SES 201 - Residential Energy Systems 2: Heating and Cooling Systems

4 credit hours - Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly; one term.
Addresses, theoretically and practically, the problem of maintaining a seasonally comfortable residential temperature and humidity environment. The principles of heat transfer, the requirements for satisfying and for regulating home heating and cooling load demands, and the design and function of residential heating and cooling systems are examined and analyzed using theory, laboratory investigations, and fieldwork. Strategies for energy conservation and increased energy efficiency are explored, including solar heating and cooling systems, sustainable design, and landscaping options. Lab fee $40.

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Explain the basic concepts and principles governing heat and
heat transfer.
- Define heat and the thermodynamics of generating and distributing heat.
- Identify and discuss sources of thermal energy.
- Define steady state conductive heat transfer.
- Identify the material factors (R-values, U-values) governing the rate of conductive heat transfer.
- Define convective heat transfer.
- Identify the factors governing the rate of convective heat transfer.
- Solve problems involving conductive and convective heat transfer for simple model systems.
Explain the design of a residential heating system.
- Discuss the principles governing the generation, control and distribution of heat flow in a heating system.
- Diagram a typical residential heating system and identify the functional components of that system.
- Discuss the principles governing the design and functioning of the typical heating system.
- Identify the major components of the gas, of the fuel oil and of the electric heating systems.
- Describe the design and function of domestic hot water systems.
Explain the design of a residential cooling system.
- Discuss the principles governing the operation of a cooling system.
- Explain the functions of residential cooling systems, including air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
- Draw schematic diagrams of residential air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
- Identify and describe the major components of residential cooling systems.
Estimate the winter heating load of a typical household.
- Explain temperature, design temperature, degree heating day, air filtration and air movement as relates to a complete household heat system.
- List the criteria for a comfortable interior temperature and humidity environment.
- Develop a thermal model for typical single family household.
- Perform basic space heat loss calculation for a model household at various outside temperatures and times.
- Perform a space heat loss calculation for an actual residence.
- Analyze the residential water heating system demands.
- Compare model calculations with winter heating utility bills.
- Determine specifications for a heating system to meet average winter heating demand.
Estimate the summer cooling load of a typical household.
- Use psychometric charts to estimate household relative humidity.
- Determine the summer cooling load for a typical model household at various outside temperatures and times.
- Determine cooling unit capacity to meet average summer cooling load.
Discuss and analyze energy conservation and energy efficiency strategies for residential heating and cooling systems.
- Describe the efficiency of space heating and hot water heating systems and of cooling systems.
- Describe methods for determining heating and cooling efficiency.
- Analyze low cost/no cost strategies for conserving energy and/or enhancing energy efficiency.
- Perform short term and life cycle cost analysis for replacement and/or retrofitting household heating and cooling system.
Investigate the viability of residential solar heating and cooling systems.
- Describe the typical passive solar heating and cooling systems.
- Identify the design and function of the basic components of a typical solar heating/cooling system.
- Identify the criteria for sizing a solar system for a typical residence.
- Describe the efficiency and methods for determining the efficiency of a passive solar system.
- Compare the economic and environmental impact of conventional heating/cooling systems and equivalent solar systems.

Core Competencies
Core 1 Communication Core 5 Self Management Core 6 Scientific Reasoning Core 7 Quantitative Reasoning Core 8 Social and Civic Responsibility Core 10 Innovative and Critical Thinking