Building Management Systems

In this episode Mark, Clay, Jim, and Nick discuss the balance between maintainability and constructability in systems design related to HVAC and process equipment. This is a really interesting conversation and allowed us as individuals to re think some of our conventional thoughts on systems design when related to maintainability and constructability. Are the two inherently connected? Or can you focus on one more than the other in a design? Tune into the episode to hear our thoughts, they just might challenge yours!

In this episode Clay, Nick, and Mark discuss cost considerations with new or retrofit BMS related projects, specifically initial cost compared to lifecycle cost. A key part of this process is accurately projecting the life cycle costs associated with the proposed project and comparing different options with Net Present Value (NPV). Our team of experts discusses how to generate a cash flow diagram and why NPV is so valuable in determining the financial impacts of different options within a project. We also discuss that although one option may seem better than others with NPV, there are many other things to consider and ultimately it us up to the owner to decide. This is a very engaging and relatable discussion on cost considerations, tune in for a great discussion!

In this episode Mark, Rich, and Clay discuss Boilers. We cover the different types, applications, control strategies, and much much more through the episode. This seemingly simple piece of equipment has a multitude of different applications and magnitudes that we discuss in detail. Tune in to this great discussion on Boilers!

For more information on us check out our webpages https://www.vsenergy.us/ or https://trinityas.com/.

In this episode Mark and Clay bring on a special guest/college professor to discuss challenges and opportunities of education in the MEP field. We discuss both ends of the spectrum (college and industry) education and outline what some main challenges are, what the overall goal is, and give some personal insight from our very talented educators in industry and college. We use our experience and expertise to help break down the sometimes confusing education path and discuss personal examples of what can help as a student and educator. Tune in for a great conversation that everyone in the MEP field can relate to.

For more information on us check out our webpage https://www.vsenergy.us/.

Mark, Clay, Rich, and Nick dive into an in depth conversation regarding absorption chillers.....some may say that there is magic happening inside these machines, but our team of experts breaks down the chemistry and physics behind the outer shell to help describe how these absorption chillers function. We also spend a fair amount of time discussing different applications of absorption chillers, the economics of them, and dig into some of the common misconceptions of these machines. There is so much to discuss and along the way we do get into a few sidebar conversations (that have relevance to absorption chillers) so buckle up and enjoy the ride!

For our interested listeners here is a great visual explanation of absorption chillers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R84hLprO5s

And for more information on our companies check out our websites https://www.vsenergy.us/, https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/, and https://trinityas.com/.

In this episode Mark, Clay, Rich, and special guest Nick from our commissioning podcast series discuss chillers in depth. We cover the physics behind mechanical refrigeration and cover the positives and negatives of all different types of chillers utilized in industry (Centrifugal, Screw, Reciprocating, and Scroll). Our subject matter expert Mark covers these technologies in depth with the help of Rich and Nick and outlines his favorite type of chiller...the magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller. Join our team for a great discussion on the technology and application of many different chillers in the HVAC world!

Follow VS Energy on Facebook and Linkedin. All of our webpages can be found here:

VS Energy: https://www.vsenergy.us/

Trinity Automated Solutions: https://trinityas.com/

Applied Facility Science: https://www.appliedfacilityscience.com/

Join us for an in depth discussion regarding network security. We bring on good friends and technology partners Tom and Shawn from Hurricane Technologies to discuss the ins and outs of network security. We dive into some specific threats and the ways to prevent these threats along with discussion regarding the overwhelming number of internet connected devices in today's facilities that can act as an unlocked door into critical information. Many people take network security for granted and in this episode we shed some light on what it takes to keep today's facilities secure! For more information on Hurricane Technologies visit their website http://www.hurritech.com/!

In this episode Mark, Rich, an Clay discuss the importance of quality instrumentation in a Building Management System. We cover the different requirements for accuracy and other characteristics such as repeatability, hysteresis, and linearity in different applications. We also dive into what NIST certification is and why it is extremely valuable to have NIST certified sensing devices in a system. Our industry professionals Rich and Mark discuss some past experiences where poor instrumentation quality resulted in many hours and dollars wasted attempting to identify system issues. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of instrumentation with VS Energy!

In this episode Mark and Clayton bring on a good friend and very talented Architect/Engineer Fabio Bendana to discuss the Greater Rochester International Airport BACnet Success Story. We cover the automation portion of the project from inception to installation and outline some key components of the project which incorporated unique and innovative technologies and high level integrations. Participants will give some personal insight and opinions as to what made the project successful.

In this episode Clay, Mark, and Rich discuss the importance of proper control loop tuning. We discuss the three different closed control loops P (proportional), PI (proportional and integral), and PID (proportional, internal, and derivative) and the tuning aspects of each along with the characteristics of each control loop. Ultimately, a control loop should function like the cruise control on your car, smooth and steady and able to respond to changes such as hills and speed changes with ease. Our industry experts Mark and Rich also dive into the evolution of the control loop and give some personal and professional experiences on the good, bad, and ugly of control loop tuning.