CHAPTER 4

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

(4 HOURS)
1. System and Operating Principle
2. Types of Air Conditioning and Application
3. Chilled Water and Cooling Tower
Operations
4. Advantages & Disadvantages types
Able to:
1. Understand the system and operating
principle of an air conditioning systems.
2. Distinguish the types of air conditioning and
its applications.
4.1 System and Operating Principle
(a) Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems
Refrigeration : The process of reducing and
maintaining the temp. of a space below the temp.
of the surrounding.

Example: i) Food storage & distribution

Freezing (-32C)
Warehouse refrigerator (-20 to -23C)
Display at food market (3 to 5C)
Home freezer (0 to 4C)
Printing industries - to control quality
Computer room - to prevent overheating
4.1 System and Operating Principle
Air-conditioning - the process to control:
Temperature
Humidity
For the comfort of
Air quality
the occupants.
Air distribution
Sound level

The feeling of comfort varies with the individuals and

depends on sex, age and work.
4.1 System and Operating Principle
Advantages of Air-conditioning
Healthier, more convenient and comfortable
Increase worker productivity
Increase attractiveness and marketability
Increase efficiency and working life of equipment

Disadvantages of Air-conditioning
Higher electricity bills.
Higher of initial and maintenance costs
Need extra space.
4.1 System and Operating Principle
(b) Refrigeration Cycle (RC)
Basic RC components :
i. Compressor ii. Condenser
iii. Expansion iv. Evaporation
4.1 System and Operating Principle
 (CHClF2)

(CCl3F)

(CCl2F2)

R-134a (CH2FCF3) is used in new systems

because this refrigerant contain no chlorine
atom and is not destructive to the ozone layer.
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Refrigerant/Coolant
A refrigerant is a compound used in a heat cycle
that undergoes a phase change from a gas to a
liquid and back.
The two main uses of refrigerants are
refrigerators/freezers and air conditioners the most
widely used refrigerants were the halomethanes R-12
and R-22, with R-12 being more common in automotive
air conditioning and small refrigerators, and R-22
being used for residential and light commercial air
conditioning, refrigerators, and freezers.
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Operation of basic air-conditioning system

R-12 gas in compressor with low pressure gas is compressed to
high pressure gas state of 909.2 kPa and high temperature of
37.8C,
Then release heat in the condenser, change high pressure gas
becomes high pressure liquid 246.2 kPa at -6.7C, entering the
expansion valve, the pressure of the liquid is reduced to low
pressure liquid, go through the evaporator, absorb heat (from
room) becomes low pressure gas and this gas will be compressed.
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Compressor
A gas compressor is a
mechanical device that
increases the pressure of a
gas by reducing its volume.
Compressors are similar to
pumps: both increase the
pressure on a fluid and both
can transport the fluid through
a pipe.
As gases are compressible, the
compressor also reduces the
volume of a gas. Liquids are
relatively incompressible, so
the main action of a pump is to
pressurize and transport liquids
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Condenser
Condenser is a device or unit used to condense a substance
from its gaseous to its liquid state, typically by cooling it. In so
doing, the latent heat is given up by the substance, and will
transfer to the condenser coolant.
Condensers are used to transfer heat from the hot compressed
refrigerant gas to a cooling medium, usually air (air cooled) or
water (water cooled) and the refrigerant condensed.
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Expansion valve
In the expansion valve, high pressure liquid is converted to low
pressure liquid and this will control the rate at which the
refrigerant enters the evaporation and is an amount equal to that
being evaporated due to the heat absorbed from the substance
being cooled.
4.1 System and Operating Principle

Evaporator
To absorb heat from the inside and removed it by using
refrigerant. Due to this, low pressure refrigerant (liquid state)
becomes low pressure gas
Almost similar to condenser, except the tubing will have smaller
tube instead of fin such as need condenser.
 Ph(Pressure Enthalpy)charts
Based on the pressure and temperature of the evaporator,
condenser, and compressor, the P-h (Pressure - Enthalpy) charts
can be plotted to determine what and where sub-cooled and
superheat take place.
Schematic Diagram of RC
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

WindowUnit
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

Advantages of Window Air-conditioner (WAC)

1. Very easy to install and surely cut costs with the installation
process.

2. Dont need to make any changes to the structure of your

house, like in the case of the wall air conditioner.

3. They can be fitted on every type of window, with small

adjustments.

4. They are also portable, as you can move them from one
house to another if it happens that youll sell your house.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
Disadvantages of WAC
1. Noisy

2. No fine control of temperature and humidity

3. Higher consumption of electricity per TR

4. Large part of the window and cuts down sunlight and

natural ventilation.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
Advantages of Split Air-conditioner

1. The noise from the compressor is excluded from

the room because the Condensing Unit can be
remotely mounted.

2. Only a small hole is required for the refrigerant

piping to go through.

3. Split Units can be installed for internal rooms

where there are no perimeter walls as required
by the WAC.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
Disadvantages of Split Air-conditioner
1. No provision for ventilation air, supply foul air and
odors are accumulated by re-circulation of the
room air.

2. To overcome the above (item 1) problem, the

installation of an exhaust fan is required. However,
a new problem of infiltration of hot and moist air
from the door entrances. This will cause discomfort
and possible condensation of water droplets at the
entrance area.

3. The maximum length on the refrigerant pipes

linking the Fan Coil Unit to the Condensing Units is
usually limited to about 15 meter.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

ListtheadvantagesanddisadvantagesbetweenWindowunitandsplitunit
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

Cooling tower

Chiller
Typeofairconditioning(centralized unit)
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

Typeofairconditioning
(centralized unit)
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

Water side arrangement

In the central air-conditioning system, heat from
each floor is transferred from the room air at 25C
to the chilled water at 12C by an AHU
The refrigeration machine which transfer heat
from the chilled water at 12C to condenser
water at 35C is called water chiller
A cooling tower is used to reject heat from the
condenser water at 35C to the outside air at
30C
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
Central AC Advantages
1. Central air conditioners are designed to cool your
entire home, while dehumidifying its air. When used
in climates that aren't overly humid and when these
systems aren't too large for the spaces they must
cool, they do their job well, bringing you convenient
whole-house cooling. The key is to make sure the
system is properly sized and is used in a climate that
will support its optimal functioning.

2. With central air, you won't have to worry about

where to locate the unit, since your system will be
placed in a central location and its ductwork will
usually already be in place for delivering cooling to
every part of your home.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
Central AC Disadvantages
1. A great deal of the cooling potential of the air circulating through the
ductwork is lost as it travels through the system, lowering system
efficiency and potentially raising utility costs. More than 30% of a
home's energy consumption for central air conditioning can be
attributed to losses via the system's ductwork. When ductwork
passes through an unconditioned space such as an attic, which can
absorb a great deal of heat during the summer months, these losses
can be even greater.

2. Leaky ductwork can also cause cooling and energy-efficiency

problems in a forced-air central AC system. The problem of leaky
ducts occurs when ducts are poorly connected or when they are
damaged. Leaky ducts can be a significant source of energy loss in
a central air system.

3. Central air conditioning also requires ductwork maintenance to keep

the system running efficiently. Ducts must be professionally cleaned
every three to seven years to maintain efficiency. They should also
be inspected for leaks and damage periodically.
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

PTACSystems
4.2 Types of Air Conditioning and Application

PTACSystems
Advantages Disadvantages
- Verylowinitialcosts - Highmaintenance
- Nofloorspace - Poorservicelife
- Easyinstallation - Poornoisecharacteristics
- Easytomaintain - Lowefficiency
- Noductwork - Needanoutsidewall
Redundancy - Aestheticallychallenged
4.3 Chilled Water
and Cooling Tower
Operations

Chilled Water system

(District Cooling System)
is a system which
distribute chilled water or
other media, usually
provided from a
dedicated cooling plant,
to multiple building for air
conditioning or other
uses.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

Chiller Unit
Unit where chilled water is cooled by the evaporator.
The chilled water is circulated inside the cooling coil in the AHU, being
warmed and to the chiller.
Inside the chiller, the low pressure liquid refrigerant inside the
evaporator absorbs heat and flows to the condenser.
The condenser is either air-cooled or water-cooled.
This unit is usually installed for central plant system.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
Disadvantages

1. Requires cooling tower and pumps / pipes.

2. Must operate at lowest temperature required for

entire system.

3. Must maintain chilled water system and cooling tower

water system with chemicals.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
COOLING TOWER
A cooling tower is a heat rejection
device which rejects waste heat to
the atmosphere through the cooling
of a water stream to a lower
temperature.

Cooling towers may either use

the evaporation of water to remove
process heat and cool the working
fluid to near the wet-bulb air
temperature or, in the case of closed
circuit dry cooling towers, rely solely
on air to cool the working fluid to near
the dry-bulb air temperature.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

When selecting the cooling tower

location, sufficient clearance
should be allowed for the free
flow of air to the inlet of the tower.
Obstructions would reduce air
flow and hence the capacity.

The discharge should not cause

condensation on nearby surface.
The tower should be also located
away from sources of exhaust
heat and contaminated air.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
COOLING TOWER

The make-up water rate required for a cooling tower is

3.3 IGPH per ton of refrigeration. The water entering
and leaving cooling tower at 36oC and 30.5oC, respectively.

A storage tank should be provided for supplying to the

cooling tower in case of no water supply from the
mains. This is usually rated for 5 hours operation and
takes into account the evaporation, spilling out and
windage losses during that period. Normally, the size of
tank required is about 26 IGPH per ton of refrigeration.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

COOLING TOWER
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

WATER PUMP
The capacity of the cooling tower water
pump should be rated at 3.0 IGPH per
ton of refrigeration and capable of
overcoming the pipe friction, head
losses through fitting, valves and
accessories, pressure losses, cooling
coil, etc.

The chilled water pump can be sized

from the technical data sheet of the
equipment tender and friction losses in
the pipe work, values, etc.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
AIR HANDLING UNITS (AHU)
AHU comprises the centrifugal fan fan-motor, face and
by-pass dampers with control motor, filter section and
the cooling coils.

The fan size is selected from the total static pressure

and the required air quantity.

The product data sheets will then give the fan and
casing size, fan-motor horse power required and rpm of fan.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

AIRHANDLINGUNIT (AHU)

The AHU is box-like equipment

with a fan and a cooling coil
inside. Some units also contain air
filters. The whole fan and motor
assembly, comprising shaft,
bearings, pulley, belting is usually
put inside the AHU.
to suck air from the rooms, let it
pass through chilled water cooling
coils and then discharging the
cooled air back to the rooms.
A certain amount of fresh air may
be introduced at the suction duct
so that air in the rooms may be
gradually replaced.
The cold air is transfer to the next
room.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

AIR HANDLING UNIT (AHU )

The flow of the heat in central air conditioning system:

Heat is transferred from the air in the rooms to chilled
water at the air handling units.
The chilled water is pumped through the chiller and the
heat is transferred to the refrigerant.
The refrigerant is cooled by cooling water
circulating in the condenser of the chiller.
The heated cooling water is passed through cooling
towers where the heat is dissipated to the atmosphere
by fans.
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations
AIRHANDLINGUNIT (AHU)

If humidity of the air has to be controlled, steam coils, or other

heating coils may be installed
Moisture in the air is condensed out when it comes into contact with
the chilled water coils. At the bottom of the AHU, a pipe is installed
so that water that is collected can be drained out.
Removable panels are installed so that personnel can enter into the
AHU for maintenance. Maintenance is mostly changing or washing of
air filters, greasing of bearings, changing of belts, and general
inspection and cleaning work.

Fan (tangential type) of the Hole of the flow of the fresh air
air handling unit
4.3 Chilled Water and Cooling Tower Operations

AIRHANDLINGUNIT (AHU)

A pipe connecting the compressor to

cooling tower. CWP at the pipe bring
means cooling water.

A pipe connecting the compressor

to AHU room. CHW at the pipe
means chilled water.
British thermal unit per hour (Btu/h), is a measure of the heat output
of a heating system.

Ton Refrigeration (TR) is a measure of cooling capacity.

1 TR = 3.5 kW or 12 000 BTU/h
1 Hp = 10,000 BTU/hr

Heat gain is a term applied to various components of the heat load, such
as appliance heat gain and solar heat gain. All of the heat gain
components are summed to calculate the cooling load.

The energy efficiency ratio (EER) is a measure of how much cooling

effect is provided by the air conditioner for each unit of electrical energy
that it consumes under steady state operation. It is determined by
dividing the cooling output of the unit, (BTU/h), by the electrical power
input, (watts), at a specific temperature.
The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit.

E.g: 1 TR AC consumes 1000 watts, then the EER of the Air

conditioners (3,500 / 1,000) is 3.50.
Psychrometric Chart

A psychrometric chart is a graphical representation of the

psychrometric processes of air. Psychrometric processes include
physical and thermodynamic properties such as dry bulb
temperature, wet bulb temperature, humidity, enthalpy, and air
density.
Example

Dry bulb = 32oC , Humidity = 60%

Rules of thumb for room air conditioners

Rules of thumb for estimating air conditioner size vary by manufacturer.

This example, from Carrier, includes the following suggestions for adjustments:
If a room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10 percent; if the room is very
sunny, increase by 10 percent; and if using the unit in a kitchen, increase
capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.

Room area Capacity

(ft) (Btu/h)
100 to 150 5,000
150 to 250 6,000
250 to 300 7,000
300 to 350 8,000
350 to 400 9,000
400 to 450 10,000
450 to 550 12,000
550 to 700 14,000
700 to 1,000 18,000