The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

Department of Building Services Engineering
Programme

Part-time BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering (33078)

BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering (33081) (Self-financed)

Level

Subject

Air-conditioning & Refrigeration (BSE3224)

Session

2008/2009 Semester 1

Date

10 December 2008

Time

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Time Allowed :

2.5 hours

This question paper has 15 pages.

Instructions to Candidates:
Attempt ANY FOUR out of the six questions in this paper.
The following constant values should be used in calculations unless otherwise specified in
individual questions:
Moist air density, a = 1.2 kg/m
Specific heat capacity of moist air, Cpa = 1.02 kJ/kgK
Latent heat of vaporisation of water, hfg,0 = 2501 kJ/kg
Specific heat capacity of water, Cpw = 4.2 kJ/kgK
Available from invigilators:
1.
2.

Psychrometric charts
Graph paper

Recommended list of materials allowed to be taken into the examination venue:

Books, handouts, hand written notes, non-programmable calculator

DO NOT TURN OVER THE PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

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Question 1
A restaurant is air-conditioned with the following systems, cooling loads and design
parameters:
Interior Zone
VAV

System
Indoor temperature:

Cooling
Heating
Maximum cooling load: Sensible
Latent
Minimum load:
Sensible
Latent
Design supply air state:
Primary air flow rate:
Min. turn down ratio
a)

12 kW
3 kW
4.5 kW
1.5 kW

24oC
21oC

Perimeter Zone
Fan-coil

14oC, 90% RH

10 kW
2.5 kW
- 4 kW
1kW

0.15m3/s
0.1m3/s
(90% RH, same moisture content as room air)
0.4
N/A

Determine for the interior zone:

(i)

the design supply air flow rate of the VAV system to maintain the indoor
temperature;
(3 marks)
(ii) the space relative humidity at the maximum load conditions;
(3 marks)
(iii) the air volume flow rate and indoor temperature at the minimum load
conditions; and
(3 marks)
(iv) the design cooling coils load.
(3 marks)
b) Determine for the perimeter zone:
(i)

the design supply air flow rate of the fan-coil system to maintain the
indoor temperature;
(3 marks)
(ii) the adjusted sensible and latent load on the fan-coil unit at maximum load
condition, assuming that the Sensible Heat Ratio (SHR) of the fan-coil unit
follows the maximum load conditions;
(3 marks)
(iii) the resulting indoor moisture content and relative humidity at the
maximum load conditions; and
(3 marks)
(iv) the heating load at the minimum load conditions if electric duct heater is
provided.
(4 marks)

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Question 2
A primary-secondary pumping system with four identical chillers is shown in Figure
Q2(a). The design chilled water flow rate for each primary pump is 20 L/s, and the
supply and return temperatures are 7oC and 12oC respectively. A decoupler by-pass
pressure control is installed for sequencing control of chillers. Figure Q2(b) shows the
relation between the cooling output of a typical cooling coil and the chilled water flow
rate through the coil. Tables Q2(a) provides the system pressure drop characteristics
and Table Q2(b) summarises the performance of each secondary pump.
a)

Calculate the design chiller plant cooling capacity.

(4 marks)

b)

c)
d)
e)
f)

Determine the settings of chilled water flow rate and the corresponding flow rate
in the by-pass line for switching ON or OFF of each chiller as the load changes.
You may adopt a safety factor of 15% for OFF schedule of chiller to avoid
system hunting.
(4 marks)
Conduct proper calculations to determine the return chilled water temperatures,
both TR and Tr as shown in Figure Q2(a).
(5 marks)
Construct the pump characteristics curve and system characteristics curve on the
graph paper provided.
(4 marks)
Determine the ON-setting flow rate for each secondary pump.
(4 marks)
At each flow setting determined in (a), determine the number of operating
secondary loop pump.
(4 marks)
<Answers for (a) through (c) and (f) should be entered in Table Q2 (c), and to be
submitted together with the answer book. A spare copy is attached at the end of
this question paper.>

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Figure Q2(a)

Schematic diagram of a two-loop chilled water pumping system

using constant speed pumps
Constant speed
secondary-loop pumps
(Standby not shown)

Qp

QS

Qb
Decoupler
by-pass pipe

Chillers &
primary-loop pumps

TR

Tr

Figure Q2(b) Relation between the cooling output of a typical cooling coil and the
chilled water flow rate through the coil

fraction of designed
cooling output

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

fraction of designed flow rate

0.8

0.9

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Table Q2(a) System pressure drop characteristics

Flow Rate (kg/s)
Pressure Drop (kPa)

0
0

20
25

40
100

60
225

80
400

100
625

120
900

Table Q2(b) Performance characteristics of each secondary pump

Flow Rate
(kg/s)
Pressure
Drop (kPa)

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

450

450

450

430

400

360

300

230

146

Increasing Load

Table Q2(c) System operating characteristics

ON/OFF action

Flow in
primary
main
(L/s)
Qp

Flow in
secondary
main
(L/s)
Qs

Flow in
by-pass
line
(L/s)
Qb

Starting 1st
chiller and
primary pump

20

< 20

Starting 2nd
chiller and
primary pump

40

20 + #

20

Return chilled
water
temperature
(oC)
Tr
TR
-

No. of
operating
secondary
pump
1

Starting 3rd
chiller and
primary pump
Starting 4th
chiller and
primary pump

Decreasing Load

Switching off
4th chiller and
primary pump

80

Switching off
3rd chiller and
primary pump
Switching off
2nd chiller and
primary pump

Remarks: # You may ignore in the calculation of return chilled water temperatures.

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Question 3
A two-loop chilled water pumping system with a cooling capacity of 1500 tons is shown in
Figure Q3(a). Three identical constant speed secondary-loop pumps are used to deliver
chilled water under the design-load condition. The pressure/flow rate characteristics of each
secondary pump are as shown in Figure Q3(b). The control valve is an equal percentage valve
with inherent characteristics as shown in Figure Q3(c). The cooling coil output-flow
characteristics is as shown in Figure Q3(d). The design valve authority is 0.3.
a)

Under the design-load condition, the control valve at the furthest branch will allow the
design flow rate of the branch, which is 40m/h, to pass through it when it is fully open.
Determine:
(i)

the KV and the corresponding pressure drop across the control valve at the furthest
branch;
(4 marks)
(ii) the Kv of the control valve at the second furthest branch if the design flow rate is
30 m3/h; and
(4 marks)
(iii) the pressure drop through all elements in the furthest branch, excluding the control
valve.
(4 marks)
b)

Under a part-load condition where the total cooling load required by all the branches is
reduced to 66% of the design cooling load, all the secondary pumps are still in
operation, and the cooling load requirement of the furthest branch is reduced to 50%.
Determine:
(i)

the corresponding pressure drop across the control valve at the furthest branch;

(Hints: Pb = R b V 2 where Pb is the pressure drop through all elements in the

last branch except the control valve.)
(4 marks)
(ii) the lift of the control valve at the furthest branch under the given part-load
condition; and
(4 marks)
(iii) the lift of the control valve at the furthest branch under the given part-load
condition if one of the secondary pump is switched off.
(5 marks)

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Figure Q3(a) Schematic diagram of a two-loop chilled water pumping system

(Standby pump not shown)

Secondary-loop
pumps
Decoupler Bypass Pipe

Flow meter

B
Primary-loop
pumps

Flow switch

Figure Q3(b) Pump characteristic curve for the each secondary pump model

500
450

Pumpr
Press.
(kPa)(kPa
Pumpr
Press.

400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0

50

100

150

200

Flow Rate (cu m/hr)

250

300

350

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Figure Q3(c) Inherent characteristic curve for the equal percentage control valve

100
90
80
70
% Flow

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
% Valve Lift

Figure Q3(d) Relation between the cooling output and the chilled water flow rate

fraction of designed
cooling output

0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

fraction of designed flow rate

0.8

0.9

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Question 4
Four nos. of the chillers specified in Table Q4 are installed to meet with the design cooling
load in a building. Each of the four identical chillers is connected to one constant speed
chilled water pump with rated power input of 20kW.
The power input for a chiller is related to the part-load ratio (PLR) by the following equation:

Wi = Wi ,full a + b( PLR ) + c( PLR ) 2

where

Wi
= power input, kW
Wi,full = power input at full-load, kW
a, b, c = chiller specific part-load coefficients

The manufacturers data of a chiller model are provided in Table Q4 below:

Table Q4
Manufacturers data
Chiller type

Water-cooled centrifugal

Rated capacity at full-load

600 kW

Design chilled water return/supply temperature

12oC / 7oC

Rated COP

Part-load coefficients: a, b, c

0.17, 0.44, 0.39

Rated evaporating temperature

4oC

a)

Calculate the COP of the chiller running at full-load, 80% and 50% load.
(6 marks)

b)

Discuss, with the aid of a graph, how the chiller COPs will vary with part-load ratios
from full-load to 10% load.
(5 marks)

c)

Determine when the total cooling load decreases to 1620 kW, how many chillers should
be operated to give better efficiency based on the graph of part (b)? Calculate the
required total power input at this condition.
(6 marks)

d)

Determine the evaporating temperature and the chilled water return temperature based
on the part load condition as determined in part (c). You may assume the chilled water
supply temperature is controlled at a design constant.
(8 marks)

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Question 5
a)

Figure Q5 shows two space air diffusion system designs being considered for an office
room. The total cooling load of the room is 2.5 kW, and the design supply air flow rate
is 0.2m/s. Determine which design is preferable based on the design conditions shown
in Table Q5 (a) and (b). The outdoor conditions are 33C DB and 80% RH.
(12 marks)

b)

Comment on the two designs.

c)

There is a potential problem in design A/B or both. What is/are the problem(s)? (Hints:
The problem is not related to thermal comfort)
(4 marks)

d)

Suggest measures to rectify the problem(s).

Figure Q5

(6 marks)

(3 marks)

Layout and section for two space air diffusion designs (Not to scale)

2.5m
2m

2m

Sidewall
grille

Window

5m

Sidewall
grille

Window

Reflected ceiling plan

Reflected ceiling plan

Window
Sidewall
grille

Window
Sidewall
grille

4m
Section

Section

Design A

Design B

FCU

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Table Q5
(a)

Design data for the space air diffusion systems

Throw (T0.25) for the side wall grille

Supply flow rate (L/s)

Sidewall grille (T0.25, m)

(b)

100
2.5

125
3

150
3.5

180
4.2

200
4.7

230
5.3

260
5.9

Air diffusion performance index (ADPI) selection guide for sidewall grille

Room Load
(W/m)

T0.25 / L
for Max. ADPI

Max.
ADPI (%)

250
190
125
65

1.1
1.1
1.0
0.9

68
82
83
85

10

For ADPI
Greater Than
(%)

80
80
80

Range of
T0.25 / L

0.6 1.3
0.8 1.4
0.7 1.1

310
6.4

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Question 6
Figure Q6(a) shows the supply air system that serves an office premises in a building. The
supply flow rate for the room accounts for two-third of the total supply flow rate from the
fan. The supply air is discharged into the room through two ceiling-diffusers of dimensions
500mm 500mm. The floor area of the room is 5m 5m (Length Width) and the false
ceiling height is 3.5m above the floor level. The reverberation time of the room is 1 second.
a)

Calculate the sound pressure level in the room at the point (X) 2.5m above floor level at
the corner, which is due to noise transmission from the fan through the ducting system
into the room. State any assumption you have made.
(20 marks)

b)

Determine if any noise reduction measures will be required to meet NR40 in the room
and, if so, recommend the applicable measures. What precaution should also be taken?
(5 marks)

The noise data of the fan and the octave band SPL limits for meeting NR40 are given in
Table Q6. The required duct noise calculation data are given in Figures Q6(b) to (e).

Table Q6
Octave Band Frequency (Hz)

125

250

500

1000

2000

4000

Fan Sound Power Level (dB)

75

76

75

74

71

66

Sound pressure level limit for NR40 (dB)

56

49

44

40

37

35

11

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Figure Q6(a) System schematic

400mm 350mm main

supply duct, 6.5m long.

To other rooms

3.5 m
Headroom

Ceiling diffuser
@0.5m3/s; 0.25m2

2.5 m
Ground Floor

1.5 m3/s

Elevation

400mm 350mm (2 m)

To other rooms

300mm 200mm; 2 branch ducts, 1.5mlong

D1

D2
4m

Figure Q6(b) Attenuation in plain ducts of minimum width d

12

Plan View

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Figure Q6(c)

Attenuation at duct outlets

13

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Figure Q6(d) Corrections to sound power level at grille to give direct sound pressure level in
room

Figure Q6(e) Corrections to grille sound power level to give reverberant sound pressure
level

14

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Question 2 (To be submitted with the answer book)

Student Name:
Student ID No.:

Table Q2(c)

System operating characteristics

Flow in
primary
main
(L/s)
Qp

Flow in
secondary
main
(L/s)
Qs

Flow in
by-pass
line
(L/s)
Qb

Starting 1st
chiller and
primary pump

20

< 20

Starting 2nd
chiller and
primary pump

40

20 + #

20

Increasing Load

ON/OFF action

Return chilled
water temperature
(oC)
Tr

TR

No. of
operating
secondary
pump

Starting 3rd
chiller and
primary pump
Starting 4th
chiller and
primary pump

Decreasing Load

Switching off
4th chiller and
primary pump

80

Switching off
3rd chiller and
primary pump
Switching off
2nd chiller and
primary pump

Remarks: # You may ignore in the calculation of return chilled water temperatures.

15