March Chapter Meeting – 6-Way Valves

As the commercial building HVAC industry has embraced the global movement to reduce demand-side energy consumption associated with the conditioning of the indoor environment, radiant heating/cooling technology has seen a resurgence over the past decade or so. Current HVAC designs incorporate various types of newer and architecturally esthetic radiant elements in the occupied space that in some cases utilize a single heat transfer terminal device to deliver both heating and cooling energy to the space.

This presentation will focus on combination heating and cooling terminal unit applications with an emphasis on the control peripherals employed in their engineering and design.  We will discuss 6-way valve technology; how the valve operates, pressure dependent and pressure independent configurations of a 6-way valve, how to best apply 6-way valves to large thermal zones.

Speakers:

Ken Duncan, District Sales Manager, Belimo Americas

Ken Duncan’s career spans over 30 years in the greater Seattle area, and includes experience in HVAC systems design and building automation system controls contracting. Prior to joining Belimo in late 2019 as a District Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest, Ken was employed as a HVAC designer with a national MEP engineering consultant firm. He later moved into the controls industry as a field technician and later into a supervisory position with three HVAC control contractors in the Northwest. His technical background in building controls includes significant and various experience in the design, start-up and commissioning of pneumatic, electric and DDC control systems.  This included the development and implementation of an integrated active smoke control system for two detention facilities.  His most recent work was in controls contracting managing a remote office of BAS controls designers and field technicians in Northwest Washington. Ken currently holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in HVAC Technology from North Seattle Community College and a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Western Washington University.  He also holds a journeyman’s low voltage electrician license with the State of Washington. Ken is a current Associate Member of the Puget Sound Chapter of ASHRAE and is a past President of the Mount Baker Section of Puget Sound ASHRAE.

John A. Thorpe, PE

John Thorpe’s career includes both field technical and professional engineering experience spanning over forty years. Prior to joining Belimo in 2006, he was an MEP engineering consultant based out of the Seattle area.  His project experience encompasses engineering, design and/or commissioning of HVAC systems serving healthcare, critical environment, public sector educational, retail, marine based gaming, and institutional facilities. In his current position he is a one of two regional field application consultants currently serving in house Belimo staff and their customers in the western US. John’s technical experience includes in the installation, operation, maintenance and supervision of ordnance (shipboard weapon) mechanical/controls work during his naval service, as well as industrial process control instrumentation field service with a major manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest. His previous professional path incorporates field work in demand-side energy management for a local investor-owned electrical utility, and as an MEP engineering consultant with four local firms. He is a co-author and/or contributor of and to several training publications associated with the original implementation of the Washington State Commercial Energy Code. John holds a BSME from Portland State University, maintains a professional engineering license in the State of Washington, is a past –president of both the Puget Sound ASHRAE Chapter and Puget Sound Engineering Council, and currently sits on the board of Operation Sack Lunch (OSL) in Seattle.