AIR CONDATIONING

At the end of this topic the trainee should be able to:

 Describe types of air conditioning systems
 Explain the operation of air conditioning systems

i. Air conditioning systems ( Split,window,central,packaged)

ii. Operation of air conditioning systems
iii. Components of air conditioning

INTRODUCTION TO AIR CONDATIONING

Air conditioning may be defined as simultaneous control of temperature, humidity,

motion, and purity of air within an enclosed space.

It involves various processes such as:-

1. Cooling or heating air
2. Addition of moisture in the air (Humidification) or removal of moisture from
the air (Dehumidification)
3. Controlling movement of air
4. Purification of air
5. Addition of fresh air from outside
6. Distribution of air
PRINCIPLE OF AIR CONDITIONING
In the air conditioning system, the device or unit provides air conditioning is called
an air conditioner. This device continuously draws air from an indoor space which
is required to be cool, it cools in the refrigeration system and discharges back into
the same indoor space. This continuous cyclic process of drawing, cooling, and
recirculation of the cooled air maintains indoor space cool at the required lower
temperature which is required for comfort cooling.

Components of the air conditioning system

The basic components of the air conditioning system are,
1. Fans: For circulation of air
2. Filters: For cleaning air
3. Heating element: Heating of air (It may be an electric heater, steam, hot water)
4. Control system: It regulates automatically the amount of cooling or heating.
5. Grille: It adjusts the direction of conditioned air to the room.
6. Tray: It collects condensed water

Classification of Air conditioning system / Types Of Air Conditioning

System:
1. According to the arrangement of equipment

a. Unitary Air Conditioning System

In this system different component of air conditioning system is manufactured and

assembled as a unit in a factory. This unit is installed in or near to space to be
conditioned.
Example: Window air conditioner and Split air conditioner

b. Central Air Conditioning System

In this system different components are manufactured in a factory and assembled

at the site. This type of system is used for conditioning of air in theatres, cinemas,
restaurants, exhibition halls, big factory space, etc.

In the central air conditioning system all the components are group together in one
central room and conditioned air then distributed from the central room to the
required places through the extension duct system. The main components of the
central system are compressor with motor drive, condenser with cooling coil,
throttling devices. This system used large capacity units. (above 25 tons).
The central air conditioning either direct or indirect type.

2. According to the purpose

a. Comfort air conditioning system

b. Industrial air conditioning system

3. According to the season of the year

a. Winter air conditioning system

b. Summer air conditioning system
c.Year-Round Air Conditioning System
4. According to Working substance used in the system:

a. All Air system.

b. Chilled water system
c. Air-water system

Window air conditioner

The window air conditioner mainly used for conditioning of air in the room.
Commonly it is mounted in a window, hence it is known as a window air
conditioner.

The window air conditioner unit consists of the following components as shown in
fig

Refrigeration unit
Evaporator/cooling coil, condenser, compressor, expansion device Air circulation
fan
 windows air conditioning diagram
Working

I) The hot air coming from room is flowing on the evaporator (cooling
coil), the cooling coil absorbs heat from the hot air.
II) The moisture of air gets removed on the cooling coil surface by the
process of condensation of air.
III) Thus the air is cooled and dehumidified to meet the requirement of
comfort air conditioning in the room.
IV) The filter cleans the air coming from the room before passes through the
cooling coil.
V) The tray is provided below the cooling coil (evaporator) to collect
moisture which condenses from the recirculation of air.

NB The flow of hot air (from the room) and cooled air (to room) is taking
place by the evaporator blower.

VI) The refrigerating unit provides a cooling effect at the evaporator.

 VII) The condenser fan circulates air on the outside of condenser tubes, the
refrigerant in condenser rejects heat to outside atmospheric air. Necessary
fresh air is allowed to mix with the recalculated room air to meet the
ventilation requirement.
VIII) Ventilation air is controlled by ventilation damper. The room -
temperature is controlled by a thermostat using an on-off power supply to
the compressor motor.

Limitations

 It produces noise in the room because of the compressor is very near to

the room.
 The evaporator and condenser are enclosed in a single unit. Therefore
evaporator cannot be used as an interior of room because condenser
requires outside air for cooling.
 It requires an appropriate size of window or hole in the wall to fit the
conditioner.

Split air conditioner

It is a modification of the window air conditioner.

Construction

This unit differs from the window air conditioner. In terms of splits of the unit into
two parts. In the split air conditioner, the window air conditioner divided (split)
into two parts.

First part: Includes the evaporator, filter, evaporator fan, and grille (cooling coil).
They placed inside the room.

Second part: Includes condenser, condenser fan, and compressor. This placed
outside the room.

The first part (inside of the room) and the second part (outside of the room) are
connected by small diameter tubes. Therefore, a small hole required in the wall for
the installation of a split air conditioner.
 split air conditioner diagram
The advantages of a split air conditioner over a window air conditioner

 The compressor is outside of the room, therefore no compressor noise in

the room.
 No window opening and fixing needed.
 The compressor is outside of the room, therefore no compressor noise in
the room.

Types of Air Conditioners

The different types of air conditioning systems are listed below:

1) Central Air Conditioner

The most popular kind of cooling system is central air conditioning. Due to its
effective cooling, it is most frequently used in larger homes. Cool air is circulated
by the air conditioning system through supply and return ducts.

Supply ducts and registers that are located on the walls or floors provide the air
that enters the home. When the air has warmed up, it returns to the supply registers
and ducts where it is transferred back to the air conditioner.
2) Window Air Conditioner

A window air conditioner is a small system that works well for cooling a single
room. The system is installed in a window and is also referred to as a unitary unit.

When the air conditioning system is in operation, warm air is blown out the back
while cool air is blown out the front. It’s ideal for people who live in small
rooms but isn’t ideal for larger homes because it doesn’t effectively cool in those
conditions.
3) Packaged Air Conditioners
The window and split air conditioners are usually used for the small air
conditioning capacities up to 5 tons. The central air conditioning systems are used
for where the cooling loads extend beyond 20 tons. The packaged air conditioners
are used for the cooling capacities in between these two extremes. The packaged
air conditioners are available in the fixed rated capacities of 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 tons.
These units are used commonly in places like restaurants, telephone exchanges,
homes, small halls, etc.

As the name implies, in the packaged air conditioners all the important components
of the air conditioners are enclosed in a single casing like window AC. Thus the
compressor, cooling coil, air handling unit and the air filter are all housed in a
single casing and assembled at the factory location.

Depending on the type of the cooling system used in these systems, the packaged
air conditioners are divided into two types: ones with water cooled condenser and
the ones with air cooled condensers. Both these systems have been described
below:

Packaged Air Conditioners with Water Cooled Condenser

In these packaged air conditions the condenser is cooled by the water. The
condenser is of shell and tube type, with refrigerant flowing along the tube side and
the cooling water flowing along the shell side. The water has to be supplied
continuously in these systems to maintain functioning of the air conditioning
system.

The shell and tube type of condenser is compact in shape and it is enclosed in a
single casing along with the compressor, expansion valve, and the air handling unit
including the cooling coil or the evaporator. This whole packaged air conditioning
unit externally looks like a box with the control panel located externally.

In the packaged units with the water cooled condenser, the compressor is located at
the bottom along with the condenser (refer the figure below). Above these
components the evaporator or the cooling coil is located. The air handling unit
comprising of the centrifugal blower and the air filter is located above the
cooling coil. The centrifugal blower has the capacity to handle large volume of
air required for cooling a number of rooms. From the top of the package air
 conditioners the duct comes out that extends to the various rooms that are to be
cooled.
All the components of this package AC are assembled at the factory site. The gas
charging is also done at the factory thus one does not have to perform the
complicated operations of the laying the piping, evacuation, gas charging, and leak
testing at the site. The unit can be transported very easily to the site and is installed
easily on the plane surface. Since all the components are assembled at the factory,
the high quality of the packaged unit is ensured.

Package AC with Water Cooled Condenser

Packaged Air Conditioners with Air Cooled Condensers
In this packaged air conditioners the condenser of the refrigeration system is
cooled by the atmospheric air. There is an outdoor unit that comprises of the
important components like the compressor, condenser and in some cases the
expansion valve (refer the figure below). The outdoor unit can be kept on the
terrace or any other open place where the free flow of the atmospheric air is
available. The fan located inside this unit sucks the outside air and blows it over
the condenser coil cooling it in the process. The condenser coil is made up of
several turns of the copper tubing and it is finned externally. The packaged ACs
with the air cooled condensers are used more commonly than the ones with water
cooled condensers since air is freely available it is difficult maintain continuous
flow of the water.

The cooling unit comprising of the expansion valve, evaporator, the air handling
blower and the filter are located on the floor or hanged to the ceiling. The ducts
coming from the cooling unit are connected to the various rooms that are to be
cooled.

Package Air Conditioner Air Cooled Condenser

Types of Air Conditioners
There are various types of air conditioners like window air conditioner, split air
conditioner, packaged air conditioner and central air conditioning system. This
series of articles describes all types of air conditioners.

1. Types of Air Conditioning Systems

2. Window Air Conditioning System
3. Split Air Conditioner System
4. Central Air Conditioning Plants
5. Packaged Air Conditioners - Types of Packaged AC

Components of Air Conditioner System

The parts of the commercial air conditioner are explained below:

#1 Compressor

The compressor is the system’s engine because it works with a fluid that easily
converts gas to liquid. The compressor converts low-pressure gas into high-
pressure, which commonly has a high temperature.

In order for it to function, a produced energized gas reduces the gap regions
between molecules. The compressor releases this energized gas, also referred to as
a refrigerant, which then enters the condenser.

#2 Condenser

The outdoor component of a heat pump or air conditioner is called a condenser,

and depending on the season, it either releases or absorbs heat. Condensers for heat
pumps and split air conditioners share the same fundamental components.

#3 Condenser Coil

As the high-pressure gas is converted into a liquid, the condenser coil contains a
fan that cools the gas and converts it into a liquid form. The obtained liquid is
utilized by the evaporator to perform the work. You’ll find the compressor and
condenser outside of the home.
#4 Thermostat

The thermostat controls the heat energy inside and outside of an air conditioning
system while maintaining the temperature of the system. A thermostat’s setting
options include manual and automatic, depending on the design.

#5 Evaporator

Evaporators are part of the HVAC system that is located inside the home close to
the boiler or furnace. They are linked to the condenser by a very thin pipe.

In the air conditioner, the high-pressure gas is changed into a low-pressure liquid.
Due to the pressure drop, the liquid then turns into a gas. It is the fluid or
refrigerant that cools and removes heat from the system.

The evaporator condenses the fluid into a gas, which is then compressed by the
compressor. Everything happens in a cyclical way.

#6 Air Handler and Blowing Unit

These parts of the air conditioner work together to circulate cool air throughout the
room and draw air to the evaporator. A duct system allows air to flow freely
throughout the room.

#7 Fan

The indoor air handler of an AC unit is connected to the fan. The warm air in your
house will be returned to the condenser by the fan. The recirculated air will return
to the air handler, where it will be transformed into cool air and distributed
throughout your duct and vent system all over your home.

#8 Filter

The heating and cooling system in your home uses HVAC filters, which have a
crucial job to do. It removes tiny particles from the air that you and your family
breathe, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and other impurities. In order to keep
them from being circulated again throughout your home, these particles are
captured in the filter.
Below is a detailed diagram of an air conditioning system:

Working of Air Conditioner

Now that you have a basic understanding of an air conditioner’s parts. So let’s dive
a little deeper and explain how the entire process functions.

The thermostat monitors and regulates the indoor air temperature and is typically
mounted on a wall in the middle of the house. As soon as the thermostat detects
that the air temperature needs to be lowered, it signals the air conditioning
system components both inside and outside the home to begin working.
The fan on the indoor unit pulls hot air through return air ducts from the home.
This air travels through filters that collect dust, lint, and other airborne particles.
The heated indoor air that has been filtered then travels over a cold evaporator coil.

By absorbing heat from the indoor air and converting it to gas, the liquid
refrigerant inside the evaporator coil cools the air passing over it. The blower fan
of the indoor unit then circulates the cooled air back through the ductwork of the
house and into the different living spaces.

Through a copper tube, the refrigerant gas leaves the house and enters the
compressor of the outdoor air conditioner. Consider the compressor to be a large
electric pump. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant gas before delivering it
to the condenser coil of the outdoor unit.

The condenser coil has the ability to absorb and release heat from the house thanks
to a large fan that forces outside air through it. The refrigerant is changed back into
a liquid during this process. After that, it returns to the indoor unit via a copper
tube and passes through an expansion device to control the flow of refrigerant into
the evaporator coil.

As the refrigerant cools, more heat is absorbed from the air, and the cycle repeats.

Functions of Air Conditioning System

The following are some of the primary purposes of an air conditioning system in a
modern home:

1. The primary function of air conditioning is to provide a pleasant

climate for humans.
2. To lower the temperature of electrical devices, a unique type of
conditioning system is used.
3. It regulates a room’s humidity since 30 to 65% is allowed and the
temperature should be between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius.
4. The air conditioning system affects the room air to keep people
comfortable while not interfering with their productivity.
5. Temperature, pressure, and humidity all affect the air’s quality. The
air pressure does not change.
6. An air conditioning system may be used for heating,
dehumidification, cooling, and humidification.
 PSYCHOMETRY

At the end of this topic the trainee should be able to:

 Define psychrometry
 Explain terms used in psychrometry
 Explain psychrometric process
 Use psychrometric chart to solve problems

 Definition of psychrometryn Terminologies in psychrometry

 Psychrometric processes
 Use of psychrometric

1.1 FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF HUMID AIR (PSYCHROMETRY)

Air is the working fluid of air conditioning systems. Before it is supplied to the
indoor spaces of a building, the air is conditioned by passing it through the
various system components, i.e heaters, coolers, humidifiers etc.
The study of the properties of humid air is called psychrometry.
9 DEW POINT TEMPERATURE
If air is cooled at constant moisture content, the temperature will eventually reach
the SVP curve and at this point condensation of the water vapour will begin to
take place. This temperature is known as the dew point temperature (DPT).
Dew point temperature may also be defined as the temperature of saturated air
which has the same vapour pressure as the moist air under consideration.
DRY – BULB TEMPERATURE
The dry bulb temperature is the temperature indicated by a dry thermometer
shielded from radiation

WET BULB TEMPERATURE

The wet bulb temperature is the temperature indicated by a thermometer whose
bulb is covered by a muslin (wick) which is kept moist with water, is freely
exposed to the air and is free from radiation. The reading obtained is affected
by the air movement and for this reason there are two wet bulb temperatures –
sling and screen.

(a) The sling wet bulb temperature (t') is obtained in a moving air stream,
which has a velocity of about 2m/s:
(b) The screen wet bulb temperature (tsc ) is taken in still air.

Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature that can be reached by the
evaporation of water only. It is the temperature you feel when your skin is
wet and is exposed to moving air. Unlike dy bulb temperature, wet bulb
temperature is an indication of the amount of moisture in the air.
The numerical difference between DBT and WBT is known as wet – bulb
depression.
 The wet bulb temperature can also be
measured by placing the wet wicked
thermometer in a holder attached to a handle
and rotating rapidly, i.e. by moving the
thermometer instead of the air. A device that
works on this principle is called a sling
psychrometer (shown). Usually a dry bulb
thermometer is also mounted on the frame of
this device so that both the wet and dry bulb
temperatures can be read simoulteneously.

PSYCHROMETRIC TABLES
Properties of humid air are published in tables which for a given dry-bulb
temperature and atmospheric pressure, usually 1013.25 mbar, list property
values. (see sample).
The specific enthalpy, the moisture content and the specific volume are given per
kg of dry air.
At 100% saturation the relative humidity is also 100% and all the temperatures are
equal. The vapour pressure at this condition is the saturated saturated vapour
pressure.
1.15 THE PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
The psychrometric tables are useful in accurately determining the properties of
humid air at a given statepoint but provide little information on how the
properties change during a process. This information is provided by the
psychrometric chart which is a graphical representation of the important
properties of humid air. The chart provides a picture of the way in which the
state of moist air alters as an air conditioning process takes place.
Any state point on the chart can be fixed by any two of the following properties:

Dry bulb temperature, t ( o C )

Wet – bulb temoerature, t ' ( o C )

Moisture content, g (kg of water vapour per kg of dry air)

Specific volume v (m3/kg of dry air)

Percentage saturation (% sat)

Specific enthalpy h (kJ/kg dry air).

Constant property lines: psychrometric chart

Percentage saturation: is indicated by curves for each 10%. The lines for
percentage saturation can be used for percentage humidity without significant
error.
Wet-bulb temperature : is represented by sloping lines for each 1oC.
Specific enthalpy – can be obtained by drawing a line through the required point
to join corresponding enthalpy marks on the scales above the saturation line
and those at the bottom or the left hand side of the chart.
Dew point temperature:

Can be obtained by drawing a horizontal line through the required point to cut the
saturation line. The dew point temperature can be read by projecting a vertical
line from the intersection onto the dry-bulb temperature scale.
Specific volume: is represented by sloping lines for each 0.01 m3/kg of dry air
Basic Psychrometric Processes
Psychrometric processes are used in various air heating and cooling devices,
including air humidifying devices. These psychrometric processes are studied by
utilizing a psychrometric chart.
The psychrometric processes are performed in the air to change their psychometric
properties. It is used widely for air conditioning and cooling and heating purposes.
Now the question arises what are these psychrometric properties? The process is
called psychrometric because it is used to obtain some very essential attributes of a
scientific term.
Some psychrometric properties done in air are: humidification of air and also
dehumidification, mixing of different streams of air, heating, and cooling of the air,
sensible heat removal, mixing of two different streams flowing, dry bulb
temperature and wet bulb temperature, and many more.
To understand the psychometric properties a psychrometric chart is used which
makes it easy to understand. We’ll discuss those soon. Till then let us understand
first some of the basic psychrometric processes so that we could know what these
are.

Cooling of Air

It is generally called sensible cooling of air and is widely used in refrigerators, air
conditioners, coolers, and other cooling devices. This is the process where the hot
gases are removed from the room or container only to decrease the temperature.
And there is no change in the moisture of the air inside. Overall if we see there is
only a change in enthalpy of the air, obviously a decrease in enthalpy.
In a water cooler, if we see it, it also removes heat but it does not comes
undercooling of water. Instead the psychrometric process of an air cooler is said to
be sensible heat removal of air. What happens here is that there is high energy
unstable water falling from sides of the water cooler and also there is stable low
energy air which removes the energy of water. How this happens is that when air
loses its kinetic energy its speed reduces and captures water. I want to remove
water from its surface so it evaporates water and it uses its sensible heat to
evaporate it and reach its maximum WBT (wet bulb temperature). It provides its
latent heat to water reaching its maximum WBT and comes out of the fan. This
process goes on continuously by which an air cooler provides us with cold air in
summer. And since air removes from its molecule it is known as sensible heat
removal.

Heating of Air

The sensible heating of air is another psychrometric process done in the air, here
the temperature of the air is raised by using an electric heating coil or by using a
hot refrigerant. And by keeping the moisture of the air the same. While this process
continues the DB (dry bulb) and WB (wet bulb) of the air is rose. Whereas the DP
point is kept constant.
This phenomenon is used in air heaters or comfort air conditioners. For industrial
purposes in various industries.
In the psychrometric chart, for sensible cooling the DB temperature decreases
(goes right to left) whereas in sensible heating it’s the opposite. DB value increases
(goes left to right). After studying how to read the psychrometric chart you could
refer to the link mentioned above and understand the sensible cooling too.

Humidification and Dehumidification of air

This process is the addition or removal of moisture in the air without altering the
temperature or DB(dry bulb) value of air. The humidity level in the chart is divided
into two forms, relative humidity, and specific humidity. While increasing
moisture, the relative humidity level increases from 1 to 2, and the specific
humidity level increases from W1 to W2. While in the removal of humidity the
scenario is the complete opposite. Both the values decrease.
In the psychrometric chart, the relative humidity lines are represented by curves.

Conclusion

To sum up, psychrometric processes are the processes performed in mechanical

devices for changes in the property of air. Using a psychrometric chart it becomes
very easy to understand these psychrometric processes which are done by
experimenting with the thermometer bulb in dry and wet conditions using various
kinds of air with various properties.