Castro, Xaira Alexa Mari L.

20-00618

ACTIVITY #4

Building mechanical systems exist to provide an environment that protects the

building structure, creates safe and healthy surroundings for the occupants, and

allows equipment that is housed within the facility to operate properly.

A key to proper application of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)

systems is an understanding of the needs that the systems are designed to address.

These needs include, for example, building material response to high humidity or

freezing conditions, human thermal comfort, and the impact of environmental

conditions on teaching or research equipment. It is also a requirement that the

systems be socially responsible through proper application of energy conservation

and pollution limitation strategies.

First and foremost, the mechanical systems of a facility should be designed to

accommodate the facility’s program. However, several issues surrounding the

mechanical design should be balanced with the program’s needs. These issues

include such things as functionality, cost, aesthetics, and energy consumption. Thus,

the selection of mechanical systems and the subsequent design of those systems is

an optimization process in which the effectiveness of the mechanical systems is

judged by the system’s ability to balance the various issues.

VENTILATION AIR SUPPLY

Supply ventilation systems use a fan to pressurize a structure, forcing outside

air into the building while air leaks out of the building through holes in the shell, bath

and range fan ducts, and intentional vents (if any exist).

Like exhaust ventilation systems, supply ventilation systems are relatively

simple and inexpensive to install. A typical supply ventilation system has a fan and

duct system that introduces fresh air into usually one, but preferably several, rooms

that residents occupy most, such as bedrooms and the living room. This system may

include adjustable window or wall vents in other rooms.

Supply ventilation systems allow better control of the air that enters the house

compared to exhaust ventilation systems. By pressurizing the house, supply

ventilation systems minimize outdoor pollutants in the living space and prevent back

drafting of combustion gases from fireplaces and appliances. Supply ventilation also

allows outdoor air introduced into the house to be filtered to remove pollen and dust

or dehumidified to provide humidity control.

Supply ventilation systems work best in hot or mixed climates. Because they

pressurize the house, these systems have the potential to cause moisture problems

in cold climates. In winter, the supply ventilation system causes warm interior air to

leak through random openings in the exterior wall and ceiling. If the interior air is humid

enough, moisture may condense in the attic or cold outer parts of the exterior wall,

resulting in mold, mildew, and decay.

Like exhaust ventilation systems, supply ventilation systems don’t temper or

remove moisture from the make-up air before it enters the house. Thus, they may
contribute to higher heating and cooling costs compared with energy recovery

ventilation systems. Because air is introduced into the house at discrete locations,

outdoor air may need to be mixed with indoor air before delivery to avoid cold air drafts

in the winter. An in-line duct heater is another option but increases operating costs.

Figure 1. Supply Ventilation System

EXHAUST SYSTEM

Exhaust ventilation systems work by depressurizing a structure. The system

exhausts air from the house, thus causing a change in pressure that pulls in make-up

from the outside through leaks in the building shell and intentional, passive vents.

Exhaust ventilation is most appropriate for colder climates, since in warmer climates,

depressurization can draw moist air into wall cavities where it may condense and

cause moisture damage.

 Exhaust ventilation systems are relatively simple and inexpensive to install.

Typically, an exhaust ventilation system consists of a single fan connected to a

centrally located, single exhaust point in the house. A better design is to connect the

fan to ducts from several rooms, preferably rooms where pollutants are generated,

such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Adjustable, passive vents through windows or walls can be installed in other

rooms to introduce fresh air rather than rely on leaks in the building envelope. Passive

vents may, however, require larger pressure differences than those induced by the

ventilation fan to work properly.

Figure 2. Exhaust Ventilation System

DUCT SYSTEM

The ventilation system in a building consists of air moving devices such as fans

and blowers and a network of ducts to exhaust the contaminated indoor air and to

bring in air from the outside of the building. Ducts are channels, tubes, or pipes that

carry moving air.

Duct systems should be designed to have air flow through the ducts with as

little friction or resistance as possible. The amount of air that flows through a duct

depends on the cross-section area (duct opening area) of the duct and the air speed.

Air moving too slowly will allow contaminants such as dusts to settle and accumulate.

These particles will eventually clog the duct. Air moving too fast wastes power, can

create noise problems, and may cause excessive abrasion, especially in branches

and elbows, due to increased friction between the air transporting dust particles and

the duct.

Duct systems typically require large amounts of air to move relatively small

amounts of contaminants. The required volume of airflow depends on the acceptable

concentration of air contaminants in the inside workspace. A carefully designed

system can achieve the required air concentration while using the least amount of

power. Other design considerations include initial capital costs, reliability,

maintenance, and durability of air handling equipment.

AIR VENTILATION FOR COMBUSTION

Air that is supplied to combustion appliances to be used in the combustion of

fuels and the process of venting combustion gases. Inadequate combustion air can

lead to dangerous problems. The duct work installed to bring fresh, outside air to the
furnace and/or hot water heater. Normally 2 separate supplies of air are brought in:

one high (for ventilation) and one low (for combustion).

Where combustion air openings are provided with volume, smoke or fire

dampers, the dampers shall be interlocked with the firing cycle of the appliances

served, to prevent operation of any appliance that draws combustion air from the room

or space when any of the dampers are closed. Manual dampers shall not be installed

in combustion air ducts. Ducts not provided with dampers and that pass through rated

construction shall be enclosed in a shaft in accordance with the International Building

Code.

CHIMNEYS AND VENTS

Chimney

A primarily vertical structure containing one or more flues, for the purpose of

carrying gaseous products of combustion and air from a fuel-burning appliance to the

outdoor atmosphere.

Vent

A pipe or other conduit composed of factory-made components, containing a

passageway for conveying combustion products and air to the atmosphere, listed and

labeled for use with a specific type or class of appliance.

Vent Types Appliance Types

Oil-burning appliances listed and labeled for
Type L oil vents venting with Type L vents; gas appliances listed
and labeled for venting with Type B vents.
Pellet fuel-burning appliances listed and labeled for
Pellet vents
venting with pellet vents.
Table 1. Vent Application
 Chimneys and vents shall be designed and constructed to provide the

necessary draft and capacity for each appliance connected to completely exhaust the

products of combustion to the outside air. The temperature on adjacent combustible

surfaces shall not be raised above 160°F (71.1°C). Chimneys and vents shall be

designed to resist the effects of condensation that would cause deterioration of the

chimney or vent.

SMOKE CONTROL / FIRE STOP PROTECTION

Smoke Control

A smoke control system is a system that controls the movement of smoke and

air in a building. It can be made up of multiple different components and use several

methods to achieve its design objective, which is typically to maintain a tenable

environment long enough for all occupants to egress the building. The design

objective for a smoke control system can vary depending on the situation in which it

is being used, for example a hospital might have a design objective of containing

smoke to the zone of fire origin. These systems can also be part of the existing HVAC

systems, or they can be standalone systems.

There are multiple ways to establish smoke control. Smoke containment

systems keep smoke from entering specific areas using pressurization and are

commonly found in enclosed stairwells. Smoke management systems maintain

tenable environments in the means of egress from large volume spaces or prevent

the movement of smoke into surrounding spaces. Smoke management systems are

typically found installed in buildings with large multilevel atriums.

Fire Stop

Fire stopping, also known as compartmentation, is a fundamental part of

passive fireproofing. It refers to the process of filling openings and joints between walls

and floors with fire-resistant material, inhibiting the spread of fire between

‘compartments’ within a building.

Fire stopping is an essential component of a building’s safety. They’re required

to help prevent the spread of fire through the different compartments of a building.

Without having fire stops correctly installed, smoke and flames can quickly travel

through a building, damaging the property and risking the lives of its occupants. Fire

stops also help emergency services to suppress the fire before it spreads beyond

control.

HYDRONICS

Hydronics, in simple terms, refers to a central heating system that utilizes hot

water to heat your home. It is the most comfortable, versatile, economical, and

effective heating option available. These systems are used extensively in Europe

where the high cost and limited availability of fuel require homeowners to seek the

most economical and effective heating options. The installation of hydronic heating

systems is increasing dramatically in North America, as homeowners realize how

comfortable and cost-efficient, they can be.

An efficient gas or oil boiler is used to heat water, which is an excellent

conductor of heat. The heated water is circulated throughout the home using your

choice of underfloor tubing, slim baseboard radiators, or decorative wall panels that

deliver the heat evenly to each room in your home. The water is then returned to the
boiler to be re-heated and re-circulated. Because of its physical properties, water

releases heat gradually when passed through the radiator in each room. This creates

a very comfortable living environment where heat distribution is even and controllable,

as there are no fans blowing high volumes of air creating hot and cold spots.

The water loses only a fraction of its warmth as it travels throughout your home

and requires less fuel to reheat it to circulation temperature. With a hydronic system

you’ll reduce your fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent. Weather responsive controls,

computer sensors and individual room thermostats ensure that your system operates

efficiently and provides you with warmth and comfort unmatched by conventional

furnaces.

STEAM AND HOT WATER BOILERS

A closed heating appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space

heating, processing, or power purposes. Low-pressure boilers operate at pressures

less than or equal to 15 pounds per square inch (psi) (103 kPa) for steam and 160 psi

(1103 kPa) for water. High-pressure boilers operate at pressures exceeding those

pressures.

Building steam heating system pressures rarely exceed 125 pounds. Low-

pressure steam heating systems offer the advantage of moderate steam temperatures

when compared with higher pressure steam and low-pressure boilers; they require

less stringent monitoring than do high-pressure boilers under most codes. Steam

heating systems using radiators directly within the space are not common in modem

buildings but are found quite frequently in older buildings. Objections to steam include

excessively hot radiation temperatures, difficulty of pipe installation because of the

need to drain condensate, excessively large supply pipe sizes, and the tendency of

return lines to corrode. An additional disadvantage is that the entire system, including

piping, is at excessively high temperatures most of the time.

Systems exist that can operate under sub atmospheric and vacuum conditions

and produce steam at lower temperatures. These systems require good maintenance

to maintain the vacuum. Orifices installed in the inlet to the radiation restrict the flow

of steam, creating sub atmospheric conditions within the radiation unit itself because

of the vacuum maintained at the radiator outlet. In effect, the steam temperature can

be “reset” down by varying the pressure within the radiator. This can be effective in a

properly maintained system but currently is not in common use. In many early heating

systems, the main steam riser is extended from the basement or boiler room level up

into the attic space. There the steam piping system is divided into branches, and the

steam is down fed to the radiation around the perimeter of the building. The main

reason for one or more large risers is the economics of pipe sizing resulting from a

single riser. When steam is supplied vertically, the condensate, by its very nature,

flows down against the steam. This requires oversized steam pipes to prevent water

hammer. A single oversized riser is much cheaper than multiple risers.

A major disadvantage of a steam heating system is the space required by

horizontal runs. The pipe should be pitched uniformly, approximately 1 inch in 50 feet.

Every time the horizontal steam main encounters an obstruction, the gravity flow of

liquid condensate within the pipe presents complications that have to be

accommodated.
 Steam systems require careful maintenance of the steam traps. Typically,

radiation systems found in spaces has a thermostatic trap. Large coils often have a

float and a thermostatic trap, in the case of a low-pressure steam coil, and a bucket

trap for high-pressure steam coils. One of the operating characteristics of low-

pressure steam heating systems is that the air trapped within the radiation system

must be eliminated. Traps are typically designed to provide for the removal of air.

Standing cast iron radiation systems can be provided with a separate air vent because

of the large volume of the steam chamber.

When steam traps leak, the entire heating system supply and return operates

at essentially the steam supply temperature, creating excessive fuel use. It is not

unusual for the energy loss to amount to 20 to 25 percent of the energy consumption

of a building. A facility without a steam trap maintenance program will probably have

more than 50 percent of the traps not working. With modern electronic temperature-

sensing devices, it is relatively easy to determine whether a steam trap is functioning

properly.

Steam used in heating coils tends to freeze up rapidly when used for heating

fresh air. In a multizone unit, or any air-handling unit with a long steam coil, the end of

the coil located farthest from the steam inlet tends to be colder. In the case of a

multizone air-handling unit, if a small zone is attached to the hot deck on the far end

of the coil, the coil will often have insufficient heating capacity because of a lower air

temperature provided by the colder end of the coil. Double-feed coils are available for

situations where long coils are used. This eliminates most of the problems of cold

spots in the coil.

 One of the major advantages of steam is that, unlike hot water heating systems,

it can be distributed without pumps. As a result, steam heating systems have low

energy transportation costs. Typically, the only energy required, other than that for the

boiler burner, is the pump required to return the condensate back into the boiler. In

the case of a gravity system, pumps are not required.

Hot water heating systems have many advantages, including relatively small

pipe sizes, flexibility relative to routing throughout a building, the ability to vary the

water temperature through a wide range, ease of zoning, and quiet operation. Their

greatest advantage, of course, is the ability to be combined with a chilled water

system, providing heating and air conditioning from the same piping system and often

the same air conditioning and heating device, such as a fan coil unit and air-handling

unit.

Hot water heating systems experience little or no corrosion if properly operated

and maintained. Entrained air in a hot water heating system causes corrosion and

circulation problems. The initial water introduced into the system can attack the pipe

for a brief period; however, that action soon stabilizes itself. If the water is not replaced,

drained off, or lost through leakage, corrosion essentially stops. A mistaken notion on

the part of many heating system operators is that chemical treatment should be added

periodically to a hot water heating system. This is true only if that judgment is based

on careful analysis. The introduction of a small amount of new water will cause only a

mild amount of corrosion. It is not unusual to open gravity hot water heating systems

that have been operating for 65 years in residences and find essentially no corrosion

of the piping. Excessive chemical treatment of hot water heating systems can destroy
radiation and zone valves. Facilities personnel should question regular chemical

treatment for a closed water system, be it chilled water or hot water.

Hot water heating systems can be zoned in much the same fashion as a steam

system; however, they have the additional advantage of being able to have the

temperature varied within each zone. In a high-rise dormitory building with individual

room radiators, it is entirely possible to zone the entire face of the building based on

exposure and vary the water temperature to maintain uniform temperatures in all

spaces in the zone. Rooms with manual radiation control can provide uniform space

temperatures throughout the day as the sun strikes the face of the building in the

morning and the far side in the afternoon. Uniform temperatures are also maintained

throughout the night. A manual radiation valve within each space permits the occupant

to select his or her own specific temperature adjustment within the range of the

radiator capacity and the water supply temperature provided.

Hot water heating systems, because of their reset capability, have lower heat

losses and greater energy economies. Typically, hot water heating systems are

designed for a 20°F temperature differential between the temperature of the water

leaving the heating source and that of the water at return. This differential is seldom

achieved because it is based on peak heating conditions. Systems can be designed

for large temperature differentials if they are for heating only. Differentials of 40°F and

60°F can be used, which reduces the pipe size and pumping costs considerably. This

approach requires careful sizing of the radiation devices, because of the large

temperature drop experienced. In long pieces of fin tube radiation, the far end can

become excessively cold. Where a hot water heating distribution system also serves
as a chilled water system, in most cases the pipe sizing is determined by the chilled

water flow and the temperature drop.

A properly sized hot water heating system will operate with relatively low

pumping costs. It can be provided with multiple pumps or one large individual pump

with a standby pump and single- or multiple-zone water temperature control valves.

A hot water heating system should be designed so that air can be eliminated

from all high points, as well as from radiation and coils. The system is often used with

all-air air conditioning systems and particularly with variable volume systems. The

control of the radiation can be integrated with the air conditioning control for each zone

to avoid simultaneous heating and cooling of the space.

Hot water heating systems are particularly adaptable to resetting temperatures

to a lower point during unoccupied hours of operation and for heat reclaim purposes.

The heat can consist of condenser water from an air conditioning cycle or heat pump

cycle, or it can be waste heat from a separate operation in the facility.

REFRIGERATION

A combination of interconnected refrigeration-containing parts constituting one

closed refrigerant circuit in which a refrigerant is circulated for the purpose of

extracting heat and in which a compressor is used for compressing the refrigerant

vapor.

The big majority of refrigerators work based on a principle known as vapor

compression. A typical refrigeration system is composed of four basic components:

compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporator. A volatile fluid

(refrigeration fluid) flows through the refrigeration system where it is repeatedly

converted into liquid and vapor forms. The compressor is responsible for compressing

superheated vapor from low pressure (evaporating pressure) to high pressure

(condensation pressure). After that, the refrigeration fluid at high pressure and

temperature runs towards the condenser.

The condenser is a heat exchanger that operates at high pressure and in a

temperature that is higher than the temperature of the environment where the system

is located. This way, the condenser is capable of rejecting heat from the refrigerant

fluid to the environment. This process of heat rejection reduces the total energy of the

refrigerant fluid taking it from the condition of superheated vapor to the condition of

subcooled liquid in the heat exchanger exit.

The refrigerant fluid in the liquid state typically runs through a filter dryer,

responsible for removing the eventually present humidity from the system. On the way

out the filter dryer , the refrigerant then expands in the expansion device (a capillary

tube or expansion valve, for example) having its pressure reduced, which causes part

of the refrigerant to shift phases (from liquid to vapor state).

It is the process of transforming the refrigerant from liquid into vapor that causes

the temperature reduction in the fluid. Refrigeration systems usually count on an

intermediate heat exchanger, or a so-called CT-SL HX (capillary tube suction line heat

exchanger). In general terms, this heat exchanger has the function of reducing the

enthalpy in the evaporator inlet (specific cooling capacity gain) and raising the

refrigerant temperature in the compressor suction, reducing problems such as line

sweating or liquid return into the compressor.

When leaving the expansion device, the refrigerant fluid is in a two-phase state (vapor

+ liquid) at evaporating pressure. It is the refrigerant flow, at low temperature, through

the heat exchanger (evaporator) that allows the removal of energy from the

refrigerated environment (for example, the freezer compartment of a domestic

refrigerator). When absorbing energy from the refrigerated environment (reducing the

freezer’s temperature), the refrigerant ends its evaporation process and, typically, all

the remaining liquid is transformed into vapor which flows towards the compressor

suction, where the cycle repeats.

Figure 3. Refrigeration System

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

It is important to understand the functionality of fire protection systems.

Systems work in different ways, but all have a common goal to detect a fire and protect

the building, its occupants, and valuables. A common fire protection system is a smoke

detector and a sprinkler. If a fire sparks, smoke sets off the detector causing the

sprinkler system to activate. The water protects against the spread of fire. While this

is an effective method, when dealing with certain critical equipment or special hazards,

automatic fire suppression systems using clean agents are a better choice. These

systems detect and suppress fire while leaving no residue.

One of the main benefits of a fire protection system is that in the long run, it

saves money. Think of a business and what investments are made in manufacturing

equipment, information technology hardware, and infrastructure. If a fire impacts

operations for a significant period, it could cost a company millions of dollars. A prime

example is a machine shop that manufactures parts. If the shop were to experience a

fire and shut down for multiple days or weeks, the business would suffer immensely.

Equipment may need to be replaced, and valuable contracts could be lost. Businesses

must take into consideration all factors when they look at the price of a fire protection

system.

Another benefit of some types of fire protection systems is the automatic

dispatching of emergency services. These systems will work to immediately suppress

the fire, while also notifying the authorities to send emergency professionals to your

location.
ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS

Elevators

An elevator (lift) is a permanent lifting installation serving two or more defined

landing levels, comprising an enclosed space, or car, whose dimensions and means

of construction clearly permit the access of people, and which runs between rigid

vertical guides. A lift, therefore, is a vehicle for raising and lowering people and/or

goods from one floor to another floor within a building directly (single push-button

control) or with intermediate stops (collective control).

Elevators are driven directly by an electric motor (electric lifts; see figure 1) or

indirectly, through the movement of a liquid under pressure generated by a pump

driven by an electric motor (hydraulic lifts).

Electric lifts are almost exclusively driven by traction machines, geared or

gearless, depending on car speed. The designation “traction” means that the power

from an electric motor is transmitted to the multiple rope suspension of the car and a

counterweight by friction between the specially shaped grooves of the driving or

traction sheave of the machine and the ropes.

Hydraulic lifts have become widely used since the 1970s for the transport of

goods and passengers, usually for a height not exceeding six floors. Hydraulic oil is

used as pressure fluid. The direct-acting system with a ram supporting and moving

the car is the simplest one.

Escalators

An escalator is a continuous moving, inclined stairway which conveys

passengers upward and downward. Escalators are used in commercial buildings,

department stores and railway and underground stations, to guide a stream of people

in a confined route from one level to another.

Inside comprises of a couple of chains which are folded over two apparatuses.

These apparatuses are driven by an incredible electric engine. It is exceptionally basic

to see lifts with 100 HP engines. The chains, gears, and the engine are encased in a

structure called the support. Bracket keeps running along the floors that the lift should

benefit.

These chains of the Escalators move a progression of metallic advances. Each

progression in the lift get together has its own two arrangements of wheels which

proceed onward separate tracks. The upper wheels are the one which moves with the

chain though the lower wheels guarantee that the dimension of the progression is kept

up at some random snapshot of activity. As all of us more likely than not watched,

each progression in the lift is collapsible. It crumples to a level surface toward the start

and toward the finish of the elevator. It represents the sheltered and smooth ride for

the user.

The side snatch rail, the rail keeps running with the lift. It is intended to give

extra help to the user. These rails likewise keep running toward the elevators and at

a similar speed. It is an incredible element for the elderly user and as a rule each user

of elevators. This rail or as more usually alluded to the handrail has an arrangement

of little wheels under it. It’s made up of elastic and is fueled by a similar engine which

controls the fundamental elevator.

Xaira Alexa Mari L. Castro