Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Mechanical Engineering Department

AIRCONDITIONING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS

MEEN 30274

UNIT II: CLASSIFICATION OF AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEMS

Activity

Submitted by
JOHN KENNETH S. PAULINO
BSME 4-1

Submitted to:
ENGR. ROBERT MICHAEL CORPUS
Professor
1. Explain detail classification of Air Conditioning System?

AC Systems can be classified as non-ducted and ductable. Non-ducted or ductless

system do not require ductwork to move air around the space. Instead, ductless
units blow cooled air directly into the living space, which makes them highly
efficient. Ductless air conditioning systems have two main components: an outdoor
unit and an indoor air-handling unit with an evaporator coil and fan. A copper
conduit housing the power cable, condensate drain, refrigerant tubing, and suction
tubing, links the outdoor and indoor units. Window-type and split-type AC fall under
non-ducted system.

On the other hand, ducted air conditioning provides heating or cooling

through a system of ducts spread out all over the space. A central unit, consisting
of a condenser, compressor, and an air handling unit, is usually located in the
basement, attic, or garage. It provides cool or hot air, which is then distributed
throughout the building through a series of ducts and vents, providing the
appropriate climate control.

2. Explain with neat sketch working of window air-conditioning?

Working Principle of Window type AC

Image Courtesy: The Engineers Post

Once the liquid refrigerant has passed through the evaporator coils, hot and
moisturized air inside is forced to condense. The propeller fan allows the air to circulate
around the coils for faster heat transfer. The heat being absorbed turns the refrigerant into
gaseous form. Then, the gas refrigerant will be pumped by the compressor, increasing its
pressure while maintaining its temperature. Now, the pressurized refrigerant enters the
condenser coils located on the other side, in which heat is ejected outside allowing the
refrigerant to condense back to liquid form. Liquid refrigerant will flow to the expansion
valve in which pressure will be reduced and the cycle continues.
3. Difference between the window and split air-conditioning?

The difference between the window type and split type aircon lies with their differing
configurations. A split type AC has its indoor and outdoor parts separate, only being
connected by a copper tube. For a window type, the indoor and outdoor parts are
consolidated in one unit. However, the outdoor part is hanging outside the room.

4. Explain with neat sketch working of packaged Air Conditioning System?

Packaged AC with Water-cooled Condenser

Image Courtesy: Electrical KnowHow

Packaged Air Conditioners with Water Cooled Condenser

In these packaged air conditions, the condenser is cooled by the water. The
condenser is of shell and tube type, with refrigerant flowing along the tube side and the
cooling water flowing along the shell side. The water has to be supplied continuously in
these systems to maintain functioning of the air conditioning system. The shell and tube
type of condenser is compact in shape and it is enclosed in a single casing along with the
compressor, expansion valve, and the air handling unit including the cooling coil or the
evaporator. This whole packaged air conditioning unit externally looks like a box with the
control panel located externally.

In the packaged units with the water-cooled condenser, the compressor is located
at the bottom along with the condenser. Above these components the evaporator or the
cooling coil is located. The air handling unit comprising of the centrifugal blower and the
air filter is located above the cooling coil. The centrifugal blower has the capacity to handle
large volume of air required for cooling a number of rooms. From the top of the package
air conditioners the duct comes out that extends to the various rooms that are to be cooled.
5. Explain the working of Split AC System with neat diagram?

Split type AC Unit

Image Courtesy: airimprove.ltd.uk

Gas, a refrigerant, is fed into the compressor where it is pressurized. This also
causes heat in the gas to rise. The pressurized gas then goes through a succession of
tubes that are meant to condense it into a liquid. The liquid is still pressurized and travels
through the condenser tubes until they come to an expansion joint. The pressurized
liquid passes through this point in the process and becomes a gas again as the pressure
is rapidly reduced.

During the reduction of pressure, the gas also releases a great deal of heat and
becomes much cooler (thus, refrigerant). The gas then passes back to the compressor
to repeat that process. Air from the room is drawn into the unit and passes over the
evaporator coils. This action cools the air significantly which is then forced back into the
room via the blower. The air continues to circulate through the air conditioner until a set
temperature (set by the thermostat) is reached. At this point the apparatus shuts off
automatically.

6. Write the Merits and Demerits of Split AC?

Advantages

Versatile. Unlike a window air conditioner, a split system can be installed almost
anywhere, and split system installation does not require large holes in the wall or
expensive ducts. Plus, the outdoor compressor unit can be located quite a long way from
the unit itself, and is easy to maintain and keep clean.

Quiet. The exterior condenser for a split system air conditioner is located
separately to the air-blowing unit that is actually inside the house.
 Energy efficient. The heating and cooling of a split system is renowned for its
efficiency and evenness of hot and cool air when using the thermostat properly. The long-
term running costs of a split system are also lower than traditional air conditioning.
Disadvantages
Price. Split systems normally need to be installed both inside and outside of the
house by a professional.
Installation. Because installation will normally need to be done by a professional,
for instance to satisfy warranty conditions, one could face a wait for a licensed installer to
be available.
Location. Split systems may not be appropriate for multi-storey apartments
because of the two-part system and the fact that the tubing connecting them can only be
a certain length.
Noise. While usually whisper-quiet on the inside, the exterior compressor of a split
system air conditioner can be quite noisy.

7. Describe briefly about Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV)/Variable Refrigerant Flow

(VRF)?

Variable refrigerant volume (VRV) or variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems

extract or deliver heat to individual zones as required using refrigerant to air heat
exchangers. They have multiple indoor units with a refrigerant flow distributor control
device. This device controls the refrigerant with a PID control loop with the inputs being
sent and received on a communication system.

Heat recovery regimes allow rejected heat to be transferred within a building or

stored as hot water. Typically, there are 20–40 units on one system, although some
manufacturers can allow as many as 64 indoor units. Individual indoor units can provide
heating or cooling as required using either a three or two pipe system.

8. Write down the applications of ductable AC.

Ductable Split Units are designed to be the most intelligent and Compact
systems, to cater to the total cooling requirements.

Application includes offices, banks, departmental stores, entertainment

centers, multiplexes, restaurant, fast food centers, residences, computer rooms,
telephone exchanges, hospitals, auditoriums, conference halls, theatres, factories,
control rooms.
References

Bishop, T. (2014). Learn How Your Split Air Conditioner Works. Retrieved from
https://www.newair.com/blogs/learn/learn-split-air-conditioner-works

Cielo WiGle Inc. (2019). Ducted vs. Ductless Air Conditioning Systems. Retrieved from
https://www.cielowigle.com/blog/ducted-vs-ductless-air-conditioning-systems/

Conduct Air Conditioning. (2016). Advantages and Disadvantages of Split Systems Air
Conditioning. Retrieved from https://www.conductairconditioning.com.au/blog/advantages-
disadvantages-split-systems-air-conditioning/

Hundy, G. F., et al. (2016). Heat Pumps and Integrated Systems. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/variable-refrigerant-volume

Mores, M. (2021). Window Type vs. Split Type Aircon: Which Is Better? Retrieved from
https://101appliance.com/window-type-vs-split-type-aircon-which-is-better/

O'Neill, A. (2016). How Package Air Conditioner Works. Retrieved from

https://www.abacusplumbing.net/2016/11/package-air-conditioner-works/