UNITY UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING

COURSE: Architectural Science III - ARCH 3132

[HEATING, COOLING AND VENTILATION]

| CHAPTER 6. Active controls: HVAC|

INSTRUCTOR: Henok Sime (PAUP, CM, ME, MSC)

hefa2001@gmail.com
Chapter VI- ACTIVE CONTROLS: HVAC
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC
 Generally, where passive controls cannot fully ensure THERMAL COMFORT,
some energy-based mechanical system can be used to supplement their
performance.
 Active ventilation refers to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
systems that use energy to function.
 Most buildings use a combination of active and passive systems in practice.
 While passive systems can have a major impact on the interior environment,
active systems are usually needed to effectively maintain comfort in all
situations.
 This, however, is the appropriate order to think about the problem of comfort –
PASSIVE FIRST with SUPPORT FROM ACTIVE, not the other way around.
 The task of such a system (HVAC) is usually referred to as the ‘load’ (heating
load, air conditioning load).
 From the mechanical engineering viewpoint the task of the building design (i.e.
of the passive controls) is to reduce such a load as far as practicable.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC
 The goal of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is to
create and maintain a comfortable environment within a building.
COMFORT REQUIREMENTS
 A comfortable environment, however, is broader than just temperature and
humidity. Comfort requirements that are typically impacted by the HVAC system
include:
 Dry-bulb temperature
 Humidity
 Air movement
 Fresh air
 Cleanliness of the air
 Noise levels
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC
 The purpose of HVAC systems is to adjust air
temperature, radiant temperatures, relative
humidity, and air motion to put human
inhabitants into the ‘COMFORT ZONE’.
 This can be done in numerous ways and must
take into account several factors during system
selection:
 Initial cost, performance, and long-term
expense of the system,
 Fuel and power sources required to run
the system,
 Size and location of the equipment,
 Heating or cooling medium used,
 Distribution and return systems –
particularly the size,
 Outlet size, type, and locations,
 Humidity, fresh air, and filtering,
 Noise and vibration control.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 There are three basic types of HVAC systems:

 All Air,
 All Water, and
 Direct Expansion or Refrigerant systems.
 All systems follow the same issues listed above in system selection, but handle
them in different ways.

 All Air Systems have the

heating or refrigerating
units control the quality
of the air, from heat to
cold and humidity to
filtering.
 This air is then delivered
through ducts to the
final room destination.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC systems
All Air Systems.
 Common types are single and double duct systems.
 Single duct systems. force either warm or cold air at a constant temperature
through low velocity ducts to the spaces.
 Variable airflow systems use dampers at the outlets to control airflow based on the needs of
the space.
 Reheat systems can also heat air right at the point of delivery to avoid loss of heat in the
ducts.

Single duct systems

 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC systems

All Air Systems.

 Common types are single and
double duct systems.
 Double duct systems, deliver
both warm and cold air
simultaneously to mixing
 units that create the
appropriate temperature to
deliver to the space.
 This mixing takes place with
thermostatically controlled
dampers run from a
thermostat.
 This is usually a high velocity
system to reduce duct sizes.
 Mixing units or VAV (variable
air volume) boxes may serve
different individual spaces or
zones of a building.
Double duct systems
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

All Water Systems deliver hot or chilled water to spaces, which runs in smaller
piping than air ducts.
 This water runs into fan coil units that blow air over the hot or cold coils of fluid
to heat or cool the space.
 Radiators are also used without the fans to heat spaces.
 Ventilation or air changes must be supplied separately from the system to get
fresh air into the spaces.

 Two pipe systems circulate either

hot or cold water in then out of the
space.

 Four pipe systems circulate both

hot and cold water simultaneously
in separate circuits to provide
necessary heating and cooling to
different parts of a building.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 Direct Expansion Systems

(Refrigerant Systems),
 Are self-contained units used on
rooftop or through wall
applications.
 These systems can eliminate
ductwork and can serve individual
needs of spaces without providing
unnecessary capacity – in other
words you only run what you need.
 Small sections of ductwork can also
be used to distribute air from a
centrally located unit.
 Cooling is provided by air cooled
condensers or chiller units which
require an indoor to outdoor loop.
 Heating is accomplished by gas or
oil furnaces, electric heaters, or
heat pumps
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 A HEAT PUMP
 Is an electrically powered heating
and cooling unit.
 It uses an evaporative cooling cycle
to absorb and transfer indoor heat
to the outdoors for cooling.
 For heating energy is drawn from
the outdoor air by reversing the
cooling cycle and switching the heat
exchange functions of the
condenser and evaporator.
 Heat pumps work well in mild
climates where heat and cooling
loads are equal.
 A Heat Pump reverses the cooling
cycle to extract heat from a low
temperature source, such as outside
air, to heat a building.
THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS

 Air Distribution Systems can be
centralized or de-centralized
which affects the method of
distribution.
 De-centralized units often
require little distribution runs or
ductwork because they can blow
air directly into the space.
 Centralized systems require a
more extensive distribution
system, which means there is less
equipment but more duct runs

Centralized And De-centralized Air Distribution Systems

 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC
Systems

 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS

 Air duct systems require
more space than water
systems and must be
thought of early in the
design process in order to
work with structural
systems, lights, wall layouts
and other services.
 These various systems can
take large amounts of space
above a ceiling and need to
be considered with the
structural system
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS

 Ductwork distribution typically
runs vertically in a chase to feed a
floor and horizontally in the floor
or ceiling to feed spaces within
each floor.
 This system can be reversed with
main feeds horizontally and
individual feeds vertically, but it is
much less common as multiple
vertical chases are required in the
right locations to distribute air
Ductwork chase distribution types

• A duct system is often described as a “tree system” in which the main trunk is the
largest duct and the branches get progressively smaller.
• As much as possible, ducts should run parallel to deep structural elements and lighting
fixtures to prevent wasted space when various building elements cross each other
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS

 Horizontal distribution patterns are
typically defined as
Radial,
 Radial,
 Perimeter Or
 Lateral.
 Radial patterns use minimal duct
runs, but rely on unobstructed
space.
 Perimeter loop systems work well to
resist exterior heat/cold loads and Perimeter
are typically fed from the floor
 Lateral systems use the most duct
run, but accommodate flexible
distribution patterns, structural
obstructions and segmented spaces
on a floor
Lateral
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS
High vs. Low Supply and Return
 It affects the efficiency of the system
at different times of the year.
 The basic rule of thumb in cold
climates is to supply low and return
high, this puts warm into the space at
the bottom and as it naturally rises it
returns into the system.
 The problem is in warm weather you
are trying to supply cold air low and it
wants to stay low rather than mix
into the space making the system
inefficient during this cycle of the
system.
 The opposite is true in warm climates
when supply is typically high to allow
cool air to fall into the space.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS
High vs. Low Supply and Return

 In cool weather the high supply keep the

warm air at the ceiling.
 The typical way to deal with these problems
are to increase the velocity of the air during
the off cycle to blow past the natural
tendency of the air temperature rise and fall,
an inefficient means of solving this issue.
 This is certainly an area where you should be
trying to use the most effective passive
systems and use the mechanical systems to
deal with conditions that the passive
systems don’t handle as well.
 Also, creating hybrid systems such as radiant
heat at the base of cold window or wall
surfaces with air systems elsewhere can
improve performance and efficiency.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS
Throw, Spread and Fall
 Are the actions of the air once it enters the space.
 Outlets should be located to distribute air
comfortably, without drafts, and without
stratification.
 Throw distance and spread must be considered
along with avoiding obstructions to airflow.
1.8m
 The standard throw of air into a room should be
3/4 of the total depth.
 At the 3/4 point the air should be at head height
or approximately 1.8 m above the floor.
 Air is typically blown toward the exterior wall
where the cooled or heated air can reduce the
radiant temperature of the surface.
 Registers should be placed to supply air evenly
into a space; therefore they sit away from
sidewalls and far enough apart to mix with
minimal overlap
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 AIR FLOW IN BUILDINGS
Registers and Diffusers
 Are arranged to create the
desired effects of airflow.
 Diffusers typically supply air at
the ceiling and have curved fins
to run air away from the source.
 Registers are air supply grilles
with usually operable damper
fins to control air direction.
 Registers are typically wall or
floor mounted.
 Return grilles are most often
open grates or straight fins that
simply pull air back into the
system.
 The returns are placed away
from the supply to not short
circuit the airflow through the
space.
Registers and Diffusers
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 Refrigeration & heat transfer

The Refrigeration Cycle
 Is a process that moves heat from one place to
another.
 Kitchen refrigerators move heat from the
storage area to the surrounding room.
 Air conditioners move heat from the rooms to
the outdoors.
 A large quantity of heat is required to change
the state of liquid to steam; this is referred to as
latent heat.
 Latent heat is the key to moving large quantities
of heat with small amounts of refrigerant.
 To move heat from an area of low temperature
to an area of high temperature (for instance, The Refrigeration Cycle
24°C inside to 35°C outside) refrigeration
equipment needs to change the boiling
temperature of the refrigerant.
 This is accomplished by changing the pressure
of the refrigerant .
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 Refrigeration & heat transfer

The Refrigeration Cycle
 During the Cooling cycle an evaporator
coil absorbs heat from its surroundings,
heated refrigerant within the coil
evaporates internally.
 The refrigerant vapour is drawn into a
compressor where pressure and,
therefore, boiling (or condensing)
temperature are increased.
 The refrigerant vapour is then
discharged into a condenser coil, where
it gives up the latent heat absorbed in
the evaporator and returns to a liquid
state.
 Finally, liquid refrigerant circulates
through an expansion valve, where
pressure and evaporation temperature
are reduced; the cycle is then repeated. The Refrigeration Cycle
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems

 Refrigeration & heat transfer

Chiller and Cooling Towers

 In large buildings it is impractical to move

heat with air only because ducts would
become too large.
 Therefore a chiller is added to the evaporator,
and chilled water is circulated to air handling
units throughout the building.
 Cooling towers increase efficiency by keeping
the temperature of the outdoor exchange
lower, by using at huge scale the evaporation
of water to lower the exterior temperature
that the refrigerant coil goes through (say Chiller and cooling tower arrangement.
29°C water rather than 35°C air).
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR MECHANICAL A
111111

SYSTEMS

 Because the mechanical and electrical

equipment requires 6 to 9 percent of
the total floor area of most buildings,
sufficient and properly located spaces
should be allocated for it.
 By incorporating the following rules
and design guidelines at the schematic
design stage, one can prevent many a The required floor area is a percentage of the gross building
serious design problems later on. area served (parking is excluded). Use the upper end of the
range for small buildings and for large buildings with a great
 SIZING GUIDELINES deal of mechanical equipment (e.g., laboratories and hospitals).
 For the FLOOR-AREA and CEILING-HEIGHT b Use the lower end of the range in ceiling height for smaller
requirements of the various parts of a buildings.
c Since cooling towers and packaged units are usually not roofed
mechanical system, see Table A.
over, the heights given are for the actual equipment, not ceiling
 Note that the spatial requirements for height. d The required area refers to fan-coil units
the air-handling units depend mostly
on whether an all-air, air-water, or all-
water system is use
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
 DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR MECHANICAL
SYSTEMS

 SIZING GUIDELINES
 Ducts for horizontal air distribution
are usually above the ceiling and, *
therefore, do not use up any of the • When used, return ducts are at least as large as these
floor area. supply ducts.
• Use the large end of the range for spaces with large
 However, since floor-to-floor heights
cooling loads or when ductwork has many turns.
are very much dependent on the size • For the vertical-shaft space, use about twice the area
of horizontal ducts, use Table B for a of the duct risers
rough early estimate of duct sizes.
B
1111111
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Fig. C. Usually, the mechanical
 LOCATION GUIDELINES equipment rooms (MERs) should
be centrally located and have
I. For Medium-sized Buildings: access to the outdoors.
1. Place the equipment on the roof; or
2.Use a mechanical equipment room (MER) centrally located to
minimize duct sizes, and place it along an outside wall for easy servicing
(Fig.C).
II. For Large Multistore Buildings:

1.Place the centralized mechanical equipment in

the basement, on the roof, or on intermediate
floors (Fig.)
2. The cooling tower should be placed on the
roof or on out of-the-way adjacent land (Fig.).
3. Any additional MER on each floor should be
centrally located to minimize duct sizes and
distance air has to be moved. If these MERs
require large amounts of outdoor air, they
should be located along an outside wall (Fig. C ). Fig. D. common locations for centralized mechanical
equipment spaces in large multi-storey buildings are shown.
 THERMAL DESIGN: Active Controls
ACTIVE VENTILATION: HVAC Systems
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR MECHANICAL
SYSTEMS
NOISE GUIDELINES
1. Equipment placed outside can be a
major source of noise to neighbours.
2. Surround the MER with massive material
to stop sound and vibration transmission.
3. MERs and ducts should be lined with
sound-absorbing insulation.
4. Do not locate the MER near quiet areas
like library reading areas and conference
rooms..
RESIDENTIAL GUIDELINES
1. Use 1 ton (3.5 kW) of cooling capacity
for each (45 m2) of a standard house.
2. Use 1 ton (3.5 kW) of cooling
capacity for each (90 m2) of a
modern, well-designed, and well-built
house.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. The duct layout should be orderly and
systematic, like the structural system.
2. Avoid air ducts crossing each other.
3. Provide adequate access to large equipment
that might have to be replaced
Reading Assignment for Final Exam
 THANKS!
QUESTIONS???
SEMINAR PRESENTATION: PRESENTATION: WEEK 5
: 8th and 10th of August,2023

SEMESTER PROJECT: PRESENTATION: WEEK 6

: 15th and 17th of August,2023

EXAM DISCUSSION SUMMERY: WEEK 6

: 14th and 19th of August,2023

FINAL EXAM FINAL EXAM: WEEK 7

: Based on University Schedule