Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology

47.0201

(Associate of Applied Science Degree)

The Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology program is a center of excellence for teaching alternative energy technicians to install, service, and repair heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Basic heating, refrigeration and air conditioning theory are enhanced with extensive hands-on training in laboratories and on in-service equipment. Comprehensive coverage is given to electrical motors, controls and wiring and systems diagnosis and repairs.

The Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology (HVT) program began contributing to the green economy in 1973 by teaching students to install and maintain high efficiency furnaces, air conditioning units, air source heat pumps, and geothermal ground source heat pumps that save energy in commercial and residential settings. Instruction on solar energy equipment is also included in the program. The HVT program also recycles cooking oil to burn in fuel oil furnaces, uses setback thermostats, recycles refrigerant, and reuses equipment components and parts for training.

This program has provided special emphasis in geothermal technology for over 35 years. Geothermal energy production is a $1.5 billion industry, which generates electricity or provides heat for direct applications including aquaculture, crop drying, and district heating or for use in heat pumps to heat and cool buildings. Students use real world geothermal equipment in laboratory classes where they learn to install, maintain, and repair geothermal systems.

Presently, 95% of all main campus buildings operate with geothermal systems to gain energy efficiencies, reduce harmful emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and provide a geothermal learning laboratory.

Graduates may be employed in the installation, maintenance, repair, or sales of residential or commercial HVAC systems or operate their own businesses. Commercial applications may include grocery stores, health care facilities, hotels and resorts, manufacturing operations, educational institutions, and other operations.

The Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology program has three national accreditations: HVAC Excellence, the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA), and the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).

Students are required to join the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), a nationally recognized educational certification agency. RSES training materials are used in the classroom, and students can become certified in four RSES areas if they pass the required examinations. Many contractors are RSES members and seek employees with certification.

Enrollment in the Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology program is limited and students are selected for this program on a competitive basis. Contact the Office of Admissions for the specific application requirements and deadline.

Program Mission
The mission of the Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology program is to prepare students to install, service and repair refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Program Goals
The goals of the program are to:

• Ensure the student gains the skills needed for analytic and problem solving in the HVAC/R industry.
• Ensure the student gains knowledge in servicing and repairing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment.
• Ensure the student demonstrates effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ensure the student has knowledge of safety standards as related to the HVAC/R field.
   

HVT 123 Electrical Wiring (Residential). This classroom proven course is updated to the latest National Electrical Code (NEC), and new materials are covered. Throughout the course the student is asked to draw wiring diagrams, make electrical calculations, refer to plan specifications and use the latest NEC. The student completes work sheets on wiring layout, room for room, topic by topic and will completely wire a typical single family residence. Prerequisite: HVT 155 with a grade of “C” or better. 3 credit hours.

HVT 124 Electrical Wiring (Lab). Hands-on shop course in residential wiring. Working with the National Electrical Code (NEC) book and learning manipulative skills in house wiring. This shop course supports lecture course HVT 123. Prerequisite: HVT 155 with a grade of “C” or better. 2 credit hours.

HVT 151 Fundamentals of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Introduction to Domestic Refrigeration. A lecture and demonstration/laboratory course covering theory of refrigeration and air conditioning. Basic psychrometry, heat transfer and thermodynamics, and fundamental refrigeration and air conditioning systems are included. The selection and safe handling of tools and materials, forming, fitting, brazing and soldering of tubing is taught. Basic instruction in the use of cleaning solvents, refrigeration oils and refrigerants. Principles of domestic refrigeration covering all components of household refrigerators. Students can earn certification from RSES, ARI and the EPA. 6 credit hours.

HVT 152 Domestic and Commercial Refrigeration w/Lab. Additional theory and practical applications. A lecture/demonstration/laboratory course including maintenance and service of evaporators, compressors, refrigerant control valves, electrical motors and controls, receivers and accessories. Load calculations are covered in detail. Students learn manipulative skills and procedures in the operation, maintenance, servicing, and sizing of the proper equipment. Theory and practical application of three phase motors and equipment. Prerequisites: HVT 151 and HVT 155 with a grade of “C” or better. 6 credit hours.

HVT 155 Electricity Fundamentals. Introductory lecture course which covers theory and application of Ohms Law. Covers resistance, capacitance, inductance, transformers, motors used for domestic applications, series, parallel circuits and other circuitry. 4 credit hours.

HVT 251 Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning. A lecture and demonstration/laboratory course covering all the common air cooling systems and components. Emphasis is placed upon developing the ability to install and service cooling systems, components and controls. Basic sheet metal processes, insulation selection and installation and the applications of nonmetal ducts. Methods used in sizing piping on air conditioning. Selection of equipment and its application. Prerequisites: HVT 151 and HVT 152 with a grade of “C” or better. 6 credit hours.

HVT 252 Residential and Commercial Heating and A/C w/Lab. A lecture and demonstration/laboratory course covering all types of heating system components. Oil, gas and electric furnaces are included with laboratory assignments designed to develop the manipulative skills and knowledge required to install, service and maintain the common central or room heating systems. The course is designed to develop a high degree of skill in the design, installation and service of commercial air conditioning systems, to develop skill in troubleshooting component parts on air conditioning applications and commercial refrigeration systems, with laboratory exercises, to develop skill in accountability of time and material spent on the job and to develop in the student proper habits including punctuality, dependability and customer relations. Prerequisite: HVT 251 with a grade of “C” or better. 6 credit hours.

HVT 255 Internship. Fourteen weeks of paid on-the-job training. Training is provided by skilled journeymen HVAC technicians under a training agreement. Prerequisites: HVT 151 and HVT 152 with a grade of “C” or better. 8 credit hours

HVT 261 Residential & Commercial Motors & Controls. Lecture and demonstration of motor and control use in air conditioning with emphasis on types, theory and application. Step by step procedures in troubleshooting motors, controls and testing air conditioning systems. Prerequisites: HVT 123 and HVT 155 with a grade of “C” or better. 3 credit hours.

HVT 262 Systems Diagnosis & Repair. Step by step procedures for starting new air conditioning systems. Troubleshooting system problems, servicing and testing air conditioning systems. Prerequisites: HVT 251 and HVT 261 with a grade of “C” or better. 3 credit hours.

HVT 270 Sheet Metal Lecture/Lab. A lecture and laboratory course designed to give the student specific instructions on job surveys, layout, fabrications, sizing and installation of sheet metal work in the air conditioning and heating trade. Prerequisite: DDT 130 with a grade of “C” or better. 2 credit hours.

HVT 299 Special Topics in Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology. Special Topics in Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning Technology (HVT) may include instruction on topics not covered in other HVT courses. Topics covered in other HVT courses may also be covered in more depth in this special topics course. Projects may be undertaken in any area related to the major program with credit hours determined by the level and amount of involvement. The minimum involvement required for one credit is 30 contact hours. The specific topic(s), objectives, plan of instruction, and evaluation criteria must be documented in the syllabus; approved by the Department/Division Chair; and filed in the Academic Records Office. Students may complete more than one Special Topics course, provided that the credits earned in this manner do not exceed a total of four (4) credits. 1-4 credit hours.