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AutoSoft Systems |
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AutoSoft
Systems |
2 Round Hill
Court |
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East Greenwich,
RI 02818 |
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401.885.3631 |
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401.884.5653 Fax |
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401.996.3631 Cell |
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| AMDG |
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Decision Ready
Information! |
autosoft@aol.com |
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| Commercial & custom multi-user computer software for a
variety of applications including performance metrics, statistical analysis,
data extraction and merger from multiple large databases, computer simulation
and management information systems.
Founded in 1982. |
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| We know Excel! Whenever possible, Excel
is the user interface, VBA is the programming language, ODBC connects to the
database of your choice. |
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AMDG |
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| Mother Nature's Basic
Principle of Cooling for Large Buildings |
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| Originally published in the July, 2003 edition of IPNews.com |
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| http://www.ipnews.com/archives/general_editorials/jul03/advantech_autosoft_roof.htm |
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| Most companies that use traditional HVAC systems to cool large
factories or distribution centers have electric bills that are
"through the roof". That's why many plant managers have turned to
a unique "on-the-roof" alternative which uses surface water
evaporation - like sweat glands - to lower searing roof temperatures and
drop interior building temperature by more than 10°F on a hot summer
day. |
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| The basic concept of using water to cool roofs has been around
for awhile. Equipment like the Roof Cooling System (RCS) developed by
AutoSoft Systems, East Greenwich, RI, and manufactured by Patterson Roof
Cooling, Blythewood, SC, provides a controlled mist of water on a building's
rooftop and maintains a user-defined setpoint roof temperature. RCS can
supplement, and in some cases replace, traditional air conditioning systems,
offering lower installation/operating costs and extended roof life, as it can
reduce roof temperature by as much as 80°F. The extent of temperature
reduction varies based on environmental factors such as relative humidity,
ambient temperature and the type of roof. In one case, the system reduced a
black membrane roof from a temperature of 160°F to about 90°F. With results
like this, payback in air-conditioned buildings can be achieved within one
year. |
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| Manufacturers are now focusing on improving system control to
maximize cooling effect and reduce water waste. AutoSoft Systems is a leading
developer of advanced PC controls and
system software. |
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| Joe Serdakowski, AutoSoft Systems president, may be the first to
use PC-based control for these alternative cooling systems. Serdakowski
developed the special algorithms to maximize cooling effect, designed the
panel layout and specified the feedback and communication devices for the
RCS. |
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| The PC control and Advantech Automation ADAM remote I/O modules
control water pumped through valves to misting sprinkler heads installed on a
building's roof. The ADAM modules receive outside temperature signals from
roof-mounted thermocouples and continuously feed this via serial
communications cable to the PC which controls valve actuation. |
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| These systems are installed on large buildings in the range of
40,000 to 1,000,000 sq. ft., so thermocouples, valves and multiple control
panels are often located far from the PC. This requires the RS-485
communication protocol to be used. The ADAM modules reduce wiring needs and
speed installation, receiving inputs from typically two to seven
thermocouples and delivering signals back to the PC with only a single RS-485
cable. Another ADAM module converts
the RS-485 signal to RS-232 into the computer port. |
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| AutoSoft Systems developed the operating software, using
Microsoft's Visual FoxPro on the Windows 2000 platform to provide an
intuitive graphical user interface and a built-in database engine for data
storage and manipulation. The software also provides real-time data logging
of the roof temperatures and detailed data analysis through Microsoft Excel. |
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| Advantech's "ActiveDAQ" Active-X provides an interface
between the ADAM hardware and FoxPro/Windows 2000 environment. "Besides
low price, we chose the ADAM units because they are rugged and highly
modular, providing easy installation, replacement and expansion," says
Don Thomas, vice president of sales and marketing for Patterson. "Plus,
their attractive form factor doesn't resemble an IC board, which makes them
basically transparent to the installers and users. |
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| Open architecture PC-based control and ADAM communications
modularity allows the system to work in tandem with a building's existing
HVAC system, says Thomas. "We are
developing economic analysis methods to track and report data and display the
operational costs and savings over traditional air conditioning." |
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| More companies are turning to this new energy-efficient,
environmentally friendly technology as a solution to cooling large spaces. An
OEM exhaust system maker, located in Tennessee, recently installed the system
for temperature control in its non-air-conditioned factory. According to the
plant manager, the system made a remarkable difference for its factory
employees. The heat index on the factory floor was lowered by as much as 10
to 12°F. Maintenance employees who work close to the ceiling where hot air
accumulates experienced even greater benefits. |
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| The maintenance manager at a Valdosta, GA distribution center
for a national home improvement retailer has been using this technology for
several years to control temperatures in a 780,000 square foot facility.
According to the maintenance manager, temperatures in some areas of the
building reached 140°F on 100°F days. Rooftop cooling dropped internal
temperature in those areas by 40°F to match ambient temperature. |
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| The energy cost to run the two system pumps is only $1000 per
month, versus air conditioning which would have cost an estimated $400,000
per month. The system runs from June through October, and an air compressor
purges the system prior to winter to prevent pipes from freezing. It has even
been adapted for use with parked trailers to maintain a more comfortable
working environment for loaders. |
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| For more information contact: |
Stephanie
McFarland |
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Advantech
Automation Corp. |
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1320 Kemper
Meadow Dr. Ste. 500 |
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Cincinnati, OH
45240 |
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Toll Free:
877-294-8989 |
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513-742-8895 |
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Fax: 531-742-0554 |
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www.advantech.com/ia |
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direct@advantech.com |
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| Return to AutoSoft's AutoCool page |
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| AutoSoft Systems | 2 Round Hill Court, East
Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA 02818 | 401.885.3631 | Fax: 401.884.5653 |
Mobile: 401.996.3631 |
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| This web page was last updated at 02/21/2014 07:55 AM and is
written in EXCEL! |
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| AXIOM is a Trademark of Consona - USYS is a Trademark of Zumbach
- AutoSoft Systems is not affiliated with Consona nor Zumbach |
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