Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
TITLE:
COOLING LOAD ESTIMATION OF A RESIDENTIAL ROOM IN MARDAN USING
THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND HAP SOFTWARE
OBJECTIVES/AIM:
To estimate the cooling load of a residential room using both theoretical calculations and
HAP software.
To compare and validate the theoretical cooling load estimation with software-based
cooling load results.
To understand the effects of internal and external loads on HVAC system sizing.
APPARATUS/TOOLS:
Carrier Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) v4.90
Microsoft Excel (for intermediate calculations)
Desktop computer
THEORY:
COOLING LOAD
Definition:
Cooling load is the total amount of heat energy that must be removed from a space to
maintain a specified indoor temperature and humidity level.
It represents the thermal energy introduced into a conditioned space by various sources
and must be counteracted by the air conditioning system to ensure thermal comfort.
Types of Cooling Loads:
Category Description
Heat that causes a temperature rise without changing humidity (e.g., solar gain, heat from
Sensible equipment, people).
Load
Heat associated with moisture addition in air (e.g., from respiration, infiltration). This
Latent Load affects humidity.
Sum of sensible and latent heat. This is the capacity required from the air conditioning
Total Load system.
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Sources of Cooling Load:
External Loads
Solar Radiation: Heat entering through windows due to sunlight. Depends on
orientation, shading, and glass type.
Conduction through Walls, Roof, and Windows: Heat flow from outdoor to
indoor due to temperature difference.
Infiltration: Unintended outdoor air entering through cracks, doors, and
windows. It carries both sensible and latent heat.
Internal Loads
Occupants: Human bodies generate both sensible (body temperature) and latent
heat (sweat, respiration).
Lighting: Electrical lights emit heat. Fluorescent lights have radiant and
convective contributions.
Equipment: Computers, fans, printers, and other electronics produce heat during
operation.
Ventilation
Fresh Air Requirement: Designed to meet indoor air quality standards (e.g.,
ASHRAE 62.1). Outdoor air must be conditioned, adding to the load.
INTRODUCTION TO HAP (HOURLY ANALYSIS PROGRAM)
Definition:
The Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) by Carrier is a powerful software tool used for:
HVAC system design and analysis
Cooling and heating load calculations
Equipment sizing
Energy consumption simulation
HAP Interface Overview:
The HAP interface is divided into multiple modules, each serving a specific function. Here's a
breakdown:
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Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
Module Purpose
Project Browser Navigation panel to access systems, spaces, templates, and reports.
System Definition For defining air handling systems and their parameters.
Space Definition Used to define room/zone properties including geometry, internal loads.
Schedules Controls operation time, load variation, and occupancy patterns.
Reports Generate summaries, psychrometric charts, hourly load data, etc.
Weather Data Input outdoor climate conditions (via TMY data or manual entry).
Templates Predefined load settings for lighting, people, and equipment for quick use.
Key Components in HAP and Their Functions:
Component Function
Spaces/Zones Defines the area to be analyzed (geometry, orientation, envelope, etc.).
Air Systems Defines type of HVAC system (CAV, VAV, AHU, FCU, etc.).
Schedules Time-based control for loads and occupancy.
Internal Loads People, lighting, equipment – defines sensible and latent heat gains.
Ventilation Allows input of outdoor air requirements (cfm/person or cfm/area).
Infiltration Estimated using ACH or cfm method for unintentional air leakage.
Constructions Allows selection of wall/roof materials with U-values and SHGC.
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Weather Data Defines location-specific outdoor temperature and humidity conditions.
System Sizing & Coil Calculates total cooling/heating loads and sizes air-side equipment.
Loads
Psychrometric Analysis Analyzes air/ properties at each point in the system (DB, WB, RH,
enthalpy).
Process of Load Calculation in HAP:
Space Definition
Input room dimensions (length, width, height)
Define construction (walls, roof, floor, windows)
Assign internal loads (people, lighting, equipment)
Assigning Schedules
Occupancy, lighting, and equipment operating hours
Defining Air System
Choose type (e.g., Single-Zone CAV), supply temperature, and control method
Weather and Design Conditions
Select location (e.g., Mardan, Pakistan) and define peak outdoor conditions
Running the Simulation
Perform calculations for each hour of the design day
Generate hourly loads, peak loads, and system requirements
Generating Reports
System sizing summary
Zone loads
Psychrometric plots
Component-wise breakdown of cooling/heating contribution.
PROCEDURE:
1. The Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) software was opened, and a new project was
created under the project browser.
2. The location of the project was set to Mardan, Pakistan, and corresponding weather data
was selected to define the outdoor design conditions.
3. A new space was created by navigating to the Spaces section. The room was defined with
dimensions of 12 ft × 12 ft × 10 ft, corresponding to a 144 ft² area and 1440 ft³ volume.
4. Construction properties for the walls, roof, floor, and windows were specified:
U-values and construction layers were selected from the built-in database or
defined manually.
A north-facing window (4 ft × 5 ft) was added with clear single-glazed glass.
5. Internal loads were assigned:
Occupants: 4 adults (sitting) were selected.
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Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
Lighting: 3 LED bulbs and 1 fluorescent tube were specified with appropriate
wattage and convective/radiant breakdown.
Equipment: 1 desktop computer (120 W sensible, 30 W latent) and 1 ceiling fan
(75 W) were added.
6. An infiltration rate of 0.75 ACH was specified based on the design brief, and the software
automatically calculated the resulting airflow.
7. Ventilation requirements were defined according to ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, with
inputs for number of occupants and floor area to ensure proper outdoor air intake.
8. Schedules for occupancy, lighting, and equipment usage were applied based on assumed
operational hours (e.g., peak at 3:00 PM).
9. The “System Sizing” simulation was run. The software calculated:
Total cooling and heating loads (sensible and latent)
Airflow requirements (CFM)
Coil loads and system performance
10. A series of detailed reports were generated, including:
Air System Sizing Summary
Zone and Space Load Summary
Psychrometric charts
Hourly load profiles
11. The results were analyzed and compared with theoretical calculations for validation.
SOFTWARE ANALYSIS:
Appendix A: Air System Sizing Summary
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Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
Appendix B: System Design Load Summary
Appendix C: Zone Design Load Summary
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Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
OBSERVATION DATA:
Component Theoretical Load (BTU/hr) HAP Load (BTU/hr)
Wall Transmission ~42 48
Roof Transmission ~827 839
Window Transmission ~107 + 445 100 + 489
People (Sensible) 4 × 75 = 300 885
People (Latent) 4 × 55 = 220 480
Lighting 102 W 342
Equipment 195 W total 756
Infiltration ~380 sensible, ~130 latent 197 sensible, 128 latent
Total (Sensible) ~4200 4195
Total (Latent) ~700 710
Total Cooling Load ~4900 4905
CONCLUSION:
Based on the theoretical analysis and HAP software simulation, the total cooling load for
the residential room (12 ft × 12 ft × 10 ft) in Mardan was found to be approximately
4,905 BTU/hr, which is equivalent to 0.5 tons of refrigeration. The close match
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Hasnain Ali Shah 22MDMLE053
between theoretical and software results validates the accuracy of the input parameters
and assumptions. The airflow requirement determined by HAP is 238 CFM, with a
sensible heat ratio (SHR) of 0.767, indicating that most of the load is due to temperature
(sensible) rather than humidity (latent). The peak cooling demand occurs around 3:00
PM, consistent with design expectations for summer conditions.
To meet this load, a 0.75-ton split air conditioning unit is recommended, providing a
slight safety margin for unexpected heat gains. The system should ensure proper
ventilation (72 CFM as per ASHRAE 62.1), minimize infiltration through sealing, and
consider enhancements like additional insulation or reflective roofing to reduce envelope
heat gain. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of using HAP software for
accurate HVAC system sizing and underscore the importance of aligning software inputs
with real-world construction and usage data.
SUGGESTIONS/IMPROVEMENTS:
To enhance the efficiency of the HVAC system and further reduce the cooling load, several
design and operational improvements are recommended.
First, improving the thermal insulation of the building envelope can significantly reduce
heat gain. This includes increasing the thickness of wall and roof insulation, and using
reflective or cool roof coatings to minimize solar absorption.
The existing single-glazed window should ideally be replaced with double-glazed or low-
emissivity (low-E) glass to limit solar heat gain while maintaining natural light.
Additionally, external shading devices such as overhangs or blinds can help reduce
diffuse radiation entering the room, especially during peak hours.
Controlling air infiltration is another critical area for improvement. All openings,
including doors and windows, should be properly sealed using weather-stripping and
caulking to prevent uncontrolled outdoor air from entering the space, thereby reducing
both sensible and latent loads.
PRECAUTIONS:
1) Ensure accurate room geometry and construction details.
2) Use consistent internal load assumptions across manual and software methods.
3) Select correct weather data and design day conditions in HAP.
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