HVACR416 - Design

Heat Loss / Heat Gain

Part 2
External Loads

• The greatest external load is the sun.

• The suns heat can get into a building in one of two

ways.
o Through glass
o Through walls and the roof.
External Loads

• Solar heat through glass is absorbed

instantaneously in the room. This is in addition to
the conducted heat passed by the glass.

• Solar heat heats up the walls and the roof and then
heat is conducted into the room.
External Loads

• Depending on the type of construction there is

usually a time lag of from 2 to 10 hours before this
heat reaches the room.

• This means that the heat may be pouring into a

space after the sun has gone down.
External Load

• The exact amount of heat gain from either source

depends upon the area, the direction faced by
each wall.

• It also depends on the shading and the type and

color of surface exposed to the sun.
External Load

• The external load also depends on the position of

the sun. This position is determined by:
o The season of the year
o The time of the day
o The latitude where the building is located.
 Solar Effects

North

West East

South
BTU/hr Glass Facing
East

6am 12 noon 6pm

Solar Effects

• Glass on the east side of the house faces the sun

as it is rising.

• It would be expected that the sun rising in the east

causes the solar heat to be very high at about 8am
and then drops off at noon through the afternoon.
 Solar Effects

North

West East

South Glass Facing South

BTU/hr

6am 12 noon 6pm

Solar Effects

• Glass facing south shows the greatest load at

noon and is lower before and after noon.
 Solar Effects

North

West East

South
Glass Facing West
BTU/hr

6am 12 noon 6pm

Solar Effects

• Glass on the west side of the house faces the sun

as it is setting.

• It would be expected that the sun setting in the

west causes the solar heat to be very high at
between 12pm and then drops off as the sun sets.

• The sun reaches its peak at about 4pm.

Solar Effects

• North facing glass and glass shaded all day gets

very little solar gain, only what is reflected by small
dust particles in the air.

• This is a very small amount compared to the direct

solar gain.
Solar Gain

• Understanding these load curves can often help

you in making better decisions on the equipment
and building construction.

• Sometimes in new construction facing a window

another direction or providing shading can reduce
the size and the cost of cooling.
Solar Gain

• Additionally there are times, for example at a car

dealership, where the building owner may be
willing to have slightly higher costs in the morning
in exchange for more comfort in the afternoon.

• The sun can also help provide heat in the winter

months.
Ways to help solar gain

• If complete outside shading of glass is impossible

there are a few other methods to reduce solar
gain.
o An outside awning will turn away 75% of the solar heat.
o Inside roller shades will reduce solar heat by 35%.
Ways to help solar gain

• Solar heat can also be reduced by using glass

other than ordinary window glass.
o Heat absorbing glass (high E glass) will reduce by 25%
o Double pane windows – 10-20%
o Stained glass – 30-65% depending on colors used.
Windows – Final Note

• It is important to remember the effects of solar

gains on windows as they are the largest portion of
heat gain in a building.

• Whenever possible it is important for the

mechanical design team to be involved as early as
possible in the construction cycle.
Walls and Roofs

• The sun heats up the outside surface and then this

heat gradually works its way into the building.

• Since the outside surface temperature due to the

sun is higher that the air temperature, not all of the
heat goes inside, but some goes into the outside
air.
Walls and roofs

• The effect of the type of construction and other

factors on this solar gain can be looked at by
studying several examples.
 Wood Frame Roof

BTU/hr

6am 12 noon 6pm 8pm

Wood Frame Roof

• The wood frame roof is a light wood construction

which peaks at about 2pm in the afternoon with a
heat transfer rate of 18 btu’s/hr.
 4” Concrete Roof

BTU/hr

6am 12 noon 6pm 8pm

4” Concrete Roof

• The 4” concrete roof peaks at about 4pm with 19

btu’s/hr.

• Still better, but not great.

 6” Concrete Roof

BTU/hr

6am 12 noon 6pm 8pm

6” Concrete Roof

• The 6” concrete roof peaks between 4 and 6pm

with 15 btu’s/hr.

• Notice the building is not moving, but it is the

amount of time it takes for the sun to heat up the
roof and the heat to work its way into the building.
Roofs

• There is very little difference in the amount of heat

flow through un-insulated roofs except for peak
time.

• The heavier the roof it peaks later and has a

smaller amount of heat transfer.
Roofs

• Adding insulation will reduce heat transfer by 50%

with one inch.

• Two inches reduces heat transfer by around 2/3.

• Three inches reduces heat transfer by about 3/4.

Roofs

• Heat transfer can also be reduced by spraying

water on a roof or by covering the roof in water.

• A completely shaded roof results in a 75%

reduction from the peak sunlit roof load.
Walls

• The effect of sun beating down on the walls

are very similar to the roof.

• However another factor is involved, the

direction the wall is facing.

• The roof and walls will both cool off at night.

Walls

• The time the heat starts getting inside depends on

when the sun starts hitting the wall.

• The east wall heats up first, then the south, then

the west, and then the north. Just like in the
windows.
Walls
• More heat will get through the west wall than any
of the others.

• This is due to the outside temperature being at its

highest at the same time the sun is beating down
on it.

• Heavy commercial west wall construction may also

allow the most heat in between 8pm and 10pm at
night.

• The effect of solar heat through walls is small

compared to that of the roof and glass.
External Loads

• The other source of external loads is that of

infiltration or ventilation.

• Remember ventilation is controllable.

• Infiltration is uncontrolled without building

modifications or changes of pressure.
Outside Air

• Outside air is brought into a building by an outside

air duct or by depending on infiltration around
doors and windows.

• Whichever way this air gets in it must be cooled

and de-humidified in the summer to bring air to the
room conditions.
Outside Air Ventilation

• Bringing in outside air for ventilation is one of the

true functions of air conditioning.

• Outside air can dilute a number of pollutants in the

inside air and make a sick building healthy.

• Outside air can also be used to change the

pressure of a building.