Choosing an HVAC System 223

TYPES OF HVAC SYSTEMS

The basic types of HVAC systems used in commercial build-

ings are all-air, air and water, all-water, and unitary. Water sys-
tems are also called hydronic systems. Hydronic is the term used
for heating and cooling with liquids.
All-air systems provide heated or cooled air to the condi-
tioned space through a ductwork system. The basic types of all-
air duct systems are: single-zone, multizone, dual or double duct,
terminal reheat, constant air volume, variable air volume (VAV),
and combination systems. In the typical system, cooling and heat-
ing is accomplished by the mixed air (a combination of the return
and outside air) passing over a refrigerant coil (cooling) or a heat
exchanger (heating).
The basic air-water system (also called air-hydronic) is a cen-
tral system similar to the all-air system with chilled water coils
instead of refrigerant coils for cooling (with an air-cooled con-
denser) and hot water coils for heating. A variation of this system
is the water-air (hydronic-air) system with refrigerant coils for
cooling and a water-cooled condenser.
All-water (all-hydronic) systems accomplish space cooling
by circulating chilled water from a central refrigeration system
through cooling coils in air handling units (also called terminal
units or fan-coil units). The units are located in the building’s
conditioned spaces. Heating is accomplished by circulating hot
water through the same (cooling/heating) coil or through a sepa-
rate heating coil. When one coil is used for cooling only, heating
only, or heating and cooling at various times, a two-pipe water
distribution system is used. When two coils are used, one for
heating and one for cooling, a four-pipe water distribution system
is used. Heating may also be accomplished using electricity or
steam. Straight water heating systems will commonly use convec-
tors, baseboard radiation, fin-tube radiation, standard fan-coil
units, and unit heaters.
224 HVAC Fundamentals

UNITARY SYSTEMS

A unitary system is an air-conditioning unit that provides all

or part of the air-conditioning functions. The components, fan(s),
filter(s), controls, and the cooling apparatus (refrigerant coil, re-
frigerant piping, compressor, and condenser) are all factory-as-
sembled into an integrated package. Components are matched
and assembled at the factory to achieve specific performance
objectives in accordance with industry-established increments of
capacity (such as cfm of air per ton of refrigeration). These perfor-
mance objectives are set by trade associations that have devel-
oped standards by which manufacturers may test and rate their
equipment. These performance parameters and standards allow
for the manufacture of quality-controlled, factory-tested systems.
Types of unitary systems include window-mounted air condition-
ers and heat pumps, through-the-wall air conditioners and heat
pumps, packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps,
packaged units, and rooftop units.
Unitary systems are used in a wide range of applications and
may or may not be used with central systems. Cooling capacity
can range from fractional tonnage for window-type units to 100
tons of refrigeration or more for package units. A unitary system
that uses the refrigeration system as the primary heating source is
a heat pump. Commercial grade unitary systems are called pack-
age units. Some package units also have heating apparatus (e.g.,
natural gas heat exchanger, electric elements, steam or hot water
coils) and humidifiers. A package unit designed to be placed on
the roof is called a rooftop unit.

PACKAGE UNITS

Package units are used in almost all types of building appli-

cations, especially in applications where performance require-
ments are less demanding, and relatively low initial cost and
simplified installation are important. Applications include hotels,