LESSON

HEATING AND COOLING

LECTURE
SUB-OBJECTIVE
At the end of the Lesson the Trainees will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate an understanding of Air conditioning heating
and cooling.
1.0

ROOM DEHUMIDIFIER
Typically, a dehumidifier consists of a hermetic compressor, condenser and
evaporator using a capillary tube refrigerant control. See Fig. 10-2-1. IN the
schematic diagram, red indicates high-pressure liquid; green, low-pressure
liquid; yellow, low-pressure vapor and blue, high-pressure vapor.
Liquid refrigerant collects in the lower coils of the condenser and flows
through the filter into the capillary tube. Then it moves into the evaporator,
which is under low pressure. In the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant boils
rapidly and picks up heat from the evaporator surface. a motor-driven fan
forces large amounts of air through the evaporator.
Because of the low temperature of the evaporator, the moisture carried in the
air condenses on the evaporator surfaces. The moisture drips to the bottom
of the evaporator and into the condensate trough. Air flowing through the
evaporator is both cooled and dehumidified. Cooled air is then forced
through the condenser, where it cools the condenser and again picks up
heat, so the air leaving the dehumidifier is about the same temperature as it
was when it entered but it has a lower humidity.
Low-pressure vapor is drawn from the evaporator through the suction line to
the compressor. It is again compressed to high-slide pressure and is forced
into the condenser. Here it is cooled, becomes a liquid and the cycle is
repeated.
In addition to an on-and-off switch dehumidifiers usually have two other
controls. One is for humidity. It permits the dehumidifier to operate until the
desired relative humidity is reached; then the control shuts the machine off.
The other is a frost control element placed in the suction line between the
evaporator and the compressor. It stops the motor compressor at a high
enough temperature so the evaporator will not freeze over and stop the flow
of air thorough it.
In the drawing, arrows in black show the direction of airflow through the
dehumidifier.

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Fig. 10-2-1. Room dehumidifier.

Room air is cooled as it flows through evaporator. Considerable water vapor s
condensed on evaporator surface and drains away. Air is Re heated as it flows
thorough and cools condenser.
2.0

HEAT PUMP - AIR-TO-AIR

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Used in homes and in some industries, the "heat pump" is a heat-moving

mechanism. Heat is absorbed in an evaporator in one location and released
through a condenser in another location.
The system can reverse its operation so that the evaporator becomes the
condenser and the condenser becomes the evaporator. Heat flow is
reversed.
Thus, using a special reversing valve, the mechanism either heats or cools
the conditioned space. The flow through the compressor is always in the
same direction.
Fig. 10-2-2 shows the flow through the valve causing the conditioned space
to be heated. Fig. 10-2-3 shows the valve in position to cool the conditioned
space.
Heat pumps use a compression type refrigerating mechanism, similar to a
regular refrigerating mechanism. They have two heat transfer surfaces - one
located inside the conditioned space and the other out-of-doors.
On the heating cycle, Fig. 10-2-2, the outdoor coil becomes an evaporator
while the indoor coil becomes the condenser.
In operation, liquid refrigerant enters the outdoor coil, picks up heat from outof-doors and is vaporized
The vapor is drawn into the compressor, is compressed to a high
temperature and is pumped into the indoor coil. Since its temperature is
higher than the indoor temperature, heat will be released into the room.
Compressed refrigerant vapors will condense upon giving up their heat of
vaporization and will return to a liquid state.
The liquid then flows back through the capillary tube into the evaporator, and
the cycle is repeated. Since the outdoor coil is colder than the outdoor
surrounding air, ice may form on it if the outdoor temperature is rather low.
Therefore, outdoor coils are fitted with de-ice controls. These controls are
either electric heating units turned on automatically if ice forms; or the
compressors stops, allowing the evaporator surface to warm up to melt the
ice.
On the cooling cycle, Fig. 10-2-3, the reversing valve causes the coil in the
conditioned space to become an evaporator.
Refrigerant flows through the capillary tube into the evaporator and the liquid
refrigerant boils absorbing heat. vapor from the boiling refrigerant is drawn
into the compressor where it is compressed.
The heated vapor is pumped into the outdoor coil, which has become a
condenser.
Since the air surrounding the outdoor coil is cooler than the compressed
vapor in the coil, the compressed refrigerant vapor gives up its heat to the
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outside air. It condenses and flows to the bottom of the condenser as liquid
refrigerant.
From here it flows through the capillary tube into the bottom of the
evaporator. From this point the cycle is repeated, and motor driven fans on
both coils aid head flow from the coil surfaces.
Heat pump installations are ideal for locations where the heat load in winter
is almost the same as the cooling load in summer.
Air-to-air installations are most satisfactory when the ambient air
temperature in the winter remains above - or only occasionally below - the
freezing temperature.

Fig. 10-2-2. Air-to-air heat pump illustrating heating cycle.

The reversing valve is set so that coil on outside is acting as an evaporator.
Condenser inside house releases heat absorbed in evaporator.

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Fig. 10-2-3. An air-to-air heat pump during cooling cycle.

Valve is set so that coil on inside is acting as an evaporator. Heat absorbed in the
evaporator, is released by the condenser outside house.
3.0

HEAT PUMP - WITH ELECTRIC HEATERS

Air-to-air heat pump installations operate efficiently when outside air
temperature is above freezing.
However, when the outside temperature drops down to or below freezing,
efficient drops off rapidly.
To make up for this loss of efficiency, the indoor section is often fitted with
electric resistance heating units.
When the thermostat calls for more heat than the heat pump is able to
deliver, the electric heating elements will turn on.
Heat pump operation of the heating and cooling cycle is the same as
explained. Fig. 10-2-4 is a heat pump cycle diagram. Note the resistance
heating units.

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Fig. 10-2-4. An air-to-air heat pump with electric resistance heating elements.
The heating cycle is on in this diagram. Electric heaters provide additional heat if
needed.

STEAM JET COOLING

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Steam jet cooling uses water as the refrigerant. Pressure on the surface of
water is reduced to lower its boiling temperature.
This is shown in Fig. 10-2-5. At 0.2 psia, the boiling temperature of water is
53 F. (12 C).

Fig. 10-2-5. shows boiling temperature of water at various pressures.

Note that pressures are in pounds per square inch absolute (psia).
Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia.
A steam jet is shown in Fig. 10-2-6. An ejector sucks of draws water vapor
from the surface of the water in the evaporator, causing the pressure in the
evaporator to drop.
The ejector reduces the pressure in the evaporator to a point at which the
water will vaporize at the desired temperature.
While vaporizing, it absorbs heat and cools the rest of the water is the
evaporator.
Steam pressure at the ejector nozzle should be about 150 psia. The
pressure in the condenser, not shown in the illustration, will be about 3 psia.
Evaporation of some of the water in the evaporator reduces the temperature
of the remaining water. Pumps calculate this cold water at 40 to 70F . (4 to
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21 C.), to the area to be cooled.

Because of the need for a large supply of steam under a fairly high pressure
and for a large supply of water for cooling the condenser, these systems
usually have a large capacity - 100 tons and over.
Steam jet systems are often used in air conditioning and for cooling water
used in certain chemical plants for gas absorption.
The cooling temperatures provided by the steam jet mechanism are usually
between 40 and 70F (4 and 21 C.).
Temperatures below 40F (4C.) are impractical due to the danger of freezing.

Fig. 10-2-6. Steam jet refrigeration.

Steam escaping through nozzle in ejector causes low-[pressure condition over
surface of water in evaporator.
This low pressure on surface of water causes it to evaporate rapidly, absorbing heat
and reducing temperature of water in evaporator.
Chilled water may be circulated where needed for cooling purposes

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