Air Conditioning Systems 59

A water-to-water cooling system (Figure 4-3) has a water-

cooled condenser and cooling tower on the heat rejection side.
Chilled water coil(s) in the air handling unit(s) (AHU) or fan-coil
unit(s) (FCU) are on the heat pickup side.

Figure 4-3. Water-to-Water AC System

60 HVAC Fundamentals

AC COOLING SYSTEM #2

Heat Rejection Side Heat Pickup Side

Air to Water

An air-to-water cooling system (Figure 4-4) has an air-cooled

condenser on the heat rejection side. Notice that while the con-
denser is rated for 3.75 tons or 45,000 Btuh (3.75 ton × 12,000
Btuh/ton) the evaporator is rated for 3 tons or 36,000 Btuh. Why
is the condenser rated for more Btuh than the evaporator? Be-
cause of the additional heat from the compressor, 25% more Btuh
from “heat of compression.” If a condenser rated at 36,000 Btuh
was installed the system would not work. Chilled water coil(s) in
the air handling units (AHU) or fan-coil units (FCU) are on the
heat pickup side.

AC COOLING SYSTEM #3

Heat Rejection Side Heat Pickup Side

Air to Air

An air-to-air cooling system (Figure 4-5) has an air-cooled

condenser on the heat rejection side. On the heat pickup side
there is an evaporator (refrigerant DX) coil in the air handling
units (AHU) or fan-coil units (FCU). In this system the condenser
is rated for 3 tons for a 3 ton evaporator. This is because the con-
denser is rated at 15,000 Btuh per ton (12,000 × 1.25HRF). When
we say a 3 ton or X ton system, we are talking about the evapo-
rator or heat pickup side of the system. The heat rejection side
will always be more tonnage.

AC COOLING SYSTEM #4

Heat Rejection Side Heat Pickup Side

Water to Air