Product selection & help guide for measurements on HVAC systems in buildings & laboratories.
HVAC is the acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. It is a term often used to describe a piece of equipment which is specially designed for use in an environmental control system for a building, room or a vehicle.
Draft Pressure Sensors - Find low-pressure transducers & transmitters (inWC, mbar, Pa) designed for draft measurement in air handling, combustion control, and ventilation applications.
HVAC Pressure Sensors - HVAC pressure sensors are essential for maintaining optimal performance and energy efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
HVAC Pressure Gauges - HVAC pressure gauges are essential for ensuring the efficient and safe operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are critical for maintaining comfortable and safe environments in buildings and laboratories. Accurate measurement of various parameters is essential for optimizing HVAC performance, ensuring energy efficiency, and preventing costly breakdowns. This guide outlines key considerations for selecting the right measurement instrumentation for your HVAC system.
HVAC systems are employed across a diverse range of sectors, including commercial buildings, residential complexes, laboratories, hospitals, cleanrooms, and manufacturing facilities. The specific measurement needs will vary depending on the application. For instance, a hospital HVAC system will have more stringent requirements for air quality and temperature control than a typical office building. Similarly, laboratories often require precise control of humidity and airflow for sensitive experiments. HVAC technicians, building engineers, and facility managers are the primary users of this instrumentation.
When selecting measurement instrumentation for HVAC systems, several factors must be considered. Temperature is a fundamental parameter, and accurate temperature sensors are needed for monitoring air temperature, water temperature in chilled water loops, and refrigerant temperatures. Consider the temperature range, accuracy requirements, and the type of sensor best suited for the application (e.g., thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors). Humidity is another critical factor, particularly in laboratories and cleanrooms. Humidity sensors should be selected based on the desired humidity range, accuracy, and response time. Pressure measurements are crucial for monitoring airflow, duct pressure, and differential pressure across filters. Differential pressure transmitters are commonly used for filter monitoring, measuring the pressure drop across the filter. For duct pressure measurements, both static and total pressure are important. Static pressure, the pressure exerted by the air at rest, can be measured using a static pressure port. Total pressure, the sum of static and velocity pressure, is measured using a pitot tube or similar device. The difference between total and static pressure yields the velocity pressure, which is related to the air velocity in the duct. Airflow measurement is essential for balancing HVAC systems and ensuring proper ventilation. Anemometers, pitot tubes, and flow meters are used for measuring airflow in ducts and at vents. Refrigerant pressure and temperature measurements are important for diagnosing and maintaining refrigeration systems. Specific refrigerant pressure and temperature transducers are designed for these applications. Finally, don’t overlook the importance of data logging and communication capabilities. Many modern instruments offer data logging functionality and communication protocols (e.g., BACnet, Modbus) for integration with building management systems (BMS).
Questions & Answers on HVAC applications
Laboratory to hallway negative pressure
We wish to monitor the pressure in a laboratory space to insure that HVAC system is maintaining pressure at slightly negative compare to ambient and hallways.
The DPS is a low range differential pressure sensor which can measure low level negative pressure such as the ones generated between laboratory spaces and hallways.
Related Help Guides
- Measuring the difference in air pressure between rooms
- What affects the performance of low pressure sensors
Related Technical Terms
- g Effect
- inH2O – Inches of Water Column at 4 deg C Pressure Unit
- mmH2O – Millimetres of Water Column at 4 deg C Pressure Unit
- oz/in² – Ounce per Square Inch Pressure Unit
- Pa – Pascal Pressure Unit
