Key HVAC Design Concepts

Agenda

• Discuss relevance of thermal enclosure system to HVAC system.

• Present the three major steps to design an HVAC system.
• Hold question and answer session.

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Thermal enclosure system

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• A well-insulated and air-sealed home, with
Thermal
good windows and doors, reduces the
Enclosure
System amount of energy needed to keep the
home comfortable.

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Thermal enclosure system

1. Energy moves from more to less.

2. Over time, differences in temperatures dissipate.

90°F - Outside 70°F - Outside

90°F 70°F

40°F 120°F

Cooler
A cooler with ice A cup of coffee
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Thermal enclosure system

1. Energy moves from more to less.

2. Over time, differences in temperatures dissipate.

105°F 105°F
72°F

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

105°F
73°F
105°F 72°F

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

• Heat transfer can be quantified in British Thermal Units (Btu’s).

• 1 Btu is approximately equal to the energy in a single match.

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

73°F
72°F

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

72°F

105°F

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

72°F

105°F

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Thermal enclosure system
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

72°F

105°F

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Thermal defects to avoid

Poorly installed insulation

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Summary –
Thermal enclosure system
• Energy moves from more to less.
• Over time, differences in temperatures dissipate.
• Heat transfer can be quantified in Btu’s.
• A complete thermal enclosure system is critical to creating
a home that is more comfortable using less energy.

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Heating & cooling systems

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•Heating and cooling equipment that is:
Heating,
• High efficiency
Cooling, &
Ventilation • Properly designed and installed
System • Combined with a duct system that’s
insulated, sealed, and balanced
… maintains comfort with less energy.

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Heating & cooling systems
FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIER

73°F
105°F 72°F

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Three major steps
to design an HVAC system
1. Calculate the heating and cooling loads.
2. Select equipment that meets those loads.
3. Design a duct system that gets air from the heating &
cooling equipment to the rooms in the house, and
then from the rooms back to the equipment.

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 Step 1:
Calculate Heating & Cooling Loads

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Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads
• Cooling load is the maximum Btu’s likely to be added to the
home in a single hour during the year.

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Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads
• Heating load is the maximum Btu’s likely to be lost from the
home in a single hour during the year.

72°F

35°F
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Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads
• Standard process to
calculate loads.
• Provides a checklist of all input
variables that can affect a
home’s comfort level.

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Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads

South-facing home North-facing home 21

Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads

2012
IECC Heating 99% Cooling 1%
City Dry Bulb Dry Bulb
Climate (F) (F)
Zone
2 Houston 31 94
3 Las Vegas 27 107
4 Baltimore 15 91
5 Pittsburgh 7 88
6 Syracuse 2 85

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Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads

Important to document window

performance characteristics
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Summary of Step 1:
Calculate heating & cooling loads
• The first major step in the design process is to calculate
the heating and cooling loads.
• ACCA Manual J provides a reliable standard process for
calculating loads.
• By documenting and verifying major design parameters,
the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program helps ensure
that the HVAC system has been designed properly.

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 Step 2:
Select the
Heating & Cooling Equipment
Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
• Standard process to
select equipment using the
calculated loads.

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Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
• Cooling Load – The number of btu’s per hour that is added to
the home from the outdoors, people, lights, appliances, etc.
• Cooling Capacity – The number of btu’s per hour that cooling
equipment can remove from the home.

• Heating Load – The number of btu’s per hour that is lost from
the home because it’s cold outside.
• Heating Capacity – The number of btu’s per hour that heating
equipment can add back to the home.

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Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
Equipment capacity can be determined using
manufacturer’s expanded performance data…

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Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
• Select cooling equipment that can remove the number of
Btu’s calculated for the cooling load.

72°F 73°F 72°F

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Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
• Select heating equipment that can add the number of
Btu’s calculated for the heating load.

72°F 71°F 72°F

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Summary of Step 2:
Select equipment that meets loads
• The second major step in the design process is to select
equipment using the calculated heating & cooling loads.
• ACCA Manual S provides a reliable standard process for
doing this and includes limitations on over-sizing.
• By requiring that equipment be selected using this
process, the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program
helps ensure that the HVAC system is efficient, durable,
and effective.

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 Step 3:
Design the Duct System
Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Design a duct system that distributes air from the heating
& cooling equipment to each room, and back to the
equipment.

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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• The airflow needed by each room is directly related to its
heating and cooling load.

Hallway

Room A Room B
80 CFM 80 CFM 80 CFM

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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• The airflow needed by each room is directly related
to its heating and cooling load.

Load Distribution Airflow Distribution

% Airflow
Location Airflow (CFM)
Room A 10% 160
Room B 5% 80
Other 85% 1,360
Total Equipment Airflow 100% 1,600

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 Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Proper airflow is needed to deliver or remove the correct
amount of heat from each room.
Room A – Correct Airflow Room A – Incorrect Airflow

150 btu 150 btu 75 btu 95 btu

100 btu 100 btu

100 btu 100 btu 100 btu 100 btu

300 btu’s out & 300 btu’s in 300 btu’s out & 170 btu’s in
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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Factors that influence duct system design:
• Duct length • Duct turns
• Duct diameter • Other components,
• Duct type like filters

Duct length Duct turns

Duct Flex vs. rigid

diameter duct type
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Step 3:
Design the duct system

A fan uses energy to push air

Like we use energy to

push air into a balloon 38
Step 3:
Design the duct system

Static Pressure = + 0.20 IWC Static Pressure = + 0.10 IWC

Velocity Pressure = + 0 IWC Velocity Pressure = + 0.10 IWC

The pressure inside the If the balloon has a leak,

inflated balloon is the the pressure of that
Static Pressure moving air is the
Velocity Pressure 39
Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Example: Duct system without registers & sealed tightly.

Supply Ducts

Air Handler

ON

OFF

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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Example: Supply registers added to duct system.

Supply
Register

ON

OFF

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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• Example: Return side ducts and filters add
additional static pressure to the system.

Filter

Return
Ductwork
ON

OFF

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Step 3:
Design the duct system
• The total external static pressure of the duct system
includes both the supply and return side.
+ 0.20

+ 0.20 - 0.15

- 0.10
0.20 ON
0.20
0.15
OFF
0.10
0.65
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Summary of Step 3:
Design the duct system
• The third major step in the design process is to
design a duct system that works with the selected
equipment.
• ACCA Manual D provides a reliable standard process
for doing this. It ensures that the static pressure of
the duct system and the air velocity are not too high.
• These requirements in the ENERGY STAR Certified
Homes program help ensure that the home is
efficient, quiet, and comfortable.

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Summary

• A complete thermal enclosure system is critical to creating a

home that is more comfortable uses less energy.
• The HVAC design process has three major steps:
– Step 1 is to calculate the heating and cooling loads.
– Step 2 is to select equipment with a capacity that can meet
those loads.
– Step 3 is to design a duct system that can get that heated &
cooled air from the equipment to the rooms and back.
• The ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program requires this
important design process to help maintain the efficiency,
comfort, and quality of every certified home.
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