1.

0 TITLE
ANALYSIS OF AIR CONDITIONING PROCESSES

2.0 OBJECTIVE
To observe and understand the changes in air properties as it is treated in a basic air-
conditioning unit.

3.0 INTRODUCTION
Air-conditioning is a process of treating air for the comfort requirements of the occupant
in the conditioned space. The properties of air can be modified by undergoing certain
thermodynamic processes. The most basic processes involved in an air-conditioning system
are simple heating, steam humidification, simple cooling and dehumidification.
Air conditioner often use a fan to distribute the conditioned air to an occupied space to
improve air quality and thermal comfort. Electric refrigerant-based AC units range from
small units that can cool a small bedroom to massive units installed on the roof of office
towers that can cool an entire building. The cooling is typically achieved through a
refrigeration cycle as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1:Simple Refrigeration Cycle

.
 Air conditioning systems can also be made based on desiccants (chemicals which remove
moisture from the air) and subterraneous pipes that can distribute the heated refrigerant to
the ground for cooling. In the most general sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of
technology that modifies the condition of air (heating, (de-)humidification, cooling,
cleaning, ventilation, or air movement). In common usage, though, "air conditioning" refers
to systems which cool air. In construction, a complete system of heating, ventilation, and
air coditioning is referred to as HVAC.

4.0 THEORY
Air conditioning processes consists of five process but we tried to focus only four types of
processes:

1. Simple Heating (raising the temperature)

2. Simple Cooling (lowering the temperature)
3. Humidifying (adding moisture)
4. Dehumidifying (removing moisture)
5. Adiabatic Mixing of Air Streams (increase fresh air circulation)

Air conditioning processes can be modeled as steady flow processes:

Mass conservation:

Dry air : ma,i = mw,e

Water : mw,i= mw,e or maii = ma,ee

Energy conservation:

Disregard kinetic and potential energy changes

Steady Flow Energy Balance

Ei = Eo

Qi + Wi + mihi = Qe + We + mehe
Simple heating and cooling:

1.0 The amount of moisture for simple heating and cooling remains constant because no
moisture is added or removed into the air stream. Therefore, the specific humidity at the
inlet and the exit remains equal (i= e ).
2.0 Heating method: the air stream flow inside a duct and passes resistance wires (heaters).
Heat is added to the air stream, so the dry bulb temperature increases (Te> Ti).

Heating Element

1 2
Q

3.0 Cooling method: the air stream passes through cooling coil (evaporator tubes of a
refrigeration system). Heat transfer occurs from the hotter air stream to the cooler
refrigerant of chilled water flow , and the dry bulb temperatures decreases ( Te< Ti)

Conservation of mass:

ma,1 = mw,2 and (1 = 2)

Conservation of energy:

Q = ma (h2 - h1)

q = h2 - h1

Cooling Element

1 2
Q
Heating with humidification

1.Simple heating processes produced low relative humidity (air is dry), because the moisture
amount is constant (mv and constant) but the maximum moisture absorption capacity (mg)
increases with temperature rise.
2.If the humidifying agent used is steam, this will result in additional heating (T3 > T2).
3.If water is sprayed, the stream will be partially cooled (T3 < T2)

Heating Element
From water tank

Humidifier

1 2 3
Q

Mass conservation

Dry air mass balance: ma1 = ma2 =ma3 =ma

Water mass balance: ma11 = ma22 , (1 = 2) (heating section)

ma22 + mw = ma33 ( humidifying section)

mw =ma(3 - 2)

Energy Balance: Qin + mah1= ma h2( heating section)

Qin= ma(h2 - h1)

Cooling with dehumidification:

1.Dehumidification is a process to remove excess water in the dry air by condensation. It is

achieved by altering the cooling process.
2. The air is allowed to cool at a longer period until it reaches its dew point (saturation state).
Further cooling along the saturation state (100% relative humidity 0 will result in condensation
of part of the moisture in the air.

Heating Element

1 2 \
Q

Condesate Removal

Dry air mass balance: ma1 = ma2 = ma

ma22 + mw =ma3

mw =ma(1 - 2)

Energy Balance: mhin= Qout+mhout

Qout = m (h2 - h1) - mwhw

Adiabatic mixing of air streams.

1.The mixing process is assuming adiabatic (no heat transfer with the surrounding).
2.Two streams of air (treated air from air conditioning process ing and fresh outside air) is
merging and exists as one single stream with combined properties.
 Dry air mass balance :ma1 + ma2 = ma3

Water mass balance : ma11 + ma22 =ma33

Energy balance : ma1h1 +ma2h2 = ma3h3

m a1 2  h h2  h3
 
Eliminating ma3 :
ma 2 3  2 h3  h1