HVAC Equipment Design

[ME27272727]

Can anyone help point me in the right direction of software / resources which may be helpful in the design of HVAC / refrigeration equipment? I come from the world of HVAC building systems engineering, but I'd like to start learning more about equipment design. For example; is there software out there widely used for selection of main components (coils, compressors, expansion valves, fans, piping etc)? I have experimented with Danfoss Coolselector2 and it is a great piece of software, but I think that's more of a specialized tool for supermarket refrigeration systems. I'm most interested in designing custom heat pumps and self-contained refrigeration systems at this time.

Thank you.

 

[EnergyProfessional]

You want to produce your own equipment and take on the big manufacturers? If so, you need to know much more than just the software they use. You need to know a LOT about refrigeration. i also design building HVAC, but I really only need to know the refrigeration equipment heats/cools and what values the manufacturer provides, and can evaluate what features make sense. that is a big step from selecting equipment, to producing equipment.

I assume some thermodynamic software like EES may be a start. But the design process is more complex. Obviously you need to design something that is better, and/or cheaper than what a company already does. Why else would I buy a unit from an unknown guy as opposed to Mitsubishi et al? I don't want to discourage you from learning, but it isn't clear what the end goal is. Sounds like your idea only makes sense, if you already knew the answer to your question.

Software is jsut a shorthand for the calculations. You need to know what you are doing and deal with the software shortcomings, or program it. and again, you need to do it better than what exists already. Otherwise you would be the phone company that comes up with 3G in 2020.

 

[ME27272727]

You want to produce your own equipment and take on the big manufacturers? If so, you need to know much more than just the software they use. You need to know a LOT about refrigeration. i also design building HVAC, but I really only need to know the refrigeration equipment heats/cools and what values the manufacturer provides, and can evaluate what features make sense. that is a big step from selecting equipment, to producing equipment.

I assume some thermodynamic software like EES may be a start. But the design process is more complex. Obviously you need to design something that is better, and/or cheaper than what a company already does. Why else would I buy a unit from an unknown guy as opposed to Mitsubishi et al? I don't want to discourage you from learning, but it isn't clear what the end goal is. Sounds like your idea only makes sense, if you already knew the answer to your question.

Software is jsut a shorthand for the calculations. You need to know what you are doing and deal with the software shortcomings, or program it. and again, you need to do it better than what exists already. Otherwise you would be the phone company that comes up with 3G in 2020.

Have you ever been part of an audience where a speaker asks a question to a packed room and someone raises there hand just to shout out "I don't know"? Please answer only if you have something useful to contribute. Thanks.

 

[GT-EGR]

You’re not likely to inspire any more answers with responses like that. If you don’t like an answer just leave it be.

 

[LittleInch]

Have you ever been part of an inline professional engineering forum where you give information freely in your own time and the OP then basically gives you the finger??

The answer given needs to be read carefully as it's basically aaying it isn't as easy as that.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[EnergyProfessional]

Most professional discussion allow critical questions. Group-think isn't that great. A forum isn't just all "yes, you are great".

If I came up with the idea to design a product and obviously don't know what I'm doing, I would hope someone would critically question my idea before I invest my children's education fund in it. I have discussed ideas I had here. They turned out to be impractical, and I was glad people pointed out the shortcomings. Learned a lot from it.

Again, I encourage you to learn about this, and EES would be a start for software to simulate refrigeration cycles. TRNSYS may be another. But no matter what software, you need to know refrigeration.

Before you invent a new wheel, you also should read up on how current refrigeration systems work. A lot of detail. Here an example

Could a newcomer improve an existing system? Maybe. but not without understanding the inner workings. Refrigeration systems are pretty mature and sophisticated after over hundred years and applied in every household for most that time.