Third Place Environmental
Third Place Environmental
Third Place Environmental
December 8, 2008
San Jose State University
Mirela Radov
Malali Mohammad
Jessica Vasquez
Alan Li
Brandon Lin
Airport
Environmental
Interaction
Section 6 Description of How the Technical Aspects of the Design Challenge Will Be
Presented
6.4 Advantages
6.5 Disadvantages
6.7 Maintenance
Section 7 Description of the Interactions with Airport Operators and Industry Experts
Section 9 Appendices
A. Appendix A
Contains a complete list of contact information for all advisors and team
members
B. Appendix B
C. Appendix C
D. Appendix D
E. Appendix E
F. Appendix F
Reference List
1. Executive Summary
Our team chose to tackle the category of Airport Environmental Interaction; more
specifically, our report will discuss in detail a relatively untapped technology which has been
recently unleashed and has provided very promising results: the enthalpy wheel. It is the most
efficient energy recovery rotating mechanism that has ability to control heating, cooling and
moisture. In the world today engineers and architects are facing the challenges of designing
and building structures and facilities which will leave a minimal carbon footprint while
meeting stringent demands for air quality as well as cost effectiveness. Today's airport HVAC
building infrastructures, whether new or old, can be designed or upgraded to serve the needs
of the many people who pass through them, all the while providing comfort, security, and cost
efficiency for both the users (like passengers) and the operators.
Our team of San Jose State University students has recognized that increasing energy
efficiency and management can be and should be extended to these airport buildings.
Utilization of a new generation of fresh air units/systems (i.e. the enthalpy wheel) has
remarkably addressed the needs of airport operators and has provided a sound and innovative
technology which can be utilized for years to come. Our report will address this piece of
technology and its many facets of innovation, analyze the cost, and close with the numerous
The rules have changed in world of engineering a cleaner, greener building. In regards
to the area of HVAC systems, the demands of meeting rigid measures of indoor air quality
have increased. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
INDOOR AIR QUALITY: The shift of focus to address total indoor environmental
quality needs of offices and workplaces to include higher ventilation and fresh air
needs along with other issues like ergonomics, light, noise, decoration, and ambience
has forced world bodies such as ASHRAE to relook at the prevailing standards (p. 1).
The requirements of having fresher ventilation and avoiding microbial contaminations, while
also considering the cost factor, have provided quite a challenge for engineers. But these
issues have also opened the door to new technologies, including the enthalpy wheel.
The challenges being faced today as far as airport buildings are concerned can be put
into perspective by examining current energy usage and the associated costs for terminal and
airport buildings. Take for example Mineta San Jose International Airport and its
implementation of upgraded HVAC equipment. It was found that through rebates offered by
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Mineta San Jose would upgrade the old HVAC system
through a major retrofit. The following quote was found on the Mineta San Jose International
Airport’s website:
2005 that it received a rebate of $29,363 from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). They
received the rebate for installing energy saving equipment in its heating, ventilation
and air conditioning (HVAC) system at both Terminal A and the International Arrivals
Not only did Mineta San Jose Airport benefit by receiving a rebate from the utility company,
but it also benefitted as far as its annual cost savings. The Airport’s HVAC system upgrade
has reduced total annual costs from $135,351 to $85,818 for a net annual savings of $49,533.
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales commended the project stating “Our operations have become
more efficient, which saves money while dramatically reducing our City's energy demand.
That's good for everyone” (sjc.org). The statement provides justification to the world of
3. Summary Of Literature
The resources our team used consisted of an array of individuals, websites, and other
resource we found useful in understanding the technology, its application, and its efficiency.
Mirela Radov and Malali Mohammad were able to contact personnel in key industry position
to gather their input on the technology and its impact. More specifically, Ms. Radov was able
to get in touch with Bob Swenson of Mineta San Jose International, while Ms. Mohammad
was able to interview Project Engineer Christian Omphroy from AirSystems Inc. Both
individuals gave quite a bit of feedback regarding this technology and its application in the
real world. Jessica Vasquez, Brandon Lin, and Alan Li utilized websites as well contacted
other company officials to obtain more information on the product. A vast amount of
information was collected regarding the enthalpy wheel, and was incorporated into the report
as deemed necessary.
The Team Problem Solving approach for our group entailed a variety of discussion
topics to try to address the aforementioned topic of the enthalpy wheel. Weekly meetings and
discussions were held to streamline the research and to encapsulate the research behind the
technology and create a clear-cut, concise proposal to address this challenge. Our group
formulate the proposal as well as shed light on challenges which would potentially be faced. It
was agreed that each member would tackle different aspects of the challenge which would
Ms. Radov had considerable experience in the management and day-to-day operations
of the airport. Her current internship at the Mineta San Jose International provides a firsthand
glimpse of the current technology and the infrastructure of its current HVAC equipment, as
well as access to cost analysis reports and key personnel who have offered their perspectives.
She addressed the challenge from the cost analysis angle. Mr. Lin is currently employed in the
cost effectiveness as well as the general layout of the proposal. Ms. Mohammad has also been
employed at Mineta San Jose and is currently employed by an HVAC company. Her research
lies in the introductory aspect of the challenge as well as the implication of its usage. Mr. Li is
an aspiring pilot who has brought forth substantial information relating to the current
application of the enthalpy wheel and its overall effectiveness. Lastly, Ms. Vasquez has
addressed the technical aspects of the design challenge. More specifically, she delved into the
challenges facing this type of technology as well as presenting an in-depth overview of its
The systems engineering approach for our project dealt with the major aspects of its
industry that traditionally work independently are united. Our teams assessed the segments as
a whole structure recognizing that the design of each segment of the challenge proposal was
equally significant. The team focused on the aspects of cost, design and technology,
operations, performance, and implementation. Using these major segments we were able to
Although, implementing an enthalpy wheel system does not impose immediate safety
The first potential area of concern is a cross leakage in a wheel-based energy recovery
system. Cross leakage means that the small amount of exhaust air is returning to the space
from which it came from. This exhaust air is often considered to be contaminated even though
it never left the system. To ensure continuous supply of outdoor air into the enthalpy wheel
system, purge sectors would need to be installed. Purge sectors redirect a portion of the supply
air into the exhaust airstream and separate exhaust from the supply air. It should be noted that
purge sectors are capable of reducing the cross leakage to less than one percent (Mumma,
2003, p. 1).
environmentally clean, alternate method of energy recovery will dramatically reduce the
carbon footprint of airports and contribute to the prevention of catastrophic damage to the
global environment.
The enthalpy wheel system should not fall under the definition of a Safety
Management System (SMS) for airport operators as described in FAA Advisory Circular NO:
AC 150/5200-37. It should be a part of Airport Design and FAA Advisory Circular AC150-
The enthalpy wheel is a type of air-to-air rotating recovery device. Their primary use
is in HVAC systems that operate on the principle of heat and moisture transfer between
outside air and building’s exhaust air. These devices have the ability to lower peak energy
demand and total energy consumption. Their design meets current green building
An enthalpy wheel operates between two air supplies and serves as an intermediary
device. Using a rotating mechanism, it can absorb or transfer sensible and latent heat. Sensible
heat is the type of heat that is easily felt and measured on a thermometer. Latent heat or
moisture is transferred using desiccant coating which is applied on the wheel’s surface. This
ability to control humidity is equally important in heating and cooling seasons. With latent
heat recovery the capacity and the unit size of the system can be significantly reduced because
http://cipco.apogee.net/ces/library/tdew.asp
aluminum honeycomb material that is coated in desiccant" (QU, 2006). It contains numerous
small air passages called flutes. They can have triangular or semicircular cross-section. The
honeycomb structure is created with flat and high layers of a heat conductive material. The
components of an enthalpy wheel are: exhaust and supply air sections, filters for sections, air
blower, heat transfer section, motor section and cooling section (DRI, 2007).
The enthalpy wheel results depend highly on the type of a desiccant that is chosen.
One of the most commonly used desiccants is silica gel. It has excellent water absorbance
characteristics and can perform well in acidic environments. Stainless steel, aluminum,
Aluminum, for example, expands when it is heated, and carries that energy around
with it as the wheel rotates. When it hits a cooler airstream, the aluminum contracts and the
heat energy is released into the air. The enthalpy wheel’s ability to exchange of humidity
depends upon vapor pressure from the wheel. This vapor pressure changes because of the
difference in temperature and moisture contents of the incoming and returning air. The
desiccant material absorbs moisture with the flow of warm air, after the wheel enters the cold
air stream the water starts to evaporate. As a result of this procedure the cooler air becomes
Here is what you would see in terms of performance and how the enthalpy wheel
supply air so that the inside of a building will be cool. The retuning cooler air will flow
through the wheel and hotter exhaust air will be pushed out by the enthalpy wheel. This
process is vice versa for winter time conditions. The cooler outdoor air will be heated by the
heat transferred from the enthalpy wheel. The warmer air flow will be pushed into the indoor
air supply for the building and once that air rises to a certain temperature, it will be pushed out
as return air. The return air will then go back through the enthalpy wheel and the heat will be
recaptured in the enthalpy wheel, sending cooler air back out through the exhaust air supply
section.
6.4. Advantages
There are numerous advantages when utilizing enthalpy wheels. They are quite
compact and can achieve high heat-transfer effectiveness. Typically they cause a relatively
low air pressure drop, between 0.4 and 0.7 in. of water (CIPCO, 2005). The cost of frost
protection is minimal and is not an issue for the enthalpy wheel. In some cases the size of the
cooling or heating equipment can be modified to accommodate specific needs. This type of
compact equipment will allow for more free space, which is not the case for traditional HVAC
equipment. Additionally, these devices have ability to lower peak energy demand and total
energy consumption.
There are other very important advantages for utilizing the enthalpy wheel. For
example, existing standards for outside ventilation can be met or exceeded causing minimal
impact on energy costs. During cooling seasons, the incoming outside air in the enthalpy
wheel is dehumidified by the desiccant that absorbs water on the wheel. As a result, it will
allow the rest of the ventilation system to run dry. This ability to control humidity in the
enthalpy wheel system would cause indoor humidity to stay below the level that favors
microbial contamination and growth of mildew and mold. Another advantage is that it
eliminates the need for cooling capacity that normally would be required to control humidity
6.5. Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of the enthalpy wheel is the initial capital expenditure for the
product. However, the return on investment is well worth the initial cost.
It should also be noted that for optimal performance optimal performance of the
overall system, the enthalpy wheel requires two air streams be adjacent to each other. The
enthalpy wheel also requires that the air streams must be relatively clean so it does not clog
the wheel’s small air passages and may require filtration. This is something that could easily
be accommodated by the use of common filters, and the cost increase should be minimal.
Lastly, as with any HVAC equipment, maintenance is a key factor in making sure the
product maintains its longevity and optimal performance. This could possibly require that the
rotating mechanism be periodically inspected and maintained throughout the life of the
product. Beside cleaning or changing out filters we would also have to clean the fill medium
being applied in some newly designed green buildings. The designers of many schools,
laboratories, office buildings and some homes chose this technology because of its cost-
expanding rapidly, and soon it should find its use at the airports, too.
The Carnegie Mellon University’s Intelligent Workplace has implemented an enthalpy
wheel energy recovery system with great success. To verify the manufacturer’s data the
university tested their system’s operating performance. According to their findings and data,
the enthalpy wheel system operated with an effectiveness of 82%; it failed to recover only
12% of system’s energy (Zhai et all, 2006, p. 1). Another example of successful enthalpy
wheel installation is at Johns Hopkins Ross Research Building in Baltimore, MD. The savings
in energy were measured in millions of dollars and the return on investment was
accomplished with the first cost savings. As a result of high performance and great cost
savings, Johns Hopkins installed enthalpy wheels in new labs and the Cancer Research
The enthalpy wheel system can best fit users that require a large percentage of outdoor
air mix to refresh the indoor air and that have the exhaust air duct in close proximity to the
intake. Many airports in the U.S. fall into this description and can benefit greatly from the
increased air-conditioning system efficiency. New terminal buildings are often constructed
with many doors where the required amount of ventilation air causes excess loads to the air-
conditioning system. This situation greatly reduces the air-conditioning system’s performance,
and the equipment does not have sufficient latent capacity as designed. In this case, enthalpy
or heat recovery wheels can also improve the latent capacity of the existing system (CIPCO,
2005).
6.7 Maintenance
To maintain high standards of indoor air quality, the enthalpy wheel system requires
regular maintenance of key components. The long-term performance of the system is highly
dependent on early detection and prevention of the system’s degradation. Proper design and
implementation is needed to provide early and continuous signs of degradation to the enthalpy
wheel users. The enthalpy wheel performance can be compromised in three major areas:
supply air quantity, the supply air condition and the building pressurization. Supply air motor,
belts or bearings can be responsible for the system’s failure to supply the needed air quantity.
Accumulated dirt on filters can seriously impact the system's ability to provide ventilation
requirements. A decrease in the thermal performance of an enthalpy wheel system can be the
result of air leakage due to the system’s loss of pressure. Such pressure loss can bring latent
loads beyond systems capacity. Sensible and latent cooling and heating can be affected by
failure of the enthalpy wheel’s drive belt or motor. Additionally, the cooling coil can lose
cooling capacity or fail because of insufficient air flows (Mumma S, 2003, p. 1).
In order to prevent corrosion and other kinds of damage to the system, cleaning is
required for the enthalpy wheel. The rotor surface can be cleaned by vacuuming with a soft
brush attachment. Mild detergent compatible with aluminum can be used to remove grease or
dirt from the rotor, and water needs to be sprayed afterward. In addition, compressed air can
also be used for cleaning the rotor. It is important to recoat the brush seals with silicone oil
The team made contacts with Mr. Robert Swenson who serves as Mineta San José
International Airport’s Airside Operations Manager. Our team member, Ms. Radov, met with
Mr. Swenson in person on November 15, 2008. She was able to get his personal opinion and
perspective on our project. Mr. Swenson found the enthalpy wheel technology and our
proposal to implement it at the airport very interesting. He acknowledged the possible benefits
of such system and stated that he would be happy to present our final proposal to some airport
engineers and other decision makers. The meeting was a success and as a main result we
ASI was founded in 1973 and offers services including mechanical, architectural sheet metal,
service, repair, electrical, and process piping (Air Systems Inc., 2008). ASI has a dedication
for energy solutions — more specifically, improving the efficiency of existing systems —
while reducing operating costs and helping the environment. Ms. Mohammad met on
November 18, 2008 with Christian Omphroy, a project engineer, to discuss the strategies of
utilizing an enthalpy wheel. Mr. Omphrov was a great resource in pointing out the advantages
of using such technology. He also went into the details of using heat wheels in current projects
the company is working on, such as the UC Berkeley Doe Library. The meeting served to be
very beneficial because the technology of the enthalpy wheel is a promising venture that will
Consuming energy costs money, uses and reduces energy resources, contributes to air
pollution and causes global warming. Today in commercial buildings, Heating, Ventilating
and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for 39% of total energy used (Graham,
2008, p.1). Implementing an enthalpy wheel system in new buildings or retrofitting it into
existing ones can result in significant energy savings. Airport operators cannot ignore these
facts and should consider the energy conservation and potential cost savings of an enthalpy
wheel system.
Reduced energy consumption of an enthalpy wheel system is a result of its very high
performance and efficiency. Overall energy consumption and peak energy demand can be
greatly reduced with an enthalpy wheel system. This is due to the fact that they can recover
sensible heat, latent heat and moisture from the air streams. The efficiency of an enthalpy
wheel depends on its size relative to the volume and the difference in heat between the air
streams. If the typical range for the total effectiveness is from 70% to 80% that means that the
enthalpy wheel recovers approximately three quarters of the total energy and moisture
moisture transferred — we need to find effectiveness of the system. ASHRAE Standard 84,
devices as following:
Where;
is effectiveness
Xsa is supplied air, Xoa is outside air, Xea is exhaust air, Xra is return air
condition
Wsa is supply air mass flow rate; Wea is return air mass flow rate
The calculation of heat recovery savings is possible to obtain through several online
programs that are available. Calculations in these programs are performed using hourly
weather data that are available for most cities. Also, the historical hourly data can be used for
measuring heat recovery savings and for finding the performance of an existing enthalpy
wheel system. According to Kjelgaard (2004), the following data are necessary for the
• Space or process exhaust air temperature and relative humidity (if humidified)
• Utility rates
The two tables below represent results of a simulation for a 25,000 cfm enthalpy wheel
http://www.plantservices.com/Media/PublicationsArticle/SpentThermsGraphics.pdf
Annual cost savings by region — 25,000 CFM enthalpy wheel
http://www.plantservices.com/Media/PublicationsArticle/SpentThermsGraphics.pdf
According to the results from both tables we can conclude that energy savings are higher in
colder climates. It appears that savings in Minneapolis were the highest mostly due to the
sensible heat recovery. The results for Los Angeles are slightly inaccurate due to the fact that
there was an operating limit to the system. The system was set to stop the enthalpy wheel
when the outside air temperature was between 55 ºF and 75ºF. If we remove this limitation or
adjust it to the higher values, the total savings for Los Angeles would be much higher
In this section we will discuss the costs associated with our proposed enthalpy wheel
system. Cost is of great importance to airport operators because today they constantly face the
challenge to lower energy consumption and maximize energy savings with economically
justified means. Accordingly, our proposed system should be presented in a way that
emphasizes its attractive return on investment, especially during the initial introduction
period. The costs for this system are divided up into two different sections: the capital cost for
implementing an enthalpy wheel system and the ongoing operating costs. We will finish by
discussing some cost diversion strategies that could be used to spark interest in the system
In his article Crowther (2001) states that the direct expenses of implementing the
enthalpy wheel systems that need to be considered in cost analysis are the following:
• The cost associated with upgrading the fan motors to be able to handle
• The cost associated with upgrading the return air ductwork so the system
can handle required and higher volume when using enthalpy wheels.
• The cost savings that result from downsizing the humidifiers which are
• The cost savings associated with downsizing the cooling system due to
better cooling technique that enthalpy wheels can demonstrate (p. 2).
The increased cost of the return air ductwork can be offset with downsizing the cooling
system and downsizing the dehumidification equipment. This means that the cost to
implement the enthalpy wheel includes the capital cost of the system and the expense for the
system. With calculated effectiveness, bin weather data, and information about indoor design
conditions; it is possible to simulate how an enthalpy wheel will operate. Bin analysis is used
to simplify calculations and it refers to the number of hours that the outdoor temperature is
within a certain temperature range, which can be further divided to certain time periods during
the day. The effectiveness of the energy recovery can be calculated using above mentioned
ASHRAE Standard 84. The calculations are performed for every bin and then extended for the
year by multiplying them with the number of occurrences in that bin (Crowther, 2001, p. 2).
(2001) article and these are the design parameters that were used:
Looking at the calculation results in the table, we can see that there is a significant
reduction in a ventilation load with the enthalpy wheel device. The data shows that there is
about 40% savings in heating, cooling and humidification with an enthalpy wheel system.
Taking into consideration the rising cost of energy and uncertainty about its
availability, we can conclude that using an enthalpy wheel system is a wise economic
decision. The immediate expenses and possible additional operating costs for implementing
Additionally, further cost savings may be available through rebates from the local gas or
electric supplier.
9 Appendices
Appendix A
Contact Information
Alan Li
34525 Somerset Terrace
Fremont, CA 94555
hinchung64@hotmail.com
Appendix B
San José State University, commonly shortened to San José State and SJSU, is the
founding campus of what became the California State University system. The urban
campus in San Jose, California has an enrollment of about 32,000 students and claims to
have more graduates working in Silicon Valley than any other college or university
(sjsu.edu).
San José State was founded as the California State Normal School by the California
Legislature on May 2, 1862, and is the oldest public university in California. The
California State Normal School was itself derived from the Minn's Evening Normal
School, which was also known as the San Francisco Normal School. The San Francisco
normal school, led by principal George W. Minns trained elementary teachers as part of
that city's high school system from 1857 to 1862. Thus, the school now called "San José
State" is even older than the University of California, Berkeley (the Organic Act, which
established the University of California, was signed into law on March 23, 1868), but not
quite as old as the College of California established in 1855, which was the predecessor of
Mission:
To enrich the lives of its students, to transmit knowledge to its students along with the
necessary skills for applying it in the service of our society, and to expand the base of
Appendix C
Non-University Partners
The Integrated Learning "live building" concept was inspired by the Integrated Teaching
and Learning program in Colorado. Their idea -- to create an online building -- was used
Hall.
The building was created to serve undergraduate Applied Science students in several
different ways. The IL Centre contains both laboratory and studio space, as well as being a
giant lab itself. Exhibits and data are available to the public, to researchers, and to
students, to help advance the understanding of engineering issues, concepts and ideas.
SEMCO Inc.
Since it’s founding in 1963 as a sheet metal fabrication company with five employees,
SEMCO has built a reputation as a world-wide product innovator in the science of air
movement, noise abatement, and air quality, with more than 300 employees and more than
SEMCO is a part of the Fläkt Woods Group with headquarters in Columbia, Missouri. The
* Morrilton, Arkansas
* Salisbury, Missouri
* Crossville, Tennessee
* Arlington, Texas
* Roanoke, Virginia
The facilities in Arlington, Roanoke, and Salisbury all produce high quality spiral, rolled,
round, and oval duct products for commercial, architectural and industrial HVAC
applications.
The Crossville facility produces acoustical panels and silencers for various markets,
including HVAC, highway and cooling tower barriers, manufacturing equipment barriers,
manufacturing production lines, paint facilities, acoustic barriers for sports facilities and
airports, and almost any other situation where noise pollution might be a concern.
The Petit Jean and Morrilton plants fabricate packaged energy recovery equipment and
desiccant-based wheel products for the commercial, industrial and institutional HVAC
markets.
XeteX Inc.
XeteX is intent on providing the most cost-effective air-to-air heat exchangers available
equipment since 1960, XeteX was incorporated in 1984 to develop heat exchangers and
systems appropriate for the expanding needs of commercial buildings for better indoor air
quality.
As the need to design, fabricate and supply heat exchangers in the USA increased, XeteX
established a plant in LaCrosse, Wisconsin where air-to-air heat exchangers are fabricated.
XeteX has supplied aluminum and stainless steel flat plate exchangers made in the USA to
a large variety of applications ranging from 100,000 CFM indirect evaporative coolers to
50 CFM residential ventilators and 12,000 CFM high temperature process to 4,000 CFM
precooler/reheaters.
Appendix D
FAA Design Competition for Universities
Design Submission Form (Appendix D)
Note: This form should be included as Appendix D in the submitted PDF of the design package.
The original with signatures must be sent along with the required print copy of the design.
University San Jose State University
Design Developed by: Student Team
If Student Team:
Student Team Lead Malali Mohammad and Mirela Radov
Permanent Mailing Address 295 Sposito Circle, San Jose, CA 95136
Permanent Phone Number (408) 893 ‐ 5667 Email malalim2004@yahoo.com
Competition Design Challenge Addressed:
Airport Environmental Interactions
I certify that I served as the Faculty Advisor for the work presented in this Design submission and that
the work was done by the student participant(s).
Signed Date: April 15, 2009
Name Glynn Falcon
University/College San Jose State University
Department(s) Aviation
Street Address One Washington Square
City San Jose State CA Zip Code 95192
Telephone (408) 924 ‐ 3203 Fax
Appendix E
1. Did the FAA Design Competition provide a meaningful learning experience for you?
Why or why not?
Yes we were able to expand our knowledge about new energy recovery technologies which
will leave a minimal carbon footprint while meeting stringent demands for air quality as well
as cost effectiveness. Overall energy consumption and peak energy demand can be greatly
reduced with an enthalpy wheel system. We learned about many different alternative
technologies that can and should be implemented to mitigate future environmental concerns.
2. What challenges did you and/or your team encounter in undertaking the
Competition? How did you overcome them?
One of the greatest challenges was getting the team together and meeting deadlines. We were
able to accomplish the project by improving communication and managing out time.
3. Describe the process you or your team used for developing your hypothesis.
The team first sat down and brainstormed on what were the most important issues to be
resolved within the near future for airport operations. We then conducted research as to what
technologies could be best used and implemented to solve these problems. When were all
agreed on what product we felt would be most beneficial to airport operations we focused on
capitalize on. Many papers were written and laboratory tests were performed by different
companies in industry which were referred to. Working examples of the product also gave us
5. What did you learn? Did this project help you with skills and knowledge you need to
be successful for entry in the workforce or to pursue further study? Why or why not?
We have learned how to perform in a team and successfully complete a project. This will be
Exhibit E
(Advisor/Instructor Portion)
1. Describe the value of the educational experience for your student(s)
participating in this Competition submission.
Entering this competition has proven to be an excellent Capstone
experience for our graduating seniors. They have now experienced “real‐
world” deadlines, planning, schedules, teamwork and personal commitment,
personal and group conflicts, interfacing and consulting with aviation experts,
and preparing and editing a professional report. As their professor, I was able
to observe their growth throughout the process, and see how they overcame
problems which, in other college courses, would have left them stymied and
looking to their instructor for resolution. Not here, as I was able to act merely
as facilitator for access to information and expertise, and left these student
competitors to find their own solutions.
2. Was the learning experience appropriate to the course level or context in
which the competition was undertaken?
Yes, as we restricted the college‐sponsored applications only to those
Capstone enrolled, graduating seniors. In this way, we believe we could
witness their culminating learning experience and, hopefully, successful
outcomes.
This belief proved to actually be true. This year, without exception, each
of our seniors demonstrated maturity and educational excellence and
competence in their approach to submitting their designs to the FAA, and also
in their work ethic.
3. What challenges did the students face and overcome?
They faced too many challenges to adequately list them all, here. But the
most significant challenges seemed to be adaptability to working efficiently
within the group dynamic, and in developing sufficient knowledge and
expertise within their proposed design submissions to appreciate flaws or
limitations with their proposals.
I also placed an additional requirement upon their work, and that was to
document on video their group’s progress and setbacks, and then compile and
edit the video into a 10 to 15 minute presentations to be submitted with their
designs. This will be played for faculty review, and at graduation to the families
of our graduates.
4. Would you use this Competition as an educational vehicle in the future?
Why or why not?
Yes. As a “competition,” I previously commented upon some inequities
and unfairness that existed under the former rules which had caused us some
concern. Those comments appeared to be taken to heart by the Design
Committee, and are no longer an issue. As a “learning experience,” this program
remains an outstanding opportunity to have our senior class demonstrate their
readiness to join government and industry employment.
5. Are there changes to the Competition that you would suggest for future years?
Yes. Instead of having one “annual” competition, divide it into 2 (for
semester programs) or 3 (for quarter programs) so that within the university, we
are not competing one class against another. We believe that the Spring
submissions have an advantage in the competition, as not only to they have
several additional months to research and prepare, but (at least within the
university) they have the advantage of witnessing the work, designs, and
deficiencies of the Fall class’s submissions.
Thank you for providing this excellent program to our students.
Respectfully submitted:
April 13, 2009
_________/s/______________
Glynn Falcon
Director of Aviation
Aviation & Technology Dept.
College of Engineering
San Jose State University
Appendix F
Reference List
29
Air System Inc. (2008). Corporate History ASI. Retrieved Nov. 21, 2008 from
http://www.airsystemsinc.com/home/management.html
http://www.ashrae.org/technology/page/548
Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO). 2005. Enthalpy & Heat Wheels. Retrieved on
Crowther H. (2001). Energy Recovery: Is it the Right Choice for your Application.
http://www.mcquay.com/eprise/main/mcquaybiz/MT_Corporate/EngNews/0701.pdf
Desiccant Rotors International. (2008). EcoFresh Heat Recovery Wheel. Retrieved Nov. 24,
http://www.drirotors.com/pdf/articles/iaq/enegyconserv_ac_wheels.pdf
Dressler, Rich. (2005). Mineta San José International Airport Receives Rebate for Energy
http://www.sjc.org/newsroom/press/2005/pge.htm
Graham, C.I. (2008). High-Performance HVAC. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2008, from
http://www.wbdg.org/resources/hvac.php
enthalpy-wheel/
30
Kjelgaard, M. (2004). Recapture Those Spent Therms. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2008, from
http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2004/113.html?page=print
Mumma, S. (2003). Detecting System Degradation. Retrieved Nov. 30, 2008, from
http://doas-radiant.psu.edu/IAQ9.pdf
Science: Live Building Integrated Learning Centre. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2008, from
http://livebuilding.queensu.ca/green_features/enthalpy_wheel
VanGeet, O., Reilly, T. (2006). Ventilation Heat Recovery for Laboratories [Electronic
http://www.xetexinc.com/energy_recovery/products/heat_wheels.html
Zhai, C. et all. (2006, Nov 5-10). The Performance of an Enthalpy Recovery Wheel in
http://www.cmu.edu/iwess/people/zhai/performance_of_enthaly_recovery_wheel.pdf
31