Specifications

Section 2: Research

2.1 Research Methods

Our group came together and met generally for 2 days every week and would

distribute and assign the various components to the Senior Design project for

each group member to do individual research on. For every meeting we had

devised how we would tackle individual tasks in accomplishing our main goal in

building the Efficient HVAC Control and Feedback System. Everyone made

suggestions and posed relevant questions to our sponsors by email. The

sponsors themselves served as a research asset because they are licensed

professional HVAC contractors. The group required a necessary comprehension

as to how an HVAC system works and the sponsors were able to help us with

that learning and research process.

The type of wireless device interfaces that could be used, how to program the

applications on the smart phone, and how to set up the web server required us to

perform extensive research. We also needed to realize how many volts and how

much current the relays needed to be and opened or closed and whether they

were AC or DC. Other important concerns were what type of communication we

would be needed from the mobile device to the main control unit and which touch

screen technology we would use. Also for the touch screen we needed to decide

on whether it would be packaged together with the driver, microcontroller and

touch screen sensor or if we were going to buy individual parts and interface

them together ourselves. As the days went along our group went to the library to

check out books pertaining to HVAC systems along with general information

pertaining to control and feedback systems. We went on the Internet by

Googling and browsing various topics related to the project, and also asked

questions to our project advisor, Dr. Samuel Richie.

The main researching method that we employed was the Internet. Googling and

browsing the web provided a lot of great resources that involve air conditioning

systems. One website we used was http://www.deltrol-controls.com/ which

provided normally closed and normally open relays with detailed data sheets.

This website was a great tool to use because of the 263/268 electronic relay it

showed that we looked at purchasing for our Efficient HVAC Control and

Feedback system project. Another online resource that we came across was

http://www.industrialimage.net/faq.php. This website essentially served a great

purpose to us because of the very descriptive and well informed information on

touch screens and LCD display panels that it provided for us. The next tool that

was used when going to the library was the renting of books. One excellent book

that was pertinent to the comprehension of HVAC system was titled HVAC

Control and Systems by John Levenhagen and Donald Spethmann. This book

covers all commercial AC control systems which include different kinds of

servomotors, electric relays, dampers, and thermostats.