HVAC SYSTEM SIZING, COMPARISON & SELECTION

Introduction:
- The design engineer is responsible for considering various systems and recommending one
or two systems that will meet the project goals and perform as desired.

Review of HVAC Design Process:

1. Estimates based on projected building footprint / storey / usage. See sample cooling load
check figures (Pocket handbook pages 59-60)
For budgetary purposes
Mechanical Room Sizing
2. Coordination with Architect / Structural / Electrical Engineer during preparation of floor
plans.
3. System design upon receipt of building plans.
Evaluate Specific Requirement
HVAC Zoning
Cooling / Heating Load Calculations
Airflow Rate Calculations
Air Distribution Layout
System Sizing / Comparison / Selection
4. Finalization of design drawings / equipment schedule & equipment specifications

System Characteristics that can be used as basis for Equipment Comparison & Selection:
1. Temperature, Humidity and Space Pressure Requirements
2. Capacity requirements (from load calculation analysis)
3. Redundancy
4. Facility management
5. Spatial requirements
6. First cost
7. Operating cost (including energy cost)
8. Maintenance cost
9. Reliability
10. Flexibility
11. Level of control
12. Acoustics and vibration
13. Constructability

Air Conditioner Application & Capacity Ranges:

1. Room Air Conditioner

a. Capacity range: 8,000 to 36,000 Btu/hr (0.5 to 3 TR)
b. Suitable for an area of not more than 1,000 sq.ft

2. Packaged AC Unit (Integral air-cooled condenser)

a. Capacity range for residential & light commercial application: 36,000 to 600,000 Btu/hr (3
to 50 TR)
b. Capacity range for commercial application: 120,000 to 1,440,000 Btu/hr (10 to 120 TR)
c. Suitable for areas 1,000 to 25,000 sq.ft
 3. Split System (Indoor unit/s with matching outdoor air-cooled condensing unit)
a. Capacity range for mini-split: 8,000 to 48,000 Btu/hr (0.5 to 4 TR)
b. Capacity range for system with ducted AHU: 36,000 to 1,440,000 Btu/hr (3 to 120 TR)
c. Suitable for areas 100 to 25,000 sq.ft

4. Central Chilled Water Air Conditioning System

a. Capacity range for air-cooled chillers: 240,000 to 6,000,000 Btu/hr (20 to 500 TR)
b. Capacity range for water-cooled chillers: 240,000 to 36,000,000 Btu/hr (20 to 3000 TR)
c. Capacity range for absorption chillers: 240,000 to 24,000,000 Btu/hr (20 to 2000 TR)
d. Suitable for areas 4,000 sq.ft and above

Note:
Item Nos. 1 3 are generally categorized as Decentralized System (for small and mid-sized installation)
Item No. 4 is generally categorized as Centralized System (Used particularly in large buildings and
complexes or where there is a high density of energy use)

System Diagram for Room Air Conditioner

1. Condensing coil
2. Expansion valve
3. Evaporator coil
4. Compressor
System Diagram for Air-Source Heat Pump

Cooling Mode

The compressor (1) pumps the refrigerant to the reversing valve (2).
The reversing valve directs the flow to the outside coil (condenser) where the fan (3) cools
and condenses the refrigerant to liquid.
The air flowing across the coil removes heat (4) from the refrigerant
The liquid refrigerant bypasses the first metering device and flows to the second metering
device (6) at the inside coil (evaporator) where it is metered.
Here it picks up heat energy from the air blowing (3) across the inside coil (evaporator) and
the air comes out cooler (7). This cooled air is delivered to the conditioned space.
The refrigerant vapor (8) then travels back to the reversing valve (9) to be directed to the
compressor to start the cycle all over again (1).

Heating Mode

The diagram above shows the heat pump in heat mode. The difference in the
two diagrams is the reversing valve (2) directs the compressed refrigerant to the
inside coil first. This makes the inside coil the condenser and releases the heat
energy (3-4). This heated air is delivered to the conditioned space. The outside
coil is used to collect the heat energy (3-7). This now becomes the evaporator.
Water Source Heat Pumps
Similar concept with air cooled heat pump. Outside coil is being cooled / heated by
water.

Air Source vs. Water Source Heat Pumps

Air Water
Specific Heat, Btu/lb.F 0.243 1.0
Density at 68F, lb/ft3 0.075 62.4
Heat capacity of fluid at 68F, Btu/ft3.F 0.0182 62.4
Installation cost less more
Operation & Maintenance cost more less
Efficiency good excellent

Decentralized vs. Centralized HVAC System

Advantages of Decentralized System:

a. Heating and cooling can be provided at all times, independent of the mode of operation
of other building spaces.
b. Manufacturer-matched component have certified ratings and performance data.
c. Assembly by a manufacturer helps ensure better quality control and reliability.
d. Manufacturer instructions and multiple-unit arrangements simplify installation through
repetition of tasks.
e. Only one zone of temperature control is affected if equipment malfunctions.
f. The system is readily available.
g. One manufacturer is responsible for the final equipment package.
h. For improved energy control, equipment serving vacant spaces can be turned off locally
or from a central point, without affecting occupied spaces (or unoccupied spaces that
require continuous air conditioning).
i. System operation is simple. Specially trained operators are not usually required.
j. Less mechanical and electrical room space is required than with central systems.
k. Initial cost is usually low.
l. Equipment can be installed to condition one space at a time as a building is completed,
remodeled, or as individual areas are occupied, with favorable initial investment.
m. Energy can be metered directly to each tenant.
n. Air or water side economizers may be applicable, depending on type of decentralized
system used.

Disadvantages of Decentralized System:

a. Performance options may be limited because airflow, cooling coil size and condenser
size are fixed.
b. Larger total building installed cooling capacity is usually required because diversity
factor used for moving cooling needs do not apply to dedicated packages.
c. Temperature and humidity control may be less stable, especially with mechanical
cooling at very low loads.
 d. Standard commercial units are not generally suited for large percentages of outside air
or for close humidity control. Custom or special-purpose equipment, such as packaged
units for computer rooms, or large custom units, may be required.
e. Energy use is usually greater than for central systems if efficiency of the unitary
equipment is less than that of the combined central system components.
f. Low-cost cooling by outside air economizers is not always available or practical.
g. Air distribution control may be limited.
h. Operating sound levels can be high, and noise-producing machinery is often closer to
building occupants than with central systems.
i. Ventilation capabilities are fixed by equipment design.
j. Equipments effect on building appearance can be unappealing.
k. Air filtration options may be limited.
l. Discharge temperature varies because of on/off or step control.
m. Condensate drain is required with each air-conditioning unit.
n. Maintenance may be difficult or costly because of multiple pieces of equipment and
their location.

Advantages of Centralized System:

a. Primary cooling and heating can be provided at all times, independent of the operation
mode of equipment and systems outside the central plant
b. Using larger but fewer pieces of equipment generally reduces the facilitys overall
operations and maintenance cost. It also allows wider operation ranges and more
flexible operating sequences.
c. A centralized location minimizes restrictions on servicing accessibility.
d. Energy-efficient design strategies, energy recovery, thermal storage, and energy
management can be simpler and more cost effective to implement.
e. Multiple energy sources can be applied to the central plant, providing flexibility and
leverage when purchasing fuel.
f. Standardizing equipment can be beneficial for redundancy and stocking replacement
parts. However, strategically selecting different-sized equipment for a central plant can
provide better part-load capability and efficiency.
g. Standby capabilities (for firm capacity/redundancy) and back-up fuel sources can easily
be added to equipment and plant when planned in advance.
h. Equipment operation can be staged to match load profile and taken offline for
maintenance.
i. District cooling and heating can be provided.
j. A central plant and its distribution can be economically expanded to accommodate
future growth. (ex. adding new building/s to the service group)
k. Load diversity can substantially reduce the total equipment capacity requirement.
l. Sub-metering secondary distribution can allow individual billing of cooling and heating
users outside the central plant.
m. Major vibration and noise-producing equipment can be grouped away from occupied
spaces, making acoustic and vibration controls simpler. Acoustical treatment can be
applied in a single location instead of many separate locations.
n. Issues such as cooling tower plume and plant emissions are centralized, allowing a
more economic solution.
Disadvantages of Centralized System:
a. Equipment may not be readily available, resulting in long lead-time for production and
delivery.
b. Equipment may be more complicated than decentralized equipment, and thus require a
more knowledgeable equipment operator.
c. A central location within or adjacent to the building is needed.
d. Additional equipment room height may be required.
e. Depending on the fuel source, large underground or surface storage tanks may be
required on site. If coal is used, space for storage bunker(s) will be needed.
f. Access may be needed for large deliveries of fuel.
g. Heating plants require a chimney and possibly emission permits, monitoring and
treatments.
h. Multiple equipment manufacturers are required when combining primary and ancillary
equipment.
i. System control logic may be complex.
j. First cost can be higher.
k. Special permitting may be required.
l. Safety requirements are increased.
m. A large pipe distribution system may be necessary.

Air-Cooled vs. Water-Cooled Chiller

Air-Cooled Chiller Advantages

Lower installation cost
Quicker availability
No cooling tower or condenser pumps required (especially when it is impractical to use
a cooling tower, such as when little water is available or water is highly corrosive)
Less maintenance
No mechanical room required

Water-Cooled Chiller Advantages

Higher efficiency (WCCH full load kW/TR is approx. 0.55 to 0.8 while ACCH full
load kW/TR is approx. 1.25)
Custom selection on larger sizes
Large tonnage capabilities
Indoor chiller location
Constructed with heavy duty, industrial-grade components
Longer life (almost twice the service life air-cooled chillers which is approx. 20yrs)
 HYDRONIC SYSTEM

Hydronic System Water Systems that convey heat to or from a conditioned space or process

Chilled Water
Use a temperature difference (CHWS/R) of 10F, 12F , 14F
Normally, CHWS temperature is 42 - 45F (44F ARI Std.)
Use 4-ft / 100-ft friction drop (limit water velocity to 6 8 fps)
To prevent rapid changes in water temperature and short cycling of the compressor,
minimum chilled-water loop volume shall be as follows:
o 3 gallons/TR for normal air-conditioning duty
o 6 10 gallons/TR for process duty or low ambient unit operation

Hot Water
Use a temperature difference (HWS/R) of 20 - 25F
Limit HWR temperature at a minimum of 140F (to avoid condensation in boilers not
designed for it)
Normally, HWS temperature is 90F
Use 4-ft / 100-ft friction drop (limit water velocity to 6 8 fps)

Notes:
1. For pump sizing refer to (see Pocket handbook page 70)
2. For equivalent of pipe for valves & fittings (see UPC page 120-121)