REFRIGERATION

AND
AIR-CONDITIONING

HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENTS

PREPARED BY
NIRANJAN BASTAKOTI
 HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
CONTENTS
• Introduction

• Unitary Systems

• Variable Refrigerant Flow, VRF Systems

• Air Handling Units

• Chillers Systems

• Boiler Systems

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 HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Introduction

• In order to maintain required conditions inside, energy has to be either supplied or

extracted from the conditioned space. The energy in the form of sensible as well as
latent heat has to be supplied to the space in winter and extracted from the conditioned
space in case of summer.

• An air conditioning system consists of an air conditioning plant and a thermal

distribution system.

• Air conditioning (A/C) plant acts either as a heat source (in case of winter systems) or
as a heat sink (in case of summer systems).

• Air, water or refrigerant are used as media for transferring energy from the air
conditioning plant to the conditioned space. A thermal distribution system is required to
circulate the media between the conditioned space and the A/C plant.

• Another important function of the thermal distribution system is to introduce the

required amount of fresh air into the conditioned space so that the required Indoor Air
Quality (IAQ) can be maintained.
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Introduction

Schematic of an air-conditioning system

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Introduction

• Air conditioning systems are classified as unitary and central systems.

• Unitary systems are decentralized systems where an air-conditioning units lie in

periphery of conditioning space. eg. split air conditioners

• In centralized system an air-conditioning unit is located far from the conditioned space
and cooling/heating is achieved by network of air or water distribution systems. eg.
chillers

• Direct expansion systems are those systems where cooling/heating is obtained by

circulation of refrigerant in the conditioned space.

• Selection of suitable air-conditioning system depends on

 Capacity, performance and spatial requirements

 Initial, operating and life cycle costs
 Maintenance
 Reliability and flexibility
 Architectural constraints
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Vapour Compression Refrigeration System

• Most widely used refrigeration cycle for air-conditioning units

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Working principle of an air-conditioner

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Unitary air-conditioning systems, window ac

• Window ac are decentralized unitary systems.

• These system are fixed in windows and are a compact unit consist of all air-
conditioning components in one block.

www.indiamart.com

www.cnet.com

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 HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Unitary air-conditioning systems, split units

• Split ac are decentralized unitary systems. The unit located inside the conditioned space
is called indoor unit and unit outside is called outdoor unit.

www.blueairelectrical.com.au
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Unitary ac systems, Multi-split units

• It is an extension of split systems where multiple indoor units are located to single
outdoor unit. However there is no individual control in the indoor units.

• These systems are applicable in places with similar cooling/heating zones

www.crownpower.com.au
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How does a heat pump work

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Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

• Variable refrigerant flow system also called variable refrigerant volume system is a
technology in which variable flow of refrigerant is maintained in indoor unit of the
conditioned space. The flow or refrigerant is controlled as per cooling/heating
requirement of the specific space.

• It is an extension of multi-split system with more sophisticated design, enabling

independent load controls in different rooms or zones.

• Network of copper pipes connect a single outdoor unit to multiple indoor units.

• An electronic expansion valve modulates flow of refrigerant into the system. EEV in an
indoor unit independently controls refrigerant flow and in doing so controls
cooling/heating requirements of conditioned space.

• An electronic control unit carries information for variable refrigerant flow in each
indoor unit to a main unit, which modulates speed of the compressor in outdoor unit.

• Compressor used in outdoor unit is variable speed type. Inverter compressors are
modulated to operate at variable speeds depending on the flow of refrigerant required.
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Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

• The heart of VRF technology lies on the fact that inverter compressors are used which
can operate at variable speeds, providing energy efficiency and use of electronic
expansion valve to modulate flow of refrigerant to indoor to exactly meet
cooling/heating requirement of conditioned indoor space.

• This makes VRF system energy efficient particularly in part load operation.

Indoor unit
consists of
electronic
expansion
valve that
modulates
Outdoor flow of
unit refrigerant
comprises
of variable
speed
compressor Topaire, 2014

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Benefits of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

Variable speed compressor provides high part load efficiency

HVAC systems typically spend 40 to 80% of operation in part load

INTEGRATED ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATIO (IEER)

IEER = 0.02A + 0.617B + 0.238C + 0.125D (ANSI/AHRI Standard 1230)

where,
A = EER at 100% capacity (35oC)
B = EER at 75% capacity (27.5oC)
C = EER at 50% capacity (20oC)
D = EER at 25% capacity (18.33oC)
output of cooling energy (BTU)
EER 
input energy (Wh)
Daikin, 2013

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACHIEVED FROM ELIMINATION OF DUCT LOSSES (10 TO

20% IN DUCTED SYSTEM)
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Benefits of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

COMPARISON BASED ON HEAT TRANSFER STAGES

Chiller/Boiler Water Facility

VRF Indoor DIRECT EXPANSION

Facility (DX) SYSTEM
unit

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Benefits of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

• Enhanced Comfort: Because of inverter technology precise temperature control is

possible which leads to enhanced comfort.

• Design Flexibility: Many indoor units of varying capacity can be connected to a single
outdoor.

• Zoned Comfort: guest rooms, lobby, spa, restaurants.

Hitachi Appliances, Inc, HR-E568T, 2008 airconditioning.danfoss.com

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Benefits of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

• Lightweight compared to chillers, easy transportation and lifting, lesser footprint

• Less false ceiling height required, ductwork required only for ventilation

• No machine room required, condensing unit can be kept outdoor in any convenient
location

Pipe sizes (mm)

9.52, 12.7, 15.88,
19.05, 25.4, 31.8
with 13 mm thick
www.acrepairdaviefl.com insulation
www.achrnews.com 17 of 41
HVAC SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

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Unitary and VRF Systems

Unitary airconditioners like window ac, split and multisplit ac are decentralized ac systems
whereas VRF is a central system.

One of the disadvantages of unitary and vrf systems is that there is no provision for fresh
air supply.

It has to be done separately by other fresh air supply systems.

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Air Handling Units, AHUs

• Air handling units, AHUs condition and distribute air within a building.

• They take fresh ambient air or mixture of fresh air and recirculated air from outside,
clean it, heat it or cool it, humidify or dehumidify it and then force it through some
ductwork around to the designed areas within a building.

• Duct that supplies this treated air to the conditioned space is called supply air duct.

• Most units will have an additional duct run to then pull the used dirty air out of the
rooms. These units are called return air duct.

• In most of the AHUs this return air (recirculation air) is mixed with fresh air and treated
to required conditions and supplied back to the conditioned space.

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Air Handling Units, AHUs

Shah et.al, 2017

Schematic of an air handling units

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Air Handling Units, AHUs

https://www.daikin-ce.com/
An air handling unit
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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Grill: To prevent objects birds and animals from entering the system.

• Dampers: The dampers are multiple sheets of metal which can rotate.

• The opening of dampers can be adjusted at different levels from fully open to fully
close to vary flow of air into the system.

• Filters: These are used to filter the air entering the sytem. Filters help to remove
pollutants of outdoor air and maintain good indoor air quality.

• Many types of filters are available and are used as per the application required.

• Filters get clogged due to excessive dust trap and need to be replaced from time to time,
otherwise it hampers performance of the system.

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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

https://safeworkmethodofstatement.com/

Different types of grills

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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

http://oscac.com/
https://www.indiamart.com/

Different types of dampers

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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Heating and Cooling Coils: AHUs have heating and cooling coils for conditioning of
air. This is the main part of the system where air-conditioning takes place.

• In case of dehumidification required cooling coil is also used to dehumidify the air.
Water or steam spray systems can be used to humidification.

• Mostly used system for cooling and dehumidification is a vapour compression

refrigeration system based cooling unit which cools the fresh air by direct expansion or
cools a chilled water which in turn is circulated in the cooling coils of the air handler.

• Heating is obtained either by fossil fuel based heating system directly or by circulating
hot water in hot water coil of the air handler heated by fossil fuel based systems (eg.
boilers).

• Source of heat may also be heat pump unit working on vapour compression
refrigeration systems , solar energy based heating system or waste heat available.

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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Distribution System: It consists of supply fans (blowers), return fans and ductwork that
carry the conditioned air into the required spaces and take back the air used in spaces
for exhaust and/or recirculation.

Example of a ductwork in a building

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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Heat Recovery unit: Some systems consist of heat recovery systems where sensible
heat is exchanged from outgoing air and incoming fresh air. This reduces load on air-
conditioning systems.

heatforce.co.nz
A typical heat recovery ventilation system
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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Heat Recovery unit: Some systems consist of heat recovery systems where heat is
exchanged from outgoing air and incoming fresh air. This reduces load on air-
conditioning systems.

www.waveplumbing.com
www.designcoalition.org

There is no mixing of fresh and exhaust air (only sensible heat transfer occurs)
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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Components)

• Energy Recovery unit: Some systems consist of energy recovery systems where
sensible as well as latent heat is exchanged from outgoing air and incoming fresh air.
This reduces load on air-conditioning systems.

Daikin, ECPEN13-200B
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Air Handling Units, AHUs (Working)

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Chillers

• A chiller uses a vapour compression refrigeration system that connects to the process
water system through an evaporator.

• In evaporator water is cooled to about 7°C and circulated in the air handling units or
directly in the fan coil units inside the conditioned space with the help of pipeline
installed for chilled water circulation.

• The chilled water is warmed in the rooms by absorbing heat from the spaces
(consequently cooling the rooms) and is recirculated back to the evaporator where it is
again chilled and the same process repeats.

• Chiller is a central system where main cooling happens in chiller unit located
somewhere is the building and the chilled water is circulated in each room where actual
cooling is required.

• Chillers have are used in wide variety of commercial facilities, including hotels,
restaurants, hospitals, sporting arenas, industrial and manufacturing plants, etc.

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Chillers

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Chillers Types (Air cooled chillers)

• Air-cooled chillers rely on a condenser cooled by the environment air.

• Thus, air-cooled chillers may find common application in smaller or medium

installations where space constraints may exist.

• An air-cooled chiller can represent the most practical choice in scenarios where water
represents a scarce resource.

• A typical air-cooled chiller can feature propeller fans or mechanical refrigeration cycles
to draw ambient air over a finned coil to condense the refrigerant.

• Air-cooled chillers offer the significant advantage of lower installation costs. Simpler
maintenance also results due to their relative simplicity as compared to water-cooled
chillers.

• Air-cooled chillers occupy less space, but mostly reside outside a facility. Thus, the
outdoor elements will compromise their functional lifespan.

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Chillers Types (Water cooled chillers)

• Water-cooled chillers feature a water-cooled condenser connected with a cooling tower.

They have commonly been used for medium and large installations that have a
sufficient water supply.

• Water-cooled chillers can produce more constant performance for commercial and
industrial air conditioning because of the relative independence to fluctuations of the
ambient temperature.

• A typical water-cooled chiller uses recirculating condenser water from a cooling tower
to condense the refrigerant.

• Water-cooled chillers typically reside indoors in an environment protected from the

elements. Hence, water-cooled chiller can offer a longer lifespan.

• Water-cooled chillers typically represent the only option for larger installations.

• The additional cooling tower system will require additional installation expense and
maintenance as compared to air-cooled chillers.
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Chillers

https://www.thermalcare.com/

Chilled water is circulated directly into the conditioned space in fan coil units or supplied
to an air handling units.

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Boilers systems for heating

Abate et. al, 2018

Hot water is circulated directly into the conditioned space in fan coil units or supplied to
an air handling units.
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Fan coil units

https://ksusentinel.com/
https://www.carrier.com/

http://mevacinv.com/
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How Chillers work

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SUMMARY
• Introduction to HVAC Systems

• Vapour Compression Refrigeration System

• Unitary air-conditioning systems

 Window ac units
 Split and Multi-split ac units

• Variable Refrigerant Flow System

 Principle (EEV, Inverter compressor)
 Benefits

• Air Handling Units, AHUs

 Components

• Heat and Energy Recovery Systems

• Chillers and Boiler ac systems

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THANK YOU

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