HVAC Concepts and Fundamentals
- By Usman Naseer
- 0
Course Description
HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, but it is best understood as an integrated system for indoor environmental control. The primary goal of any HVAC system is to maintain thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality for occupants. Heating adds thermal energy to a space to compensate for heat losses through the building envelope-whether through walls, windows, or roofs. Ventilation replaces or mixes indoor air with outdoor air to control contaminants, moisture, and oxygen levels. Air conditioning simultaneously manages temperature, humidity, air cleanliness, and distribution patterns. A well-designed HVAC system balances occupant comfort against energy efficiency and capital costs. Additionally, modern systems manage building pressurization to prevent unwanted infiltration of outdoor air or exfiltration of conditioned air, which can waste energy and cause comfort complaints. HVAC is increasingly integrated with building automation systems for optimized performance. Understanding these fundamentals is essential for engineers, facility managers, and energy auditors alike. This course builds that understanding from the ground up.
What you'll learn in this course?
Explain the core scientific principles governing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Identify and describe the major components of an HVAC system and their functions.
Differentiate between common HVAC system types such as split systems, packaged units, and VRF.
Interpret basic psychrometric properties and their application in air conditioning.
Understand heat transfer mechanisms and their role in building thermal loads.
Calculate sensible and latent heat loads using fundamental load estimation concepts.
Describe ventilation requirements based on ASHRAE standards and indoor air quality.
Analyze basic duct and pipe sizing principles using friction loss concepts.
Recognize energy efficiency metrics including EER, SEER, COP, and IPLV.
Apply troubleshooting logic to common HVAC operational issues.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of mechanical systems, heat, temperature, pressure, and engineering units
Familiarity with buildings and basic technical drawings is helpful
Course Curriculum
- What is HVAC? A Systems Approach
- History and Evolution of HVAC
- Basic Physics for HVAC: Temperature and Heat
- Pressure Basics for HVAC Systems
- Fluid Mechanics for HVAC Engineers
- Thermal Comfort: The ASHRAE Standard 55
- Heat Transfer: Conduction Explained
- Heat Transfer: Convection in HVAC
- Heat Transfer: Radiation in Buildings
- Understanding Building Heat Gain and Loss
- Sensible and Latent Heat in Practice
- Design Conditions and Weather Data
- Load Calculation Methods Overview
- External Loads: Windows and Solar Radiation
- Internal Loads: People, Lights, Equipment
- Infiltration and Ventilation Loads
- Introduction to Psychrometrics
- Key Psychrometric Properties Explained
- The Psychrometric Chart: Layout and Axes
- Plotting Air Conditions on the Chart
- Sensible Heating and Cooling Processes
- Cooling with Dehumidification
- Heating with Humidification
- Adiabatic Mixing of Two Airstreams
- Classification of HVAC Systems
- Residential and Small Commercial Systems: Split Systems
- Packaged Rooftop Units (RTUs)
- Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
- Chilled Water Systems Overview
- Air Handling Units (AHUs) Explained
- Fan Coil Units (FCUs) and Terminal Devices
- Furnaces and Heating Equipment
- Boilers and Hydronic Heating
- Ventilation: Purposes and Benefits
- ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation Requirements
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Contaminants
- Filtration and Air Cleaning Technologies
- Demand-Controlled Ventilation (DCV)
- Natural Ventilation and Mixed-Mode Systems
- Exhaust and Relief Air Systems
- Makeup Air Systems
- Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) Fundamentals
- Ventilation for Healthcare and Laboratories
- Ventilation Troubleshooting and Common Faults
- Duct Design: Purpose and Principles
- Duct Sizing Methods: Equal Friction
- Duct Sizing Methods: Static Regain
- Duct Materials and Construction Standards
- Duct Sealing and Air Leakage
- Air Distribution Devices: Diffusers and Grilles
- Pipe Design for Hydronic Systems
- Pump Selection and Hydronic Systems
- Pipe Fittings, Valves, and Accessories
- Pipe Insulation and Condensation Control
- The Basic Refrigeration Cycle Overview
- Compressor Types and Selection
- Condensers: Air-Cooled vs. Water-Cooled
- Expansion Devices: Metering Refrigerant
- Evaporators: Absorbing Heat
- Refrigerants: History and Current Options
- Refrigeration Cycle Troubleshooting
- HVAC Controls: Basic Components
- Thermostats and Zone Control
- Building Automation Systems (BAS)
- Energy Efficiency Metrics: EER and SEER
- Energy Efficiency Metrics: COP and IPLV
- Energy Conservation Measures for HVAC
- Summary: Core Scientific Principles
- Summary: Systems, Controls, and Efficiency
- HVAC Concepts and Fundamentals
Usman Naseer
5 
Course includes:
Levelintermediate
Duration300 minutes
Lessons70
Quizzes0
CertificationsYes
Enrolled0