SERVICES IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

YAR104
UNIT -111-1
HVAC

Ar. N.Ramesh Babu. B.Arch,M.T.P

Associate Professor
Department of Architecture
Periyar Maniammai University August 2012
HVAC – DESIGN PROCESS

Design process broadly consists of

• Preliminary design phase

• Design development phase
• Design finalization phase

Preliminary design phase

Activity comfort needs are listed.

Activity schedule is developed
Site energy resources are analyzed
Climatic design strategies are listed
Building form alternatives are considered
Combination of passive and active systems are considered
One or several alternatives are sized
HVAC – DESIGN PROCESS
Design development phase

1. Establishes design conditions

• range of acceptable parameters (air temperature, air motions,
relative humidity etc.)
• Schedule of operations
2. Determination of HVAC zones by considering
• activities
• schedule
• Orientation
• Internal heat gains
3. Estimating the thermal loads on each zones
• for worst winter conditions
• for worst summer conditions
• for average conditions or majority of buildings operating hours
• Frequent estimation of annual energy consumption.
4. Selection of HVAC systems
5. Identification of HVAC components and their locations
• mechanical rooms
• Distribution trees – vertical, horizontal
• Fan coil units, air grilles etc
6. Sizes of the components
7. Layout of the system (coordination with other services)
HVAC – DESIGN PROCESS

Design finalization phase

• HVAC system compared with primary systems

(structure,electrical,plumbing etc.)

• Match between Load on each component and

components capacity to meet the load

• Final layout drawing prepared.

HVAC and building organisation
Decision making

A. Zoning
B. System anatomy
C. Central Vs Local
D. Uniformity Vs Diversity
E. Comparing Systems and Zones
F. Distribution Trees
G. Central Equipment location
H. Concealment and Exposure
I. Mechanical- Structural Integration or Separation
J. Distribution Tree Placement options
A. zoning
Zoning influenced by the following factors

• Function – activities based on usage pattern.

• Schedule – difference in scheduling between and within zones
• Orientation – zones based on orientation

Zoning details are considered in preliminary design decisions.

 B. System Anatomy

Three kinds of tasks heating,

cooling and ventilation.

Anatomy – Components

• Positioning of production and

distribution components.
• Intake supplies
• Exhaust byproducts
System Anatomy - components
C. Central Vs Local System
Central System
Advantages
• Noise, Heat and other characteristics of plant room can be controlled
easily because of machinery concentrated at few locations.
• Maintenance without disturbing the normal activities.
• Energy conservation – Heat recovery Unit – heat recovered from one
machine’s heat forms byproduct for nearby machine’s heat input.
• Centralized air filtering equipment – easier maintenance.

Disadvantages
• Large space (plant room) for mechanical equipments e.g
chillers,cooling towers etc.,
• Complex control systems
• Size and length of the distribution trees
• Zone scheduling- entire system needs to be activated for serving one
zone.
• System breakdown affects the whole building.
Local System

Advantages
• Zone scheduling- local system can to be activated on desired zones.
• Large and centralized mechanical equipment spaces not needed.
• Dispersed production units – minimum size of distribution trees.
• Simplified control systems.
• System breakdown affects only a small portion building.

Disadvantages
• Noise generated by machines affects the occupants.
• Maintenance – need for accessing different locations.
• Regular cleaning of many filters scattered throughout the building.
D. Uniformity Vs Diversity

Uniformity
Uniformity of ceiling heights, light fixture placement, grill locations.

Advantages
•Flexibility of arrangement (building’s usable life span increased)
•Rapidity of design
•Rapidity of construction due to mass production and speed
•Lower cost

Diversity
Diversity requires a complete and detailed design of places.

• Diversity in thermal conditions – warmer offices and cooler circulation

spaces in the winter.
• Complex and interesting task for the designer and contractor.
• Different ambience as per user requirements (eg, retail shops, restaurants)
• Thermal comfort less in less critical spaces and comfortable in critical
spaces (energy can be saved significantly).
D. Uniformity Vs Diversity

Central AHU AHU at each floor

AHU at Intermediate floor AHU at top floor

Diversity
Passive solar heating -
E. Comparing Systems and Zones

Match between zones characteristics and those of various systems

• Zone placement
• Zone’s thermal load
• Comfort determinants based on zone’s activites
• Space for system components
• Life cycle cost of various system alternatives
• Zone systems will sometimes prelude local systems.
(local – depends on outdoor air)
• Thermal loads – determine the choice of system
E. Comparing Systems and Zones
F. Distribution trees
Decision on distribution trees
• How many trees
• Kind of system (air or water)
• Location within the building

• Central large equipment space. • Small equipments at regular Interval.

• Network of distribution trees. • Little or no distribution trees.
F. Distribution trees

FOX PLAZA BUILDING

COOLING TOWER

APARTMENTS

AHU for office floors

MECHANICAL FLOOR
(chillers, chiller pumps, pumps
for cooling tower water, boilers,
convertors)
OFFICES
G. Central equipment location
• High rise building – several intermediate mechanical floors

H. Concealment and Exposure

• Concealment –
Advantages – less care in construction (leaks).
- aesthetical appearance.
Disadvantages - difficulty in accessing .

• Exposure –
Advantages – flexibility for changes.
- no need for cut holes in concealed surfaces.
- easier for access.
Disadvantages - needs an interesting arrangement .
H. Concealment and Exposure
I Mechanical- Structural Integration or Separation
• Mechanical components – Dynamic load(air, water movement)
• Structural elements –Static load(gravity never ceases)

• Mechanical components –moving parts needs more maintenance

• Structural elements –no maintenance for connections

• Mechanical Structural integration – floor areas remained clear

J Distribution tree placement options

• Vertical placement options – affects floor space

• Horizontal placement options– affects ceiling height
J Distribution tree placement options
J Distribution tree placement options
Vertical distribution with internal circulation cores
• High rental valued spaces near to façade undisturbed.
• Large central vertical air shaft
• Duct Tapers in size as it moves vertically high.
• Fresh intake at each floor
• Exhaust air moves up due to stack effect
J Distribution tree placement options
Supply at edges for Vertical distribution and Horizontal distribution
• Vertical shaft at edges
• Shafts carry supply and return ducts serving 4 perimeter zones
• Each corner duct supply to 2 zones
HVAC SYSTEMS

Classification of HVAC systems are based on the type of media used

for heat transfer.
The most common are Air, water and refrigerant.

Types of HVAC systems

A. Direct refrigerant systems
B. All Air systems
C. Air and Water systems
D. All Water systems

A. Direct refrigerant systems

• Eliminates the distribution trees of air/water
• Relies on a heating/cooling device adjacent to the space or
within the space.
• Suitable for skin dominated building with extensive perimeter
zones.
• Split unit, Window unit
B. All Air systems
• Distribution trees are thick (air holds much less heat than water)
• Reduced duct sizes and higher air velocities.(more noise and higher friction)
• Increased Energy used by fans
• Outdoor air conditioned (heated or cooled, humidity controlled, filtered and freshened)
Types of All Air systems
I. Single zone systems
II. Single -duct VAV system
III. Fan powered VAV system
IV. Multizone systems
V. Single -duct with reheat
VI. Double- duct Constant volume systems

I. Single zone systems

Forced air system controlled by a single thermostat
IV Multizone systems
• Each zone receives centrally conditioned air stream that has individual
controls.
• Central station produces both warm and cold air stream that are mixed
at the central location.
• Single return air stream collects from all the zones.
II Single -duct VAV system
• Less floor space occupied when compared to multiduct systems.
• Central supply – normal velocity.
• Variation of air volume flow rate - saves energy.
• Variation of air volume flow rate –automatic volume control adjusts the
volume admitted to each zone. (controlled by thermostat)
III Fan Powered VAV system
• Fan-powered Series units have fans which are always energized in
occupied mode. They are common in premium VAV systems and in
applications such as conference rooms, cafeterias, etc. looking for
constant high airflow rates.
• Each individual units can be allowed to heat apart from the cooling
received from main supply.
• Units fan draws additional heat air from a ceiling or floor.
V Single -duct with reheat

• Small distribution trees – small reheat coil

attached (steam, hot water, electric
resistance).
• Central supply of cold air.
• Supply at maximum cooling demand at any
zone.
• Based on need reheating is done.
• More energy spend for heating –not
economical.
VI Double- duct Constant volume systems

• Two complete distribution trees – hot air stream , cold air stream.
• Air mixing is done.
• Both temperature and volume can be controlled.
• Better comfort
• Consumes space – volume for two distribution trees.
• Consumes more energy than single duct VAV system
C. Air and Water systems

• Most of heating and cooling by water distribution tree.

• Much thinner than air system.
• Total space required less than that of air systems.
• Exhaust air gathered in a return air duct system (heat
recovery possible).
• Two –pipe system (either heating or cooling only)
• Four –pipe system (simultaneous heating or cooling )
I Induction system

• Air terminal below windows.

• Supply of high velocity (high pressure) and constant volume fresh
air.
• Air inside the room is induced to join the incoming jet of air.
• Thorough circulation of air achieved with less centrally treated air.
• air then passes over finned tubes for heating or cooling.
• Thermostat – controls flow of water or flow of secondary air.
I Induction system
• Perimeter – Induction air and
water system
• Interior-VAV system
• Return collected at core

• S-water
• A-Supply air
• R-return air
II Fan coil with supplementary air system

• Air terminal below windows.

• Centrally conditioned air supplied at a constant volume stream.
• Fan moves both fresh and room air across a coil that heats or
cools the air as required.

Fan powered Induction Unit

As an advancement of Induction system and
Fan coil with supplementary air system we have FPIU systems
III Radiant panel with supplementary air
• Since the majority of the cooling process results from removing sensible
heat through radiant exchange with people and objects and not air,
occupant thermal comfort can be achieved with warmer interior air
temperatures than with air based cooling systems. As a result of the high
cooling capacity of water, and the delivery of a cooled surface close to the
desired indoor air temperature, radiant cooling systems potentially offer
reductions in cooling energy consumption
• Either ceiling , floor or wall panels contain heated or cooled water.
• Larger surface for radiant heat exchange.
• Centrally conditioned air supplied at a constant volume stream.
• Radiant cooling systems offer lower energy consumption than conventional
cooling systems.
III Radiant panel with supplementary air

Concrete core system – water circulated through plastic tubes

Embedded in concrete floor.
III Radiant panel with supplementary air

Panel system connected to metal tubes

III Radiant panel with supplementary air

• Cooling grids made of capillary tubes embedded in the

ceiling plaster/ ceiling panels
• High % of heat radiating to the cooled ceiling
IV Water loop heat pumps
 IV Water loop heat pumps

• Heat pumps (water-air) either draw

heat from the loop (heating mode) or
discharge heat in to the cooling mode.
• In cold weather – excess heat in the
interior zones are used to warm the
perimeter zones.
• In hot weather – central cooling tower
disposes excess heat.
• Individual heat pumps (related to
direct refrigerant systems).
• All water system.
D. All Water systems

• Four –pipe distribution trees.

• Smaller volume
• Simple FCU at ceiling
D. All Water systems
District Heating and cooling systems
District cooling/heating means the centralized production and distribution of
cooling/heating energy.

Chilled water/ hot water is delivered via an underground insulated

pipeline to buildings
District Heating and cooling systems - Advantages

• Very large, efficient and well maintained chillers.

• Increased Heat recovery through heat exchangers due to scale.
• Reduced pollution and noise
• District heating Common in north europe (electrical generation
plants are source of heat/steam-cogeneration.
• District Cooling Common in Middle east.
• closely densely located buildings beneficial when compared to
sprawling ones.
• Lengthy lines-more costlier to install and maintain.
Cooling load calculations
References

1. Benjamin Stein & John S. Reynolds : Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings .Nineth
edition,2000.
2. National Building Code of India, Bureau of Indian Standards, Second revision,2005.
3. http://servicesconsultant.blogspot.in/p/downloads.html

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