PROTO-HVAC^TM calculates steady-state incompressible flows, pressures, and temperatures through complex duct systems. The user defines the system parameters in an interactive easy-to-learn, easy-to-use environment with the flexibility to model simple or complex duct networks and flow control schemes.

HVAC Systems Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling

Features:

Utility engineers often must evaluate the performance of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems to assess the impact of plant changes, to demonstrate conformance with plant licensing basis, and to minimize costs for maintenance and operations. These evaluations include changes in operating procedures as well as equipment replacement to optimize utilization of each system. Computer modeling of HVAC systems provides a consistent, reproducible, verifiable, and cost effective method to evaluate system procedural and/or equipment changes and resultant changes in system balance and performance. Computer modeling can also be used to identify points of high velocity (noise), and predict damper positions for system balancing.

Proto-Power has developed PROTO-HVAC Windows-based computer software for modeling and analyzing the thermal-hydraulic performance of safety and non-safety related HVAC systems. PROTO-HVAC has been developed and validated in accordance with Proto-Power’s Nuclear Software Quality Assurance Program, which has been audited and accepted by major utilities.

Multiple Types of Control Dampers

(1) Flow Control Dampers
(2) Pressure Control Dampers (Upstream or Downstream)
(3) Temperature Control Dampers
(4) DP Control Dampers

• Ability to override control setpoint with fixed position

User Defined Fan Curves

• Input multiple fan curves for each fan (Design, Actual, Degraded, etc.)
• Generate fan curves based on actual field test data (5 to 20 points)
• Transform curves by:
• Fan Law Speed Change
• Degrade curve by flow and/or head
• Flow through non-operating fans can be modeled as user defined resistance

Thermal Balancing

Heat exchangers are modeled with one of three methods:

(1) Specified heat load in BTU/hr
(2) Specified heat transfer coefficient U, heat exchanger area, service flow and temperature
(3) Variable heat load determined from the calculated air flow rate.

Formatted Output

• Choose from 20 formatted reports
• Print only what you need
• Support for Windows Printer Drivers
• View Reports before printing
• Export data to various applications

Bulk Room Evaluation

• Room pressure can be specified or calculated
• User specifies room volume, leakage resistance, heat gain or loss within room

Balance Flows to Determine:

(1) Damper Positions
(2) Filter Resistance
(3) Component Differential Pressure
(4) Misc. Resistance (K & L/D)

• Balance Multiple Duct Sections

Additional Features Include:

PROTO-HVAC’s Library of Standard Data

• Material Roughness and Lining Thickness
• Fluid Properties
• User can Supplement Library Data

User Defined Operating Alignments

• Fan Status
• Damper Positions and Control Parameters
• Heat Exchanger Heat Loads
• Boundary Conditions
• Alignments are Saved as Cases and Recalled with a click of the mouse

Back Draft Dampers Performance Can Be Modeled

Initial Guesses Can Be Updated to Reduce Run-Time for Subsequent Analyses

Convergence Criteria Can Be Set to Meet the User’s Requirements

On-Line Context Sensitive Help

• Full User Documentation On-Line in Windows Help File Format

Technical Support provided by a combination of Power Plant System Engineers and Computer Specialists who are well acquainted with design and regulating issues

System Analysis Services also available to support model development and use.

Nuclear Quality Assurance (10CFR50 and 10CFR21) Validation Program and Error Reporting