Power Engineering Dictionary

Power Engineering Dictionary
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ABMA - American Boiler Manufacturers Association.
ABRASION - The wearing away of a surface by rubbing, as with sandpaper on wood.
ABRASION RESISTANCE - The ability of a material to resist surface wear.
ABRASIVE EROSION - Erosive wear caused by the relative motion of solid particles
which are entrained in a fluid, moving nearly parallel to a solid surface.
ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY - Amount of moisture in the air, indicated in kg/kg of dry air.
ABSOLUTE PRESSURE - Total pressure measured from an absolute vacuum. It
equals the sum of the gauge pressure and the atmospheric pressure corresponding to
the barometer.
ABSOLUTE PRESSURE - Air at standard conditions (70F air at sea level with a
barometric pressure of 29.92 in Hg) exerts a pressure of 14.696 psi. This is the
pressure in a system when the pressure gauge reads zero. So the absolute pressure
of a system is the gauge pressure in pounds per square inch added to the
atmospheric pressure of 14.696 psi (use 14.7 psi in environmental system work) and
the symbol is "psia".
ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE SCALE - A scale of temperature measurement in
which zero degrees is absolute zero.
ABSOLUTE VELOCITY ABSOLUTE ZERO - A hypothetical temperature at which there is total absence of
heat. Since heat is a result of energy caused by molecular motion, there is no motion
of molecules with respect to each other at absolute zero. It is theoretically the coldest
possible temperature.
ABSOLUTE ZERO TEMPERATURE - Temperature measured from absolute zero (459.67F, or -273.16C).
ABSORBENT - A material which, due to an affinity for certain substances, extracts
one or more such substances from a liquid or gaseous medium with which it contacts
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and which changes physically or chemically, or both, during the process. Calcium
chloride is an example of a solid absorbent, while solutions of lithium chloride, lithium
bromide, and ethylene glycols are liquid absorbents.
ABSORBER - That part of the low side of an absorption system, used for absorbing
vapor refrigerant.
ABSORPTION - A process whereby a material extracts one or more substances
present in an atmosphere or mixture of gases or liquids accompanied by the material's
physical and/or chemical changes.
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - One in which the refrigerant, as it is
absorbed in another liquid, maintains the pressure difference needed for successful
operation of the system.
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ABSORPTION REFRIGERATOR - Refrigerator that creates low temperatures by

using the cooling effect formed when a refrigerant is absorbed by chemical substance.
ABSORPTION SYSTEM - A refrigeration system in which the refrigerant gas evolved
in the evaporator is taken up in an absorber and released in a generator upon the
application of heat.
ABSORPTION TOWER - A tower or column, which effects contact between a rising
gas and a falling liquid, so that part of the gas may be taken up by the liquid.
ACCELERATION - The rate of change of velocity, as a function of time. Expressed in
m/s.
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ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY - The rate of increase in velocity of a body

falling freely in a vacuum. Its value varies with latitude and elevation. The International
Standard is 32.174 ft. per second per second.
ACCELERATION PERIOD - In cavitation and liquid impingement erosion, the stage
following the incubation period, during which the erosion rate increases from near zero
to a maximum value.
ACCELRATION - The time rate of change of velocity; i.e., the derivative of velocity;
with respect to time.
ACCEPTABLE WELD - A weld that meets all of the requirements and the acceptance
criteria prescribed by the welding specifications.
ACCESSIBLE HERMETIC - An assembly of motor and compressor, inside a single
bolted housing unit.
ACCUMULATOR - Storage tank which receives liquid refrigerant from evaporator and
prevents it from flowing into suction line before vaporizing.
ACETONE - A filler added to acetylene cylinders, capable of absorbing 25 times its
own volume of acetylene.
ACID - Literally hitter, but chemically the state of a water solution containing a high
concentration of hydrogen ions.
ACID ATTACK - Caused by an incomplete flushing after an acid cleaning process of
boilers or similar equipment.
ACID CLEANING - The process of cleaning the interior surfaces of steam generating
units by filling the unit with dilute acid accompanied by an inhibitor to prevent corrosion
and by subsequently draining, washing, and neutralizing the acid by a further wash of
alkaline water.
ACID CONDITION IN SYSTEM - Condition in which refrigerant or oil in a system, is
mixed with vapor and fluids that are acidic in nature.
ACID EMBRITTLEMENT - A form of hydrogen embrittlement that may be induced in
some metals by an acid.
ACID GAS - A gas that that forms an acid when mixed with water. In petroleum
processing, the most common acid gases are hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
ACID RAIN - Atmospheric precipitation with an pH below 5.6 to 5.7.
ACID SOAK - A method of acid cleaning, in which the acid is pumped into the boiler
and rests there for a period of time.
ACIDIC - The reaction of a substance with water resulting in an increase in
concentration of hydrogen ions in solution (see acid).
ACIDIFIED - The addition of an acid (usually nitric or sulfuric) to a sample to lower the
pH below 2.0. The purpose of the acidification is to "fix" a sample so it will not change
until it is analyzed.
ACIDITY - Represents the amount of free carbon dioxide, mineral acids, and salts
(especially sulfates of iron and aluminum) which hydrolyze to give hydrogen ions in
the water. The acidity is reported as millie equivalents per liter of acid, or ppm acidity
as calcium carbonate, or pH, the measure of hydrogen ion concentration.
ACOUSTIC - A term pertaining to sound, or the science of sound.
ACROSS THE LINE - A method of motor starting, which connects the motor directly to
the supply line on starting or running.
ACTION - Refers to the action of a controller. It defines what is done to regulate the
final control element to effect control.
ACTIVATED ALUMINA - Chemical which is a form of aluminum oxide. It is used as a
drier or desiccant.
ACTIVATED CARBON - Is a specially processed carbon, used as a filter drier.
Commonly used to clean air.

ACTIVATED SLUDGE - An aerobic biological process for conversion of soluble
organic matter to solid biomass, removable by gravity or filtration.
ACTIVE STORAGE PILE - A method of stockpiling coal, sometimes called live
storage. The pile is located outside the plant but adjacent to it, and usually contains
four or five days of operating supply. The pile is not compacted, as it is not stored long
enough to be exposed to the hazard of spontaneous combustion.
ACTUATOR - The portion of a regulating valve, which converts mechanical, fluid,
thermal, or electrical energy; into mechanical motion to open or close the valve seats
or other such devices.
ADIABATIC - Occurring with no addition or loss of heat from the system under
consideration.
ADIABATIC CHANGE - A change in the volume, pressure, or temperature of a gas,
occurring without a gain of heat or loss of heat.
ADIABATIC COMPRESSION - Compressing a gas without removing or adding heat.
ADIABATIC COOLING - A method in which paramagnetic salts are pre-cooled, and
then demagnetized, thereby producing further cooling.
ADIABATIC EFFICIENCY -The ratio of actual work output of a heat engine to the
ideal output.
ADIABATIC EXPANSION - The expansion of a gas, vapor, or liquid stream from a
higher pressure to a lower pressure, with no change in enthalpy.
ADIABATIC PROCESS - A thermo-dynamic process in which no heat is extracted
from or added to the system of the process.
ADIABATIC SATURATION PROCESS - A process to determine absolute or relative
humidity.
ADJUSTABLE DIFFERENTIAL - A means of changing the difference between the
control cut-in and cutout points.
ADJUSTABLE RESISTOR - A resistor whose value can be mechanically changed,
usually by the use of a sliding contact.
ADSORBENT - A material which has the ability to cause molecules of gases, liquids
or solids to adhere to its internal surfaces without changing the adsorbent physically or
chemically. In water treatment, a synthetic resin possessing the ability to attract and to
hold charged particles.
ADSORPTION - The adhesion of the molecules of gases, dissolved substances, or
liquids in more or less concentrated form, to the surface of solids or liquids with which
they are in contact. Commercial adsorbent materials have enormous internal surfaces.
ADSORPTION INHIBITORS - They are materials which caused them to be adsorbed
on to the metal surface due to their polar properties.
ADVECTION - The transfer of heat by horizontal movement of air.
AERATION - Exposing to the action of air, like blowing air through water before
discharging to a river.
AERATION CELL - (see oxygen cell)
AEROBIC - A condition in which "free" or dissolved oxygen is present in water.
AERODYNAMIC NOISE - Also called generated noise, self-generated noise; is noise
of aerodynamic origin in a moving fluid arising from flow instabilities. In duct systems,
aerodynamic noise is caused by airflow through elbows, dampers, branch wyes,
pressure reduction devices, silencers and other duct components.
AGGLOMERATE - The clustering together of a few or many particles into a larger
solid mass.
AGITATOR - A device used to cause motion in confined fluids.
AIR - A substance containing by volume approximately 78 - 79% nitrogen; 20.95%
oxygen, .94% argon, traces of carbon dioxide, helium, etc.
AIR BLAST TRANSFORMER - A transformer cooled by forcing a circulation of air
around its windings.
AIR CAPACITOR - Is a capacitor, which uses air as the dielectric between the plates.
AIR CHANGES - A method of expressing the amount of air leakage into or out of a
building or room in terms of the number of building volumes or room volumes
exchanged.
AIR CLEANER - A devise used to remove air borne impurities.
AIR COIL - Coil on some types of heat pumps used either as an evaporator or a
condenser.
AIR CONDITIONER - They are basically refrigeration devices cooling air and rooms
rather then food compartments.
AIR CONDITIONER, UNITARY - An evaporator, compressor, and condenser
combination; designed in one or more assemblies, the separate parts designed to be
assembled together.
AIR CONDITIONING -The process of treating air to simultaneously control its
temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution to meet the requirements of the
conditioned space.
AIR CONDITIONING UNIT - An assembly of equipment for the treatment of air so as
to control, simultaneously, its temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution to
meet the requirements of a conditioned space.
AIR CONDITIONING, COMFORT - The process of treating air so as to control
simultaneously its temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution to meet the
comfort requirements of the occupants of the conditioned space.
AIR COOLER - A factory-encased assembly of elements whereby the temperature of
air passing through the device is reduced.
AIR DIFFUSER - A circular, square, or rectangular air distribution outlet, generally
located in the ceiling and comprised of deflecting members discharging supply air in
various directions and planes, and arranged to promote mixing of primary air with
secondary room air.
AIR DIFFUSION AERATORS - They are aerators into which air is pumped into the
water through perforated pipes, plates, or any other method.
AIR DUCT - A tube or conduit for conveying air from one place to another.
AIR FLOTATION - A process of accelerating sedimentation, by introducing air into the
water, this lowers the density of the water, and increases the differences in the
densities of the water and the suspended particles. (DAF), Dissolved Air Flotation.
AIR GAP -The space between magnetic poles, or between the rotating and stationary
assemblies in a motor or generator.
AIR HANDLER - The fan blower, heat transfer coil, filter, and housing parts, of a
system.
AIR INFILTRATION The leakage of air into a room through cracks in doors,
windows, and other openings.
AIR PURGE - The removal of undesired matter by replacement with air.
AIR SATURATED - Moist air in which the partial pressure of the water vapor is equal
to the vapor pressure of water at the existing temperature. This occurs when dry air
and saturated water vapor coexist at the same dry-bulb temperature.
AIR SENSING THERMOSTAT - A thermostat unit, in which the sensing element is
located in the refrigerated space.
AIR STANDARD - Air having a temperature of (20C), a relative humidity of 36
percent, and under a pressure of 14.70 PSIA. The gas industry usually considers (16
C) as the temperature of standard air.
AIR VENT - Valve, either manual or automatic, to remove air from the highest point of
a coil or piping assembly.

AIR WASHER - A water spray system or device for cleaning, humidifying, or
dehumidifying the air.
AIR, AMBIENT - Generally the air surrounding the object.
AIR, DRY - Air without contained water vapor.
AIR, OUTDOOR - Air taken from outdoors and, therefore, not previously circulated
through the system.
AIR, RECIRCULATED - Return air passed through the conditioner before being again
supplied to the conditioned space.
AIR, REHEATING - In an air conditioning system, the final step in treatment, in the
event the temperature is too low.
AIR, RETURN - Air returned from conditioned or refrigerated space.
AIRBORNE SOUND - Sound which reaches the point of interest by radiation through
the air.
AIR-COOLED CONDENSER - Heat of compression is transferred from condensing
coils to surrounding air. This may be done either by convection or by a fan or blower.
AIR-SENSING THERMOSTAT A thermostat unit, in which the sensing element is
located in the refrigerated space.
ALCOHOL BRINE - A water and alcohol solution, which remains as a liquid below 0
C.
ALGAE - A minute fresh water plant growth which forms a scum on the surfaces of
recirculated water apparatus, interfering with fluid flow and heat transfer. Lower form
of plant life, usually green and blue green algae appear in cooling water systems.
They are responsible for copious amounts of stringy green slime masses.
ALIVE - A term referring to a circuit in which a current is flowing. Also referred to as
live.
ALKALI - A substance having marked basic properties. Applying to hydroxides of
potassium, sodium, lithium, and ammonium. They turn red litmus to blue. Includes
hydroxides of the alkaline earth metals of barium, strontium, and calcium.
ALKALINE - Having a pH greater than 7.
ALKALINE BOIL-OUT - Employed to remove oil and grease deposits from heating
surfaces.
ALKALINITY - An expression of the total basic anions (hydroxyl groups) present in a
solution. It also represents, particularly in water analysis, the bi-carbonate, carbonate,

and occasionally, the borate, silicate, and phosphate salts which will react with water
to produce the hydroxyl groups.
ALLEN TYPE SCREW - A screw with a recessed hex shaped head.
ALLOY - A substance having metal properties and being composed of two or more
chemical elements of which at least one is a metal.
ALLOY STEEL - Steel containing specific quantities of alloying elements (other than
carbon)and commonly accepted amounts of manganese, copper, silicon, sulfur, and
phosphorus).
ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) - Electric current in which the direction of the current
alternates or reverses. In a 60 Hertz (cycle) current, the direction of current flow
reverses in 1/120th of a second; most commonly used current.
ALTERNATOR - A device which converts mechanical energy, into alternating current.
ALTIMETER - An instrument used to measure the height above a reference point,
such as ground or sea level.
ALUM - Is an aluminum sulfate or filter alum. Acts in the range of 5.0 to 8.0 pH.
ALUMINA - Aluminum oxide occasionally found as an impurity in water in very small
amounts.
AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE - Temperature of fluid (usually air) which surrounds
object on all sides.
AMBIENT CONDITIONS - The conditions of temperature, pressure, and humidity,
existing around an instrument.
AMBIENT NOISE -The normal sound in a room or other location.
AMERICAN STANDARD PIPE THREAD - A type of screw or thread, commonly used
on pipe fittings to assure a tight seal.
AMERICAN WIRE GAUGE (AWG) - A system used in the United States for
measuring the size of solid wires.
AMINE - A chemical use in water treatment as a filming or neutralizing agent to
protect the metal parts.
AMMETER - An instrument for measuring the magnitude of electric current flow.
AMMETER SHUNT - A low-resistance conductor, placed in parallel (shunt) with an
ammeter movement, so that most of the current flows through the shunt, and only a
small portion flows through the ammeter. This extends the useful range of the meter.
AMMONIA - Chemical combination of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3). Ammonia is a

very efficient refrigerant and identified as R-117.
AMORPHOUS - A solid not having a repetitive three-dimensional pattern of atoms.
AMPACITY - A wire's ability to carry current safely, without undue heating. The term
formerly used to describe this characteristic was current capacity of the wire.
AMPERAGE - An electron or current flow of one coulomb per second, past a given
point in a circuit.
AMPERE - The unit used for measuring the quantity of an electrical current flow. One
ampere represent a flow of one coulomb per second.
AMPERE HOUR - A term used for rating battery capacity. As stated, an ampere for an
hour; ex: 5 amperes for 20 hours = 100 amp hour on a 20 hr rating.
AMPERE TURNS - A term used to measure magnetic force. It represents the product
of amperes, times the number of turns of the coil, in an electromagnet.
AMPLIFICATION - The process of obtaining an output signal greater than the input
signal, through auxiliary power controlled by the input signal. The process of
increasing the strength, current, power, or voltage, of the signal.
AMPLITUDE - The maximum instantaneous value of alternating current or voltage. It
can be in either a positive or negative direction. The greatest distance through which
an oscillating body moves from the mid point.
ANAEROBIC - A condition in which "free" or dissolved oxygen is not present in the
water.
ANALYSIS - The process of determining the composition of a substance, by chemical
or physical methods.
ANEMOMETER - An instrument for measuring the velocity of a fluid.
ANGLE OF LAG OR LEAD - The phase angle difference, between two sinusoidal
wave forms having the same frequency.
ANGLE VALVE - A type of globe valve design, having pipe openings at right angles to
each other. Usually one opening on the horizontal plane and one on the vertical plane.
ANGSTROM UNITS - A unit of wave length, equal in length to one ten billionth.
ANHYDROUS CALCIUM SULFATE - A dry chemical, made of calcium, sulfur, and
oxygen.
ANION - A negatively charged ion such as the chloride ion (Cl-).
ANION INTERCHANGE - The displacement of one negatively charged particle by

another on an anion-exchange material. This principle is used with water treatment.
ANNEAL - To soften by heating and allowing to cool slowly.
ANNEALING - A process of heat treating metal, to get the desired properties of
softness and ductility, (easy to form).
ANODE - In electrolysis or electrochemical corrosion, a site where metal goes into
solution as a cation leaving behind an equivalent of electrons to be transferred to the
opposite electron, called the cathode.
ANODIZING - The treatment of a metal surface whereby the metal is made anodic.
ANSI - American National Standard Institute, which is an organization defining
standards for computer language.
ANSI-B.31.1 - Power Piping.
ANSI-B.31.5 - Refrigeration Piping.
ANTI KNOCK VALUE - A premature explosive combustion, as the detonation of the
fuel air mixture in an internal combustion engine, produces a characteristic knock. The
Anti Knock Value is the measure of its resistance to the condition which tends to
produce this knock.
ANTICIPATING CONTROL - One which, by artificial means, is activated sooner than
it would be without such means, to produce a smaller differential of the controlled
property. Heat and cool anticipators are commonly used in thermostats.
ANTICIPATORS - A small heater element in two-position temperature controllers
which deliberately cause false indications of temperature in the controller in an at
tempt to minimize the override of the differential and smooth out the temperature
variation in the controlled space.
ANTI-CORROSIVE ADDITIVE - A lubricant additive to reduce corrosion.
ANTI-FOAM ADDITIVE (FOAM INHIBITOR) An additive used to reduce or prevent
foaming.
ANTIFOAM AGENTS - The reduction of carry over by the addition of polymerized
esters, alcohols, and amides. The antifoam agent is absorbed on the steam
generating surface resulting in a hydrophobic condition, causing fewer but larger
steam bubbles, which readily coalesce. These agents also weaken the wall of the
bubble formed, causing them to quickly burst on the water surface.
ANTIFOULANTS - Are materials which prevent fouling from depositing on heat
transfer equipment. Materials that prevent deposits forming; include anti- oxidants,
metal coordinators, and corrosion inhibitors. Compounds that prevent deposition are
surfactants. They act as detergents or dispersants.
ANTIFREEZE - Compounds of glycols or alcohols, that lower the freezing point of

cooling water systems.
ANTIOXIDANT - A substance which when added in small amounts to petroleum
products, will delay or inhibit undesirable changes; such as the formation of gum,
sludge, and acidity, which are brought about by oxidation.
ANTI-OXIDANT - An additive for the purpose of reducing the rate of oxidation and
subsequent deterioration of the material.
ANTI-SCUFFING LUBRICANT - A lubricant that is formulated to avoid scuffing.
ANTI-SEIZURE PROPERTY - The ability of the bearing material to resist seizure
during momentary lubrication failure.
ANTI-WEAR ADDITIVE - A lubricant additive to reduce wear.
API - American Petroleum Institute.
API GRAVITY (API DEGREE) - A measure of density used in the US petroleum
industry.
APPARENT (EMF) - The apparent voltage, as measured by the drop in pressure due
to a current flowing through a resistance.
APPARENT WATTS - The product of volts times amperes, in an alternating current
circuit.
AQUEOUS - Watery. A substance containing water.
AQUIFER - A porous, subsurface geological structure carrying or holding water.
ARC - A flash, caused by an electric current ionizing a gas or vapor.
ARC BRAZING - A brazing process in which the heat required is obtained from an
electric arc.
ARC FURNACE - An electric furnace, in which heat is produced by an arc between
two electrodes.
ARC WELDING - A group of welding processes which produce coalescence of metals
by heating them with an arc, with or without the application of pressure, and with or
without the use of a filler metal.
ARC WELDING - A process where coalescence is obtained by heating with an electric
arc.
ARCHIMIDES PRINCIPAL - States that an upward force acting on a body wholly or
partly submerged in a fluid, is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced, and acts
through the center of gravity of the fluid displaced, or the center of buoyancy.
ARMATURE - the rotating part of an electric motor or generator. The moving part of a
relay or vibrator.
ARMATURE AIR GAP - The air space between the stationary and rotating parts of a
motor or generator, through which magnetic lines of force pass.
ARMATURE BACK AMPERE TURNS - The magnetic field produced by current
flowing in the armature winding, that opposes and reduces the number of magnetic
lines of force, produced by the field magnets of a motor or generator.
ARMATURE BAR - Copper bars used in place of wire windings, in large armatures,
generators, or motors.
ARMATURE CIRCUIT - The path that the current takes, in flowing through the
windings from one brush to another.
ARMATURE COIL - The loop or coil of copper wire, placed on the armature core, and
forming part of the winding.
ARMATURE CORE -The laminated iron part of the armature, formed from thin sheets
or disks of steel, on which the windings are placed.
ARMATURE CURRENT - The current flowing from the armature of a generator, to the
armature of a motor. Not including the current taken by the shunt field.
ARMATURE DEMAGNETIZATION - The reduction in the effective magnetic lines of
force, produced by the armature current.
ARMATURE REACTION - The effect, that the magnetic field produced by the current
flowing in the armature, has on the magnetic field produced by the field coils.
ARMATURE REGULATING RESISTORS - Are resistors, designed to regulate the
speed or torque of a loaded motor, by placing a resistance in the armature or power
circuit.
ARMATURE RESISTANCE - The resistance of the wire used in the windings of the
armature, measured between the rings or brushes, or from positive to negative
terminals.
ARMATURE SLOT -The groove or slot in the armature core, into which the coils or
windings are placed.
ARMATURE TESTER - Any device used for locating faults or defects in the armature
winding.
ARMATURE VARNISH - Is a liquid put on the field and armature windings, to improve
the insulation of the cotton covering on the wires.
ARMATURE WINDING - All of the copper wire placed on the armature, and through
which the current flows.
AROMATICS - A group of hydrocarbons of which benzene is the parent. They are
called "aromatics" because many of their derivatives have sweet or aromatic odorous.
ARTIFICIAL MAGNET - Is a manufactured magnet, which is distinguished from a
natural occurring magnet.
ASHRAE - The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning
Engineers.
ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
ASME APPENDIX SECTION I - Explains matter which is mandatory, unless
specifically referred to in the rules of the code, including formulas.
ASME BOILER CODE - The boiler code listing standards, specified by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, for the construction of boilers.
ASME PART PEB SECTION I - Requirements for electric boilers.
ASME PART PFH SECTION I - Requirements for feedwater heaters.
ASME PART PFT SECTION I - Requirements for firetube boilers.
ASME PART PG SECTION I - General requirements for all methods of construction.
ASME PART PMB SECTION I - Requirements for miniature boilers.
ASME PART PVG SECTION I - Requirements for organic fluid vaporizer generators.
ASME PART PW SECTION I - Requirements for boilers fabricated by welding.
ASME PART PWT SECTION I - Requirements for watertube boilers.
ASME SECTION I - Power Boilers.
ASME SECTION II - Material specifications.
ASME SECTION III - Nuclear Power Plant Components.
ASME SECTION IV - Heating boilers.ASME SECTION IX ASME SECTION V Nondestructive examination.
ASME SECTION VI - Recommended rules for the care and operation of heating
boilers.
ASME SECTION VII - Recommended rules for the care and operation of power
boilers.
ASME SECTION VII APPENDIX - Consists of conversion factors for converting
Imperial units to SI Units.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C1 - Rules for routine operation of power boilers.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C2 - Operating and maintaining boiler appliances.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C3 - Rules for inspection.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C4 - Prevention of direct causes of boiler failure.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C5 - Is partial rules for the design of installations.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C6 - Operation of boiler auxiliaries.
ASME SECTION VII SUBSECTION C7 - Control of internal chemical conditions.
ASME SECTION VIII - Pressure vessels.
ASME SECTION X - Fiberglass reinforced plastic pressure vessels.
ASME SECTION XI - Rules for inservice inspection of Nuclear Power Plant
components.
ASPECT RATIO - The ratio of the length to the width, of a rectangular air grille or duct.
ASPIRATING PSYCHROMETER - A device which draws sample of air through it to
measure humidity.
ASPIRATION - Production of movement in a fluid by suction created by fluid velocity.
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials.
ASYNCHRONOUS - Not having the same frequency. Out of step, or phase.
ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR - An induction generator.
ASYNCHRONOUS MOTOR - An induction motor, whose speed is not synchronous
with the frequency of the supply line.
ATMOSPHERE - Is the mixture of gases and water vapor surrounding the earth.
ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY - Is static electricity, produced between cloud fronts in
the atmosphere.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE - Pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere;
standard atmospheric pressure is 101.325 kPa or 1.01325 bars or 14.696 psia or
29.921 inches of mercury at sea level.

ATOM - The smallest complete particle of an element, which can be obtained, yet
which retains all physical and chemical properties of the element.
ATOMIC NUMBER - The number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom, of an
element.
ATOMIC WEIGHT - The weight of an elementary atom, in relation to the weight of an
atom of hydrogen. A hydrogen atom being taken as 1.00g.
ATOMIZE - Process of changing a liquid to minute particles or a fine spray.
ATTEMPERATING WATER IMPURITY - Refers to turbine deposits caused by
impurities in the water used for attemperators. (Chemicals used with attemperating
water should be of the volatile type).
ATTEMPERATOR - An apparatus for reducing and controlling the temperature of a
superheater vapor or a fluid.
ATTENUATION - The sound reduction process in which sound energy is absorbed or
diminished in intensity as the result of energy conversion from sound to motion or
heat.
ATTRITION - The rubbing of one particle against another in a resin bed; frictional
wear that will affect the site of resin particles.
AUTOMATIC - Self-acting. Operating by its own mechanism, when activated by some
triggering signal.
AUTOMATIC CONTROL - The process of using the differences, between the actual
value, and desired value, of any variable, to take corrective action, without human
intervention.
AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER - A device that measures the value of a measured
variable, and operates to correct or limit the deviation from a selected reference. Both
measuring and control applications.
AUTOMATIC DEFROST - System of removing ice and frost from evaporators
automatically.
AUTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE (AEV) - A type of metering device that senses lowside pressure and modulates in order to maintain low-side pressure constant.
AUTOMATIC EXTRACTION UNIT TURBINE - Bleeds off part of the main steam flow
at one, two, or three points. Valved partitions between selected stages control the
extracted steam pressure at the desired level. When extracted steam flowing through
the unit does not produce enough shaft power to meet the demand, more steam flows
through the turbine to exhaust. Located between steam supply and process steam
headers.
AUTOMATIC FROST CONTROL - Control which automatically cycles refrigerating

system to remove frost formation on evaporator.
AUTOMATIC GOVERNING SYSTEM - A system which correlates steam flow,
pressure, shaft speed, and shaft output, for any one turbine unit.
AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER - Refrigerating mechanism designed to
automatically produce ice cubes in quantity.
AUTOMATIC RESET (INTEGRATION) - Is a type of control, in which the controller
output, changes at a rate proportional to the deviation or error. The output will
continue to change as long as any deviation or error exists.
AUTOMATIC STARTER AUTOMATION - The employment of devices, which automatically control one or more
functions.
AUTOTRANSFORMER - A transformer in which both primary and secondary coils,
have turns in common. The step up or step down of voltage, is accomplished by taps
in common windings.
AUXILIARY CONTACTS - A set of contacts that perform a secondary function,
usually in relation to the operation of a set of primary contacts.
AVAGADRO'S HYPOTHESIS - States that equal volumes of different gases, at the
same temperature and pressure, will contain equal numbers of molecules.
AVAGADRO'S NUMBER (N) - The number of elementary units such as atoms,
formula units, molecules, or ions, that constitute one mole of the said particle.
AVERAGING ELEMENT - A thermostat sensing element which will respond to the
average duct temperature.
AXIAL FAN - Consists of a propeller or disc type of wheel within a cylinder that
discharges air parallel to the axis of the wheel.
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSOR - Uses rotor blades shaped like airfoils, to bite into the
air, speed it up, and push it into the subsequent stationary blade passages. These
passages are shaped to form diffusers, that slow up the incoming air, and make it
pressurize itself by catching up with the air ahead of it.
AZEOTROPE - Having constant maximum and minimum boiling points.
AZEOTROPIC MIXTURE - Example of azeotropic mixture - refrigerant R-502 is
mixture consisting of 48.8 percent refrigerant R-22 and 51.2% R-115. The refrigerants
do not combine chemically, yet azeotropic mixture provides refrigerant characteristics
desired.
ABBIT METAL (see bearing, babbit).
BACK PRESSURE - Pressure in low side of refrigerating system; also called suction
pressure or low-side pressure.
BACK PRESSURE TURBINE BACK SEATING - Fluid opening/closing such as a gauge opening or to seal the joint
where the valve stem goes through the valve body.
BACK WORK RATIO - Is the fraction of the gas turbine work used to drive the
compressor.
BACKGROUND NOISE - Sound other than the wanted signal. In room acoustics, the
irreducible noise level measured in the absence of any building occupants.
BACKING RING - Backing in a form of a ring, generally used in welding of piping.
BACKWASH - The counter-current flow of water through a resin bed (that is, in at the
bottom of the exchange unit, out at the top) to clean and regenerate the bed after
exhaustion (water treatment). Also, the process whereby a filtering mechanism is
cleaned by reversing the flow through the filter.
BACTERIA - Microscopic unicellular living organisms.
BAFFLE - Plate or vane used to direct or control movement of fluid or air within
confined area.
BAGHOUSE - A chamber containing bags for filtering solids out of gases.
BALLAST GAS - Are the nonflammable portion of the gas, such as carbon dioxide.
BAROMETER - Instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. It may be calibrated
in pounds per square inch, in inches of mercury in a column in millimeters or kPa.
BASE - An alkaline substance.
BASE METAL - The metal present in the largest proportion in an alloy. (Copper is the
base metal in brass)
BASE METAL - The substrate metal that is coated or protected by a surface coating.
BASICITY - The ability of a substance to boost the pH after neutralizing all the acid
species.
BATCH OPERATION - The utilization of ion-exchange resins to treat a solution in a

container wherein the removal of ions is accomplished by agitation of the solution and
subsequent decanting of the treated liquid.
BAUDELOT COOLER - Heat exchanger in which water flows by gravity over the
outside of the tubes or plates.
BEARING, AIR - A bearing using air as a lubricant.
BEARING, ALIGNING - A bearing with an external spherical seat surface that
provides a compensation for shaft or housing deflection or misalignment.
BEARING, ANNULAR - Usually a rolling bearing of short cylindrical form supporting a
shaft carrying a radial load.
BEARING, ANTI-FRICTION - A bearing containing a solid lubricant.
BEARING, AXIAL LOAD (see bearing, thrust)
BEARING, BABBIT - A bearing metal of non-ferrous material, containing several tinbased alloys, mainly copper, antimony, tin and lead.
BEARING, BALL - A rolling element bearing in which the rolling elements are
spherical.
BEARING, BIG END - A bearing at the larger (crankshaft) end of a connecting rod in
an engine.
BEARING, BIMETAL - A bearing consisting of two layers.
BEARING, BOTTOM END - (see bearing, big end)
BEARING, BUSH - A plain bearing in which the lining is closely fitted into the housing
in the form of a bush, usually surfaced with a bearing alloy.
BEARING, CIRCULAR STEP - A flat circular hydrostatic bearing with a central
circular recess.
BEARING, FIXED PAD - An axial or radial load bearing equipped with fixed pads, the
surface of which a are contoured to promote hydrodynamic lubrication.
BEARING, FLOATING - A bearing designed or mounted to permit axial displacement
between shaft and housing.
BEARING, FLOATING RING - A type of journal bearing that includes a thin ring
between the journal and the bearing. The ring floats and rotates at a fraction of the
journal rotational speed.
BEARING, FLUID - (see hydrostatic bearing)
BEARING, FULL JOURNAL - A journal bearing that surrounds the journal by a full
360.
BEARING, GAS - A journal or thrust bearing lubricated with gas.
BEARING, HALF JOURNAL - A bearing extending 180 around a journal.
BEARING, JOURNAL - A machine part in which a rotating shaft revolves or slides.
BEARING, KINGSBURRY TRUST BEARING, MAGNETIC - A type of bearing in which the force that separates the
relatively moving surfaces is produced be a magnetic field.
BEARING, MAIN - A bearing supporting the main power-transmitting shaft.
BEARING, MITCHELL -(see tilting pad bearing).
BEARING, NEEDLE - A bearing in which the relatively moving parts are separated by
long thin rollers that have a length-to-diameter ratio exceeding 5.0.
BEARING, NONCONTACT - A bearing in which no solid contact occurs between
relatively moving surfaces.
BEARING, PEDESTAL - A bearing that is supported on a column or pedestal rather
than on the main body of the machine.
BEARING, PIVOT - An axial load bearing, radial-load-type bearing which supports the
end of a shaft or pivot.
BEARING, POROUS - Made from porous material, such as compressed metal
powders, the pores acting either as reservoirs for holding or passages for supplied
lubricant.
BEARING, ROLLER - A bearing in which the relatively moving parts are separated by
rollers.
BEARING, RUBBING - A bearing in which the relatively moving parts slide without
deliberate lubrication.
BEARING, SELF-ALIGNING - A roller-element bearing with one spherical raceway
that automatically provides compensation for shaft or housing deflection or
misalignment.
BEARING, SELF-LUBRICATING - A bearing independent of external lubrication.
These bearings may be sealed for life after packing with grease or may contain selflubricating material.
BEARING, SLEEVE - A cylindrical plain bearing used to provide radial location for a
shat, which moves axially. Sleeve bearings consist of one or more layers of bearing
alloys, bonded to a steel backing.
BEARING, SLIDE - A bearing used or positioning a slide or for axial alignment of a
long rotating shaft.
BEARING, STEP - A plane surface bearing that supports the lower end of a vertical
shaft.
BEARING, THRUST - A bearing in which the load acts in the direction of the axis of
rotation.
BEARING, TILTING PAD - A pad bearing in which the pads are free to take up a
position at an angle to the opposing surface according to the hydrodynamic pressure
distribution over its surface.
BEARING, TRUNNION - A bearing used as a pivot to swivel or turn an assembly.
BED - A mass of ion-exchange resin particles contained in a column.
BED DEPTH - The height of the resinous material in the column after the ion
exchanger has been properly conditioned for effective operation.
BED EXPANSION - The effect produced during backwashing when the resin particles
become separated and rise in the column. The expansion of the bed due to the
increase in the space between resin particles may be controlled by regulating
backwash flow (typical with water treatment).
BELLOWS - Corrugated cylindrical container which moves as pressures change, or
provides a seal during movement of parts.
BELLOWS SEAL - A type of mechanical seal that utilizes a bellows for providing
secondary sealing.
BENDING MOMENT - The algebraic sum of the couples or the moments of the
external forces, or both, to the left or right of any section on a member subjected to
bending by couples or transverse forces, or both.
BERNOULLI'S THEOREM - In stream of liquid, the sum of elevation head, pressure
head and velocity remains constant along any line of flow provided no work is done by
or upon liquid in course of its flow, and decreases in proportion to energy lost in flow.
BICACARBONATE ALKALINITY - The presence in a solution of hydroxyl (OH-) ions
resulting from the hydrolysis of carbonates or bicarbonates. When these salts react
with water, a strong base and a weak acid are produced, and the solution is alkaline.
BICARBONATE - An ion or salt of carbonic acid, containing hydrogen, carbon, and
oxygen (HC03), such as sodium bicarbonate, NaHC03.
BIMETAL STRIP - Temperature regulating or indicating device which works on
principle that two dissimilar metals with unequal expansion rates, welded together, will
bend as temperatures change.
BIMETALLIC COUPLE - A joint or union of two dissimilar metals.
BIMETALLIC ELEMENT BIOCIDE - A chemical used to control the population of troublesome microbes.
BLACK LIQUOR - The liquid material remaining from pulpwood cooking in the soda
or sulfate papermaking process.
BLADE CLEARANCE (STEAM TURBINE) - Reaction turbine - the gap between blade
and casing. Impulse turbine - the gap between the stationary and moving blades.
BLAST FREEZER - Low-temperature evaporator which uses a fan to force air rapidly
over the evaporator surface.
BLAST FURNACE GAS - Is the waste product from furnaces used to smelt iron ores.
BLEEDER VALVE - A valve designed to slowly relief a liquid or gas form system.
BLEEDING - Slowly reducing the pressure of liquid or gas from a system or cylinder
by slightly opening a valve.
BLEEDOFF - The continuous removal of water from a re-circulating water system.
BLEEDOFF RATE - The rate at which water is continuously removed from a system.
BLOWDOWN - In connection with boilers or cooling towers, the process of
discharging a significant portion of the aqueous solution in order to remove
accumulated salts, deposits and other impurities.
BOILER - Closed container in which a liquid may be heated and vaporized.
BOILER FEED WATER - The total water fed to a boiler producing steam. This water
is the mixture of return steam condensate and makeup water.
BOILER HORSEPOWER - The work required to evaporate 34.5 lb of water per hour
into steam from and at 100C.
BOILER LAY-UP - Storing and protecting the boiler when not in use.
BOILING - (See vaporization)
BOILING OUT - The boiling of high alkaline water in boiler pressure parts for the
removal of oil, greases, prior to normal operation or after major repairs.
BOILING POINT - The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the
absolute external pressure at the liquid-vapor interface.

BOILING TEMPERATURE - Temperature at which a fluid changes from a liquid to a
gas.
BORE - Inside diameter of a cylinder.
BOURDON TUBE - Thin-walled tube of elastic metal flattened and bent into circular
shape, which tends to straighten as pressure inside is increased. Used in pressure
gauges.
BOYLES' LAW - If the temperature on a gas is constant, the volume is inversely
proportional to the pressure. By formula - VP = V1P1
BRANCH CIRCUIT - Wiring between the last over current device and the branch
circuit outlets.
BRASS - A copper-zinc alloy containing up to 40% zinc and some smaller amounts of
other metals.
BRAYTON CYCLE (also referred to as the Joule Cycle) - A rotating machine in
which compression and expansion take place. Gas turbine are such an example.
BRAZE - A weld produced by heating an assembly to suitable temperatures and by
using a filler metal having a liquid us above 450C. The filler metal is distributed
between the closely fitted facing surface of the joint by capillary action.
BRAZING, BLOCK - A brazing process in which the heat required is obtained from
heated blocks applied to the parts to be joined.
BREAKTHROUGH - The first appearance in the solution flowing from an ionexchange unit of unabsorbed ions similar to those which are depleting the activity of
the resin bed. Breakthrough is an indication that regeneration of the resin is necessary.
BRINE - Water saturated with a chemical such as salt.
BRITISH THERMAL UNIT, (BTU) - The Btu is defined as the heat required to raise
the temperature of a pound of water from 59 to 60F.
BRITTLENESS - The tendency of a material to fracture without first undergoing
significant plastic deformation.
BRONZE - A copper-rich copper tin alloy with or without small proportions of other
elements.
BTU - British Thermal Unit. Is the measure of heat energy.
BUFFER - A substance used in solution, which accepts hydrogen ions or hydroxyl
ions, added to the solution as acids or alkalis, minimizing a change in pH.
BULB - The name given to the temperature-sensing device located in the fluid for
which control or indication is provided. The bulb may be liquid-filled, gas filled, or gasand-liquid filled. Changes in temperature produce pressure changes within the bulb
which are transmitted to the controller.
BULGE - A local distortion or swelling outward caused by internal pressure on a tube
wall or boiler shell due to overheating.
BUS BAR - A heavy, rigid metallic conductor which carries a large current and makes
a common connection between several circuits. Bus bars are usually uninsulated and
located where the electrical service enters a building; that is, in the main distribution
cabinet.
BYPASS - A pipe or duct, usually controlled by valve or damper, for conveying a fluid
around an element of a system.
BYPASS - Passage at one side of, or around, a regular passage.
BYPASS FEEDER - A closed tank that is installed in a system in "bypass," that is, in a
side stream taken off the system and leading back to the system rather than directly inline.
CALCAREOUS COATING OR DEPOSIT - A layer consisting of a mixture of calcium

carbonate and magnesium hydroxide deposited on surfaces being cathodically
protected against corrosion, because of increased pH adjustment to the protected
surface.
CO - Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by
the incomplete burning of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with
natural gas, liquified petroleum (LP gas), oil, kerosene, coal, or wood may produce
CO. Burning charcoal produces CO. Running cars produce CO
CO2 - is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. Carbon
dioxide results from the combustion of organic matter if sufficient amounts of oxygen
are present. It is also produced by various microorganisms in fermentation and is
breathed out by animals. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, using
both the carbon and the oxygen to construct carbohydrates. It is present in the Earth's
atmosphere at a low concentration and acts as a greenhouse gas. It is a major
component of the carbon cycle.
CALCIUM - A scale forming element found in boiler feedwater.

CALCIUM CHLORIDE - A substance used to obtain calcium chloride brine.
CALCIUM SULFATE - Chemical compound (CaSO4) which is used at a drying agent
or desiccant in liquid line dryers.

CALIBRATION - A process of dividing and numbering the scale of an instrument; also
of correcting or determining the error of an existing scale, or of evaluating one quantity
in terms of readings of another.
CALORIE - It is equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one
gram of water one degree Celsius.
CALORIMETER - Device used to measure quantities of heat or determine specific
heats.
CANGE OF STATE - Change from one phase, such as solid, liquid or gas, to another.
CAPACITANCE - The property of an electric current that permits the storage of
electrical energy in an electrostatic field and the release of that energy at a later time.
CAPACITOR, (CONDENSER) - A device that can store an electric charge when
voltage is applied.
CAPACITY - The adsorption activity possessed in varying degrees by ion-exchange
materials. This quality may be expressed as kilograins per cubic foot, grammilliequivalents per gram, pound-equivalents per pound, gram-milliequivalents per
milliliter, and so on, where the numerators of these ratios represent the weight of the
ions adsorbed and the denominators represent the weight or volume of the adsorbent.
CAPILLARY - The name given to the thin tube attached to the bulb which transmits
the bulb pressure changes to the controller or indicator. The cross sectional area of
the capillary is extremely small compared to the cross section of the bulb so that the
capillary, which is usually outside of the controlled fluid, will introduce the smallest
possible error in the signal being transmitted from the bulb.
CAPILLARY TUBE - The capillary tube is a metering device made from a thin tube
approximately 0.5 to 6 metre long and from 0.025 to 0.090 inches in diameter which
feeds liquid directly to the evaporator. Usually limited to systems of 1 ton or less, it
performs all of the functions of the thermal expansion valve when properly sized.
CARBON DIOXIDE - Compound of carbon and oxygen (CO2) which is sometimes
used as a refrigerant. Refrigerant number is R-744.
CARBON FILTER - Air filter using activated carbon as air cleansing agent.
CARBON RINGS - To minimize steam leakage, gland sealing arrangement features
an angle-type, carbon ring design with a packing case that is an integral part of the
turbine case. Inconel springs hold the rings in place.
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE - Colorless nonflammable and very toxic liquid used as
a solvent. It should never be allowed to touch skin and fumes must not be inhaled.
CARBONACEOUS EXCHANGER - Ion-exchange materials of limited capacity
prepared by the sulfonation of coal, lignite, peat, and so on.

CARBONATE - An ion or salt of carbonic acid, containing carbon and oxygen such as
calcium carbonate. (CaC03)
CARBONATE HARDNESS - That hardness caused in water by bicarbonates and
carbonates of calcium, and magnesium.
CARBONATE-POLYMER TREATMENT - A treatment method using synthetic
polymers, generally used with high hardness (60-70) ppm and high alkalinity.
CARBOXYLIC - A term describing a specific acidic group (COOH) that contributes
cation-exchange ability to some resins.
CARRYOVER - The moisture and entrained solids forming the film of steam bubbles,
as a result of foaming in a boiler. This condition is caused by a faulty boiler water
condition. See also foaming.
CASCADE - A series of stages in which the output of one stage is the input of the next
stage.
CASCADE SYSTEMS - Arrangement in which two or more refrigerating systems are
used in series; uses evaporator of one machine to cool condenser of other machine.
Produces ultra-low temperatures.
CATHODE - In electrolysis or electrochemical corrosion, a site on a surface where
actions in solution are neutralized by electrons to become elements that either plate
out on the surface or react with water to produce a secondary reaction.
CATHODIC PROTECTION - A method of preventing corrosion by making the metal a
cathode in a conducting medium by means of a direct electrical current that is galvanic.
CATHODIC PROTECTION - Reduction of corrosion rate by shifting the corrosion
potential of the electrode towards less oxidizing potential by applying an external
electromotive force.
CATION - A positively charged ion that migrates through the electrolyte toward the
cathode under the influence of a potential gradient.
CATION-EXCHANGE SOFTENERS - Ion exchange units are known primarily as
water softeners. But they can also remove nitrates, sulfates, and various toxic metals
from water. ion exchangers.pdf
CATIONIC - The condition of a polymer, colloid, or large particle having exchangeable
anions on its surface and an opposite, positive charge on the substrata.
CAUSTIC CRACKING - A form of stress-corrosion cracking most frequently
encountered in carbon steels or iron-chromium-nickel alloys that are exposed to
concentrated hydroxide solutions at temperature of 200 to 250C.
CAUSTIC EMBRITTLEMENT - An obsolete term replaced by caustic cracking.

CAUSTIC SODA - A common water treatment chemical, sodium hydroxide.
CAVITATION - The formation and collapse, within a liquid, of cavities or bubbles that
contain vapor or gas or both. In general, cavitation originates from decreases in static
pressure in the liquid. In order to erode a solid surface by cavitation, it is necessary for
the cavitation bubbles to collapse on or close to that surface.
CAVITATION EROSION - Progressive loss of original material from a solid surface
due to continuing exposure to cavitation.
CELSIUS TEMPERATURE SCALE - A thermometric scale in which the freezing point
of water is called 0C and its boiling point 100C at normal atmospheric pressure.
CENTANE NUMBER - A measure of ignition quality of a fuel or petroleum with
reference to normal centane high-ignition quality fuel with an arbitrary number of 100.
CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR - Pump which compresses gaseous fluids by
centrifugal force.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE - is actually not a force but the experience of an inertial force
experienced in a rotating reference frame acting away from the center of the rotation.
It is equal in magnitude but opposite to the centripetal force required to constrain the
body to move in a circular motion. s actually not a force but the experience of an
inertial.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE -On a centrifugal pump, it is that force which throws water
from a spinning impeller.
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP - A pump consisting of an impeller fixed on a rotating shaft
and enclosed in a casing, having an inlet and a discharge connection. The rotating
impeller creates pressure in the liquid by the velocity derived from centrifugal force.
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP - Pump which produces fluid velocity and converts it to
pressure head.
Centripetal force - is the force that causes an object to move in a circle, acting
towards the centre of the circle. In the case of a satellite the centripetal force is gravity,
in the case of an object at the end of a rope, the centripetal force is the tension of the
rope.
CHANGE OF STATE - Condition in which a substance changes from a solid to a
liquid or a liquid to a gas caused by the addition of heat. Or the reverse, in which a
substance changes from a gas to a liquid, or a liquid to a solid, caused by the removal
of heat.
CHANNELING - Cleavage and furrowing of the bed due to faulty operational
procedure, in which the solution being treated follows the path of least resistance, runs
through these furrows, and fails to contact active groups in other parts of the bed,
(water treatment).
CHARGE - Amount of refrigerant placed in a refrigerating unit.
CHARGING BOARD - Specially designed panel or cabinet fitted with gauges, valves
and refrigerant cylinders used for charging refrigerant and oil into refrigerating
mechanisms.
CHECK VALVE - Device which permits fluid flow in one direction.
CHELATE - Is a molecule, similar to an ion exchanger, capable to withdraw ions from
their water solutions into soluble complexes.
CHEMICAL CLEANING - Using a solvent solution to remove mill scale and corrosion
products.
CHEMICAL FEEDLINE - The line which feeds the boiler treatment chemicals into the
boiler.
CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION - When the chemicals react with the dissolved minerals
in the water to produce a relative insoluble reaction product. A typical example of this
takes place with the lime-soda softening process.
CHEMICAL REFRIGERATION - System of cooling using a disposable refrigerant.
Also called an expendable refrigerant system.
CHEMICAL STABILITY - Resistance to chemical change which ion-exchange resins
must possess despite contact with aggressive solutions.
CHILL FACTOR - Calculated number based on temperature and wind velocity.
CHILLED-WATER SYSTEM - A re-circulating water system using water chilled in a
refrigeration machine as a source for cooling.
CHILLER/HEATERS - A unit that supplies either chilled water for cooling or hot water
for heating, (HVAC).
CHLORIDE - An ion, compound, or salt of chlorine, such as sodium chloride (NaCl) or
calcium chloride (CaCl2).
CHLORINATION - A process in which chlorine gas or other chlorine compounds are
added to the water for the purpose of disinfecting.
CHOKE TUBE - Throttling device used to maintain correct pressure difference
between high-side and low-side in refrigerating mechanism. Capillary tubes are
sometimes called choke tubes.
CHORDAL THERMOCOUPLE - A thermocouple installed in furnace tubes, designed
to measure the effectiveness of water treatment within the boiler.
CIRCUIT - An electrical arrangement requiring a source of voltage, a closed loop of

wiring, an electric load and some means for opening and closing it.
CIRCUIT BREAKER - A switch-type mechanism that opens automatically when it
senses an overload (excess current).
CLAY - Finely suspended earth mineral sometimes found as an impurity in water.
CLEARANCE SPACE - Space between top of piston and the valve plate.
CLEARANCE VAPOR - The vapor remaining in the clearance space at the end of
each discharge stroke.
CLOSED CYCLE - is the gas turbine arrangement, in which the exhaust is directed
back again to compressor without coming in contact with the atmospheric air.
CLOSED FEED WATER HEATER - An indirect-contact feed water heater. Steam and
water are separated by tubes.
CLOSED RE-CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM - A system using as a heat-transfer
medium water that continuously circulates through closed piping and heat exchanger
without evaporation.
CO COAGULANT - A substance that promotes the clumping of particulate matter in
water, forming a larger mass and thus promoting settling of particulates and
clarification of the water.
COAGULATION - Is the process whereby finely divided particles of turbidity and color,
capable of remaining in suspension indefinitely, are combined by chemical means into
masses sufficiently large to effect rapid settling.
COALESCENCE - The gathering together of coagulated colloidal liquids into a single
continuous phase.
CODE INSTALLATION - Refrigeration or air conditioning installation which conforms
to the local code and/or the national code for safe and efficient installations.
CO-EFFICIENT OF CONDUCTIVITY - Measure of the relative rate at which different
materials conduct heat. Copper is a good conductor of heat and, therefore, has a high
coefficient of conductivity.
COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION - A measure of the change in length or volume of an
oject, specifically, a change measured by the increase in length or volume of an object
per unit length or volume.
COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION - The dimensionless ratio of the friction force (F)
between two bodies to the normal force (N) pressing these bodies together - (f) = (F/
N)
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE (COP) - Ratio of work performed or
accomplished as compared to the energy used under designated operating conditions.

COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION - The fractional change in length (or
sometimes in volume, when specified) of a material for a unit change in temperature.
COGENERATION - A term used to describe the combination of different
thermodynamic cycles for the purpose of increasing all-over cycle efficiency.
CO-GENERATION GENERATION - a term applied to identify the generation of
people interested in co-generation.
COLD - The absence of heat; a temperature considerably below normal.
COLD DECK -The cooling section of a mixed air zoning system.
COLD JUNCTION - That part of a thermoelectric system which absorbs heat as the
system operates.
COLD PROCESS - A water treatment process carried out at room temperature.
COLD WALL - Refrigerator construction which has the inner lining of refrigerator
serving as the cooling surface.
COLLOIDAL - A state of suspension in a liquid medium in which extremely small
particles are suspended and dispersed but not dissolved.
COLLOIDS - Organic matter of very fine particle size, usually in the range of 10-5 to
10-7 cm in diameter. It tends to inhibit the formation of dense scale and results in the
deposition of sludge, or causes it to remain in suspension, so that it may be blown
from the boiler.
COLUMN OPERATION - Conventional utilization of ion-exchange resins in columns
through which pass, either upflow or down flow, the solution to be treated.
COMBINED FEEDER CUTOFF - A device that regulates makeup water to a boiler in
combination with a low-water fuel cutoff.
COMBINED STEAM-GAS PLANT - where a gas turbine is combined with steam plant
in order to utilize the waste heat.
COMBINED TREATMENT - A method of physical treatment , followed by the addition
of chemicals to remove oxygen.
COMBUSTION - The act or process of burning.
COMFORT CHART - A chart showing effective temperatures with dry-bulb
temperatures and humidities (and sometimes air motion) by which the effects of
various air conditions on human comfort may be compared.
COMFORT COOLER - System used to reduce the temperature in the living space in
homes. These systems are not complete air conditioners as they do not provide
complete control of heating, humidifying, dehumidification, and air circulation.
COMFORT COOLING - Refrigeration for comfort as opposed to refrigeration for
storage or manufacture.
COMFORT ZONE - (Average) the range of effective temperatures over which the
majority (50 percent or more) of adults feels comfortable; (extreme) the range of
effective temperatures over which one or more adults feel comfortable. An area on the
psychrometric chart which shows conditions of temperature, humidity and sometimes
air movement in which most people are comfortable.
COMMON NEUTRAL - A neutral conductor that is common to, or serves, more than
one circuit.
COMPOSITION - The elements or chemical components that make up a material and
their relative proportions.
COMPOUND - They are chemically combined elements with definite proportions of
the component elements.
COMPOUND GAUGE - Instrument for measuring pressures both above and below
atmospheric pressure.
COMPOUND REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS - System which has several compressors
or compressor cylinders in series. The system is used to pump low pressure vapors to
condensing pressures.
COMPRESSION - Term used to denote increase of pressure on a fluid by using
mechanical energy.
COMPRESSION RATIO - Ratio of the volume of the clearance space to the total
volume of the cylinder. In refrigeration it is also used as the ratio of the absolute lowside pressure to the absolute high-side pressure.
COMPRESSION, ADIABATIC - Is compressing a gas without removing or adding
heat.
COMPRESSOR - Pump of a refrigerating mechanism which draws a low pressure on
cooling side of refrigerant cycle and squeezes or compresses the gas into the highpressure or condensing side of the cycle.
COMPRESSOR - The pump which provides the pressure differential to cause fluid to
flow and in the pumping process increases pressure of the refrigerant to the high side
condition. The compressor is the separation between low side and high side.
COMPRESSOR DISPLACEMENT - Volume, in cubic inches, represented by the area
of the compressor piston head or heads multiplied by the length of the stroke.
COMPRESSOR SEAL - Leak proof seal between crankshaft and compressor body in
open type compressors.
COMPRESSOR SURGING - An instability of air flow with axial compressor on the first
stages of these compressors. Air flow might even be reversed that point.
COMPRESSOR TURBINE - in terms of a gas turbine arrangement, it is the turbine
which drives the compressor only.
COMPRESSOR, CLEARANCE POCKET - Small space in a cylinder from which
compressed gas is not completely expelled. This space is called the compressor
clearance space or pocket. For effective operation, compressors are designed to have
as small a clearance space as possible.
COMPRESSOR, ROTARY BLADE - Mechanism for pumping fluid by revolving blades
inside cylindrical housing.
COMPRESSOR, SINGLE-STAGE - Compressor having only one compressive step
between low-side pressure and high-side pressure.
COMPRESSIBILITY - The ease which a fluid may be reduced in volume by the
application of pressure, depends upon the state of the fluid as well as the type of fluid
itself.
CONDENSATE - The liquid formed by condensation of a vapor. In steam heating,
water condensed from steam; in air conditioning, water extracted from air, as by
condensation on the cooling coil of a refrigeration machine.
CONDENSATE POLISHER - A device used to clean the returning condensate to the
boiler feedwater system.
CONDENSATE PUMP - Device to remove water condensate that collects beneath an
evaporator.
CONDENSATION - Process of changing a vapor into liquid by extracting heat.
Condensation of steam or water vapor is effected in either steam condensers or
dehumidifying coils, and the resulting water is called condensate.
CONDENSE - Action of changing a gas or vapor to a liquid.
CONDENSER - An apparatus used to transfer heat from a hot gas, simultaneously
reducing that gas to a liquid.
CONDENSER TUBE - The heat transfer surface in a condenser.
CONDENSER-WATER SYSTEM - A re-circulating cooling water used as a heat
transfer fluid for the condensation of a gas.
CONDENSING BLEEDER TURBINE -
CONDENSING TEMPERATURE - The temperature at which the condensing gas is

returned to a liquid at the same pressure.
CONDENSING TURBINE - With this turbine, the steam exhausts to the condenser
and the latent heat of the steam is transferred to the cooling water. The condensed
steam is returned to the boiler as feedwater.
CONDENSING UNIT - Part of a refrigerating mechanism which pumps vaporized
refrigerant from the evaporator, compresses it, liquefies it in the condenser and
returns it to the refrigerant control.
CONDENSING UNIT SERVICE VALVES - Shutoff valves mounted on condensing
unit to enable service technicians to install and/or service unit.
CONDENSING UNIT, REFRIGERANT - An assembly of refrigerating components
designed to compress and liquefy a specific refrigerant, consisting of one or more
refrigerant compressors, refrigerant condensers, liquid receivers (when required) and
regularly furnished accessories.
CONDUCTANCE, ELECTRICAL - The reciprocal (opposite) of resistance and is the
current carrying ability of any wire or electrical component. Resistance is the ability to
oppose the flow of current.
CONDUCTANCE, SURFACE FILM - Time rate of heat flow per unit area under
steady conditions between a surface and a fluid for unit temperature difference
between the surface and fluid.
CONDUCTION - Transfer of heat by direct contact.
CONDUCTIVITY (ELECTRICAL) - The ability of a liquid to conduct an electrical
current and indicating the presence of cations and anions. Conductivity is usually
expressed in Micromohs per cm.
CONDUCTIVITY (THERMAL) - The time rate of heat flow through unit thickness of an
infinite slab of homogeneous material in a direction perpendicular to the surface,
induced by unit temperature difference. (W/m K)
CONDUCTIVITY METER - An electric instrument used to measure the conductivity of
water to determine its content of dissolved solids.
CONDUCTIVITY, THERMAL - The time rate of heat flow through unit area and unit
thickness of a homogeneous material under steady conditions when a unit
temperature gradient is maintained in the direction perpendicular to area. Materials
are considered homogeneous when the value of the thermal conductivity is not
affected by variation in thickness or in size
CONDUCTOR - Substance or body capable of transmitting electricity or heat.
CONDUIT - A round cross-section electrical raceway, of metal or plastic.
CONGEALER - Also known as freezer.

CONGRUENT PHOSPHATE CONTROL - Similar as a coordinated phosphate control
but more restrictive where the equilibrium is based on maintaining a ratio of 2.6 Na/1.0
PO4, instead of 3.0/1.0 PO4.
CONNECTED LOAD - The sum of all loads on a circuit. (1) Connection in Parallel:
System whereby flow is divided among two or more channels from a common starting
point or header. (2) Connection in Series: System whereby flow through two or more
channels is in a single path entering each succeeding channel only after leaving the
first or previous channel.
CONSTRICTOR - Tube or orifice used to restrict flow of a gas or a liquid.
CONTAMINATION - The introduction into water of microorganisms, chemicals, toxic
materials, waste water in a concentration that makes the water unfit for its next
intended use.
CONTROL - A device for regulation of a system or component in normal operation,
manual or automatic. If automatic, the implication is that it is responsive to changes of
pressure, temperature or other property whose magnitude is to be regulated.
CONTROL POINT - The value of the controlled variable which the controller operates
to maintain.
CONTROL VALVE - Valve which regulates the flow or pressure of a medium which
affects a controlled process. Control valves are operated by remote signals from
independent devices using any of a number of control media such as pneumatic,
electric or electrohydraulic.
CONTROLLED DEVICE - One which receives the converted signal from the
transmission system and translates it into the appropriate action in the environmental
system. For example: a valve opens or closes to regulate fluid flow in the system.
CONTROLLER - A device capable of measuring and regulating by receiving a signal
from a sensing device, comparing this data with a desired value and issuing signals
for corrective action.
CONVECTION - The movement of a mass of fluid (liquid or gas) caused by
differences in density in different parts of the fluid; the differences in density are
caused by differences in temperature. As the fluid moves, it carries with it its contained
heat energy, which is then transferred from one part of the fluid to another and from
the fluid to the surroundings.
CONVECTION, FORCED - Convection resulting from forced circulation of a fluid, as
by a fan, jet or pump.
CONVECTION, NATURAL - Circulation of gas or liquid (usually air or water) due to
differences in density resulting from temperature changes.
CONVERGENT NOZZLE - Impulse Turbine - Stationary convergent nozzles are used

for smaller pressure drops where the minimum exit pressure is 0.577 x the inlet
pressure (the critical pressure for nozzles.) If the exit pressure is less than 0.577 x
inlet pressure, eddy-currents are developed and the exit velocity will be less than
calculated.
CONVERGENT-DIVERGENT NOZZLE - Impulse Turbine - Stationary convergentdivergent nozzles prevent eddy-currents and the calculated velocity will be obtained
even at large pressure drops.
COOLER - Heat exchanger which removes heat from a substance.
COOLING EFFECT, SENSIBLE - The difference between the total cooling effect and
the dehumidifying effect, usually in watts.
COOLING EFFECT, TOTAL - Difference between the total enthalpy of the dry air and
water vapor mixture entering the cooler per hour and the total enthalpy of the dry air
and water vapor mixture leavir~ the cooler per hour, expressed in watts.
COOLING TOWER - Device for lowering the temperature of water by evaporative
cooling, in which water is showered through a space through which outside air
circulates. A portion of the water evaporates, its latent heat of vaporization cooling that
portion of the water which does not evaporate.
COOLING, EVAPORATIVE - Involves the adiabatic exchange of heat between air and
water spray or wetted surface. The water assumes the wet-bulb temperature of the air,
which remains constant during its traverse of the exchanger.
COOLING, REGENERATIVE - Process of utilizing heat which must be rejected or
absorbed in one part of the cycle to function usefully in another part of the cycle by
heat transfer.
COORDINATED PHOSPHATE CONTROL A treatment to prevent caustic gauging.
Free caustic is eliminated by maintaining an equilibrium between the sodium and
phosphate. Control is based on maintaining a ratio of 3.0 Na to/1.0 PO4.
CORRATOR - A device or probe employed to measure current flow in a process flow.
It consists of two identical electrodes, to which a small current is applied and
measured, from which corrosion rates can be calculated.
CORROSION - The chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material, usually
a metal, and its environment that produces a deterioration of the material and its
properties.
CORROSION, ANODE - The dissolution of an metal acting as an anode.
CORROSION, ATMOSPHERIC - The gradual degradation or alteration of a material
by contact with substances present in the atmosphere, such as oxygen, carbon
dioxide, water vapor, and sulfur and chlorine compounds.
CORROSION, BIOLOGICAL - Deterioration of metals as a result of the metabolic

action of microorganisms. Also often named fouling.
CORROSION, CATHODIC - Corrosion resulting resulting from a cathodic condition of
a structure usually caused by the reaction of an amphoteric metal with the alkaline
products of electrolysis.
CORROSION, CAVITATION - A process involving conjoint corrosion and cavitation.
CORROSION, CONCENTRATION ATTACK - A form of corrosion caused by the
concentration of caustic or phosphate salts under porous deposits, generally iron
oxide. Sometimes found at welded tubes and due to steam blanketing.
CORROSION, CONCENTRATION-CELL - Pitting type of corrosion caused by an
electrical potential differential between surfaces of a metal as a result of deposits or
differences in the solution concentration in contact with the metal.
CORROSION, COUPONS - Pre-weighed metal strips installed into fluid systems for
the purpose of monitoring metal losses.
CORROSION, CREVICE - Localized corrosion of a metal surface at, or immediately
adjacent to an area that is shielded from full exposure to the environment because of
close proximity between metal and the surface of another metal.
CORROSION, DEACTIVASION - The process of prior removal of the active corrosive
constituents, usually oxygen, from a corrosive liquid by controlled corrosion of
expendable metal or by other chemical means, therby making the liquids less
corrosive.
CORROSION, DEPOSIT (also called poultice corrosion) - Corrosion occuring
under or around a discontinous deposit on a metallic surface.
CORROSION, EFFECT - A change in any part of the corrosion system caused by
corrosion.
CORROSION, ELECTROCHEMICAL - Corrosion that is accompanied by a low of
electrons between cathodic and anodic areas on metallic surfaces.
CORROSION, EMBRITTLEMENT - The severe loss of ductility of a metal resulting
from corrosive attack, usually intergranular and often not visible.
CORROSION, EXTERNAL - A chemical deterioration of the metal on the fireside of
boiler heating surfaces.
CORROSION, FATIGUE - The process in which a metal fractures prematurely under
conditions of simultaneous corrosion and repeated cyclic loading at lower stress levels
or fewer cycles than would be required in the absence of the corrosive environment.
CORROSION, FILIFORM - Corrosion that occurs under organic coatings on metals as
fine wavy hairlines.
CORROSION, FRETTING - A type of corrosion which occurs where metals slide over
each other. Long tubes in heat exchangers often vibrate, causing metal to metal
contact, tube supports etc.. The metal to metal rubbing causes mechanical damage to
the protective oxide coating.
CORROSION, GALVANIC - Corrosion of a metal caused by its contact with a metal of
lower activity; this contact results in an electron flow or current and dissolution of one
of the metals.
CORROSION, GASEOUS - Corrosion with gas as the only corrosive agent and
without any aqueous phase on the surface of the metal. Also called dry corrosion.
CORROSION, GENERAL - A form of deterioration that is distributed more or less
uniformly over a surface.
CORROSION, GRAPHITIC - Corrosion of grey iron in which the iron matrix is
selectively leached away, leaving a porous mass of graphite behind. This type of
corrosion occurs in relativel mild aquous solutions and on buried piping.
CORROSION, HOT - An accelerated corrosion of metal surfaces that results from the
combined effect of oxidation and ractions with sulfur compounds or other contminants
such as chlorides, to form a molten salt on a metal surface that fluxes, destroys or
disrupts the normal protective oxide. (commonly found in pulp mills)
CORROSION, IMPINGEMENT - A form of erosion-corrosion generally associated with
local impingement of a high velocity, flowing fluid against a solid surface.
CORROSION, INFLUENCED - The corrosion cause by organisms due to their
discharge containing sulfur compounds and the depolarization with other types of
discharge due to the presence of the microorganisms.
CORROSION, INHIBITORS - Substances that slow the rate of corrosion.
CORROSION, INTERCRYSTALINE -(see intergranular cracking)
CORROSION, INTERGRANULAR - Localized attack occurring on the metal grain
boundaries. This is commonly found with stainless steels which have been improperly
heat treated.
CORROSION, INTERNAL - Usually refers to the internal corrosion and is considered
an electrochemical deterioration of the boiler surface at or below the water surface.
CORROSION, LOCALIZED - Corrosion at discrete sites, for example, crevice
corrosion, pitting, and stress-corrosion cracking.
CORROSION, LOCALIZED - Non-uniform corrosion of a metal surface highlighted by
spotty or pitting-type corrosion.
CORROSION, MICROBIAL - (see biological corrosion).
CORROSION, OXYGEN DEFICIENCY - A form of crevice corrosion in which galvanic

corrosion proceeds because oxygen is prevented from diffusing into the crevice.
CORROSION, POTENTIAL - The voltage between a corroding metal and a reference
electrode.
CORROSION, POULTICE - (see corrosion, deposit)
CORROSION, POULTICE - A term used in the automotive industry to describe the
corrosion of vehicle body parts due to the collection of road salts and debries on
ledges and in pockets that are kept moist by weather and washing.
CORROSION, PROTECTION - Modification of a corrosion system so that corrosion
damage is mitigated.
CORROSION, RESISTANCE - The ability of a material to resist deterioration by
chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment.
CORROSION, STRAY CURRENT - A form of attack caused by electrical currents
going through unintentional path.
CORROSION, STRESS - Preferential attack of areas under stress in a corrosive
environment, where such a environment alone would not have caused corrosion.
CORROSION, STRESS CORROSION CRACKING - Material deterioration due to
cracking, by being under static stress either applied or residual.
CORROSION, SWEET - The deterioration of metal caused by contact with carbon
dioxide in water.
CORROSION, THERMO-GALVANIC - Corrosion resulting from an electrochemical
cell caused by a thermal gradient.
CORROSION, UNIFORM - The simplest form of corrosion. It attacks all surfaces
exposed to a corrodent.
CORROSIVE WEAR - A material deterioration due to the co-joint action of corrosion
and mechanical action.
CORROSIVITY - An indication of the corrosiveness of the water of material. The
corrosivity of a water as described by the waters pH, alkalinity, hardness,
temperature, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen concentration and the Langerier
Index.
COUNTER-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER - When the fluid to be cooled flows against
the direction of the coolant. In heat exchange between two fluids, opposite direction of
flow, coldest portion of one meeting coldest portion of the other.
COVALENT BOND - A bond in which two atoms share pair of electrons.
CRANKSHAFT SEAL - Leak proof joint between crankshaft and compressor body.
CRAZE CRACKING (OR CHECKING) - Irregular surface cracking of metal associated
with thermal cycling.
CREEP - Time dependent permanent strain under stress. This is used to rate the
resistance of a material to plastic deformation under sustained load.
CREEP STRENGTH - The constant nominal stress that will cause a specified quantity
of creep in a given time at constant temperature. Creep strength is expressed as the
stress necessary to produce 0.1% strain in 1000 hours.
CREEP, DYNAMIC - Creep that occurs under conditions of fluctuating load or
fluctuating temperatures.
CRISPER - Drawer or compartment in refrigerator designed to provide high humidity
along with low temperature to keep vegetables, especially leafy vegetables - cold and
crisp.
CRITICAL HUMIDITY - The relative humidity above which the atmospheric corrosion
rate of some metals increase sharply.
CRITICAL POINT - A point at which the saturated liquid and saturated vapor states
are identical. Also, the latent heat of evaporization is zero at this point.
CRITICAL PRESSURE - The pressure at the critical temperature above which the
fluid no longer has the properties of a liquid, regardless of further increase of pressure.
CRITICAL SPEED CRITICAL TEMPERATURE - That temperature above which the vapor phase cannot
be condensed to liquid by an increase in pressure.
CRITICAL VELOCITY - Maximum velocity is obtained and no further pressure drop is
obtained. (Acoustic Velocity).
CROSS COMPOUND TURBINE - These turbines are large turbines with parallel
shafts with a generator on each shaft. The steam flows through the high pressure
turbine, then is crossed-over to the low pressure turbine
CRT - Cathode ray tube terminal.
CRYOGENIC FLUID - Substance which exists as a liquid or gas at ultra-low
temperatures - 157C.
CRYOGENIC SUPERCONDUCTOR SYSTEM - Uses helium to cool conductors to
within few degrees of absolute zero where they offer no electric resistance.
CRYOGENICS - Refrigeration which deals with producing temperatures of -157C
below zero and lower.
Crystal Formation, Zone of Maximum: Temperature range in freezing in which most

freezing takes place, i.e., about 25F to 30F for water.
CRYSTALLITES - Atoms arranged in a repeating and definite structure.
CRYSTALLIZATION - The separation, usually from a liquid phase on cooling, of a
solid crystalline phase.
CURRENT (I) - The electric flow in an electric circuit, which is expressed in amperes
(amps).
CURRENT DENSITY - The current flowing to or from a unit area of an electrode
surface.
CURTIS METHOD or Curtis stage - Velocity Compounding - This turbine design
consists of one set of nozzles in which the steam is expanded from initial to exhaust
pressure. The velocity of the steam resulting from this expansion is absorbed in two or
more rows of moving blades. Rows of fixed or guide blades, attached to the casing,
are set between rows of moving blades and receive and redirect the steam to the next
row of moving blades. As the velocity is absorbed in more than one row of moving
blades, the blade speed is less than if the velocity was all absorbed in one row of
blades.
CYCLE - A series of thermodynamic processes during which the working fluid can be
made to undergo changes involving energy transition and is subsequently returned to
its original state.
CYCLE, REVERSIBLE - Theoretical thermodynamic cycle, composed of a series of
reversible processes, which can be completely reversed.
CYCLE, WATER TREATMENT - A complete course of ion-exchange operation. For
instance, a complete cycle of cation exchange would involve regeneration of the resin
with acid, rinse to remove excess acid, exhaustion, backwash, and finally regeneration.
CYCLES - A system that undergoes a series of processes and always returns to its
initial state.
CYCLES OF CONCENTRATION - The number of times the soluble mineral salts in a
water supply have been concentrated in, a system.
CYLINDER HEAD - Plate or cap which encloses compression end of compressor
cylinder.
DALTON'S LAW OF PARTIAL PRESSURE - Each constituent of a mixture of gases
behaves thermodynamically as if it alone occupied the space. The sum of the

individual pressures of the constituents equals the total pressure of the mixture.
DAMPER - A device used to vary the volume of air passing through an air outlet, air
inlet or duct.
DASHPOT - A damping device, usually consisting of a cylinder and a piston in which
relative motion of either displaces a fluid such as air or oil, resulting in friction.
DEADBAND - In HVAC, a temperature range in which neither heating nor cooling is
turned on; in load management, a kilowatt range in which loads are neither shed nor
restored.
DE-AERATING HEATERS - Mechanical device using steam to strip dissolve gases
from the boiler feedwater and heating the feedwater.
DE-AERATION - Act of separating air from substances.
DE-AERATOR - An apparatus or device which is used to remove dissolved air or
oxygen from water.
DE-ALKALIZATION - The removal of alkalinity from a water supply by neutralization
or ion exchange.
DE-ALKALIZER - An apparatus or device used to remove the alkaline carbonate and
bicarbonate ions from a water supply.
DE-ALLOYING - This is a corrosion process whereby one constituent of a metal alloy
is preferentially removed from the alloy, leaving an altered residual microstructure.
DEASHING - The removal from a solution of inorganic salts by means of adsorption
by ion-exchange resins of both the cations and the anions that comprise the salts. See
deionization.
DE-CARBONATION - Refers to the removal of carbon dioxide from the boiler
feedwater.
DECIBEL (dB) - A decibel is a division of a logarithmic scale for expressing the ratio
of two quantities proportional to power or energy. The number of decibels denoting
such a ratio is ten times the logarithm of the
DECONCENTRATOR - This is a cylindrical tank connected before the boiler to
receive the boiler feedwater before entering the boiler. It is designed to promote
settling of suspended solids, which then could be removed via its own blowdown
device. Was used for operation with very high suspended solids.
DE-FLOCCULANT - An electrolyte adsorbed on colloidal particles in suspension that
charges the particles to create repulsion forces which maintain the particles in a
dispersed state, thus reducing the viscocity of the suspension.
DEFROST CYCLE - Refrigerating cycle in which evaporator frost and ice

accumulation is melted.
DEFROST TIMER - Device connected into electrical circuit which shuts unit off long
enough to permit ice and frost accumulation on evaporator to melt.
DEFROSTING - Process of removing frost accumulation from evaporators.
DEFROSTING CONTROL - Device to automatically defrost evaporator. It may
operate by means of a clock, door cycling mechanism or during "off" portion of
refrigerating cycle.
DEFROSTING TYPE EVAPORATOR - Evaporator operating at such temperatures
that ice and frost on surface melts during off part of operating cycle.
DEGREE DAY - A unit, based upon temperature difference and time, used in
estimating fuel consumption and specifying nominal heating load of a building in
winter. For any one day, when the mean temperature is less than 65F there exist as
many degree days as there are Fahrenheit degrees difference in temperature between
the mean temperature for the day and 65F.
DEGREES OF SUPERHEAT - The amount by which the temperature of a
superheated vapor exceeds the temperature of the saturated vapor at the same
pressure.
DEHUMIDIFICATION - The condensation of water vapor from air by cooling below the
dewpoint or removal of water vapor from air by chemical or physical methods.
DEHUMIDIFIER -(1) An air cooler or washer used for lowering the moisture content of
the air passing through it; (2) An absorption or adsorption device for removing
moisture from air.
DEHUMIDIFYING - Removal of moisture from the air.
DEHYDRATION - The removal of water vapor from air, stored goods or refrigerants.
Deionization - Deionization, a more general term than deashing, embraces the
removal of all charged constituents or ionizable salts (both inorganic and organic) from
solution.
DE-IONIZER - An apparatus or device used to remove the ions of dissolved salts from
water.
DEMAND - The probable maximum rate of water flow as determined by the number of
water supply fixture units.
DEMAND CHARGE - That part of an electric bill based on kW demand and the
demand interval, expressed in dollars per kilowatt. Demand charges offset
construction and maintenance of a utility's need for a large generating capacity.
DEMAND CONTROL - A device which controls the kW demand level by shedding

loads when the kW demand exceeds a predetermined set point.
DEMAND INTERVAL - The period of time during which kW demand is monitored by a
utility service, usually 15 or 30 minutes long.
DEMAND LOAD - The actual amount of load on a circuit at any time. The sum of all
the loads which are ON. Equal to the connected load minus the loads that are OFF.
DEMAND READING - Highest or maximum demand for electricity an individual
customer registers in a given interval, example, 15 minute interval. The metered
demand reading sets the demand charge for the month.
DEMINERALIZER - A process to remove dissolved matter from boiler pretreated
water by contacting the water with ion-exchange resins.
DENSITY - The ratio of the mass of a specimen of a substance to the volume of the
specimen. The mass of a unit volume of a substance. When weight can be used
without confusion, as synonymous with mass, density is the weight per unit volume.
DENSITY, ABSOLUTE - Mass per unit volume of a solid material, expressed usually
in kg/m3.
DESALINATION - The removal of inorganic dissolved solids from water.
DESICANT, LIQUID - A hygroscopic liquid, such as glycol, used to remove water from
other fluids.
DESICCANT - Any absorbent or adsorbent, liquid or solid, that will remove water or
water vapor from a material. In a refrigeration circuit, the desiccant should be insoluble
in the refrigerant.
DESIGN PRESSURE - Highest or most severe pressure expected during operation.
Sometimes used as the calculated operating pressure plus an allowance for safety.
DESIGN PRESSURE - Highest or most severe pressure expected during operation.
Sometimes used as the calculated operating pressure plus an allowance for safety.
DESIGN WORKING PRESSURE - The maximum allowable working pressure for
which a specific part of a system is designed.
DESILICIZER - An apparatus or device used to remove silica from a water supply.
DESSERT BAG - A canvas bag which permits seepage of its liquid. The liquid will
evaporate and obtains the to evaporate partly from the content of the bag and thus
cooling its content.
DESSERT BAG - A canvas bag which permits seepage of its liquid. The liquid will
evaporate and obtains the to evaporate partly from the content of the bag and thus
cooling its content.
DETERGENT ADDITIVE - In lubrication technology, a surface active additive that

helps to keep solid particles suspended in an oil
DETERGENT CLEANING - A boiler cleaning process using an alkaline solution,
primarily to remove oil and grease.
DETERGENT OIL - A heavy duty oil containing a detergent additive. These oils are
mainly used in combustion engines.
DETERGENT-DISPERSANT - A compound mixture of cleaning agents that have both
surface-active properties and suspending properties.
DEW POINT - Temperature at which vapor (at 100 percent humidity) begins to
condense and deposit as liquid.
DEW POINT DEPRESSION - The difference between dry bulb and dew point
temperatures.
DEW POINT TEMPERATURE - The temperature at which condensation begins, if air
is cooled at constant pressure.
DIAPHRAGM - Flexible material usually made of thin metal, rubber or plastic.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FILTRATION - Is a process in which a filter cake or
precoat of diatomaceous earth is used as a filter medium.
DIELECTRIC - A nonconductor of electricity.
DIELECTRIC FITTING - A non conductive substance such as plastic that is placed
between two dissimilar metals to prevent galvanic current flow.
DIELECTRIC STRENGTH - A measure of the ability of a dielectric (insulator) to
withstand a potential difference across it without electric discharge.
DIFFERENTIAL - The temperature or pressure difference between cut-in and cut-out
temperature or pressure of a control.
DIFFERENTIAL AERATION CELL - An electrolytic cell, the electomagnetic force of
which is due to a difference in air (oxygen) concentration at one electrode as
compared with that at another electrode of the same material. (see concentration cell)
DIFFERENTIAL SOLUTE CONCENTRATION - A potential difference between an
anode and cathode on metal, because of a concentration cell due to dissolved metals.
DIFFUSER - A circular, square, or rectangular air distribution outlet, generally located
in the ceiling and com prised of deflecting members discharging supply air in various
directions and planes, and arranged to promote mixing of primary air with secondary
room air.
DIRECT ACTING - Instruments that increase control pressure as the controlled

variable (such as temperature or pressure) increases; while reverse acting
instruments increase control pressure as the controlled variable decreases.
DIRECT CURRENT - A source of power for an electrical circuit which does not
reverse the polarity of its charge.
DIRECT-EXPANSION EVAPORATOR - One that contains only enough liquid to
continue boiling as heat is absorbed by it.
DISPERSANT - A chemical which causes particulates in a water system to remain in
suspension.
DISPERSANT OIL - A heavy duty oil containing a dispersant additive.
DISPLACEMENT PUMP - Pumps in which energy is added to the water periodically
and the water is contained in a set volume.
DISPLACEMENT VOLUME - The volume displaced by the piston between top dead
center and bottom dead center.
Dissociation - Ionization.
DISSOLVED GASES - Gases soluble in water.
DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) - The measure of the total amount of dissolved matter.
DISTILLATION - Involves boiling water and condensing the vapor.
DMA - Direct memory access. A process where block of data can be transferred
between main memory and secondary memory without processor intervention.
DOMESTIC HOT WATER - Potable hot water as distinguished from hot water used
for house heating.
DOUBLE CASING (STEAM TURBINE) DOWEL PINS - Metal pins that guarantee exact alignment of a flange joint on a
horizontally split casing as found in turbine construction
Downflow - Conventional direction of solutions to be processed in ion-exchange

column operation, that is, in at the top, out at the bottom of the column.
DOWNSTREAM - The outlet side of an instrument, a pump, valve, etc..
DRAFT GAUGE - Instrument used to measure air movement by measuring air
pressure differences.
DRIER - Substance or device used to remove moisture from a refrigeration system.

DRIERITE - Desiccant which operates by chemical action.
DRIFT - Entrained water in the stack discharge of a cooling tower.
DRIFT - Term used to describe the difference between the set point and the actual
operating or control point.
DROOP - Terms used to describe the difference between the set point and the actual
DRUM WATER LEVEL LINE - The water level in the drum during the normal
operating mode.
DRY BULB - An instrument with a sensitive element to measure ambient air
temperature.
DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - The temperature registered by an ordinary
thermometer. The dry bulb temperature represents the measure of sensible heat, or
the intensity of heat.
DRY COMPRESSION - The compression of vapor, in a vapor-liquid vaporcompression refrigeration cycle.
DRY ICE - Refrigerating substance made of solid carbon dioxide which changes
directly from a solid to a gas (sublimates). Its subliming temperature is -78C.
DRY PIPE - A perforated or slotted pipe or box inside the drum and connected to the
steam outlet.
DRY STANDBY - A method of sealing al water and steam connections and placing a
desiccant in the unit and applying an airtight seal.
DRY SYSTEM - Refrigeration system which has the evaporator liquid refrigerant
mainly in the atomized or droplet condition.
DRYNESS FRACTION OR QUALITY - Weight fraction of the vapor in a vapor-liquid
mixture.
DUAL SHAFT GAS TURBINE - a gas turbine which has one turbine on one shaft
driving the compressor and when the gas discharged from this turbine is directed to
another turbine on a separate shaft to drive a load.
DUAL-TEMPERATURE RE-CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM - A closed recirculating water system that uses water either for cooling, by circulating it through a
chiller, or for heating, by circulating it through a boiler or heat-exchanger depending
upon need.
DUCTILE GOUGING - Referring to irregular wasting of the tube metal beneath a
porous deposit The micro structure of the metal does not change with this process and
the ductility remains, but the thinning leads to rapture.
DUCTILITY - The ability of a material to deform plastically without fracturing.
DUMMY PISTON - The axial thrust in reaction turbines can be nearly eliminated by
the use of balance or dummy pistons. With the correct size of a dummy piston
exposed to two different bleed point pressures, the thrust is nearly equalized. There is
a small leakage across the labyrinth seal of the dummy piston as steam leaks from the
high to the lower bleed point
DUST - An air suspension (aerosol) or particles of any solid material, usually with
particle size less than 100 microns.
DYNAMIC DISCAHRGE HEAD - Static discharge head plus friction head plus velocity
head.
DYNAMIC LOAD - An imposed force that is in motion, that is, one that may vary in
magnitude, sense, and direction.
DYNAMIC PUMPS - Pumps in which energy is added to the water continuously and
the water is not contained in a set volume.
DYNAMIC SUCTION HEAD - Positive static suction head minus friction head and
minus velocity head.
DYNAMIC SUCTION LIFT - The sum of suction lift and velocity head at the pump
suction when the source is below pump centerline.
DYNAMIC SYSTEM - An ion-exchange operation, wherein a flow of the solution to be
treated is involved.
ECONOMIZER - A series of tubes located in the path of flue gases. Feedwater is

pumped through these tubes on its way to the boiler in order to absorb waste heat
from the flue gas.
EDDY CURRENT TESTING - An electromagnetic nondestructive testing method in
which eddy-current flow is induced in the test object. Changes in flow caused by
variations in the object are deflected into a nearby coil or coils where they are
measured.
EDDY CURRENTS (ELECTRICITY) - An electromagnetic nondestructive testing
method in which eddy-current flow is induced in the test object. Changes in flow
caused by variations in the object are deflected into a nearby coil or coils where they
are measured.
EDDY CURRENTS (STEAM TURBINES) - Impulse Turbine - As the steam passes

through convergent nozzles, if the exit pressure is less than 0.577 x inlet pressure (the
critical pressure for nozzles), eddy-currents are developed and the exit velocity will be
less than calculated.
EDTA - A chelating agent used with boiler water treatment. Often referred as the
replacement for the phosphate-hydroxide treatment method.
EFFECTIVE TEMPERATURE - Overall effect on a human of air temperature, humidity
and air movement.
EFFLUENT - The solution which emerges from an ion-exchange column.
ELASTIC LIMITS ELECTRIC DEFROSTING - Use of electric resistance heating coils to melt ice and
frost off evaporators during defrosting.
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT - A power supply, a load, and a path for current flow are the
minimum requirements for an electrical circuit.
ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTIONS - A metal wasting process, due to the fluid (boiler
water) being subjected to an electrical current.
ELECTRODE BOILER - A boiler which generates steam or hot water by the action of
immersed electrodes which conduct electricity through the boiler water, which, in turn,
generates heat by its resistance to electric current.
ELECTRODIALYSIS - This is a membrane process where an applied electric charge
draws impurity ions through permeable membranes to create high purity feedwater
streams or low purity waste streams.
ELECTROLYSIS - Chemical decomposition caused by action of an electric current in
a solution.
ELECTROLYTE - A chemical compound which dissociates or ionizes in water to
produce a solution which will conduct an electric current; an acid, base, or salt.
ELECTROMECHANICAL - Converting electrical input into mechanical action. A relay
is an electromechanical switch.
ELECTROREGENERATION - Hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are formed be electrical
splitting of water molecules and are swept through the unit by steady, low-voltage
direct current, continuously cleansing the resin beads and carrying away the unwanted
salts
ELEMENT - A pure substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means to a
simpler substance.
ELEVATION HEAD - The energy possessed per unit weight of a fluid because of its
elevation.
ELUTION - The stripping of adsorbed ions from an ion-exchange material by the use
of solutions containing other ions in concentrations higher than those of the ions to be
stripped.
EMULSION - A colloidal dispersion of one liquid in another.
ENDOTHERMIC REACTION - Pertaining to a chemical reaction which is
accompanied by an absorption of heat.
ENERGY - Expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or watt hours (Wh), and is equal to the
product of power and time.
ENERGY - In the simplest terms, energy is the ability to perform work. It may exist in
several forms, such as heat energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, or electrical
energy, and may be changed from one form to another.
ENERGY - The ability to do work. Energy can exist in one of several forms, such as
heat, light, mechanical, electrical or chemical. Energy can neither be created nor
destroyed, but can be transferred from one form to another. Energy can also exist in
one of two states, either potential or kinetic.
ENERGY (CONSUMPTION) CHARGE - That part of an electric bill based on kWh
consumption (expressed in cents per kWh). Energy charge covers cost of utility fuel,
general operating costs, and part of the amortization of the utility's equipment.
Energy = power x time
( 1 ) Expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or watt hours (Wh), and is equal to the product
of power and time.
( 2 ) The ability to do work. Energy can exist in one of several forms, such as heat,
light, mechanical, electrical or chemical. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed,
but can be transferred from one form to another. Energy can also exist in one of two
states, either potential or kinetic.
ENGINE - Prime mover; device for transforming fuel or heat energy into mechanical
energy.
ENGINE OIL - An oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine.
ENTHALPY - The total quantity of heat energy contained in a substance, also called
total heat; the thermodynamic property of a substance defined as the sum of its
internal energy plus the quantity Pv/J, where P = pressure of the substance, v = its
volume, and J = the mechanical equivalent of heat.
ENTRAINMENT - The transport of water into a gas stream. In a boiler, this is
carryover, in a cooling tower, drift.
ENTRAINMENT (HVAC) - The capture of part of the surrounding air by the air stream
discharged from an outlet (some times called secondary air motion).

ENTROPY - The ratio of the heat added to a substance to the absolute temperature at
which it is added.
ENVIRONMENT - The aggregate of all conditions (such as contamination,
temperature, humidity, radiation, magnetic and electric fields, shock, vibration) that
externally influence the performance of a material or component.
EPSON SALT - Magnesium sulfate.
EQUALIZING HOLE (STEAM TURBINE) - A hole in the turbine disc designed to
equalize axial thrust with impulse bladed turbines.
EQUILIBRIUM REACTIONS - The interaction of ionizable compounds in which the
products obtained tend to revert to the substance from which they were formed until a
balance is reached in which both reactants and pacts are present in definite ratios.
EQUIVALENT WEIGHT - Refers to the amount of an element combining with a unit
weight of hydrogen. In terms of water treatment, a method used to calculate the
concentration of a given ion in terms of its calcium carbonate.
EROSION , ABRASIVE - Erosive wear caused by relative motion of solid particles
which are present in fluids and are moving parallel to a solid surface.
EROSION, CAVITATION - Progressive loss of original material from a solid surface
due to continuing exposure to cavitation.
EROSION, IMPINGEMENT - Loss of material from a solid surface due to liquid
impingement.
EROSION, LIQUID - Removal of films or metal by mechanical action and corrosion of
active metal.
EROSION-CORROSION - A conjoint action involving corrosion and erosion in the
presence of a moving corrosive fluid, leading to the accelerated loss of material.
ETHANE (R-170) - Refrigerant sometimes added to other refrigerants to improve oil
circulation.
EUTECTIC - An isothermal reversible reaction in which a liquid solution is converted
into two or more intimately mixed solids on cooling.
EUTECTIC POINT - Freezing temperature for eutectic solutions.
EVACUATION - The removal of gases from a system.
EVAPORATION - The change of state from liquid to vapor, for example as water
evaporates to a vapor in a cooling tower.
EVAPORATIVE CONDENSER - A condenser which has water flowing over coils

containing the refrigerant gas which is thus cooled and condensed by evaporation of
that water.
EVAPORATIVE CONDENSER - Device which uses open spray or spill water to cool a
condenser. Evaporation of some of the water cools the condenser water and reduces
water consumption.
EVAPORATIVE COOLING - The adiabatic exchange of heat between air and a water
spray or wetted surface. The water approaches the wet-bulb temperature of the air,
which remains constant during its traverse of the exchanger.
EVAPORATOR - The heat exchanger in which the medium being cooled, usually air
or water, gives up heat to the refrigerant through the exchanger transfer surface. The
liquid refrigerant boils into a gas in the process of the heat absorption.
EVAPORATOR FAN - Fan which increases airflow over the heat exchange surface of
evaporators.
EVAPORATOR PRESSURE REGULATOR - Automatic pressure regulating valve
mounted in suction line between evaporator outlet and compressor inlet. Its purpose is
to maintain a predetermined pressure and temperature in the evaporator.
EVAPORATOR, FLOODED - Evaporator containing liquid refrigerant at all times.
EXFlLTRATION - The flow of air outward from a space through walls, leaks, etc.
EXFOLIATION - Scaling off of a surface in flakes or layers as the result of corrosion.
EXHAUSTION - The state in which the adsorbent is no longer capable of useful ion
exchange; the depletion of the exchanger's supply of available ions. The exhaustion
point is determined arbitrarily in terms of (1) a value in parts per million of ions in the
effluent solution; and (2) the reduction inequality of the effluent water determined by
conductivity bridge which measures the resistance of the water to the flow of an
electric current.
EXOTHERMIC - Chemical reaction in which heat is released.
EXPANSION JOINT - Device in piping designed to allow movement of the pipe
caused by the pipe's expansion and contraction.
EXPANSION TANK - A reservoir usually above a closed re-circulating water system
that is blanketed with a gas to permit expansion and contraction of water in the system
during temperature changes.
EXPANSION VALVE - Device in refrigerating system which reduces the pressure
from the high side to the low side and is operated by pressure.
EXPANSION VALVE, CAPILLARY TUBE - A tube of small internal diameter used as
liquid refrigerant flow control and pressure reducer between high and low sides. Also
used to transmit pressure from the sensitive bulb of some temperature controls to the
operating element.
EXPANSION VALVE, THERMOSTATIC - Control valve operated by temperature and
pressure within evaporator. It controls flow of refrigerant. Control bulb is attached to
outlet of evaporator.
EXPENDABLE REFRIGERANT SYSTEM - System, which discards the refrigerant
after it has evaporated.
EXTERNAL DRIVE - Term used to indicate a compressor driven directly from the
shaft or by a belt using an external motor. Compressor and motor are serviceable
separately.
EXTERNAL EQUALIZER - Tube connected to low-pressure side of a thermostatic
expansion valve diaphragm and to exit end of evaporator.
EXTERNAL TREATMENT - Refers to the treatment of water before it enters the boiler.
EXTRACTION PUMP EXTRACTION TURBINE are turbines where steam is extracted at one or more
points at constant pressure. Extraction turbines may be single or double-extractioncondensing turbines or single-or double-extraction back-pressure turbines. The
extracted steam is used for process. Do not call these bleed turbines where steam is
used for heating feed water.
Face Area: The total plane area of the portion of a grille, coil, or other items bounded
by a line tangent
Fahrenheit: A thermometric scale in which 32 (F) denotes freezing and 212 (F) the
boiling point of water under normal pressure at sea level (14.696 psi).
FAIL SAFE - In load management, returning all loads to conventional control during a
power failure. Accomplished by a relay whose contacts are normally closed.
FAILURE - A rupture, break, or disintegration of a metal or part of an HVAC system.
FALSE BRINELING - Damage to a solid bearing surface characterized by
indentations not caused by plastic deformation resulting from overload, but thought to
be due to other causes such as fretting corrosion.
FAN PERFORMANCE CURVE - Fan performance curve refers to the constant speed
performance curve. This is a graphical presentation of static or total pressure and
power input over a range of air volume flow rate at a stated inlet density and fan
speed. It may include static and mechanical efficiency curves. The range of air volume
flow rate which is covered generally ex tends from shutoff (zero air volume flow rate)
to free delivery (zero fan static pressure). The pressure curves are generally referred
to as the pressure-volume curves.
FAN TUBE AXIAL - A propeller or disc type wheel within a cylinder and including
driving mechanism supports for either belt drive or direct connection.
FAN, CENTRIFUGAL - A fan rotor or wheel within a scroll type housing and including
driving mechanism sup ports for either belt drive or direct connection.
FAN, PROPELLER - A propeller or disc type wheel within a mounting ring or plate
and including driving mechanism supports for either belt drive or direct connection.
FAN, VANEAXIAL - A disc type wheel within a cylinder, a set of air guide vanes
located either before or after the wheel and including driving mechanism supports for
either belt drive or direct connection.
FARAD - A unit of electric capacity, designated by F.
FATIGUE - The phenomenon leading to fracture under repeated or fluctuating
stresses having maximum value less than the ultimate strength of the material.
FAULT - A short circuit either line to line, or line to ground.
FEED WATER - Water which is fed to a system such as a boiler or cooling tower.
FEED WATER LINE - The piping leading to a system through which the feed water
flows.
FEED WATER HEATER - A device used to heat feed water with steam.
FERRIC COAGULANT - Ferric sulfate Fe2(SO4)3 act to precipitate ferric hydroxide,
coagulate at 4.0 - 11.0 pH range.
FERRIC HYDROXIDE - The complete reaction product of iron, water, and oxygen,
which forms a red precipitate in water [Fe(OH)3]
FERRIC ION - An iron atom that has a positive electric charge of +3. (Fe2+)
FERROUS - Metallic materials in which the principle component is iron.
FERROUS HYDROXIDE - The reaction product of iron and water in the absence of
oxygen; it remains soluble in the water [Fe(OH)2].
FERROUS ION - An iron atom that has a positive electric charge of + 2(Fe2+).
FILMING AMINES - Amines that form a impervious non-wettable film, which acts as a
barrier between the metal and the condensate and provide protection against carbon
dioxide and oxygen. These amines do not neutralize carbon dioxide.
FILTER - A device to remove solid material from a fluid.

FILTER-DRIER - A combination device used as a strainer and moisture remover.
FILTRATION - Is the process of passing a liquid containing suspended matter through
a suitable porous material in such a manner as to effectively remove the suspended
matter from the liquid.
FIN - An extended surface to increase the heat transfer area, as metal sheets
attached to tubes.
FIRE POINT - The temperature at which a material will continue to burn for at least 5
seconds without the benefit of an outside flame.
FIRE TUBE - A tube, in a boiler, through which the hot gases flow and transfer heat to
the water on the outside of the tube.
FIRE WALL - The back end of a boiler, opposite the burner, at which the hot gases
change direction of flow.
FIREBRICK - A refractory brick, often made from fire clay, that is able to withstand
temperature in the range of 1500 to 1600C, and is used to line furnaces.
FIXED DISPLACEMENT PUMP - A pump in which the displacement per cycle cannot
be varied.
FLASH - The portion of a superheated fluid converted to vapor when its pressure is
reduced.
FLASH CHAMBER - A separating tank placed between the expansion valve and the
evaporator to separate and bypass any gas formed in the expansion valve.
FLASH GAS - The gas resulting from the instantaneous evaporation of refrigerant in a
pressure-reducing device to cool the refrigerant to the evaporating temperature
obtaining at the reduced pressure.
FLASH POINT - The temperature at which a material to give off sufficient vapor to
form a flammable mixture.
FLASH TANK - A vessel used for separating the liquid phase from the gaseous phase
formed from a rise in temperature and/or a reduction of pressure on the flowing stream.
FLASHING - Evaporation of a liquid into a vapor.
FLEXIBLE GEAR COUPLING Floating Action Controllers: Essentially two position type controllers which vary the
position of the controlled devices but which are arranged to stop before reaching a
maximum or minimum position.
FLOCCULANTS - An electrolyte added to a colloidal suspension to cause the

particles to aggregate and settle out as the result of reduction in repulsion between
particles.
FLOCCULATION - The process of agglomerating coagulated particles into settable
flocs, usually of a gelatinous nature.
FLOOD BACK - The condition of liquid refrigerant returning, usually from an overfed
evaporator, to the compressor through the suction line.
FLOTATION - A process of separating solids from water by developing a froth.
FLOW RATE - The volume of solution which passes through a given quantity of resin
within a given time. Flow rate is usually expressed in terms of feet per minute per
cubic foot of resin or as milliliters per minute per milliliter of resin.
FLOW, LAMINAR OR STREAMLINE - Fluid flow in which each fluid particle moves in
a smooth path substantially parallel to the paths followed by all other particles.
FLOW, TURBULENT - Fluid flow in which the fluid moves transversely as well as in
the direction of the tube or pipe axis, as opposed to streamline or viscous flow.
FLUID - The general term that includes gas, vapor or liquid
FLUID HEAD - The static pressure of fluid expressed in terms of the height of a
column of the fluid, or of some manometric fluid, which it would support.
FLUIDIZED BED - A contained mass of finely divided solid that behaves like a fluid
when brought into suspension in a moving gas.
FLY ASH - A finely divided siliceous material formed during the combustion of coal,
coke, or other solid fuels.
FOAM CARRYOVER - Is the development of excessive moisture in the steam from
carryover of foam from the drum. Usually common in low pressure boilers due to high
concentration of dissolved solids.
FOAMING - Formation of steam bubbles on the surface of the boiler water due to high
surface tension of the water.
FORCE - The action on a body which tends to change its relative condition as to rest
or motion.
FORCE PUMP - A device used to inject a solution into a closed system through an
opening such as a drain valve.
FORCED CONVECTION - Movement of fluid by mechanical force such as fans or
pumps.
FORCED DRAFT COOLING TOWER - Cools water by mechanically forcing air

through the tower.
FORCE-FEED OILING - Lubrication system which uses a pump to force oil to
surfaces of moving parts.
FOULING - Deposits of impurities, dirt or foreign matter that clog systems or restrict
flow and interfere with heat transfer.
FOULING FACTOR - The degree of interference with heat transfer.
FREEBOARD - The space provided above the resin bed in an ion-exchange column
to allow for expansion of the bed during backwashing.
FREEZER - A refrigerating device designed to lower the temperature below 0C.
FREEZER BURN - Condition applied to food which has not been properly wrapped
and that has become hard, dry and discolored.
FREEZE-UP - (1) Formation of ice in the refrigerant control device which may stop the
flow of refrigerant into the evaporator. (2) Frost formation on an evaporator which may
stop the airflow through the evaporator.
FREEZING - Change of state from liquid to solid.
FREEZING POINT - The temperature at which a liquid becomes solid.
FREON - Trade name for a family of synthetic chemical refrigerants.
FRESH WATER - Water that has little or no salt dissolved in it.
FRICTION - Friction is the resistance found at the duct and piping walls. Resistance
creates a static pressure loss in systems. The primary purpose of a fan or pump is to
produce a design volume of fluid at a pressure equal to the frictional resistance of the
system and the other dynamic pressure losses of the components.
FRICTION HEAD - The pressure in psi or feet of the liquid pumped which represents
system resistance that must be overcome.
FRIGORIFIC MIXTURE - Are substances used in laboratory methods of producing a
drop in temperature. A common example is a mixture of snow and salt.
FROST - Frozen condensation.
FROST BACK - Condition in which liquid refrigerant flows from evaporator into suction
line; usually indicated by sweating or frosting of the suction line.
FROST CONTROL - Semiautomatic - Control which starts defrost part of a cycle
manually and then returns system to normal operation automatically.
FROST FREE REFRIGERATOR - Refrigerated cabinet which operates with an

automatic defrost during each cycle.
FROSTING TYPE EVAPORATOR - Refrigerating system which maintains the
evaporator at frosting temperatures during all phases of cycle.
FREQUENCY - The number of vibrations, waves, or cycles of any periodic
phenomenon per second. In architectural acoustics, the interest lies in the audible
frequency range of 20 to 20000 cps Hertz (cycles per second).
FUEL KNOCK - A hammer like noise produced when fuel is not burned properly in a
cylinder.
FULL LOAD CURRENT - See Running Current.
FUMES - Solid particles commonly formed by the condensation of vapors from
normally solid materials such as molten metals. Fumes may also be formed by
sublimation, distillation, calcination, or chemical reaction wherever such processes
create airborne particles predominantly below one micron in size. Such solid particles
sometimes serve as condensation nuclei for water vapor to form smog.
FUNGUS - A lower form of plant life which does not contain chlorophyll, for example, a
mold.
FUSIBLE PLUG - Plug or fitting made with a metal of a known low melting
temperature. Used as safety device to release pressures in case of fire.
GAGE PRESSURE - Absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure.

GALVANIC ACTION - Wasting away of two unlike metals due to electrical current
passing between them. The action is increased in the presence of moisture.
GALVANIC CELL - Electrolytic brought about by the difference in electric potential
between two dissimilar metals.
GALVANIC COUPLE - The connection of two dissimilar metals in an electrolyte that
results in current flow through the circuit.
GALVANIZING - The coating of metal with another by an electrolytic process; for
example, electrolytically zinc-coat steel is called galvanized steel.
GAS - Usually a highly superheated vapor which, within acceptable limits of accuracy,
satisfies the perfect gas laws.
GAS - Vapor phase or strata of a substance.
GAS CONSTANT - The coefficient "R" in the perfect gas equation: PV = MRT.
GAS LUBRICATION - A system of lubrication in which the shape and relative motion
of the sliding surfaces cause the formation of a gas film having sufficient pressure to
separate the surfaces.
GAS REFRIGERATION CYCLE - Where the refrigerant remains in the gaseous
phase throughout.
GAS TURBINE - An engine in which gas , under pressure is formed by combustion, is
directed against a series of turbine blades. The energy in the expanding gas is
converted into rotary motion.
GAS TURBINE COMPRESSOR - a compressor designed foe the use with gas turbine
installations. This could be centrifugal or an axial compressor.
GAS VALVE - Device in a pipeline for starting, stopping or regulating flow of gas.
GAS, INERT - A gas that neither experiences nor causes chemical reaction nor
undergoes a change of state in a system or process; e.g., nitrogen or helium mixed
with a volatile refrigerant.
GASIFICATION - When a substance is converted to become a gas.
GASKET - A device, usually made of a deformable material, that is used between two
relatively static surfaces to prevent leakage.
GAUGE MANIFOLD - Chamber device constructed to hold both compound and highpressure gauges. Valves control flow of fluids through.
GAUGE VACUUM - Instrument used to measure pressures below atmospheric
pressure.
GENERAL CORROSION - Uniform overall corrosion of metal surfaces.
GENERATING TUBE - A boiler tube used for evaporation.
GENERATOR - A machine that changes that changes mechanical energy into
electrical energy.
GFI, GFCI - Ground fault (circuit) interrupter - a device that senses ground faults and
reacts by opening the circuit.
GOVERNOR SPEED DROOP GRAIN - A unit of weight; 0.0648 grams; 0.000143 pounds.
GRAIN BOUNDARIES - Referring to the junction of crystallites.
GRAINS OF MOISTURE - The unit of measurement of actual moisture contained in a

sample of air. (7000 grains - one pound of water).
GRAINS PER GALLON - A unit of concentration. 1 gr/gal = 17.1 mg/L.
GRAM - A unit of weight; 15.432 grains; 0.0022 pounds.
GRAM-MILLIQUIVALENTS - The equivalent weight in grams, divided by 1000.
GRAVITY - The attraction exerted by the earths mass on objects at its surface.
GRAVITY, SPECIFIC - Density compared to density of standard material; reference
usually to water or to air.
GREASE - A lubricant composed of an oil thickened with a soap or other thickener to
a solid or semisolid consistency.
GREASE, BLOCK - A grease that is sufficiently hard to retain its shape in block or
stick form.
GREASE, SODA BASED - A grease prepared from lubricating oil and sodium soap.
GREEN LIQUOR - The liquor resulting from dissolved molten smelt from Kraft
recovery furnace in water.
GREENSAND - Naturally occurring materials, composed primarily of complex
silicates, which possess ion-exchange properties.
GROOVING - A form of deterioration of boiler plate by a combination of localized
corrosion and stress concentration.
GROUND - Zero voltage, or any point connected to the earth or "ground".
GROUND BED - Cathodic protection, an interconnected group of impressed-current
anodes that absorbs the damage caused by generated electric current
GROUND BUS - A busbar in a panel or elsewhere, deliberately connected to ground.
GROUND COIL - Heat exchanger buried in the ground. May be used either as an
evaporator or as a condenser.
GROUND CONDUCTOR - Conductor run in an electrical system, which is deliberately
connected to the ground electrode. Purpose is to provide a ground point throughout
the system. Insulation color green. Also called "green ground".
GROUND FAULT - An unintentional connection to ground.
GROUT - To force sealing material into a soil, sand or confined small space; or the
sealing material used in grouting.
HAC - Hydrogen- assist cracking.

HALIDE LEAK DETECTOR - A device used to detect vapor leaks of halogen
refrigerants. It uses acetylene as its base.
HALIDE REFRIGERANTS - Family of refrigerants containing halogen chemicals.
HALIDE TORCH - Type of torch used to safely detect halogen refrigerant leaks in
system.
HALOGENS - Substance containing fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.
HARD WATER - Water that contains dissolved compounds of calcium, magnesium or
both.
HARDNESS - Are generally referred to the presence of calcium and magnesium
content of the water.
HARDNESS - The scale-forming and lather-inhibiting qualities which water, high in
calcium and magnesium ions, possesses.
HARDNESS CONTROL - An action designed to remove hardness and at the same
time to produce an equivalent amount of suspended solids.
HARDNESS OF CALCIUM CARBONATE - The expression ascribed to the value
obtained when the hardness-forming salts are calculated in terms of equivalent
quantities of calcium carbonate; a convenient method of reducing all salts to a
common basic for comparison.
HEAD - Pressure, usually expressed in feet of water, inches of mercury or millimeters
of mercury.
Head - The measure of the pressure of water expressed in feet of height of water: 1
psi = 2.31 feet of water.
HEAD DYNAMIC OR TOTAL - In flowing fluid, the sum of the static and velocity
heads at the point of measurement.
HEAD PRESSURE - Pressure which exists in condensing side of refrigerating system.
HEAD PRESSURE CONTROL - Pressure-operated control which opens electrical
circuit if high-side pressure becomes too high.
HEAD STATIC - The static pressure of fluid expressed in terms of the height of a
column of the fluid, or of some manometric fluid, which it would support.

HEAD VELOCITY - Height of fluid equivalent to its velocity pressure in flowing fluid.
HEADER - Length of pipe or vessel to which two or more pipe lines are joined carries
fluid from a common source to various points of use.
HEADLOSS - The loss of energy as a result of friction; commonly expressed in feet.
HEAT - Form of energy which acts on substances to raise their temperature; energy
associated with random motion of molecules.
HEAT CAPACITY - The amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a given
mass one degree. Numerically, the mass multiplied by the specific heat.
HEAT CONDUCTOR - A material capable of readily conducting heat. The opposite of
an insulator or insulation.
HEAT ENGINE - Mechanical devices which convert heat to work, such as the steam
boiler, gas turbine, solar energy, refrigerators, steam engines, steam turbines.
HEAT EXCHANGER - Device used to transfer heat from a warm or hot surface to a
cold or cooler surface. (Evaporators and condensers are heat exchangers.)
HEAT LAG - The time it takes for heat to travel through a substance heated on one
side.
HEAT LEAKAGE - Flow of heat through a substance.
HEAT OF COMPRESSION - Mechanical energy of pressure changed into energy of
heat.
HEAT OF CONDENSATION - The latent heat given up by a substance as it changes
from a gas to a liquid.
HEAT OF FUSION - The latent heat absorbed when a substance changes from a
solid state to a liquid state.
HEAT OF RESPIRATION - Process by which oxygen and carbohydrates are
assimilated by a substance; also when carbon dioxide and water are given off by a
substance.
HEAT OF VAPORIZATION - The latent heat absorbed by a substance as it changes
from a liquid to a vapor.
HEAT PIPE - A refrigeration device with no moving parts, but containing a refrigerants.
HEAT PUMP - A device used to transfer heat from a low temperature to a high
temperature medium also a reversed cycle in which work is the input and heat is
rejected to a sink at a higher temperature than the source.
HEAT PUMP - A refrigerating system employed to transfer heat into a space or

substance. The condenser provides the heat while the evaporator is arranged to pick
up heat from air, water, etc. By shifting the flow of air or other fluid, a heat pump
system may also be used to cool the space.
HEAT SINK - Relatively cold surface capable of absorbing heat.
HEAT TRANSFER - Flow of heat by conduction, convection and radiation.
HEAT TRANSFER - Movement of heat from one body or substance to another. Heat
may be transferred by radiation, conduction, convection or a combination of these
three methods.
HEAT, SENSIBLE - Heat which is associated with a change in temperature; specific
heat exchange of temperature; in contrast to a heat interchange in which a change of
state (latent heat) occurs.
Heat, Specific- The ratio of the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a
given mass of any substance one degree to the quantity required to raise the
temperature of an equal mass of a standard substance (usually water at 59 F) one
degree.
Heat, Total (Enthalpy) - The sum of sensible heat and latent heat between an
arbitrary datum point and the temperature and state under consideration.
HEAT-EXCHANGER MATERIALS - The metals or materials of construction of a heat
exchanger.
HEAT-TRANSFER MEDIUM - The fluid, often water, which acts as the agent or
medium in a heat exchanger through which heat is exchanged from one side to the
other.
HEATING COIL - Heat transfer device consisting of a coil of piping, which releases
heat.
HEATING CONTROL - Device which controls temperature of a heat transfer unit
which releases heat.
HEATING SURFACE - That surface which is exposed to the heating medium for
absorption and transfer of heat to the medium.
HENRYS LAW - An expression for calculating the solubility of a gas in a fluid based
on temperature and partial pressure.
HENRY - The unit of self-inductance or mutual inductance in the metric system. Its
symbol is
H.HERMETIC - Sealed so that the object is gas tight.
HERMETIC COMPRESSOR - Compressor which has the driving motor sealed inside
the compressor housing. The motor operates in an atmosphere of the refrigerant.
HERMETIC MOTOR - Compressor drive motor sealed within same casing which
contains compressor.
HERMETIC SYSTEM - Refrigeration system which has a compressor driven by a
motor contained in compressor dome or housing.
HERTZ - A unit in the metric system used to measure frequency in cycles per second.
Its symbol is
Hz.HIC - Hydrogen-induced cracking. (Same as hydrogen embrittlement)
HIDDEN DEMAND CHARGE - Electric bill charges that are based on cents per kWh
per kW demand contain a hidden demand charge. A low load factor for a building then
penalizes the energy user through this "hidden" charge.
HIDEOUT - Is the accumulation of chemicals on surfaces, in crevices or in deposits
within the system during normal operation.
HIGH LIMIT CONTROL - A device which normally monitors the condition of the
controlled medium and interrupts system operation if the monitored condition be
comes excessive, for example a high level of fluid in a storage tank.
HIGH SIDE - Parts of the refrigerating system subjected to condenser pressure or
higher; the system from the compression side of the compressor through the
condenser to the expansion point of the evaporator. HIGH-PRESSURE CUT-OUT Electrical control switch operated by the high-side pressure which automatically opens
electrical circuit if too high pressure is reached.
HIGH-SIDE FLOAT - Refrigerant control mechanism which controls the level of the
liquid refrigerant in the high-pressure side of mechanism.
HIGH-VACUUM PUMP - Mechanism which can create a vacuum in the 1000 to 1
micron range.
HOT DECK - The heating section of a multizone system. HOT GAS BYPASS Piping system in refrigerating unit which moves hot refrigerant gas from
condenser into low-pressure side.
HOT GAS DEFROST - Defrosting system in which hot refrigerant gas from the
high side is directed through evaporator for short period of time and at
predetermined intervals in order to remove frost from evaporator.
HOT JUNCTION - That part of thermoelectric circuit which releases heat.
HOT PROCESS - A water treatment process, when the water is heated above the
room temperature.
HOT PROCESS PHOSPHATE SOFTENING - A process whereby the calcium and

magnesium salts containing, constituting the hardness of water, are chemically
precipitated and removed with phosphate in conjunction with caustic soda.
HOT WELL - A tank used to receive condensate from various sources on its passage
back to the boiler through a feedwater system.
HOT-WATER HEATING BOILER - A boiler in which no steam is generated and from
which hot water is circulated for heating purposes and then returned to the boiler.
HOT-WATER RE-CIRCULATING SYSTEM - A heating system using water as a heattransfer medium through a heat exchanger or boiler to terminal heating unit.
HSC - Hydrogen stress cracking.
HSCC - Hydrogen- assisted stress-corrosion cracking.
HUMIDIFIER - A device to add moisture to air.
HUMIDIFYING - Adding of moisture to the air.
HUMIDIFYING EFFECT - The latent heat of vaporization of water at the average
evaporating temperature times the weight of water evaporated per unit of time.
HUMIDISTAT - A regulatory device, actuated by changes in humidity, used for
the automatic control of relative humidity.
HUMIDITY - Dampness of air.
HUMIDITY RATIO - The ratio of the mass of the water vapor to the mass of dry air
contained in the sample.
HUMIDITY, ABSOLUTE - The weight of water vapor per unit volume.
HUMIDITY, PERCENTAGE - The ratio of the specific humidity.
HUMIDITY, RELATIVE - The ratio of the mol fraction of water vapor present in the air,
to the mol fraction of water vapor present in saturated air at the same temperature and
barometric pressure; approximately, it equals the ratio of the partial pressure or
density of the water vapor in the air, to the saturation pressure or density, respectively,
of water vapor at the same temperature.
HUNTING - A surge of engine speed to higher number of revolutions per minute,
followed by a drop to normal engines speed without manual movement of the throttle.
Is often caused by a faulty or improperly adjusted governor.
HVAC - Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning.
HVAC BOILER - Boiler for heating or air conditioning (Absorption Refrigeration)
HVAC EQUIPMENT - Apparatus or equipment used in heating, ventilating, and air
conditioning.
HYDRATION - Absorption of water by a mineral that results in a change in the nature
of the mineral.
HYDRAULIC CLASSIFICATION - The rearrangement of resin particles in an ionexchange unit. As the backwash water flows up through the resin bed, the particles
are placed in a mobile condition wherein the larger particles settle and the smaller
particles rise to the top of the bed.
HYDRAULIC COUPLING - A fluid connection between a prime mover and the
machine it drives. It uses the action of liquid moving against blades to drive the
machine.
HYDRAULIC HEAD - The force exerted by a column of liquid expressed by the height
of the liquid above the point at which the pressure is measured. Although head refers
to a distance or height, it is used to express pressure, since the force of the liquid
column is directly proportional to its height. Also called head or hydrostatic head.
HYDROCARBONS - Organic compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms
in various combinations.
HYDROGEN COOLED GENERATOR - High performance is provided by effective
cooling and loss reduction.
HYDROGEN CYCLE - A complete course of cation-exchange operation in which the
adsorbent is employed in the hydrogen or free acid form.
HYDROGEN DAMAGE - A type of corrosion occurring beneath a relative dense
deposit. This type of damage can only occur if hydrogen was present in the metal.
Failure takes place at thick edges in the form of fracture, rather then thinning.
Hydrogen produces the corrosion reaction, moving into underlying metal, causing
decarburization and intergranular fissuring of the structure. Damages usually result in
larger pieces of metal being blown away, rather then just bursting.
HYDROGEN INDUCED CRACKING - Caused by the introduction of hydrogen during
the welding process.
HYDROGEN ION - A portion of the molecule of water containing one atom of
hydrogen which has a positive electric charge.
HYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION - The degree or quantity of hydrogen ions in a
water solution.
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE - The cycle of water from evaporation through condensation to
precipitation.
HYDROLYSIS - A chemical reaction between a mineral and water that results in
dissolution of the mineral.
HYDROMETER - Floating instrument used to measure specific gravity of a liquid.

HYDRONIC SYSTEM - A re-circulating water system used for heating and/or comfort
cooling.
HYDROPHILIC - Having an affinity for water.
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE - The pressure at any point in a liquid at rest; equal to
the depth of the liquid multiplied by its density.
Hydroxyl - The term used to describe the anionic radical (OH-) which is responsible for
the alkalinity of a solution.
HYGROMETER - Instrument used to measure degree of moisture in the atmosphere.
HYGROSCOPIC - Ability of a substance to absorb and release moisture and change
physical dimensions as its moisture content changes.
I
ICE CREAM CABINET - Commercial refrigerator which operates at approximately -18
C; used for storage of ice cream.
IGNITION QUALITY - The ability of a fuel to ignite when it is injected into the
compressed-air charge in a diesel cylinder. It is measured by an index called the
cetane number.
IMMISCIBLE - Not capable of mixing (as oil and water).
IMPEDANCE (Z) - The quantity in an AC circuit that is equivalent to resistance in a
DC circuit, inasmuch as it relates current and voltage. It is composed of resistance
plus a purely AC concept called reactance and is expressed, like resistance, in ohms.
IMPELLER - A rotating set of vanes designed to impart rotation to a mass of fluid.
IMPINGEMENT - High-velocity flow of water or gas over a metal surface, causing
premature failure by abrasion.
IMPULSE PRINCIPLE INDUCTANCE - The process when a second conductor is placed next to a conductor
carrying AC current (but not touching it), the ever-changing magnetic field will induce a
current in the second conductor.
INDUCTION - The capture of part of the ambient air by the jet action of the primary air
stream discharging from a controlled device.
INDUCTION HEATING - Heating by combined electrical resistance and hysteresis
losses induced by subjecting a metal to varying magnetic field surrounding a coil
carrying alternating current.
INDUCTIVE LOADS - Loads whose voltage and current are out-of-phase. True power
consumption for inductive loads is calculated by multiplying its voltage, current, and
the power factor of the load.
INDUCTOR - A fundamental element of electrical systems constructed of numerous
turns of wire around a ferromagnetic or air core.
INERT GAS - A gas that does not readily enter into or cause chemical reactions.
INFILTRATION - Air flowing inward as through a wall, crack, etc.
INFLUENT - The solution which enters an ion-exchange unit.
INHIBITOR - An additive used to retard undesirable chemical action in a product. It is
added in small quantities to gasolines to prevent oxidation and gum formation, to
lubricating oils to stop color change, and to corrosive environments to decrease
corrosive action.
INORGANIC MATERIAL - Are substances not derived from living things.
INRUSH CURRENT - The current that flows the instant after the switch controlling
current flow to a load is closed. Also called "locked rotor current".
INSTANTANEOUS RATE - Method for determining when load shedding should occur.
Actual energy usage is measured and compared to a present kilowatt level. If the
actual kilowatt level exceeds a designated set point, loads will be shed until the actual
rate drops below the set point.
INSULATION, THERMAL - Material which is a poor conductor of heat; used to retard
or slow down flow of heat through wall or partition.
INSULATOR - A material of such low electrical conductivity that a flow of current
through it can usually be neglected. Similarly, a material of low thermal conductivity,
such as that used to insulate structures.
INTERCOOLED CYCLE - Refers to a gas turbine employing two compressors. The
compressed air from the first compressor is cooled before being discharged to second
compressor.
INTERCOOLING - Removal of heat from compressed gas between the compression
stages.
INTERGRANULAR CRACKING - Cracking or fracturing that occurs between the
grains or crystal in a polycrystalline aggregate. Also called intercrystalline cracking.
Contrast with transgranular cracking.
INTERMITTENT BLOWDOWN - The blowdown is taken from the mud drum,
waterwall headers or the lowest point of circulation.
INTERSTAGE DIFFERENTIAL - In a multistage HVAC system, the change in

temperature at the thermostat needed to turn additional heating or cooling equipment
on.
ION - An atom or radical in solution carrying an integral electric charge, either positive
(cation) or negative (anion).
ION EXCHANGE - A reversible process by which ions are interchanged between
solids and a liquid.
ION EXCHANGE RESIN - Cross linked polymers that form salts within ions from
aqueous solutions.
IONIC STRENGTH - A measure of strength of a solution based on both the
concentrations and valences of the ions present.
IONIZATION - The process of separation of a molecule into its electrically charged
atoms or parts.
IRON - A metallic element found as an impurity in water in very small amounts. Also a
metal which is widely used in the construction of HVAC and plumbing equipment; the
major component of steel.
IRON BACTERIA - Are filementous organisms encountered in iron-bearing water.
ISENTROPIC PROCESS - A process carried out reversibly without energy
interchange as heat. Also a processes carried out with no entropy change.
ISOBARIC OR ISOPIESTIC PROCESS - A process carried out at constant pressure.
ISOCHORIC PROCESS OR ISOMETRIC- A process during which the specific volume
remains constant.
ISOMETRIC PROCESS - A process carried out at constant volume.////////////////////////////
ISOTHERMAL - Changes of volume or pressure under conditions of constant
temperature.
ISOTHERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION - Action which takes place without
a temperature change.
JACKING OIL PUMP - provides oil supply when the turbine is placed on barring (slow
rotation to stop the turbine from sagging or hogging)
JET COMPRESSOR - A device employing a ventury tube so that a high pressure
stream flowing through the nozzle creates a lower pressure or a vacuum into which
the gas to be compressed flows. The gas is discharged from the nozzle with the
expanded high-pressure medium.
JOULE - English Scientist James Prescott Joule (1818 - 1889)
JOULE - The unit used to measure heat, work, and energy in the metric system. Its
symbol is J. It is the amount of energy required to move an object of 1 kg mass to a
height of 1 m. Also called a newton-metre.
JOULE-THOMSON EFFECT - The change in gas temperature which occurs when the
gas is expanded adiabatically from a higher pressure to a lower pressure. The effect
for most gases, except hydrogen and helium, is a cooling of the gas.
JOURNAL - That part of a shaft or axle that rotates relative to a radial bearing.
KATA THERMOMETER - Large-bulb alcohol thermometer used to measure air speed

or atmospheric conditions by means of cooling effect.
KELVIN SCALE (K) - Thermometer scale on which unit of measurement equals the
Celsius degree and according to which absolute zero is 0 degree, the equivalent of 273.16C. Water freezes at 273.16 K. and boils at 373.16 K. The relationship - TK =
TC + 273.16
KEROSENE - a light, hydrocarbon fuel or solvent.
KILO CALORIE - This is the amount of heat (energy) necessary to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of water 1C. (Kilo calorie = kcal)
KILO CALORIE - This is the amount of heat (energy) necessary to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of water 1C. (Kilo calorie = kcal)
KILO GRAIN - A unit of weight; 1000 grains.
KILOVOLT AMPERE - Product of the voltage times the current. Different from
kilowatts because of inductive loads in an electrical system. Abbreviated: kVA kilo
watts is equal to KVA times power factor. Kilowatt: 1000 watts. Abbreviated: kW.
KILOWATT - A metric unit of power equal to approximately 1.34 horsepower.
KILOWATT-HOUR - A measure of electrical energy consumption. 1000 watts being
consumed per hour. Abbreviated: kWh.
KINETIC ENERGY - The ability of an object to do work by virtue of its motion. (Water
moving in a pipe has kinetic energy.) The energy terms that are usually used to
describe the operation of a pump are "pressure" and "head". In classical mechanics,
equal to one half of the bodys mass times the square of its speed.
KING VALVE - Liquid receiver (refrigeration only) service valve.
KIRCHOFFS SECOND LAW - The law stating that, at each instant of time the
increase of voltage around a close loop in a network is equal to the algebraic sum of
the voltage drop.
KNOCK - In a spark ignition engine, uneven burning of the fuel/air charge that causes
violent, explosive combustion and an audible metallic hammering noise. Knock results
from premature ignition of the last part of the charge to burn.
KRAFT PROCESS - A wood-pulping process in which sodium sulfate is used in the
caustic soda pulp-digestion liquor. Also called Kraft pulping or sulfate pulping.
kW DEMAND - The maximum rate of electric power usage required to operate a
facility during a period of time, usually a month or billing period. Often called
"demand".
kWh CONSUMPTION - The amount of electric energy used over a period of time; the
number of kWh used per month. Often called "consumption".
LABYRINTH SEAL - A labyrinth seal consists of a number of rings 1 - 2 millimeters

thick fixed to the shaft, tapered at the outer periphery to nearly knife-sharp with a
clearance to the casing of a few hundreds of a millimeter. The rings are of brass or
stainless steel, the sharp edge gives better sealing and rubs off easily without
excessive heating in case of a slightly eccentric shaft. Some labyrinth seals are very
simple, others are complicated.
LAG - A delay in the effect of a changed condition at one point in the system, on some
other condition to which it is related. Also, the delay in action of the sensing element of
a control, due to the time required for the sensing element to reach equilibrium with
the property being controlled; i.e., temperature lag, flow lag, etc.
LAMINAR FLOW - A non-turbulent flow regime in which the stream filaments glide
along the pipe axially with essentially no transverse mixing.
LANGELIER SATURATION INDEX - An index (SI) based upon the pH of saturation of
calcium carbonate; used to determine the tendencies of a water supply toward
corrosion or scaling. A positive index indicates scaling tendencies; a negative one
means corrosion tendencies. (Langlier Index = pH - pHs, where pH = actual pH of
water and pHs = pH at which water having the same alkalinity and calcium content is
just saturated with calcium carbonate.
LATENT HEAT - Change of enthalpy during a change of state, usually expressed in
Btu per lb. With pure substances, latent heat is absorbed or rejected at constant
pressure.
LATENT HEAT - Heat energy absorbed in process of changing form of substance
(melting, vaporization, fusion) without change in temperature or pressure.
LATENT HEAT OF CONDENSATION - Amount of heat released (lost) by a pound of
a substance to change its state from a vapor (gas) to a liquid.
LATENT HEAT OF FUSION - The heat required to change 1.0 kg of a substance from
the solid to the liquid state.
LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION - The energy required to produce saturated
vapor from saturated liquid at constant pressure per unit mass of fluid.
LAW OF PARTIAL PRESSURE, DALTONS - Each constituent of a mixture of gases
behaves thermodynamically as if it alone occupied the space. The sum of the
individual pressures of the constituents equals the total pressure of the mixture.
LEADING EDGE - Refers to the point where the steam enters the blade of an impulse
turbine.
LEAK DETECTOR - Device or instrument such as a halide torch, an electronic sniffer;
or soap solution used to detect leaks.
LEAKAGE - In water treatment, it refers to the passing of impure steam or boiler
water through the drum internals.
LEAKAGE - In water treatment, the phenomenon in which some of the influent ions
are not adsorbed and appear in the effluent when a solution is passed through an
under regenerated exchange resin bed.
LIGHT CRUDE OIL - A crude oil of relatively high API gravity (usually 40C degrees
or higher).
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE - A low current and voltage light used as an indicator on
load management equipment. Abbreviated: LED.
LIME - A common water treatment chemical.
LIME-SODA SOFTENING - A process by which the calcium and magnesium salts,
constituting the harness content of a water, are chemically precipitated and removed.
LINE VOLTAGE - In the control industry, the normal electric supply voltages, which
are usually 120 or 240 volts.
LIQUEFACTION - The change of state from a gas to a liquid. (The term liquefaction is
usually used instead of condensation when referring to substances which are in a
gaseous state at ordinary pressures and temperatures.)
LIQUID - Substance whose molecules move freely among themselves, but do not
tend to separate like those of gases.
LIQUID ABSORBENT - Chemical in liquid form which has the property to "take on" or
absorb other fluids. Glycol is such a liquid and widely use in the petroleum chemical
industry
LIQUID IMPINGEMENT - Material removal due to action of an impingement stream of
a fluid.
LIQUID INDICATOR - Device located in liquid line which provides a glass window
through which liquid flow may be watched.
LIQUID LINE - Tube which carries liquid refrigerant from the condenser or liquid
receiver to the refrigerant control mechanism.
LIQUID LINE CHARGING VALVE - The line used for charging from the high side of
the refrigeration system.
LIQUID NITROGEN - Nitrogen in liquid form which is used as a low temperature
refrigerant in expendable or chemical refrigerating systems.
LIQUID PENETRANT INSPECTION - A type of nondestructive inspection that locates
discontinuities that are open to the surface of a metal by first allowing a penetrating
dye or fluorescent liquid to infiltrate the discontinuity, removing the excess penetrant,
and then applying a developing agent that causes the penetrant to seep back out of
the discontinuity and register as an indication.
LIQUID RECEIVER - Cylinder (container) connected to condenser outlet for storage of
liquid refrigerant in a system.
LIQUID RECEIVER SERVICE VALVE - Two or three-way manual valve located at the
outlet of the receiver and used for installation and service purposes. It is sometimes
called the king valve.
LIQUID-VAPOR VALVE REFRIGERANT CYLINDER - Dual hand valve on refrigerant
cylinders, which is used to release either gas or liquid refrigerant from the cylinder.
LIQUOR - Solution used in absorption refrigeration.
LITHIUM BROMIDE - A chemical used in combination with water in absorption cooling
systems.
LOAD - The amount of heat per unit time imposed on a refrigeration system or the
required rate of heat removal.
LOAD (AIR CONDITIONING) - The amount of heat per unit time imposed on a
refrigeration system or the required rate of heat removal.
LOAD TURBINE (GAS) - Is the turbine which is directly coupled to the load, which
can only be the case with a multishaft gas turbine arrangement.

LOCKED ROTOR CURRENT - See "Inrush Current".
LONGITUDINAL SEAM - A riveted or welded seam along the longitudinal axis of a
boiler shell or drum.
LOW SIDE - The refrigerating system from the expansion point to the point where the
refrigerant vapor is compressed; where the system is at or below evaporated
pressure.
LOW TEMPERATURE CUTOUT, REFRIGERATON - A pressure or temperature
actuated device with sensing element in the evaporator, which will shut the system
down at its control setting to prevent freezing chilled water or to prevent coil frosting.
Direct expansion equipment may not use this device.
LOW VOLTAGE - In the control industry, a power supply of 25 volts or less.
LOW-SIDE FLOAT VALVE - Refrigerant control valve operated by level of liquid
refrigerant in low-pressure side of system.
LOW-SIDE PRESSURE - Pressure in cooling side of refrigerating cycle.
LOW-SIDE PRESSURE CONTROL - Device used to keep low side evaporating
pressure from dropping below certain pressure.
LUBRICANT - A substance - usually petroleum based, that is used to reduce friction
between two moving parts.
LUBRICANT, BONDED FILM - (see lubricant, bonded solid).
LUBRICANT, BONDED SOLID - A solid lubricant dispersed in a continuous matrix of
a binder or attached to a surface by an adhesive material.
LUBRICANT, CHLORINATED - A lubricant containing a chlorine compound that
reacts with a rubbing surface at elevated temperatures to protect it from sliding
damage, (see extreme pressure lubricant).
LUBRICANT, SYNTHETIC - A lubricant produced by synthesis rather than by
extraction or refinement.
LUBRICATION, AERODYNAMIC - (see gas lubrication).
LUBRICATION, AEROSTATICS - (see pressurized gas lubrication).
LUBRICATION, BATH - (see lubrication, flood).
LUBRICATION, BOUNDARY - A condition of lubrication in which the friction and wear
between two surfaces in relative motion are determined by the properties of the
surfaces and by the properties of the lubricant other than bulk viscosity.
LUBRICATION, DRIP FEED - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is

supplied to the bearing surface in the form of drops at regular intervals.
LUBRICATION, DRY FILM - Lubrication that involves the application of a thin film of
solid lubricant to the surface or surfaces to be lubricated.
LUBRICATION, FLOOD - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is supplied in
a continuos stream at low pressure and subsequently drains away.
LUBRICATION, FULL FILM - A type of lubrication wherein the solid surfaces are
separated completely by an elstohydrodynamic fluid film.
LUBRICATION, MAGNETO HYDRODYNAMIC Hydrodynamic lubrication in which a
significant force contribution arises from electromagnetic interaction.
LUBRICATION, MELT - Lubrication provided by steady melting of lubricating species.
Also phase-change lubrication.
LUBRICATION, MIST - Lubrication by an oil mist produced by injecting oil into a gas
stream.
LUBRICATION, OIL FOG - (see mist lubrication).
LUBRICATION, OIL RING - A system of lubrication for horizontal shafts. A ring of
larger diameter rotates with the shaft and collects oils from a container beneath.
LUBRICATION, PAD - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is delivered to a
bearing surface by a pad of felt or similar material.
LUBRICATION, PRESSURIZED GAS - A system of lubrication in which a gaseous
lubricant is supplied under sufficient external pressure to separate the opposing
surfaces by a gas film.
LUBRICATION, SOLID-FILM - Lubrication by application of a solid lubricant.
LUBRICATION, SPLASH - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is splashed
onto the moving parts.
LUBRICATION, THICK FILM - (also known as flood lubrication).
LUBRICATION, THIN FILM - (also known as boundary lubrication).
LUBRICATION, VAPOR-PHASE - A type of lubrication in which one or more gaseous
reactants are supplied to the vicinity of the surface to be lubricated and which
subsequently react to form a lubricious deposit on that surface.
LUBRICATION, WASTE - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is delivered to
a bearing surface by cloth waste or yarn.
LUBRICATION, WICK - A system of lubrication in which the lubricant is delivered to a

bearing surface by means of a wick.
LUBRICITY - The ability of a lubricant to reduce wear and friction, other than by its
pure viscous properties.
MAGNESIUM - A scale forming element found in some boiler feed water.

MAGNETIC FIELD - The region within which a body or current experiences magnetic
force.
MAGNETIC FLUX - The rate of flow of magnetic energy across or through a surface.
MAGNETIC IRON OXIDE (Fe3O2) - Partially oxidized iron.
MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION - A nondestructive method of inspection for
determining the extent of surface cracks and similar imperfection in ferromagnetic
materials.
MAGNETIC POLE -The area on a magnetized part at which the magnetic field leaves
or enters the part. It is the point of maximum attraction in a magnet.
MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION - Where very low temperatures are obtained by using
paramagnetic salts with magnets.
MAKEUP WATER - Water fed to a system to replace that which is lost - for example,
water fed to a boiler to replace that lost as steam or condensate; water fed to a cooling
tower to replace that lost by evaporation, drift, or other causes.
MALLEABILITY - The characteristic of metals that permits plastic deformation in
compression without fracture.
MANGANESE - A metallic element occasionally found in very small amounts as an
impurity in well-water supplies.
MANIFOLD, SERVICE - Chamber equipped with gauges and manual valves, used by
service technicians to service refrigerating systems.
MANIFOLDING - A method of circulating the refrigerant through separate rows of
tubes and mostly used with direct-expansion or dry evaporators.
MANOMETER - A device to measure small to moderate pressure differentials. Device
is general constructed from glass or plastic tubes filled with water, oil, alcohol or other
suitable fluids.
MANOMETER - An instrument for measuring pressures: especially a U-tube partially

filled with a liquid, usually water, mercury, or a light oil, so constructed that the amount
of displacement of the liquid indicates the pressure being exerted on the instrument.
MANUAL FROST CONTROL - Manual control used to change operation of
refrigerating system to produce defrosting conditions.
MASS - The quantity of matter in a body as measured by the ratio of the force
required to produce a given acceleration, to the acceleration.
MASTER (CENTRAL) CONTROL - Control of all outlets from one point.
MCM - Thousand circular mill used to describe large wire sizes.
MECHANICAL CYCLE MECHANICAL SEALS - A mechanical device used to control leakage from the
stuffing box of a pump. Mechanical seals are usually made of two flat surfaces, one of
which rotates on a shaft. The two flat surfaces are of such tolerances as to prevent the
passage of water between them.
MECHANICAL WEAR - Removal of material due to mechanical process under
conditions of sliding, rolling, or repeated impact. Included are abrasive wear, fatigue
wear and adhesive wear, but not the corrosive and thermal wear.
MELTING POINT - For a given pressure, the temperature at which the solid and liquid
phases of the substance are in equilibrium.
MELTING POINT - Temperature at atmospheric pressure at which a substance will
melt.
MEMBRANE - A barrier, usually thin, that permits the passage only of particles up to a
certain size or of special nature.
MEMBRANE - A thin sheet or layer.
MERCAPTAN - A compound chemically similar to alcohol, with sulfur replacing the
oxygen in the chemical structure. Many mercaptans have an offensive odor and are
used as deodorants in natural gas.
METALLURGICAL FACTOR - The condition of the metal, such as inclusions,
chemical segregations, cold work and others, which have an impact upon the rate of
electrochemical corrosion rates.
MICA - A silicate material used with high pressure gauge glasses on boilers.
MICHEL THRUST BEARING MICROBAR - A unit of pressure equal to 1 dyne/cm2 (one millionth of the pressure of
the atmosphere).
MICRO FILTRATION - A membrane filtration process, which forces water through a
porous barrier. Pores are usually between 0.1 to 20 m, when used for water
purification. For filtering purposes, pore sizes are .045 m.
Micron - A unit of length, the thousandth part of 1 mm of the millionth of a meter.
Microprocessor - A small computer used in load management to analyze energy
demand and consumption such that loads are turned on and off according to a
predetermined program.
MILD STEEL - A low-carbon steel of ordinary production.
MILL SCALE - A natural black iron oxide coating loosely adhering to the interior of
new piping or tubes.
MINERAL - A naturally occurring inorganic substance having specified chemical
composition and crystalline structure.
MISCIBILITY - The ability of two liquids, not mutually soluble, to mix.
MIX BED DEMINERALIZER - Having a mixture of cation and anion exchange resin in
the same housing.
MIXED PRESSURE TURBINE MIXTURE - A physical blend of two or more substances.
MODULATING - Type of device or control which tends to adjust by increments
(minute changes) rather than by either "full on" or "full off" operation.
MODULATING CONTROL - A mode of automatic control in which the action of the
final control element is proportional to the deviation, from set point, of the controlled
medium.
MODULATING REFRIGERATION CYCLE - Refrigerating system of variable capacity.
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (E) - The measure of rigidity or stiffness of a material.
MOISTURE INDICATOR - Instrument used to measure moisture content of a
refrigerant.
MOLLIER DIAGRAM - An enthalpy-entropy or enthalpy-pressure chart showing the
thermodynamic properties of a fluid.
MONOMER - A molecule, usually an organic compound, having the ability to join with
a number of identical molecules to form a polymer.
MOTOER CONTROL CENTER - A single metal enclosed assembly containing a

number of motor controllers and possibly other devices such as switches and control
devices.
MUD DRUM - A pressure chamber of a drum or header type located at the lower
extremity of a water tube boiler and fitted with blowoff valve.
MULLION HEATER - Electrical heating element mounted in the mullion. Used to keep
mullion from sweating or frosting.
MULTIPLE STAGE COMPRESSOR - Compressor having two or more compressive
steps. Discharge from each step is the intake pressure of the next in series.
MULTIPLE SYSTEM - Refrigerating mechanism in which several evaporators are
connected to one condensing unit.
MULTI-SHAT GAS TURBINE - A gas turbine having more than one shaft, like the
dual shaft arrangement.
MULTISTAGE COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - Where the refrigerant
is vaporized and condensed alternately and is compressed in the vapor phase.
MULTISTAGE THERMOSTAT - A thermostat which controls auxiliary equipment for
heating or cooling in response to a greater demand for heating or cooling.
NAPHTA - A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon distilled from petroleum and used
as a solvent or fuel.
NATURAL CIRCULATION - The circulation of a boiler caused by differences in
density. Also referred as thermal or thermally induced circulation.
NATURAL CONVECTION - Movement of a fluid caused only by temperature
differences (density changes).
NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWER - Cools water by moving air at low velocities.
NATURAL GAS - A highly compressible, highly expandable mixture of hydrocarbons
having a low specific gravity and occurring naturally in gaseous form. Besides
hydrocarbon gases, natural gas may contain quantities of nitrogen, helium, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor.
NATURALLY ASPIRATED - A term used to describe a diesel engine in which air
flows into the engine by means of atmospheric pressure only.
NC - Normally closed contacts of a relay.
NEGATIVE CHARGE - The electrical potential which an atom acquires when it gains
one or more electrons; a characteristic of an anion.
NET POSITIVE SUCTION - The difference between total pressure and vapor pressure
in a fluid flow, expressed in terms of equivalent height or "head".
NEUTRAL - The circuit conductor that is normally grounded or at zero voltage
difference to the ground.
NEUTRALIZATION NUMBER - An ASTM number given to quenching oils that reflect
the oils tendency toward oxidation and sludging.
NEUTRALIZER - A substance that will combine with an acid or alkali chemically, thus
removing the acidity or alkalinity.
NEUTRALIZING AMINES - Are amines used to neutralize the acid generated by the
dissolution of carbon dioxide.
NEWTON - The unit of force in the metric system. A newton is the force required to
accelerate an object of 1 kilogram mass to a velocity of 1 meter per second in 1
second.
NIPPLE - A short, threaded tubular coupling, used for making connections between
pipe joints.
NITROGEN BLANKETING - Used with wet standby, where the space above the
water level is filled with nitrogen at about 5 to 10 psig in order to keep the oxygen out.
NITROGEN DIOXIDE - Mildly poisonous gas (NO2) often found in smog or automobile
exhaust
NO - Normally open contacts of a relay.
NOBEL METAL - A chemically inactive metal, such as gold.
NO-FROST FREEZER - Low-temperature refrigerator cabinet in which no frost or ice
collects on freezer surfaces or materials stored in cabinet.
NOISE - Any undesired sounds, usually of different frequencies, resulting in an
objectionable or irritating sensation.
NOMINAL SIZE - A designated size that may be different from the actual size.
NOMINAL SIZE TUBING - Tubing measurement which has an inside diameter the
same as iron pipe of the same stated size.
NON-CARBONATED HARDNESS - Hardness in water caused by chlorides, sulfates,
and nitrates of calcium and magnesium.
NON-CODE INSTALLATION - Functional refrigerating system installed where there

are no local, state, or national refrigeration codes in force.
NON-CONDENSABLES - Gaseous material not liquefied when associated water
vapor is condensed in the same environment.
NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION (NDI) - A procedure such as ultrasonic or
radiographic inspection, for determining the quality of a material without permanently
altering anything.
NON-FERROUS ALLOY - Alloy containing less then 50 % iron.
NON-FROSTING EVAPORATOR - Evaporator which never collects frost or ice on its
surface. Uses only thermostatic expansion valves.
NON-MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION - Those that obtain the required high and low
pressure by some method other than a mechanical compressor.
NON-REACTIVE SILICA - Is a polymeric form of silica; thermally unstable which
reverts to normal silica when heated. Difficult to detect, but may be present when
boiler feedwater shows none, but boiler water reads silica.
NORMAL CARRYOVER - Refers to the carryover which occurs in any boiler
operating under the best conditions.
NORMAL CHARGE - Thermal element charge which is part liquid and part gas under
all operating conditions.
NORMALLY OPEN - (OR NORMAL CLOSED) The position of a valve, damper, relay
contacts, or switch when external power or pressure is not being applied to the device.
Valves and dampers usually are returned to a "normal" position by a spring.
NOZZLE GOVERNING NTU - Nephelometric turbidity unit. A light -interference analytical method to measure
the turbidity of water.
NUCLEATE BOILING - The even boiling of water in which steam bubbles are formed
within the boiler water gradually and are evenly distributed rather than being suddenly
formed and erratically distributed.
NUCLEATING SITES -
OCCLUSION - An absorption process by which one solid material adheres strongly to

another, sometimes occurring by co precipitation.
OCTANE RATING - A classification of gasoline according to its antiknock qualities.

The higher the octane number or rating, the greater are the antiknock qualities of the
gasoline.
OCTYL ALCOHOL - ETHYL HEXANOL - Additive in absorption machines to reduce
surface tension in the absorber.
OFFSET - Term used to describe the difference between the set point and the actual
OHM - The unit of electrical resistance equal to the resistance through which a current
of 1 ampere will flow when there is potential difference of one volt across it.
OHMS LAW - The relationship between current and voltage in a circuit. It states that
current is proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance. Expressed
algebraically, in DC circuits I=E/R; in AC circuits I=E/Z.
OIL - A liquid of vegetable, animal, mineral, or synthetic origin that feels slippery to the
touch.
OIL BINDING - Condition in which an oil layer on top of refrigerant liquid may prevent
if from evaporating at its normal pressure temperature.
OIL GROOVE - A channel or channels in a bearing to improve oil flow through the
bearing.
OIL RING LUBRICATION - A system of lubrication for horizontal shafts. A ring of
larger diameter rotates with the shaft and collects oils from a container below.
OIL SEPARATOR - Device used to remove oil from gaseous refrigerant or steam.
OIL, MINERAL - A refined hydrocarbon oil without animal or vegetable additives.
OIL, MULTI-GRADE - An oil having relative little change in viscosity over a specified
temperature range.
OIL, NEUTRAL - A lubricating oil obtained by distillation, not treated with acid or with
alkali.
OIL, TURBINE - An oil used to lubricate bearings in a steam or gas turbine.
ONCE-THROUGH BOILER - A steam generating unit usually operated above the
critical pressure in which there is no re-circulation of the working fluid in any part of the
unit.
ON-OFF CONTROL - A two position action which allows operation at either maximum
or minimum condition, or on or off, depending on the position of the controller.
OPEN CIRCUIT - The absence of a direct connection between two points in an
electrical network.
OPEN CYCLE - A gas turbine arrangement, in were the exhaust gases from the
turbine are exhausted to the atmosphere without any further treatment.
OPEN RE-CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM - A system, using continuously
circulated water as a heat-transfer medium, in which the water is exposed at one point
to the atmosphere for either discharge or absorption of heat.
OPERATING POINT - The value of the controlled condition at which the controller
actually operates. Also called control point.
OPERATING PRESSURE - Actual pressure at which the system works under normal
conditions. This pressure may be positive or negative (vacuum).
ORGANIC GROWTH - A substance resulting from the growth of biological organisms
such as fungi, algae, and slime bacteria.
ORGANIC MATERIAL - Contain carbon and usually hydrogen and are derived from
living things.
ORGANIC OXYGEN SCAVENGERS - These are organic compounds such as
hydroquinone and ascorbate to remove dissolved oxygen from the boiler feedwater
and condensate.
ORIFICE - Accurate size opening for controlling fluid flow.
ORSAT ANALYZER - A furnace atmosphere analysis device in which gases are
absorbed selectively (volumetric basis) by passing them through a series of preselected solvents.
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
OSMOSIS - The passage of water through permeable membrane separating two
solutions of different concentration; the water passes into the more concentrated
solution.
OUTSIDE AIR OPENING (HVAC) - Any opening used as an entry for air from
outdoors.
OVER CURRENT DEVICE - A device such as a fuse or a circuit breaker designed to
protect a circuit against excessive current by opening the circuit.
OVERFLOW PIPE - A pipe installed at a top of a tank to enable the liquid within to be
discharged to another vessel when the tank is filled to capacity.
OVERLOAD - A condition of excess current; more cur rent flowing than the circuit was
designed to carry.
OVERRIDE - A manual or automatic action taken to by pass the normal operation of a
device or system
OVERSPEED TRIP - On steam turbines, a mechanism that provides absolute reliable
overspeed protection by shutting off the steam supply.
OXIDATION - The reaction of an element or substance with oxygen, e.g., iron is
oxidized by reaction with oxygen to form rust (iron oxide).
OXIDIZING AGENT - Any substance such as oxygen, or chlorine, that will readily add
(take on) electrons.
OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE - A furnace atmosphere with an oversupply of oxygen
that tends to oxidize materials placed in it.
OXIDIZING BIOCIDE - An agent, such as chlorine, which will kill bacteria by the
chemical process of oxidation.
OXYACETYLENE WELDING - An oxyfuel gas welding process in which the fuel gas
is acetylene.
OXYGEN CONCENTRATION CELL - (see differential aeration cell).
OXYGEN CONCENTRATION CELL - The surface area in contact with the media of
higher oxygen concentration becomes the cathodic area, and the area with the lower
oxygen concentration becomes the anode.
OXYGEN PITTING - Damage caused due to the presence of oxygen in the feedwater.
Damage results are small pit-like holes in the metal.
OXYGEN SCAVENGER - A substance that will absorb oxygen by chemical reaction.
OZONE - Triatomic oxygen (03). Sometimes used in cold storage or air conditioning
installations as an odor eliminator. Can be toxic in certain concentrations.
PACKAGE UNITS, (REFRIGERATION) - Complete refrigerating system including

compressor, condenser and evaporator located in the refrigerated space.
PACKED COLUMN - A tower filled with small objects, designed to obtain large
surfaces per volume between rising vapors and a descending liquid.
PACKING - Material made usually of woven animal, plant, mineral or metal fiber and
some type of lubricant, placed in rings around the shaft of a pump and used to control
leakage from the stuffing box.
PACKING - The fill in a confined space in a stripping vessel, ranging from simple
shaped units such as rocks or slats to complex shapes that provide large surface area
per unit volume.
PACKING GLAND - The metal part that compresses and holds packing in place in a
stuffing box.
PARALLEL CIRCUIT - One where all the elements are connected across the voltage
source. Therefore, the voltage on each element is the same but the current through
each may be different.
PARSON TURBINE PARTIAL PRESSURES - Condition where two or more gases occupy a space and
each one creates part of the total pressure.
PASCAL - The accepted metric unit of measurement or pressure and stress
component in the measurement of viscosity. A Pascal is equal to a force of 1 Newton
acting an area of 1 square meter. The symbol is Pa.
PASCAL'S LAW - Pressure imposed upon a fluid is transmitted equally in all
directions.
PASSIVATING (ANODIC) INHIBITORS - A material capable of forming a protective
oxide film on metal surfaces.
PASSIVATION - The process of rendering a metal surface chemically inactive, either
by electrochemical polarization or by contact with a passivating agent.
PASSIVATOR - A type of corrosion inhibitor that appreciably changes the potential of
a metal to a more noble (positive) value.
PASSIVATOR - A type of corrosion inhibitor that appreciably changes the potential of
a metal to a more positive value.
PASSIVE-ACTIVE CELL - A corrosion cell in which the anode is a metal in that active
state and the cathode is the same metal in the passive state.
PASSIVITY - A condition on metal surfaces that inhibits electrochemical action
between the metal and its environment, such as with boiler water.
PATHOGENIC BACTERIA - Disease-causing bacteria.
PEAK DEMAND - The greatest amount of kilowatts needed during a demand interval.
PEAK LOAD PRICING - A pricing principle that charges more for purchases that
contribute to the peak demand and, thereby, cause the expansion of productive
capacity when the peak demand exceeds the peak capacity (less minimum excess
capacity). In the electric power industry, this means charging more hr electricity
bought on or near the seasonal peak of the utility or on or near the daily peak of the
utility. The latter requires special meters; the former does not.
PEAKING LOAD - Is the electrical load drawn on the system during high power
usage. Usually on very hot or cold days or during the supper hour.
PELTIER EFFECT - When direct current is passed through two adjacent metals one
junction will become cooler and the other will become warmer. This principle is the
basis of thermoelectric refrigeration.
PERFECT GAS - A hypothetical gas obeying the relation pv = RT.
PERMANENT GASES - Cryogenic refrigerants.
PERMEABILITY - The ability of a body to pass fluid under pressure.
PETROGRAPHIC STUDY OF BOILER SCALES The systematic and descriptive
study of rocks. This method also allows the identification of boiler scales, since scale
can consist of a large variety of minerals
PETROLEUM OIL - (see mineral oils).
pH - The negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion concentration of a solution; simply a
measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of a water solution. (pH 1 very acidic; pH
14, very basic; pH 7, neutral).
pH OF SATURATION (pHs) - The pH at which a sample of water is saturated with a
specific salt; for example, the pH of saturation of calcium carbonate is the pH of a
saturated solution of calcium carbonate.
PHASE - Part of an AC voltage cycle. Residential electrical service is 2-phase;
commercial facilities are usually 3-phase AC voltage.
PHIAL -Term sometimes used to denote the sensing element on a thermostatic
expansion valve.
PHOSPHATE - An ion, compound, or salt containing phosphorus and oxygen, such as
sodium phosphate (Na3P04).
PHOSPHATE TREATMENT - An internal boiler water treatment method to reduce
calcium in the boiler with low hardness feedwater.
PHYSICAL STABILITY - The quality which an ion-exchange resin must possess to
resist changes that might be caused by attrition, high temperatures, and other physical
conditions.
PHYSICAL WATER TREATMENT - Refers to the treatment of removing dissolved
gases from the boiler feedwater, using steam.
PIG IRON - High-carbon iron made by reduction of iron ore in the blast furnace.
PILOT DUTY RELAY - A relay used for switching loads such as another relay or
solenoid valve coils. The pilot duty relay contacts are located in a second control
circuit. Pilot duty relays are rated in volt-amperes (VA).
PILOT OIL PRESSURE PIPE SCALE - Rust or mill scale found on the interior of water pipe.
PIT - Corrosion localized in a small spot.
PITOTE TUBE - An open ended tube arrangement to face against the current of a
stream of fluid; used in measuring the velocity head of a flowing medium.
PITS - Petroleum Industry Training Service. (Canada)
PITTING - Localized corrosion of a metal characterized by small blisters under which
holes have perforated the metal.
PLASTIC DEFORMATION PLASTICITY - The ability of a substance to be deformed without rupturing.
PLENUM CHAMBeR - An air compartment connected to one or more distributing
ducts.
PLENUM CHAMBER - Chamber or container for moving air or other gas under a
slight positive pressure.
PNEUMATIC - Operated by air pressure.
PNEUMATIC-ELECTRIC (PE) SWITCHES - Device that operates an electric switch
from a change of air pressure.
pOH - An expression of the alkalinity of a solution; the negative logarithm of the
hydroxyl-ion concentration.
POINT, CRITICAL - Of a substance, state point at which liquid and vapor have
identical properties; critical temperature, critical pressure, and critical volume are the
terms given to the temperature, pressure, and volume at the critical point. Above the
critical temperature or
POLARITY - The direction of current flow in a DC circuit. By convention, current flows
from plus to minus. Electron flow is actually in the opposite direction.
POLARIZE - In corrosion, to develop a barrier on the anodic or cathodic surface,
disrupting the corrosion process.
POLE - An electrical connection point. In a panel, the point of connection. On a
device, the terminal that connects to the power.
POLYELECTROLYTE - A water-soluble polymer that is highly charged with cationic

or anionic sites. Used as an aid with coagulants.
POLYMER - A chemical compound formed by the adjoining of many molecules of the
same characteristics; for example, polyvinyl chloride is a polymer of the molecule vinyl
chloride.
POLYMERIC DISPERSANT - A water-soluble polymer that acts as a suspending
agent; that is, it promotes suspension of particles in water so that they resist settling.
POLYPHOSPHATE - A chemical compound formed by the adjoining of phosphate
ions, hence a polymer of phosphate.
POLYTROPHIC PROCESS - A non-adiabatic reversible process characterized by the
equation of path, pv = constant.
POROUS VASE - A vase having a porous construction, which was used to cool its
content.
POSITIVE CHARGE - The electrical potential acquired by an atom which has lost one
or more electrons; a characteristic of a cation.
POTENTIAL ENERGY - The energy, that a body has by virtue of its position or state,
enabling it to do work. (Water in a reservoir has potential energy by virtue of its
elevation above some other point.)
POTENTIAL TRANSFORMER - A voltage transformer. The voltage supplied to a
primary coil induces a voltage in a secondary coil according, to the ratio of the wire
windings in each of the coils.
POTENTIOMETER - An electromechanical device having a terminal connected to
each and to the resistive element, and a third terminal connected to the wiper contact.
The electrical input is divided as the contact moves over the element, thus making it
possible to mechanically change the resistance.
POUR POINT - The lowest temperature at which a lubricant can be observed to flow
under specified conditions. For oil, the pour point is a temperature -15C above the
temperature at which the oil is solid.
POUR-POINT DEPRESSANT - An additive that lowers the pour point of a lubricant.
POWER (P) - Expressed in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW), and is equal to:
POWER ELEMENT - Sensitive element of a temperature-operated control.
POWER FACTOR (pf) - A quantity that relates the volt amperes of an AC circuit to the
wattage (power = volt-amperes x power factor). Power factor also is the ratio of the
circuit resistance (R) to the impedance (Z) expressed as a decimal between zero and
one (pf = R/Z). When the power factor equals one, all consumed power produces
useful work.
POWER FACTOR CHARGE - A utility charge for "poor" power factor. It is more
expensive to provide power to a facility with a poor power factor (usually less than
0.8).
POWER FACTOR CORRECTION - Installing capacitors on the utility services supply
line to improve the power factor of the building.
ppb - equals 0.001 ppm. (Parts per billion)
PRECIPITATE - An insoluble reaction product; in an aqueous chemical reaction,
usually a crystalline compound that grows in size to become settable.
PRECIPITATING (CATHODIC) INHIBITORS - The are chemicals which form
insoluble precipitates that are able to coat and protect surfaces. They are less durable
then the passivating type inhibitors.
PRECIPITATION - A process whereby salts drop or come out of a water solution.
PRECISION PHOSPHATE TREATMENT - A phosphate treatment based upon
maintaining 2 to 4 ppm of phosphate and 15 to 50 ppm of hydrate alkalinity in the
boiler.
PREDICTING METHOD - A method for determining when load shedding should
occur. A formula is used to arrive at a preset kilowatt limit. Then the actual amount of
energy accumulated during the utility's demand intervals is measured. A projection is
made of the actual rate of energy usage during the rest of the interval. If the predicted
value exceeds the preset limit, loads will be shed.
PREIGNITION - A condition in an internal combustion engine characterized by a
knocking sound and caused by the fuel-air mixture having been ignited to soon
because of an abnormal condition.
PRESSURE - The normal force exerted by a homogeneous liquid or gas, per unit of
area, on the wall of its container.
PRESSURE COMPOUNDING PRESSURE DROP - Pressure loss in fluid pressure, as from one end of a duct or pipe
to the other, due to friction, dynamic losses, and changes in velocity pressure.
PRESSURE GAUGE - Instrument for measuring the pressure exerted by the contents
on its container.
PRESSURE HEAD - The height to which liquid can be raised by a given pressure
(sometimes referred to as pump head).
PRESSURE MOTOR CONTROL - Device which opens and closes an electrical circuit
as pressures change.
PRESSURE OPERATED THERMOMETER - Temperature indicator which is

controlled by bellows, a capillary or remote sensitive bulb.
PRESSURE REGULATOR, SUCTION (REFRI-GERATION COMPRESSORS) - An
automatic valve designed to limit the suction pressure to prevent motor overload.
PRESSURE SWITCH - Switch operated by a rise or drop in pressure.
PRESSURE VELOCITY - In moving fluid, the pressure capable of causing an
equivalent velocity, if applied to move the same fluid through an orifice such that all
pressure energy expended is converted into kinetic energy.
PRESSURE, ABSOLUTE - Pressure referred to that of a perfect vacuum. It is the
sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric pressure.
PRESSURE, ATMOSPHERIC - It is the pressure indicated by a barometer. Standard
atmosphere is the pressure equivalent/////////
PRESSURE, CRITICAL - Vapor pressure corresponding to the substance's critical
state at which the liquid and vapor have identical properties.
PRESSURE, GAGE - Gauge: Pressure above atmospheric.
PRESSURE, HYDROSTATIC - The normal force per unit area that would be exerted
by a moving fluid on an infinitesimally small body immersed in it if the body were
carried along with the fluid.
PRESSURE, OPERATING - Pressure at which a system is operating.
PRESSURE, PARTIAL - Portion of total gas pressure of a mixture attributable to one
component.
PRESSURE, SATURATION- The saturation pressure for a pure substance for any
given temperature is that pressure at which vapor and liquid, or vapor and solid, can
coexist in stable equilibrium.
PRESSURE, STATIC - The normal force per unit area that would be exerted by a
moving fluid on a small body immersed in it if the body were carried along with the
fluid. Practically, it is the normal force per unit are at a small hole in a wall of the duct
through which the fluid flows (piezometer) or on the surface of a stationary tube at a
point where the disturbances, created by inserting the tube, cancel. It is supposed that
the thermodynamic properties of a moving fluid depend on static pressure in exactly
the same manner as those of the same fluid at rest depend upon its uniform
hydrostatic pressure
PRESSURE, TOTAL - In the theory of the flow of fluids, the sum of the static pressure
and the velocity pressure at the point of measurement. Also called dynamic pressure.
PRESSURE, VAPOR - The partial pressure exerted by the water vapor contained in
air.
PRESSURE-HEAT DIAGRAM - Graph of refrigerant pressure, heat and temperature

properties. (Mollier's diagram.)
PRESSURESTAT - A control which reacts to pressure changes in the evaporator.
PRESSURE-VELOCITY COMPOUNDING PRETREATMENT - Also referred to as external treatment, consisting of treating the
raw make-up water, and include removing dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide,
suspended solids, hardness, alkalinity, silica, dissolved solids, etc..
PRIMARY AIR - The initial air stream discharged by an air outlet (the air being
supplied by a fan or supply duct) prior to any entrainment of the ambient air or for he
purpose of combustion.
PRIMARY CONSTITUENTS - Refers to the category of dissolved solids present in
water at a level of more then 5 mg/L.
PRIMARY CONTROL - A device which directly or indirectly controls the control agent
in response to needs indicated by the controller. Typically a motor, valve, relay, etc.
PRIMARY ELEMENT - The portion of the controller which first uses energy derived
from the controlled medium to produce a condition representing the value of the
controlled variable; for example, a thermostat bimetal.
PRIMARY SYSTEM - A closed water system in which the water is circulated directly
through a chiller for cooling or heat exchanger or boiler for heating.
PRIME MOVER - An engine or other device by which natural source of energy is
converted into mechanical energy.
PRIMING - The phenomenon in which the level of water in a boiler is changed by
bouncing rapidly. The result is, that boiler water will enter the steam flow.
PROCESS HOT WATER - Hot water needed for manufacturing processes over and
above the "domestic hot water" that is for the personal use of industrial workers.
PROPANE - A paraffin hydrocarbon (C3H8) that is a gas at ordinary atmospheric
conditions but easily liquefied under pressure.
PROPORTIONAL BAND - The range of values of a proportional positioning controller
through which the controlled variable must pass to move the final control element
through its full operating range. Commonly used equivalents are "throttling range" and
"modulating range".
PSI - Symbol or initials used to indicate pressure measured in pounds per square inch.
PSIA - Symbol or initials used to indicate pressure measured in pounds per square
inch absolute. Absolute pressure equals gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure.
The "A" indicates that the gauge pressure is reading in absolute.

PSIG - Symbol or initials used to indicate pressure in pounds per square inch gauge.
The "G" indicates that is gauge pressure and not absolute pressure.
PSYCHROMETER - An instrument for ascertaining the humidity or hygrometric state
of the atmosphere.
PSYCHROMETER OR WET BULB HYGROMETER An instrument for measuring
the relative humidity of atmospheric air.
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART A chart that shows relationship between the
temperature, pressure and moisture content of the air.
PSYCHROMETRIC MEASUREMENT - Measurement of temperature pressure and
humidity using a psychometric chart.
PSYCHROMETRY - The study of air-vapor mixtures.
PULL DOWN - An expression indicating action of removing refrigerant from all or part
of a refrigeration system.
PULSATION DAMPENER - Any gas or liquid charged, chambered device that
minimizes periodic increases and decreases in pressure.
PULSE-ECHO TECHNIQUES - Corrosion detecting processes which, by recording
the action of ultrasonic waves artificially introduced into production structures, can
determine metal thickness and detect flaws.
PUMP - A device that increases the pressure on a fluid or raises it to a higher level.
PUMP DOWN - The act of using a compressor or a pump to reduce the pressure in a
container or a system.
PUMP, POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT - A pump that moves a measured quantity of
fluid with each stroke of a piston or each revolution of vanes or gears.
PUMP, ROTARY - A pump that moves fluid by positive displacement, using a system
of rotating vanes, gears, or lobes.
PUMP-DISCHARGE PRESSURE - The point of highest pressure in a re-circulating
water system which is at the discharge side of the re-circulating pump.
PURGING - Releasing compressed gas to atmosphere through some part or parts for
the purpose of removing contaminants from that part or parts.
PURGING VALVES - Devices used to remove non-condensable gases from the
refrigeration system.
PYROMETER - A device for measuring temperatures above the range of liquid
thermometers.
QUALITY - Weight fraction of the vapor in a vapor-liquid mixture.

QUICKLIME - Unslaked lime (calcium oxide).
RACEWAY - Any support system, open or closed, for carrying electric wires.
RADIAL THRUST RADIANT HEATING - Heating system in which warm or hot surfaces are used to
radiate heat into the space to be conditioned.
RADIATION - Transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves.
RADIATION LOSSES (STEAM TURBINE) RAM AIR - Air forced through the condenser due to the rapid movement of steam
from the turbine exit.
RANKINE SCALE - Name given the absolute (Fahrenheit) scale. Zero (0) R on this
scale is -460F.
RANKINE TEMPERATURE - Degrees Fahrenheit plus 491.60.
RAPTURE MEMBRANE - A metal membrane (pressure relief device) designed to
rapture at a predetermined pressure.
RATEAU METHOD RAW MAKEUP WATER - Untreated water fed to a system to replace that lost.
RAW WATER - With water treatment it means untreated feedwater or water in its
natural state, prior to any treatment.
REACTION PRINCIPLE REAGENT - A substance, chemical, or solution used in laboratory to detect, measure,
or react with other substances, chemicals or solutions.
RE-CARBONATION - A process using carbon dioxide gas to stabilize and thereby
prevent precipitation of calcium carbonate from cold process lime or lime-soda
softened water.
RECEIVER - An auxiliary storage receptacle for fluids.

RECEIVER DEHYDRATOR - Small tank which serves as liquid refrigerants reservoir
and which also contains a desiccant so remove moisture. Used on most automobile
air conditioning installations.
RECEIVER HEATING ELEMENT - Electrical resistance mounted in or around liquid
receiver. It is used to maintain head pressures when ambient temperature is low.
RECEIVER-DRIER - Cylinder (container) in a refrigerating system for storing liquid
refrigerant and which also holds a quantity of desiccant.
RECIPROCAL - A format defined by 1 divided by the complex number.
RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR - Compressor which uses a piston and cylinder
mechanism to provide pumping action.
RECORDING THERMOMETER - Temperature measuring instrument which has a pen
marking a moving chart.
RECTIFIER - A device used to convert AC current into DC current.
RECUPERATOR - Equipment for transferring heat from gaseous products of
combustion to incoming air or fuel. The incoming material passes through pipes
surrounded by a chamber through which the outgoing gases pass.
RED WATER - Water that has a red, cloudy appearance caused by suspended red
iron oxide.
REDOX POTENTIAL - A process designed to determine if a corrosion process will
occur.
REDUCING ELBOW - A fitting that makes an angle between two joints of pipe and
that decreases in diameter from one end to the other.
REDUCING FLANGE - A flange fitting used to join pipes of different diameters.
REDUCING NIPPLE - A pipe fitting that is threaded on both ends and decreases in
diameter from one end to the other.
REDUCING TEE - A "T"shaped pipe fitting with openings of two different sizes. The
relationship:
REDUCTION - Reduction is the addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or the
addition of electrons to an element or compound.
REED VALVE - Thin, flat, tempered steel plate fastened at one end.
REFRIGERANT - The fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system, which
absorbs heat at a low temperature and a low pressure of the fluid and rejects heat at a
higher temperature and a higher pressure of the fluid, usually involving changes of
state of the fluid.
REFRIGERANT - The working fluid used in refrigerators.
REFRIGERANT CHARGE - Quantity of refrigerant in a system.
REFRIGERANT CONTROL - Device which meters flow of refrigerant between two
areas of a refrigerating system. It also maintains pressure difference between highpressure and low-pressure side of the mechanical refrigerating system while unit is
running.
REFRIGERATING CAPACITY - The ability of a system to remove heat as compared
with the cooling effect produced by melting of ice.
REFRIGERATING EFFECT - The amount of heat transferred by one kg of refrigerant
as it circulates in the refrigeration system.
REFRIGERATION - Controlled transfer of heat from a lower temperature to a higher
temperature region.
REFRIGERATION OIL - Specially prepared oil used in refrigerator mechanism which
circulates, to some extent, with refrigerant.
REFRIGERATOR - A device to transfer heat from a low temperature to a high
temperature medium.
REGENERANT - The solution used to restore the activity of an ion exchanger. Acids
are employed to restore a cation exchanger to its hydrogen form; brine solutions may
be used to convert the cation exchange to the sodium form. The anion exchanger may
be rejuvenated by treatment with an alkaline solution.
REGENERATION - Restoration of the activity of an ion exchanger by replacing the
ions adsorbed from the treated solution by ions that were adsorbed initially on the
resin.
REGENERATIVE CYCLE - Is a gas turbine cycle employing a heat exchanger to
recover some of the heat before discharging the gases from the gas turbine to the
atmosphere, to recover some of the from
REGENERATIVE GAS TURBINE - Referring to a gas turbine employing heat
exchanger between the compressor and the combustor for the purpose of recovering
heat.
REGENERATOR Register: A grille equipped with an integral damper or control valve.
REJUVENATION - (see regeneration)
RELATIVE HUMIDITY - The amount of moisture the air holds relative to the maximum
moisture the air can hold at the same temperature.
Relative Humidity (RH): The ratio of water vapor in the air as compared to the
maximum amount of water vapor that may be contained.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY -The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the amount of water
vapor present in a given volume of air at a given temperature to the amount required
to saturate the air at that temperature.
RELAY - An electromechanical switch that opens or closes contacts in response to
some controlled action. Relay contacts can be normally open (NO) and/ or normally
closed (NC). Relays may be electric, pneumatic, or a combination of both.
RELAY, THERMAL - A switching relay in which a small heater warms a bimetal
element which bends to provide the switching force.
RELIEF VALVE - Safety device on a sealed system. It opens to release fluids before
dangerous pressure is reached. Also called pressure relief valve.
REMOTE SYSTEM - Refrigerating system in which condensing unit is away from
space to be cooled.
Remote Temperature Set Point: Ability to set a temperature control point for a space
from outside the space. Often used in public areas.
RESET - A process of automatically adjusting the control point of a given controller to
compensate for changes in outdoor temperature. The hot deck control point is
normally reset upward as the outdoor temperature drops. The cold deck control point
is normally reset downward as the outdoor temperature increases.
RESET RATIO - The ratio of change in outdoor temperature to the change in control
point temperature. For example, a 2:1 reset ratio means that the control point will
increase 1 degree for every 2 degrees change in outdoor temperature.
RESIDUAL - Means small amount of, like oxygen, sulfite, acid., etc..
RESISTANCE - The opposition which limits the amount of current that can be
produced by an applied voltage in an electrical circuit, measured in ohms.
RESISTANCE, THERMAL - The reciprocal of thermal conductance.
RESISTIVE LOADS - Electrical loads whose power factor is one. Usually contain
heating elements.
RESONANT VIBRATION - Everything has a natural frequency. This frequency is
effected by two properties: Mass and Stiffness. This "natural frequency" is the cause
of many vibration problems in HVAC equipment. If you strike an object (say a tuning
fork or a bell) it will continue to vibrate at its natural frequency until damping
extinguishes the vibration.
RESTRICTOR - A device for producing a deliberate pressure drop or resistance in a

line by reducing the cross-sectional flow area.
Return Air: Air returned from conditioned or refrigerated space.
RETURN-STEAM CONDENSATE - That steam produced by a boiler which returns to
the boiler after it has condensed.
REVERSE CYCLE DEFROST - Method of heating evaporator for defrosting. Valves
move hot gas from compressor into evaporator.
REVERSE CYCLE REFRIGERATION - A refrigeration system which uses reject heat
to produce warmth.
REVERSE DEIONIZATION - The use of an anion-exchange unit and a cationexchange unit-in that order-to remove all ions from solution.
REVERSE OSMOSIS - A process that reverses (by the application of pressure) the
flow of water in the natural process of osmosis so that it passes from the more
concentrated to the more dilute solution.
REVERSIBLE PROCESS - A process by which a fluid is made to undergo a change
of state and by traversing the path in exactly the reverse of the original path is
returned to its original state, and all associated systems are similarly returned to their
original state.
REVERSING VALVE - Device used to reverse direction of the refrigerant flow
depending upon whether heating or cooling is desired.
RING LUBRICATED SLEEVE BEARING RINSE - The operation which follows regeneration; a flushing out of excess
regenerant solution.
ROTARY COMPRESSOR - Mechanism which pumps fluid by using rotating motion.
RUNNING CURRENT - The current that flows through a load after inrush current.
Usually called "full load current".
RUNNING TIME - Amount of time a condensing unit is run per hour or per 24 hours.
RUST - A visible corrosion product consisting of hydrated oxides of iron. Applied only
to ferrous alloys.
RYZNAR STABILITY INDEX - An index based on calcium carbonate pH of saturation
vs. actual pH to determine scaling or corrosion tendencies of a water (R.I. = 2 pHs).
S
SACRIFICIAL ANODES - Coupling of a more active metal to a structure resulting in a

galvanic current flow through the corroding electrolyte.
SACRIFICIAL PROTECTION - Reduction of corrosion of a metal in an electrolyte by
galvanically coupling it to a more anodic metal. A form of cathodic protection.
SADDLE VALVE (TAP-A-LINE) - Valve body shaped so it may be silver brazed or
clamped onto a refrigerant tubing surface.
SADDLE VALVE (TAP-A-LINE) - Valve body shaped so it may be silver brazed or
clamped onto a refrigerant tubing surface.
SAFETY CAN - Approved container of not more than 5 gallon capacity. It has a spring
closing lid and spout cover. It is designed to relieve internal pressure safely when
exposed to fire.
SAFETY CONTROL - Device to stop refrigerating unit if unsafe pressure and/or
temperatures and/or dangerous conditions are reached.
SAFETY PLUG - Device which will release the contents of a container before rupture
pressures are reached.
SALINITY - A measure of the concentration of dissolved mineral substances in water.
SALT SPITTING - The ability of an anion exchanger to convert a salt solution to
caustic; the ability of a cation exchanger to convert a salt solution to acid.
SATURATED AIR - When the air cannot hold any more moisture.
SATURATED LIQUID - A liquid which is at saturation pressure and saturation
temperature; in other words, a liquid which is at its boiling point for any given pressure.
SATURATED VAPOR - A vapor which is at saturation pressure and saturation
temperature. A saturated vapor cannot be superheated as long as it is in contact with
the liquid from which it is being generated.
SATURATION - Condition existing when substance contains all of another substance
it can hold for that temperature and pressure.
SATURATION INDEX - The relation of calcium carbonate to the pH, alkalinity, and
hardness of a water to determine its scale forming tendency.
SATURATION PRESSURE - The point, where at a given temperature a pure
substance starts to boil.
SATURATION TEMPERATURE - The point, where at a given pressure a pure
substance starts to boil.
SAYBOLT UNIVERSAL VISCOSITY - A commercial measure of viscosity expressed

as a time in seconds required for 60 mL of a fluid to flow through the orifice of the
standard Saybolt universal viscometer at a given temperature under specific
conditions; used for the lighter petroleum products and lubrication oils.
SCALE - Surface oxidation, consisting of partially adherent layers of corrosion
products, left on metals by heating or casting in air or in other oxidizing atmosphere.
Also a deposit on a heat-transfer surface resulting from precipitation of salts present in
water in contact with that surface, forming a hard, dense material.
SCALE CAUSING ELEMENTS - Calcium and magnesium elements forming scale.
SCALE REMOVAL - Waterside, removal of scale using either the mechanical, the
water treatment or the acid cleaning process.
SCC - Stress corrosion cracking.
SCREENS - Equipment designed to prevent larger objects to enter water treatment
system.
SCREW PUMP - Compressor constructed of two mated revolving screws.
SCRUBBER - An apparatus for the removal of solids from gases by entrainment in
water.
SEAL, MAGNETIC - A seal that uses magnetic material, instead of springs or bellows,
to provide the closing force.
SEAL, ROTARY - A mechanical seal that rotates with a shaft and is used with a
stationary mating ring.
SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS - Heat will flow only from material at higher
temperature to material at lower temperature.
SECONDARY REFRIGERANT - Chilled liquid-like water, which is circulated to
distance units where air is to be cooled in individual rooms.
SECONDARY SYSTEM - A re-circulating water system that is a takeoff from a
primary system; it does not circulate directly through the source of heat or cooling but
only indirectly through a heat exchanger.
SECONDARY TREATMENT - Treatment of boiler feedwater or internal treatment of
boiler water after primary treatment.
SEDIMENTATION - Gravitational settling of solid particles in a liquid system.
SEEBECK EFFECT - When two different adjacent metals are heated, an electric
current is generated between the metals.
SENSIBLE HEAT - Heat which causes a change in temperature of a substance.

SENSIBLE HEAT - Sensible heat is any heat transfer that causes a change in
temperature. Heating and cooling of air and water that may be measured with a
thermometer is sensible heat. Heating or cooling coils that simply increase or
decrease the air temperature without a change in moisture content are examples of
sensible heat.
SENSIBLE HEAT FACTOR - The ratio of sensible heat to total heat.
SENSING DEVICE - A device that keeps track of the measured condition and its
fluctuations so that when sufficient variation occurs it will originate the signal to revise
the operation of the system and offset the change. Example: a thermostat "bulb". A
sensing de vice may be an integral part of a controller.
SENSING ELEMENT - The first system element or group of elements. The sensing
element performs the initial measurement operation.
SEPARATOR - A tank type pressure vessel installed in a steam pipe to collect
condensate to be trapped off and thus providing comparatively dry steam to the
connected machinery.
SEPARATOR - Device to separate one substance from another.
SEQUENCER - A mechanical or electrical device that may be set to initiate a series of
events and to make the events follow in sequence.
SEQUESTER - To form a stable, water-soluble complex.
SEQUESTRANT - A substance that holds a mineral or metal in solution beyond its
saturation point.
SERIES CIRCUIT - One with all the elements connected end to end. The current is
the same throughout but the voltage can be different across each element.
SERVICE DROP - The overhead service wires that serve a building.
SERVICE SWITCH - Disconnect switches or circuit breakers. Purpose is to completely
disconnect the building from the electric service.
SERVICE VALVE - Manually operated valve mounted on refrigerating systems used
for service operation.
SET POINT - The value of the controlled condition at which the instrument is set to
operate.
SETTLING BASIN - A containment design with external water treatment to settle
sediments and to clarify.
SHAFT SEAL - Device used to prevent leakage between shaft and housing.
SHARP FREEZING - Refrigeration at temperatures slightly below freezing, with

moderate air circulation.
SHEAR PIN COUPLING SHED - To de-energize a load in order to maintain a kW demand set point.
SHED MODE - A method of demand control that reduces kW demand through
shedding and restoring loads.
SHELL AND TUBE FLOODED EVAPORATOR - Device which flows water through
tubes built into cylindrical evaporator or vice versa.
SHELL TYPE CONDENSER - Cylinder or receiver which contains condensing water
coils or tubes.
SHELL-AND-TUBE - Designation of a heat exchanger having straight tubes encased
inside a shell.
SHIELDED CABLE - Special cable used with equipment that generates a low voltage
output. Used to minimize the effects of frequency "noise" on the output signal.
SHOCK DOSAGE - The feeding of treatment to a system all in one slug or dose
rather than gradually (also called a slug dosage).
SHOCK FEEDER - A device which is used to add treatment to a system in an
instantaneous manner.
SHORT CIRCUIT - A direct connection of low resistive value that can significant alter
the behavior of an element or system.
SHORT CYCLING - Unit runs and then stops at short intervals; generally this
excessive cycling rate is hard on the system equipment.
SHROUD, TURBINES - Also referred to as the sealing strip on turbine blades. Its
purpose is to supply rigidity to the blades, lessen vibration and provide sealing
between stages.
SHROUD, PUMPS - The front and/or back of an impeller.
SHUNT - A device to divert part of an electric current.
SIGHT GLASS - Glass tube or glass window in refrigerating mechanism. It shows
amount of refrigerant or oil in system and indicates presence of gas bubbles in liquid
line.
SILICA - Silicon dioxide (Si02), a mineral found naturally as quartz or in complex
combination with other elements such as silicates.
SILICA GEL - Absorbent chemical compound used as a drier. When heated, moisture
is released and compound may be reused.
SILICA, COLLOIDAL - Silica in colloidal form.
SILICA, VOLATILE - Silica carryover with steam.
SILT DENSITY INDEX - A measure of the tendency of a water to foul a reverse
osmosis membrane, based on time flow through a membrane filter at constant
pressure.
SIMPLE CYCLE - Referring to the gas turbine cycle consisting only of compression,
combustion and expansion.
SINGLE PHASING - The condition when one phase of a multiphase (poly-phase)
motor circuit is broken or opened. Motors running when this occurs may continue to
run but with lower power output and over heating.
SINGLE SHAFT GAS TURBINE - A gas turbine arrangement in which the
compressor and the gas turbine are all coupled to one shaft.
SINGLE STAGE COMPRESSOR - Compressor having only one compressive step
between inlet and outlet.
SKIN CONDENSER - Condenser using the outer surface of the cabinet as the heat
radiating medium.
SLIME - A soft, sticky, mucus-like substance, originating from a bacterial growth.
SLING PSYCHROMETER - Measuring device with wet and dry bulb thermometers.
Moved rapidly through air it measures humidity.
SLUDGE - A deposit on a heat-transfer surface that does not have the hard,
crystalline structure of a scale but is softer and less dense.
SLUG - A unit of measure for mass in the English system, which equals 14.6 kg in the
SI system.
SLUGGING - Condition in which mass of liquid enters compressor causing
hammering.
SLURRY - A water containing high concentration of suspended solids, usually over
5000 mg/L.
SLURRY EROSION - Material removal due to the combined action of corrosion and
wear.
SODA ASH - A common water treatment chemical, sodium carbonate.
SODIUM CHLORIDE - Common table salt, used to produce a brine solution, used a
secondary refrigerant.
SODIUM SULFITE (Na2S03) - A chemical used with water treatment to remove small
amounts of oxygen.
SODIUM TRACER METHOD - A technique used to measure dissolved solids in
steam to values as low as 0.001 ppm.
SODIUM ZEOLITE SOFTENING - The process of removing scale forming ions of
calcium and magnesium and replacing them with the equivalent amount of sodium
ions.
SOFT WATER - Water that is free of magnesium or calcium salts.
SOFTENING - The removal of hardness (calcium and magnesium) from water.
SOLAR HEAT - Heat created by visible and invisible energy waves from the sun.
SOLENOID VALVE - Electromagnet with a moving core. It serves as a valve or
operates a valve.
SOLID ABSORBENT REFRIGERATION - Refrigeration system which uses solid
substance as absorber of the refrigerant during the cooling part of the cycle and
releases refrigerant when heated during generating part of cycle.
SOLID STATE HALOGEN LEAK DETECTOR - An electronic leak detector for all
halogen. related refrigerants.
SOLUBLE IRON - Usually present in cooling water systems and can arise from
metallurgical corrosion.
SOLU-BRIDGE - An electronic instrument used to measure conductivity of a water
sample to determine the dissolved solids content.
SORBENT - See absorbent.
SOUR GAS - A gaseous environment containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide
in hydrocarbon reservoirs.
SOUR WATER - Waste water containing malodorous materials, usually sulfur
compounds.
SPARGER - An extension into the bottom of a tank of a pipe which has a distribution
nozzle on the end for mixing one fluid with another.
SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE - Measures the ability of a water to conduct electricity.
Conductivity increases with total dissolved solids and is therefore used to estimate
dissolved solids present in the water.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY - The density of a substance compared to the density of a

standard material such as water.
SPECIFIC HEAT - Ratio of quantity of heat required to raise temperature of a body 1
degree to that required to raise temperature of equal mass of water 1 degree.
SPECIFIC HEAT (Cp) - The ratio of the mount of heat required to raise a mass of
material 1 degree in temperature to the amount required to raise n eual mass of
reference substance, usually water, 1 degree in temperature.
SPECIFIC HUMIDITY - Ratio of weight of vapor to the weight of gas in a unit volume
of an air-water vapor mixture.
SPECIFIC VOLUME - Volume per unit mass of a substance.
SPEED GOVERNING SPLASH SYSTEM, OILING - Method of lubricating moving parts by agitating or
splashing oil in the crankcase.
SPLIT-STREAM DEALKALIZER - Where the flow of water is divided through a
parallel arrangement of hydrogen and sodium cation exchanger. The combined
product being soft and low in alkalinity.
SPRAY CARRYOVER - Are referred to a mist or fog and are a degree of atomization
of the boiler water and carried with the steam. This type of carryover is to be
prevented by the drum internals.
SPRAY COOLING - Method of refrigerating by spraying expendable refrigerant or by
spraying refrigerated water.
SPRAY MANIFOLD - A pipe, or extension of a water line, that has several openings
fitted with nozzles which spray water.
SPRAY-COIL UNIT - A cooling circuit that sprays water over cooling coils through
inflowing air to humidify or dehumidify that air, as required.
SPRAY-COOLING CIRCUIT - An open cooling-water circuit which sprays water and
cools by evaporation, for example, a cooling tower, all evaporative condenser, an air
washer, or a spray-coil unit.
Spread: The divergence of the air stream in a horizontal or vertical plane after it leaves
the outlet.
STABILITY INDEX - An imperical modification of the saturation index used to predict
scaling or corrosive tendencies in water systems.
STAINLESS STEEL STANDARD AIR CONDITIONS - Standard air density has been set at 0.075 Ib/cu ft.
This corresponds approximately to dry air at 70F and 29.92 in Hg. In metric units, the
standard air density is 1.2041 kg/m3 at 20C and at 101.325 kPa.
STANDARD CONDITIONS - The standard conditions referred to in environmental
system work for air are: dry air at 70F and at an atmospheric pressure of 29.92
inches mercury (in Hg). For water, standard conditions are 68F at the same
barometric pressure. At these standard conditions, the density of air is 0.075 pounds
per cubic feet and the density of water is 62.4 pounds per cubic foot.
STATE - Refers to the form of a fluid, either liquid, gas or solid. Liquids used in
environmental systems are water, thermal fluids such as ethylene glycol solutions, and
refrigerants in the liquid state. Gases are steam, evaporated refrigerants and the airwater vapor mixture found in the atmosphere. Some substances, including commonly
used refrigerants, may exist in any of three states. A simple example is water, which
may be solid (ice), liquid (water), or gas (steam or water vapor).
STATIC HEAD - The pressure due to the weight of a fluid above the point of
measurement.
STATIC SUCTION HEAD - The positive vertical height in feet from the pump
centerline to the top of the level of the liquid source.
STATIC SUCTION LIFT - The distance in feet between the pump centerline and the
source of liquid below the pump centerline.
STEAM - Water in vapor state.
STEAM DRUM - A pressure chamber located at the upper extremity of a boiler
circulatory system, in which the steam is generated in the boiler and separated from
the water.
STEAM JET REFRIGERATION - Refrigerating system which uses a steam venturi to
create high vacuum (low pressure) on a water container causing water to evaporate at
low temperature.
STEAM PURITY - Refers to all matter but water in the steam.
STEAM QUALITY - The percentage by weight of vapor in a steam and water mixture.
STEAM-ABSORPTION CONDENSER - That part of a steam-absorption machine in
which the water refrigerant is condensed by cooling-tower water and returned to the
evaporator or chiller.
STEAM-ABSORPTION MACHINE - A refrigeration or air-conditioning machine which
uses, as a refrigerant, water evaporated by absorption in a brine regenerated by
steam and condensed by cooling-tower water.
STICTION (STATIC FRICTION) - Resistance of start of motion.
STOICHIOMETRIC - The ratio of chemical substances reacting in the water that
correspond to their combining weights in the theoretical chemical reaction.

Stratified Air: Unmixed air in a duct that is in thermal layers that have temperature
variations of more than five degrees.
STRESS RAPTURE - A general type of damage referring to carbon steel tubing, when
heated above 450C. Material will plastically deform (creep) and then rapture.
STUFFING BOX - That portion of the pump which houses the packing or mechanical
seal, The stuffing box is usually referred to as the dry portion of the pump, and is
located in back of the impeller and around the shaft.
SUBCOOLING - The difference between the temperature of a pure condensable fluid
below saturation and the temperature at the liquid saturated state, at the same
pressure.
SUBCOOLING - The process of cooling a liquid to a temperature below its saturation
temperature for any given saturation pressure.
SUBLIMATION - A change of state directly from solid to gas without appearance of
liquid.
SUBLIMATION - Condition where a substance changes from a solid to a gas without
becoming a liquid.
SUCTION HEAD - The positive pressure on the pump inlet when the source of liquid
supply is above the pump centerline.
SUCTION LIFT - The combination of static suction lift and friction head in the suction
piping when the source of liquid is below the pump centerline.
SUCTION LINE - Tube or pipe used to carry refrigerant gas from evaporator to
compressor.
SUCTION PRESSURE - Pressure in low-pressure side of a refrigerating system.
SUCTION PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - Device located in the suction line which
maintains constant pressure in evaporator during running portion of cycle.
SUCTION PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - Device located in the suction line which
maintains constant pressure in evaporator during running portion of cycle.
SUCTION SERVICE VALVE - Two-way manually operated valve located at the inlet
to compressor. It controls suction gas flow and is used to service unit.
SUCTION SIDE - Low-pressure side of the system extending from the refrigerant
control through the evaporator to the inlet valve of the compressor.
SULFATE - A compound, ion, or salt of sulfur and oxygen, such as sodium sulfate
(Na2S04).
SULFITE DECOMPOSITION - Sodium sulfite, which is used as an oxygen scavenger,

may decomposes with higher temperatures and concentration. The decomposition
results in forming sulfur dioxide and thus leading to an acidic anhydride causing
corrosion.
SULFONIC - A specific acidic group (SO3H) on which depends the exchange activity
of certain cation adsorbents.
SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) - An old refrigerant.
SUN EFFECT - Solar energy transmitted into space through windows and building
materials.
SUPERHEAT - The heat added to a fluid above its saturation point.
SUPERHEATED STEAM - Steam heated above its saturation temperature.
SUPERHEATED VAPOR - A vapor which is not about to condense.
SUPERHEATER - Heat exchanger arranged to take heat from liquid going to
evaporator and using it to superheat vapor leaving evaporator.
SUPERHEATING - The process of adding heat to a vapor in order to raise its
temperature above saturation temperature. It is impossible to superheat a saturated
vapor as long as it is in contact with the liquid from which it is being generated; hence
the vapor must be led away from the liquid before it can be superheated.
SUPERSATURATED SOLUTION - A solution of a salt or mineral with a concentration
beyond the normal saturation point.
SURFACE BLOWDOWN - Removal of water, foam, etc. from the surface at the water
level in a boiler.
SURFACE HEATING - The exterior surface of a heating unit. Extended heating
surface (or extended surface), consisting of fins, pins, or ribs which receive heat by
conduction from the prime surface. Prime surface: heating surface having the heating
medium on one side and air (or extended surface) on the other.
SURFACE-SPRAY UNIT - A spray-coil unit.
SURFACTANT - A compound that affects interfacial tension between two liquids. It
usually reduces surface tension.
SURFACTANTS - A wetting agent used to prevent fouling, mainly in water cooling
systems.
SURGE - The sudden displacement or movement of water in a closed vessel or drum.
SURGE SURPRESSOR - A device that reduces harmonic distortion in line voltage

circuits by clipping off transient voltages which are fed through the power lines from
operating equipment.
SURGE TANK - Container connected to the low-pressure side of a refrigerating
system which increases gas volume and reduces rate of pressure change.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS - Un-dissolved solids in boiler water.
SWAMP COOLER - Evaporative type cooler in which air is drawn through porous
mats soaked with water.
SWELLING - The expansion of an ion-exchange which occurs when the reactive
groups on the resin are converted from one form to another.
SYNERGISM - The combined action of several chemicals which produce an effect
greater than the additive effects of each.
SYSTEM - A series of ducts, conduits, elbows, branch piping, etc. designed to guide
the flow of air, gas or vapor to and from one or more locations. A fan provides the
necessary energy to overcome the resistance to flow of the system and causes air or
gas flow through the system. Some components of a typical system are louvers,
grilles, diffusers, filters, heating and cooling coils, air pollution control devices, burner
assemblies, volume flow control dampers, mixing boxes, sound attenuators, the
ductwork and related fittings.
SYSTEM, CENTRAL FAN - A mechanical, indirect system of heating, ventilating, or
air conditioning, in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside
the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms
by means of a fan and a system of distributing ducts.
SYSTEM, CLOSED - A heating or refrigerating piping system in which circulating
water or brine is completely enclosed, under pressure above atmospheric, and shut off
from the atmosphere except for an expansion tank.
SYSTEM, DUCT - A series of ducts, conduits, elbows, branch piping, etc. designed to
guide the flow of air, gas or vapor to and from one or more locations. A fan provides
the necessary energy to overcome the resistance to flow of the system and causes air
or gas to flow through the system. Some components of a typical system are louvers,
grilles, diffusers, filters, heating and cooling coils energy recovery de vices, burner
assemblies, volume dampers, mixing boxes, sound attenuators, the ductwork and
related fittings.
SYSTEM, FLOODED - A system in which only part of the refrigerant passing over the
heat transfer surface is evaporated, and the portion not evaporated is separated from
the vapor and recirculated.
SYSTEM, UNITARY - A complete, factory-assembled and factory-tested refrigerating
system comprising one or more assemblies which may be shipped as one unit or
separately but which are designed to be used together.
SYSTEMS CURVE - A graphic presentation of the pressure vs. volume flow rate
characteristics of a particular system.
TAlL PIPE - Outlet pipe from the evaporator.
TANDEM COMPOUND TURBINE - turbines are large turbines consisting of two or
more turbines in series coupled together as one shaft and applied to one generator
TANNINS - A chemical used as an inhibitor in relation with caustic embrittlement.
TEMPERATURE - Degree of hotness or coldness as measured by a thermometer.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Temperature-operated thermostatic device which
automatically opens or closes a circuit.
TEMPERATURE CRITICAL - The saturation temperature corresponding to the critical
state of the substance at which the properties of the liquid and vapor are identical.
Temperature, Absolute Zero: The zero point on the absolute temperature scale,
459.69 degrees below the zero of the Fahrenheit scale, 273.16 degrees be low the
zero of the Celsius scale.
TEMPERATURE, DEWPOINT - The temperature at which the condensation of water
vapor in a space begins for a given state of humidity and pressure as the temperature
of the vapor is reduced. The temperature corresponding to saturation (100 percent
relative humidity) for a given absolute humidity at constant pressure.
TEMPERATURE, DRYBULB - The temperature of a gas or mixture of gases indicated
by an accurate thermometer after correction for radiation.
TEMPERATURE, EFFECTIVE - An arbitrary index which combines into a single value
the effect of temperature, humidity, and air movement on the sensation of warmth or
cold felt by the human body. The numerical value is that of the temperature of still,
saturated air which would induce an identical sensation.
TEMPERATURE, SATURATION - The temperature at which no further moisture can
be added to the air water vapor mixture. Equals dew point temperature.
TEMPERATURE, WET BULB - Thermodynamic wet bulb temperature is the
temperature at which liquid or solid water, by evaporating into air, can bring the air to
saturation adiabatically at the same temperature. Wet bulb temperature (without
qualification) is the temperature indicated by a wet bulb psychrometer constructed and
used according to specifications.
TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY INDEX - Actual temperature and humidity of air sample
compared to air at standard conditions.
TENSILE STRENGTH - In tensile testing, the ratio of maximum load to original crosssectional area. Also called ultimate strength.
TENSILE STRESS - A stress that causes two parts of an elastic body, on either side
of a typical stress plane, to pull apart.
TENSION - The force or load that produces elongation.
TERMINAL VELOCITY - The maximum air stream velocity at the end of the throw.
THE FIRST LAW - (1 ) When work is expanded in generating heat, the quantity of
heat produced is proportional to the work expended; and, conversely, when heat is
employed in the performance of work, the quantity of heat which disappears is
proportional to the work done (Joule); (2) If a system is caused to change from an
initial state to a final state by adiabatic means only, the work done is the same for all
adiabatic paths connecting the two states (Zemansky); (3) In any power cycle or
refrigeration cycle, the net heat absorbed by the working substance is exactly equal to
the net work done.
The Second Law: (1) It is impossible for a self acting machine, unaided by any
external agency, to convey heat from a body of lower temperature to one of higher
temperature (Clausius); (2) It is impossible to derive mechanical work from heat taken
from a body unless there is available a body of lower temperature into which the
residue not so
Therm - Measurement used by gas utilities for billin3 purposes. 1 Therm = 100 cubic
feet of gas = 100,000 Btu.
THERM - Quantity of heat equal to 100000 Btu.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY - The rate at which heat is transferred through an object.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY - The rate of heat flow, under steady conditions, through
unit area, per unit temperature gradient in the direction perpendicular to the area. It is
given in the SI nits s watts per meter Kelvin (W/m K).
THERMAL EFFICIENCY - Ratio of shaft work out of a system to the heat energy into
the system.
THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF A GAS TURBINE - Is the energy output of the gas
turbine divided by the energy input of the gas turbine.
THERMAL ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE - The electromotive force generated in a
circuit containing two dissimilar metals when one junction is at temperature different
from that of the other. (see also thermocouple).
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM - When two bodies originally at different temperatures,
have attained the same temperature
THERMAL EXPANSION - The change in length of a material with change in
temperature.
Thermal Expansion Valve: The metering device or flow control which regulates the
amount of liquid refrigerant which is allowed to enter the evaporator.

THERMAL SHOCK - The development of a steep temperature gradient and
accompanying high stress within a material or structure.
THERMAL TREATMENT - Refers to the treatment of water with heat to drive off the
dissolved gases and soften certain minerals for easy removal.
THERMISTOR - A two-terminal semiconductor device whose resistance is
temperature sensitive.
THERMOBANK - A bank for storing heat.
THERMOCOUPLE - Device for measuring temperature utilizing the fact that an
electromotive force is generated whenever two junctions of two dissimilar metals in an
electric circuit are at different temperature levels.
THERMOCOUPLE - Device which generates electricity, using the principle that if two
unlike metals are welded together and junction is heated, voltage will develop across
the open ends.
THERMOCOUPLE - Device which generates electricity, using the principle that if two
unlike metals are welded together and junction is heated, voltage will develop across
the open ends.
THERMOCOUPLE THERMOMETER - Electrical instrument using thermocouple as
source of electrical flow, connected to millimeter calibrated in temperature degrees.
THERMODISK DEFROST CONTROL - Electrical switch with bimetal disk controlled
by temperature changes.
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES - Basic qualities used in defining the condition of a
substance, such as temperature, pressure, volume, enthalpy, entropy.
THERMODYNAMICS - Part of science which deals with the relationships between
heat and mechanical action.
THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATION - Where refrigeration is produced by the
passage of electric current through two dissimilar materials.
THERMOELECTRICITY - In physics, electricity generated by the application of heat to
the junction of two dissimilar materials. If two wires of different materials are joined at
their ends and one end is maintained at a higher temperature than the other, a voltage
difference will arise, and an electric current will exist between the hot and the cold
junctions.
THERMOMETER - Device for measuring temperatures.
THERMOMODULE - Number of thermocouples used in parallel to achieve low

temperatures.
THERMOPILE - Number of thermocouples used in series to create a higher voltage.
THERMOSTAT - Device, which senses ambient temperature, conditions and, in turn,
acts to control a circuit.
THERMOSTATIC CONTROL - Device which operates system or part of system
based on temperature change.
THERMOSTATIC VALVE - Valve controlled by temperature change response
elements.
THERMOSTATIC WATER VALVE - Valve used to control flow of water through
system, actuated (made to work) by temperature difference. Used in units such as
water-cooled compressor and/or condenser.
THREE-WAY VALVE - Multi-orifice (opening) flow control valve with three fluid flow
openings.
THRESHOLD TREATMENT - Chemical treatment, used to prevent scale formation,
which acts to hold hardness in solution at the threshold of precipitation.
THROTTLE GOVERNING - With throttle governing a single large control valve
controls the load from 0% to 100%When steam is throttled, the superheat increases
and the turbine exhaust steam is drier, reducing the turbine blade erosion, but with the
drier steam entering the condenser, the condenser losses increase. Throttling of
steam through a valve is an isenthalpic ( constant enthalpy ) process and no heat is
lost. The so-called throttling losses occur in the condenser.
THROTTLING - An irreversible adiabatic steady flow process in which the fluid is
caused to flow through an obstruction in a pipe with a resulting drop in pressure.
THROTTLING RANGE - The amount of change in the variable being controlled to
make the controlled device more through the full length of its stroke.
THRUST COLLAR POSITION INDICATOR - The axial position of the rotor is very
important and an axial position indicator is often applied to the thrust bearing.
It may be a large dial micrometer with alarm setting for an axial movement of 0.4
millimeter and shutdown at 0.8 millimeter, or An oil pressure gauge connected to an oil
leak-off device may also be used as an axial position indicator. The oil is supplied at
say 500 kPa, flows through an orifice and leaks off through a nozzle. The pressure
between the orifice and nozzle depends on the distance between the nozzle and shaft
thrust collar; the larger the distance the lower the pressure. The pressure gauge can
be calibrated in millimeter clearance and may have alarm and shutdown settings
TIMER-THERMOSTAT - Thermostat control which includes a clock mechanism. Unit
automatically controls room temperature and changes temperature range depending
on time of day.
TIP SEALED BLADES TITRATION - A chemical process used in analyzing feed water.
TON REFRIGERATION UNIT - Unit which removes same amount of heat in 24 hours
as melting of 1 ton of ice.
TON'S OF REFRIGERATION - The capacity of a refrigeration system that can freeze
1 ton (1000 kg) of liquid water at 0C into ice at 0C in 24 hour is said to be 1 tone.
TOOL STEEL - Any steel used o make tools for cutting, forming, or otherwise shaping
a material into a final part.
TOPPING TURBINE - Have been used when old boilers are replaced with new high
pressure boilers. The turbine is a backpressure turbine exhausting to the old boiler
header still supplying steam to the old lower pressure turbines.
TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD - Dynamic discharge head (static discharge head, plus
friction head, plus velocity head) plus dynamic suction lift, or dynamic discharge head
minus dynamic suction head.
TOTAL HARDNESS - See Hardness.
TOTAL HEAT - Sum of both the sensible and latent heat.
TOTAL HEAT (ENTHALPY) - Total heat is the sum of the sensible heat and latent
heat in an exchange process. In many cases, the addition or subtraction of latent and
sensible heat at terminal coils appears simultaneously. Total heat also is called
enthalpy, both of which can be defined as the quantity of heat energy contained in that
substance.
TOTAL SOLIDS - Are the sum of the dissolved and suspended solids.
TOWER FILL - The interior structure of a cooling tower over which the water flows.
TRACE CONSTITUENTS - Materials present at a concentration less than 0.01 mg/L.
TRANSMITTANCE, THERMAL (U FACTOR) - The time rate of heat flow per unit area
under steady conditions from the fluid on the warm side of a barrier to the fluid on the
cold side, per unit temperature difference between the two fluids.
TRANSDUCER - The means by which the controller converts the signal from the
sensing device into the means necessary to have the appropriate effect on the
controlled device. For example, a change in air pressure in the pneumatic
transmission piping.
TRANSFORMER - The system power supplying transformer is an inductive stationary
device which transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another. The transformer
has two windings, primary and secondary. A changing voltage applied to one of these,
usually the primary, induces a current to flow in the other winding. A coupling
transformer transfers energy at the same voltage; a step-down transformer transfers
energy at a lower voltage, and a step-up transformer transfers energy at a higher
voltage.
TRANSIENT CONSTITUENTS - Are those constituents which change in
concentration or activity by changes in the aquatic environment. The change my be
due to oxidation potentials, biological activities, etc..
TRANSISTOR - An active semiconductor device capable of providing power
amplification and having three or more terminals.
TREATMENT - A process whereby impurities are removed from water; also a
substance added to water to improve its physical or chemical properties.
TRIBOLOGY - The science concerned with the design, friction, lubrication and wear of
contacting surfaces that move relative to each other (as in bearings, cams, or gears).
TUBE SHEET - The portion of a heat exchanger or boiler in to which the tubes are
rolled or secured.
TUBERCLE - A protective crust of corrosion products (rust) which builds up over a pit
caused by the loss of metal due to corrosion.
TUBERCULATION - A corrosion process that produces hard knob-like mounds of
corrosive products on metal surfaces, increasing friction and reducing flow in a water
distribution system.
TUBE-WITHIN-A-TUBE - Water-cooled condensing unit in which a small tube is
placed inside large unit. Refrigerant passes through outer tube, water through the
inner tube.
TURBIDITY - The measure of suspended matter in, a water sample which contributes
to the reflection of light or cloudiness.
TURBIDITY UNIT - The unit of measure of suspended matter in water. It is the
measure of light compared against light reflected by a reference standard as defined
by the standard methods of water analysis in, APHA.
TURBINE METER - A device used to measure water consumption in industrial plants.
TURBINE ROTOR - The rotating assembly enclosed within the turbine casing
TURNER GAUGE - A device used to measure the actual scale-thickness in boiler
tubes.
TWO-TEMPERATURE VALVE - Pressure-opened valve used in suction line on
multiple refrigerator installations, which maintains evaporators in a system at different
temperatures.
TWO-WAY VALVE - Valve with one inlet port and one outlet port.
ULTIMATE STRENGTH - The maximum stress (tensile, compressive or shear) a

material can sustain without fracture. It is determined by dividing maximum load by the
original cross-sectional area of the specimen.
ULTRA FILTRATION - A process that forces water through a filtering membrane by
means of pressure gradients in order to obtain ultra pure water.
UNDER DEPOSIT ATTACK - Corrosion under or around a localized deposit on a
metal surface (a form of crevice corrosion).
UNITARY SYSTEM - A room unit which performs part or all of the air conditioning
functions. It may or may not be used with a central fan system.
UNLOADER - A device in or on the compressor for equalizing high-side and low-side
pressures for a brief time during starting and for controlling compressor capacity by
rendering one or more cylinders ineffective.
UPFLOW - The operation of an ion-exchange unit in which solutions are passed in at
the bottom and out at the top of the container.
UPFLOW FILTER - A unit containing a single filter medium, usually with graded sand.
UPFLOW FURNACE - A furnace in which the heated air flows upward as it leaves the
furnace.
UPSTREAM - The inlet side of an instrument, a pump, valve, etc..
UTILITY TRANSFORMER - Primary and secondary coils of wire which reduce (step
down) the utility supply volt age for use within a facility.
U-TUBE MANOMETER - A U-shaped section of plastic or glass tubing that is partially
filled with water or mercury. They are used to measure the lower pressure ranges of
gases.
VACUUM - Pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

VACUUM BREAKER - A device to prevent a suction in a water pipe.
VACUUM PUMP - Special high efficiency device used for creating high vacuums for
testing or drying purposes.
VALVE, MODULATING - A valve which can be positioned anywhere between fully on
and fully off to proportion the rate of flow in response to a modulating controller (see
modulating control).
VALVE, NEEDLE - A form of globe valve that contains a sharp pointed, needle like
plug that is driven into the and out of a cone shaped seat to accurately control a
relatively small rate of flow of a fluid.
VALVE, POP - A spring loaded safety valve that opens automatically when pressure
exceeds the limits for which the valve is set. It is used a safety device on pressurized
vessels and other equipment to prevent damage from excessive pressure, also called
relief valve or a safety valve.
VALVE, POPPET - A device that controls the rate of flow of fluid in a line or opens or
shuts of the flow of fluid completely. When open, the sealing surface of the valve is
moved away from a seat. When closed, the sealing surface contacts the seat to shut
of the flow. Poppet valves are used extensively as pneumatic controls and as intake
and exhaust valves in most internal combustion engines.
VALVE, PRESSURE RELIEF - A valve designed to minimize the possibility of
explosion when air temperature surrounding a refrigeration system may rise to a point
where the pressure of the refrigerant gas to increase to a danger point.
VALVE, RELIEF - Also called pressure relief valve.
VALVE, TWO-POSITION - A valve which is either fully on or fully off with no positions
between. Also called an "on-off valve".
VAPOR - A gas, particularly one near to equilibrium with the liquid phase of the
substance and which does not follow the gas laws. Usually used instead of gas for a
refrigerant, and, in general, for any gas below the critical temperature.
VAPOR BARRIER - A moisture-impervious layer applied to the surfaces enclosing a
humid space to prevent moisture travel to a point where it may condense due to lower
temperature.
VAPOR LOCK - A condition where liquid flow is impeded by vapor trapped in a liquid
line.
VAPOR PHASE VAPOR PHASE INHIBITORS - A system using an organic nitrite compound, a
powder which vaporizes slowly to protect ferrous metal from contact with oxygen.
VAPOR PRESSURE - Vapor pressure denotes the lowest absolute pressure that a
given liquid at a given temperature will remain liquid before evaporating into its
gaseous form or state.
VAPOR, SATURATED - Vapor in equilibrium with its liquid; i.e., when the numbers
per unit time of molecules passing in two directions through the surface dividing the
two phases are equal.
VAPOR, SUPERHEATED - Vapor at a temperature which is higher than the
saturation temperature (i.e., boiling point) at the existing pressure.
VAPOR, WATER - Water used commonly in air conditioning parlance to refer to
steam in the atmosphere.
VAPOROUS CARRYOVER - Referring to impurities carried over with the steam and
then forming a deposit on turbine bladings. This type of carryover is difficult to prevent.
VELOCITY - A vector quantity which denotes, at once, the time rate and the direction
of a linear motion.
VELOCITY COMPOUNDING VELOCITY HEAD - The pressure needed to accelerate the fluid being pumped.
VELOCITY, TERMINAL - The highest sustained air stream velocity existing in the
mixed air path at the end of the throw.
VENT - An opening in a vessel or other enclosed space for the removal of gas or
vapor.
VENTILATION - The process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical
means, to or from a space; such air may or may not have been conditioned.
VENTURI TUBE METER - A flow meter used to determine the rate of flow and
employing a venturi tube as the primary element for creating differential pressure in
flowing gases or liquids.
VISCOSITY - That property of semi-fluids, fluids, and gases by virtue of which they
resist an instantaneous change of shape or arrangement of parts. It is the cause of
fluid friction whenever adjacent layers of fluid move with relation to each other.
VISCOSITY INDEX - A commonly used measure of the change in viscosity of a fluid
with temperature. The higher the viscosity index, the smaller the relative change in
viscosity with temperature.
VITAL HEAT - The heat generated by fruits and vegetables in storage; caused by
ripening.
VOLATILE SOLIDS - Those solids in water or other liquids that are lost on ignition of
dry solids at 550F.
VOLATILE TREATMENT - Based on the use of hydrazine and neutralizing amines or
ammonia. Leaves no solids in the boiler.
VOLATILITY - Volatility, surface tension and capillary action of a fluid are incidental to
environmental systems. Volatility is the rapidity with which liquids evaporates
extremely rapidly and therefore is highly volatile.
VOLT - The unit of potential difference or electromotive force in the meter-kilogramsecond system, equal to the potential difference between two points for which 1
coulomb of electricity will do 1 joule of work in going from one point to another.
VOLTAGE (E) - The electromotive force in an electrical circuit. The difference in
potential between two unlike charges in an electrical circuit is its voltage measured in
"volts" (V).
VOLTAGE DROP - The voltage drop around a circuit including wiring and loads must
equal the supply volt age.
VOLTAIC CELL - A storage device that converts chemical to electrical energy.
VOLUME, SPECIFIC - The volume of a substance per unit mass; the reciprocal of
density.
WALK-IN-COOLER - A large commercial refrigerated space often found in

supermarkets or places for whole sale distribution.
WASTE WATER - The used water and solids from industrial processes that flow to a
treatment plant.
WATER - A tasteless, odorless, colorless liquid in its pure state.
WATER ABSORPTION - The amount of weight gain (%) experienced in a polymer
after immersion in water for a specific length of time under controlled environment.
WATER HAMMER - Banging of pipes caused by the shock of closing valves
(faucets). //////////////////
WATER LUBRICANT - Water used as a lubricant; for example, in a mechanical seal
on a centrifugal water pump.
WATER SEALED GLAND WATER SOFTENER - A device or system used to remove calcium and magnesium
hardness minerals from a water supply.
WATER TUBE - A boiler tube through which the fluid under pressure flows. The
products of combustion surround the tube.
WATER VAPOR - In air conditioning, the water in the atmosphere.

WATER, BRAKISH - (1) Water having less salt than sea water, but undrinkable. (2)
Water having salinity values ranging from about 0.5 to 17 parts per thousand.
WATER, POTABLE - Water that is safe to drink.
WATER, SOUR - Waste waters containing fetid materials, usually sulfur compounds.
WATER-ICE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - Heat is absorbed as ice melts and thus
producing a cooling effect.
WATER LEG - That space that is full of boiler water between two parallel plates. It
usually forms one or more sides of internally fired boilers.
WATER WALL - A row of water tubes lining a furnace or combustion chamber,
exposed to the radiant heat of the fire.
WATT (W) - A measure of electric power equal to a current flow of one ampere under
one volt of pressure; or one joule per second in SI units.
WEIGHT TO POWER RATIO - It is the weight of the machine producing work. For
example - the gas turbine is capable of producing more horse power per given mass
of its machinery, then the same amount of horse power produced by a machine
having many times that mass.
WET BULB - Device used in measurement of relative humidity. Evaporation of
moisture lowers temperature of wet bulb compared to dry bulb temperature in same
area.
WET BULB TEMPERATURE (WB) - The temperature registered by a thermometer
whose bulb is covered by a saturated wick and exposed to a current of rapidly moving
air. The wet bulb temperature also represents the dew point temperature of the air,
where the moisture of the air condenses on a cold surface.
WET STANDBY - Boiler is filled completely with water or maintained at normal
operating level with a positive nitrogen pressure of 35 to 70 kPa.
WET-BULB DEPRESSION - The difference between the dry-bulb temperature and
the wet bulb temperature.
WINDAGE DRIFT - That water lost from an open re-circulating-water system by
means of wind blown through the spray area that carries water out of the system. This
is not the same as loss by evaporation, since such a loss can occur even without
evaporation.
WOBBLE PLATE-SWASH PLATE - Type of compressor designed to compress gas,
with piston motion parallel to crankshaft.
WORKING FLUID - is the substance which does the work in a heat engine. The air is
one of the working fluids used with gas turbines. Freons are the working fluids used
with some refrigeration systems. Water is the working fluid used with steam boilers.
ZEOLITE - A natural mineral (hydrous silicates) that has the capacity to absorb
hardness, calcium, and magnesium ions from water.
ZEOLITE SOFTENING - Refers to the process, where zeolite chemicals are capable
to exchange ions with the hardness causing impurities of the water.
ZETA POTENTIAL - The difference in voltage between the surface of the diffuse layer
surrounding a colloidal particle and the bulk liquid beyond.
ZONING - The practice of dividing a building into small sections for heating and
cooling control. Each section is selected so that one thermostat can be used to
determine its requirements.
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