SYLLABUS
HVACR Program
Arkansas Northeastern College / Burdette Campus
Fall Semester 2010
Course:
Introduction to Air Conditioning
Course No.:
HV17003A
Course Prerequisites: None required for this course.
Course Catalog Description: This course contains a series of lectures and demonstration on the
history and development of refrigeration. General and specific safety rules and school procedures
will be stressed. The identification, use, and instruction of hand tools used in the service of
HVAC/R equipment, along with learning the principles of measurement using thermometers and
refrigeration service tools.
Required Textbooks:
FUNDAMENTALS of HVAC/R & MYHVACLAB
ISBN-13: 9780136090168
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2010
Format: Kit/Package/Shrink-wrap
Published: 03/11/2009
Course Rational: HVAC/R technicians are required to understand the theory to install, and
service a wide range of systems. This diversity ensures that each day on the job will be new and
unique, ever changing and challenging.
Course Objectives:
1. Define environmental heating and air conditioning.
2. Understand the unique characteristics of the three states of matter.
3. Demonstrate how to convert temperature from one scale to another.
4. Understand the laws of thermodynamics.
5. Understand the terms, saturated, sub-cooled, superheated, in regards to refrigerant.
6. Understand the use of a refrigeration gauge manifold to identify system pressures and
temperatures.
7. Fully understand the refrigeration cycle concerning four major components of a HVAC/R
system.
8. Textbook Units
Unit 1: Introduction to Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
Rational: It is important for students to understand that HVAC/R has played an important
role in our society.
Objective:
a. Define environmental heating and air conditioning.
b. List the various types of HVAC/R jobs and explain what they might do.
c. List the HVAC/R professional organizations.
Unit 4: Properties of Matter
Rational: Students need to understand why the properties of matter are important to the
HVAC/R field.
Objective:
a. Discuss the unique characteristics of the three states of matter.
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b. Name the physical and thermal properties of matter and tell why it is important for the
HVAC/R worker to understand them.
c. Explain the importance of testing standards.
Unit 6: Temperature Measurement and Conversion
Rational: Students need to understand that temperature is defined as a measure of the
average kinetic energy of a substance. The higher the temperature, the faster the
molecules move. The lower the temperature, the slower the molecules move.
Objective:
a. Define temperature and explain the effect it has on a substance.
b. Compare various temperature measuring devices.
c. Demonstrate how to convert temperature from one scale to another.
Unit 7: Thermodynamics -The Study of Heat
Rational: The first law of thermodynamics states that “energy can neither be created nor
destroyed.” Heat cannot be made,” but other forms of energy can be converted to heat
because different forms of energy can be converted from one form to another. The second
law of thermodynamics states that “to cause heat energy to travel, a temperature difference
must be established and maintained.” The higher the temperature difference, commonly
called the delta temperature or ΔT, the greater the rate of heat travel. The lower the ΔT, the
lower the rates of heat travel.
Objective:
a. Compare and contrast the three basic methods of heat transfer.
b. Explain the factors that affect the rate heat transfers through various materials.
c. Compare sensible heat to latent heat.
d. Calculate heat change.
Unit 8: Pressure and Vacuum
Rational: Students need to understand the relationships between atmospheric pressure,
gauge pressure, and absolute pressure.
Objective:
a. Explain how a manometer measures pressure.
b. Explain how a refrigeration gauge measures pressure.
c. Convert atmospheric, absolute, gauge, and vacuum pressures to different scales.
d. Describe how gas responds to changes in temperature, volume, and pressure.
Unit 17: Refrigeration System Components and Operation
Rational:
There are many types of cooling systems including absorption, evaporative, thermoelectric,
and mechanical compression. The mechanical compression refrigeration cycle is by far the
most common.
Objective:
a. Explain the fundamental principles behind the refrigeration cycle.
b. Draw a basic compression refrigeration cycle and identify the pressure, temperature,
state, and heat content in and out of each component.
c. Identify the four major components of the compression cycle.
d. Name the three main refrigeration system interconnecting lines.
Unit 18: Plotting the Refrigeration Cycle
Rational:
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A system’s refrigeration capacity, the amount of refrigerant that must be circulated, the
amount of heat absorbed by the evaporator, the amount of heat rejected by the condenser,
and the required compressor capacity can all be determined using PH diagram.
Objective:
a. Explain the difference in PH diagrams for compounds and zeotropes.
b. Explain how refrigerant heat, pressure, and temperature change as it flows through a
refrigeration system.
c. Calculate the pounds of refrigerant flowing through a system for a given set of operating
conditions and capacity.
Unit 19: Compressors
Rational:
Students need to understand how each type of compressor works.
Objective:
a. Give examples of applications for each type of compressor.
b. Explain horsepower and compressor capacity.
c. Explain common compressor problems.
Unit 20: Condensers.
Rational:
The condenser is located on the discharge side of the compressor. The superheated
refrigerant vapor enters the top of the condenser from the compressor and leaves the
condenser as subcooled liquid refrigerant. The function of the condenser is to transfer heat
that has been absorbed by the system to air or water. In an air cooled condenser the outside
air passing over the condenser surface dissipates the heat to the atmosphere. In water cooled
condensers, water is used to cool the condenser.
Objective
a. List the types of air cooled condensers.
b. Explain why it is important to keep the condenser clean.
c. Compare the operation of an air cooled condenser to water cooled condenser.
Unit 21: Metering Devices
Rational:
Metering devices are selected by application. They can be generally classified by operation
as belonging to one of two groups: fixed metering devices and modulating metering devices.
Objective:
a. List the different types of metering devices.
b. Explain the difference in operation between fixed and modulating metering devices.
c. Describe how to measure superheat. Explain the purpose of liquid distributors.
d. Discuss common metering device problems.
Unit 22: Evaporators
Rational:
When evaporator coils are used to cool air, the heat load can be both sensible and latent. The
sensible load is the amount of temperature change in the air as it passes through the coil.
Sensible heat change results in a temperature change that can be measured by a
thermometer.
Objective:
a. Discuss the concepts of sensible and latent cooling as they relate to evaporators.
b. Identify the four broad categories of evaporator application.
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c. Discuss the importance of using an evaporator coil that is an ARI match to the
condensing unit it will be paired with.
d. Explain the purpose of the condensate drain trap in air conditioning evaporators.
Student Required Materials:
Students need to have with them in class at all times their textbooks, pencils and pens, at least a
six inch ruler, calculator, and paper for taking notes.
Late work and make up: Homework assignments, lab exercises, and exams, can be made up if
the students has a sufficient reason for the delay, such as sickness, family issues, or work
schedules. The instructor will make the determination.
Extra Credit Policy: The instructor will determine extra credit during the course term, at as
needed for students who are behind. The extra credit will be available to every student that has a
“C” average grade or lower.
Grades of Incomplete: If a student fails to do the required assignments, and after being
reminded of fail assignments will receive a zero for that assignment.
Course Policy: Student will be required to access their individual email accounts, set up by the
college. The email accounts can be access at, http://myanc.anc.edu/ics .
Students will also be required to access the textbook website at, http://www.myhvaclab.com/.
Student will be given instructions for these on-line activities at the first class session.
Laptop usage: Students can use their own laptop computers for the on-line activities. Students
also have access to laptops that are available thru the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) on the
main campus.
Classroom devices: Classroom computers and power point projector and training software are
not allowed to be use by the student without the permission and assistance of the instructor.
Computer labs: Several computer labs are available on the all campuses of ANC. Each
individual lab will have their own rules for access and use by students. All computer lab
guidelines must be adhered to by the student.
Technology Support: Support for technology needed by the student is available on every web
site that is required by this course, student should contact the instructor first if possible, before
proceeding with outside help.
Student Expectations: Student are expect to be in class on time with the materials needed, Be
attentive to the instructor’s lectures and lab exercises, and practice safety at all times. No
horseplay is tolerated around lab equipment or classroom. All who enter lab area must wear
safety glasses.
Disability Access: The HVAC classroom and lab can be access by wheelchair, however the
immediate restroom is not handicap equipped, but there is a restroom close by that meets this
regulations.
Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is critical and will benefit the instructor and the
student. Attendance is part of your grade. If you are absent for any reason it is counted as a
missed class. The number of classes you have attended determines grade divided by the total
number of classes you were expected. Punctuality is required for all classes which is not only
helpful to the student and the instructor, but also builds character for future employment for the
student.
Professionalism Policy: HVAC students who succeed in this trade must show professionalism
when entering and staying in this line of service; you will be dealing with the public and building
a reputation at the same time. References will be mention and addressed from time to time in this
course.
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Academic Conduct Policy: Cell phones must be put on silent during class and lab time.
Students found cheating on test or homework will receive a zero for that assignment. Also
students caught taking supplies and tools from the lab area will be dropped from the program.
Learning Assistance Center: this center offers a host of free services to ANC students, such as
access to computers in the lab, tutoring, workshops in test anxiety, studying skills, and note
taking. Also, there is multimedia software, videos, and resource books available for students on
various subjects.
Other Support Services: There are other help programs available to students on the main
campus such as, adult education, admissions or enrollment assistance, libraries, financial aid, and
student support. Full lists of the various services are listed in the ANC catalog and the ANC
student handbook. .
Disclaimer: Arkansas Northeastern College or the HVAC/R Instructor are not responsible for
student’s personal classroom supplies or personal tools that are used in this course.
Basis for Final Grades: Final grades will be determined by an accumulation of scores for
homework assignments, lab exercises, periodic tests, final exam, and attendance. This will be
averaged together for an overall grade.
Grading dissemination:
90 - 100 %
=A
80 - 89 %
=B
70 - 79 %
=C
60 - 69 %
=D
Below 59 %
=F
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