ME 430 : Air Conditioning

Catalog Data ME 430:Air Conditioning. (3-0-3). Thermodynamics of moist air; construction

of the psychrometric chart; psychrometric processes; psychrometric systems;
industrial processes, air conditioning systems; Air Conditioning for comfoprt and
health- Indoor air quality, cooling and heating load calculations, duct design and
air distribution methods; cooling towers.
Prerequisite: ME 204, ME 315
Textbook F. C. McQuistion and J. D. Parker, and J. D. Spitler, Heating, Ventilating, and
Air Conditioning: Analysis and Design, 5th Edition, Wiley, New York, 2000.

References 1) J. L. Threlkeld, Thermal Environmental Engineering, Prentice-Hall, Inc.,

NJ, 1970.
2) W. F. Stoecker and J. W. Jones, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning,
McGraw-Hill, NY.
3) ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 2001 Edition, Atlanta, GA.
4) T. H. Kuehn, J. W. Ramsey and J. L. Threlkeld, Thermal Environmental
Engineering, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 1998.

Coordinator Dr. Mohamed A. Antar, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Objectives 1) Introduce students to basic principles of thermal environment engineering,
psychrometrics and air conditioning calculation.
2) Provide students with a working knowledge of components forming air
conditioning systems and applications of the basic principles mentioned in 1
above in analysis and design of AC systems.
3) Provide students with background and emphasize the importance of indoor
environmental quality and its impact on public health.
3) Provide students with a working knowledge of computer-aided calculations
of thermal loads and their use in design of AC systems.
Pre/Co-Requisites 1) First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics (ME 203, ME 204)
by Topic 2) Perfect and real gases and mixtures. (ME 203)
3) Properties of pure substances with special reference to water, steam and
refrigerants. (ME 203)
4) Conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer. (ME 315)
5) Laminar and turbulent flows in pipes and ducts. (ME 311)
6) Ability to use PC.
Course Outline
1) Air condition systems and Thermodynamic properties of moist air ........................... 2 Classes
2) Psychrometric processes and AC applications............................................................ 8 Classes
3) Design and off-design conditions ............................................................................... 3 Classes
4) Indoor air quality – comfort and health ...................................................................... 5 Classes
5) Heat Transfer across building structure ...................................................................... 3 Classes
6) Pumps and piping systems .......................................................................................... 4 Classes
7) Cooling and heating load calculations ........................................................................ 3 Classes
8) Design of Ducts........................................................................................................... 2 Classes
9) Space air diffusion design ........................................................................................... 3 Classes
 10) Fans and building air distribution system design ....................................................... 3 Classes
11) Tests ........................................................................................................................... 2 Classes
Laboratory demonstrations and field trips
Demonstration of psychrometric processes. 2 Classes
Heating and cooling load calculations using computer software. 3 Classes
Students term projects presentations 2 Class
Design Activities/Projects
A real-life design project will be assigned. It involves the thermal cooling and heating loads
calculations for a typical building in Saudi Arabia and selection of suitable equipment for the AC
system. It also involves the design of the piping system of the selected AC system(s), the
selection of suitable pumps and fans, duct system design calculations and space air diffusion
design.
Computer Usage
Different software programs will be used for psychrometric properties, piping system design, duct
design and cooling and heating load calculations
Evaluation Methods
1) Homework
2) Design/Computer projects
3) Tests
4) Final Exam
Student Learning Outcome
By the end of the course students would be able to:
1) Demonstrate an understanding of various components of AC systems and how they work together
in a typical real-life AC system.
2) Utilize psychrometric chart to represent different AC processes and obtain Thermodynamic
calculations for them.
3) Analyze typical complete AC systems and represent them on psychrometric charts.
4) Select suitable indoor air quality and design conditions.
5) Select suitable components (pumps, fans, diffusers, etc.,) for typical AC systems.
6) Compute cooling and heating loads for a given building in a given location.
7) Design piping systems for AC systems.
8) Design duct systems for AC systems.
9) Design space air diffusion systems.
ABET Category
Engineering Science ......... 2.0 Credits
Engineering Design .......... 1.0 Credits

Latest Revision by: Dr. Mohamed. A. Antar Date: 2 May 2005