NT 3036 Air conditioning systems

3
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

3.1 Introduction

Air conditioning systems may be classified according to the types of heating and cooling
media employed to provide the final heating and cooling effect within the space cooling
media include chilled water, brine and direct expansion refrigerants. Heating media
include steam, hot water, electricity and gas.

Most systems fall within the following categories:-

 All-air systems
 Air-water systems
 Packaged unitary systems

3.2 All-Air Systems

These comprise a central air handling plant with distribution ductwork connected to the
various spaces served. Air velocity within the duct can be low, medium, and high
depending on the application, selection of the system and space within the building.
These systems may be classified as:-

 Constant air volume (CAV)

 Variable air volume (VAV)
 Dual duct
 Multi-zone

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3.2.1 Constant Air Volume System

All-air systems from a very basic type of air conditioning with central plant, which is
scheduled to internal/external temperatures, controlling heating and cooling and
distributing air via grilles and diffusers. In all-air systems, return air is sometimes
extracted through light fittings to exploit the heat generated. This type of basic system
can only be used where the load is constant. This system may employ terminal reheat
units at either the perimeter of the building or inside it to cater for winter load, as shown
in figure 3.1 below.
RETURN
FAN
Exhaust
air

COOLING
SUPPLY
FILTER COIL HUMIDIFIER
FAN

Fresh
air
CONSTANT VOLUME BOX

DIFFUSER

Return
Supply

FIGURE 3.1 Constant Air Volume System

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3.2.2 Variable Air Volume System (VAV)

This system supplies air from a central plant which may be used as either heating or
cooling source. The conditioned air is distributed via medium or high velocity ductwork
located within a suspended ceiling void. The amount of air distributed into an individual
room or zone is controlled by local thermostats, which promote a degree of flexibility as
shown in figure 3.2 below.

STATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR

EXHAUST AIR
EXTERIOR ZONE
RETURN AIR

A A
STATIC PRESSURE REGULATOR
T T

FRESH AIR

VELOCITY STATIC PRESSURE

SUPPLY FAN SENSOR SENSOR
FILTERCOOLING COIL
A A

T T

INTERIOR ZONE

FIGURE 3.2 Variable Air Volume System with Terminal Reheat

Under partial load conditions the VAV system will allow a reduction in supply air
volume to compensate for reduced cooling load and take maximum advantage of load
diversities. A typical application of the VAV system would be laboratory building where
equipment loads are highly variable and where intermittent operation of fume extract
hoods cause variable make-up air requirements.

The main advantages of VAV systems are the savings in operating costs possible due to
reduction in fan horsepower under partial load, and reduction in energy losses since

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mixing and reheat losses are minimised. Elimination of excessive air movement in winter
may also offer advantages in some applications.

Advantages which may be overcome by proper design are unstable system operation
caused by variations in duct static pressure due to flow changes, stratification or draughts
from room outlets due to flow and/or temperature changes and acoustical problems due to
noise generated as air flow is throttled. Another advantage is air dumping from a diffuser
if it is required to turn down less than 40% of air. To overcome this problem the VAV
terminal unit is supplemented with a fan to boost the air flow from the diffuser by using
recovered air from the room drawn into the ceiling void to balance the variations in
primary supply air. A schematic diagram of a typical VAV fan assisted system is sown in
figure 3.3 below.

EXHAUS T AIR RETURN FAN

FAN AS S IS TED VAV BOX

HEATER
FRES H AIR S UPPLY FAN

FILTER COOLER

S UPPLY RETURN AIR

DIFFUS ER

SPACE

FIGURE 3.3 Typical VAV Fan-Assisted System

Variable air volume systems use terminal boxes called VAV boxes. Figures 3.4 & 3.5
show a diagram of a VAV fan assisted terminal box. The diagram includes the
following:-

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1. Air volume control device (damper)

2. Return air fan
3. Noise attenuator
4. Distribution box (octopus)
5. Flexible ducting
6. Air diffuser

6 5

4 3 2 1

SUPPLY AIR

FRESH AIR
ROOM RETURN AIR

FIGURE 3.4 VAV fan-Assisted Terminal Box

FLOOR SLAB

FLEXIBLE DUCTING

PRIMARY AIR DUCT

FALSE CEILING ACCESS DOOR

Air throw at say 70%

ROOM AIR SUPPLY

Dumping risk at < 40% air (no fan in)

FIGURE 3.5 VAV Fan-Assisted Terminal Box in a Ceiling Void

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3.2.3 Dual Duct system

This is an all-air system which conditions air in a central plant and distributes it, usually
at high velocity to the conditioned spaces through two parallel ducts. One duct conveys
cold air and the other hot air to a room unit which mixes the air, under instructions from a
room thermostat, in the proportions required to maintain the necessary space temperature.
See figure 3.6 below.

HOT DUCT

BALANCING
PRESSUR-REDUCING
DAMPER / ACOUSTIC
BAFFLE

ACTUATOR SUPPLY AIR

CONSTANT
VOLUME ROOM SENSOR
REGULATOR

COLD DUCT

FIGURE 3.6 Dual Duct Mixing Box

The dual duct system is particularly suited to applications with a highly variable sensible
load where temperature control is required for individual spaces or zones. This covers
multi-storey, multi-room applications, such as offices, hospitals, blocks of flats, hotels
and large laboratories. The dual duct system is generally an economic propositions for
buildings with less than about 60% glass area; above this air-water systems may be more
competitive. The best system arrangement is shown in figure 3.7 below.

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EXHAUST AIR RETURN FAN

HEATER
SPACE
SPACE
FILTER +
SUPPLY FAN

COOLER MB MB

FRESH AIR
RETURN AIR

FIGURE 3.7 Dual Duct System

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3.2.4 Hot deck / cold deck multi-zone system

This system employs one or more central air handling units which are usually of the
packaged type as shown in figure 3.8 below.

MOTORIZED
DAMPERS MIXED AIR TO ZONE 1
FOR ZONE 1

OUTSIDE AIR

HOT
DECK

COLD
DECK
FILTER SECTION MOTORIZED MIXED AIR TO ZONE 2
DAMPERS
FOR ZONE 2
FAN SECTION

HEATER

COOLER

FIGURE 3.8 Typical Packaged Multizone Arrangement

The heating and cooling coils are located in parallel, downstream of the supply fan, and
followed by a set of mixing dampers for each control zone to provide constant volume
variable temperature conditions as required. This system mixes, at the central plant, the
required proportions of cold and hot air required by each conditioned zone, and a separate
single duct for each zone distributes the mixed air to that particular zone. Individual zone
thermostats control the appropriate zone mixing dampers at the unit. A typical plant
arrangement is shown in figure 3.9 below.

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EXHAUS T AIR RETURN FAN

HEATER
RETURN AIR
FILTER +
S UPPLY FAN
COOLER
ZONE 1
FRES H AIR

RETURN AIR

ZONE 2

TO OTHER ZONES

FIGURE 3.9 Hot Deck / Cold Deck Multizone System

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3.3 Air-Water Systems

These systems comprise a central air handling plant to provide primary fresh air (100%)
with dew point control of heating and/or cooling plus humidifier if required to the space
to be conditioned. The primary fresh air can be supplied to local room units. These units
can be either induction units or fan coil units.

3.3.1 Induction Units System

This system uses a main central air handling unit to provide 100% fresh air. An induction
unit uses the power in a high velocity primary jet to induce room air over a coil and hence
set up adequate air circulation within the conditioned space; i.e. it uses the principle of
entraining as employed by well designed supply air terminal but also acts as terminal re-
cooler or re-heater as required. See figure 3.10 below.

AIR CONDITIONED S PACE

STEAM
HUMIDIFIER
FILTER COOLING COIL
CONDITIONED AIR

FRESH AIR
SUPPLY FAN SECONDARY
HEATER
FROST COIL ROOM AIR

FIGURE 3.10 Induction Unit System

The unit causes secondary air to be recirculated by the primary air passing through a
series of nozzles, then this passes over either heating or cooling coils as shown in figure
3.10. This means that primary air and distribution ductwork can be very much smaller
than all-air systems in most cases handling only the fresh air requirements of the
occupants. Induction units are rarely used to dehumidify room air due to the

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inconvenience of condensate disposal. Primary air is thus expected to deal with all latent
loads. These units tend to be noisy due to nozzle pressure.

ROOM S ENS OR CONDITIONED AIR

+/-
ROOM
S ECONDARY AIR
NOZZLES

S OUND PRIMARY AIR

ABS ORBING
PLENUM
WATER FLOW

WATER RETURN

MAIN FRES H AIR DUCT

FIGURE 3.10 Induction Unit

The maintenance of induction systems is rather more intensive than all-air systems with
regular cleaning of the lint screens, coils and nozzles being necessary to avoid reductions
in performance. This should normally be done quarterly. Routine maintenance is also
required for the automatic controls. Control over the system depends on the type of water
distribution system installed. It can be obtained either via the air flow through the unit
using thermostatically controlled dampers or valve control of the water flow.

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3.3.2 Fan Coil Unit System

This system is generally used for perimeter areas of multi-room, multi-storey buildings
but also can be arranged to cater for interior zones. A fan coil system is in many ways
similar to an induction unit system, the basic difference being the substitution of a small
fan in the unit or may be a pair of centrifugal fans to recirculate room air across a water
coil in place of induction nozzles. the whole assembly is fitted in a sheet steel casing and
is usually located beneath a window to blow air upwards over the glass. Sometimes the
fan coil units are fixed above suspended ceilings in a horizontal position and supply air
across the ceiling. With these arrangements i.e. horizontal and vertical, good flexibility in
design and layout can be achieved. See figure 3.11 below.

6 9

1 1

2 5
4 2

3 3
FLOOR
8

a) Vertical model - Floor supported

1. Finned tube coil 6. Fan speed control

2. Fan 7. coil connections
3. Filter 8. Return air opening
4. Fan motor 9. Discharge air opening
5. Condensate

WALL

FLOOR

b) Vertical model - Wall supported

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c) Horizontal model - Ceiling mounted

FIGURE 3.11 Typical Fan-Coil Installations

Fresh primary air can be obtained via different sources depending on the complexity and
layout of the building. These sources may be:-

 Inward infiltration
 A ventilation opening in the external wall behind the fan coil unit.
 A separate mechanical ventilation system.
 Conditioned primary low velocity air ducted to the unit from a central air handling
unit.
These arrangements are shown in figure 3.12 below.

3 3

2
2
2

4 4
1. 100% Reciculated air
1. Ventilation air theough wall aperture
2. Infiltration around window and door
2. Recirculated air
3. Power exhaust
3. Power exhaust 1
2 4. Conditioned air from fan coil unit 2
4. Conditioned air from fan coil unit
1

Ventilation by infiltration and exhaust Ventilation by wall aperture

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Fresh air duct

Suspended ceiling
1 1

1 1
Perimeter Corridor Perimeter
Space Space
Interior space Corridor Perimeter space
3 3

1. Conditioned air from interior system 1. Conditioned ventilation air

2. Recirculated air 2. Recirculation air
3. Conditioned air from fan coil unit
3. Conditioned air from fan coil unit
2
2

Ventilation from interior space system Ventilation from seperate duct system

Ventilation by primary air duct Ventilation by primary air duct at high level

FIGURE 3.12 Different Sources of Ventilation in Fan-coil Systems

Water distribution to the fan coil unit can be two-pipe or four-pipe. With a two-pipe
system there is a heating problem in the UK. A changeover system might be considered
but this is unsatisfactory in the British climate. Individual electric re-heat would be a
possibility if the electrical tariff supply was cheap enough or if the heating requirement
was very small.

Another possibility might be to warm the auxiliary ducted air to a temperature high
enough to offset the heat loss. This is seldom a success; the accuracy of air balancing and
the temperature drop because of duct heat loss make uniform, balanced heating
impossible. The solution is to use a four-pipe fan coil system.
Most units today offer the choice of three fan speeds, giving different levels of noise
output and a manual choice of unit capacity.

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Four-pipe fan coil systems have become popular and many installations in office blocks
fix them above suspended ceilings, the argument being that this arrangement uses less of
the floor area. A typical four-pipe fan coil system is shown in figures 3.13, 3.14 and 3.15.

STEAM
HUMIDIFIER
FILTER COOLING COIL

FRESH AIR
AIR CONDITIONED S PACE
SUPPLY FAN
HEATER
FROST COIL
CONDITIONED AIR

SECONDARY
ROOM AIR

FIGURE 3.13 Four-pipe fan coil system

CONDITIONED AIR

ROOM SENSOR

-
+

ROOM
CHILLED WATER FLOW
SECONDARY AIR
CHILLED WATER RETUR
PRIMARY AIR
HOT
WATER FLOW
HOT
WATER RETURN

MAIN FRESH AIR DUCT

FIGURE 3.14 Four pipe fan-coil unit (vertical arrangement)

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FLOOR SLAB

FLEXIBLE DUCTING

- +

FRESH AIR DUCT

FALSE CEILING

ACCESS DOOR

ROOM AIR SUPPLY ROOM AIR RETURN

FIGURE 3.15 Four Pipe Fan-coil Unit (horizontal arrangement)

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3.3.3 Heat pump units (Versatemp system)

Heat pump systems are often used in narrow buildings having small floor areas and
where there are no specific requirements for serving central core areas.

The system is also called unitary room reversible heat pump (versatemp). the system
shown in figure 3.16 below represents a typical unitary heat pump system.

COOLING TOWER

DIRTY COOLING WATER

CLEAN COOLING WATER

PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

T
TERMINAL HEAT RECOVERY UNITS (VERSATEMP)

PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

BOILER PLANT

FIGURE 3.16 Unitary Heat Pump System

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The system employs room hermetic heat pump units, operating on a constant temperature
water circuit. The unit may either cool the space and reject the extracted heat to the water
circuit (refrigeration cycle) or warm the space by extracting heat from the water circuit
(heat pump cycle). See figure 3.17 below.

REVERSING VALVE REVERSING VALVE

COMPRESSOR COMPRESSOR

ROOM COIL
ROOM COIL

WATER COIL WATER COIL

OUT IN OUT IN

HEATING MODE COOLING MODE

FIGURE 3.17 A Unitary Heat Pump Unit in Heating and Cooling Modes

In winter, when operating on the heat pump cycle, about one-third of the heating
requirements is met by power input to the compressor; the balance is obtained from a
boiler or other heat source.

In summer, on normal refrigeration cycle, excess heat is rejected to the cooling tower.
Operating economy is achieved in intermediate seasons by taking advantage of the out-
of-balance loads which occur (e.g. one zone in sun, other zones in shade; heat gains from
interior zones, heat losses from exterior zones etc.). The system permits heat to be
reclaimed from these sources and to be pumped via the water circuit to areas where a heat
requirement exists.

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In this system fresh air can be drawn in and discharged through the heat pump units via a
local fresh air intake. Fresh air can also be provided centrally via a centralised air plant
which filters air and tempers it to 10 oC all year round so that 'free' heating may be made
use of at units when available.

3.4 Packaged unit systems (decentralised)

A packaged unit system means that this system has been pre-designed and engineered by
a manufacturer to specified standards incorporating a direct expansion vapour
compression refrigeration system. this system may be used to provide cooling only,
heating only or both. Packaged air conditioning is only concerned with 'comfort'
conditioning and, therefore, some latitude can be tolerated with various conditions. This
applies particularly to the question of relative humidity. The problem in comfort
conditioning is to limit the rise in relative humidity but it is not normally considered
necessary to install humidifiers to ensure a minimum relative humidity.

The operation of packaged air conditioning systems for comfort conditioning is generally
as follows:-

1. Air is drawn from the conditioned space into the equipment and mixed with
proportion of fresh air as required.

2. The mixed air passes through a filter which removes dirt and dust.

3. The air then passes through a coil which for cooling or for heating.

4. Where the system is to be used for heating as well as cooling, a heater battery or hot
water coil can be fitted to provide full heating in place of the coil above; or to provide
supplementary heating in conjunction with the coil above.

5. Finally the air passes through the fan and is returned to the conditioned space.

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Figure 3.18 illustrates a simple system operating on these lines.

Heater

Inside coil

Tray
Air supply fan

Filter

Compressor

Outside coil
Fan

FIGURE 3.18 A Packaged Unit Mounted Through The Wall

The selection of packaged air conditioning equipment depends on the application,

location and space and the capital cost. Basically, three types are in use:-

 Self-contained. See figure 3.18

 Free-standing with remote condensing unit. See figure 3.19
 Split systems. see figure 3.20

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Air supply fan

Inside coil
Tray
Filter

Compressor

Remote outside coil and fans Refrigerant pipes

FIGURE 3.19 Free Standing with Remote Condensing Unit

Remote outside coil and fans Compressor

Refrigerant pipes

Filter Air supply fan

Inside coil
Tray

FIGURE 3.20 Split Unit System

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