Mechanical Systems
Delia Tacheny
INT 322 - Building Systems
Weekly Summary
This week we read chapter 4 and learned about Mechanical systems - specifically HVAC, but even more so, the reading was largely dedicated to various energy sources, renewable and non-renewable.
The U.S. Department of Energy acknowledges the following sources of energy:
- bioenergy
- coal
- electric power
- fossil fuels
- fusion
- geothermal
- hydrogen
- hydropower
- natural gas
- nuclear
- oil
- renewables
- solar
- wind
Fossil fuels include petroleum, coal, and natural gas of which there is a finite quantity with slow renewability, and association with greenhouse gases. Oil is dependent on unreliable, foreign sources in the Middle East, but is used in 99% of vehicles and makes up 40% of current energy use in the U.S. Natural gas is promoted as "clean burning" but is obtained through controversial process, including fracking which uses water, sand, and chemicals to fracture rocks and release the natural gases from within. (The toxic waste released is very possibly detrimental to local water supplies.) Coal is obtained through underground mining and is associated with pollution and controversial greenhouse gases.
Renewable energy sources are not limited in supply and are rapidly renewable, including solar power, wind power, hydropower, and geothermal sources. Wind plants are used to capture wind and covert it to energy in the form of electricity. Hydropower utilizes water. Solar power captures energy from the sun using photovoltaic cells and solar panels. Geothermal systems rely on the natural heating and cooling systems of the earth to provide energy and can be installed as a closed-loop (vertical or horizontal under a body of water) or an open-loop system (involving deep underground vertical cores). Even these renewable systems, however, have their downsides both practically and environmentally.
Electricity can be made in many different ways using either fossil fuels or renewable energy. Fusion-produced energy and plasma are current areas of study for possible energy sources of the future. 
As for actual mechanical systems, the primary term for interior heating and cooling is HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). The goal of HVAC systems is to satisfy human comfort. Human comfort can actually be measured using a psychometric chart, which considers multiple variables (dew point, wet-bulb temperature, dry-bulb temperature, and relative humidity) and demonstrates a zone of general comfort. Heat transfer can be classified into four methods: evaporation, radiation, convection, and conduction. Heat itself comes in three forms: sensible heat (measured by a thermometer), latent heat (marks a state of change between either solid, liquid, or gas), and radiant heat (form of electromagnetic radiation).
This is a list of the various cooling systems:
- central station systems (larger buildings)
- split system (smaller buildings)
- packaged unit (series of ducts, with one roof unit per zone)
- through-wall unit (residential/ hotel)
As Interior Designers, though we are not usually installing these systems, we need to be aware of their placement and function as we design the interior environment and coordinate other installations.
Research: Renewable Energy - Hydropower
Hydropower is one of the oldest, largest, and most common sources of renewable energy. Hydropower accounts for 28.7% of total U.S. renewable electricity generation and about 6.2% of total U.S. electricity generation; every state except two utilizes hydropower for electricity. Hydropower facilities can come in all sizes from large (like the Hoover Dam) to small (even just small run-off channels).
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Another method is called Diversion: this method utilizes the natural flow of a river by channeling a portion of it through a canal or pipe into a turbine generator system. Last, we have Pumped Storage Hydropower which works like a large battery, pumping water into a reservoir during low energy use (like at night) and then releasing the water to produce electricity during the day.
Hydropower technology continues to advance and there is a lot of room for expansion, as water is a highly renewable resource. It is also a fairly affordable method of energy, and U.S. States that primarily rely on hydropower have lower electricity bills.
Overall, it was a really unique things to research and understand better!
Delia,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the detail of your blog and the images you included which gave a better visual of what you were explaining. I really liked your renewable energy on hydropower. I chose the same one and thought it was very interesting how much water can be useful in different ways. I found it to be really fascinating and I hope you did too!
Delia,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you went into detail about the positive and negative effects of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. You also did a great job summarizing some of the energy sources jobs and processes. I liked how you chose hydropower and your renewable energy source to research because I feel like this source is not widely known yet. You helped me gain a better understanding for how hydropower works and the benefits they bring.
Delia,
ReplyDeleteI really like how in depth you went with your blog this week. I thought the amount of visuals you used backed up your concept well and helped us as the reader to visualize what you learned from the chapter. I liked your research on hydropower energy because that was one that was new to me while reading, so it was nice to read your research and understanding about it. Good job!
Deila,
ReplyDeleteIt was really great to see your exploration of mechanical systems and renewable energy sources in your summary. You also had a very detailed overview of various energy sources, including their pros and cons, demonstrating a really deep understanding of the topic. I also enjoyed your explanation of hydropower's significance and its different methods of generation. Nice job!