Air Conditioning

By

Ismail Yusof

Contents
Introduction Air Conditioning Systems Refrigeration Refrigerants Compressors Condensers Cooling Towers Evaporators Metering Devices Air Conditioning Units Filtration Chillers Specialist A/C. OT, CSSD, ICU, NICU, Psychrometry Thermal Comfort

Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is the process of treating air so as to maintain and control simultaneously its temperature, humidity and purity within pre determined limits. Air conditioning may be required for the comfort of the building occupants or for some functional purpose.

Air Conditioning Systems

Air conditioning system is the term

applied to the organised assembly of air conditioning equipment serving a particular application.

Air Conditioning Systems

Air Conditioning Systems can consist of but, are not limited to: Air Filters Cooling Coils Heating Coils Fans Humidifiers Dehumidifiers Dampers, Volume and Fire Ductwork Diffusers and Grills

Air Conditioning Systems

The major part of any Air Conditioning both physically and with regard to investment is the Refrigeration System

Refrigeration
Refrigeration is the extraction of heat from a secondary media such as air or water There are four main types of refrigeration used: Mechanical Refrigeration Absorption Refrigeration Thermoelectric Refrigeration Air Cycle Refrigeration
Mechanical and Absorption Refrigeration being the most commonly used internationally and Mechanical in Malaysia

Mechanical Refrigeration
Mechanical Refrigeration operates by compressing, condensing and evaporating a fluid (refrigerant) 1. Refrigerant vapour is passed through the compressor and is compressed to a high pressure, high temperature, superheated vapour 2. The refrigerant gives up heat and condenses in the condenser to a high pressure, medium temperature, saturated liquid 3. The refrigerant passes through the expansion device and expands to a low pressure, low temperature, saturated liquid and vapour 4. Heat is absorbed in the evaporator, the refrigerant evaporates to low pressure, low temperature, saturated vapour 5. The refrigerant then passes back into the compressor to start the cycle again
At the end of the condenser some sub-cooling and evaporator some superheating is designed to and normally takes place

Basic Refrigeration Cycle

Expansion Device
Sat. Liquid & Vapour

Sat. Liquid

Evaporator
Low Temp.

Low Pressure

High Pressure

Condenser
High Temp

Sat. Vapour

Compressor

S.H. Vapour

Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the medium of heat transfer which picks up heat by evaporating at a low temperature and pressure and gives up heat on condensing at a higher temperature and pressure. All refrigerants have the important property of a predictable and repeatable pressure/temperature relationship. Refrigerants are normally chosen in order to have a positive pressure at the required refrigeration system boiling point Refrigerants must also be chosen to ensure compatibility with materials and oils in the system.

Refrigerant
Alternative Refrigerants

Refrigerant
Alternative Refrigerants

Refrigerant

Refrigerant Selection

Refrigerant
Refrigerant Performance Characteristics

Refrigerant Refrigerant Phase Out Dates

Based on EU Regulation 2037/2000
CFCs October 1 2000, sales ban including export ban from the EU. January 1 2001, service ban including refilling, repair and maintenance. Recovered CFCs must be destroyed by an environmentally acceptable technology. HCFCs January 1 2001, ban on use in new refrigeration equipment and new fixed A/C equipment of 100kW and over. January 1 2002, ban on use in new A/C equipment of less than 100kW. January 1 2004, ban on use in heat pump systems. January 1 2010, ban on use of virgin HCFCs. January 1 2015, ban on use of all HCFCs including recycled material. Leakage Prevention Fixed equipment which has a refrigerant charge of more than 3kg must be checked annually of the refrigerant is of an ozone depleting type. By the end of 2001 each EU member state must set a minimum qualification for personnel servicing and maintaining equipment and handling refrigerants.

Compressors
Refrigeration systems are normally classified or named by the type of compressor that pumps the refrigerant round the system. These are: Reciprocating Rotary Scroll Screw Centrifugal

Reciprocating Compressor

Rotary Compressor

Rolling Piston Compressor

Rotary Compressor

Sliding Vane Compressor

Scroll Compressor

Screw Compressor

Single Screw Compressor

Screw Compressor

Twin Rotor Screw Compressor

Centrifugal Compressor

Open Compressor

Semi Hermetic Compressor

Hermetic Compressor

Condensers
The condenser is the heat exchanger in which vapour from the compressor is cooled and liquefied By the rejection of heat to a heat sink. This cooling effect is achieved by either: Air Water Evaporative (Air and water)

Air Cooled Condenser

Condensing Unit

Water Cooled Condenser

Double Tube Condenser

Water Cooled Condenser

Shell and Tube Condenser

Evaporative Condenser(Air and Water cooled)

Cooling Towers
A Water Cooled Condenser needs to be accompanied by a Cooling tower as running water to waste through the condenser is not an Environmentally or Economically viable option. The cooling tower transfers condenser water heat (and mass) to a stream of air by bringing the two into contact.

Cooling Tower

Cooling Tower

Cooling Tower

Evaporators
An Evaporator is a heat exchanger where the refrigerant liquid is evaporated by absorbing heat from the contacting heat source.
In Air Conditioning the heat source is ether the air which is then circulated in the area to be cooled directly or water which is then passed round to AHUs/FCUs which cool the air which is then circulated in the area to be cooled.

Direct and Indirect Expansion

Direct Expansion

Indirect Expansion

DX Evaporator Coil and Distributor

Multiple tube in tube Evaporator

Shell and finned tube Evaporator

Shell and Hi-Efficiency Tube Evaporator

Flooded shell and tube Evaporator

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

The main groups of metering/expansion devices are: Hand Expansion valve Automatic Expansion Valve (AXV/AEV) Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV/TEV) Capillary Tube Low Pressure Float Valve High Pressure Float valve

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Hand Expansion valve Usually found on ammonia (NH3) systems as it relies on the continuous presence of a plant operator to monitor and adjust the position of the valve to suit the load requirements

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Automatic Expansion Valve (AXV/AEV) Used mainly in DX systems The automatic expansion valve monitors the pressure of the evaporator and allows more or less liquid refrigerant to enter the evaporator as it endeavours to maintain a constant pressure. Slow to react to changes in load therefore used on constant load systems

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Automatic Expansion Valve (AXV/AEV)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV/TEV) Used mainly on DX systems. Two types Internally and Externally equalised. Monitors and maintains constant superheat at end of evaporator. Externally equalised type compensates for pressure drop across evaporator The latest development in this type of valve is the addition of an electronic control that reduces hunting in operation and the amount of superheat at the end of the evaporator, increasing efficiency

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV/TEV)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Externally Equalised Thermostatic Expansion Valve (EETXV/EETEV)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Externally Equalised Thermostatic Expansion Valve (EETXV/EETEV)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Electronically Controlled Thermostatic Expansion Valve (ECTXV/ECTEV)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Capillary Tube Used on small constant load DX equipment e.g. domestic refrigerators, room air conditioners Simplest and least expensive Provides a deliberate restriction and considerable pressure drop between the high and lo sides of the system. The length and diameter of the capillary being determined to match the capacity of the unit, operating conditions and the refrigerant charge.

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Low and High Pressure Float Valve (Low and High Side Float Valves) Used on flooded type evaporators Allow large flows of liquid refrigerant beyond the capacity of other types of expansion valves Maintain a level of liquid ether in the evaporator (low side) or in the receiver (high side) Can be slow to react to changes in load particularly the high side float valve.

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

Low Pressure Float Valve (Low Side Float Valve)

Metering Devices/Expansion Devices

High Pressure Float Valve (High Side Float Valves)

Other Refrigerant Piping System Components

Refrigeration systems operate under widely varying conditions, other devices may be fitted increase efficiency and safety, these are some of them: Filter drier Liquid Receiver Accumulator Liquid/Suction Heat exchanger

Air Conditioning units

1. Heat Exchanger and Thermospiral tube: 2. Compressor 3. Filter 4. Cabinet

Air Conditioning units

A. Compressor B. Fan C. Expansion Device D. Hot air to outside E. Cold air to inside

Air Conditioning units

Split System Airconditioner With remote condensing unit

Air Conditioning units

Packaged unit Airconditioner

Fan Coil Units (FCU)

Possibly some fresh air

Fan Coil Unit

Inlet air from room

Louvres

Coil

Fan

Supply air to room

Filter

(-)

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Fresh Air

Dampers

Return air Duct

Dampers

Mixing Box
Pre Filter

Filter

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Air Handling Unit AHU

Humidifier De-humidifier

Supply Air Duct

(-) (+)

Coil Coil

Fan

Air Handling Unit (AHU) Bits and Bobs

Why filter the air?

To protect your health The air we breathe is a sea of particles too small to be seen with the naked eye. These particles are known as dust, pollen, bacteria, mould spores, mineral dust and animal hair. They are harmful pollutants because they act as carriers for viruses and work their way into our clothes, furniture, computers, and lungs. Breathing these particles can lead to minor allergies or more complicated respiratory problems. To $ave Money Your air conditioning system is most efficient when the air flow is working at its peak performance. For example, if your A/C coil or ductwork is clogged, the airflow is diminished, which means the system must run longer to cool the same amount of space. If you filter the air before it enters your A/C system, your equipment will be able to perform at its peak capacity. If you neglect the filter, the A/C coil will get so clogged with dirt that the A/C evaporator coil will freeze into a solid block of ice. To repair this problem, a service technician will have to take apart and clean your entire A/C system, which will be very costly and labour intensive. Finding the right filter is just as important, so start protecting your health and your money.

Air Filters

Air Filters

Air Filter Information:

Don't be confused between Arrestance and Efficiency When you buy a filter, you should look for a higher efficiency such as pleated rather than a higher arrestance such as fibreglass. Here is the difference between the two: The efficiency of an air filter removes microscopic particles such as dust, dust mites, pollen, mould, bacteria, and smoke. The arrestance of an air filter is the amount or quantity it removes and generally only remove larger particles such as dirt, lint, hair, and dust. Fibreglass

Pleated

Air Handling Unit (AHU)

100%Fresh Air Filter Filter

Exhaust air from O.T.

Energy Reclaim Device

Fan
Hepa Filter Hepa Filter

AHU for OT's

Specialised Air Handling Unit

(-) (+)

Coil Coil
Fan

Bag Filter

Supply Air

Exhaust To Atmosphere

Air Handling Unit

Chillers

Central Chiller Plant

A term used to describe the refrigeration plant that includes the equipment required to chill the secondary cooling medium i.e. water. Central Chiller plant contains the compressor, condenser, evaporator, internal piping and controls combined in one unit. Chiller plant is preferred for large HVAC applications as they are able to serve AHUs and FCUs dispersed over a large area. Piping refrigerant over a large area is expensive and impractical, refrigerant contained in a small package is the ideal.

Central Chiller Plant

Chiller Plants are normally classified or named by the type of refrigeration system used to pump the refrigerant round the system. The most common ones are: Reciprocating (up to 3000kW) Screw (up to 3000kW) Centrifugal (up to 6000kW) Absorption (up to 6000kW)

Screw Chiller

Centrifugal Chiller

Centrifugal Chiller

Reciprocating Chiller

Healthcare Air Conditioning

Healthcare Air Conditioning is generally just like most other air conditioning it has chillers AHUs FCUs Package Air conditioners Split Air conditioners Etc. Etc. The differences occur in areas that require special conditions I.e. Operating Theatres (OT) Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Laboratories and Pharmacies generally have normal air conditioning and use laminar flow and fume cabinets to provide for the special conditions required.

Operating Theatres (OT) Air Conditioning

The supply of air to an operating theatre has four main functions: 1. Control the temperature and humidity in the space. The Rh is important not just for comfort (maintain below 60%) but to stop Static Electricity build up (maintain above 40%) 2. To assist the removal of, and dilute, waste anaesthetic gases (mainly removed by AGSS but still required to take care of leakage) 3. To dilute airborne bacterial contamination 4. To control air movement within the suite such that the transfer of airborne bacteria from less clean to cleaner areas is minimised.

Operating Theatres (OT) Air Conditioning

MOH and HTM 2025 (1999) REQUIREMENTS/DESIGN Temperature: MOH* Temperature controlled at 210 C plus 00 C minus 10 C HTM - controlled between 160 C to 250 C so as to provide suitable environment needed for certain operating procedures Humidity: MOH - Humidity to be controlled at 50 % plus or minus 3 % HTM - may be allowed to swing uncontrolled between 40 to 60 % (Except in the case where flammable anaesthetic is being used such would require RH control @ 50 % plus minus 5%) Air changes: MOH - 30 to 50 Air changes per hour no re-circulation HTM -15 Air changes per hour no re-circulation *Note HSS are repeatedly criticised my MoH medical staff on
their inability to reduce the theatre temperature to levels desired to support certain surgical/medical procedures

Operating Theatres (OT) Air Conditioning

As MOH staff are requesting various conditions within the OTs Know your OT Air Conditioning capabilities by: Check design conditions Carry out a survey and monitor your equipment to determine how effective and close to design conditions it is working. Then you are able to inform the hospital staff if the existing OT AC is able to provide the conditions they require (RW)

Operating Theatres (OT) Air Conditioning

MOH and HTM Require Controllable temperature somewhere between 16oC and 25oC Controllable humidity between 40%Rh and 60%Rh No re-circulation Hepa Filtration of the supply air Therefore: No thermal wheels only run around coils for energy conservation

Operating Theatres (OT) Air Conditioning

Ultra-clean ventilation systems (UCV) Required for orthopaedic surgery Designed to provide clean filtered air in the zone in which the operation is to be performed; and sterile instruments and drapes are exposed. This is achieved by means of uni-directional discharge of air from an air filter bank or diffuser over the sterile field of the operation. Generally vertical flow systems provide a more effective solution than horizontal flow systems.

Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) Air Conditioning

CSSD requires Air conditioning similar to OT air conditioning for much the same reasons except the dilution of anaesthetic gases As there is generally a high heat load and high relative humidity because of the Sterilisers and constant washing the air changes per hour are required to be high.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Air Conditioning

ICU and NICU Air conditioning can have various extras added i.e. hepa filtration, no re-circulation, better control of the relative humidity etc. but generally the only difference is that they are normally maintained at a higher temperature.

Psychrometry

Psychrometry is a branch of physics concerned with the measurement and determination of the thermodynamic properties of air water vapour mixtures. These properties are utilised in the analysis of the conditions of the air and water vapour mixtures as they pass through the various components of the air conditioning plant and the spaces to be conditioned.

Psychrometric Chart
100 rh(%) 25 h(kJ/kg) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 5 10 0.01 W(kg/kg) 20 0.02 75 50 0.03

15

1.15 v(m^3/kg) 5 t(C) 10

15

1.2 20

25

1.25 30

35

40

1.3 45

50

Psychrometric Chart

1 2

W kg/kg 0.0262 0.016

td C

t C 30* 15.6*
tw C

rh % 67 99.1
Vtot m3

v m3/kg 1.295 1.214

m kg

h kJ/kg 96.95 55.98

ma kg mw kg

1 2

23.2 15.5

24.5* 15.5*

1* 0.7927 0.7725 0.02021 0.9375* 0.7848 0.7725 0.01232

VAPOUR BARRIER
Refrigeration Units have a vapour barrier to stop water passing through the walls into the inside of the unit. As the evaporator removes water from the air it reduces the moisture content compared to outside. Therefore the moisture on the outside tries to get inside to correct the imbalance. To a lesser degree the same happens with rooms that are Air Conditioned being adjacent to rooms that are not. Water Vapour passes through the walls to make up the imbalance If there is poor air flow or a lack of ultraviolet light on the walls mould starts to grow. If there was a good Vapour Barrier on the wall this would reduce the problem greatly.

Thermal Comfort
The following factors collectively contribute to the thermal comfort of building occupants: Metabolic Rate Temperature Humidity Air Motion Noise levels Radiant Heat Exchange Clothing The Work Load of the Person Lighting Loads Gaseous Pollutants

Thank You