MODULE 2 – UNIT 3: COOLING SYSTEMS

 HVAC Basics of Building Heating and Cooling

- Heat energy will always follow the rules of thermodynamics: it will move to a cooler place than the
location that it is currently located.

3 WAYS OF HEAT TRANSFER:

a) Conduction - transfer of heat through items that are in
direct contact with one another
 Thermal break material – used by window
manufacturers because it is a poor conductor
hence, heat energy does not move through it easily
b) Convection - movement of warmer areas of a fluid
(liquid or gas) to cooler areas of a fluid
 Natural convection occurs in fluids due to the fact that hot fluids will rise through cold fluids since
they have a lower density
c) Radiation - created by molecular motion within any physical object
 Examples of radiant heat: heat from the sun, heat from warm charcoal, heat lamps in bathrooms

COOLING – removing heat from the space

 Air-conditioning is the typical means of removing heat from interior spaces and is accomplished
using the principles of conduction and the use of a fluid compressor.
 When a fluid is compressed it releases heat, and when it is at a low pressure it absorbs heat.
 A refrigerant fluid at low pressure is allowed to circulate within coils that are on the interior side of
the building. A fan is then used to pass building air across the coils.
 Through convection the warm interior air transfers heat energy into the metal that forms the coil, and
the metal in the coil transfers its heat energy to the fluid. This fluid is then run through a compressor
and passed into the coils on the outside of the building where it releases the heat to the outside air.
 The cycle continues until the space reaches the desired temperature and the building thermostat
signals the air-conditioning unit to shut off.
 Condensation - When warm air comes in contact with a surface of lower temperature, the molecules
of the air move closer together as it cools. If the temperature drops to the point where the water vapor
molecules in the air attract each other and connect, liquid water will form. The point at which this
happens is known as the dew point.
o one reason why it is rare to run cold water through a baseboard heating system to help cool
the air; you will quickly end up with puddles of water below the coils.
 Radiant cooling requires humidity control systems since condensation can form on the cooling
surfaces due to the temperature difference between the cool panel and the warmer air.
o Dehumidification systems are essential for radiant cooling to be successful.

 HVAC Chilled Beams and Chilled Ceilings

- A chilled beam system is an HVAC system used to heat and cool large buildings.
- the idea of a chilled beam system is to use natural convection (warm air rises, cool air falls) and the
superior energy capacity of water to make cooling much more economical. Warm air rises to the chilled
beam, which is located in the ceiling, and passes through a heat exchange coil where it cools and then falls
to the floor.
- cost-efficient:
a) water is a much more efficient energy transport medium because water has a higher density and higher
specific heat than air.
b) Chilled beams will cut down on the number and size of fans a building needs, which reduces electricity
requirements.
c) Since chilled beams allow for smaller air ducts, the space above a ceiling can be reduced, which will
theoretically reduce the building height. A reduced building height means there will be less of all the
building materials, which means the first costs for the building and the energy used to produce those
materials may be reduced significantly.
*NOTE: Chilled beam technology is still more expensive than other HVAC systems, but since first costs can
be reduced an owner may see an immediate payback on the investment.

2 MAIN TYPES OF CHILLED BEAMS:

a) PASSIVE CHILLED BEAMS -
moves heat strictly through convection
- silent since there are no fans pushing
air through them
- since there is no air movement
generated by the chilled beam, less
energy is used
- however, the system is less effective
at providing thermal comfort
- to help maintain the effectiveness, the
passive chilled beam should be located closer to the occupants, which generally means ceiling heights
should be no higher than 8 or 9 feet above the floor
- passive chilled beams are poor at providing heat to a space

b) ACTIVE CHILLED BEAMS -

improve on the passive version by
incorporating an air duct and nozzle
blowers that provide ventilation air,
which helps draw the warm room air
up through the heat exchange coils
- an active chilled beam can be
mounted in ceilings as high as 10 feet
while still being effective

CHILLED BEAM ADVANTAGES:

 Quieter than air-based HVAC systems due to the lack of moving parts and slower air velocities.
 Maintenance is also reduced due to the lack of moving parts.
 Above ceiling and mechanical room space is reduced, which can reduce floor-to-floor heights. This
can decrease first costs to the point where chilled beams see an immediate payback on the initial
investment.
 Energy use is reduced since water is more efficient at moving energy than air and there is a reduction
in building fan use.
 Drafts are reduced, which increases occupant comfort.
CHILLED BEAM DISADVANTAGES:
 Most concerning is the opportunity for condensation forming on the cooling coils and then dripping
into the space. Therefore, humidity must be controlled and monitored or other systems should be put
in place to turn the chilled beams off when humidity rises.
 The chilled beam system may be more costly when compared directly to an air system.
 Maintenance crews and building management teams may not be as familiar with the system as an all
air system.
 Chilled beams are less effective at heating spaces so the building skin must be properly detailed to
prevent heat transfer.