Air Force Mechanical Engineers have a dynamic new educational resource available to aid in the analysis, design, selection, and management of facility Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning systems.  New energy efficiency requirements in federal facilities (EPACT 2005 & EO 13423), combined with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and increasing HVAC requirements at expeditionary locations, led to the operational need for this new HVAC Design Course.

To meet the need, AFIT’s Civil Engineer and Services School has reintroduced the ENG 561 - HVAC Analysis & Design Course with an innovative combination of distance learning and in-residence material.  This format provides a comprehensive graduate-level course that bridges the gap between mechanical engineering undergraduate education and the specialized HVAC system design process.

The 8-week distance learning phase uses a graduate-level mechanical systems design textbook to guide students through a sequence of readings and homework assignments preparing them for the fast-paced design focus of the in-residence portion.  Successful completion of the DL phase is a requirement for attendance at the capstone residence portion.

The 1-week in-residence portion provides hands-on exercises covering the topics of heating & cooling load analysis, psychrometrics, piping/duct design, pump and fan selection, computer based HVAC analysis, and HVAC controls to name a few.  Using a unique comprehensive practical exercise, students reverse engineer AFIT’s own Bldg 643 HVAC system.  They are able to discuss designs with engineers and technicians to better understand how to get from the design table to the construction site with effective and maintainable HVAC systems.

In July 2007, the course directors (Capt. John Volcheck and Maj. Scott LeClair) executed the first offering of the new hybrid ENG 561 course, and the student critiques reaffirmed the need for this advanced level of learning.  The course rated a stellar 4.82 out of 5.00 for course relevance.  Student comments included “Confidence factor for HVAC design has been greatly increased” and “A must for all 32E’s--I am going to recommend to ACC that this course be a requirement for all RED HORSE mechanical engineers!”

The next offering of ENG 561 is scheduled for July 2008, so if you’re a mechanical engineer with a need for HVAC design skills, come and see us at the Civil Engineer and Services School.

POC: Capt. John Volcheck, AFIT/CEM