6 AIR CONDITIONING DAsasens a T H ' AIR CONDITIONING ~ PRINCIPLES CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM AIR PROCESSING UNIT HUMIDIFIERS, VARIABLE AIR VOLUME INDUCTION {AIR/WATER} SYSTEM FAN-COIL {AIR/WATER) UNIT AND INDUCTION DIFFUSER, DUAL DUCT SYSTEM CHILLED BEAMS AND CEILINGS COOLING SYSTEMS REFRIGERATION AND SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS PACKAGED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS PSYCHROMETRICS - PROCESSES AND APPLICATIONS HEAT PUMPS HEAT RECOVERY DEVICES HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS BUILDING RELATED ILLNESSES 191Air Conditioning — Principles Air conditioning is achieved by developing the principles of moving air in ducted ventilation systems to include @ number of physical and scientific processes which enhance the air quality. The objective is to provide and maintain internal air conditions at a pre-determined state, regardless of the time of year, the season and the external atmospheric environment. For buildings with human occupancy, the design specification is likely to include an internal air temperature of 19-23°C and relative humidity between 40 and 60%. The following is a glossary of some of the terminology used in air conditioning design Dew point - temperature at which the air is saturated (1007 RH} ‘and further cooling manifests in condensation from water in the air. Dry bulb temperature - temperature shown by a dry sensing element such as mercury in a glass tube thermometer (°C db) Enthalpy - total heat energy. ie. sensible heat + latent heat. Specific enthalpy (kJ/kg dry air) Entropy - measure of total heat energy in a refrigerant for every degree of temperature (kJ/kg°C Latent heat - heat energy added or removed as a substance changes state. whilst temperature remains constant. ¢.g. water changing to steam at 100°C and atmospheric pressure (W}. Moisture content - amount of moisture present in a unit mass of air ikg/kg dry air} Percentage saturation - ratio of the amount of moisture in the air compared with the moisture content of saturated air at the same dry bulb temperature. Almost the same as RH and often used in place of it Relative humigity [RH) - ratio of water contained in air at a given dry bulb temperature, as a percentage of the maximum amount of water that could be held in air at that temperature. Saturated air ~ air at 100% RH. Sensible heat - heat energy which causes the temperature of a substance to change without changing its state (W}. Specitic volume - quantity of air per unit mass (m*/kq) Wet bulb temperature ~ depressed temperature measured on mercury in a glass thermometer with the sensing bulb kept wet by saturated mustin (°C wb}. 192Central Plant System This system is used where the air condition can be the same throughout the various parts of a building. It is also known as an ll air system and may be categorised as low velocity for use in buildings with large open spaces. e.g. supermarkets, theatres. factories. assembly halls, etc. A variation could incerporate a heating and cooling element in sub-branch ductwork to smaller rooms such as offices. Very large and high rise buildings will require a high velocity and high pressure to overcome the resistances to air flow in long lengths of ductwork. Noise {rom the air velocity and pressure can be reduced just before the point of discharge. by incorporating fan acoustic plenum chamber with ow velocity sub-ducts conveying air to room diffusers. High victy, Supplementary high pressu ai sttorutort Supp dct required \ i \ | \ | C Hy i 7 I i Low vlociy, Lined plenum cw pres ‘rambor to reduce branch auch ‘oecy and pressure ‘condoned Distrnton plenum eace Recruiting uct and tan ise eniog shoe chamber tee * Air processing unit and schematic distribution of at >> Oleg yet of ort plat ony ayatn 193Air Processing Unit Operation of the main air processing of air handling unit: © Fresh air enters through a louvred inlet and mixes with the recirculated air. Maximum 75% recirculated to minimum 25% fresh air. | The air is filtered to remove any suspended dust and dirt particles In winter the air is pre-heated before passing through a humidifier. A spray wash humidifier may be used to cool the air up to dew point temperature. if a steam humidifier is used the air will gain Slightly in temperature. © In summer the air can be cooled by a chilled water coil or a direct, expansion coil, The latter is the evaporator coil in a refrigeration cycle. Condensation of the air will begin, until at saturation level the air dehumidities and reduces in temperature. Spray washing will also dehumidity the air © Air washers have zig-zag eliminator plates which remove drops of water and any dirt that may have escaped the filter © The final heater or reheater is used to adjust the supply air temperature and relative humidity before delivery through a system of insulated ductwork. i lll a= suns si Ee rie Se ‘iasher(2}| Overtow an dain pve Section of main nit forthe canta plant system Notes: (1) Pre-heater coil may be used with chilled water as a cooler in the summer months, but two separate coils are usually fitted. (2) Steam humidifiers are the preferred replacement for spray wash humidifiers. The high temperature steam kills any bacteria. 194Humidifiers Depending on the state of the air on entering a spray washer. it can be humidities or dehumidified. Humidification in the presence of moisture is understandable. but dehumidification is less easy to comprehend. It occurs when the spray is at a lower temperature than the air and the dewpoint of the air. in this condition the vapour pressure of the spray will be less than that of moisture in the air and some moisture from the air will transfer into the spray water. Hence. dehumiditication Washers also remove some of the suspended dirt. Spray water pressure is usually between 200 and 300 kPa. Air velocity through the washer is between 2 and 25 m/s. Spray washers must be cleaned periodically and treated to neutralise any bacteria which could be living in the water. Water quality must also be monitored and findings documented. With numerous outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease originating from air conditioning systems, the Health and Safety Executive have identified these spray washers as a possible health risk Contemporary air processing units may incorporate steam injection humidifiers, but unlike washers, these should not be located immediately after the cooler coil. Here. the air will be close to saturation or even saturated (100% RH) and unable te accept further moisture. Therefore dry saturated steam at over 200°C is better injected into the air close to its final discharge, Fre “ water Seryboere Spray moze Esminato pater — : > overtow ripe rah pipe Ends of plates extended Water et pipe Pian of eliminator plates Enlarged section of spray unt 195Variable Air Volume (VAV) The VAV system has a central air processing unit to produce air at a specified temperature and relative humidity. The conditioned air trom the main unit is conveyed in ductwork to ceiling diffusers which incorporate thermostatically controlled actuators. These can change the air volume to suit each room lead. in a large room. several of these VAV ceiling units may be controlled by one room thermostat. Several rooms/zones may have separate thermostats to control the air flow to each room. The inlet fan may have variable pitched impellers operated by compressed air. A pressure switch controls the pitch angle. Air distribution is usually medium to high velocity. The air temperature in each zone can be varied with the heat energy in the delivery air volume, but the system is only suitable for buildings having @ fairly evenly distributed cooling load. recresntgeuet TP) cane Layout of apical variable ar volume system Sealaeingvea S\— Pate peso hemes Section tough plenum ating 196Induction (Air/Water) System Perimeter induction units - usually located under windows - blend primary air from the air processing unit with secondary air trom within the room. The high velocity processed air delivery is induced into the unit through restrictive nozzles. This creates @ negative pressure in its wake, drawing in the room secondary air for mixing and discharge. A damper regulates the volume of room air passing through @ thermostatically controlled heating coil These coils may be used with chilled water as cooling coils in the summer months. If heating only is used. the system is known as the ‘two-pipe induction system’ With the additional two pipes for cooling water, the system is known as the “four-pipe change over induction system’ The latter system gives excellent control of the air temperature in various zones but is very capital intensive. therefore expensive to install Recteustng dct Damen, eS aa Ao —s rye at nt ee ue at PAM ee Pk tet Inguction nozies Layout of typical nduston system Primary condtones_“SYOUt 9 eles nducton syste Heaing co | ames Fixes pate Secondary aint Sandeman vay ‘Section through an induction room unit 197Fan-coil (Air/Water) Unit and Induction Diffuser Fan-coil unit - an alternative discharge unit for application to the induction system shown fon the previous page. Instead of nozzle injection of air, a low powered fan is used to disperse a mixture of primary and secondary air after reheating or cooling from an energy exchanger within the unit. | irc | __—cerserse pan Section rough afan-ai oom unt Induction diffuser - another alternative which also uses a blend of recirculated room air with primary air. These locate at the end of branch ductwork and combine a diffuser with a simple primary and secondary air mixing chamber. The high velocity primary air mixes with low velocity secondary air drawn into @ plenum ceiling trom the room below. Light fitting extract grilles may be used to some advantage in this situation Low velocity pion reheater/cooler sotangary ar ze _/ \ 7 LAr \ tS \ omens ttt Roome —calng Seay/ pte Section through an induction aftuser unit 198Dual Duct System The dual duct system is another means of providing varying air temperatures to different rooms in the same building. There is no water circulation to peripheral discharge units with terminal reheaters or coolers. This simplifies the plumbing installation as heating and cooling elements for each duct are located in the plant room. However. the system is space consuming and adequate provision must be made in suspended ceilings or raised flooring to accommodate both distribution ducts. The system is most energy economic when heating and cooling elements operate individually. For some of the year this will not be practical and simultaneous delivery of cold and hot air is provided for blending at the point of discharge Delivery is at high velocity with hot and cold air regulated by a damper connected to a room thermostat. A control plate in the mixing unit maintains constant air volume. As with all systems of air conditioning. fire dampers are required where the ductwork passes through compartment walls and floors. Section through mixing unt Layout fa ypical dua ue ystm 199Chilled Beams and Ceilings Chilled beams are usually formed as a bank of finned tubing. arranged in a square or rectangular profile. The tubing conveys chilled water and when encased and secured to the underside of a structural floor. the unit resembles a beam. An outer casing of sheet metal can be used to enclose the coiled pipes and this may be perforated to encourage convection through the bank of finned tubing. A passive cooling effect is by natural convection. but active cooling can be achieved by using a fan driven primary air supply. To conceal the installation, the underside of the box may be finished flush with a perforated suspended ceiling a Satur repute Che watersibes Chiles celings were orginally devised with chiles water pipes tmbedded witin tne ndersige of @ concrete Noor sig Ye nominal inreove ta slab depth usihed by no visual htasion of pipework Ths form of rasiont cooing har the dnasvantage of creating © high thermal mats ithe concrete slab, which slow to respond to thermostatic control These inatliatons can sto prodice“ndsor rain or condensation on the radon underside of the slab. To prevent the cling running wet. a auspendedvarition preterrd With the option of on auslary or tan sven primary a ply through perforations nthe cling These pererations wil sa inccobe the convective elec parame : a | ‘0 o-——+'g-9 "9-9 0-000 | “Th res 200Cooling Systems - Refrigeration Refrigeration systems are used to: * Cool water for circulation through chiller coils. Brine may be used as a more efficient alternative to water. © Directly chill air by suspending the cold evaporator coil in the air stream. When used in this way. the energy exchanger is known as a direct expansion (DX) coil The system most suited to air conditioning is the vapour compression cycle. It is a sealed pipe system containing refrigerant. compressor, condenser coil, expansion valve and evaporator coil. Le. all the basic components of a domestic fridge. Refrigerants are very volatile and boil at extremely low temperatures of -30 to -40°C. They are also capable of contributing to depletion of the ozone layer when released into the atmosphere. Dichlorodifluoromethane (R12), known as CFC, is used in many existing systems, but banned for new products. Monochlorodifiuoromethane (R22). known as HCFC. is less ozone depleting, It is still used, whilst manufacturers research more environmentally friendly alternatives. The refrigeration compression and evaporation cycle effects a change of temperature and state in the refrigerant. from liquid to gas and vice versa. Saturation pressure and temperature increase to emit heat at the condenser as heat energy is absorbed by the evaporator. As the liquid refrigerant changes to a gas through the expansion valve, it absorbs considerably more heat than during simple temperature change. This is known as the latent heat of voporisation, High pressure compyessor ho vepour Low pressure 7 0 Vapour Condenser YH) apr a tol aor -(OXin ducted 7 > ‘Vapour compression qin water cooled) Ci yc (600 use asa heat sme D pumpseeoe a)" TTTTT hog water q HEHID reat) I. condensation —" * i ‘tray (DX only) Hh prosore 00 qld Brperabnvaive Low prssur gis ‘and vapour 201