HEATING, VENTILATION

AND AIR CONDITIONING

A STUDY ON AIR HANDLING UNIT , COOLING TOWER AND
CHILLER PLANTS

GROUP MEMBERS
ARJUN K SASIDHARAN
CHHOTU KUMAR
T.VIJITHA SREE
KRISHNADAS
LABEEB. V
MOHAMMED MUSTAFA ALI
NAVIN K
CONTENTS

1. DEFINITIONS
2. CASE STUDY 1 ASMA TOWERS
3. CASE STUDY 2 KURIKKAL AMBIENTE
4. CASE STUDY 3 HOTEL SAGAR
5. INFERENCE
6. HVAC BY LAWS
1.DEFINITIONS
A) AIR CONDITIONER :
An appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract
heat from an area. Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a
system of supply and return ducts.
Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings
covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home.
This cooled air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then
it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and
registers.
Air Handling
System

Production Room
Supply With Outlet
Air Defined Air
Requirements
B)Air Handling Unit
 An Air Handling Unit (most of the times abbreviated to AHU), or Air
Handler, is a central air conditioner station that handles the air that,
usually, will be supplied into the buildings by the ventilation ductwork.
Handling the air means that the air will be delivered into the building
spaces with thermo-hygrometric and IAQ treatment.
 There are several types of Air Handling Units: Compact, Modular,
Residential, DX integrated, Low Profile, Packaged, Rooftop mounted etc.
 It is a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements,
filter racks or chambers, humidity & temperature control loops. 
Main Sub-systems
SU P P LY A IR H A N D LIN G U N IT

Primary Filter

HEPA Filter
Humidifier

Secondary
Cooling

Air Fan
Supply
Coil

Filter
F

P R O D U C TIO N
FA C ILITY

E X H A U ST A IR H A N D LIN G U N IT

Secondary
HEPA
Filter

Filter
O p ti o n a l fil tr a ti o n d e p e n d i n g
o n e x h a u s t a ir c o n ta m i n a n ts

5
Overview of components

Exhaust Air Grille

Silencer Flow rate controller Fan Filter

Weather louvre Control damper

Heater
+
Humidifier
Prefilter Terminal filter

Cooling coil Secondary Filter

Production Room
with droplet
separator
Heating
coil Re-circulated air
 Air types

+ Exhaust
Fresh air Supply air
(make-up air) air

Production Room
Return air
(re-circulated)
 Components

= To prevent insects, leaves, dirt and rain from entering

 Weather louver
 Silencer = To reduce noise caused by air circulation
 Flow rate controller = Automated adjustment of volume of air
 Control damper = Fixed adjustment of volume of air
 Heating unit = To heat the air to the proper temperature
 Cooling unit = To cool the air to the required temperature
 Humidifier = To bring the air to the proper humidity, if too low
 Filters = To eliminate particles of pre-determined dimensions
 Ducts = To transport the air
C) CHILLER
 A device that removes heat from a liquid via a vapour-compression or
absorption refrigeration cycle.
 This cooled liquid flows through pipes in a building and passes through
coils in air handlers, fan-coil units, or other systems, cooling and
usually dehumidifying the air in the building.
 Chillers are of two types; air-cooled or water-cooled.
Air cooled chillers
 Air-cooled chillers are often used in smaller or medium sized commercial
buildings.
 Since water has a heavier thermal mass versus air, the on-and-off cycling of
the air-cooled chiller does not cause a large fluctuation in the supply air
temperature.
 Air-cooled chillers also have a “turndown” capability, allowing them to
better match their part-load cooling conditions.
 Both of these features lead to better humidity and temperature control.
WATER COOLED CHILLERS
 Water-cooled chillers are must widely used for large commercial buildings
and structures.
 These chillers absorb heat from processed water and transfer it to a
separate water source.
 These chillers are often used when a building requires optimum efficiency
of power consumption.
 D)COOLING TOWER
 The purpose of cooling tower is to cool relatively warm water by
contacting with unsaturated air. The evaporation of water mainly
provides cooling.

 In a typical water cooling water tower, warm water flows

countercurrent to an air stream. Typically, the warm water enters the
top of packed tower and cascades down through the packing, leaving at
the bottom.
 Air enters at the bottom of the tower and flows upward through the
descending water. The tower packing often consists of slats of plastic or
of packed bed. The water is distributed by troughs and overflows to
cascade over slat gratings or packing that provides large interfacial areas
of contact between the water and air in the form of droplets and films of
water.
Main Features of Cooling Towers
Components of a cooling tower

 Frame and casing: support exterior enclosures

 Fill: facilitate heat transfer by maximizing water / air contact
 Cold water basin: receives water at bottom of tower
 Drift eliminators: capture droplets in air stream
 Air inlet: entry point of air
 Louvers: equalize air flow into the fill and retain water within
tower
 Nozzles: spray water to wet the fill
 Fans: deliver air flow in the tower
CASE STUDY
1
ASMA
TOWERS
LOCATION
Asma Tower is situated at Mavoor Road,
one of the major roads in the heart of
Calicut city with accessibility
from every where including bus stand
and railway station. With just walking
distance from Mofussil bus stand
and KSRTC bus stand, a few minutes
drive to the railway station and less
than an hour's drive to the Calicut
International Airport,
Asma Tower is a place that is very
easily identifiable and accessible.

NO.OF FLOORS = 7
TYPE OF AIR CONDITIONING USED – ALL WATER TYPE AC SYSTEM
COOLING TOWER AND
CHILLER UNIT
INSTALLED ON ROOF
TOP
a)Cooling tower
 Cooling tower used is of all water system
 The water is distributed by troughs and overflows to cascade over slat
gratings or packing that provides large interfacial areas of contact between
the water and air in the form of droplets and films of water.

Louvers to prevent insects, leaves,

dirt and rain from entering
Two cooling
towers
installed on
roof top out of
which only one
is in working
condition

Cooling
tower in
working
condition
SERIES OF PIPES
CONNECTING
COOLING TOWER
AND CHILLER
PLANTS
b) CHILLER UNITS
 These chillers absorb heat from processed water and transfer it to a separate
water source.
 These chillers are used when a building requires optimum efficiency of power
consumption.
PIPES AND DUCTS TO
DISTRIBUTE THE CHILLED
AIR TO VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE BUILDING
POWER SUPPLY TO
CHILLER UNITS
c) Air handling unit
 One air handling unit is installed in every floor in electrical
room of building
 Increased efficiency in cooling the room because of ahu’s in
every floor
d)Filters and ducts
 Air filters are installed in the false ceiling of hotel
room
 They are concealed from the vision of visitor
 Since all water system is used, draining of condensate
water was seen soon after the casing was open. This
made the floor of hotel room messy and may also
create health problems if water stagnates in the drain
tray.
 This problem can be eliminated, if dehumidification is
provided by a central ventilation system, and the
cooling coil is used only for sensible cooling of room
air.

filters
Ducts installed
in the false
ceiling of the
hotel room
(supply and
return air pipes)
Advantages of all water systems

1. The thermal distribution system requires very less space compared to all air
systems. Thus there is no penalty in terms of conditioned floor space. Also the plant
size will be small due to the absence of large supply air fans.
2. Individual room control is possible, and at the same time the system offers all
the benefits of a large central system.
3. Since the temperature of hot water required for space heating is small, it is
possible to use solar or waste heat for winter heating.
4. It can be used for new as well existing buildings (retrofitting).
5. Simultaneous cooling and heating is possible with 4-pipe systems.
Disadvantages of all water systems

1. Requires higher maintenance compared to all air systems, particularly in the

conditioned space.
2. Draining of condensate water can be messy and may also create health problems if
water stagnates in the drain tray. This problem can be eliminated, if
dehumidification is provided by a central ventilation system, and the cooling coil is
used only for sensible cooling of room air.
3. If ventilation is provided by opening windows or wall apertures, then, it is difficult
to ensure positive ventilation under all circumstances, as this depends on wind and
stack effects.
4. Control of humidity, particularly during summer is difficult using chilled water
control valves.
 CASE
STUDY 2
KURIKKAL
AMBIENTE

NO.OF FLOORS = 5
 SPLIT TYPE
AIRCONDITIONER
AC DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM INSTALLED IN
THE FALSE CEILING
 TWO 8.5 TON AC
INSTALLED IN
EVERY FLOOR

SUPPLY AIR
PIPE
BLUE STAR SPLIT TYPE AC ELECTRICAL ROOM
CASE STUDY
2
HOTEL
SAGAR
SPLIT TYPE AIR CONDITIONER
 Filters
running
along the
ceiling of
the room
HVAC BY LAWS

ASHRAE
(AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HEATING, REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONINNG ENGINEERING)
AIR HANDLING UNITS (ASHRAE)

 From fire safety point of view, separate air handling units for the various floors
shall be provided so as to avoid the hazards arising from spread of fire and smoke
through the air-conditioning ducts. The requirements of air-conditioning ducts shall
be in accordance with good practice
 Air-conditioning and ventilating systems circulating air to more than one floor or
floor area shall be provided with dampers designed to close automatically in case of
fire and thereby preventing spread of fue or smoke
 ‘Indoor air quality’ has been included as one of the factors that need to be
controlled in the conditioned space.
 For large and multi-storeyed buildings, independent air handling unit rooms have
been recommended for each floor.
 The air handling unit rooms may be acoustically treated, if located in close
proximity to occupied areas.
Air Conditioning, Heating and Mechanical
Ventilation Section 3 (NBC)

 DUCT SYSTEM — A continuous passageway for the transmission of air which, in

addition to the ducts, may include duct fittings, dampers, plenums, and grilles
and diffusers.
 REFRIGERANT — The fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system, which
absorbs heat at a low temperature and low pressure of the fluid Ad rejects heat
at a higher temperature and higher pressure of the fluid, usually involving
changes of, state of the fluid.
 RECIRCULATED AIR — The return air that has been passed through the
conditioning apparatus before being re-supplied to the space.
 PLENUM — An air compartment or chamber to which one or more ducts are
connected and which forms part of an air distribution system. The pressure drop
and air velocities in the plenum should be low. Generally, the velocity in plenum
should not exceed 1.5 to 2.5 m/s.
3.2.2 Planning of Equipment Room for Central Air
Conditioning Plant

 In selecting the location for plant room, the aspects of efficiency, economy
and good practice should be considered and wherever possible it shall be
made contiguous with the building.
 This room shall be located as centrally as possible with respect to the area to
be air conditioned and shall be free from obstructing columns.
 Plant machinery in the plant room shall be placed on plain reinforced cement
concrete foundation anti provided with anti-vibratory supports. All
foundations should be protected from damage by providing epoxy coated
angle nosing. Seismic restraints requirement may also be considered.
3.2.5 Planning for Supply Air Ducts and Return Air

 3.2.5.1 Duct supports, preferably in the form of angles of mild steel

supported using stud anchors shall be provided on the ceiling slab from the
drilled hole. Alternately, duct supports may be fixed with internally threaded
anchor fasteners and threaded rods without damaging the slabs or structural
members.
 3.2.5.2 If false ceiling is provided, the supports for the duct and the false
ceiling, shall be independent.
3.2.6 Cooling Tower
 3.2.6.1 Cooling towers are used to dissipate heat from water cooled
refrigeration, air conditioning and industrial process systems. Cooling is
achieved by evaporating a small proportion of recirculating water into
outdoor air stream. Cooling towers are installed at a place where free flow of
atmospheric air is available.
 3.2.6.2 Range of a cooling tower is defined as temperature difference
between the entering and leaving water. Approach of the cooling tower is the
difference between leaving water temperature and the entering air wet bulb
temperature.
Chillers, Pumps and Pipes

Sizing and selecting a chiller is an important aspect in noise control. The

following guidelines may be considered for noise control:
 For rooftop installation of chillers, these may be placed on beams connected
on the elevated levels of pillars on correctly chosen vibration isolators.
 Water cooled chillers have less vibration. However, if air cooled chillers have
to be chosen, choose them with fan of less speeds and compressors must be
jacketed without compromising their ventilation requirement.
 If much more silencing is required, plan a silencer on the exhaust of the fans
and also an acoustic enclosure around the chillers. Care must be taken for the
additional static demand in the fan.
4. INSIDE DESIGN CONDITIONS

4.1 For air conditioning systems other than comfort air

conditioning, design conditions as required by the processes
involved may be adopted.

4.1.1 For comfort air conditioning dry bulb and wet bulb
temperatures may be adopted as given in Table 2 for summer
and in Table 3 for winter.

4.2 Adequate movement of air shall always be provided in an air

conditioned enclosure, but velocities in excess of 30 m per minute in
the zone between floor level and the 1.5 m level should generally be
avoided; in the case of comfort air conditioning 15 m/min shall be
the permissible limit of air movement in this zone except in the
vicinity of a supply or return air grille.
THANK YOU 