Downloading, Installating, and Running Learn HVAC

User Account Types

There are three different types of user accounts: Instructors, Students, and Guests/Professionals. Although each type of user can download and use the Learner Application, the available scenarios, and access to the Web Application differ with each user type.

Guest accounts are intended for Professionals and others interested in learning the basics of HVAC systems and operation. This user type will be able to download the Learner Application and run all the default scenarios.
Student accounts are inteded for those officially enrolled in a class taught by an instructor who will provide you scenarios. This user type will be able to download the Learner Application, run the default scenarios, and download scenarios created by their instructor.
Instructor accounts are intended for those who wish to create customized scenarios and distribute them to others. This account type is meant not only for teachers and professors, but anyone in charge of leading an educational group, such as an individual in an A&E firm developing custom scenarios to provide to thier employees for training purposes. This user type will be able to download the Learner Application, run the default scenarios, create and edit scenarios, run their own scenarios, and distribute their scenarios to others with the Student account type.

To create a Guest or Instructor account, simply go to http://app.learnhvac.org/login and click, Create a new account now. You will then be prompted on that page to create an Instructor or Guest account. Choose whichever you feel is most appropriate.

To create a Student account, you must have an invitation URL from an Instructor. Follow that URL and create an account.

We ask you to create an account even if you are a guest so we will know what types of industries and groups are interested in our software. As a non-profit funded primarily through state and federal governmental grants, it is very important for us to be able to report anonymous statistics on who our user group is and how many interested parties we have had. Your information will never be shared and only anonymous statistical information will ever be reported.

Once you have registered, you will need to check your email and will find a confirmation email. Then you will be able to log in and download an installer for the desktop client.

Download and Install

If you have not already downloaded the Learn HVAC Learner Module (client application), please go to http://app.learnhvac.org/login, and log in.

Guests: As soon as you log in, you should see a Download button.
Students: As soon as you log in, you should see a list of the classes in which you are enrolled. Click the name of a class (the exact one does not matter) and you will be brought to a page listing the scenarios for that class, each with a Download Button. You only need to download it once. They all download the same client installer.
Instructors: We appologize: downloading the installer for instructors is a bit complex and will be fixed soon. But for now, instructors will have to create a scenario before being able to download the installer. From the Dashboard page you see when you first log in, go to Your Scenarios, click New Sceanario, and please enter a Scenario Name, Pick Grand Master Scenario as the Master Scenario, and then scroll down to the Long-Term Simulation Start and End Dates. Enter any date for this year. Then Create the scenario. For a more full description on how to create a scenario, please see the Instructors Tutorial, but for now, this is the minimum amount of information you need to create one and then download the installer. Once you do this, you'll be on a page with the scenario you just created. Go back to Your Scenarios and you will see a Download button next to your scenario. As you create more and more scenarios, you will see a download button next to each. You do not need to download the software everytime.

NOTE:Right now, there is a bug which prevents some versions of Internet Explorer from downloading the software. You will see the Download button but it will not work. Please bear with us while we troubleshoot this problem. If possible, please use another web browser, such as Chome, Firefox, or Safari (all of which can be downloaded for free and are superior browsers anyways). After downloading the installer, run it and install the Learner Desktop Application.

Running Learn HVAC

After you've downloaded and installed the desktop client, you can double click on the icon on the desktop or else launch it from the start menu.

Figure 1-1 Windows Desktop Icon

Figure 1-2 Windows Start menu

Once you've started the desktop client and you will be presented with a splash screen like in Figure 1-3 asking you to log in. This login is the same login you were asked to create in order to download. You may log in as a "Guest" simply by typing "Guest" as the username and leaving the password blank.

Figure 1-3 Learn HVAC Splash Screen

Figure 1-4 Login as Guest

This will allow you to access and run any example scenarios we have created. You may also sign in with your account which will give you access to the example scenarios, and any class scenarios you have been invited to see. Finally, if you are an instructor, you will also be able to view the scenarios you have created.

Figure 1-5 Get Scenario

Once you've logged in, you will see this blank screen and the button Get Default Scenarios and if you logged in with a non-guest account, Get Scenarios from server. Clicking these buttons will then display a list of Scenarios you can run. Notice the Title and description of the different scenarios. Click the Start Scenario button to begin.

Figure 1-6 Start Scenario Button

Figure 1-7. Notice there are three main types of actions to Learn HVAC, Short-term Simulations, Long-term Simulations, and Analysis of your simulations.

Figure 1-7 Start Scenario

Also, in the upper right corner of the screen, and in Figure 1-8, you can see some icons and information. The scenario you are currently running is listed below the icons.

Figure 1-8 Header functions

The SI-IP icon allows you to change between the metric (international) system of units and imperial units. You may choose whichever you are more comfortable with simply by clicking this icon. Note however that this tutorial will be using SI units

The green bug icon opens up a debugger (for advanced users)

The wrench icon opens up a Settings menu where you can turn air particle animations on or off and some other advanced features this tutorial will not go into

Finally the help icon will load the Learn HVAC website help section

Let's start off with the Short-Term Simulation

Click Here to continue on to the Short-Term Simulation Tutorial