Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology

REFG 101 will introduce HVAC/R Technology students to the program, the industry at large, and relevant professional skills to include soft skills. Program expectations and policies will be discussed, as well as other relevant topics to make a student successful in the program. The course will also introduce students to campus resources, policies and procedures and cover topics such as time management, study skills, goal setting, wellness, financial literacy, and professional development.
This class may require participation in several field t rips for further understanding of the profession.

An in-depth study of the four essential components of the refrigeration system such as: evaporators, condensers, compressors and metering devices will be included in this course. Normal system operating conditions will be discussed for a variety of refrigeration and air conditioning applications. Understanding normal operating conditions will be essential in learning troubleshooting techniques. This course will begin with a review of the theories of refrigerants, refrigerant recovery methods, and system evacuation. Prerequisite: REFG 101. (S)

REFG 111 will be a 3-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will introduce the student to common skills, tools, and competencies required for the installation of various piping materials, air distribution components, and water distribution piping used in HVAC/R. It will cover the theory and application of required skills for refrigeration lines, gas lines, venting, condensate, hydronics, and duct work. It will also cover common HVAC/R tools, safety, and best practice procedures. REFG 111 will provide actual fabrication tools and equipment where the student will be able to practice fabricating projects until they are acceptable trade quality projects. Sheet metal layout, piping leak testing, threading, priming, gluing, silver soldering, and silver brazing are examples of activities in the lab. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This will be a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will allow the student to apply refrigeration fundamentals to actual domestic and residential systems. Diagnostics, repairs and component replacements will be applied to refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, de-humidifiers, and central air conditioning systems. There will also be application opportunities for the knowledge learned in REFG 102. A key component of the course will be providing repair reports on two separate pieces of equipment that the student has provided.  This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. (S)

REFG 113 will be a 3-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will introduce the student to various theories behind mechanical refrigeration, refrigerants, and the refrigeration system. Students will take necessary readings and measurements to solidify their understanding of a simple refrigeration system. There will also be introductions and opportunities to use evacuation, refrigerant recovery, and refrigerant charging equipment. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the
profession.

REFG 121 will be a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will introduce the student to the basic theories of electricity with an emphasis on applying these to the HVACR industry. It will begin by examining atomic theory, electrical pressure, current flow, resistance, and electrical power. There will be and emphasis on Ohm's Law, series, parallel, and combination circuits. The student will be instructed on electric meters and their use. Alternating current, inductance, and capacitance will be studied. The course will also provide instruction in the components, symbols and circuits used in the HVACR industry.
This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This course will be a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing using academic course material. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. From motor theory to HVAC/R components to the wide varieties of electrical diagrams, the course focus is to give the student a strong background in electrical understanding necessary to install and service heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Special emphasis will be applied to learning the types of motors and what the differences are in their composition and behavior. We will also explore capacitors and motor starting devices. This class may require participating in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of REFG 121 and REFG 123 or equivalent. (S)

REFG 123 will be a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will examine the electrical properties of voltage, current, resistance, and power by designing circuits, measuring, and recording data, t hen comparing this data to calculated values. Electrical meter operation and application, as well as safety practices will be of primary focus. Control circuits will be designed and examined. Emphasis will be placed on obtaining a solid understanding of electrical fundamentals to develop troubleshooting skills necessary to work in the HVACR industry. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This will be a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. From motor theory to HVAC/R components to wide varieties of electrical diagrams, the course focus is to give the student a strong background in electrical understanding necessary to install and service heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Special emphasis will be applied to troubleshooting techniques and skills. We will also introduce the student to special motor types, such as VFDs, stepper motors, and inverter type motors. This course will build upon the knowledge gained in REFG 122. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of REFG 122. (S)

REFG 201 is a lecture-lab combination course. Students will spend time both in theory lectures using academic course materials and in lab settings applying skills learned in theory. This course with have an in-depth analysis of the refrigeration cycle. Pressure/Enthalpy diagrams will be used to learn how dynamically the system operates. Proper piping and pipe sizing techniques will be studied and applied. The efficiency of the refrigeration system will be the focus. Applications of refrigerant controls will be applied. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This is a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will provide a study of commercial refrigeration systems from a service and installation perspective. This will include studies of supermarket systems, ice making equipment and restaurant/food service equipment. The course emphasis will include system charging techniques, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Prerequisite:  REFG 201. (S)

REFG 226 will be a 3-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will begin with a review of electrical theory, relay logic, schematic diagram interpretation and troubleshooting. It will then introduce students to different automatic control systems used in the HVAC/R industry. The course will begin with electromechanical controls and then proceed to pneumatics, Residential and Commercial direct digital controls, and variable frequency drives. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

REFG 231 will be a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. The class covers comfort and psychrometrics, system efficiency, EER, SEER, COP, AFUE, forced air duct design, lay out, and balancing. When available balancing will take place on site utilizing real buildings. The course includes classroom, traditional lab, and homework. Prerequisites: 1st year curriculum in HVAC-R or equivalent. Study will encompass the foundational theory that allows a technician in the HVAC/R industry to understand load on an air-conditioning system. In addition, the course will prove the efficiency of lab equipment on a given day. This shows students how they can determine the capacity of a system in an eventual customer building. We will construct a duct system in the lab and take measurements with air diagnostic equipment. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This is a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This class covers installation practices, energy auditing, and heating loss/gain on structures. The class will discuss and calculate load on forced air heating and cooling systems and determine required equipment for specific buildings. The course includes classroom, homework, and some computer lab and building location work. Study will encompass the age-old questions.  How big is big enough? How does one properly determine heating and cooling system size? With the energy efficient equipment that is available to us today in the HVAC industry, there comes the responsibility to size the equipment to the building energy loss or gain. Why size it correctly? Customer comfort, equipment life span, and trouble-free energy efficient performance are a few of the many good reasons. This course will provide a working knowledge of the basics necessary to see HVAC system installation from sizing, planning and layout, selecting equipment, material list, to the completed balanced forced air system. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. Prerequisites:  1st year curriculum in HVAC/R or equivalent and REFG 231.(S)

This is a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This class will provide a broad exposure to gas heating equipment. It will include their  construction, operation, troubleshooting, installation and service needs. Equipment will be explored, taken apart, reassembled, and manipulated. We will discuss the gas heating equipment as well as the mechanical, fuel combustion, and electrical service in depth. This course ties together how the installation of this equipment affects the efficiency, all-around performance, and length of service this equipment will have for the end user. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. Prerequisites:  1st semester HVAC/R, or 1st year Electrical. (S)

REFG 254 will be a 2-hour long lecture-lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course will explore air source and geothermal heat pumps. Students will spend time analyzing control systems, refrigeration components and the air requirements of heat pump systems. Time will be spent investigating how the refrigerant circuit differs from an air conditioner. The student will explore and wire different systems that employ back-up heat systems, dual-fuel systems, and off-peak options. The heat pump will be examined from both the installation and service technician's perspective. Due to the importance of energy efficiency, systems will also be analyzed and adjusted to ensure design performance efficiencies. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.

This is a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing, using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting, practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This class will provide a broad exposure to electric and oil heating equipment. It will include their construction, operation, troubleshooting, installation and service needs. Equipment will be explored, taken apart, reassembled, and manipulated. We will discuss the mechanical, fuel combustion, and electrical service in depth. This course ties together how the installation of this equipment affects the efficiency, all-around performance, and length of service this equipment will have for the end user. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession. (S)

This is a 2-hour long lecture/lab combination class. Some of the time will be spent lecturing using academic course materials. The rest of the time will be spent in a lab setting practicing the application of skills learned in theory. This course covers Hydronic heating from boiler operation to Hydronic heating systems forced air, convection, radiant, and Solar Hydronic applications. Study includes classroom and laboratory assignments. Hydronic Heating Systems will provide a working knowledge of the three types of hydronic heating types and features design and installation of hydronic heating systems. This class may require participation in several field trips for further understanding of the profession.  Prerequisite:  REFG 231 or equivalent. (S)