Types of Air-conditioning Systems

The following summaries can assist you in identifying the most common types of air-
conditioning (AC) systems in apartment buildings.

1. Condenser Water Loop

A cooling tower and condenser water pumps remove heat from individual compressors inside
apartments. Some of these also heat in winter using a Raypak boiler or heat pump. All plant
except the compressor and fan inside the apartment is metered through the common
property meter.
The key components are:
 Indoor unit in the apartment
 Heat rejection system - cooling towers on the roof of the building
 Water pipes running to and from the cooling towers and indoor systems
 Gas boiler or electric heat pump

Cooling Tower Indoor Unit

(managed by the owners corporation) (managed by apartment residents)

2. Chiller / Boiler
A large, central compressor provides cold water to a heat exchanger - Fan Coil Unit (FCU) -
inside apartments.
Fan Coil Units (FCU) in apartments contain a fan that draws air into the unit then blows it
over a cooling or heating coil. The air comes out of the FCU either cooler or hotter than
before.
FCUs will generally have a chilled water coil for cooling and either a hot water coil for heating
or an electric heating element.
A chiller, located on the roof or in the building’s plant room, provides cold water. The chiller
can be air-cooled or water-cooled (i.e. has its own cooling tower).
A boiler, generally located in the plant room, provides hot water.
All plant, except the FCUs inside apartments, is metered through the common property
meter.
Air-cooled chiller Water-cooled chiller

Boilers

Fan Coil Units

3. Multiple condensing units.
Chilled refrigerant is provided to each apartment by multiple large, compressors located
centrally. Refrigerant pipework is insulated and provides chilled refrigerant to an evaporator
within a Fan Coil Unit (FCU) inside the apartment. A key characteristic is the cooling fans
located at the top of the equipment.
All plant, except the FCU inside the apartment, is metered through the common property
meter.

Condensing Units

4. Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) or Variable Refrigerant Flow

(VRF)
VRVs/VRFs utilise a larger external condenser to provide cooling or heating to many indoor
Fan Coil Units (FCU). The system varies the quantity of refrigerant flowing based on the
demand for cooling or heating. The units are able to provide simultaneous heating or cooling
to different indoor units. Additionally heat recovery units are able to use the heat rejection
from a space in cooling mode to heat a space in heating mode.
They are common in newer buildings and very efficient. All plant, except the FCU inside the
apartment, is metered through the common property meter.
The functional description of the system or the nameplate displayed on the units will indicate
if the system is VRV.

A VRV System
5. Packaged air conditioning unit
Package units house all the components of an air conditioning system in one unit, such as the
heat
rejection equipment including the compressor and condenser coil, as well as the air
supply side of the system delivering conditioned air to the required indoor zones.
Typically they’re mounted on the roof and connected to apartments via a duct through which
the heated or cooled air is provided. They are generally metered through the apartment
meter if present.

Packaged Unit

6. Split Systems
Split systems consist of a compressor unit that is installed outside (on a balcony or attached
to an external wall) and one or more indoor air units. They are usually used to heat & cool
one or more rooms, or an open-plan area.
They are metered through the apartment meters.

Compressor A variety of styles

(outside) of Indoor air units

Typical “Split System” Unit used in individual apartments

(External Compressor and internal delivery unit)