This module builds on the material covered in Building Services Engineering subject in the third year of the programme. It practically examines the student’s ability to design commercial Low Pressure Hot Water (LPHW) Heating Systems & water services for buildings, with emphasis on how to select and layout plant and design distribution circuits and controls to provide acceptable indoor comfort conditions while minimising energy consumption for a particular project. The duration of the project is approximately 12 weeks. Each student is provided with a detailed project design brief that clearly identifies the requirements of the project, critical submission dates, project assessment marks/procedures and repeat project requirements etc. The students are given out a set of scaled architectural floor plans and sections of a building along with a detailed design brief for a proposed LPHW heating & water services systems. This design brief clearly defines the deliverables required by each student, the project start and finish date along with a marking scheme. The students are broken up into various design TEAMS of 4 – 6 students depending on the class size. During the scheduled 3 - hour weekly project design classes the students on an individual or group basis can address/discuss various design issues arising in their design of a LPHW heating system & water services for a particular building and seek guidance from the project tutor in attendance. Progress will be monitored by the project tutors on an ongoing basis for the duration of the project. The project tutor(s) will provide guidance throughout the duration of the project. Students are also encouraged to seek guidance from any other engineering lecturer for expert advice on a particular aspect of the project work. Guidance is given regarding the time management of the project by providing a schedule specifying when elements of the project should be completed and submitted. The project tutor performs the detailed marking of the project.
The project involves a suitable building with a floor area of approx. 2000 m2. The building will allow the student to demonstrate their ability in designing a LPHW & water services systems, as well as addressing the building design.
Outline of Requirements
1. Design investigation & analysis work:
- Building investigation – including application, façade details, design challenges and design objectives.
- Project programme – Each team will produce an overall project programme which will be continuously updated and reviewed by the project tutors.
- Building thermal analysis – Selection of internal & external conditions, calculation of U-values, check for compliance against current building regulations, calculation of infiltration, fabric and total building heat losses.
- Choice of solution/Systems selection – The appropriate heating & water service system types are chosen based on the above and with a view to minimising energy consumption.
2. Detailed Design stage Documentation for submission
- Design report – introduces the project – includes in detail the investigations, analysis work, recommendations to the architect, design criteria and conditions, design decisions, calculation methodologies, summary of heating and cooling load calculations, description of systems and their controls, summary of equipment sizes and plant duties, references to guides, regulations, codes of practice, engineering standards etc.
- Design calculation file – includes: all the detailed manual calculations and computer generated result sheets, design sketches, photocopies of referenced information, equipment vendor data, etc.
- Detailed design:
- Plant and associated equipment sizing.
- Designing and sizing of fluid distribution systems.
- Designing the control systems. This should include thermal control of the indoor environment, system process controls, safety controls, balancing and commissioning controls, and all the associated instrumentation.
- Engineering design drawings
- Schematics of the LPHW heating & Water Services systems designed.
- Plant room plans and sections.
- LPHW/Water services pipework distribution drawings.
The student relies on learned material, obtained during the scheduled weekly lectures regarding the design of heating and water services for buildings, research and self-learning. The project class is structured to allow the students to implement and apply in a very practical way the learned lecture material to a specific building. Project requirement, guidelines and schedule of submission dates are issued on commencement of project. Specific project requirements & guidance are given by the assigned project tutor(s). Students see project tutor(s) each week for direction and assessment of progress during the scheduled project class.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |