BUILDING UTILITIES 2

Module 1 Lecture 2
PRINCIPLES OF
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
§ Air conditioning is a part of refrigeration where
thermal energy (heat) is taken away from the air in
a large space such as a room or a vehicle.

– Air conditioners are fitted into rooms so that they cool the air
inside them.

– Modern age air conditioners are not only concerned with

maintaining the temperature of the air; they also help to regulate
humidity, filter the air and keep toxic gases out of human
reach.
REFRIGERATION vs AIR CONDITIONING
§ Refrigeration refers to processes that take thermal energy
(heat) away from a place and gives off that energy to a
place with a higher temperature.

– Naturally, heat flows from a place with a higher temperature to a

place with a lower temperature.

– Therefore, refrigeration runs against the natural heat flow and so

it requires an additional work to be done.
AIR CONDITIONING UNITS DON’T CREATE
COOL AIR.
§ What they actually do is remove heat out of a given
space.

§ In summary, refrigeration systems are used to

remove heat from one space and transfer it to
another location.

§ How this happens, however, varies among the four

different types of refrigeration systems.
TYPES OF REFRIGERATION
SYSTEMS
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION CYCLE
Mechanical compression is one method for removing heat from where it
is not wanted and releasing it elsewhere.

The vast majority of domestic air conditioners utilize the

mechanical compression refrigeration cycle to produce a cooling effect.

A mechanical compression refrigeration system cools by circulating a fluid

through a sealed circuit of pipes or tubing.

A working fluid, called refrigerant, is used to absorb and expel heat. The
most common include ammonia, Freon (and other chlorofluorocarbon
refrigerants, aka CFCs), and HFC-134a (a non-toxic hydrofluorocarbon).
 Cold Low Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Liquid
COMPRESSOR
Cold Low Pressure Liquid
Compresses refrigerant into
a high-temperature, high-
pressure vapor.

§ The mechanical aspect of the cycle starts with a

compressor, a combination electric motor and pump.
In the compressor, a low pressure,
gaseous refrigerant is squeezed down to a greatly
reduced volume.
 Cold Low Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Liquid
COMPRESSOR
Cold Low Pressure Liquid
Compresses refrigerant into
a high-temperature, high-
pressure vapor.

§ This compression raises the refrigerant’s temperature and pressure and pushes it into
the next component, the condenser. The condenser is merely a coil of tubing over
which air can flow. In the condenser, the high pressure/high temperature gas
releases its heat and becomes a liquid.

§ The heat being dumped out was originally absorbed by the refrigerant in the air
conditioned space. The now-liquefied refrigerant flows on through the condenser
because the compressor maintains pressure behind it.
 Cold Low Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Liquid
COMPRESSOR
Cold Low Pressure Liquid
Compresses refrigerant into
a high-temperature, high-
pressure vapor.

§ The next stop is a thermal expansion valve or just a tube of a small diameter, which
chokes the refrigerant flow. The liquid refrigerant passes through the valve into
another coil called an evaporator.
 Cold Low Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Liquid
COMPRESSOR
Cold Low Pressure Liquid
Compresses refrigerant into
a high-temperature, high-
pressure vapor.

§ Here, its pressure drops rapidly, and the refrigerant begins boiling at a temperature
approximately -18oCelsius. This low-temperature boiling is actually the absorption of
heat by the refrigerant. The heat-laden, gaseous refrigerant flows back into the
compressor, and the cycle repeats until the thermostat is satisfied.
 Cold Low Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Vapor
Hot High Pressure Liquid
COMPRESSOR
Cold Low Pressure Liquid
Compresses refrigerant into
a high-temperature, high-
pressure vapor.
CONDENSER
Gives up the heat that the
compressor picked up from
the evaporator.

Low-pressure, low-temperature vapor is drawn

to the compressor where it is compressed into a
high-temperature, high-pressure vapor.

START OF CYCLE Heat is removed from the vapor, and the

EVAPORATOR vapor is condensed back into a liquid, at a
high-pressure and high-temperature.
The expanding refrigerant
evaporates as it goes
through the evaporator,
where it removes the heat
from the space in which the
evaporator is located.

METERING DEVICE EXPANSION VALVE

A device to control the flow of Regulates the flow of the refrigerant.
refrigerant into the evaporator, It decreases the pressure, causing the
or cooling coil, as a low-pressure, refrigerant to change back into liquid
low-temperature refrigerant. and cool down.
§ The mechanical refrigeration cycle breaks down into
four phases: compression, condensation, metering
and evaporation. Heat flows into the evaporator and
out of the condenser, making both coils types of
heat exchangers.
VAPOR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION
CYCLE
§ The vapor absorption refrigeration system comprises all
the processes in the vapor compression refrigeration system
like compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation.

§ In the vapor absorption system the refrigerant used is

ammonia, water or lithium bromide. The compressor is
replaced with a generator and an absorber.

§ Simple Absorption System and How it Works?

 The refrigerant-ammonia solution in the generator is heated by the
external source of heat - steam, hot water or any other suitable source.
Due to heating, the temperature of the solution increases. The
refrigerant in the solution gets vaporized and it leaves the solution at
high pressure. The high pressure and the high temperature refrigerant
then enters the condenser again, where it is cooled by the coolant, and
Refrigerant enters the condenser at high repeats the process.
pressure and temperature and gets
condensed. The condenser is of water
cooled type.
When the absorbent absorbs the
When the refrigerant passes through
refrigerant, strong solution of
the expansion valve or restriction, its High pressure
High temp refrigerant-absorbent (ammonia-water)
pressure and temperature reduces
refrigerant is formed. The pump sends this
suddenly. This refrigerant (ammonia
solution to the generator at high
in this case) then enters the
High pressure pressure.
evaporator.
Lower temp
refrigerant
Low pressure
Low temp
refrigerant

The refrigerant at very low pressure and temperature When the refrigerant entering in the
enters the evaporator and produces the cooling effect. In absorber is absorbed by the absorbent its
the vapor compression cycle this refrigerant is sucked by volume decreases, thus the compression of
the compressor, but in the vapor absorption cycle, this the refrigerant occurs. Thus absorber acts
refrigerant flows to the absorber that acts as the suction as the suction part of the compressor.
part of the refrigeration cycle.
The absorber is a vessel consisting of the weak solution of the refrigerant
(ammonia in this case) and absorbent (water in this case).

When ammonia from the evaporator enters the absorber, it is absorbed by

the absorbent due to which the pressure inside the absorber reduces
further, leading to more flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the
absorber.

At high temperature water absorbs lesser ammonia, hence it is cooled by

the external coolant to increase its ammonia absorption capacity. The initial
flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the absorber occurs because
the vapor pressure of the refrigerant-absorbent in the absorber is lower
than the vapor pressure of the refrigerant in the evaporator.
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS
§ Evaporative cooling does not use the traditional refrigeration
cycle. Instead, these units cool warmer outdoor air by blowing
it over water-soaked pads as it enters the home.
§ The water absorbs the heat from the air and evaporates. The
cooler air is channeled into the home and the warm air out of
it.
– Water has an advantage of high volume heat capacity and much
higher thermal conductivity compared to air.
§ Evaporative cooling systems depend on an internally or
externally powered fan to draw air towards and blow air flow
over the evaporative pad. Air must move into contact with the
liquid to affect the cooling process.

§ Evaporative coolers can reduce air temperature by 5 to 9°C,

and are best suited for dry climates. They’re also less costly to
install and more energy-efficient at times.
§ The designs vary either through larger containers), multiple
fan orientations, various power and energy consumption
classes of fans, many intake opening, placement and pattern
variations and different materially manufactured
evaporative pads (natural and synthetic).

§ All designs function under the same simple operating principle

of: water drips on vertical pad via pump mounted in
a reservoir; an air circulation system that both draws
air through an evaporative pad medium and redirect it out
the cooler system.

§ Since evaporative coolers add moisture to the air and blow it

around, they are sometimes known as "swamp coolers."
THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATION
§ Thermoelectric refrigeration systems are unique from the
three other types of refrigeration in that no refrigerant or
water is used. These systems use an electric current and
a thermocouple.
§ A thermocouple is made up of two different metal wires
that are united at both ends. Insulation separates the rest
of the wires from each other. When the current is directed
on the thermocouple, one end will become hot and the
other cool.
§ Reversing the current’s direction has the effect of
swapping the cold and hot junctions.
– The hot end will typically be placed outside of the area to be
cooled with a heat sink attached to it to keep it the same
temperature as the surrounding air.

– The cold side, which is below room temperature, is placed in the

area to be cooled, attracting heat out of the air.

§ This type of refrigeration is generally used for small

cooling loads that can be difficult to access, such as
electronic systems.
HEATING, VENTILATION AND
AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC)
SYSTEM LOADS
The field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—
HVAC—is a science and practice of controlling indoor
climate, thereby providing health and comfortable
interior conditions for occupants in a well-designed,
energy-efficient, and low emissions manner.
§ The term "H" in HVAC stands for heating that comprises
of any number of heating systems.

§ The Term “V” describes ventilation. This can be ventilating

the facility using ductwork. It can also refer to combustion
air.

§ The Term "AC" refers to air conditioning that comprises of

3 main methods – mechanical compression, vapor
absorption and evaporative cooling. Air conditioners
(direct expansion – DX systems) and chillers usually
accomplish the job of air conditioning.
§ The objectives of HVAC are:
⎼ To control the temperature of air inside the designated “Air
Conditioned" space
⎼ To control air moisture
⎼ To filter air and contain air borne particles
⎼ To supply outside fresh air for control of oxygen and carbon
dioxide levels in the air conditioned space, and finally
⎼ To control movement of air or draught.

§ All these factors comprise a successful HVAC system.

PROCESSES OF HVAC
§ Heating: To increase the temperature by adding thermal energy to a
space.
§ Cooling: To decrease the temperature by removing thermal energy
from a space.
§ Humidifying: The process of increasing the relative humidity of a
space by addition of water vapor or steam.
§ Dehumidifying: The process of removing the water vapor or
humidity of a space.
§ Cleaning: The process of removing dust, pollens, smoke and
contaminants from air inside the space.
§ Ventilating: The process of adding external air to freshen up the air
and maintaining gas ratio.
§ Air movement: To control the movement of the supplied air so that
the inhabitants of the space do not feel discomfort.
 HVAC SYSTEMS
UNITS AND RATINGS
1. Cooling Capacity
– Defined as the heat load in a room that has 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.
– The amount of cooling needed by the space will be used to
determine the capacity of the air conditioner needed.

a. BTUh – “British Thermal Units per Hour”

– It is a rate of heating or cooling expressed in terms of Btu per hour. (1kW =
3412 Btu)
– 1 BTU/hr is the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water by 1oF

b. Ton of cooling
– One ton of cooling is the heat extraction rate of 12,000 Btu per hour.
– Theoretically, it is energy required to melt one ton of ice in 24 hours.
 c. Ton of Refrigeration Effect
⎻ The cooling capacity of older Refrigeration units is often indicated in "tons
of Refrigeration”. A ton of Refrigeration represents the heat energy
absorbed when a ton (2000lb.) of ice melts during one 24-hour day.
⎻ The Btu equivalent of one ton of refrigeration is easy to calculate. Multiply
the weight of one ton of ice (2000lb.) by the latent heat of fusion (melting)
of ice (144 Btu/lb). Then divide by 24hours to obtain Btu/hr.

One ton of Refrigeration effect= 2000 (lb) x 144 (Btu/lb) /24 (hours) = 288,000Btu/24 hours =
12,000Btu/hr
§ A refrigerating or air conditioning mechanism capable of absorbing heat can be rated in tons
per 24 hours by its heat-absorbing ability (HA) in Btu divided by (24 hr x 12000 Btu =
288,000).
T = HA / 288,000

Where:
T = tons of refrigeration effect
HA = heat-absorbing ability in Btu
2. COP – “Coefficient of Performance”:
– This coefficient is the ratio of the cooling capacity (W) as the
output power (in form of removed heat load) versus power
consumption (W) as the input power.

COP= Cooling Capacity (W)/Power Consumption (W)

– The higher the COP, the higher the efficiency of the air
conditioner. Usually the value range from 2-4 but in recent years,
the use of inverter compressors have enabled this coefficient to
go higher than 4.
3. EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)
⎻ This rating was established for manufacturers to rate their
equipment so that consumers or consultants can tell the cooling
efficiency of the air conditioner by just looking at the
specifications provided.
⎻ The rating is obtained by dividing the cooling capacity (Btu/h) with
the input power (Watt).
⎻ The larger the value of EER, the more efficient the air conditioner
is. However, this rating does not give a complete picture of the
efficiency of the unit.
4. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
⎻ This ratio is more accurate as it takes into consideration non
steady state conditions such as the start-up and shutdown cycles
of the air-conditioner.
⎻ In choosing the SEER, the choice is always to go for a higher
SEER as it is more efficient equipment. The trade-off in choosing
a higher SEER is that usually the initial cost of the equipment will
be higher.
5. Energy Star
⎻ This rating for an equipment
shows that the equipment is
designed to save energy
hence reducing your
electricity bills as well as
protecting our environment.