ASHRAE Journal - July 2011 - 4

ASHRAE® JouRNAL
1791 Tullie Circle NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2305 Phone: 404-636-8400 Fax: 404-321-5478 ASHRAE Online: www.ashrae.org

COMMENTARY
Central Plant Series
If you want to stir up discussion in ASHRAE, just publish an article on central plant design. That’s what we’ve done in this issue, except it’s not an article. It’s the start of a series of articles based on the research used to support a new ASHRAE Self-Directed Learning Course (SDL) on the design and control of chilled water plants. The author is Steve Taylor, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, who led the development of the SDL, which will be available next year. The intent of the Journal series and SDL, says Taylor, is to provide designers and operators with simple, accurate advice on how to optimize life-cycle costs without having to perform rigorous and expensive lifecycle analysis for every plant. The first article covers system selection and includes a simple Fred Turner application matrix. The next installment of the series will be in the September edition and cover the selection of condenser water distribution systems. PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s planned push to train 10,000 new American engineers each year is an important issue. Engineers are critical to the development and manufacture of products and services, which are critical to the economy. A report last year from the National Academy of Sciences says that the U.S. graduates more visual arts and performing arts majors than engineers. It also notes that the U.S. ranks 27th among developed nations in the proportion of students receiving undergraduate degrees in science and engineering. Further exacerbating the engineering gap is the retirement of many senior engineers from the Baby Boom generation. WE DON’T have the answers in this edition. But we do have a group of excellent articles and authors. These include: • A Hall of Fame article on the development of energy simulation from the November 1983 ASHRAE Journal. The authors are Dan Nall, Member ASHRAE, and Dru Crawley, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE. • A column on high risk walls by Joe Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng. The article actually deals with a particular type of wall that a simple analysis says works but doesn’t. • An article on selecting fans by total pressure by John Cermak, Ph.D., P.Eng., and John Murphy, Ph.D. The authors say the long-standing practice of selecting fans by static energy often leads to excess energy use. • Our cover article on a central plant heat rejection system at a Hawaiian resort. The project led to energy savings of $1.58 million in the first 24 months, says author Al Butkus, P.E., Member ASHRAE. • An article on geothermal systems by Steve Kavanaugh, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE. The article covers how to use less pumping to create cooler ground loops. We hope you enjoy the issue, and keep sending us letters and other feedback.

Publisher W. Stephen Comstock EDITORIAL
Editor Fred Turner fturner@ashrae.org Managing Editor Sarah Foster sfoster@ashrae.org Associate Editor Rebecca Matyasovski rmatyasovski@ashrae.org Associate Editor Christopher Weems cweems@ashrae.org Associate Editor Charlotte Tubbs ctubbs@ashrae.org Copy Editor Jeri Eader jeader@ashrae.org

PUBLISHING SERVICES
Production Jayne Jackson Tracy Becker

Publishing Services Manager David Soltis

ADVERTISING

Advertising Sales Manager Greg Martin gmartin@ashrae.org Advertising Production Coordinator Vanessa Johnson vjohnson@ashrae.org

CIRCULATION

Circulation Specialist David Soltis dsoltis@ashrae.org

ASHRAE OFFICERS
President Lynn G. Bellenger, P .E. President-Elect Ronald E. Jarnagin Treasurer Thomas E. Watson, P .E. Vice Presidents William P Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P . .E. Sheila J. Hayter, P .E. Ross D. Montgomery, P .E. T. David Underwood, P .Eng. Secretary & Executive Vice President Jeff H. Littleton

POLICY GROUP

2010 – 11 Chair Publications Committee John A. Clark, P .E. Washington Office washdc@ashrae.org
Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

ASHRAE Journal - July 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - July 2011