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Flow Control Device Sorter

Run the Flow Control Device Sorter MicroSim Fullscreen

This sketch is built on the FanPedia MicroSim kit. To run it in the p5.js editor, add the ../shared-libs/ files it loads (fanpedia-sim.css, fanpedia-core.js, fanpedia-p5.js), or their published URLs, to the editor's index.html before pasting ch19-flow-control-device-sorter.js.

About This MicroSim

Eight situation cards describe real order questions: an exhaust opening in a ceiling or a wall, a pressure blower outlet that must shut off, a cast aluminum blower that needs a set-once inlet adjustment, a clean hot airstream that needs flow control with horsepower savings, and two lab exhaust problems. The learner places each card in one of seven device bins:

  1. Ceiling type gravity damper
  2. Wall type gravity damper
  3. Blast gate
  4. Slide gate damper
  5. Nested inlet vanes
  6. Lab exhaust isolation damper
  7. Lab exhaust bypass damper

The cards come in a shuffled order. Each card is scored on the first bin it is placed in and then locks. The sim marks the placement correct (✓, solid green border) or incorrect (✗, dashed red border) and shows why. A missed card moves to its correct bin as a chip marked "missed". Blast gate is the correct bin for two cards (situations 3 and 4); every other bin is correct for exactly one card.

The running count reads "Correct: n of 8". After the last card the summary reads "Mastery: 7 or more of 8" or "Review the sections on the devices you missed, then try again." and names the devices missed. Try again reshuffles all eight cards for a practice round; practice rounds are not scored and never change the first-round result.

How to Use

  1. Read the situation on the face-up card and find the detail that decides it: mounting plane, full shutoff, automatic control, manual set-once trim, clean air and the vane location, or the job a lab damper does.
  2. Press the bin button for the device that fits. Read the feedback and, after a miss, look where the card landed.
  3. Press Next card and continue until all eight are placed, then read the summary.
  4. Press Try again for an unscored practice round over all eight cards.

Keyboard: keys 1 to 7 place the card in that bin; Enter goes to the next card, shows the summary after the last card, and starts a practice round from the summary. Tab and Space or Enter work on every button.

Data label: "Illustrative scenarios · Source: FanPedia pp. 125–192", shown at the bottom left of the drawing.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

<iframe src="https://moroshek.github.io/FanTASTIC-textbook/sims/ch19-flow-control-device-sorter/main.html"
        height="568px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objective

The learner will classify eight field situations by the damper or vane device that fits each one, with at least 7 of 8 correct on the first attempt (Bloom: Understand, verb: classify).

Audience

Adult professional development: new application engineers, sales staff, representatives and facilities staff.

Duration

10 minutes

Prerequisites

Ceiling type and wall type gravity dampers, blast gate, slide gate damper, nested inlet vanes, pre-spin, and lab exhaust isolation and bypass dampers, all defined in Chapter 19.

Activities

  1. Sort (5 min): Place all eight cards. Before each placement, name the one detail in the situation that rules out the other devices.
  2. Review (3 min): Reread the chapter section for each device you missed. Compare cards 3 and 4 (both blast gates) with card 5 (slide gate): what makes a slide gate the wrong shutoff device?
  3. Practice (2 min): Press Try again and sort the reshuffled deck without looking back.

Common Misconceptions Addressed

  • Ceiling and wall gravity dampers are interchangeable: cards 1 and 2 differ only in the mounting plane.
  • A slide gate is the shutoff device for any pressure blower: cards 3 and 4 need full shutoff and automatic control, which only the blast gate offers.
  • Nested and external inlet vanes suit the same airstreams: card 6 asks for clean air with the vanes inside the inlet funnel.
  • Isolation and bypass dampers on a lab fan do the same job: cards 7 and 8 contrast direction control with flow make-up.

Assessment

  • Running count "Correct: n of 8"; mastery is 7 of 8 correct on the first attempt.
  • Practice rounds are not evidence of mastery.
  • Follow-up question: a plant wants to throttle a cast aluminum pressure blower automatically. Which device, and why not a slide gate?

References

  1. Chapter 19: Damper Details and Duct Connections - gravity dampers, blast gates, slide gate dampers, lab exhaust dampers and nested inlet vanes.
  2. Chapter 18: Inlets, Outlets and Flow Control - the damper, inlet vane and inlet box categories this sorter builds on.
  3. FanPedia: The Fan & Blower Encyclopedia (PDF) - accessory pages (pp. 125, 127, 136, 138, 139) and technical descriptions (pp. 180, 181, 188, 192).
  4. FanPedia online - Twin City Fan's online fan and blower encyclopedia.
  5. p5.js - the JavaScript library used to draw the sorter.