The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Department of Building Services Engineering

The following constants may be used in the calculations:

Air density = 1.2 kg/m3
Air specific heat capacity = 1.02 kJ/kgK

Example: VAV System

1. A single duct VAV system, as shown in Figure 1, provides cooling in summer to both
the perimeter zone and the interior zone of a typical floor of a high rise office building.

Cooling coil

V

V
s
o
S.A. to
O.A. VAV
boxes

V r


V e
E.A.

Air damper
Figure 1

Design data for summer mode operation

Outside condition:
Dry-bulb / Wet-bulb temperature 33oC / 28oC

Inside condition:
Dry-bulb temperature 24oC
Relative humidity 55% in interior zone at maximum
space cooling load

Maximum space cooling load:

Perimeter zone - sensible / latent 62 kW / 6.1 kW
Interior zone - sensible / latent 17.8 kW / 5 kW

Minimum space cooling load:

Perimeter zone - sensible / latent 16 kW / 5 kW
Interior zone - sensible / latent 8.5 kW / 4 kW

Supply air temperature: 15.5oC

Temperature rise due to supply system heat gain: 1.5oC

Jan 2012 1
 Other assumptions:

- the outside air damper is at minimum intake position taking in 0.85 m3/s;
- the return system heat gain can be neglected;
- the condition of air leaving the cooling coil and the temperature rise due to the
supply system heat gain remain unchanged.

Sketch the psychrometric cycle at the maximum load condition for the summer mode
operation. Hence, determine

a) the maximum and minimum supply volume flow rate;

b) the required state of air leaving the cooling coil;

c) the relative humidity in the perimeter zone at maximum load condition; and

d) the maximum cooling coil’s load.

Ans. a) 7.67 m3/s, 2.36 m3/s b) 14oC and 0.009426 kg/kg dry air
c) 51% d) 144.4 kW

Solutions

ri
m
wri
r wr
wrx
rx
c s

Tc Ts Tr

Design data:

Tr = 24oC, Ts = 15.5oC, Tc = 15.5 – 1.5 = 14oC

For the interior zone: Tri = 24oC, RHri = 55%, wri = 0.0104 kg/kg dry air

Jan 2012 2
a) At maximum space load condition

For the interior zone:

 C T - T 
Q s,i   Vsi pa r s

  Q s,i 17.8
 V   1.71 m 3 / s
si

 pa r s
C T - T  1.2  1.02 24 - 15.5 

For the exterior zone:

 C T - T 
Q s,x   Vsx pa r s

  Q s,x 62
 V   5.96 m 3 /s
sx
 C pa Tr - Ts  1.2  1.02 24 - 15.5

Therefore, maximum supply flow rate

  V
V   V
  1.71  5.96  7.67 m3/s
s si sx

At minimum space load condition

For the interior zone:

 Q si, min 8.5

 V si, min    0.817 m 3 /s

 C pa Tr - Ts  
1.2  1.02 24 - 15.5

For the exterior zone:

 Q sx, min 16
 V sx, min    1.538 m 3 /s
 C pa Tr - Ts  1.2  1.02 24 - 15.5

Therefore, minimum supply flow rate

  
s, min  Vsi, min  Vsx, min  0.817  1.538  2.355 m /s
3
V

b) For the interior zone, at design temperature of 24oC and 55% RH,
the moisture content wri = 0.0104 kg/kg dry air

In order to achieve relative humidity of 55% in the interior zone at the design condition,
the supply air should have moisture content of ws such that

 w - w   h
Space latent load, Q ,i   Vsi ri s fg.o

Jan 2012 3
 Q ,i 5
 w s  w ri -  0.0104 -
V
 h
si fg.o 1.2  1.71  2501

= 0.009426 kg/kg dry air

The required supply air state is at temperature of 15.5oC and moisture content of
0.009426 kg/kg dry air.

Therefore, the required air state leaving the cooling coil is at temperature of
15.5 – 1.5 = 14oC and moisture content of 0.009426 kg/kg dry air (wc = ws), i.e. 95%
saturation from the psychrometric chart.

c) Relative humidity in the exterior zone at the design condition is:

 w - w   h
Space latent load, Q ,x   Vsx rx s fg.o

Q  ,x 6.1
 w rx  w s   0.009426 
V
 h
sx fg.o 1.2  5.96  2501

= 0.009767 kg/kg dry air

From the psychrometric chart, at Trx = 24oC and wrx = 0.009767 kg/kg dry air,
relative humidity in the exterior zone  51%

d) ‘r’ is the return air state (mixing of ri and rx), whose moisture content is:

 w V
V  w 1.71  0.0104  5.96  0.009767
wr  si ri sx rx

 
Vsi  Vsx 1.71  5.96

= 0.009908 kg/kg dry air

  V
Return air flow, V  V - V
  1.71  5.96 - 0.85  6.82 m 3 /s
r si sx o

‘m’ is the mixing state of return air and outdoor air, whose moisture content is:

 w V
V  w 6.82  0.009908  0.85  0.022
wm  r r o o

 V
V  6.82  0.85
r o

= 0.01125 kg/kg dry air

Jan 2012 4
 From the psychrometric chart,
Specific enthalpy of the air mixture entering coil, hm = 53.8 kJ/kg
Specific enthalpy of the air leaving coil, hc = 38 kJ/kg

Maximum coil’s load   h - h  - w - w  C T 

= Vs m c m c pw c

= 1.2  7.67  53.8 - 38 - 0.01125 - 0.009426  4.18  14 

= 144.4 kW

 h - h   145.4 kW ]
[Neglecting the enthalpy of the condensate, coil’s load =  Vs m c

Jan 2012 5
 Tutorial Problems: VAV / Dual Duct / VAV Skin CAV Systems

2. An office area is divided into the perimeter zone and the interior zone. Air conditioning is
provided by a VAV system shown in Figure Q2. The space temperature is maintained at
24oC, and terminal re-heaters are installed as necessary. The design details are as follows:

Interior Zone Perimeter Zone

Indoor temperature: 24oC 24oC
Maximum load:
Sensible cooling 35 kW 25 kW
Latent cooling 5 kW 3 kW
Minimum load:
Sensible 16 kW (cooling) - 4 kW (heating)
Latent 4 kW (cooling) 2.4 kW (cooling)
Supply air state leaving the AHU 14oC, 90% RH
Minimum supply air flow 40% of design flow
Terminal re-heater Installed as necessary

a) Calculate the required airflow capacity of the AHU.

b) Determine the space relative humidity in the perimeter zone at both maximum load
and minimum load conditions.

c) Determine the space relative humidity in the interior zone at minimum load condition.

d) Determine whether it is necessary to provide terminal reheat for the interior zone and
the perimeter zone, and, if necessary, the re-heater capacity.

AHU T P

O.A.

VCD

Interior Perimeter
E.A. zone zone

Figure Q2

(Ans. 4.9 m3/s, 50% and 54%, 54%, 14kW)

Jan 2012 6
3. The banquet hall in a hotel is air-conditioned with a variable air volume (VAV) system
using direct digital control (DDC). The sensors, controllers and controlled devices used
for controlling the operation of the VAV system are illustrated in Figure Q3.

Cont

F1 P
AHU T3
O.A.
T1 H1
F3

Cont
F F

Cont VAV Cont Cont

Cont terminal
T T
Zone 1 Zone 2
F2
E.A.
H2 T2
Cont Controller

Figure Q3

a) Describe the intended operational functions and their control methods based on the
sensors and the design of the VAV system shown in Figure Q3.

b) On one day preparing for a grand banquet to be held in the hall at night, many of the
VAV terminal controllers were found malfunction. It was instructed by the hotel
manager that air conditioning must be provided to maintain satisfactory temperature
in the hall. Supposing you are the engineer, recommend two temporary control
schemes for the air conditioning system and explain the method of operation.

c) Compare the performance of the two temporary control schemes of the air
conditioning system recommended in part (b) with the original VAV design.

Jan 2012 7
4. A dual duct VAV air-conditioning system serves two zones of a typical office floor. The
minimum air flow to each zone is 60% of the design flow rate, and this minimum flow
rate is maintained whenever a mixing of cold and hot supply air is required. The two
zones are maintained at 23oC at the summer cooling mode. The control system maintains
a constant quantity of outdoor air of 1.5 m3/s to mix with the return air.

Heating
H coil
th

Supply fan C
O.A.
C tc
C
Recirculating Cooling
air coil
VCD
T T
Zone A Zone B

E.A.

Figure Q4: A dual duct VAV system

The design conditions for the air leaving the cooling coil is at 13oC and 95% saturation
(0.0089 kg/kg dry air). The air flow in the hot duct is the mixture of return air and
outdoor air, and heating coil is not activated at the summer cooling mode. Heat gain
across the fan and duct system can be neglected.

At the summer outdoor design conditions of 33oC dry-bulb and 28oC wet-bulb, the
design load for both zones are shown in the following table. A part-load case, also at
outdoor air of 33oC dry-bulb and 28oC wet-bulb but the floor is only partially occupied,
is also given in the table.

Zone A Zone B

Design load:
Sensible (kW) 74 40
Latent (kW) 8 10

Part-load case:
Sensible (kW) 30 28
Latent (kW) 4.8 6

Calculate:

i) the design supply air volume flow rate of the system;

ii) the relative humidity for both zones at the summer design condition;

Jan 2012 8
 iii) the design capacity of the cooling coil;
iv) the supply air volume flow rate for both zones at the part-load case;
v) the air temperature in the hot air duct at the part-load case;
vi) the portions of cold and hot air in the supply air flow to each of zone A and B at
the part-load case;
vii) the relative humidity in zone A at the part-load case.

Comment on any operational problem at the part-load case.

Answers:
(i) 6.046 m3/s, 3.268 m3/s, Vs = 9.314 m3/s; (ii) A = 52%, B = 56%
(iii) 209 kW; (iv) 3.628 m3/s, 2.288 m3/s; (v) 25.54oC;
(vi) Zone A: 2.691 m /s cold air + 0.937 m3/s hot air;
3
(vii) 57%

Jan 2012 9
5. An office floor is air-conditioned by a VAV/skin CAV system, where the CAV system
serves the perimeter area. There are four external walls facing north, east, south and west
respectively, each having the same dimension and construction materials. The area and
U-value of each wall are:

Opaque wall Window

Area (m2) 60 40
U-value (W/m2K) 2.3 5.5

The air conditioning system is designed based on the following criteria:

Summer Winter
Outdoor design temperature 33oC 5oC
Indoor design temperature 24oC 20oC
Skin CAV supply air temperature 35oC

a) Derive an expression relating the skin CAV supply air temperature at summer mode
of operation with the supply air temperature at winter mode. Hence, calculate the
supply air temperature at summer mode.

b) Determine the supply air flow rate of the skin CAV air-handling unit.

c) Determine the reset-scheme for the control of the skin CAV supply air temperature
at the winter mode and the summer mode of operation.

d) Discuss how you would recommend the skin CAV system to operate during the
intermediate season when the outdoor temperature is between 16 to 24oC.

[Answers: (a) 15oC; (b) 1.17 m3/s;

(c) Winter mode: T’s = 40 - T’o ; Summer mode: Ts = 48 - To ]

Jan 2012 10
6. Figure Q6 shows a dual duct VAV system which provides air conditioning to a floor of
multiple zones with a block sensible cooling load of 160 kW. The fan and duct heat gains
can be neglected. Other design data for the system are:

Indoor temperature for all zones : 23oC

Summer outdoor design condition, dry bulb / wet bulb : 33oC / 28oC
Design cooling load for Zone 1, Sensible / Latent : 30 kW / 7 kW
Supply air state, cold duct : 14oC, 90% RH
hot duct : 32oC
Minimum supply airflow ratio for each zone 60%
Recirculating air state (assume to be unchanged) : 25oC, 50% RH
Outdoor air intake (constant) : 1.8 m3/s

Heating
H coil
th

Supply fan C
O.A.
C tc
C
Recirculating Cooling
air coil
Damper
T T
Zone 1 Zone 2

E.A.

Figure Q6: A dual duct VAV system

a) Calculate the design airflow rate of the VAV system and the coil’s cooling load.

b) Determine the supply airflow rate for Zone 1 and the zone relative humidity at
design condition.

c) At an outdoor condition of 21oC, the sensible load in every zone drops to 25% of the
respective design load and the supply fan discharge drops to 60% of the system
design flow rate. Determine the supply air temperature entering Zone 1, the airflow
rate in the hot duct, and the heating coil’s load.

d) Comment on the design of this system with respect to its operation at design and
part-load conditions.

Answers:
(a) 14.52 m3/s, 213.3 kW, 325.8 kW; (b) 2.723 m3/s, 55%
(c) 19.25oC, 2.541 m3/s, 24.35 kW

Jan 2012 11
Solutions

Q2
a)  C T - T 
Q s,i   Vi pa r s

35 = 1.2 Vi  1.02 (24 - 14)  Vi = 2.86 m3/s

25 = 1.2 Vx  1.02 (24 - 14)  Vx = 2.04 m3/s

AHU airflow capacity = 2.86 + 2.04 = 4.9 m3/s

b) Perimeter zone

ws = 0.009 kg/kg dry air

Q ,x   Vx w x - w s   2501

At maximum load: 3 = 1.2  2.04 (wx - 0.009)  2501

 wx = 0.00949 kg/kg dry air
From the psychrometric chart, relative humidity x = 50%

At minimum load: 2.4 = 1.2 (0.4  2.04) (wx,min - 0.009)  2501

 wx,min = 0.00998 kg/kg dry air

Therefore, with trx = 24oC and wx = 0.00998 kg/kg in the perimeter zone at
minimum load, x,min = 54%

c) In a VAV system, before reaching minimum flow, the supply air flow (V) to a
zone will vary with the zone sensible load (Qs) in accordance with the
following expression:

Vs Qs

Vs, design Q s, design

At minimum load in the interior zone:

Vi,min Q si,min
 = 16/35 = 0.457 [Vi’ at any part load has to be ≥ 0.4 Vi]
Vi Q si

 Vi,min = 0.457 Vi = 0.457 × 2.86

Q i,min   Vi,min w i,min - w s   2501

Jan 2012 12
  4 = 1.2 (0.457  2.86) (wi,min - 0.009)  2501
wi,min = 0.01 kg/kg
 i,min = 54% (from the psy-chart)

d) In the interior zone, the minimum sensible load is more than 40% of
the design load. The space temperature can be controlled at 24oC by
regulating the supply air flow rate. No reheat is required.

In the perimeter zone, Q’sx < 0.4 Qsx ,  V’x = 0.4 Vx

Heating load Q h   0.4 Vx  C pa Th - Tr 

4 = 1.2 (0.4  2.04)  1.02 (Th - 24)

 Th = 28 oC

Re-heater capacity =  0.4 Vx  C pa Th - Ts 

= 1.2 (0.4  2.04)  1.02 (28 - 14)

= 14 kW

rx

s h

Ts Th

Jan 2012 13
Q3.
a)
Cont

F1 P
AHU T3
O.A.
T1 H1
F3

Cont
F F

Cont VAV Cont Cont

Cont terminal
T T
Zone 1 Zone 2
F2
E.A.
H2 T2
Cont Controller

- variable speed variable supply air flow by duct static pressure control …
- supply air temperature control …
- minimum outdoor air control …
- pressure independent VAV terminal and zone temperature control …
- return fan speed control to maintain exfiltration and positive space pressure …
- economy cycle …

b) The dampers of the VAV terminals should be manually fixed at fully open position.

Scheme 1

Operate as a single zone CAV system: AHU supply fan and return fan set manually to
run at design speed at 50 Hz to give maximum flow, use return air temperature T2 to
control chilled water flow through the 2-way control valve for variable supply air
temperature. Minimum outdoor air can be controlled as before.

Scheme 2

Still operate as a VAV system, but single zone, with modification: supply air
temperature T3 is controlled constant at design value as before, use the return air
temperature T2 to reset the duct static pressure P via the pressure controller. When
there is less space cooling load and the reurn air temperature drops below the design
space temperature, the supply air flow rate should be reduced. This is achieved by
resetting the duct static pressure set point to a lower level to modulate the AHU

Jan 2012 14
 supply fan to run at a lower speed and lower fan pressure. Vice versa when there is
more space cooling load and T2 increases.

[Alternatively, use T2 to control the fan speed for variable flow. When T2 drops, the
fan speed should be lowered to reduce supply air flow.]

c) Compare the temporary schemes with the original design: single zone, uneven space
temperature, fan energy …

Jan 2012 15
Q4. (Dual duct VAV system)

rB
m
wB
r wr
wA
rA
c

tc =13oC tr=23oC

(i) Zone sensible load, Q s   Vs C pa t r - t s 

Q sA 74
Zone A : VsA    6.046 m 3 / s
 C pa t r - t s  1.2  1.02 23 - 13

Q sB 40
Zone B : VsB    3.268 m 3 / s
 C pa t r - t s  1.2  1.02 23 - 13

System design supply air flow, Vs = VsA + VsB = 9.314 m3/s

Q
(ii) Zone latent load, Q    Vs w r - w s   h fg.o  wr   ws
 Vs h fg.o

Q , A 8
Zone A: wA   ws   0.0089
 VsA h fg.o 1.2  6.046  2501

= 0.00934 kg/kg

Knowing tr = 23oC and wA = 0.00934 kg/kg, A = 52% (from the psy-chart)

Q ,B 10
Zone B: wB   ws   0.0089
 VsB h fg.o 1.2  3.268  2501
= 0.00992 kg/kg

Hence, B = 56% (from the psy-chart)

Jan 2012 16
(iii) wr = moisture content of the mixed return air from zones A & B

VsA w A  VsB w B 6.046  0.00934  3.268  0.00992

wr  
VsA  VsB 9.314

= 0.00954 kg/kg

Let m = mixing state of return air and outdoor air

Outdoor air flow, Vo = 1.5 m3/s

Return air flow, Vr = Vs – Vo = 9.314 – 1.5 = 7.814 m3/s

Vo w o  Vr w r 1.5  0.022  7.814  0.00954

wm  
Vo  Vr 9.314

= 0.01155 kg/kg

Knowing wm , from the psy-chart, hm = 54.5 kJ/kg

Cooling coil’s capacity =  Vs (hm – hc) = 1.2  9.314 (54.5 – 35.8)

= 209 kW

(iv) To determine the supply air flow rate at the part load case

Q' sA 30
Zone A: V' sA   VsA   VsA , which is less than 0.6 VsA
Q sA 74

Hence, maintain V’sA = 0.6 VsA = 0.6  6.046 = 3.628 m3/s

(Supply air to zone A will be a mixture of cold air and hot air)

Q'sB 28
Zone B: V' sB   VsB   VsB = 0.7  3.268 = 2.288 m3/s
Q sB 40

(which is more than 60% of VsB , and the supply air to zone B will be from
the cold air duct only.)

v) th = air temperature in the hot air duct = tm (mixture of outdoor and return air)

V’r = V’s – Vo = (3.628 + 2.288) – 1.5 = 4.416 m3/s

Vo t o  V ' r t r 1.5  33  4.416  23

tm    25.54 o C
Vo  V r'
5.916

Jan 2012 17
  th = tm = 25.54oC

vi) Supply air to zone A is a mixture of cold air at ts and hot air at th

Let t’s = temperature of supply air to zone A at the part-load case

Vcold = amount of air from the cold air duct at ts
Vhot = amount of air from the hot air duct at th

V’sA = Vcold + Vhot = 3.628 m3/s

Q' sA   V' sA C pa t r - t's 

30 = 1.2  3.628  1.02 (23 – t’s)

 t’s = 16.24oC

Supply air to zone A by mixing cold and hot air:

V' sA  t's  Vcold  t s  Vhot  t h

 V' sA  t's  V' sA - Vhot  t s  Vhot  t h

 V'sA t's - t s   Vhot t h - t s 

V' sA t's - t s  3.628 (16.24 - 13)

 Vhot   = 0.937 m3/s
t h - t s  25.54 - 13

Vcold = 3.628 – 0.937 = 2.691 m3/s

Supply air to zone B will be cold air only as Q’sB / QsB > 0.6

vii) Let w’s = moisture content of supply air to zone A at the part-load case
wh = moisture content of the hot air stream at the part-load case
w’A = space air moisture content of zone A
w’r = moisture content of the mixed return air at this part-load case

[Note: wh equals to the moisture content of the mixture of return air and outdoor air,
and will vary in accordance with the changes of the room states at part-load.
In this given part-load case, assume initially that
w’r  wr = 0.00954 kg/kg.

Then, wh = wm = 0.01155 kg/kg (from result of iii), which is the mixing state of
return and outdoor air at the design condition. With the assumption of w’r, and hence
wh = 0.01155 kg/kg, calculation can proceed to determine w’s entering zone A, hence
w’A and zone humidity ’A can be calculated. By an iteration process, the calculation

Jan 2012 18
 procedures can be repeated by using the value of w’A obtained from the previous
calculation in the next round of calculation of w’r , wh , w’s and w’A , until a steady
value of w’A is obtained.]

Assuming initially w’r  wr = 0.00954 kg/kg,

then, wh = wm = 0.01155 kg/kg (from iii)

Vcold w s  Vhot w h 2.691  0.0089  0.937  0.01155

w's  
V' sA 3.628

= 0.009584 kg/kg

Latent load of zone A, Q' A   V'sA w' A - w's  h fg.o

Q' , A 4.8
w' A   w's   0.009584
 V' sA h fg.o 1.2  3.628  2501

= 0.01002 kg/kg

With zone temperature of 23oC and w’A = 0.01002 kg/kg,

’A = 57% (from the psy-chart).

*************************************************************
i) Require to find ’A , the relative humidity in zone A at part load
ii) tr = 23oC; Air moisture content in zone A, w’A = ?
Knowing tr and w’A to determine ’A
Q'  , A
iii) w' A   w'sA
 V'sA h fg.o
iv) w’sA = ? We need to know w’sA for calculating w’A .
v) V’sA × w’sA = V’cold × ws + V’hot × wh [wh = ?]
vi) wh = ? wh = wm = ? Recirculate air flow rate, V’r = (V’sA + V’sB) - Vo
(Vo + V’r) wm = Vo wo + V’r w’r [Moisture content of recirculation air, w’r = ?]
vii) What is w’r ?
viii) Assume w’r = wr initially
ix) With initially assumed value of w’r :

w’r w’m w’h w’sA w’A

Iteration Process

(V’sA+V’sB)w’r = V’sA w’A + V’sB w’B

Jan 2012 19
Q5 Solution

a) The skin CAV system supplies a constant air flow, of cool air in the summer mode to
offset the external wall conduction heat gain, and warm air in the winter mode to offset
the conduction heat loss.

T denotes temperature in the summer cooling mode, and

T' denotes temperature in the winter heating mode

 C (T - T )   U A (T - T )
Summer gain : V (1)
s p r s i i o r

Winter loss :  C (T' - T' )   U A (T' - T' )

V (2)
s p s r i i r o

From (1) and (2):

 
 V
U i A i (To - Tr )

U i A i (T' r - T' o )
s
 C p (Tr - Ts )  C p (T' s - T' r )

(To - Tr ) (T' r - T' o )

Hence, 
(Tr - Ts ) (T's - T' r )

(33 - 24) (20 - 5)

  9 (T' s - 20)  15 (24 - Ts ) #
(24 - Ts ) (T' s - 20)

 Ts = 24 - 9 (35 - 20) / 15 = 15oC

b) The design supply air flow is affected by the supply air temperature and outdoor-indoor-
temperature-difference. If Ts and T’s are not exceptionally high, the larger outdoor-
indoor-temperature-difference and transmission loss in winter will govern the design
supply air flow. With Ts and T’s so determined as in part (a), both equations 1 and 2 will
give the same air flow rate.

U i Ai = 4 (Uw Aw + Uf Af)

= 4 (2.3  60 + 5.5  40) = 1432

From (2):

 
V
U i A i (T' r - T' o )

1432 20 - 5
= 1.17 m3/s
s
 C p (T' s - T' r ) 1.2  1020 (35 - 20)

Jan 2012 20
c) In winter heating mode:

T’s = T’r + ( Ai Ui)(T’r - T’o) /  Vs Cp (3)

T’s changes with T’o , other parameters are fixed,

 T’s = a’ - b’ T’o (4)

T’s = 35oC when T’o = 5oC [design condition]

o
T’s = T’r = 20 C when T’o = T’r [from eqn. (3)]

Solving eqn. (4): a’ = 40 , b’ = 1

 T’s = 40 - T’o #

In summer cooling mode:

Ts = Tr - ( Ai Ui)(To - Tr) /  Vs Cp (5)

 Ts = c - b To (6)

Ts = 15oC when To = 33oC [from part (b)]

Ts = Tr = 24oC when To = Tr [from eqn. (5)]
Solving eqn. (6): c = 48 , b = 1

 Ts = 48 - To #

d) In the intermediate season the skin CAV may operates with cooling and heating coils
deactivated, and space temperature set point at 24oC. The supply air is a mixing of the
return air and outdoor air, so that To < Ts < 24 . Or the skin CAV may operate with
100% outdoor air, so that Ts = To . However the outdoor air moisture content may be
high, leading to a rise of the room air humidity. There may also be simultaneous heating
and cooling if the winter mode operation starts at To = 20oC because of the cooling
requirement in space due to the internal heat gian.
The reset-scheme of the skin CAV supply air temperature may be modified so that
heating will only begin at a lower outdoor temperature, e.g. 16oC below which the space
will have a net heating requirement, so as to avoid wastage of simultaneous heating and
cooling. When To is between 16oC to 24oC, Ts may be set at, e.g. 18oC, so that the supply
air moisture content will not be (unlikely) higher than the room humidity. When 16oC <
To < 24oC and ho < hr, the skin CAV may also operate with 100% outdoor air.

Jan 2012 21
Q6 Solution
(a)
Heating
coil H Vhot th
Supply
fan
Vs C
O.A.

m tm tm C V cold tc
Vo to
m C
Vr tr=25oC Cooling
Recirculating
coil
VCD air
Zone 1 T Zone 2 T
o
Tz = 23o C T z = 23 C

E.A.

Block sensible load, Qs = 160 kW

ts = supply air temperature entering room (mixture of cold and hot air)

At design condition:
Vhot = 0 ; Vcold = Vs – Vhot = Vs ts = tc = 14oC
Qs =  Vs Cpa (Tz – ts)
160 = 1.2 Vs  1.02 (23 – 14)
Vs = 14.52 m3/s

Vo = 1.8 m3/s ; Vr = Vs – Vo = 14.52 – 1.8 = 12.72 m3/s

to = 33oC; ho = 89.5 kJ/kg
tr = 25oC; hr = 50.8 kJ/kg
tc = 14oC; hc = 36.9 kJ/kg; wc = 0.009 kg/kg dry air

t r Vr  t o Vo 25 12.72  33 1.8
tm   = 26 oC
Vr  Vo 14.52

h r Vr  h o Vo 50.8 12.72  89.5 1.8

hm   = 55.6 kJ/kg
Vr  Vo 14.52

Cooling coil’s sensible load =  Vs Cpa (tm – tc)

= 1.2  14.52  1.02 (26 – 14) = 213.3 kW

Total load =  Vs (hm – hc) = 1.2  14.52 (55.6 – 36.9) = 325.8 kW

(b) To determine supply air flow V1 to Zone 1, and the space RH, 1

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 Qs1 =  V1 Cpa (Tz – ts)
30 = 1.2 V1  1.02 (23 – 14)
V1 = 2.723 m3/s

ws = wc = 0.009 kg/kg dry air

Qℓ =  V1 (w1 – ws) hfg
Q 7
w1  w s   0.009  = 0.009857 kg/kg
ρV1 h fg 1.2  2.723  2501

Obtain 1 from the psy-chart: 1 = 55%

(c) At part-load:
t’o = 21oC; V’s = 0.6 Vs = 8.712 m3/s; Q’s1 = 0.25 Qs1 = 7.5 kW;

Since the sensible loads in all the zones are 25% of design load,
supply air flow to every zone will be reduced to minimum flow, i.e.
60% design flow.

Supply air flow to Zone 1, V’1 = 0.6 V1 = 0.6  2.723 = 1.634 m3/s

To determine required supply air temperature (t’s) entering Zone 1:

Q’s1 =  V’1 Cpa (Tz – t’s)

7.5 = 1.2  0.6  2.723  1.02 (23 – t’s)
 t’s = 19.25oC

This warm supply air is obtained by mixing portions of hot air and cold air.
Hence, cold air flow rate (Vc1) to Zone 1 can be determined as:

Vc1  tc + (V’1- Vc1) th = V’1  t’s

 Vc1  14 + (V’1- Vc1) 32 = V’1  19.25
 18 Vc1 = 12.75 V’1
 Vc1 = (12.75 / 18) V’1 = (12.75 / 18)  0.6  2.723 = 1.157 m3/s

Since all the zones are at 25% load (sensible), the supply air flow to every zone is
composed of 12.75/18 of cold air and 5.25/18 of hot air, same as Zoon 1.

Given that the total system air flow at this part-load condition is 60% of system
design flow, i.e. V’s = 0.6 Vs = 0.614.52 = 8.712 m3/s, air flow rate in the hot
duct is:

Vhot = 5.25/18 V’s = 5.25/18  8.712 = 2.541 m3/s

t'm = temperature of outdoor air and recirculate air mixture

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 t r V' r  t' o Vo 25  6.912  211.8
t' m   = 24.17oC
V' r  Vo 8.712

Heating coil’s load =  Vhot Cpa (th – t’m)

= 1.2  2.541  1.02 (32 – 24.17) = 24.35 kW

(d) This part of the question is open to the students for comment. The following
points are relevant:

 At design condition, a dual duct system is no different from a traditional VAV

system, in spite of much ductwork; no air flow in the hot duct. Hot air is
required when the sensible load in any zone drops to below 50%.

 Variable air flow enables fan energy saving at part-load. However, when the
supply air to a zone is a mixture of cold and hot air, it will mean a situation of
simultaneous cooling and heating, which is not energy friendly.

 In the given design, the hot air is at 32oC. An alternative is to de-activate the
heating coil during summer operation, so that hot air is merely mixture of
outdoor and recirculate air.

 The availability of cold and hot air stream provides flexibility to various
zones, and allows for a larger minimum air flow ratio to avoid problems of
ADPI at low supply air flow in a zone.

 The portion of outdoor air in the hot air stream has not been dehumidified,
which will means that the air mixture supplied to a zone at part load will have
higher moisture content than normal VAV system.

 In the given system, the outdoor air intake is kept constant. The system can be
designed with variable outdoor air intake in response to occupancy.

 During cool days, as is the condition given in (c), the system may operate with
100% outdoor air. This will reduce the cooling coil’s load, but increase the
heating coil’s load. There can be a net energy saving during intermediate
season.

Jan 2012 24