Thermotronics Lab

Learning objectives

• Acquire fundamental knowledge of thermodynamics applied to heating and air-conditioning systems.
• Understand how boilers, heat pumps, exchangers and thermo-hydraulic circuits work.
• Develop operational skills in regulating temperature, pressure and flow via sensors and actuators.
• Integrate electronics and automation into thermal-system control.
• Promote good practices in maintenance, safety and energy efficiency.

Skills developed

• Reading and interpreting functional diagrams and thermal-engineering circuits.
• Using PLCs, NTC probes, pressure sensors and motorized valves to manage systems.
• Building miniature training systems (underfloor heating, solar thermal, storage).
• Acquiring operating data and analyzing energy consumption.
• Applying technical regulations for the safety of thermal systems.

Hands-on exercises (examples)

• Assembly and testing of hydraulic systems with radiant panels.
• Simulating the operation of a thermal system with automatic regulation.
• Analyzing the efficiency of a heat exchanger under real conditions.
• Controlling a heat pump via HMI interface and PLC.
• Verifying physical parameters (flow rate, temperature, pressure) using sensors and dataloggers.

Technical equipment (examples)

• Modular teaching panels for thermo-hydraulic circuits.
• Wall-mounted condensing boiler and air-water heat pump.
• Solar-thermal system modules with storage tank.
• Plate and shell-and-tube heat exchangers.
• Temperature probes, pressure switches, flow meters, solenoid valves and electronic control units.
• Siemens PLC with touch interface and supervision software.
• Energy-monitoring and fault-simulation systems.

Curricular integration

The lab integrates into the training pathways of:

• Vocational institutes – Technical maintenance and assistance, Civil and industrial plant systems
• Technical institutes – Mechanics, Mechatronics, Energy
• Work-based learning (Cross-curricular and Career Guidance pathways)
• Interdisciplinary projects on sustainability, plant engineering and home automation

Accessibility and inclusion

The lab is designed according to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. The operating workstations are ergonomic and modular, with height-adjustable devices accessible even to students with reduced mobility. The digital interfaces are compatible with assistive technologies (text-to-speech, magnifiers, simplified video tutorials) and content is available in multichannel mode (visual, auditory and textual). It is possible to integrate compensatory tools for students with learning disabilities and create customized pathways with group tutoring.

With Kyron labs for Thermotronics, the school becomes a technical and sustainable hub, where energy is studied, controlled and valued for the future.

Technical support and teacher training

• Complete lab design and installation.
• Technical and methodological training for using the systems and software.
• Digital teaching materials and periodic online updates.
• Post-installation assistance and personalized consulting for professional development.

Why choose this lab

• Experiential teaching
• Integration of thermal, electronics and automation
• Career guidance
• Focus on energy efficiency and sustainability
• Interdisciplinarity and technological updating