Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology

The authors have carefully aligned the text to the National Skills Standards for HVAC/R technicians, creating an excellent resource to prepare students for certifications and exams including ICE, NATE, HVAC Excellence, RSES, HARDi, and United Association (UA) STAR.

All of the information students need to prepare for technician certification is included, along with an introduction to all the key organizations that support both voluntary and mandatory technician certification for the industry.

Coverage of key green organizations and their goals familiarizes students with current and emerging plans to establish green buildings and green mechanical rooms throughout the country.

A special section dedicated to professional preparation includes a comprehensive list of career opportunities available in today’s HVAC/R field.

A unique technician Service Call feature showcases real-world scenarios to help students develop a service mode of thinking and encourage them to apply what they’ve learned in practical ways.

At the request of many instructors, the end-of-unit summaries have been removed from the text. Many instructors felt that students were relying on the summaries instead of reading the actual units. In addition, instructors felt that the summaries, in many instances, provided the answers to the end-of-unit questions.

Completely re-aligned content (all units) where unit objectives clearly align to the major unit topics as well as to the review questions at the end of each unit. This alignment is provided to instructors in the for of a Content Verification Grid (CVG), which is provided as part of the instructor resource material.

The Ninth Edition includes more than 400 new and revised figures and images, providing an up-to-date look at current tools, technology, and techniques relevant in today's industry.

The authors have reviewed learning objectives and revised as needed for clear alignment to major topics covered in each unit, as well as the unit review questions. A new Content Map, available in the instructor resource center, outlines these updates and the correlations between objectives and text content.

Unit summaries have been updated and moved from the text to the instructor resource center. This arrangement allows instructors to control access to the summaries, so students can use them as a study aid, when appropriate, rather than a primary source of information and substitute for chapter reading.

The text includes new and expanded content on workplace surroundings and personal protection equipment (PPE), including new material on first aid, heat-related injuries, and confined spaces, as well as expanded coverage of ladder safety and fire extinguisher usage.

The new edition features updated leak repair requirements and EPA regulations, as well as new information on system evacuation without the use of a gauge manifold.

Expanded refrigerant content includes information on the refrigerant numbering system, azeotropic and near azeotropic blends, and general refrigeration retrofitting considerations and guidelines.

The Ninth Edition includes new or updated information on capacitor testing, fan-cycling devices, scroll compressor efficiency, and piston metering devices; combustion and high-efficiency furnaces and combustion air; Temperature Difference (TD) and compressor testing; and chilled beam technology.

Reflecting their importance to the industry, the text includes expanded content on topics including specific volume; specific gravity and density; R-value, U-value, and calculations; systems with combinations of metering devices; and indoor fan motor control.

An introductory video at the beginning of each unit is presented by the lead author, Eugene Silberstein, to highlight the importance of the content in the learner's development towards becoming a skilled technician.

Safety topics have been updated or expanded: safe workplace surroundings, working in confined spaces, personal protection equipment (PPE), first aid, ladder safety, fire extinguisher usage, heat-related injuries.

New Technical Coverage: System evacuation without the use of a gauge manifold, General refrigeration Retrofitting considerations and guidelines, Combustion air, Compressor testing, Chilled beam technology.

Updated Technical Coverage: Leak repair requirements and EPA regulations, Capacitor testing, Fan-cycling devices, Scroll compressor efficiency, Piston metering devices, Combustion and high-efficiency furnaces, Temperature Difference (TD).

Expanded Technical Coverage: Refrigerant numbering system, Azeotropic and near azeotropic blends, Specific volume, specific gravity and density, R-value, U-value, and calculations, Systems with combinations of metering devices, Indoor fan motor control