Basic Electrical Engineering for HVAC & Mechanical Engineers

A. Bhatia, B.E.

Course Outline

As a HVAC engineer, you will be faced with numerous design challenges pertaining to the selection of equipment, electrical configurations, specifications, energy efficiency and sequencing. With more and more buildings getting equipped to sophisticated controls, the lines between electrical and mechanical engineering is becoming blurred, with each having to know more about the other's disciplines.

This 4- hour’s course provides basic introduction to electrical engineering that will help HVAC engineers to communicate more effectively with specialists such as electrical designers, consultants and contractors.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

After studying this course, the reader will:

• Understand how electrical systems operate and learn the relationship between volts, amperes, and ohms;
• Understand the various types of circuits – series, parallel, power and control circuits;
• Understand the difference between single phase and three phase supply;
• Learn about devices to protect against overcurrent such as breakers and fuses:
• Learn about electrical arrangement to protect against shock;
• Learn about common switching devices such as isolators, contractors and relays;
• Understand the basic principles of induction motor and control;
• Understand the 4 basic types of motor starters – their application and benefits;
• Understand variable speed drives – their application and benefits;
• Understand the terminology of electric distribution equipment and systems such as substations, switchyard, switchgear, switchboards, panel-boards and motor control centers;
• Understand how energy is utilized in operation of pumps, fans, cooling towers and chillers; and
• Learn three major organizations that help to standardize equipment specifications and safety regulations within the electrical industry.

Intended Audience

This course is aimed at building services engineers, HVAC designers, architects, and other readers having technical background in non-electrical discipline and who are keen to develop/update electrical knowledge in their day to day work.

Benefit to Attendees

This course will help readers to communicate more effectively with specialists such as electrical designers, consultants and contractors.

Course Introduction

The course begins with a discussion of general electricity and electrical circuits, and then moves quickly to electrical distribution concepts, wiring diagrams, motor controls and circuit protection devices encountered with HVAC and refrigeration systems.

This 4- hour’s course provides basic introduction to electrical engineering.

Course Content

This course content is in the following PDF document:

Basic Electrical Engineering for HVAC & Mechanical Engineers

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Course Summary

The course provides basic understanding of electric circuits, power generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It discusses the range of electrical devices such as transformers, generators, electric motors, controls and circuit protection devices encountered in HVAC, refrigeration and other electro-mechanical works. The explanations are kept simple to help non-electrically minded readers to comprehend the electrical terminology, discussions and requirements surrounding the subject easily. It will help HVAC engineers to select and size their mechanical equipment appropriately for best efficiency and reliability.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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