Bs 3 2019 Unit 01
Bs 3 2019 Unit 01
Bs 3 2019 Unit 01
AR8622
AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS
R – 2017
Part :01
Thermodynamics.
Transfer of heat.
Refrigeration cycle components.
Vapor compression cycle.
-Refrigerant, -Compressor, -Condenser,
-Evaporator, -Refrigerant control devices, -Electric motors,
-Air handling units, -Cooling towers.
Part :02
Air conditioning systems for buildings of different scales and their requirements
-Window type, -Split system, - package unit,
-Direct expansion system, -Chilled water system, - fan coil unit,
-District cooling systems. -Energy efficient systems, - environmental
aspects
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………and latest
innovations.
Understanding all the above through product literature/ field visits.
UNIT II DESIGN ASPECTS OF AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEMS 10
Part :01 Design criteria for selection of air conditioning. Configuring/ sizing of mechanical
equipment and spaces for them.
Part :02 Horizontal and vertical distribution of services for large buildings.
Exercise on the above through choice, calculations, layout, drawings.
1.1 . THERMODYNAMICS
Thermodynamics is the branch of science concerned with heat and temperature and their relation
to energy and work. Thermo means Heat and Dynamics means Work.
Law of Thermodynamics
The four laws of Thermodynamics summarize the most important facts of thermodynamics. They
define fundamental physical quantities such as temperature, energy and entropy, in order to
describe thermodynamic systems. They also describe the transfer of energy as heat and work in
thermodynamic processes.
Zeroth Law:
The Zeroth law of thermodynamics recognizes that if two systems are in thermal
equilibrium with a third, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other, thus
supporting the notion of temperature and heat.
First Law:
The first law of thermodynamics distinguishes between two kinds of physical process,
namely energy transfer as work and energy transfer as heat.
Second Law:
The second law of thermodynamics distinguishes between reversible and irreversible
physical processes.
Third Law:
The third law of thermodynamics concerns the entropy of a perfect crystal at absolute zero
temperature, and implies that it is impossible to cool a system to exactly absolute zero,
or equivalently that perpetual motion machines of the third kind are impossible.
After compression, the refrigerant moves to the next component in the refrigeration cycle: the
condenser.
The condenser’s job is to cool the refrigerant so that it turns from a gas into a liquid, or
condenses. This happens when warm outdoor air is blown across the condenser coil that is filled
with hot, gaseous refrigerant. This allows heat to transfer from the refrigerant to the cooler
outdoor air, where the excess heat is rejected to the atmosphere. The condenser coils wind
through the condenser to maximize the surface area of the piping, and effectively, the heat
transfer to the air. The refrigerant turns from a vapor into a hot liquid due to the high pressure
and reduction in temperature.
The refrigerant is now approaching the expansion device as a hot, high-pressure liquid. The
expansion device is responsible for quickly driving the pressure of the refrigerant down so it can
boil (evaporate) more easily in the evaporator — and that’s it! The expansion device has one sole
purpose: to reduce refrigerant pressure. Because the pressure drops so rapidly at the expansion
device, the refrigerant turns into a combination of a cold liquid and vapor.
NOTE: The refrigerant is hottest when it leaves the compressor and coldest when it leaves the
expansion device.
To summarize
— heat is absorbed by the refrigerant (cooling the air) in the evaporator and expelled from
the refrigerant to the outdoor air in the condenser. Simultaneously, the expansion device and
compressor help us manipulate the pressure of the refrigerant to make the cycle possible.
The Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle is nearly 200 years old, but it does not seem ready
to leave the scene any time soon. While some people have viewed this method as
environmentally harmful and inefficient, the cycle is still applicable in the industrial sphere.
Natural gas plants, petroleum refineries, and petrochemical plants and most of the food and
beverage processes are some of the industrial plants that utilize vapor compression
refrigeration systems.
The simplest explanation of this system is a heat engine working in reverse, technically
referred to as reverse Carnot engine. In other words, it is the transfer of heat from a cold
reservoir to a hot one. Clausius Statement of the Second Law of thermodynamics states:
“It is impossible to construct a device that operates in a cycle and produces no effect other
than the transfer of heat from a lower-temperature body to a higher-temperature body”.
Since the vapor compression cycle is against the Second Law of Thermodynamics, some work
is necessary for the transfer to take place.
It is a compression process, whose aim is to raise the refrigerant pressure, as it flows from an
evaporator. The high-pressure refrigerant flows through a condenser/heat exchanger before
attaining the initial low pressure and going back to the evaporator.
STEP 1: COMPRESSION
The refrigerant (for example R-717) enters the compressor at low temperature and low
pressure. It is in a gaseous state. Here, compression takes place to raise the temperature
and refrigerant pressure. The refrigerant leaves the compressor and enters to the
condenser.
Since this process requires work, an electric motor may be used. Compressors themselves
can be scroll, screw, centrifugal or reciprocating types.
STEP 2: CONDENSATION
The condenser is essentially a heat exchanger. Heat is transferred from the refrigerant to
a flow of water. This water goes to a cooling tower for cooling in the case of water-cooled
condensation.
Note that seawater and air-cooling methods may also play this role. As the refrigerant
flows through the condenser, it is in a constant pressure.
When the refrigerant enters the throttling valve, it expands and releases
pressure. Consequently, the temperature drops at this stage. Because of these changes,
the refrigerant leaves the throttle valve as a liquid vapor mixture, typically in proportions
of around 75 % and 25 % respectively.
Throttling valves play two crucial roles in the vapor compression cycle. First, they maintain
a pressure differential between low- and high-pressure sides. Second, they control the
amount of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator
STEP 4: EVAPORATION
At this stage of the Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle, the refrigerant is at a lower
temperature than its surroundings. Therefore, it evaporates and absorbs latent heat of
vaporization.
Heat extraction from the refrigerant happens at low pressure and temperature.
Compressor suction effect helps maintain the low pressure.
There are different evaporator versions in the market, but the major classifications are
liquid cooling and air cooling, depending whether they cool liquid or air respectively.
The Coefficient of Performance (COP) expresses the efficiency of this cycle. Knowing that the aim
of the refrigerator is heat removal and that this process requires work, the COP of the cycle
becomes:
Where “h” is the enthalpy in the system.
Some of the Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle Problems that may affect this value are:
COMPRESSOR LEAKAGE/FAILURE
The failure of an industrial refrigeration compressor can be expensive affair to the company
and damaging to the manufacturer’s reputation. Often, manufacturers will tear down returned
compressors in search faults. Over years of studies, some common reasons for compressor
failure have been identified to include lubrication problems, overheating, slugging, flood back
and contamination.
It could result from algae growth, sedimentation, scale formation or slime. As this problem
increases head pressure, it can lead to increased energy use by the compressor. What is the
best practice?
MOTOR COOLING
The motor is easily the highest energy consumer in the vapor compression cycle. Most times
when efficiency drops in this device, it is because of a cooling problem. Many issues could lead
to this- blocked air filters, dirty air passages etc. Regular checks of the chiller logs should
unearth any anomaly, specifically the comparison between amperage and voltage.
Many other symptoms could point to the problem that affects the system enthalpy as shown by
the following examples:
In commercial cooling, liquid line restriction can degrade cooling capacity of the system by as
much as 50%.
Diagnosis of this problem does not to be fancy, as an experienced technician can tell
something is not okay by just checking the system history or checking visually. If you are
not acquainted with the system, you may need to conduct a few tests to pinpoint the
issue.
The first one is temperature drop test, which is done at all points likely to develop
restriction. You could also perform a freeze test if finding the exact point becomes
troublesome. This test comes in handy when you suspect several components such as
evaporator, feeder tubes and metering device.
Thermal imaging has to be the most advanced and reliable method of identifying liquid line
restriction. It gives real time results that help you identify the problem as shown by
temperature changes.
01. REFRIGERANT,
What is a Refrigerant?
“Refrigerant is the fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system that absorbs heat
during evaporation from the region of low temperature and pressure, and releases heat
during condensation at a region of higher temperature and pressure.”
Classification Refrigerants
I. Primary refrigerants:
These are the refrigerants which cool the substance or space directly by absorbing
latent heat.
In refrigeration plant a secondary coolant is used as cooling medium which absorb heat
from refrigerated space and transfer to primary refrigerant in evaporator.
Secondary refrigerants are also known under the name brines or antifreezes
02. COMPRESSOR:
WHAT IS COMPRESSOR?
Compressors are a mechanical device that compresses gases. It is widely used in industries and
has various applications
Major difference is that a compressor handles the gases and pumps handles the liquids.
As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of gas.
Liquids are relatively incompressible.
WHY WE NEED?
Achieves compression by applying inertial The gas is compressed by the rotating action of
forces to the gas by means of rotating a roller inside a cylinder.
impellers. The roller rotates off-centre around a shaft so
It is multiple stage ; each stage consists of that part of the roller is always in contact with
an impeller as the rotating element and the cylinder.
the stationary element, i.e. diffuser Volume of the gas occupies is reduced and the
Fluid flow enters the impeller axially and refrigerant is compressed.
discharged radially High efficient as sucking and compressing
The gas next flows through a circular refrigerant occur simultaneously.
chamber (diffuser), where it loses velocity
and increases pressure.
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B. What are Positive Displacement compressors?
03. CONDENSER:
WHAT IS CONDENSER?
A Condenser is a device or unit used to condense a substance from its gaseous to its liquid
state, by cooling it. In so doing, the latent heat is given up by the substance, and will
transfer to the condenser coolant.
It is used in systems involving heat transfer
Condensers are typically heat exchangers, which have various designs and come in many
sizes ranging from rather small (hand-held) to very large industrial-scale units used in plant
processes.
A refrigerator uses a condenser to get rid of heat extracted from the interior of the unit to
the outside air. Condensers are used in air conditioning, industrial chemical processes such
as distillation, steam power plants and other heat-exchange systems.
Use of cooling water or surrounding air as the coolant is common in many condensers.
Types of Condenser
1. Water-cooled condensers
2. Air-cooled condensers
3. Evaporative condensers
Water cooled condenser uses water as a cooling medium it may be re-circulated or fresh
water depends upon availability
Although a little more pricey to install, these condensers are the more efficient type, these
condensers require regular service and maintenance.
They also require a cooling tower to conserve water. To prevent corrosion and the forming
of algae, water cooled condensers require a constant supply of makeup water along with
water treatment.
The selection of water cooled condenser depends upon cooling load in evaporator
condenser temperature ,availability of water and water inlet and outlet temperature
Heat exchange takes place between the fluids in the inner and outer tubes
Refrigerant flows in the outer tube
Water flows in the inner tube
Refrigerant and wate flow in opposite directions to maximize the heat transfer rate
The Condenser uses air as cooling medium to condense refrigerant is called as Air Cooled
Condenser.
If the condenser is located on the outside of the unit, the air cooled condenser can provide
the easiest arrangement. These types of condensers Reject heat to the outdoors and are
simple to install.
Most common uses for this condenser are domestic refrigerators, upright freezers. A great
feature of the air cooled condenser is they are very easy to clean. Since dirt can cause
serious issues with the condensers performance, it is highly recommended that these be
kept clear of dirt.
Air cooled condenser requires large surface area because of low specific heat of air
Air cooled condenser is made of steel, copper or aluminum.
TYPES
3. EVAPORATIVE
Typically these are used in large commercial air conditioning units. Although effective, they are
not necessarily the most efficient.
Evaporative Condenser:
Evaporation is a part of heat transfer process heat absorption capacity of water is hire than
air it needs less coil surface
No need of cooling tower.
An evaporator is a device in a process used to turn the liquid form of a chemical substance such as
water into its gaseous-form/vapor. The liquid is evaporated, or vaporized, into a gas form of the
targeted substance in that process.
Refrigeration evaporators:
source: https://nzifst.org.nz/resources/unitoperations/unopsassets/fig6-10.gif
Types of evaporator:
Forced Convection Type : uses a fan or pump to force the liquid being cooled over the
evap.
Natural Convection Type : has the liquid being cooled flows naturally to the evap. due to
the density differences of the chilled and warm liquid.
There are three types of evaporator- construction that are commonly being used today:
The bare tube evaporators are made up of copper tubing or steel pipes. The copper tubing is used
for small evaporators where the refrigerant other than ammonia is used, while the steel pipes are
used with the large evaporators where ammonia is used as the refrigerant. The bare tube
evaporator comprises of several turns of the tubing, though most commonly flat zigzag and oval
trombone are the most common shapes. The bare tube evaporators are usually used for liquid
chilling. In the blast cooling and the freezing operations the atmospheric air flows over the bare
tube evaporator and the chilled air leaving it used for the cooling purposes. The bare tube
evaporators are used in very few applications, however the bare tube evaporators fitted with the
fins, called as finned evaporators are used very commonly.
2) Plate Surface
In the plate type of evaporators the coil usually made up of copper or aluminum is embedded in
the plate so as so to form a flat looking surface. Externally the plate type of evaporator looks like a
single plate, but inside it there are several turns of the metal tubing through which the refrigerant
flows. The advantage of the plate type of evaporators is that they are more rigid as the external
plate provides lots of safety. The external plate also helps increasing the heat transfer from the
metal tubing to the substance to be chilled. Further, the plate type of evaporators are easy to
clean and can be manufactured cheaply.
The plate type heat exchangers can be easily formed into various shapes as per the requirement.
Thus in the household refrigerators and the deep freezers, where they are used most commonly,
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they can be converted into the box shape to form the closed enclosure, where various food can be
kept in the frozen state. The plates can also be welded together forming the bank of the plate type
of evaporators that can be used the larger evaporators of higher capacities.
Plate types of evaporators provide excellent shelves in the freezers and similar applications. They
can be used as the as the partitions in the freezers, frozen food display cases, ice cream cabinets,
soda fountains and others. Due to various advantages and flexibility offered by the plate type of
evaporators, they are used extensively.
3) Finned construction are bare-tube coils upon which fins(metal plates usually Aluminium) are
being installed. A more detailed discussion on this type of design will be provided here.The fins are
added to the bare-tube to increase the heat transfer capability. They act as heat collector that pick
up heat from the surrounding air and conduct it to the refrigerant inside the tube hence improving
the efficiency in cooling the air of the surrounding. They are best used in the air-cooling space
where the temperature is around 34°F.Having fins mean the surface area for heat transfer has
been extended. This means that the finned coils can have more compact in design compared to
the bare-tube type of similar capacity. In summary, finned coils help to reduce coil cost, size and
weight.
SOURCE: https://www.brighthubengineering.com/hvac/61270-types-of-refrigeration-
evaporators/
Good thermal contact between the fins and tubes is a must to ensure efficient heat transfer. They
can be soldered together. The other more practical method is to expand the fins by pressure such
that they bite into the tube surface hence a good thermal contact is established. The spacing of
the fin depend on the operating temperature of the coil. Low temperature application uses only 1
fin.
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In air conditioning application, 14-16 fins per inch may be used as long it is designed in such a way
that frost does not accumulates in the coils. Excessive finning may reduce the capacity of the
evap. by restricting the flow of air over the coil hence the design engineers must do a proper
system calculation and simulation at design stage.
The shell and tube types of evaporators are used in the large refrigeration and central air
conditioning systems. The evaporators in these systems are commonly known as the chillers. The
chillers comprise of large number of the tubes that are inserted inside the drum or the shell.
Depending on the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the shell and tube type of chillers, they
are classified into two types: dry expansion type and flooded type of chillers. In dry expansion
chillers the refrigerant flows along the tube side and the fluid to be chilled flows along the shell
side. The flow of the refrigerant to these chillers is controlled by the expansion valve. In case of
the flooded type of evaporators the refrigerant flows along the shell side and fluid to be chilled
flows along the tube. In these chillers the level of the refrigerant is kept constant by the float valve
that acts as the expansion valve also.
Fig : Shell and tube with the refrigerant boiling in the shell(Liquid chilling evaporators)
Fig : Shell and tube with the refrigerant boiling in the tubes(Liquid chilling evaporators)
Source: http://www.ref-wiki.com/content/view/31533/181/
The refrigerant flow control is one of the four major components in a vapor compression
refrigeration system.
The function of any refrigerant flow control is to adjust the quantity of refrigerant flow
into the evaporator according to the evaporator load; to create a pressure drop from the
high side to the low side of the system in order to permit the refrigerant to vaporize under
the desired low pressure in the evaporator while at the same time condensing at a high
pressure in the condenser.
There are various types of refrigerant flow control devices, such as
- Manual expansion valve,
- Capillary tube,
- Thermostatic expansion valve,
- Float valve and
- Electronic expansion valve.
Hand expansion valves are also called throttle valves.
I. MANUAL EXPANSION VALVE The expansion valve comprises of main body, valve seat, and hand
wheel which is actuated to change the opening area around the
valve seat to adjust the frictional resistance to the refrigerant flow.
The rate of the refrigerant
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flow throughCAP-KILVELUR
the valve depends on27 the
pressure differential across the valve and opening of the valve.
Assuming that the pressure drop across the valve remains the
same, the flow rate through a hand expansion valve will remain
Fig.1: Hand expansion valve
Capillary tubes are widely used as expansion devices in small vapor compression
refrigeration Systems, such as household refrigerators, room air conditioners, and small
package air conditioning units.
In this system, the capillary tube is wound into with coils for direct expansion.
The tube connects the outlet of condenser to the inlet of the evaporator
Physically the capillary tubes are hollow tubes made with drawn copper, with internal
diameters ranging between 0.51and 2 mm
Primarily there are two kinds of capillary tubes, namely adiabatic and non adiabatic tubes.
The adiabatic capillary tube expands refrigerant from high pressure to low pressure
adiabatically while in the non-adiabatic situation, the capillary tube forms a counter-flow
heat exchanger with the suction line that joins the evaporator and the compressor .
The refrigerant flow inside the capillary tube is very complex, particularly in non-adiabatic
situations where the capillary tubes are in thermal contact with the suction lines.
When the pressure of the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant flowing through the non-adiabatic
capillary tubes drops below the saturation value (corresponding to its temperature), a part
of the refrigerant flashes into vapor.
This results in two-phase flow while the refrigerant pressure continues to drop due to the
friction and fluid expansion in the capillary tube.
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III. Thermostatic expansion Valves-Superheat Control
At present, thermostatic expansion valve is probably the most widely used refrigerant flow
control device because of its high efficiency and its ready adaptability to any type of
refrigeration applications.
The thermostatic expansion valve controls the mass flow rate of the refrigerant into the
evaporator according to inspiration vapor degree of superheat, and at the same time
throttles the liquid from condensing pressure to evaporation pressure.
It is an operation diagram of the internal equalizer thermostatic expansion valve, the main
parts including: a needle and seat, a pressure bellow or diaphragm, a fluid-charged remote
bulb, and a spring, the tension of which is usually adjustable by an adjusting screw.
A screen or strainer is usually installed at the liquid inlet for the valve to prevent the
entrance of foreign material which may cause malfunction of the valve.
The main important part of the thermostatic expansion valve is the remote bulb, which
responses the superheat of the refrigeration at the outlet of the evaporator and then move
to close or open the valve to throttle the flow of the liquid to the evaporator.
In order to ensure against refrigerant liquid entering the compressor, it is common practice
to have the refrigerant leave the evaporator slightly superheated.
Superheat is the difference between the temperature at the bulb and the evaporating
temperature, the former is measured at the point where the remote bulb is located at the
exit of the evaporator coil
A float valve, either high-side or low-side, can serve as a metering device. The high-side
float, located in the liquid line, allows the liquid to flow into the low side when a sufficient
amount of refrigerant has been condensed to move the float ball. No liquid remains in the
receiver. A charge of refrigerant just sufficient to fill the coils is put into the system on
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installation. This type of float, formerly used extensively, is now limited to use in certain
types of industrial and commercial systems.
The low-side float valve keeps the liquid level constant in the evaporator. It is used in
flooded-type evaporators where the medium being cooled flows through tubes in a bath of
refrigerant. The low-side float is more critical in operation than the high-side float and
must be manufactured more precisely. A malfunction will cause the evaporator to fill
during shutdown. This condition will result in serious pounding and probable compressor
trouble on start-up.
Needle valves, either diaphragm or packed type, may be used as hand expansion valves. As
such, they are usually installed in a bypass line around an automatic- or thermostatic-
expansion valve. They are placed in operation when the normal control is out of order or is
removed for repairs.
V. Electronic expansion valve
Fig:1. fig:2.
Fig: 1.A cutaway of an electronic expansion valve (EEV) with step motor and drive assembly. Fig: 2.
The feedback loop.
Source: https://www.achrnews.com/articles/95056-electronic-expansion-valves-the-basics
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The electronic expansion valve (EEV) operates with a much more sophisticated design. EEVs
control the flow of refrigerant entering a direct expansion evaporator. They do this in response to
signals sent to them by an electronic controller. A small motor is used to open and close the valve
port.
The motor is called a step or stepper motor. Step motors do not rotate continuously. They are
controlled by an electronic controller and rotate a fraction of a revolution for each signal sent to
them by the electronic controller. The step motor is driven by a gear train, which positions a pin in
a port in which refrigerant flows. A cutaway of an EEV with step motor and drive assembly is
shown in above mentioned Figure .
Electric Motors Basics - The HVAC industry depends heavily on the electric motor. Furthermore,
the electric motor is the primary component that powers blowers to move air. Additionally,
electric motors drive compressors to compress refrigerant. Lastly, the electric motor powers a
pump to move water for chilled water and hot water applications and fuel oil.
Additionally, the electric motor is an integral part of all HVAC systems, and many HVAC
applications would be impossible to implement without the old electric motor.
Flex is Crimped & Flex was Hitting Belt - System Repaired After Photo was Taken
HVAC equipment depends on electric motors to move air, pump water, and run
compressors. Therefore, technicians need to understand electric motor basics.
Depending on the application will depend on the type of motor required for the job.
Additionally, the design engineer must select the appropriate HVAC motor for the job;
otherwise, significant and continuous problems will occur throughout the life of the HVAC
system.
Electric blower motors or propeller fans usually require electric motors with a low starting
torque, while compressors require motors with a high starting torque.
Finally, these characteristics are essential, especially when selecting the appropriate
electric motor for the application.
Hermetic Compressors with Integral Motors
A compressor electric motor with a low starting torque rating is doomed to failure while a blower
motor or propeller blade electric motor with an unnecessarily high torque rating will end up
costing more in energy costs over the life of the equipment and electric motor.
Electric Motors Basics - Single Phase Motors
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Split-phase motors are the workhorse of the HVAC industry. Additionally, a split-phase electric
motor has two windings – a start and run winding. There two common split-phase motors used in
HVAC applications. Furthermore, one of the split-phased electric motors used in HVAC
applications is the capacitor-start-induction-run motor, and it is also a single-phase electric motor.
The capacitor start motor uses a start capacitor to boost its starting torque. Additionally, most
capacitor start motors use a centrifugal switch to disengage the start capacitor from the start
winding circuit when the motor reaches approximately 70 to 80 percent of its run speed.
The other common split-phase electric motor used for HVAC applications is the resistance-start-
induction-run electric motor. This electric motor has a start winding and a run winding, and single-
phase current applied to both windings on start-up. Additionally, the two windings are out of
phase by 45 to 90 degrees, which gives the motor a boost on start-up. Next, this resistance-start-
induction-run motor does not utilize a capacitor as the capacitor=start-induction-run electric
motor does. Furthermore, the resistance-start-induction-run electric motor does use a centrifugal
switch to drop the start winding out of the circuit just as the capacitor-start-induction-run motor
does.
The shaded-pole electric motor is used in HVAC applications. Typically for only fractional
horsepower applications where the start and run torque requirements are very minimal. Finally,
the shaded-pole electric motor does not use a capacitor and not easily reversible.
An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to condition and
circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served
without ductwork.
Small air handlers, for local use, are called terminal units, and may only include an air filter, coil,
and blower; these simple terminal units are called blower coils or fan coil units. These units are
used for air-conditioning small spaces like guest rooms in hotels, hospital patient rooms, etc.
• A larger air handler that conditions 100% outside air, and no recirculated air, is
known as a makeup air unit (MAU).
• An air handler designed for outdoor use, typically on roofs, is known as a packaged
unit (PU) or rooftop unit (RTU).
An air handling unit; air flow is from the right to left in this case. Some AHU components shown
are:
Source:https://palashdas.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/0474e-hepaschem2.jpg?w=640&h=284
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Operation
• The basic function of the AHU is to suck air from the rooms, let it pass through chilled
water cooling coils and then discharging the cooled air back to the rooms.
• Normally, letting it pass through panel or bag filters also filters the air.
• A certain amount of fresh air may be introduced at the suction duct so that air in the
rooms may be gradually replaced.
• AHU's come in many sizes and shapes.
• Usually, the air conditioning designer will choose a particular AHU based on the air flow
requirements and the cooling capacity.
• If humidity of the air has to be controlled, steam coils, or other heating coils may be
installed.
• If the air has to be very cleaned, special filters have to be installed at the ducting outlets or
at the AHU filter box.
• Moisture in the air is condensed out when it comes into contact with the chilled water
coils.
• At the bottom of the AHU, a pipe is installed so that water that is collected can be drained
out.
• Air handling units often use a squirrel cage blower powered by the AC electric motor to
circulate air. The air flow rate is controlled by vanes or dampers on the fan. Small air
handling units also contain a fuel-burning heater or heat pump which is placed in the air
stream to heat it. Larger air handling units use coils to circulate hot steam or water for
heating, and circulate chilled water for cooling purposes.
• The fan and motor assembly is usually mounted on vibration dampers that absorb any
vibrations generated. Removable panels are installed so that personnel can enter into the
AHU for maintenance. Maintenance is mostly changing or washing of air filters, greasing of
bearings, changing of belts, and general inspection and cleaning work.
•
DETAILED AIR HANDLING UNIT:
• Small air handling units, called terminal units, often contain only a blower, air filter
and heater, and are used for local use.
• Larger air handling units that condition outside air are called makeup air units
• A packaged unit refers to an air handling unit exclusively designed for outside use,
and is typically found on roofs.
Roof top air-condition: The air handling units are installed at the different places in the building to
be air conditioned. They are connected to the cool air supply and return air ducts which are laid in
all the rooms to be cooled. In case of the central air conditioning plants the air handling units are
installed on the floor,
while in case of the split air conditioners, they are mounted on the roof inside the room above the
false ceiling.
In case of packaged units they can be installed on the floor or the roof.
Air handlers typically employ a large squirrel cage blower driven by an AC induction electric
motor to move the air.
The blower may operate at a single speed, offer a variety of set speeds, or be driven by a
Variable Frequency Drive to allow a wide range of air flow rates.
Flow rate may also be controlled by inlet vanes or outlet dampers on the fan.
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Some residential air handlers (central 'furnaces' or 'air conditioners') use a brushless DC
electric motor that has variable speed capabilities.
Multiple blowers may be present in large commercial air handling units, typically placed at
the end of the AHU and the beginning of the supply ductwork (therefore also called
"supply fans").
They are often augmented by fans in the return air duct ("return fans") pushing the air into
the AHU.
Air handlers may need to provide heating, cooling, or both to change the supply air
temperature depending on the location and the application.
Smaller air handlers may contain a fuel-burning heater or a refrigeration evaporator,
placed directly in the air stream. Electric resistance and heat pumps can be used as well.
Evaporative cooling is possible in dry climates.
Large commercial air handling units contain coils that circulate hot water or steam for
heating, and chilled water for cooling.
Coils are typically manufactured from copper for the tubes, with copper or aluminium fins
to aid heat transfer.
Cooling coils will also employ eliminator plates to remove and drain condensate.
The hot water or steam is provided by a central boiler, and the chilled water is provided by
a central chiller.
Downstream temperature sensors are typically used to monitor and control 'off coil'
temperatures, in conjunction with an appropriate motorized control valve prior to the coil.
3.FILTERS
Air filtration is almost always present in order to provide clean dust-free air to the building
occupants.
It is typically placed first in the AHU in order to keep all its components clean. Depending
upon the grade of filtration required, typically filters will be arranged in two (or more)
banks with a coarse-grade panel filter provided in front of a fine-grade bag filter, or other
'final' filtration medium.
The panel filter is cheaper to replace and maintain, and thus protects the more expensive
bag filters.
Humidification is often necessary in colder climates where continuous heating will make the air
drier, resulting in uncomfortable air quality and increased static electricity.
5.MIXING CHAMBER
In order to maintain indoor air quality, air handlers commonly have provisions to allow the
introduction of outside air into, and the exhausting of air from the building.
In temperate climates, mixing the right amount of cooler outside air with warmer return air can be
used to approach the desired supply air temperature.
A mixing chamber is therefore used which has dampers controlling the ratio between the return,
outside, and exhaust air.
A heat recovery device heat exchanger of many types, may be fitted to the air handler between
supply and extract airstreams for energy savings and increasing capacity. These types more
commonly include for:
COOLING TOWERS:
A cooling tower is a heat rejection device that rejects waste heat to the atmosphere through the
cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature. Cooling towers may either use
the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb
air temperature or, in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers, rely solely on air to cool the
working fluid to near the dry-bulb air temperature.
Common applications include cooling the circulating water used in oil
refineries, petrochemical and other chemical plants, thermal power stations, nuclear power
stations and HVAC systems for cooling buildings.
Induced draft — A mechanical draft tower with a fan at the discharge (at the top)
which pulls air up through the tower. The fan induces hot moist air out the discharge.
This produces low entering and high exiting air velocities, reducing the possibility
of recirculation in which discharged air flows back into the air intake. This fan/fin
arrangement is also known as draw-through.
Fig: A mechanical draft tower with a fan at the discharge (at the top) which pulls air
Source: https://www.tradeindia.com/fp4466108/Mechanical-Type-Induced-Draft-
Cross-Flow-Cooling-Towers.html
Forced draft — A mechanical draft tower with a blower type fan at the intake. The
fan forces air into the tower, creating high entering and low exiting air velocities. The
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low exiting velocity is much more susceptible to recirculation. With the fan on the air
intake, the fan is more susceptible to complications due to freezing conditions. Another
disadvantage is that a forced draft design typically requires more motor horsepower
than an equivalent induced draft design. The benefit of the forced draft design is its
ability to work with high static pressure. Such setups can be installed in more-confined
spaces and even in some indoor situations. This fan/fin geometry is also known
as blow-through.
3. Fan assisted natural draft — A hybrid type that appears like a natural draft setup, though
airflow is assisted by a fan.
Hyperboloid (sometimes incorrectly known as hyperbolic) cooling towers have become
the design standard for all natural-draft cooling towers because of their structural
strength and minimum usage of material. The hyperboloid shape also aids in
accelerating the upward convective air flow, improving cooling efficiency. These
designs are popularly associated with nuclear power plants. However, this association is
misleading, as the same kind of cooling towers are often used at large coal-fired power
plants as well. Conversely, not all nuclear power plants have cooling towers, and some
instead cool their heat exchangers with lake, river or ocean water.
Thermal efficiencies up to 92% have been observed in hybrid cooling towers
Wet cooling towers (or open circuit cooling towers) operate on the principle of evaporative
cooling. The working fluid and the evaporated fluid (usually water) are one and the same.
Closed circuit cooling towers (or fluid coolers) pass the working fluid through a tube bundle,
upon which clean water is sprayed and a fan-induced draft applied. The resulting heat transfer
performance is close to that of a wet cooling tower, with the advantage of protecting the
working fluid from environmental exposure and contamination.
Dry cooling towers are closed circuit cooling towers which operate by heat transfer through a
surface that separates the working fluid from ambient air, such as in a tube to air heat
exchanger, utilizing convective heat transfer. They do not use evaporation.
Hybrid cooling towers are closed circuit cooling towers that can switch between wet and dry
operation. This helps balance water and energy savings across a variety of weather conditions.
The DCS is an energy-efficient air-conditioning system as it consumes 35% and 20% less electricity
as compared with traditional air-cooled air-conditioning systems and individual water-cooled air-
conditioning systems using cooling towers respectively. In some countries that have substantial
heating demand, the plant can also be designed to supply hot water to form a District Heating and
Cooling System (DHCS).
Groups of large and energy-efficient water-cooled chillers are usually installed in a central chiller
plant to take advantage of the economy of scale and the cooling demand diversity between
different buildings within a district. Sea water condensers or fresh water cooling towers can be
utilized to reject waste heat from the central chillers.
User Station
The interface between the district cooling system and the building cooling system is commonly
referred to as user station. The user station would usually comprise of air handling units, heat
exchanger and chilled water piping in the building.
A user station is required in each user's building to connect the DCS distributed chilled water pipe
to the building. Inside the user station, devices called heat exchangers are installed to transfer
heat between the chilled water supply of DCS and the air-conditioning system of the user building.
The user station could be designed for direct or indirect connection to the district cooling
distribution system.
With direct connection, the district cooling water is distributed within the building directly to
terminal equipment such as air handling and fan coil units, induction units, etc. An indirect
connection utilizes one or multiple heat exchangers in between the district system and the
building system.
The days of using ozone-friendly refrigerants since Montreal Protocol are already here and as a
result, this hole above the Antarctica has been shown to be shrinking.
Ozone-unfriendly refrigerant such as R22 is no longer in production and although you can still
purchase equipment with this gas through recycling process, it will eventually be replaced by
other ozone-friendly refrigerants such as R407C, R410A and R32. These refrigerants have zero
ozone depletion potential.
In general, the more efficient the equipment is, the more costly it is compared to the regular ones.
Here are some steps that you can take when choosing energy efficient air conditioners to
purchase.
1. Cooling Capacity
Determine the cooling capacity that is required of the room. A rough estimates of how to
do this is provided here. Buying an oversize air conditioner is not a good choice as it is
more costly and does not necessarily provide better comfort level.
How do you do air conditioning calculations on the capacity of air conditioner for
your room? This calculation is important because if done wrongly, you will end up installing
an oversize or undersize equipment. An oversized air conditioner is not good as the
compressor will run and stop regularly and not able to cool the room uniformly.
It will also cause discomfort to the occupants as the dehumidfication of the room is not
properly done. On top of that, the electricity bill will be high as the compressor turns on
and off too often.
Every time the on/off type of compressor starts to run, its power consumption is 6 times
higher than when it is running steadily.
An undersized unit will not be able to cool the room properly and more so if the weather is
hot.
Cooling Capacity
Cooling capacity for a room is defined as the heat load in a room that have to be removed
in order to achieve a certain room temperature and humidity. The typical design is set to
24°C temperature and 55% Relative Humidity.
Study shows that this combination of temperature and RH is the most conducive for the
human body. The unit used to measure heat load is BTU/hr. 1 BTU/hr is the heat energy
needed to increase 1 pound of water by 1°F.
Calculating the cooling capacity needed for your room is a complicated process as there
are many factors to consider. However, there is a simple rule of thumb that you can use to
estimate the required cooling capacity for your room. Use this result to compare with the
calculation done by the air conditioning contractors for your own checking purposes.
Step 1
Find the volume of your room in cubic feet. This is done by measuring the length, width
and height of the room in feet and multiply all the three dimensions together.
Volume = Width X Length X Height (cubic feet)
Step 2
Multiply this volume by 6.
C1 = Volume X 6
Step 3
Estimate the number of people (N) that will usually occupy this room. Each person
produces about 500 BTU/hr of heat for normal office-related activity. Multiply this two
figures together.
C2 = N x 500 BTU/hr
Step 4
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Add C1 and C2 together and you will get a very simplified cooling capacity needed for the
room.
Estimated Cooling Capacity needed = C1 + C2 (BTU/hr)
Air Conditioning Calculations - Other Factors
Other factors that your contractor will consider to determine the sizing of the cooling
capacity include the direction of your room. If the room is facing east or west, additional
capacity is needed as it will be exposed to the morning and evening sun compared to a
room that faces north or south.
If the lighting of the room emits a lot of heat, additional capacity is needed. If electrical
appliances that generate heat is used, additional capacity has to be factored in.
The type of material of the room and windows are also important consideration.
2. INVERTER VS NON-INVERTER
Choose an inverter model as it will be definitely more efficient than a non-inverter unit. The
inverter compressor's rotation can be varied according to the requirements of the load hence the
power savings is there.On the other hand, the non-inverter compressor is only able to turn ON or
OFF. It is not able to vary its speed according to the load. The frequent turning ON and OFF will
consume more energy.
Diakin, the company which specializes in HVAC industry has developed a reluctance DC motor of
the compressors which have high strength neodymium magnets that are embedded in the
rotating shafts of the compressors' motors. These magnets are 10 times more powerful than the
normal ferrite magnets hence providing a more superior torque for the compressors, making
Daikin the technology leader in this field.
Check the brochures for the efficiency of the model. Every model will have different values and it
also varies with different manufacturers.
COP is the ratio of the cooling capacity(W) vs the power input(W). The higher the value, the more
efficient it is as it is able to provide more cooling for the same power input.
If it is not given, do your own calculation. For ease of cooling capacity conversion, 1W=3.4121
Btu/h. Choose a higher COP model.
SEER is the ratio of the total cooling that the equipment is able to provide over the entire season
(Btu) Vs the total energy(Watt-hours) consumed. SEER is more accurate as it takes into
consideration the start-up and shut-down cycles of the air conditioner. Choose a higher value for
energy efficient air conditioners.
Every country has its own energy ratings for the model of the air conditioner that has been
tested.Choose one that has the highest rating as this would mean that the unit is much more
efficient compared to another lower star rating.
5. INFRA-RED SENSOR
Some manufacturers such as Daikin have built-in infra-red sensor that is able to detect the
presence or absence of the occupants in the room. If it does not detect any movement for a
certain period of time, it will adjust the set temperature higher automatically to reduce the
temperature in the room. This will help to save your electricity bill.
The sun’s heat escapes back into space after warming the earth, thus maintaining an
atmospheric temperature ideal for life.
The greenhouse effect causes the temperature to rise.
CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase.
To prevent refrigerants from entering the atmosphere, AC manufacturers takes great care to
ensure that air-conditioners and refrigerators that have reached the end of their useful life are
properly handled by retail outlets.
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What Should Air-conditioners Do for the Environment?
There are two main ways that air-conditioners impact the environment in a life cycle that
includes manufacture, use by customer, recovery, and disposal at the end of useful
life.
01. Air-conditioners need electricity to operate, and power plants generate CO2
(carbon dioxide) through the process of power generation. This is a cause of global
warming:
02. Air-conditioners use fluorocarbons as refrigerants. Fluorocarbons affect the ozone
layer and contribute to global warming (In addition to the above, there are other
things that must be done: making efficient use of the resources used as raw
materials for air-conditioners; and properly disposing of or recycling used air-
conditioners.)
To use reasonable endeavors to reduce the environmental impacts arising out of its operations;
To use reasonable endeavors to make products energy efficient and reduce pollution;
To use reasonable endeavors to improve the use of resources and minimize waste through
improved resource efficiency;
To comply with all relevant environmental legislation and codes of practices;
To continually improve its performance in the aspect of environmental protection through
trainings conducted to its staff and subcontractors, and thus enhances their awareness and
competence.
Today, air conditioners are more efficient than they’ve ever been before. Variable speed settings
allow an air conditioner to work at a lower speed while keeping more precise temperatures. And
in general, the technology used in manufacturing allows properly-sized air conditioners to cool a
home faster while using less energy. The higher the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), the
more you save! Look for a SEER rating of 15 or higher for the most efficient systems.
2.UV LIGHTS
A UV light system is a system that can keep your air a whole lot healthier. Some of the biggest
threats to your air quality are viruses, bacteria, and other germs, tiny microorganisms that can
make you sick when they are airborne. A UV light system can be installed within the ductwork to
kill and sterilize these airborne contaminants so they no longer affect your air quality.
FIG: Air handling unit with UV lamps irradiating both upstream and downstream sides of the
cooling coil.
3.SMART THERMOSTATS
A smart thermostat, or Wi-Fi thermostat, can help you cool your home in a smarter way. You can
set a schedule for home cooling that helps to reduce monthly costs, and it can even automatically
learn and adjust to your daily habits.Most importantly, a smart thermostat can be operated from
4.DUCTLESS SYSTEMS
Many homes are without functional air ducts. In the past, this has meant that homeowners had to
use window air units and portable air conditioners for cooling. But today, you can go ductless!
A ductless system has indoor air handlers located high up on walls of different rooms throughout
the home. Think of these like the vents of a conventional air conditioner/furnace—except that
they also contain a blower, coil, and some other vital components. Each unit connects to an
outdoor condenser/compressor unit, and are able to cool and heat the room!
To heat your home, the underground system circulates water, which moves to a heat pump to
heat the air moving throughout your home. In summer, a heat pump absorbs heat from your
home and deposits it into the earth. This is a smart, long-lasting, and highly efficient way to stay
warm and cool throughout the year!
6.SUSTAINABLE RETROFITS
Fig: HVAC technician installing CATALYST on an older rooftop unit; via Cooper Oates Air
Conditioning
Replacing old HVAC equipment can be expensive and time consuming but leaving clunky (solid,
heavy, and old-fashioned.), outdated technology in place can also be costly and wasteful. That is
why Transformative Wave has developed a new generation of sustainable retrofit technology. The
system, known as CATALYST, installs directly into existing rooftop units, endowing them with the
latest sustainable features — economizers, variable fan speeds, demand-response ventilation,
smart controls and automated capabilities. — leading to a 25% to 50% reduction in energy use.
7.RECYCLABLE DUCTWORK
Not all sustainable solutions involve high-tech gadgets and Wi-Fi connections. GatorDuct is a
simple cardboard product — treated with a fire-resistant and waterproof coating — that takes the
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place of ordinary HVAC ductwork. These triple-walled cardboard ducts are stronger, lighter,
cheaper and require 20% less insulation than their sheet metal counterparts. The kraft paper
surface also allows the ductwork to be custom printed with decorative patterns and company
logos. Best of all, GatorDucts are produced from sustainably managed forests and are 100%
recyclable.
8.DIGITAL CEILINGS
The digital ceiling is the future of building automation. These ceilings are equipped with a variety
of sensors — detecting motion, occupancy levels, temperature, carbon dioxide levels and more —
that converge the building’s lighting, security and HVAC systems into a single, easy to manage
network. These adaptive sensors learn the daily habits of building occupants and automatically
adjust air and light settings accordingly; maximizing comfort while minimizing energy waste.
Fig: NREL engineers with the DeVAP prototype. Photo by Dennis Schroeder; via NREL
The Desiccant-Enhanced Evaporative Air Conditioner, or DEVap for short, is a new technology that
has the potential to revolutionize the HVAC industry. The device combines the cooling power of
evaporation with the dehumidifying power of liquefied desiccants — the salt-like substance found
in “Do Not Eat” packets — to create an air conditioner that creates cold, dry air at a fraction of the
cost. Although not yet commercially available, the prototypes have demonstrated an astounding
90% reduction in energy use compared to traditional air conditioners.
Typically, when the hot sun is beating down on a building, it is not reducing the air conditioning
bill, but that is exactly what Chromasun’s Micro-Concentrator makes possible. These compact,
rooftop panels contain special mirrored lenses, which automatically follow the sun’s path,
concentrating and capturing solar energy. That energy is then utilized by the building’s HVAC
system, converting peak sun loads into efficient air conditioning
“Pilots radio ahead when they have a problem. If they detect a problem with an oil pump in an
engine on a flight from London to Chicago, they can radio ahead and say ‘I need my oil pump
replaced when we land,’ and they can change the parts rapidly and put the plane back into service
without missing the next flight,” explains Smith. “They have expensive assets and a high cost of
failure. Now we can take advantage of that same technology and apply it to assets like elevators
and escalators.”
So far, IoT implementation for vertical transportation has revealed two key customer camps,
according to Jeremy Rainwater, senior vice president of existing installation and modernization for
Schindler: people who prize the benefits of improved performance, transparency and new
insights, and those who are more focused on cost savings. Today’s IoT-enabled elevators deliver
these 10 benefits and more.
Load weighing
Number of trips
Wait times
Traffic trends
guiding members)
The biggest immediate time-saver that IoT data fuels is improving your preventive maintenance
schedule and switching to more of a predictive maintenance model. The devices can monitor
changes in operating conditions, like heat, friction or noise, and use the changes to predict when
the elevator needs maintenance.
(Photo: Technician fix the lift or elevator in railway station of skytrain. Credit: SB7)
“If certain conditions are left unattended, they could result in equipment failure, and in turn cause
an unplanned disruption in a building,” explains Daniel Elez, senior vice president of service
business for KONE Americas. “IoT is allowing maintenance to become predictive and proactive vs.
reactive.”
Keeping track of wear and tear is another useful way to predict when and where maintenance will
soon become necessary, adds Smith. That could include door open-close cycles, how long the door
takes to close and how much power it draws to do so, how many times the elevator has to relevel,
acceleration speeds and even the physical distance the elevator has traveled. “We’re keeping
track of door cycles on a per floor basis so that we know which floors have the most use of the
doors. No matter what brand, the doors on elevators are the most problematic device because
they’re mechanical and they take a lot of abuse,” Smith explains.
BUILDINGS Checklist
Preventative Maintenance
Use this checklist to keep major building systems—HVAC, roofing, plumbing and lighting—in good
working order.
The technician can receive a complete diagnosis with corroborating information and suggested
actions ahead of time so that when they reach your building, they can spend all of their time
actually fixing the problem, Elez says.
“Without IoT, if it’s noticed that an elevator is out of service, a maintenance company would be
contacted to request a service call,” says Slater. “The elevator maintenance company would need
to dispatch a mechanic to visit the unit and hopefully diagnose the issue correctly. They may have
to order parts and have a return visit to perform the repair. If the diagnosis was incorrect, they
would have to start over again. With IoT, the elevator maintenance company knows immediately
and probably before the building does that the elevator is out of service.”
5) Behavioral Insights
Future elevator IoT devices should be able to gather data on the behavior of users and use that to
inform the unit’s behavior, Elez notes: “For example, instead of an unexpected influx of lobby
visitors, data can help inform systems when trains arrive nearby or large meetings or conferences
are ending, all to be prepared for lots of people arriving or departing a building.”
6) Avoided Downtime
There’s significant value in not having to drop everything to deal with an unexpected elevator or
escalator breakdown. Downtime for your vertical transportation should be rare, planned and
during off-peak hours.“Failure prediction is a big goal,” Smith says. “We want elevators to be
running a higher percentage of the time, but we also want to have planned downtime. You can’t
have 100 percent uptime because you’ll have to take it out of service to provide maintenance, so
we want to make sure that the right amount of maintenance is being provided.”