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Intelligent Building Design: The CAD Component of FineHVAC embeds IntelliCAD engine, providing full autonomy to its user. It recommends and draws projects through automated commands, the most important of which are listed below:
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Automatic Receptor Installation: FineHVAC automatically locates on the view plan the respective installation components (i.e. heating units, fan coil units, air-duct grills etc), through several expert rules that consider among others, the user's preferences (e.g. radiator preference order, window height control, limit for additional radiator etc).
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Automatic Pipe Drawing commands (autorouting): The commands "Double Pipe" (e.g. induction – return) "Parallel to Wall" or "Parallel to Points" etc accelerate significantly the installation drawing while all connections are automatically created through the "magic" autorouting commands (e.g. 2-3 movements are enough to connect a group of grills to the vertical airduct column).
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| Automatic Calculations directly from Drawings |
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Through the subsystem AutoBLD the spaces are identified so that Thermal Losses, Cooling Loads and Heat Insulation are automatically calculated. This is possible even if the ground plan comes from another architectural package (DWG or DXF file) or a scanner (bitmap file), thanks to the "smart" identification commands.
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Through the subsystem AutoNET the E/M installations (pipes, cables etc) are identified and each network is transferred with its number in the calculation sheets, where it is immediately calculated providing the complete calculation issue.
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| Automatic Production of all the Project Drawings |
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Vertical Diagrams: They are created from the ground plan fully automatically and in detail. Moreover, the user is enabled to select engine-room, legends, labels etc. |
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Detailed Drawings: They are created from the required drawings, as for example the automatic conversion of the Air-duct network from linear into two-dimensional (with the dimensions resulted in calculations). Symbols and Designations (e.g. Single-Pipe System arrows, junction points – pipe connection circles, column direction arrows, up-down legends, comments etc) are also automatically inserted, perfecting the project drawings. |
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| The Calculations Component of FINE (called also as ADAPT/FCALC) incorporates the more reliable calculating environment and the more solid scientific background. The package is granted highly among Electrical-Mechanical Engineers since it comprises the more reliable and guaranteed solution in Electrical-Mechanical Applications and the more valid program in Urban Planning. The recent version incorporates many innovations that verify its leading part. |
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| Methodological Completeness |
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ADAPT/FCALC is the only package that, following the International Standards and Regulations, enables the user to select the applying methodology (e.g. Carrier - Ashrae CLTD - Ashrae TFM - Ashrae RTS Methods for Cooling Loads, EN 12831, DIN 4701 and Ashrae for Thermal Losses, Method of Equal Velocities - Equal Pressures - Static Regain in Air-ducts, HD 385 and VDI for Electrical Installations etc). In each case, the package utilizes the more advanced techniques and mathematical models for maximum accuracy, speed and reliability in calculations (e.g. analytical system of psychrometry equations, model of hydraulic simulation etc). |
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HEATING |
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Calculation of thermal losses, according to EN 12831, Ashrae or DIN 4701, performed directly through the drawings (FINE CAD environment) or by inserting data on the calculation sheet. Total and analytical thermal losses lists for each level and space. Energy analysis using the Degree-day method. |
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Calculation of Twin-Pipe Heating Installation of any network arrangement (classic or reverse return) directly from the ground plan (FINE) or by simple typing. Solutions that follow the classical method or even the full hydraulic simulation method, with reverse network solution and definition of the operating point (intersection point of characteristic network curve and circulator curve). Analytical calculation of Radiators, Boiler, Burner, Circulator, Safety System, Chimney, Tank etc with the option to select from rich data libraries, which can be updated by the user. Bill of materials, Cost estimation, Bids. Technical descriptions with the option to select among existing prototypes. Analytical printing of calculation issue and vertical chart. |
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 Single Pipe System |
Full-scale calculations of Single-Pipe Heating System with the three following methods: Method of equal pressure drops (auto-balancing), method of equal temperature drops or method of full hydraulic simulation, which is reverse solution for the selected circulator. Insertion of networks on ground plans by drawing (FINE) or even by typing. Analytical calculation of Radiators, Boiler, Burner, Circulator, Safety System, Chimney, Tank etc with the option to select from rich data libraries, as in the Twin-Pipe System application. Bill of materials, Cost estimation, Bids. Technical descriptions with the option to select among existing prototypes. Analytical printing of calculation issue and vertical chart. |
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 Infloor Heating System |
Full-scale calculations of Infloor Heating System pipes, calculation of Boiler, Burner, Circulator, Safety System, Chimney, Tank etc with the option to select from rich data libraries. Bill of materials, Cost estimation, Bids, Technical Descriptions etc. |
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AIR CONDITIONING |
 Air-conditioning Loads |
Analytical calculation of cooling loads, performed automatically from the drawing (FINE) or with analytical typing. Option to select among the Carrier, Ashrae CLTD, Ashrae TFM or Ashrae RTS methods. Rich in structural elements and data libraries. Full-scale climatologic data constituting libraries open to the user. Shading calculations following three different methods. Detailed calculations for each case of additional loads (due to lighting, persons, appliances, ventilation etc). Capability of grouping spaces in (up to 50) zones and systems. Total and analytical results presented in tables and charts with user-defined level of detail. |
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 Fan Coils |
Calculation of Fan Coils Network pipes of any arrangement (classic or reverse return). Insertion of networks (FINE) by drawing or by typing. Solutions that follow the classical or even the full hydraulic simulation method, with reverse network solution and definition of the operating point (intersection point of characteristic network curve and circulator curve). Analytical calculation of FCU units, Central Unit, Pump, Safety System etc, all selected from rich in hardware data, updateable libraries. Bill of materials, Cost estimation, Bids. Technical descriptions with the option to select among existing prototypes. Analytical printing of calculation issue and vertical chart. |
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 Air-ducts |
Calculation of air-duct networks using all three methods: of equal velocities, equal pressures and static regain. Insertion of the air-duct network by drawing on the architectural drawing in one-dimension and automatically obtaining the two- dimensional (FINE) or even by typing. Induction and Outlet in the same calculation environment. Calculation of Fans and other installation elements. Rich hardware libraries, Bill of Materials, Cost estimation, Bids. Technical descriptions with the option to select among existing prototypes. Analytical printing of calculation issue and vertical chart. |
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 Psychrometry |
Selection of Air-conditioning Units and distribution of air in the air-conditioned spaces using the psychrometry analytical equations (for Cooling and Heating) and utilizing any method (for example, cooling with drying, re-heating, pre-cooled air, bypass of return air, 100% fresh air etc). Analytical results presented in tables and diagrams (psychrometric variation on the psychrometric chart). Analytical specifications for appropriate Air-conditioning Units selection. |
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| New developments coming soon |
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| FineGREEN |
Green Energy Building Design |
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FineGREEN, still under development, is a new software tool for Green Building Design. It has been designed according to the latest (June 2008) 2002/91/EC European “Energy Performance of Buildings Directive” (EPBD), which aims at promoting cost-effective improvement of the overall energy performance of buildings, while taking into account local conditions and requirements. Following the Directive, FineGREEN provides a holistic approach on energy performance of buildings and covers the energy needs regarding space and hot water heating, cooling and lighting.
The calculation of the energy performance of a building for the purpose of showing the compliance with the minimum requirements is based on the new standard EN12831:2004 regarding the specific heating power demand (w/m3) and on ASHRAE RTS for the cooling power demand (w/m3). Both standards are included within the FineHVAC latest release.
FineGREEN proceeds even further, by studying the energy use of a building through the new standard EN ISO 13790:2008 (Regulation on efficient use of energy in buildings, published on September 2008). The program calculates the building energy demand and consumption for the entire building, consisted of space heating and cooling, hot water preparation, treatment of air through ventilation and lighting. More specifically, the energy demand for space heating and cooling is calculated according to the EN ISO 13790, while the calculation of the efficiency of heating and cooling systems is based mostly on prEN 15316-1, 15316-2-1,15316-2-3, 15316-4-1 and prEN15243, as well as on 15316-3-1, 15316-3-2, 15316-3-3 (hot water) and prEN 15193 (lighting). Besides, FineGREEN determines the class of the energy performance of the building and generates the Building Energy Performance Certificate.
FineGREEN international version is planned to be launched by the end of the year 2011.
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