PE Mechanical study plan

Classify all-air, all-water, air-water, and direct-expansion systems by terminal equipment and typical building application

Trace a complete supply/return air path plus a chilled-water and hot-water loop, labeling every component and its key design parameter

Compute supply airflow from a sensible load using the 1.08 constant and cross-check the result against the required ventilation airflow

Choose between constant-volume and VAV distribution for three described building scenarios and defend each choice on part-load and ventilation grounds

List the standard efficiency metrics (EER, IEER, COP, kW/ton) and convert between any two of them

Size duct mains and branches by the equal-friction method and verify velocity and pressure-drop limits

Compute fan shaft power and pump brake horsepower from flow, head or static pressure, and efficiency

Sketch the vapor-compression cycle on a pressure-enthalpy diagram and mark all four states plus subcooling and superheat

Calculate refrigeration capacity in tons, COP, and compressor power for given evaporating and condensing conditions

Identify the four capacity-control strategies for a reciprocating or scroll chiller and state when each is appropriate

Compare reciprocating, scroll, screw, centrifugal, and absorption chillers by capacity range, efficiency, and typical application

Explain economizer, hot-gas bypass, and cylinder-unloading control and match each to a load profile

Distinguish two-position, floating, and modulating control and give one HVAC application of each

Write a complete sequence of operations for a single-zone air handler with an air-side economizer

Match sensor technologies (RTD, thermistor, thermocouple, pressure transducer) to range and accuracy requirements, and explain how sensor lag destabilizes a loop

Explain proportional band, integral time, and derivative time, and diagnose hunting, offset, and overshoot from a trend log

Tune a simulated loop by adjusting gain and reset to eliminate offset without inducing oscillation

Compute envelope conduction loads using the overall heat-transfer coefficient, area, and design temperature difference

Estimate internal gains from people, lighting, and equipment and apply realistic diversity and coincidence factors

Estimate infiltration and ventilation loads and separate them into sensible and latent portions

Build a room-by-room cooling and heating load estimate for a small office using a consistent methodology

Distinguish conduction, sol-air, and solar gain through fenestration and apply the correct correction for each

Plot sensible heating, sensible cooling, humidification, dehumidification, and mixing processes on a psychrometric chart

Compute apparatus dew point, bypass factor, and sensible heat ratio for a cooling coil

Determine supply-air temperature and airflow that simultaneously satisfy the room sensible heat ratio and the ventilation requirement

Solve mixed-air problems using mass and energy balances on return air and outdoor air

Compute humidification load and read enthalpy, dew point, humidity ratio, and specific volume from the chart without error

Convert fluently among HVAC unit sets (cfm, gpm, tons, Btu/h, kW, Pa, in. w.c.) using dimensional analysis

Apply present worth, life-cycle cost, and simple payback to compare two equipment options

Identify the code, safety-factor, and professional-ethics obligations that govern mechanical design submittals

Compute sensible and latent effectiveness for a heat wheel, a plate heat exchanger, and a runaround coil loop

Quantify the recovered energy and the resulting reduction in coil load and plant capacity for each device

Check each recovery device for frost, condensation, and cross-contamination risk and state the required control response

Re-solve every item missed on the Week 4 mock without consulting notes

Audit the error log and rank the three weakest objectives across all domains

Simulate a full-length timed exam under test-day conditions with no notes

Review every missed item and confirm the underlying concept, not just the correct letter

Reduce all recurring formulas and constants to a one-page sheet written in your own words

Revisit the three weakest objectives identified in Week 7 and confirm closure with fresh problems