Heat Pump vs. Refrigerator Explained
Heat Pump vs. Refrigerator Explained
Module covers heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, its components and application.
At the end of the module, the learner will be able to distinguish the Mechanical systems and appraise their parts
and connections, their definitions, different types of AC systems and cooling methods. Formulate and illustrate
graphic ideas from the mechanical concepts and ideas.
1.22. Introduction to HVAC Systems- theory of heat, heat transfer, air conditioning system
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system designed to maintain desired environmental
conditions in a space. Each represents a systematic attempt to control the various characteristic of the
environment within an enclosure, whether it is a room, a group of rooms, or a building. This need to control
certain environment pushes man to formulate thought which leads to the development of this HVAC system.
The changes in climate and geographical location indicate different approach in controlling heat. Effort at
controlling heat can be dated in the prehistoric times and probably first developed in colder climates, where it
was necessary to make up a certain quantity of heat that is beneficial for both comfort and well-being. As
technology progress through time, heating advanced from simple attempts to keep the body warm to very
sophisticated systems of maintaining stabilized environments in order to reduce heat loss from the body or the
structural surfaces of the room.
It was only in 1600 that people thought that heat was a combination of fire and air. Experiment was conducted by
scientist to find out more about heat. From their observations, they decided that heat must be an invisible fluid
called caloric. They assumed it was a fluid because it seemed to flow from a hotter object to a colder one. This
explanation of heat was called the caloric theory. This has been obsoleted scientific theory due to further study
on heat as a form of energy. With heat energy understood to be essentially mechanical in nature, it remained for
physicists to provide an interpretation of the energy and entropy in terms of molecular properties. This is being
explained by a substance whose molecules and atoms are vibrating faster due to a rise in temperature. As
thermal energy comes from moving particles is a form of kinetic energy. Heat transfer in the other hand
describe as exchange of heat between physical systems. This can attain into various mechanisms, such
as thermal conduction, thermal convection, thermal radiation. Conduction is the method of transfer of heat within
a physical system from another due to the transfer of heat by molecules vibrating at their mean positions. There must
be a contact to facilitate conduction and mostly associated with heat and solid object. Convection in the other hand
is the mode of heat transfer which occurs mostly in liquids and gases. Radiation is another form of heat transfer that
does not require any medium and can be used for transfer of heat in a vacuum as well. This method uses
electromagnetic waves which transfer heat from one place to the other. This explains the heat and light from the sun
in our solar system which reaches our planet using radiation.
Energy Usage
Both steam boilers and hot water boilers offer energy efficiency, but in different ways. A
steam boiler uses more energy to boil the water but uses less energy during the transfer of
heat. A hot water boiler uses less energy to create hot water, but more energy during the
transfer of heat. Because steam boilers are so efficient at heat transfer, they’re often used in
extreme levels of cold or in old or under-insulated homes. Many commercial and industrial
buildings also use steam boilers.
Many of today’s hot water boilers are considered more efficient than steam because they
have pumps for circulation. However, you can still find some steam boilers that are just as (or
more) efficient than hot water. Each boiler’s efficiency depends on its manufacturer, heat
source, size, and more.
Furnaces
The process includes the heating of air that is circulated by your buildings Heating Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) system. A thermostat has a direct link to a furnace so that changes in the
thermostat will immediately trigger a furnace to turn on or off. When considering a replacement or
upgrade for your home’s (HVAC) system, the type of furnace that will be best for your home depends on
the way your house is shaped and designed. That is why it is beneficial to know the four different types
of furnaces and to understand the features of each on
Thermal equilibrium and comfort with respect to occupants and equipment should also be considered in studying
heat in a certain area. It is an important factor which collaborates with the inclusion of Ventilation and Air-
Conditioning. Thermal environment may be regulated to permit an easy and comfortable rate of loss for the heat
that is generated by humans for any given activity to avoid body chill in one case and heavy respiration in the
other. The term Environmental comfort has taken on a broad meaning. Factors that can be controlled by air-
conditioning systems include:
Criteria for thermal comfort is beneficial for health and well-being as well as productivity. In the Philippine context,
Andamon (2005) found out that study show that the office buildings operated have an almost similar temperature
range (20.9°C to 27.7 °C) spectrum of the comfort criteria prescribed by the updated ASHRAE Standard 55-
2017(19.4°C to 27.7°C). There are six primary factors that must be addressed when defining conditions for
thermal comfort.
1. Metabolic rate
2. Clothing insulation
3. Air temperature
4. Radiant temperature
5. Air speed
6. Humidity
Ventilation is defined as the air flow from outdoor into a building or a room and distributes or circulate the air
within. Like heat, utilization of ventilation dates back to very early periods in history. In the Philippines alone,
ventilation, aside from from heat, is considered in Vernacular Dwelling. Spittka (2019) studied that upon
considering the concept of nipa hut “bahay kubo”, passive cooling technique and other passive design strategies
can be derived from it. Nevertheless, it was not until the nineteenth century that any really significant advances
were made in ventilating. During that period, particularly in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution,
ventilating acquired increased importance. Work efficiency and the health of the workers necessitated the
creation of ventilation systems to remove contaminants from the air. Eventually, the interrelationship of heating
and ventilating became such that it is now regarded as a single subject. In the National Building Code (NBC)of
the Philippines, Rule VIII is dedicated to Light and Ventilation which standardized the implementation of building
construction that considers natural light and ventilation. Section 808 of NBC also imposed a free area of
openings equal to at least ten percent of the floor area of room, and such window should open directly to a court,
yard, public street or alley, or open water courses.
Air conditioning is a comparatively recent development and encompasses all aspects of environmental control.
In addition to the control of temperature, both humidity (i.e., the moisture content of the air) and air cleanliness
are also regulated by air conditioning. The earliest attempts at air conditioning involved the placing of wet cloths
over air passages (window openings, entrances, etc.) to cool the air. Developments in air conditioning
Blower: Air flowing from supply registers is the work of the blower. This component, which also works with
your furnace, circulates cooled air into your home and pulls room-temperature air back for re-cooling.
Compressor: Once it has absorbed heat, the refrigerant is in a gaseous state. It passes through the
compressor, where the gas is pressurized and heated even more. This important step prepares the
refrigerant to give up its heat.
Condensing coil: This is the outdoor equivalent to the evaporator coil. As refrigerant travels from the
compressor to the condenser, it expels the heat collected from indoors to the outside. Once the refrigerant
is cooled to a liquid, it circulates back inside to collect more heat in the evaporator coil.
Fan: The outdoor condensing unit becomes very hot with all that overheated refrigerant running through it.
A fan and fins that act as heat syncs draw the heat away so the unit doesn’t overheat.
Air filter: While an air conditioner can function without the air filter, dust and dirt in the air would quickly
collect on A/C components and possibly damage them without the filter in place. Install an efficient enough
filter and you can even improve indoor air quality while the air conditioner operates.
Thermostat: This is the control center of the entire air conditioning process, reading the indoor temperature
and telling the air conditioner when to turn on and off. You change temperature settings here based on your
needs. The higher you set the thermostat, the lower your cooling bills will be.
The basic operation of air-conditioning system is to cool a certain area or a building through removal of heat from
the indoor air and transfers it outdoors. A chemical refrigerant in the system absorbs the unwanted heat and
pumps it through a system of piping to the outside coil. Fan, located in the outside unit, blows outside air over the
hot coil, transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor air. Most air conditioning systems have five
mechanical components:
• a compressor
• a condenser
• an evaporator coil
• blower/fan
• a chemical refrigerant
Similar to an architectural design , Air-conditioning system should also implemented in response to a certain
need. It also considers building typology, locality, the (Revised) Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code,
standards and guidelines. The process of choosing an air conditioner has three principal steps which in order are;
1. Required Cooling capacity based on the size (Volume) of the area to be supplied
2. Select the type of unit you require
3. Balance the other factors, including physical size, function, noise, aesthetics and cost.
Wall mounted split air conditioners come a variety of styles, capacities and levels of functionality. The
units are engineer fit where there is no interconnecting quick connection pipes supplied with the air
conditioner, which means that the installation of the wall unit and outside condenser is bespoke to
building. Although the installation of these air conditioners is quite expensive, the benefit is that the
installation is neat and exact to the building which inevitably raises the building’s resale value.
There is a far greater variety of engineer fit wall mounted air conditioners on the market compared to
‘easy fit’ types, therefore a wider choice of capacities, functionality and aesthetics. Wall mounted air
conditioners are typically mounted at a high level (above head height) and can come with several
operating modes, including heat pump, timer functionality, remote control and air purification features.
However, recent changes in regulations require that these now require fitting by a qualified refrigeration
engineer. This change has meant that the choice of this type of split air conditioner has diminished,
basically because if it has to be fitted by a refrigeration engineer, then they actually work out more
expensive than an engineer fit machine of the type described above. This type of machine will probably
disappear altogether from the market in the next year or so.
All easy fit split air conditioners have a common drawback in that the ‘umbilical cord’ is a fixed length.
This means that either it is too long and the excess length has to be ‘lost’ in the routing of the piping or
that it is too short for the particular application intended. Before buying one of these type of air
conditioners, ensure that the specified pipe length will be suitable for your application
There is another type of ceiling air conditioner, which is an under-ceiling air conditioner These are
used where there is no suspended ceiling to install a cassette and where there is sufficient ceiling height
to suspend an under-ceiling unit. As these are designed to be entirely within a room, they are made to be
reasonably aesthetic, however, the under-ceiling air conditioners do inevitably look like overly
cumbersome items to hang from a ceiling. Generally, they are designed to lift air vertically into the unit
and discharge treated air horizontally along the ceiling avoiding direct discharge directly onto occupants,
and some allow air discharge from four sides.
Figure 12. Ceiling suspended air conditioner Figure 13. Ceiling suspended air conditioner
Source: [Link]/proddetail Source: [Link]
suspended-type/
Secondly, there are smaller cabinet style air conditioners which are far smaller, more like the dimensions
of a storage heater than a tall upright freezer dimensions of a column air conditioner. Typically, their
rated capacities are up to about 15000BTU, and they are ideal for providing high-efficiency climate
control to new extensions and conservatories. These both types of air conditioners are typically installed
by refrigeration engineers as they do not usually have quick connect pipes, therefore the pipe work and
cabling between the inside and outside elements is installed bespoke to the building and then the system
is charged with refrigerant.
Typically, multi split systems can link between 2 and 4 internal units to a single external block. The
obvious limitation of this air conditioning configuration is that if the outside block breaks down then all
the internal blocks are rendered inoperative. For this reason, where external space allows, a number
standard split air conditioners are preferable to a multi split system. It is also the case that multi split
air conditioners are seldom much more cost-effective than an equivalent configuration of standard
splits. This is because the installation cost to the multi split air conditioning system is typically double
that of the single splits and typically the maintenance costs are also higher.
Centralize air-conditioning system can be applied to generate cooling and/or heating in one location for
distribution to multiple locations in one building or an entire campus or neighborhood, and represent
approximately 25% of HVAC system applications. Central cooling and heating systems are used in almost all
classes of buildings, but particularly in very large buildings and complexes or where there is a high density of
energy use. They are especially suited to applications where maximizing equipment service life and using energy
and operational workforce efficiently are important.
The following facility types are ideal for Centralize air-conditioning system systems:
Campus environments with distribution to several buildings
High-rise facilities
Large office buildings
Large public assembly facilities, entertainment complexes, stadiUrban centers (e.g., city center
districts)
Shopping malls
Large condominiums, hotels, and apartment complexes
Educational facilities
Hospitals and other health care facilities
Industrial facilities (e.g., pharmaceutical, manufacturing)
Large museums and similar institutions
Locations where waste heat is readily available (result of power generation or industrial processes
In the plate type of evaporators, the coil usually made up of copper or aluminum is embedded in the
plate so as so to form a flat looking surface. Externally the plate type of evaporator looks like a single
plate, but inside it there are several turns of the metal tubing through which the refrigerant flows. The
advantage of the plate type of evaporators is that they are more rigid as the external plate provides
lots of safety. The external plate also helps increasing the heat transfer from the metal tubing to the
substance to be chilled. Further, the plate type of evaporators are easy to clean and can be
manufactured cheaply.
The plate type heat exchangers can be easily formed into various shapes as per the requirement.
Thus in the household refrigerators and the deep freezers, where they are used most commonly, they
can be converted into the box shape to form the closed enclosure, where various food can be kept in
the frozen state. The plates can also be welded together forming the bank of the plate type of
evaporators that can be used the larger evaporators of higher capacities.
1. Air-cooled condenser
is a direct dry cooling system where steam is condensed inside air-cooled finned tubes. The cool
ambient air flow outside the finned tubes is what removes heat and defines the functionality of an
ACC.
3. Evaporative condenser
This is used to remove excess heat from a cooling system when the heat cannot be utilised for
other purposes. The excess heat is removed by evaporating water. The evaporative condenser has
a cabinet with a water-sprayed condenser, and it usually has one or more fans. The excess heat is
removed by evaporating water. In an evaporative condenser the primary coolant of the cooling
system is cooled, which is the opposite of a cooling tower. Evaporator condensers are more
expensive than dry coolers and are primarily used in large cooling systems or systems where the
outdoor temperature is high. In many locations around the world, regulations limit the physical size
of a cooling system and this in turn limits the use of evaporative condensers.
In inverter type air conditioners, temperature is adjusted by changing motor speed without turning the motor
ON and OFF. This also causes the avoidance of voltage fluctuation caused by compressor. It was
observed to reduce energy consumption up to 30-50%. However, at the moment, inverter unit is still
relatively expensive to repair and maintain due to the expensive service support and the components used
Models are also said to be too powerful for a small room size.
An HVAC system is simply a group of components working together to move heat to where it is wanted or
remove the heat and supply a more comfortable temperature. The size and type of HVAC system to be
considered should always be proportional to the sized of area/building to be supplied. But before a mechanical
engineer can design an HVAC system, a building program must be created. This is usually prepared by the client
or his/her consultants. The program establishes space needs and develops a project budget. The building
program should include, but need not be limited to, the following:
• The client’s objectives and strategies for the initial and future functional use of the building, whether
it be a single or multiple-family dwelling or a commercial, industrial, athletic, or other facility.
• A clear description of function(s) for each discrete area within the building.
• The number, distribution, and usage patterns of permanent occupants and visitors.
• The type, distribution, and usage patterns of owner-provide heat-producing equipment.
• The geographic site location, access means, and applicable building and zoning codes.
• The proposed building area, height, number of stories, and mechanized circulation requirements.
• The owner’s capital cost and operating cost budgets.
• A clear statement of anticipated project schedule and/or time constraints.
• A clear statement of required or expected project quality.
In 1.24.1, there are different type of air-conditioning units that should consider based on the size and need of a
certain function of a room or building type. It is also important to understand the different HVAC systems to
properly sort out the ideal system to be applied. HVAC systems can be classified into central and local systems
according to multiple zones, location, and distribution. The major classification of HVAC systems is central
system and decentralized or local system. Types of a system depend on addressing the primary equipment
location to be centralized as conditioning entire building as a whole unit or decentralized as separately
conditioning a specific zone as part of a building. Therefore, the air and water distribution system should be
designed based on system classification and the location of primary equipment. The criteria as mentioned above
should also be applied in selecting between two systems. Central HVAC systems locate away from buildings in a
central equipment room and deliver the conditioned air by a delivery ductwork system. Central HVAC systems
contain all-air, air-water, all-water systems. Two systems should be considered as central such as heating and
cooling panels and water-source heat pumps. Local HVAC systems can be located inside a conditioned zone or
adjacent to it and no requirement for ductwork. Local systems include local heating, local air-conditioning, local
ventilation, and split systems.
Some buildings can have multiple zones or have a large, single zone, which needs central HVAC
systems to serve and provide the thermal needs. However, other building may have a single zone which
needs equipment located inside the zone itself, such as small houses and residential apartments. This
type of system is considered as local HVAC systems since each equipment serving its zone without
crossing boundaries to other adjacent zones (e.g., using an air conditioner to cool down a bedroom, or
using an electrical heater for the living room). Therefore, a single zone requires only one-point control
point connected to a thermostat to activate the local HVAC system. Some buildings have multiple local
HVAC systems as proper equipment serving specific single zones and controlled by the one-point
4 Figure 31. Horizontal hierarchy representation of the main types of local HVAC systems.
Source: [Link]
A central HVAC system may serve one or more thermal zones, and its major equipment is located
outside of the served zone(s) in a suitable central location whether inside, on top, or adjacent to the
building. Central systems must condition zones with their equivalent thermal load. Central HVAC
systems will have as several control points such as thermostatsfor each zone. The medium used in the
control system to provide the thermal subclassifies the central HVAC system. The thermal energy
transfer medium can be air or water or both, which represent as all-air systems, air-water systems, all-
water systems. Also, central systems include water-source heat pumps and heating and cooling panels.
All of these subsystems are discussed below. Central HVAC system has combined devices in an air
handling unit, which contains supply and return air fans, humidifier, reheat coil, cooling coil, preheat coil,
mixing box, filter, and outdoor air.
All-air systems
The thermal energy transfer medium through the building delivery systems is air. All-air systems
can be sub-classified based on the zone as single zone and mult-izone, airflow rate for each
zone as constant air volume and variable air volume, terminal reheat, and dual duct.
Single zone
A single zone system consists of an air handling unit, a heat source and cooling source,
distribution ductwork, and appropriate delivery devices. The air handling units can be
wholly integrated where heat and cooling sources are available or separate where heat
and cooling source are detached. The integrated package is most-commonly a rooftop
unit and connected to ductwork to deliver the conditioned air into several spaces with
the same thermal zone. The main advantage of single zone systems is simplicity in
design and maintenance and low first cost compared to other systems. However, its
main disadvantage is serving a single thermal zone when improperly applied.
In a single zone all-air HVAC system, one control device such as thermostat located in
the zone controls the operation of the system, as shown in Figure 33. Control may be
either modulating or on–off to meet the required thermal load of the single zone. This
can be achieved by adjusting the output of heating and cooling source within the
packaged unit. Although few buildings can be a single thermal zone, a single zone can
be found in several applications. One family residential building can be treated as single
zone systems, while other types of residential buildings can include different thermal
energy based on the occupation and building structure. Movements of occupants affect
the thermal load of the building, which results in dividing the building into several single
zones to provide the required environmental condition. This can be observed in larger
Multi-zone
In a multi-zone all-air system, individual supply air ducts are provided for each zone in a
building. Cold air and hot (or return) air are mixed at the air handling unit to achieve the
thermal requirement of each zone. A particular zone has its conditioned air that cannot
be mixed with that of other zones, and all multiple zones with different thermal
requirement demand separate supply ducts, as shown in Figure 34. Multi-zone all-air
system consists of an air handling unit with parallel flow paths through cooling coils and
heating coils and internal mixing dampers. It is recommended that one multi-zone serve
a maximum of 12 zones because of physical restrictions on duct connections and
damper size. If more zones are required, additional air handlers may be used. The
advantage of the multi-zone system is to adequately condition several zones without
energy waste associated with a terminal reheat system. However, leakage between the
decks of air handler may reduce energy efficiency. The main disadvantage is the need
for multiple supply air ducts to serve multiple zones.
Terminal reheat
A terminal reheat all-air system is a multiple zone, which considers an
adaptation of single zone system, as shown in Figure 35. This can be
performed by adding heating equipment, such as hot water coil or electric
coil, to the downstream of the supply air from air handling units near each
zone. Each zone is controlled by a thermostat to adjust the heat output of
heating equipment to meet the thermal condition. The supply air from air
handling units is cooled to the lowest cooling point, and the terminal reheat
adds the required heating load. The advantage of terminal reheat is flexible
and can be installed or removed to accommodate changes in zones, which
provides better control of the thermal conditions in multiple zones. However,
Dual duct
The dual duct all-air system is a terminal-controlled modification of the multi-
zone concept. A central air handling unit provides two conditioned air
streams such as a cold deck and a hot deck, as shown in Figure 36. These
air streams are distributed throughout the area served by the air handling
unit in separate and parallel ducts. Each zone has a terminal mixing box
controlled by zone thermostat to adjust the supply air temperature by mix the
supply cold and hot air. This type of system will minimize the disadvantages
of previous systems and become more flexible by using terminal control.
HVAC systems are categorized by the method used to produce, deliver, and control heating, ventilating,
and air conditioning in the conditioned area. It should be understand that this is being affected my the
system to be consider. Many built, expanded, and/or renovated buildings may be ideally suited for
decentralized or local HVAC systems, with equipment located in, throughout, adjacent to, or on top of
the building. The alternative to this decentralized approach is to use Primary Component located in a
central plant (either inside or outside the building) with water and/ or air required for HVAC needs
distributed from this plant.
The Primary Component of the HVAC system depends on factors presented in the selection report as
per the professional/consultant in [Link] includes the refrigeration equipment,; and air, water, and
steam delivery equipment.
Refrigeration equipment
It consists of the main refrigeration and ancillary equipment. The main refrigeration consists of
Chillers, that is compressiorized chillers and /or absorption-cycle chillers. Ancillary Refrigeration
Equipment (Heat Rejection Equipment) consists of the cooling towers, condensers, air-cooled
condensers and/or evaporative condensers.
Main Refrigeration
Chiller - Chillers are used to generate chilled, or cold, water which is pumped around
the building to provide air conditioning by collecting unwanted heat. There are two main
types of chillers, Air cooled and Water cooled. The term “Air” or “Water” cooled chillers
condenser is rejecting heat from the building.
Compressors - may be purchased as part of a refrigeration chiller that also includes the
drive, evaporator, condenser, and necessary safety and operating controls.
Reciprocating and helical rotary compressor units can be field-assembled and include
air- or water-cooled (evaporative) condensers arranged for remote installation.
Cooling towers - cooling tower is a heat rejection device, which extracts waste heat to
the atmosphere though the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature. provide
the same means of heat rejection as evaporative condensers but pass outdoor air
through an open. Condenser return water spray to achieve similar adiabatic cooling
performance.
Air-cooled condensers - pass outdoor air over a dry coil to condense the
refrigerant. This results in a higher condensing temperature and thus a larger
power input at peak condition (although peak time may be relatively short over 24
h). Air-cooled condensers are popular in small reciprocating and helical rotary
compressor units because of their low maintenance requirements. Air-cooled
equipment may also be appropriate in high-wet-bulb environments because the
cooling tower supply water temperature is a function of the wet-bulb temperature.
Evaporative condensers - pass outdoor air over coils sprayed with water, thus
taking advantage of adiabatic saturation to lower the condensing temperature. As
with cooling towers, freeze prevention and close control of water treatment are
required for successful operation.
Heating Equipment
The major heating equipment used in central heating plants, boilers vary in type and application,
and include combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat boilers.
Boiler - adds heat to the working medium, which is then distributed throughout the
building(s) and/or campus. The working medium may be either water or steam, which
can further be classified by its temperature and pressure range. boiler may be
purchased as a package that includes the burner, fire chamber, heat exchanger section,
flue gas passage, fuel train, and necessary safety and operating controls. Cast-iron and
waterside boilers can be field-assembled, but fire-tube, scotch marine, and waste-heat
boilers are usually packaged units. The energy used by a boiler may be electricity,
natural gas, oil, coal, or combustible waste material, though natural gas and fossil-fuel
oil
Boiler feed equipment, including the receiver(s) and associated pump(s), serve as a
reservoir for condensate and makeup water waiting to be used by the steam boiler. The
boiler feed pump provides system condensate and water makeup back to the boiler on
an as-needed basis.
Deaerators - help eliminate oxygen and carbon dioxide from the feed water
Surge tanks - are also applicable to steam boiler plants to accommodate large
quantities of condenser water return and are primarily used where there is a rapid
demand for steam
Hot-Water Plants - Ancillary equipment associated with central hot-water heating plants
consists primarily of pumps and possibly heat exchanger(s). Water pumps move boiler
feed water and hotwater supply and return to and from the boiler equipment and
associated ancillary equipment.
Primary air delivery equipment for HVAC systems is classified as packaged, manufactured and
custom-manufactured, or field fabricated (built-up). Most air delivery equipment for large
systems uses centrifugal or axial fans; however, plug or plenum fans are often used. Centrifugal
fans are frequently used in packaged and manufactured HVAC equipment. One system rising in
popularity is a fan array, which uses multiple plug fans on a common plenum wall, thus reducing
unit size. Axial fans are more often part of a custom unit or a field-fabricated unit. Both types of
fans can be used as industrial process and high-pressure blowers.
Primary Equipment
Heating - The same criteria described for cooling are usually used to determine whether
a central heating plant or a local one is desirable. Usually, a central, fuel-fired plant is
more desirable for heating large facilities. In facilities with low heating loads, electric is
often economical, particularly where care has been taken to design energy-efficient
systems and buildings.
Air-Handling Equipment
Return Air Fan - A return air fan is optional on small systems, but is essential for
proper operation of air economizer systems for free cooling from outdoor air if the
return path has a significant pressure drop (greater than approximately 0.3 in. of
water). It provides a positive return and exhaust from the conditioned area,
particularly when mixing dampers allow cooling with outdoor air in intermediate
seasons and winter. The return air fan ensures that the proper volume of air
returns from the conditioned space. It prevents excess building pressure when
economizer cycles introduce more than the minimum quantity of outdoor air, and
reduces the static pressure against which the supply fan must work. The return
air fan should handle a slightly smaller amount of air to account for fixed exhaust
systems, such as toilet exhaust, and to ensure a slight positive pressure in the
conditioned space.
Relief Air Fan - In many situations, a relief (or exhaust) air fan may be used
instead of a return fan. A relief air fan relieves ventilation air introduced during air
economizer operation and operates only when this control cycle is in effect.
When a relief air fan is used, the supply fan must be designed for the total supply
and return pressure losses in the system. During economizer mode, the relief fan
must be controlled to ensure a slight positive pressure in the conditioned space,
as with the return air fan system. The section on Economizers describes the
required control for relief air fans.
Outdoor Air Intakes - Resistance through outdoor air intakes varies widely,
depending on construction. Frequently, architectural considerations dictate the
type and style of louver. The designer should ensure that the louvers selected
offer minimum pressure loss, preferably not more than 0.10 in. of water. High-
efficiency, low-pressure louvers that effectively limit carryover of rain are
available. Flashing installed at the outer wall and weep holes or a floor drain will
carry away rain and melted snow entering the intake. Cold regions may require a
snow baffle to direct fine snow to a low-velocity area below the dampers. Outdoor
air dampers should be low-leakage types with special gasketed edges and
endseals. A separate damper section and damper operator are strongly
recommended for ensuring minimum ventilation. The maximum outdoor air
damper controls the air needed for economizer cycles.
Mixing Plenums - Mixing plenums provide space for airstreams with different
properties to mix as they are introduced into a common section of ductwork or
air-handling unit, allowing the system to operate as intended. If the airstreams
are not sufficiently mixed, the resulting stratification adversely affects system
performance. Some problems associated with stratification are nuisance low-
temperature safety cutouts, frozen cooling coils, excess energy use by the
preheat coil, inadequate outdoor air, control hunting, and poor outdoor air
distribution throughout occupied spaces. A common example of a mixing plenum
is the air-handling unit mixing box, in which outdoor and recirculated airstreams
are combined. In air-handling units, mixing boxes typically have one inlet, with
control dampers, for each airstream.
Static Air Mixers - Static air mixers are designed to enhance mixing in the mixing
plenum to reduce or eliminate problems associated with stratification.
Preheat coils - these are heating coils placed upstream of a cooling coil; they can
use steam, hot water, or electric resistance as a medium. Some air-handling
units do not require a preheat coil at all, particularly if the percentage of outdoor
air is low and if building heating is provided elsewhere
Cooling Coil - Sensible and latent heat are removed from the air by the cooling
coils. The cooling medium can be either chilled water or refrigerant, in which case
the refrigerant coil serves as the evaporator in a vapor compression refrigeration
cycle.
Reheat coils - these are heating coils placed downstream of a cooling coil.
Reheat systems are strongly discouraged, unless recovered energy is used.
Positive humidity control is required to provide comfort conditions for most
occupancy. Either reheat or desiccant is usually required to dehumidify outdoor
air. Reheating is necessary for laboratory, health care, or similar applications
where temperature and relative humidity must be controlled accurately.
Supply Air Fan - Axial-flow, centrifugal, or plenum (plug) fans may be chosen as
supply air fans for straight-through flow applications. In factory-fabricated units,
more than one centrifugal fan may be tied to the same shaft. If headroom allows,
a single-inlet fan should be chosen when air enters at right angles to the flow of
air through the equipment. This allows direct airflow from the fan wheel into the
supply duct without abrupt change in direction and loss in efficiency. It also
allows a more gradual transition from the fan to the duct and increases static
regain in the velocity pressure conversion. To minimize inlet losses, the distance
between casing walls and fan inlet should be at least the diameter of the fan
wheel. With a single-inlet fan, the length of the transition section should be at
least half the width or height of the casing, whichever is longer. If fans blow
through the equipment, air distribution through the downstream components
needs analyzing, and baffles should be used to ensure uniform air distribution.
Ductwork Design
Ductwork should deliver conditioned air to each zone as directly, quietly, and economically
as possible. Air distribution ductwork and terminal devices must be compatible, or the
system will either fail to operate effectively or incur high first, operating, and maintenance
costs. Duct systems can be designed for high or low velocity. A high-velocity system has
smaller ducts, which save space but require higher pressures and may result in more noise.
In some low-velocity systems, medium or high fan pressures may be required for balancing
or to overcome high pressure drops from terminal devices. In any variable-flow system,
changing operating conditions can cause airflow in the ducts to differ from design flow.
Thus, varying airflow in the supply duct must be carefully analyzed to ensure that the
system performs efficiently at all loads. This precaution is particularly needed with high-
velocity air. Return air ducts are usually sized by the equal friction method.
Single-duct systems contain the main heating and cooling coils in a series-flow air path.
A common duct distribution system at a common air temperature feeds all terminal
apparatus. Capacity can be controlled by varying air temperature or volume.
Dual-duct systems contain the main heating and cooling coils in parallel-flow or Series
parallel-flow air paths with either (1) a separate cold- and warm-air duct distribution
system that blends air at the terminal apparatus (dual-duct systems), or (2) a separate
supply air duct to each zone with the supply air blended at the main unit with mixing
dampers (multizone). Dual-duct systems generally vary the supply air temperature by
mixing two airstreams of different temperatures, but they can also vary the volume of
supply air in some applications.
As the name suggests, rooftop units are located on the roof of the supermarket and you’ll
usually find multiple units depending on the size of the store. Inside the unit is a large fan which
pulls fresh air into the unit and also pushes this into the building, some units use this pushing
force to also push the dirty used air out of the building. The air passes through a filter to remove
any dust and dirt, it then passes through a heat exchanger where it will be heated or cooled to
meet the required conditions.
AHU vs RTU
These two systems both serve a very similar purpose and can look fairly alike. Both of these are
used to distribute air around the building and will contain fans to achieve this. They will both take
in fresh ambient air and clean this through a filter before heating or cooling the air to suit the
demands within the building. The main difference between the two is how the air is heated or
cooled and we’ll look at each of these to learn the basics of how the work.
The air curtain is suspended above the doorway or it might be built into the ceiling. Inside the
unit is a blower fan which is driven by a small electric motor, this forces air into a funnel to
provide a powerful jet of air. You can also get versions which provide heated and or cooled air.
In the initial phase of building design, the design engineer seldom has sufficient information to render the
optimum HVAC design for the project, and its space requirements are often based on percentage of total
area or other experiential rules of thumb. The final design is usually a compromise between the engineer’s
recommendations and the architectural considerations that can be accommodated in the building.
Equipment Rooms
Total mechanical and electrical space requirements range between 4 and 9% of gross building area,
with most buildings in the 6 to 9% range (ASHRAE Handbook, 2012). These ranges include space for
HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection equipment and may also include vertical shaft space
for mechanical and electrical distribution through the building. Most equipment rooms should be
centrally located to (1) minimize long duct, pipe, and conduit runs and sizes; (2) simplify shaft layouts;
and (3) centralize maintenance and operation. With shorter duct and pipe runs, a central location
could also reduce pump and fan motor power requirements, which reduces building operating costs.
Equipment rooms generally require clear ceiling height ranging from 3 meters to 5.5 meters
depending on equipment sizes and the complexity of air and/or water distribution. The main electrical
transformer and switchgear rooms should be located as close to the incoming electrical service as
practical. If there is an emergency generator, it should be located considering (1) proximity to
emergency electrical loads and sources of combustion and cooling air and fuel, (2) ease of properly
venting exhaust gases to the outdoors, and (3) provisions for noise control.
Primary Equipment Rooms - The heating equipment room houses the boiler(s) and possibly a boiler
feed unit (for steam boilers), chemical treatment equipment, pumps, heat exchangers,
pressurereducing equipment, air compressors, and miscellaneous ancillary equipment. The
refrigeration equipment room houses the chiller(s) and possibly chilled-water and condenser water
pumps, heat exchangers, air-conditioning equipment, air compressors, and miscellaneous ancillary
equipment. Design of these rooms needs to consider (1) equipment size and weight, (2) installation,
maintenance, and replacement, (3) applicable regulations relative to combustion air and ventilation air,
and (4) noise and vibration transmission to adjacent spaces.
Most air-conditioned buildings require a cooling tower or other type of heat rejection equipment. If the
cooling tower or water-cooled condenser is located at ground level, it should be at least 100 ft away
from the building to (1) reduce tower noise in the building, (2) keep discharge air and moisture
carryover from fogging the building’s windows and discoloring the building facade, and (3) keep
discharge air and moisture carryover from contaminating outdoor air being introduced into the building.
Cooling towers should be kept a similar distance from parking lots to avoid staining car finishes with
atomized water treatment chemicals. It is often economical to locate the heating and/or refrigeration
plant in the building, on an intermediate floor, in a roof penthouse, or on the roof. Electrical service
and structural costs are higher, but these may be offset by reduced costs for piping, pumps and
pumping energy, and chimney requirements for fuel-fired boilers. Also, initial cost of equipment in a
tall building may be less for equipment located on a higher floor because some operating pressures
may be lower with boilers located in a roof penthouse.
Fan Rooms
Fan rooms house HVAC air delivery equipment and may include other miscellaneous equipment. The
room must have space for removing the fan(s) , shaft(s), coils, and filters. Installation, replacement,
and maintenance of this equipment should be considered when locating and arranging the room. Fan
rooms in a basement that has an airway for intake of outdoor
air present a potential problem. Low air intakes are a security concern, because harmful substances
could easily be introduced. Placement of the air intake louver(s) is also a concern because debris and
snow may fill the area, resulting in safety, health, and fan performance concerns. Parking areas close
to the building’s outdoor air intake may compromise ventilation air quality. Fan rooms located at the
perimeter wall can have intake and exhaust louvers at the location of the fan room, subject to
coordination with architectural considerations. Interior fan rooms often require intake and exhaust
shafts from the roof because of the difficulty (typically caused by limited ceiling space) in ducting
intake and exhaust to the perimeter wall. Fan rooms on the second floor and above have easier
access for outdoor and exhaust air. Depending on the fan room location, equipment replacement may
be easier. The number of fan rooms required depends largely on the total floor area and whether the
HVAC sytem is centralized or decentralized. Buildings with large floor areas may have multiple
decentralized fan rooms on each or alternate floors. High-rise buildings may opt for decentralized fan
rooms for each floor, or for more centralized service with one fan room serving the lower 10 to 20
floors, one serving the middle floors of the building, and one at the roof serving the top floors.
Horizontal Distribution
Vertical Shafts
Vertical shafts in the building provide space for air distribution ducts and for pipes. Air distribution
includes HVAC supply air, return air, and exhaust air ductwork. If a shaft is used as a return air
plenum, close coordination with the architect is necessary to ensure that the shaft is airtight. If the
shaft is used to convey outdoor air to decentralized systems, close coordination with the architect is
also necessary to ensure that the shaft is constructed to meet mechanical code requirements and to
accommodate the anticipated internal pressure. The temperature of air in the shaft must be
considered when using the shaft enclosure to convey outdoor air. Pipe distribution includes heating
water, chilled water, condenser water, and steam supply and condensate return.
Other distribution systems found in vertical shafts or located vertically in the building include electric
conduits/closets, telephone cabling/ closets, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), plumbing, fire
protection piping, pneumatic tubes, and conveyers. Vertical shafts should not be adjacent to stairs,
electrical closets, and elevators unless at least two sides are available to allow access to ducts, pipes,
and conduits that enter and exit the shaft while allowing maximum headroom at the ceiling. In general,
duct shafts with an aspect ratio of 2:l to 4:l are easier to develop than large square [Link]
rectangular shape also facilitates transition from the equipment in the fan rooms to the shafts. In
multistory buildings, a central vertical distribution system with minimal horizontal branch ducts is
desirable. This arrangement (1) is usually less costly; (2) is easier to balance; (3) creates less conflict
with pipes, beams, and lights; and (4) enables the architect to design lower floor-to-floor heights.
These advantages also apply to vertical water and steam pipe distribution systems. The number of
shafts is a function of building size and shape.
In larger buildings, it is usually more economical in cost and space to have several small shafts rather
than one large shaft. Separate HVAC supply, return, and exhaust air duct shafts may be desirable to
reduce the number of duct crossovers. The same applies for steam supply and condensate return
pipe shafts because the pipe must be pitched in the direction of flow. When future expansion is a
consideration, a pre-agreed percentage of additional shaft space should be considered for inclusion.
This, however, affects the building’s first cost because of the additional floor space that must be
constructed. The need for access doors into shafts and gratings at various locations throughout the
height of the shaft should also be considered.
Rooftop Equipment
For buildings three stories or less, system analysis and selection frequently locates HVAC equipment
on the roof or another outdoor location, where the equipment is exposed to the weather.
Decentralized equipment and systems are more advantageous than centralized HVAC for smaller
buildings, particularly those with multiple tenants with different HVAC needs. Selection of rooftop
equipment is usually driven by first cost versus operating cost and/or maximum service life of the
equipment.
Equipment Access
Properly designed mechanical and electrical equipment rooms must allow for movement of large,
heavy equipment in, out, and through the building. Equipment replacement and maintenance can be
A plant room is a room or space in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and its
associated electrical equipment, as opposed to rooms intended for human occupancy or storage.
- Air handlers
- Boilers
- Chillers
- Heat exchangers
- Water heaters and tanks
- Water pumps (for domestic, heating/cooling, and firefighting water)
- Main distribution piping and valves
- Sprinkler distribution piping and pumps
- Back-up electrical generators
- Elevator machinery
- Other HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) equipment
Equipment in plant rooms is monitored by the BMCS (Building Management and Control System) and
must be administered by staff from Property.
Room and Spaces - Allow 800mm minimum circulation width through plant room space - 1m
Planning preferred.
Requirements - Consider equipment and parts replacement when planning circulation
zones.
Other - Allow for a minimum of 20% additional space on boards and in cabinets
for equipment expansion.
22.1.1
[Link] Roof
Impact Resistance - Ensure walls are durable enough to withstand minor impacts with tools
and equipment.
[Link] Floors
General Selection - Floors are to be low maintenance finish and comply with slip resistance
Requirements standards.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] Ceilings
Non Combustible / Fire Rated - Non combustible ceiling linings are required
[Link] Doors
[Link] Drainage
References:
Salvan, G. (1999). Architectural Utilities 2 Electrical & Mechanical Eouipment. JMC PRESS, INC.
388 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.
Wang, S. (2001). Handbook of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Two Penn
Plaza, New York, NY 10121-2298
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers (2009). ASHRAE Handbook.
Fundamentals: SI edA. mer Society of Heating, Atlanta, GA; [Link]