HVAC

HVAC: Heating,Ventilation, and Air conditioning; is the use of various technologies to control
temperature, humidity and purity of air in an enclosed space. The main components of HVAC
are; heat exchanger, blower motor, combustion chamber, condenser, evaporator, thermostat,
refrigerant.
Basic categories of HVAC
Split system
Hybrid system
Duct-free system
Packaged heating and hair system
Difference between HVAC and air conditioning
HVAC system consists of several components that work together to regulate the temperature and
ventilation of a building, while AC consist of just air conditioner.
Benefit of a smart HVAC system
 You can control your air conditioning unit from anywhere as you can access your AC
through an app.
 You can create zones using a smart controller and control the temperature in different
rooms.
 Smart air conditioning unit also help reduce your carbon foot print by running
intelligently throughout the day.
MEP- Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing: allows building suitable for human use and
occupancy.
Components:
Pumps
Chillers
Fans
Air handling unit
Motor control centres
Distribution panel
Transformers and distribution systems including; piping, duct work and conduit.
Benefits of MEP
Controlled carbon dioxide emission
Reduced overall energy consumption
Utilities sustainable energy
Conserves water usage
MEP software is a subset of CAD software that is specifically designed for users in the
mechanical, electrical and plumbing

VENTILATION SYSTEMS
The general purpose of ventilation system is to provide healthy air for breathing by both diluting
the pollutants originating in the building and removing the pollutants from it.
Types of ventilation systems
 Mechanical
 Natural
 Hybrid
 Spot system
Fundamental elements of ventilation system
 Ventilation rate
 Airflow Direction
Role of ventilation in AC
 Replenishes oxygen
 Help regulate internal temperatures and humidity
 Reduces accumulation of contaminants that build up
 Creaates fluid air movement
Electrical components of an AC
Capacitor
The capacitor absorbs and stores electricity from the main supply. Capacitors maintain a constant
supply of charge that produces efficient and continuous power sources, necessary for starting up
and running fan motors. A capacitor unit is equipped with both the start capacitor and a run
capacitor. A start capacitor will usually power up the motor whenever a cooling cycle begins,
whereas the run capacitor keeps the motor running steadily through the cycle.
Contactors
Contactor controls the flow of electricity within the air conditioning system, by providing and
cutting off the supply whenever necessary. When the cooling cycle has not been initiated, the
contactor will maintain an ‘up’ position, blocking flow of electricity to any of the components.
As the cooling cycle begins, a signal from the thermostat will initiate a voltage flow that takes
the contactor to a ‘down’ position, paving way for the flow of electricity.

Relays
Relays are responsible for dictating the amount of time between the closing and opening of
electric circuits, to allow the flow of current in the air conditioning system. Time delays allow
the blower motor to continue running, even after the compressor has been turned off by the
thermostat. As the motor continues running, it utilizes the cooling effect of the evaporator,
producing additional chilled air and improving overall air conditioning efficiency.
Fan Motor
The motor is solely responsible for the flow of air in and out of a conditioned space. Running of
the motor enables circulation of air within the room, keeping internal room parameters such as
temperature, humidity and air quality. Fan motors are equipped with overload protection within
its windings, preventing serious damages due to overheating.
Crankcase Heater
It is an electric resistance heater connected to the mains supply of the air conditioner. Most
crankcase heaters are operational, even when the system is off. The electric heaters are required
to keep the refrigerant, which handles the heating and cooling, at a temperature that is slightly
higher than the coldest part of the system. A heated crankcase prevents migration of the
refrigerant, which tends to flow back to the condenser, especially over long-off cycles.
Thermostat
It is responsible for monitoring room temperature conditions. An increase in room temperatures
will prompt the thermostat contacts to close, sending a signal to the contactors, thereby starting
the compressor. On achieving required room conditions, the thermostat contacts open, stopping
the compressor.

Pressure Switches
These are safety equipment, mounted on both the low pressure and high-pressure sides of the air
conditioner. The switches monitor variations in refrigerant pressure, protecting the compressor
from extremely low or extremely high pressures. The high pressure causes overheating, while
low pressure causes mechanical damage to the compressor. In case of a sharp rise or drop in
refrigerant pressure within the system, the switches will send electric signals to the contactors,
thereby turning off the compressor.
Electrical Wiring and Cabling
Air conditioners have two sets of electrical cabling. There is a dedicated voltage line that
supplies the electric power from the main supply to the air conditioner. Usually, the voltage
ratings for most air conditioners is 240V. The other set of wiring is the communication cables,
which relays electric signals between the outdoor and indoor air conditioning units. The
communication wiring starts at the thermostat and is usually rated 24V.

Automatic Voltage Switcher (AVS)

This acts as a surge protector, ensuring that the air conditioning units receive correct voltages for
their operations, preventing under voltage or over voltage which may cause damage to
equipment. The AVS turns off the equipment automatically whenever the power exceeds the
preset acceptable limits and automatically reconnects when main supply reverts to normal.
Electrical Circuit of Air Conditioner:
The following electrical components are fitted with the air conditioner:
1. Motor compressor with overload protection.
2. Starting Relay
3. Starting and running capacitor
4. Fan motor with capacitor
5. Thermostat
6. On/Off switch with speed control
Working priciple:
When the supply is ‘ON’, the high current flows in the motor starting winding, it starts and also
the relay contacts close and connect the starting capacitor to the starting winding. As the motor
gradually reaches the normal speed, the current in the running winding decreases, making the
relay open, thus disconnecting the supply to the starting winding of the motors.

The overload protector protects the motor against excessive overload. This protection is provided
inside the compressor and its function is to open the compressor motor circuit. Basically it is a
bimetallic disc with contacts. When excessive current flows in the motor, the temperature
increases, thus opening the circuit automatically to stop the motor.

Compressor terminals supply electricity to compressors in applications such as refrigeration,

chilling, and air conditioning. Compressor terminals prevent refrigerant leakage and maintain
hermeticity under adverse operating conditions to support efficient and reliable functionality of
cThe terminals of a three-phase compressor are labeled T1, T2, and T3. A single-phase
compressor, on the other hand, will have three terminals labeled S, R, and C. (Start, Run, and
Common).ompressors.

The phase sequence of an air conditioning system refers to the order in which the three phases of
alternating current (AC) power are connected to the system. It is important to ensure the correct
phase sequence for the proper operation of the equipment. In a three-phase AC system, there are
three conductors labeled as A, B, and C, and they are usually color-coded for easy identification
(e.g., L1, L2, and L3).

The correct phase sequence for a typical air conditioning system in many regions follows the
standard sequence:

Phase A (L1) is connected to the compressor motor.

Phase B (L2) is connected to the condenser fan motor.
Phase C (L3) is connected to the evaporator fan motor and other components.
This sequence ensures that the components of the air conditioning system receive power in the
correct order and maintain the system's functionality and efficiency.

If the phase sequence is incorrect, it can lead to problems such as reverse rotation of motors,
reduced efficiency, and potential damage to the equipment. To prevent these issues, phase
sequence indicators or phase rotation meters can be used to verify the correct phase sequence
before connecting or operating the air conditioning system. These devices help ensure that the
phases are correctly aligned for the system to function properly.

ADD PHASE SEQUENCE INDICATOR IMAGE