COOLING LOAD CALCULATIONS

EDGARDO C. OCHAVILLO
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Explain load estimation and analysis, psychometric analysis of
a system and climate data and its use;
2. Estimate the internal and external cooling loads on a
building by separating sensible and latent parts
3. Define and describe computational methods used in air
conditioning design;
Definition
1. Cooling load is defined as the amount of heat that must be removed from
the room air to maintain a constant room air temperature.
2. Sensible cooling load is a measurement of the amount of energy that
must be removed from, for example, the air inside a building, in order to
maintain a certain temperature, regardless of the temperature outside.
Cooling load must be taken into account, when calculating the capacity of a
cooling system.
3. Latent cooling load is a measure of the amount of energy that is
necessary to dehumidify the air in a building, for example, regardless of the
outdoor humidity. 
4. Psychrometric processes include physical and thermodynamic properties
such as dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, humidity, enthalpy,
and air density.
5. Psychrometric Chart - is a graphical representation of
the psychrometric processes of air.
6. CLTD is a theoretical temperature difference that accounts for the combined
effects of inside and outside air temp difference, daily temp range, solar
radiation and heat storage in the construction assembly/building mass. It is
affected by orientation, tilt, month, day, hour, latitude, etc. CLTD factors are
used for adjustment to conductive heat gains from walls, roof, floor and glass.
7. CLF accounts for the fact that all the radiant energy that enters the
conditioned space at a particular time does not become a part of the cooling
load instantly. The CLF values for various surfaces have been calculated as
functions of solar time and orientation and are available in the form of tables in
ASHRAE Handbooks. CLF factors are used for adjustment to heat gains from
internal loads such as lights, occupancy, power appliances.
8. SCL factors are used for adjustment to transmission heat gains from glass.
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Factors that influence to the latent cooling load
Moisture is introduced into a structure through:
People
Equipment and appliances
Air infiltration through cracks in the building, doors, and windows

Factors that influence sensible cooling load

Glass windows or doors
Sunlight striking windows, skylights, or glass doors and heating the room
Exterior walls
Partitions (that separate spaces of different temperatures)
Ceilings under an attic
Roofs
Floors over an open crawl space
Air infiltration through cracks in the building, doors, and windows
People in the building
Equipment and appliances operated in the summer
Lights
COOLING LOAD CALCULATION METHOD

a. Transfer Function Method (TFM): This is the most complex of the methods proposed
by ASHRAE and requires the use of a computer program or advanced spreadsheet.

b. Cooling Load Temperature Differential/Cooling Load Factors (CLTD/CLF): This

method is derived from the TFM method and uses tabulated data to simplify the
calculation process. The method can be fairly easily transferred into simple
spreadsheet programs but has some limitations due to the use of tabulated data.

c. Total Equivalent Temperature Differential/Time-Averaging (TETD/TA): This was the

preferred method for hand or simple spreadsheet calculation before the
introduction of the CLTD/CLF method.

These three methods are well documented in ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals, 2001.
9
Occupants

Q sensible = N (QS) (CLF)

Q latent = N (QL)

Where
• N = number of people in space from ASHRAE, Table A28-3
• QS, QL = Sensible and Latent heat gain from occupancy is given in 1997 ASHRAE
Fundamentals Chapter 28, Table 3)
• CLF = Cooling Load Factor, by hour of occupancy. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter
28, Table 37
Lights
Q = 3.41 x W x FUT x FSA

Where

• W = Watts input from electrical lighting plan or lighting load data

• FUT = Lighting use factor, as appropriate
• FSA = special ballast allowance factor, as appropriate
• CLF = Cooling Load Factor, by hour of occupancy. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28, Table 38
Appliances

Where
• Qin = rated energy input from appliances. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28, and Table 5 thru
9 or use manufacturer’s data. For computers, monitors, printers and miscellaneous office equipment, see
2001 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 29, Tables 8, 9, & 10. [If the appliance nameplate provides the power
ratings in Watts, Qin can be estimated as 3.14 x Wattage of equipment]
• Fu = Usage factor. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28, Table 6 and 7
• Fr = Radiation factor. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28, Table 6 and 7
• CLF = Cooling Load Factor, by hour of occupancy. See 1997 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 28, Table 37
and 39
Air Infiltration

Instantaneous Load(sensible) = (# of change per hr * V/v)(Cp)(to-ti)

# of change per hr
= a + bVel + c(to-tr)

Vel = wind velocity ( shall not more than 0.254 m/s) (from PSME Code)

V = volume L*W*H

v = specific volume at outside condition

Cp(air) = 1.0

Instantaneous Load(latent) = (# of change per hr * V/v)(hfg)(Wo-Wi)

hfg = 2444.7kJ/kg
Design Cooling
Load Instantaneous Load * CLF
Heat Transmission

WALLS / ROOF/ FLOOR

Q = U * A * CLTD

• Q = Load through the walls

• U = Thermal Transmittance for walls
• A = area of walls
• CLTD = Cooling Load Temperature Difference for walls
Heat Transmission

PARTITIONS, CEILINGS AND FLOORS

Q = U A (Ta - Trc)

• U = coefficient of overall heat transfer between adjacent and conditioned space in Btu/ (h ft 2 F) See 1997
ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 24 or 2001 ASHRAE Fundamentals, and Chapter 25.
• A = area of partition in ft2, ceiling or floor calculated from building plans
• Ta = Temperature of adjacent space in °F (Note: If adjacent space is not conditioned and temperature is not
available, use outdoor air temperature less 5°F)
• Trc = Inside design temperature of conditioned space in °F (assumed constant)
SOLAR LOAD THROUGH GLASS

Conductive Q Glass Conductive = U * A * CLTD

Solar Transmission Q Glass Solar = A * SC * SCL

• Q Conductive = Conductive load through the glass

• Q Solar = Solar transmission load through the glass
• U = Thermal Transmittance for glass
• A = area of glass in ft2
• CLTD = Cooling Load Temperature Difference for glass in °F
• SC = Shading coefficient
• SCL = Solar Cooling Load Factor
AIR INFILTRATION

Lights qs = Wattage Rating x

Occupants

HEAT TRANSMISSION THRU UNSUNLIT BUILDING STRUCTURE

(Concrete Wall/Roof/Floor)

HEAT TRANSMISSION THRU SUNLIT BUILDING STRUCTURE

( Concrete/Wall/Roof) )

MISCELLANEOUS LOAD
EXAMPLE

Given:

Outside Conditions:
Temperature To = 32ᵒC
Relative Humidity = 60%

Conditioned Space:
Tr = 24ᵒC dry bulb
Relative Humidity = 50%

Calculate the capacity of refrigeration equipment in TOR.

THANK YOU!!!