Patent ID: 7209870
Filing Date: 2007-04-24
Classification: B60H,F24F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for designing an HVAC system, the computer program comprising: an input module configured to receive inputs corresponding to design elements, characterized by properties stored in records, to design elements being connectable to establish an HVAC system to be designed; a design module operably connected to the input module and configured to operate on the inputs to create the records reflecting the properties of the design elements and interactions thereof to establish a design of the HVAC system; the input module and design module, further configured to automatically provide multiple schematic representations of different types of a selected design element, selected from the design elements, the multiple schematic representations reflecting distinct operational contexts of the selected design element, the distinct operational contexts comprising a first operational context representing the transport of mass, and a second operational context representing the transport of energy, wherein each schematic representation is made using a separate distinct palette of icons of components suited for that operational context, and to automatically maintain substantially complete and consistent information in the records, describing the properties of the selected design element in each of the distinct operational contexts; and an output module configured to provide a user-interpretable output reflecting the design of the HVAC system.