levels of rectangular silencers with a small increase in pressure drop on the system, and can be configured to suit most duct sizes without the use of transitions.

Circular silencers are an excellent solution when round ductwork is utilized in the system. They eliminate the need for square to round transitions that cause undesirable pressure drops and system effects. Circular silencers are available in a wide range of sizes, which allow for varying ranges of attenuation and pressure drop.

Packless silencers, sometimes referred to as reactive silencers, contain no absorptive material and are constructed solely of solid and perforated sheet metal. Attenuation of sound levels is achieved using multiple chambers of varying design located behind a perforated metal liner. As sound passes through the silencer the acoustic energy is dissipated in a manner similar to the Helmholtz resonator concept, which results in decreased sound levels at the discharge of the silencer.

A standard silencer configuration can not always be adapted to work in every situation. in these cases it is necessary to develop a unique silencer that meets the requirements of the special application.  Let us know about your special application needs and we will be glad to assist you.

Ask your Air-Side salesman to get you a PRICE Noise Control catalog today!   They can also show you PRICE’s All-IN-One Silencer selection program and install it on your computer.