Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Appliance and Control

Organization

Apex Technical School

Credit Course Categories:

Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences

Advanced Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Formerly Advanced Refrigeration

(Advanced Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems)

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to: explain the principles and operation of a cooling tower; learn cooling tower shutdown and startup procedures; explain the principles and operation for a heat pump system; learn how to maintain and repair common problems found in a heat pump system; learn about gas fired heating furnaces, including startup and troubleshooting procedures for the gas valves, sensors, and components; students will construct, a hermetic analyzer that they can take into the field to test hermetic compressors; learn current EPA regulations in preparation for the type 608 EPA exam that is given at the end of the segment.

Instruction:

Major topics include: cooling towers: operation, maintenance, components, electrical and piping diagrams; cascade refrigeration systems: operation, components, electrical and piping diagrams; heat pumps: operation, components, reversing valves, electrical and piping diagrams, troubleshooting electrical and mechanical problems; electrical inspections of air conditioning units; hermetic analyzers; absorption systems with ammonia and lithium bromide cycles; EPA regulations. Students are prepared to sit for the EPA Type 608 certification exam upon completion of this course.

Credit recommendation:

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours (3 lecture, 1 shop) in HVAC and Refrigeration Technology or Mechanical Technology (12/98) (12/03 revalidation) (1/09 revalidation) (12/13 revalidation) (12/18 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]

Basic Refrigeration

Formerly Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning;
Formerly Basic Refrigeration: 1. Introduction to Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and 2. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Piping Practices

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: describe the major components of vapor compression refrigeration systems; describe the basic refrigeration cycle; perform heat load calculations for water using the sensible and latent heat formulas; explain concepts of heat transfer, temperature, pressure, matter, and energy as related to refrigeration; explain the purpose of a pressure enthalpy diagram; define psychrometric terminology; use psychrometric charts; cut flare, and swage copper tubing; perform soft and hard soldering techniques on copper tubing use appropriate safety procedures; describe the operation of a basic refrigeration cycle; perform heat transfer calculations for water using sensible and latent heat formulas; utilize the concepts of heat transfer, temperature, pressure, and energy as related to refrigeration; learn psychrometric terminology and how to plot the properties of air using a psychrometric chart; cut, flare, bend and swage copper tubing; and use an air-acetylene torch to join or repair copper tubing while applying appropriate safety procedures.

Instruction:

Major topics include: basic refrigeration cycle; pressure, temperature, heat transfer, matter and energy; pressure enthalpy diagrams; psychrometric diagrams, tubing operations - cutting, flaring, and swaging; soft and hard soldering; tube bending; steel to copper soldering; and safety procedures.

Credit recommendation:

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours as a general elective in a non-technical curriculum OR in the associate degree/certificate category, 3 semester hours (2 lecture, 1 shop) in HVAC and Refrigeration Technology, or Mechanical Technology (12/98) (12/03 revalidation) (1/09 revalidation) (12/13 revalidation) (12/18 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]

Commercial Air Conditioning

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: construct piping and wiring diagrams of a commercial air conditioning system; describe the functions of refrigeration components found in commercial air conditioning; install and remove gauges on systems using service valves; explain how to measure the velocity and pressure of air moving through ductwork; adjust fan speed; describe the operation of systems using cooling towers or evaporative condensers; wire single phase and three phase electrical circuits; evaluate low voltage control circuits; perform maintenance on electrical and mechanical control devices; troubleshoot common problems found in a commercial air conditioning unit; evaluate air conditioning processes using psychrometric charts.

Instruction:

Major topics include: air cooled and water cooled systems; refrigeration components; psychrometric processes; piping diagrams; introduction to cooling load calculations; electrical circuits; air flow and distribution; duct distribution; filtration; air volume, velocity, and static pressures; gauge procedures; fan speed adjustments; humidification; condensers; cooling towers; wiring; electrical and mechanical control maintenance; troubleshooting techniques; thermostats; duct drawings; chilled water systems.

Credit recommendation:

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 5 semester hours (3 lecture, 2 shop) in HVAC and Refrigeration Technology or Mechanical Technology (12/98) (12/03 revalidation) (1/09 revalidation) (12/13 revalidation) (12/18 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]

Commercial Refrigeration

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: install and remove gauges; analyze system capacity and performance using a pressure enthalpy diagram; perform system pump down procedures; wire electrical circuits; explain the operation of commercial systems that use two evaporators, thermostatic expansion valves, air and water cooled condensers, and the use of pressure controls to regulate temperature; describe the operation of both single and three phase motors; evaluate current and potential relays; perform electrical and mechanical inspections; perform common maintenance and troubleshooting procedures using appropriate safety procedures.

Instruction:

Major topics include: the refrigeration cycle; system capacity formulas; electrical circuits; gauge procedures; pump down procedures; evaporators; thermostatic expansion valves; condensers; compressors; recovery, evacuation, and recharging; current and potential relays; motors; three phase power; safety procedures; EPA objectives. Shop exercises are performed on a custom-designed commercial refrigeration trainer.

Credit recommendation:

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours (2 lecture, 2 shop) in HVAC and Refrigeration Technology or Mechanical Technology (12/98) (12/03 revalidation) (1/09 revalidation) (12/13 revalidation) (12/18 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]

Domestic Refrigeration

Formerly Domestic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to: construct piping, electrical, and air flow diagrams; evaluate electrical and mechanical components; install line tap valves and extend process tubes; perform recovery, evacuation, and recharging procedures; and identify common cooling problems that might be encountered in the field. Students will also be able to: evaluate electrical and mechanical components; perform recovery, evacuation, and recharging procedures; identify problems stemming from faulty defrost systems; perform common electrical and mechanical troubleshooting procedures; and learn the proper application of appropriate field safety procedures.

Instruction:

Major topics include: A/C unit piping diagrams, wiring diagrams, electrical components and analysis, hermetic compressors, gauge manifolds, process tubes, line tap valves; A/C condenser operation and problems; refrigerator components, air flow patterns, defrost systems, evaporators; zeotropic and azeotropic refrigerants; recovery, evacuation, and system charging for domestic A/C and refrigeration units; retrofitting; safety procedures; EPA regulations pertinent to type 1 domestic systems. Classroom sessions are followed by hands-on practice with domestic air conditioning and refrigeration units.

Credit recommendation:

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]

Major Home Appliances

Formerly Introduction to Basic Electricity

Length:

150 hours (5 weeks); includes approximately 75 hours of supervised shop experience.

Dates:

March 1994 - Present.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to: explain basic principles of electricity; perform electrical circuit calculations; learn how to wire, operate, and test electrical circuits using a variety of split phase electric motor components; work on various major appliances to understand the proper use and application of wiring schematics, electrical tools and meters; and explain the importance of following all appropriate safety procedures.

Instruction:

Major topics include: Ohm's law; Watt's law; series and parallel circuits; electrical testing and measuring instruments; electromagnetism and AC motor principles; inductance and capacitance; split phase motors; electrical components of major home appliances; safety procedures. Classroom sessions are supplemented with hands-on activities using major home appliances.

Credit recommendation:

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours (1 lecture, 1 shop) in Electromechanical Technology, Mechanical Technology, or HVAC and Refrigeration Technology OR in the associate degree/certificate category, 2 semester hours (1 lecture, 1 shop) in Electrical Technology, Electromechanical Technology, HVAC and Refrigeration Technology, or Mechanical Technology (12/98) (12/03 revalidation) (1/09 revalidation) (12/13 revalidation) (12/18 revalidation).

View on page as single course>>

[ Back to top ]