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Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2006) - Of the estimated 1,600 people who attended USF's 33rd Annual Engineering Expo, several left with a greater appreciation for mechanical engineers. Why? The University of South Florida's Student Branch of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) presented "Engineering For The World We Live In," an exhibit demonstrating how air conditioners work. With the support of its local parent group, the Florida West Coast Chapter of ASHRAE, student members explained how a series of coils and fans keep our homes cool in the Sunshine State.
The group's main attraction was a large device known as a "heat pipe" which was loaned to the organization by Stan Weaver and Company; a local engineering sales company that represents HVAC manufacturers. 
The heat pipe uses a special arrangement of copper coils to precool air entering an air conditioner; shaving a few degrees off the warmer air before it hits the main cooling coil. The energy removed from the air stream is later used to reheat the same air before it leaves the machine. The result is a highly efficient air conditioner that saves energy and can dehumidify air much easier than previous units. In addition to teaching guests about the refrigeration cycle, student members answered questions about the mechanical engineering curriculum at USF, course work, graduate studies, internships and more.
At the closing Ceremonies, Expo staff and judges awarded the ASHRAE Student Branch the "Most Outstanding Student Society Exhibit" for 2006. ASHRAE President Brant Holeman and ASHRAE Expo Chairman James Merker accepted the award from Dr. Paul McCright on behalf of all the student volunteers and members that helped support ASHRAE in the last few weeks.
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