On Batt-Web, we use many technical terms. The following are hyperlinks that provide the definition to the term that was used. In some cases, there will be more than one definition for the same term, perhaps a word used in air conditioning means one thing, while the same term means another in aviation...I'll try to differentiate as carefully as possible.
This area is still under construction...I'll be linking the definitions as time permits!
- The process by which acidic particles, gases, and precipitation leave the atmosphere. More commonly referred to as acid rain, acid deposition has two components: wet and dry deposition.
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Rain that has become acidic due to the emission of sulfur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxides NOx from large power plants and mechanized factories. To learn more, see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Acid Rain Page by clicking ...here.
- To take up and hold (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) in a thin layer of molecules on the surface of a solid substance.
Aerobatics:
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Flight that commonly involves barrel rolls, spins, and other high-performance maneuvers.
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A movable surface on the back of the wings that changes the roll of the airplane.
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The treatment of air temperature, humidity, cleanliness and circulation so as to achieve a controlled, desired environment.
Airfoil:
- A curved body, such as a wing, that causes lift when air moves over it.
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The air leakage rating is a measure of how much air leaks through the crack between the window sash and frame. The rating reflects the leakage from a window exposed to a 25-mile-per-hour wind, and is measured in cubic feet per minute per linear foot of sash crack. The rating is determined according to ASTM E-283, "Standard Test Methods for Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors."
Air Transport Pilot:
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A pilot who has completed the Federal Aviation Administration's requirements for the Air Transport Pilot certificate, including a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time and passing a knowledge exam and flight test.
Airworthy:
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The state of being capable of flight, usually referring to an airplane's mechanical condition.
Aviation University:
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Several public and private universities across the country, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, have extensive professional pilot and aviation studies degrees. In the course of his or her education, a student will earn a commercial certificate and flight instructor rating, in addition to studying business and liberal arts.
Avionics:
The radios and navigation instruments used in airplanes.
- A light weight metal. It is toxic to trees and fish.
- A tradable permit to emit a specific amount of a pollutant. For example, under the Acid Rain Program, one allowance permits the emissions of one ton of sulfur dioxide (SO2).
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
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This is a non-profit organization that sets standards for virtually any kind of testing that is conceivable. You can visit their website to learn more by clicking ...here.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
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The annualized average efficiency of a fuel-fired appliance, taking into account the effect of on-off operation. Basically, it's an indication of how well a furnace converts energy into usable heat. The rating is expressed as a percentage of the annual output of heat to the annual energy input to the furnace. The higher the AFUE the lower the operating costs for the end user.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
An organization that sets engineering standards in the United States. You can visit their website to learn more by clicking ...here.
- Negatively charged molecule such as sulfate (SO4(2-)) and nitrate (NO3-). In combination with hydrogen (H+), these molecules act as strong acids.
Acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)
- A measure of the ability for water or soil to neutralize added acids. This is done by the reaction of hydrogen ions with inorganic or organic bases such as bicarbonate (HCO3-) or organic ions.
Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI)
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A non-profit organization who set the testing and comparisons standards for the heating, air conditioning and refrigeration industries. You can visit their website to learn more, by clicking ...here.
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Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute Standard # 550-1992: A standard for centrifugal and rotary screw water-chilling packages. The purpose of the standard is to establish definitions and nomenclature; a description of what constitutes such a package; published rating conditions; standard requirements for testing and a basis for published ratings; and proper refrigerant designations in systems.
American
Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
An engineering society devoted to all aspects of indoor air quality. To visit their website and learn more, click ...here.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
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A society devoted to the proper construction of mechanical devices. You can learn more by visiting their website, by clicking ...here.
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Strict design, manufacture, and testing standards set forth by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It involves independent inspection of every device (such as a Carrier Evergreen chiller) built.
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The pressure exerted on all things on the Earth's surface that are a result of the weight of our atmosphere.
- The resistance of water or soil to changes in pH.
- Positively charged ions such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium that increase pH of water (make it less acidic) when released to solution through mineral weathering and exchange reactions.
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Energy contractors use blower doors to see how much air leaks through windows, doors, and other places in your house. The blower door is a large board that blocks the front door of your house. A powerful fan installed in the door draws the air out of your house and causes a strong draft inside where ever the air is leaking in. This can help the contractor locate the air leaks, and gives a good overall indication of how "leaky" your house is. To learn more, visit the following sites:
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A unit in reference to the measurement of heat. One British thermal unit, or Btu, is roughly equivalent to amount of heat produced when burning one wooden kitchen match. That may not sound like much, but a typical home consumes about 100 million Btus per year. Approximately one-half of the total is used for space heating. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1oF.
Calcium; a base cation that helps to reduce acidification
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Carrier Comfort Network. A networked system for the management of HVAC building operations. CCN includes pc based operator interfaces (ComfortVIEW, ComfortWORKS), product-integrated controls (or PICs), system managers (Chillervisor, Digital Air Volume, and Flotronic System Manager), and controls for other HVAC and non-HVAC building components (Comfort Controllers).
Centigrade
(Represented as degrees "C")
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The scale of temperature measurement most commonly used worldwide.
Generally refers to surface waters that remain acidified (ANC<0) regardless of variations in hydrologic conditions (precipitation, stream flow, etc.).
Check Ride:
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The "driver's test" a pilot takes in the airplane to earn a certificate or rating. Also known as the Practical Test.
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A refrigerant containing no chlorine. The presence of chlorine in refrigerant compounds contributes to the depletion of ozone in the atmosphere.
Commercial Pilot:
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A pilot who has completed the Federal Aviation Administration's requirements for the commercial certificate, including a minimum of 250 hours of flight time and passing a knowledge exam and flight test.
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs require a ballast to regulate the voltage of the electricity that is applied to the gas inside the lamp. Below-freezing weather can adversely affect the electronic components in these ballasts, causing most compact fluorescent bulbs to appear dim in cold weather. Cold-weather ballasts compensate for this problem and keep the bulb glowing brightly, even in weather as cold as -10°F (-23°C).
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In a vapor compression cycle, the device that increases the pressure and temperature of refrigerant vapor. It continuously draws low pressure refrigerant vapor from the cooler, adds energy to increase the refrigerant pressure and temperature, and discharges the high pressure vapor to the condenser.
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The process by which a gas is changed into a liquid at constant temperature by heat removal.
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A heat exchange coil within a mechanical refrigeration system used to reject heat from the system. The coil where condensation takes place.
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A high-efficiency, gas forced-air furnace that uses a second condensing heat exchanger to extract the latent heat in the flue gas.
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Heat transfer within a fluid by the movement of heated molecules from one place to another.
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Heat which flows into a space from outdoors and/or indoors.
Coefficient of
Performance (COP)
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This is a measure of the energy efficiency of a heat pump and chillers.
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The unit of measure of the volume rate of airflow, as in a heating system.
Currency:
- Meeting the legal requirements to exercise the pilot certificate. Usually, it requires a certain number of hours of flight time over a given period of time.
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A bladed device used to vary the volume of air passing through the air outlet, air inlet, or duct.
Dead Reckoning:
- A method of navigation that requires a pilot to fly a certain direction for a certain time at a certain speed to reach a destination a known distance away.
The processes by which chemical constituents move from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. These processes include precipitation (wet deposition, such as rain or cloud fog), as well as particle and gas deposition (dry deposition).
The relationship between the effects (response) on an organism or system and the amount (dose) of some material to which the organism/system is exposed.
The settling of gases and particles out of the atmosphere. Dry deposition is a component of acid deposition, more commonly referred to as acid rain.
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The condensation of water vapor from air by cooling the air below the dew point or the removal of water vapor from air by chemical or physical methods.
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The rate at which heat flows into a space on a design day. The design day usually presents the space with 95% or more of its highest possible load.
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Temperature measured using a standard thermometer. A measure of the sensible heat of the air or surface being measured.
Elevators:
- Moveable sections of the tail that pitch the nose up or down.
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The ratio of the rated cooling capacity in BTUs per hour divided by the amount of electrical power used in watts at any given set of conditions.
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The process of removing air, moisture, and other gases from the inside of a refrigeration system.
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A heat exchange coil within a mechanical refrigeration system used to absorb heat into the system. The coil where evaporation takes place.
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A type of heating system that generates heat by passing electrical current through a conductor, causing it to heat up. These systems usually use baseboard heaters, often with individual controls. They are inefficient compared to heat pumps or solar heaters and are best used as a backup.
Electro-Luminescent Night Lights
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Electro-luminescent materials glow when a small electric charge is applied to them. Night lights that use these materials produce enough light to help you find your way in an otherwise dark room, but use only a few pennies worth of electricity each year. These night lights are also safer, as they are cool to the touch.
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An electronic device that regulates the voltage of fluorescent lamps. Compared to older magnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts use less electricity and are not prone to the flickering and humming effects sometimes associated with magnetic ballasts.
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The ratio of the cooling capacity of the air conditioner, in Btu per hour, to the total electrical input in watts under test conditions specified by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.
A reduction in the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The symptoms of eutrophication include blooms of algae (both toxic and non-toxic), declines in the health of fish and shellfish, loss of sea grass beds and coral reefs, and ecological changes in food webs.
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The first covering of boards or of waterproof material on the outside wall of a frame house or timber roof. Taping the joints in this layer of material will help prevent air infiltration or leakage.
Federal Aviation Administration:
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The division of the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates aviation, including pilot certification and aircraft operations.
Fahrenheit
(represented as degrees "F")
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The scale of temperature measurement most commonly used in the United States of America.
Flaps:
- The movable section of the wing that increases lift and drag and allows for slower, steeper descents during landing.
Flight computer:
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A manual slide rule or electronic calculator used to determine wind correction, fuel consumption, airspeed, and other performance calculations during flight planning.
Flight Review:
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A review of flying skills and aviation knowledge conducted by a flight instructor every two years.
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A training facility used by corporate, charter, and airline pilots to learn to fly sophisticated aircraft in elaborate, high-tech simulators that realistically replicate flight.
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Products of combustion plus excess air plus dilution air (on natural-draft appliances) that pass through the vent.
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Fluorescent lamps produce light by passing electricity through a gas, causing it to glow. The gas produces ultraviolet light; a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp absorbs the ultraviolet light and produces visible light. Fluorescent lamps produce much less heat than incandescent lamps and are more energy efficient. Linear fluorescent lamps are used in long narrow fixtures designed for such lamps. Compact fluorescent light bulbs have been designed to replace incandescent light bulbs in table lamps, floodlights, and other fixtures.
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Any furnace that uses a fan to circulate heated air.
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Global warming is the gradual increase in global temperatures caused by the emission of gases that trap the sun's heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Gases that contribute to global warming include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and halocarbons (the replacements for CFCs). The carbon dioxide emissions are primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels for energy. For more information, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Global Warming Web site, the Environmental Defense Fund's Global Warming Web site, or visit ABC News' Solutions to Global Warming Web site.
Global Positioning System (GPS):
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A navigation system that uses an array of stationary satellites that allows users to locate their exact position on the earth.
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A device used to transfer hear from a fluid (liquid or gas) to another fluid, where the two fluids are physically separated (usually by metal tubing). Household examples of heat exchangers are heating radiators and the coils on your refrigerator and room air conditioner.
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Used as a refrigerant in a wide range of refrigeration equipment from room air conditioners to large centrifugal chillers. HCFC-22 has an ozone depletion potential of 0.05 and a global warning index of 0.34. The threshold limit for exposure is 1000 ppm.
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As HCFC-22 contains 41% chlorine and has an atmospheric life of 15 years, this refrigerant is subject to phase out in 2030 under the international Montreal Protocol. The U.S. Clean Air Act will prohibit the use of this refrigerant in new equipment in 2010, along with prohibiting new production after 2020.
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A form of energy. The least organized form of energy. The form of energy into which other forms deteriorate.
Heat
Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
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HVAC equipment that saves energy by using a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the building exhaust air to the cold ventilation air entering the building.
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The movement of heat from one place to another, between two substances, or within a substance.
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The rate at which a device can add heat to a substance, expressed in BTUH.
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The parts of a chiller which exchange heat between two physically separated fluids. In a chiller, the heat exchangers are the cooler and the condenser, which exchange heat between the refrigerant and water or brine. Typically the heat exchangers used in chillers are of shell-and-tube design, where the water or brine flows through a number of tubes inside a containment shell, and the refrigerant is either boiled or condensed on the outside of the tubes.
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A motor which is sealed within the refrigerant atmosphere inside a chiller, and which is therefore isolated from the atmosphere outside the chiller. A hermetic motor is efficiently cooled by liquid refrigerant sprayed directly on the motor windings, and is smaller and lighter than a comparable air-cooled motor. A compressor driven by a hermetic motor has the advantage that the compressor shaft does not have to pass through a seal between the outside atmosphere and the refrigerant atmosphere inside the chiller.
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A device that extracts available heat from one area (the heat source) and transfers it to another (the heat sink) to either heat or cool an interior space. For instance, in heating climates, during the winter the heat pump extracts heat from the air outside and transfers it to the inside of the house to heat the house. In cooling climates, during the summer the heat pump extracts heat from the air inside the house, cooling it, and transfers it outside. Heat pumps work very much like your refrigerator: heat is released from the back of your refrigerator as it grows cooler inside. This is exactly like cooling your house during the summer.
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Heat pumps can be very energy efficient, because instead of actually generating heat like a furnace, they just draw heat from the outside. But because the efficiency drops as the air outside gets very cold, many builders are turning instead to ground-loop or geothermal heat pumps. These heat pumps operate more efficiently than the standard air-source heat pumps, because the ground doesn't get as cold as the outside air (and during the summer, it doesn't heat up as much). To learn more about air-source heat pumps, see the "Heat Pump" section of the Energy Efficient Appliances web site, provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Codes and Standards. If you're planning on buying a new heating or cooling system, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star®-Labeled Heating and Cooling Products.
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The flow of heat from one substance to another, for instance, the flow of heat from your water heating element to the water that surrounds it.
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)
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The total heating output of a heat pump in in Btu during its normal usage period for heating divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours during the same period.
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A positive pressure, chlorine-free refrigerant having zero ozone depletion potential. HFC-134a is the refrigerant of choice for automotive and appliance applications, which will assure a plentiful supply at reasonable prices.
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High-pressure sodium lamps are a form of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, which use an electric arc to produce intense light. High-pressure sodium lamps are energy-efficient, reliable, and have long service lives.
Horizontal stabilizers:
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The horizontal sections of the tail that include the elevators.
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Housewrap is a sheet of plastic, often fiber-reinforced, that is used to reduce air leakage in new homes. These sheets are wrapped around the outside of a house during construction. Builders must seal the housewrap at all joints and seams to create a truly continuous, effective air retarder.
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Incandescent light bulbs produce light by passing electricity through a thin filament, which becomes hot and glows brightly. Incandescent light bulbs are less energy-efficient than fluorescent lamps, because much of the electrical energy is converted to heat instead of light. The heat produced by these bulbs not only wastes energy, but can also make a building's air conditioning system work harder and consume more energy.
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A furnace in which a motor-driven fan draws air from the surrounding area or from outdoors to support combustion.
Instrument flight:
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A flight solely by reference to the cockpit instruments during low visibility or bad weather.
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Weather that includes reduced visibility and cloud ceilings that require a pilot to fly by reference to his or her cockpit instruments.
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A material which inhibits heat transfer by conduction.
International Standards Organization (ISO)
An non-profit international organization specifically created to set standards recognized by all countries participating as members. To learn more, you can visit their website by clicking ...here.
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The International Organization of Standards (ISO) 9000 standards define a Quality System which ensures the quality of a product.
The model for Quality Assurance in Design, Development, Production, Installation and Servicing. ISO registration is just one of the building blocks for achieving world-class products. Currently, 29 Carrier manufacturing and service sites are registered, with 13 soon to follow.
Valves used for the transfer and isolation of refrigerant charge in the cooler or condenser, allowing refrigerant to be stored inside a chiller during servicing.
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Energy contractors use infrared cameras to look at the heat leaking into or out of your house. The infrared camera "sees" the heat and can show "hot spots" where a lot of heat is being lost. This helps to identify the places where your home's energy efficiency can be improved.
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A feature in dishwashers that allows the machine to heat your hot water to a higher temperature. Although this makes your dishwasher use more energy, it also allows you to reduce your hot water heater's temperature to 120EF, which will save energy. For more information, see the "Dishwashers" section of the Energy Efficient Appliances web site, provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Codes and Standards.
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One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is equal to using 1000 watts of electricity for one hour. This is equal to burning a 50-watt light bulb for 20 hours, or roughly equivalent to cooking a pot of rice for an hour. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 8.3 cents per kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 10,000 kWh per year, costing an average of $830 annually.
Knowledge exam:
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The written test on theoretical material required by pilots, such as regulations, aerodynamics, and weather.
The energy of molecular separation and arrangement. It cannot be measured with a thermometer. Associated with change of state of a substance.
A type of electronic display used extensively on watches and calculators.
Process by which water removes chemicals from soil through chemical reactions and the downward movement of water.
In a vapor compression cycle, the lift on the compressor is the difference between the high side (condenser) conditions and the low side (cooler) conditions, measured as either a temperature or pressure difference.
A protective device used to open or close electrical circuits when temperature or pressure limits are reached.
Logbook:
- A register book that lists a pilot's flight time, instructor endorsements, and completed training topics.
Low Emissivity (low-e) Coatings
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Emissivity is a measure of how much heat is emitted from an object by radiation. Heat is transferred to and from objects through three processes: conduction, convection, and radiation. For instance, on a hot night, heat will be conducted through a window from the outside, causing the inside pane to become warm. Convection, or natural circulation, of the air in the room past the window will transfer some of that heat into the room. But the window will also radiate heat as infrared waves, which will warm objects throughout the room. This radiative heating is why you can feel the heat of a red-hot piece of metal (for instance, a heating element on an electric stove) from several feet away.
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Low-emissivity, or low-e, coatings are put on window panes to reduce the amount of heat they give off through radiation. In hot climates, where the outside of the window will typically be hotter than the inside, low-e coatings work best on the interior of the outside window pane. In cold climates, where the inside of the window is typically hotter than the outside, the low-e coatings work best on the inside window pane, on the side that faces toward the outside.
Magnesium; a base cation that helps to reduce acidification.
Main Gear:
- The landing gear underneath the fuselage of the aircraft.
Medical Certificate:
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A legal document issued by an aviation doctor stating a pilot is physically fit to fly. A valid medical certificate is required to be in the possession of the pilot during all flights, and it serves as a student pilot certificate while the holder is training.
A component of a refrigeration system that controls the flow of high- pressure liquid into the evaporator.
Multiengine Aircraft:
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An aircraft with two or more engines.
Megawatt; a unit for describing an amount of electricity a power plant can generate.
A furnace in which the natural flow of air from around the furnace provides the air to support combustion. It also depends on the pressure created by the heat in the flue gases to force them out through the vent system.
The process in which bacteria convert biologically unusable nitrogen gas (N2) into biologically usable ammonia (NH3) and nitrates (NO3-).
A group of gases that cause acid rain and other environmental problems, such as smog and eutrophication of coastal waters. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gasoline, releases NOx into the atmosphere. Various programs are reducing NOx emissions, including the Acid Rain Program and NOx cap and trade programs.
National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
A non-profit association that sets minimum standards on products and building codes with regard to fire prevention. To learn more, you can visit their website by clicking ...here.
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An airport without air traffic control; pilots fly into and out of these airport using standard operating procedures to avoid one another.
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The landing gear nearest the nose of the aircraft in a tricycle-gear airplane (usually under the cockpit).
Non-towered Airport:
A motor which is located outside the refrigerant containment of a chiller. An open-drive motor requires that the rotating compressor shaft pass through a seal between the outside atmosphere and the refrigerant atmosphere inside the chiller.
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A section of aviation regulations describing pilot training at flight schools, including subject matter and flight-time minimums. Most flight schools train their students according to Part 61.
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A section of aviation regulations describing training at flight academies, such as universities. Because of the intensive, structured nature of these training programs, their students are permitted lower minimum flight-time requirements than those at Part 61 schools; the material covered, though, is identical, since all student pilots must meet the performance criteria published in the Practical Test Standards.
Part 61:
Part 141:
A scale that denotes how acidic or basic a substance is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0 and is neither acidic nor basic.
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Navigating by reference to a map and visible landmarks.
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The up and down movement of the aircraft's nose about the center of gravity.
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The "driver's test" a new pilot takes in the airplane to earn a pilot certificate. Also known as a "check ride."
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The guidelines published by the Federal Aviation Administration outlining the minimum pilot performance on practical exams.
Pilotage:
Pitch:
Practical Exam:
Water in the form of rain, sleet, or snow (wet deposition).
Private Pilot:
- A pilot who has completed the Federal Aviation Administration's requirements for the private certificate, including a minimum of 40 hours of flight time and passing a knowledge exam and flight test.
Product
Integrated Controls (PIC)
Product Integrated Control (or PICs) are used in conjunction with the Carrier Comfort Network to control and monitor the operation of Carrier products.
A sealed chamber at the inlet or outlet of an air handler. The duct attaches to the plenum.
Houses all 230 or 115 control voltage components.
Force per unit of area.
- PSI / PSIA / PSIG
- Pounds per square inch; a unit of measurement whereby the pressure of a gas or fluid is described. If in relation to sea-level is used, Ambient (or "A") is added. If measured by a gauge that has been zeroed to the ambient pressure, then Gauge (or "G") is added.
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A eco friendly refrigerant. Not only is it more efficient than the refrigerant that it replaces (a first), but it also contains no chlorine at all. This makes it zero ozone depleting and less of a global warming contributor than any other refrigerant.
Recurrent Training:
- Annual or semi-annual training used to refresh a pilot's knowledge and skills in a variety of flight situations, including in-flight emergencies.
A fluid (liquid or gas) that picks up heat by evaporating at a low temperature and pressure. It gives up heat by condensing at a higher temperature and pressure.
Regional Airline:
- A commuter airline.
The ratio of the amount of vapor contained in the air to the greatest amount the air could hold at that temperature. Normally expressed as a percentage.
A valve that changes the direction of refrigerant flow in a heat pump.
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The rotation of the airplane around its nose-to-tail axis.
Roll:
A heating and/or cooling unit that conditions a structure; it is mounted on the roof after adequate reinforcement has been built into the roof.
- Rudder:
- Section of the tail that moves the nose to the left or right. Rudder pedals: Foot pedals in the cockpit that control the rudder, brakes, and steering of the aircraft.
Sailplane:
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An airplane that flies without assistance of an engine. Also known as a glider.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
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The total cooling output of a central air conditioner in British thermal units during its normal usage period for cooling divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours during the same period. The test procedure is determined by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
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The solar heat gain coefficient, also called a shading coefficient, is a measure of how well a window absorbs or reflects heat from the sun. The lower the coefficient, the better the window is at blocking the sun's heat. Windows in hot or temperate climates should have a low SHGC; south-facing windows in cold climates should have a high SHGC. The SHGC is included as part of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Certification Label.
A type of compressor used in vapor compression refrigeration cycles where two intermeshing helical rotors create pockets of continuously decreasing volume, in which the refrigerant vapor is compressed and its pressure is increased from cooler pressure to condenser pressure.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio (SEER)
The total cooling of an air conditioner or heat pump in BTUs during its normal annual usage period for cooling divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours during the same period.
The energy of molecular motion. Measured with a thermometer. Associated with a change in temperature.
A condition in which a compressor or furnace is restarted immediately after it has been turned off.
A refrigeration or air conditioning system in which the condenser and evaporator are in separate locations, joined by refrigerant piping.
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A type of window glazing film that blocks the infrared portion of sunlight while admitting the visible portion. Since the infrared portion of sunlight is the main cause of solar heating, blocking out that portion allows the sun to shine in your window without causing the house to heat up. This is ideal for hot climates, but should not be used in cold climates. On windows with the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Certification Label, spectrally selective coatings would have a low solar heat gain coefficient and a high visible light transmittance.
Stability:
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The ability of an aircraft to return to level flight on its own after the controls are moved.
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An extra pane of glass or plastic added to a window to reduce air infiltration and boost the insulation value of a window. If you are considering adding storm windows, you should compare the costs to installing new energy-efficient windows.
A gas that causes acid rain. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, releases SO2 into the atmosphere. Various EPA programs are reducing SO2 emissions, including the Acid Rain Program.
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As the name implies, surface thermometers have a temperature probe that can be placed directly on a surface to see what temperature it is. This can help energy contractors evaluate how well heat is passing through your doors, windows, walls, floor, and ceiling. Placed on a window, for instance, it can tell you if the window is close to the room temperature (indicating that it insulates well) or closer to the outside temperature (indicating that it insulates poorly).
Tailwheel Aircraft:
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An airplane with a small wheel underneath the tail of the aircraft, and two larger wheels under the wings. Also called "conventional gear" aircraft.
The measure of the intensity of heat that a substance possesses.
A device that connects or disconnects a circuit in response to a change in the ambient temperature.
A bearing which absorbs the axial forces produced in a centrifugal compressor by the refrigerant pressure differential across the impeller.
The basic large unit for measuring the rate of heat transfer (12,000 BTUH).
Total
Cooling Load (expressed in BTU/H or tons)
The rate at which total heat enters a space.
Sensible heat plus latent heat.
Type Rating:
- A rating to a pilot's certificate that states he or she is able to fly a particular type of sophisticated or large aircraft, such as a Cessna Citation X business jet.
Underwriters' Laboratories
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The U-value, also called the U-factor, is a measure of how well heat flows through an object (thermal conductivity). It is also referred to as the heat transfer coefficient or the coefficient of heat transmission. The U-value is measured by how much heat (Btu) flows through a certain area (a square foot) each hour for a certain temperature difference (°F), so it is measured in Btu/ft2-hr-°F. The U-value is the reciprocal of the R-value: the lower the U-value, the better the insulation value of the material. Many building and insulation products have their U-value indicated on their label. See, for example, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. NFRC also has a Certified Products Directory that lists the U-values for more than 30,500 certified products.
Unimproved Airport:
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An airport with runways made of grass, dirt, or gravel, instead of concrete or asphalt.
- Vac (Volts: Alternating Current)
- An abbreviation to electricity whose polarity alternates between positive and negative.
Vdc (Volts: Direct Current)
- An abbreviation to electricity whose polarity is constantly the same polarity.
The absolute absence of any pressure, even atmospheric (0 PSIA or O In. Hg. Abs. or about 30 In. Hg. Vac).
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Also called a vapor retarder, this is a material that retards the movement of water vapor through a building element (such as walls, floors, and ceilings) and prevents metals from corroding and insulation and structural wood from becoming damp.
A pump used to remove air and moisture from a refrigeration system at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.
A moisture-impervious layer applied to the surfaces enclosing a humid space to prevent moisture travel to a point where it may condense due to lower temperature.
A refrigeration cycle consisting of a evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion device. In the evaporator, heat is removed from the fluid being cooled by the boiling of liquid refrigerant into vapor. The compressor continuously draws this low pressure vapor from the cooler, and adds energy to the refrigerant, increasing its pressure and temperature, and discharges the high pressure vapor to the condenser. In the condenser, the cooling fluid removes heat from the refrigerant, which is condensed into liquid. The expansion device, which may be a float valve or an orifice, drops the pressure of the refrigerant liquid back down to evaporator pressure.
The process of supplying or removing air, by natural or mechanical means, to or from any space. Such air may or may not have been conditioned.
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The upright portion of the aircraft's "tail."
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A flight made by referencing the horizon and other outside landmarks.
Vertical Stabilizers:
A device used to measure relative humidity. Evaporation of moisture lowers the temperature of the wet bulb compared to the dry bulb temperature of the same air sample.
The process by which chemicals are removed from the atmosphere and deposited on the Earth's surface via rain, sleet, snow, cloud water, and fog.
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A large fan used to ventilate your entire house. This is usually located in the highest ceiling in the house, and vents to the attic or the outside. Although whole-house fans are a good way to draw hot air from the house, you must be careful to cover and insulate them during the winter, when they often continue to draw hot air from people's houses.
Yaw:
- The level, "wagging" back-and-forth movement of the aircraft's nose about its center of gravity.
The practice of providing independent heating and/or cooing to different areas in a structure.
