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Abstract Air Con Trainer Unit
Abstract Air Con Trainer Unit
Abstract Air Con Trainer Unit
(Project Study)
Abstract
Air conditioning technology is a key topic in building services engineering. For this
reason air conditioning technology plays an important role in instruction used by,
instructors/professors to train students acquire skills in air-conditioning.
For many years the university, has been facing the problem of insufficient and
inadequate instructional materials and facilities, especially those that could help in the
development of the student’s manipulative skills.
As stipulated in CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No.09 series of 2008 the
policies and standards (PS) for the program of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Engineering (BSME), one of the required laboratory equipment and apparatus for the ME
laboratory is the refrigeration and air-conditioning trainer unit. The ME laboratory subject
is one of the major subjects of the Mechanical Engineering course.
For now the university is undergoing on Level III Accreditation. It is the requirement
of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the schools, institute and colleges to be
qualified and meet the level of being a university. It will be the way so that our university
can provide additional equipment and facilities for the benefits of students and faculty
members. But still it is undergoing a process, that’s why our university still experiencing
insufficient knowledge when it comes to technical situation.
The researchers believe that one of the best way to help minimize the problem of
inadequate equipment is to come up with a trainer that will help facilitate the teaching
learning process in the Refrigeration and Air conditioning. Today, numerous company
offered a laboratory instructional model in the market that caters different test
performance which are very important for improvement of fast learning-comprehension
of the students in refrigeration and air-conditioning topics. However, unit existing in the
market are considerably high price to purchase gives constraints to institution to provide
such required unit for instructional purpose laboratory. By designing and developing this
demonstration and simulation unit, this could help the institution to provide a laboratory
unit enhancing the knowledge on air-conditioning system.
The idea of developing an air-conditioner trainer unit was initiated to facilitate the
transfer of learning and also to assist the learning activities of the students, particularly in
the Refrigeration and Air conditioning subjects. Lecture alone do not satisfy the need of
the learners .Therefore, technical knowledge and skills are always supplied with actual
performances.
The project was conducted to initiate the realization and adaptation of the air
conditioning trainer unit. Specifically, the objectives of the project are:
1. Developed a window type air conditioning demonstration and simulation unit;
2. Perform readings and conduct test to determine the;
a. temperatures before and after cooling process
b. pressures at low and high side during the cooling process
c. theoretical and actual coefficient of performance (COP)
3. Perform air conditioning components procedure operations and diagnostic
maintenance operations.
The study was focused on the, development and performance evaluation of the
air-conditioning trainer unit including conceptualization, construction and testing. Locally
available materials are to be used in the development of the Air-Conditioning Trainer Unit.
The developed trainer unit delimited to a window type air-conditioner unit, provided
with wiring installation rated at ½ hp compressor, fan motor, capacitor, selector switch
and thermostat. Include also the dimension of 2.0 ft x 1.8 ft x 1.6 ft room area for testing.
It limits only on the performance testing of the coefficient of performance (COP) and
power consumption of the unit and cooling capacity of the unit at different given
parameters.
METHODOLOGY
The study was then conceptualized by looking into existing designs of air-
conditioning trainer unit used in the training course program at TESDA-ANTS and the
existing commercial trainer units in the market that could make as basis for the design of
the frame and assembly of the components. Based from the gathered designs,
information and specifications, good features of the existing model were considered for
adoption, adaptation and simplification to come up with the modified, simplified and
economical air-conditioning trainer unit. Based on the design requirements and design
data, a design drawing was prepared. The developed trainer unit was subjected to an
evaluation to determine its operating characteristics.
2. Actual Testing
b. Prepare all the tools to be used for testing such as timer, pocket thermometer,
ball pen and paper.
f. Rotate the selector switch one turn right to start the fan.
g. Rotate the selector switch one turn right to start the fan.
i. To set the fan at medium running state, add another one turn to the right in the
selector switch.
j. To set the fan at high running state just add another turn to the right in the
selector switch.
l. Record the temperature reading at low, medium and high operation state after
ten minutes.
Table 1. Result of testing for temperature reading and COP before and after cooling
of the room.
Table 1 showed that the developed trainer unit can give a different temperature
reading and cool the controlled area at specific time. Coefficient of performance (COP)
also revealed that a value of 3.2 for indoor temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and 31.5
degrees Celsius ambient temperature gives the highest value among the conducted trials.
This value can be used to determine the efficiency of a specific air-conditioning unit. The
higher the value of COP the higher the efficiency of an air-conditioning unit.
Table 2. Results of testing for pressure reading before and after cooling
Table 2 showed that the developed trainer unit was operated and gave values for
pressure at low and high side at different temperature conditions of the controlled area
being cooled.
The compressor rated power was 0.5 hp equivalent to 0.373 KW and the fan motor
with 45 watts equivalent to .045 KW. As per information gathered from the Tablas Island
Electric Cooperative (TIELCO), the prevailing price of the electric power is P 12.50/KW-
hr. The air-conditioning trainer unit has a power consumption of P 5.24/hr. With the
amount of the prevailing price of electricity, the price of the computed power is P
125.76/day.