Heating, ventilation, and air conditioningHeating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems regulate temperature, humidity, and indoor air quality in vehicles and buildings. They are designed to provide thermal comfort and to control airborne contaminants through heating, cooling, ventilation, filtration, and humidity control. HVAC design considerations include energy efficiency, indoor air quality, maintenance, and environmental impact, particularly in green building projects.
Space heaterA space heater is an appliance used to heat a single small- to medium-sized area. This type of heater can be contrasted with central heating, which distributes heat to multiple areas. TypesDominant mode of heat transferAll space heaters transfer heat to their environment via some combination of the three fundamental modes of heat transfer: convection, radiation, and conduction. Typically heaters are designed with either convection or radiation as the sole dominant mode.
Central heatingA central heating system provides warmth to a number of spaces within a building from one main source of heat. A central heating system has a furnace that converts fuel or electricity to heat through various processes. The heat is circulated through the building either by fans forcing heated air through ducts, circulation of low-pressure steam to radiators in each heated room, or pumps that circulate hot water through room radiators.Annual fuel utilization efficiencyThe annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE; pronounced 'A'-'Few' or 'A'-'F'-'U'-'E') is a thermal efficiency measure of space-heating furnaces and boilers. The AFUE differs from the true 'thermal efficiency' in that it is not a steady-state, peak measure of conversion efficiency, but instead attempts to represent the actual, season-long, average efficiency of that piece of equipment, including the operating transients.RadiatorA radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics. A radiator is always a source of heat to its environment, although this may be for either the purpose of heating an environment, or for cooling the fluid or coolant supplied to it, as for automotive engine cooling and HVAC dry cooling towers.
FireplaceA fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used to heat a room or dwelling and also for the relaxing ambiance they create. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. Historically, they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses. A fire is contained in a firebox or fire pit; a chimney or other flue allows exhaust gas to escape.
Thermal energyThe term "thermal energy" is often used ambiguously in physics and engineering. It can denote several different physical concepts, including: Internal energy: The energy contained within a body of matter or radiation, excluding the potential energy of the whole system. Heat: Energy in transfer between a system and its surroundings by mechanisms other than thermodynamic work and transfer of matter.
TemperaturePhysical quantity of hot and coldIn classical thermodynamics and kinetic theory, temperature reflects the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system, providing a quantitative measure of how energy is distributed among microscopic degrees of freedom. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have relied on various reference points and thermometric substances for definition.
Duct (flow)Ducts are conduits or passages used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to deliver and remove air. The needed airflows include, for example, supply air, return air, and exhaust air. Ducts commonly also deliver ventilation air as part of the supply air. As such, air ducts are one method of ensuring acceptable indoor air quality as well as thermal comfort. A duct system is also called ductwork.
Pipe (fluid conveyance)A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circularcross-section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases (fluids), slurries, powders and masses of small solids. It can also be used for structural applications; a hollow pipe is far stiffer per unit weight than the solid members. In common usage the words pipe and tube are usually interchangeable, but in industry and engineering, the terms are uniquely defined.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.