Air Conditioning –

Definition, advantages and disadvantages,

brief introduction to psychrometric process,

air-cycle and refrigeration cycle.

Summer and winter air-conditioning,

calculation of air-contitioning loads,

Zoning: purpose and advantages.

Air-distribution systems: Ducts and duct systems.
Air-outlets

Air-conditioning methods and equipment: window units, split

units and central Air-conditioning systems.

Location of air-conditioning equipment in buildings.

Architectural requirement of various equipment.

Air conditioning is the process of altering the properties of
air (primarily temperature and humidity) to more comfortable
conditions, typically with the aim of distributing the conditioned air
to an occupied space to improve thermal comfort and indoor air
quality.

Or

Air-conditioning is a process that simultaneously conditions air;

distributes it combined with the outdoor air to the conditioned
space; and at the same time controls and maintains the required
space’s temperature, humidity, air movement, air cleanliness, sound
level, and pressure differential within predetermined limits for the
health and comfort of the occupants, for product processing, or
both.
An air-conditioning process describes the change in
thermodynamic properties of moist air between the
initial and final stages of conditioning as well as the
corresponding energy and mass transfers between the
moist air and a medium, such as water, refrigerant,
absorbent or adsorbent, or moist air itself. The energy
balance and conservation of mass are the two
principles used for the analysis and the calculation
of the thermodynamic properties of the moist air.
 Psychrometrics
Psychrometrics is the science of studying the thermodynamic
properties of moist air. It is widely used to illustrate and analyze the
change in properties and the thermal characteristics of the air
conditioning process and cycles.

The psychrometric chart is a graphic representation of the

properties of moist air various air-conditioning processes and air-
conditioning cycles.

The approximate composition of dry air by volume is nitrogen,

79.08%; oxygen, 20.95%; argon, 0.93%; carbon dioxide, 0.03%;
other gases (e.g., neon, sulfur dioxide), 0.01%.

The amount of water vapor contained in the moist air within the
temperature range 0 to 100 °F changes from 0.05 to 3% by mass.
The variation of water vapor has a critical influence on the
characteristics of moist air.
 Important psychrometric properties:

Dry bulb temperature (DBT) is the temperature of the moist air as measured
by a standard thermometer or other temperature measuring instruments.
The Dry Bulb Temperature refers basically to the ambient air temperature.

Dry bulb temperature: These lines are drawn

straight, not always parallel to each other, and
slightly inclined from the vertical position.
This is the t–axis, the abscissa (horizontal)
axis. Each line represents a constant
temperature.
 Dew-point temperature
• The water vapor in the air will be saturated when air is at a temperature
equal to the saturation temperature corresponding to the partial pressure
exerted by the water vapor.
• This temperature is called dew-point temperature.
Dew point temperature: From the state point follow
the horizontal line of constant humidity ratio to the
intercept of 100% RH, also known as the saturation
curve. The dew point temperature is equal to the
fully saturated dry bulb or wet bulb temperatures.
Wet bulb temperature: These lines are oblique
lines that differ slightly from the enthalpy
lines. They are identically straight but are not
exactly parallel to each other. These intersect
the saturation curve at DBT point.
Humidity ratio: These are the horizontal lines on the
chart. Humidity ratio is usually expressed as mass of
moisture per mass of dry air (pounds or kilograms of
moisture per pound or kilogram of dry air, respectively).
The range is from 0 for dry air up to 0.03 (lbmw/lbma)
on the right hand ω-axis, the ordinate or vertical axis of
the chart.
Specific enthalpy: These are oblique lines drawn diagonally
downward from left to right across the chart that are parallel
to each other. These are not parallel to wet bulb temperature
lines.
Relative humidity: These hyperbolic lines are
shown in intervals of 10%. The saturation
curve is at 100% RH, while dry air is at 0% RH.
 A psychrometric chart is a graph of the thermodynamic parameters of moist air at
a constant pressure, often equated to an elevation relative to sea level.

Dew point temperature: From the state point follow the horizontal line of constant
humidity ratio to the intercept of 100% RH, also known as the saturation curve. The dew
point temperature is equal to the fully saturated dry bulb or wet bulb temperatures.
* Wet bulb temperature: These lines are oblique lines that differ slightly from the
enthalpy lines. They are identically straight but are not exactly parallel to each other. These
intersect the saturation curve at DBT point.
* Relative humidity: These hyperbolic lines are shown in intervals of 10%. The saturation
curve is at 100% RH, while dry air is at 0% RH.
* Humidity ratio: These are the horizontal lines on the chart. Humidity ratio is usually
expressed as mass of moisture per mass of dry air (pounds or kilograms of moisture per
pound or kilogram of dry air, respectively). The range is from 0 for dry air up to 0.03
(lbmw/lbma) on the right hand ω-axis, the ordinate or vertical axis of the chart.
* Specific enthalpy: These are oblique lines drawn diagonally downward from left to right
across the chart that are parallel to each other. These are not parallel to wet bulb
temperature lines.
Assume that the outside air temperature is 32°C with a relative humidity φ =
60%. Use the psychrometric chart to determine the specific humidity ω [18
gm-moisture/kg-air], the enthalpy h [78 kJ/kg-air], the wet-bulb
temperature Twb [25.5°C], the dew-point temperature Tdp [23°C], and the
specific volume of the dry air v [0.89m3/kg]. Indicate all the values
determined on the chart.
Assume that the outside air temperature is 8°C. If the air in a room is at 25°C
with a relative humidity φ = 40%, use the psychrometric chart to determine if the
windows of that room which are in contact with the outside will become foggy.

The air in contact with the

windows will become colder
until the dew point is
reached. Notice that under
the conditions of 25°C and
40% relative humidity the
dew point temperature is
slightly higher than 10°C, At
that point the water vapor
condenses as the
temperature approaches 8°C
along the saturation line,
and the windows will
become foggy.
One of the major applications of the Psychrometric Chart is in air conditioning, and we
find that most humans feel comfortable when the temperature is between 22°C and 27°C,
and the relative humidity φ between 40% and 60%. This defines the "comfort zone" which
is portrayed on the Psychrometric Chart as shown below. Thus with the aid of the chart
we either heat or cool, add moisture or dehumidify as required in order to bring the air
into the comfort zone.
 REFRIGERATION CYCLE
In the refrigeration cycle, heat is transported from a colder
location to a hotter area. As heat would naturally flow in
the opposite direction, work is required to achieve this. A
refrigerator an example of such a system, as it transports
the heat out of the interior and into its environment (i.e.
the room). The refrigent is used as the medium which
absorbs and removes heat from the space to be cooled and
subsequently rejects that heat elsewhere.

A simple stylized diagram of the

refrigeration cycle: 1) condensing
coil, 2) expansion valve,
3) evaporator coil, 4) compressor
Liquids absorb heat when changed from liquid to gas
Gases give off heat when changed from gas to liquid.
For an air conditioning system to operate with economy, the refrigerant must
be used repeatedly. For this reason, all air conditioners use the same cycle of
compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation in a closed circuit.
The same refrigerant is used to move the heat from one area, to cool this area,
and to expel this heat in another area.
The refrigerant comes into the compressor as a low-pressure gas, it is
compressed and then moves out of the compressor as a high-pressure gas.
The gas then flows to the condenser. Here the gas condenses to a liquid, and
gives off its heat to the outside air.
The liquid then moves to the expansion valve under high pressure. This valve
restricts the flow of the fluid, and lowers its pressure as it leaves the
expansion valve.
The low-pressure liquid then moves to the evaporator, where heat from the
inside air is absorbed and changes it from a liquid to a gas.
As a hot low-pressure gas, the refrigerant moves to the compressor where the
entire cycle is repeated.
 The refrigeration cycle uses four essential elements to cool.
The system refrigerant starts its cycle in a gaseous state. The compressor pumps the
refrigerant gas up to a high pressure and temperature.
From there it enters a heat exchanger (sometimes called a condensing coil or
condenser) where it loses energy (heat) to the outside, cools, and condenses into its
liquid phase.
An expansion valve (also called metering device) regulates the refrigerant liquid to
flow at the proper rate.
The liquid refrigerant is returned to another heat exchanger where it is allowed to
evaporate, hence the heat exchanger is often called an evaporating coil or evaporator.
As the liquid refrigerant evaporates it absorbs energy (heat) from the inside air, returns
to the compressor, and repeats the cycle. In the process, heat is absorbed from indoors
and transferred outdoors, resulting in cooling of the building.

A simple stylized diagram of the

refrigeration cycle: 1) condensing
coil, 2) expansion valve,
3) evaporator coil, 4) compressor
Circulating refrigerant vapor enters the compressor and is compressed to a
higher pressure, resulting in a higher temperature as well. The hot,
compressed refrigerant vapor is now at a temperature and pressure at which
it can be condensed and is routed through a condenser. Here it is cooled by
air flowing across the condenser coils and condensed into a liquid. Thus, the
circulating refrigerant rejects heat from the system and the heat is carried
away by the air.
The condensed and pressurized liquid refrigerant is next routed through
an expansion valve where it undergoes an abrupt reduction in pressure. That
pressure reduction results in flash evaporation of a part of the liquid
refrigerant, lowering its temperature. The cold refrigerant is then routed
through the evaporator. A fan blows the warm air (which is to be cooled)
across the evaporator, causing the liquid part of the cold refrigerant mixture
to evaporate as well, further lowering the temperature. The warm air is
therefore cooled.
To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant vapor is routed back into
the compressor.
By placing the condenser inside a compartment, and the evaporator in the
ambient environment (such as outside), or by merely running an air
conditioner's refrigerant in the opposite direction, the overall effect is the
opposite, and the compartment is heated instead of cooled. See also heat
pump.
The engineering of physical and thermodynamic properties of gas–vapor
mixtures is called psychrometrics.
Pressurization
In multi-storey buildings, stairways and lobbies may be air
pressurised to clear smoke and provide an unimpeded escape
route. The air pressurization is usually between 25 and 50 Pa
depending on the building height and degree of exposure.
This pressure is insignificant for movement of personnel.

Pressurization is a technique for protecting escape routes

against the ingress
of deadly smoke by maintaining the pressure within the
escape route at a
higher pressure than that in adjacent spaces.

Pressurization is provided to maintain safe conditions within

an area which could be used in the event of a fire for means
of escape/life safety and fire fighter access.
In large open spaced buildings, CAR PARKS, SHOPPING CENTRES,
EXHIBI- TION HALLS etc, the usual method of smoke control is by
ventilation - extracting the smoke from the area.

In high rise, multi room buildings, where the Staircases, Lift Lobbies
and Corridors pro- vide the escape route, SMOKE EXTRACTION may
only serve to worsen the situation.
However, it is possible to hold back smoke from a fire by simply
supplying clean air into the escape routes, thereby developing
excess, or POSITIVE pressure in the spaces requiring protection.

In a PRESSURISATION SYSTEM the air- flow must always be

away from the escape routes to ensure that they will be at a
higher pressure than the surrounding area.
A pressurization system
consists of two main
components:

Supply air (air injected

into the area that is to be
protected).

Air release (air and

smoke is released from
the adjoining fire area).
SUPPLY AIR SYSTEM
A pressurisation system has TWO and occasionally
THREE, modes of operation

Mode 1 - DECTECTION PHASE - To raise a

pressure differential in the protection space -
staircase, corridor etc, by the required amount
(50Pa in the UK) when ALL DOORS ARE
CLOSED.
Mode 2 - ESCAPE PHASE - To maintain a
specified AIR VELOCITY (0.75m/sec) through
the OPEN DOOR(S) onto the fire floor with
various other doors open, OR a PRESSURE
DIFFERENCE OF 10+ Pa with the fire floor
door(s) closed and vari- ous other doors open
(fig 7-9)
Mode 3 - FIRE FIGHTING PHASE - To
maintain a specified AIR VELOCITY (2.0
m/sec) through the OPEN DOOR(S) onto the
fire floor with various other doors open.
A sky lobby is used in supertall buildings, such as skyscrapers, to make travel
between elevators convenient for all passengers.

These are intermediate floors used to section off the building. Most such
buildings have one elevator, called an express elevator, which only travels
between the different sky lobby floors.

Between each sky lobby, there are local elevators that lead to all the floors in
that section of the building.

The number of local elevators in each section typically ranges up to 10, with
up to five in a row to make walking between elevators easier for visitors and
employees.
In very large buildings, there are numerous floors with a constant flow of
visitors and workers going between the floors.
If each elevator served the entire building, then most people would
encounter a number of stops for others to get off before they arrived at their
desired floor. This would make elevator travel inconvenient in large
buildings and would lead to massive delays for most elevator travelers.
To alleviate this problem, a sky lobby is used. This lobby acts as a sectioning
device t hat separates the entire building into several zones. In each lobby, there
are separate elevators that only take travelers to a floor in that zone. For
example, if there is a 20-floor building and each lobby serves five floors, then
the first lobby would have elevators for floors one through five, and the second
lobby would serve floors six through 10.
Getting to a sky lobby also is streamlined. Aside from the local elevators that
serve each lobby’s zone, there also is an express elevator. This elevator or set of
elevators only travels between the lobby zones. In this case, even if the traveler
needs the top lobby zone and the elevator stops at every other lobby, the
traveler still will only experience a few stops. Most buildings only contain a
few lobbies, so express elevator travel would be easy on all visitors and
workers.
Depending on the architecture, there may be 10 local elevators for each sky
lobby zone. These local elevators are usually placed on opposite ends of the
lobby, so the area does not become congested. Each local elevator will only
serve several floors in the lobby zone, so those who need one of the bottom
floors will not impede people who need a top floor.