HVAC

HVAC

 COMPONENTS
INTRODUCTION  WORKING PRINCIPLE
 SELECTION OF HVAC SYSTEM
 TYPES OF HVAC SYSTEMS

 CHILLER PLANT
SOURCE COMPONENTS  COMPRESSOR
 CONDENSER
 EVAPORATOR
 COOLING TOWERS
Chw pipe supply  PUMPS
Chw pipe supply
DISTRIBUTION COMPONENTS  AIR HANDLING UNITS
• Floor mounted and ceiling mounted
 FAN COIL UNITS

Supply duct Return duct

 DIFFUSERS
 GRILLES
DELIVERY COMPONENTS  REGISTERS
 HVAC -COMPONENTS

HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; also heating,

ventilation, andair conditioning) is the technology of indoor and
vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal
comfort and acceptable indoor air quality.
COMPONENTS OF A/C
Air conditioners use chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a
liquid and back again.
This chemical is used to transfer heat from the air inside of a
home to the outside air.
The machine has three main parts.
COMPRESSOR
CONDENSER
EVAPORATOR.
Compressor – mechanical device that increases the pressure
of a gas by reducing its volume
 To convert gaseous refrigerant to liquid
 located in outside air
 Condenser-
• To convert gaseous refrigerant to liquid
• located in outside air
• Removes heat from fluid to outside air including thermal
energy extracted from inside air and thermal energy added by
compressor
Evaporator –
 located in room air
 transfers heat from room air to fluid
Refrigerants-Any substance, which absorbs heat through
vaporization or expansion .Air, Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, Freon
Refrigerants
 HVAC-WORKING PRINCIPLE
WORKING OF A/C
The compressor and condenser are usually located on the outside
air portion of the air conditioner.
The evaporator is located on the inside of the house
working fluid arrives at the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas.
Pack the molecule of fluid closer and closer the molecules higher
its energy and its temperature.
working fluid leaves the compressor as a hot, high pressure gas
and flows into the condenser
 When the working fluid leaves the condenser, its temperature is
much cooler and it has changed from a gas to a liquid under
high pressure.
 liquid goes into the evaporator through a very tiny, narrow hole
and the liquid's pressure drops.
 As the liquid changes to gas and evaporates, it extracts heat
from the air around it.
 heat in the air is needed to separate the molecules of the fluid
from a liquid to a gas.
 By the time the working fluid leaves the evaporator, it is a cool,
low pressure gas
 It then returns to the compressor to begin its trip all over again
 HVAC-SYSTEM SELECTION
HVAC performance
CONFIRMING PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES objectives and
 Type of facility and accommodation
 Occupancy levels and types compliance
 Equipment Loads and Lighting Loads
 Special user requirements (e.g. comfort conditions, security, redundancy,
filtration levels,
 control tolerance, pressurization requirements, possible relaxations etc) Initial System
 Energy rating targets for each building type (refer Defence Green Buildings
requirements) Elimination
 Outside air Design Temperatures
 Internal design conditions (temperature and relative humidity for each
accommodation type)
 HVAC system life expectancy, and special maintenance considerations
Detailed System
SYSTEM DETERMINATION AND SELECTION Considerations
INITIAL SYSTEM ELIMINATION
• VENTILATION SYSTEMS
 Predicted heat gains to the space and
resultant internal temperatures
 Occupant usage patterns
Whole of Life
 External noise levels and air quality
 The need to remove contaminated air Assessment
• AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
 All-Air System
 All-Water Systems
 Air-Water Systems
• HEATING SYSTEMS Design Confirmation
• COOLING SYSTEMS and Recommendation
 HVAC-SYSTEM SELECTION
DETAILED SYSTEM CONSIDERATION
Selection Parameters
The following factors have been highlighted as being of
primary importance in determination of a suitable HVAC
system.
 Comfort & Controls
 System Flexibility
 System Integration
 Energy Efficiency and system ABGR and Green Star
rating
 Whole of life costs including capital costs, maintenance
costs, energy costs and replacement cost
 Compliance with Defence Policy Documentation
WHOLE OF LIFE ASSESSMENT
 Initial capital costs
 Energy Costs
 Operating Costs
 Maintenance Costs
 Replacement costs
 RECOMMENDATION
Based on these parameters HVAC system is selected.
 Client’s budget
 Performance requirements
 Capacity requirements
 Costs
 Energy consumption
 System qualities
 AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEM

Central AC Non central AC

Ductable Window Air Split Air

Central plants
package conditioners conditioners

Air cooled Floor mounted VRF Floor Wall Ceiling

ducted splits packaged ac system mounted mounted mounted

Central DX
system
Exposed Concealed Semi
Water type type concealed
Air
cooled cooled Chilled water
system

Vapour Vapour
compression absorption
units units
WINDOW A/C PARTS OF A WINDOW A/C
 conditioner for single rooms  The condenser fan is the
forced draft type of
 Divided into two compartments:  Adjustable louvers  Blower-Fitted propeller fan that sucks
the room side, (the cooling side) fitted in the supply air behind the the atmospheric air and
grills to supply the air evaporator blows it over the
and the outdoor side separated by in desired direction. condenser.
an insulated partition
 Easy and economical
 Usually mounted on walls  Control Panel-To
 Compressor
is made up
control the room
of copper
air temperature,
tubing , to
the flow rate of
enable faster
the air and the
heat transfer
direction of the
rate from it.
air.

 Front grill-front
panel on which
the supply and
return air grills
are fitted  Thermostat sensor  Air filter in front of the evaporator
connected directly fitted in the front panel or front
to the cooling coil/ grill-filters the refrigerant and also
switch in control removes the moisture particles
panel
These types of AC are designed to be fitted in window
sills. Advantages
A single unit of Window Air Conditioner houses all the •Single unit air conditioner
necessary components, namely the compressor, •Less effort needed for installation
condenser, expansion valve or coil, evaporator and •Costs lesser in comparison to other
cooling coil enclosed in a single box. varieties
 SPLIT AC • A split system air conditioner such as a mini split
 used to cool one or two rooms. system provides various advantages. The primary
 two parts: the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. advantages are associated with flexibility and size.
 The outdoor unit houses components like the compressor, Since they are small units, they can easily be installed.
• Their flexibility is perfect for warming and cooling of
condenser and expansion valve.
rooms.
 The indoor unit comprises the evaporator or cooling coil and • Most of the models of mini split types encompass 4
the cooling fan. indoor air-handling units, which are connected to a
 The indoor unit -wall mounted type ,ceiling mounted and floor single unit placed outdoors. 
mounted
1.Evaporator Coil / 3.Cooling Fan /Blower:
Cooling Coil: blower sucks the hot and
 The refrigerant tubing unclean air from the room
supplying the and supplies cool and clean
refrigerant from the air back
outdoor unit to the
indoor unit & vice
versa covered with the
insulation tape

Louvers or Fins:
helps changing the angle or
direction of air supply
two types of louvers:
horizontal and vertical.
The horizontal louvers
2. Air Filter: placed control flow of air in upper
just before the and downward directions of
cooling coil the room
vertical louvers control
movement of air in left and
right directions.
Working of split AC

Splits the hot side from the cold side of the system
•The cold side - expansion valve and the cold coil
•air handler blows air through the coil and routes the air
throughout the building using a series of ducts.
The hot side, known as the condensing unit, outside the building-
consists of a long, spiral coil shaped like a cylinder
Inside the coil is a fan, to blow air through the coil, along with a
weather-resistant compressor

Package AC

The window and split air conditioners are usually used for the
small air conditioning capacities up to 5 tons. The central air
conditioning systems are used for where the cooling loads extend
beyond 20 tons. The packaged air conditioners are used for the
cooling capacities in between these two extremes. The packaged
air conditioners are available in the fixed rated capacities of 3, 5, 7,
10 and 15 tons. These units are used commonly in places like
restaurants, telephone exchanges, homes, small halls, etc
 CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM
Central systems are defined as those in which the cooling is
generated in a chiller and distributed to air-handling units or fan-
coil units with a chilled water system.
This category includes systems with air-cooled chillers as well as
systems with cooling towers for heat rejection.
Heating in these systems is often generated in a boiler and is
distributed in hot water or steam piping.
• Central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems regulate:
• Temperature,
• Ventilation,
• Humidity levels,
to ensure the physical comfort of occupants in most commercial
and industrial buildings.
HVAC system components may be grouped into three functional
categories: source components,
distribution components, and delivery components.
1. Source components provide or remove heat or moisture. This
includes refrigeration chiller for cooling and boiler or hot water
generator for heating.
2. Distribution components convey a heating or cooling medium
from a source location to portions of a building that require
conditioning. This includes air-handling units (AHU), fan coil units,
radiators etc.
3. Delivery components serve as an interface between the
distribution system and occupied spaces. This includes diffusers,
grilles, registers etc.
The components of a central system fall into two broad
categories:
1. PRIMARY COMPONENTS
2. SECONDARY COMPONENTS
PRIMARY COMPONENTS
Primary components, often called "central plant" equipment,
convert energy from fuel or electricity into heating and cooling
energy in the form of hot water, steam, chilled water or
refrigerant:
Refrigeration equipment options include water chillers and
direct-expansion (DX) equipment.
 CHILLED WATER CHILLERS use a refrigeration cycle to cool
water to 42 to 45º F for pumping to chilled water-cooling
coils.
• Air is then blown over the chilled water-cooling coils to
provide cool air to the conditioned space.
 DX SYSTEMS also use a refrigeration cycle, but distribute
refrigerant directly to DX cooling coils.
A refrigeration system must also reject the heat that it removes
using a water cooling or air-cooling.
 Water-cooled chillers require condenser water (CW) pumps
and cooling towers to reject heat.
 Air-cooled chillers reject heat in air-cooled condensers,
which use significant fan power.
BOILERS
Produce hot water or steam to distribute to heating coils.
Though hot water is the most common fluid, steam is
sometimes used because of its high heat per unit volume.
Both types of boiler are typically 80-85 percent efficient. Gas is
the most common fuel.
 CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM
CHILLERS
Reciprocating compressors (up to 200 tons),
Screw compressors (100 to 750 tons)
Centrifugal compressors (200 to 2000 tons).
The centrifugal compressors offer the best peak load
efficiency while screw chillers give better part load and the
off-design performance.
They also offer turn down ratios up to about 20% by
employing capacity control methods like VSD for centrifugal
chillers and modulating/stepped slide valve control for screw
chillers.
PUMPS
Pumps circulate chilled water, hot water, and cooling tower
water. Centrifugal pumps, driven by electric motors, are most
common. When water flow varies with changing loads,
pumps can be efficiently controlled with variable speed
(frequency) drives (VFDs).

COOLING TOWER • As the water evaporates, the air absorbs heat,

• A cooling tower is a heat rejection device which extracts waste
heat to the atmosphere through the cooling of a water stream
to a lower temperature. Cooling towers are used to reject heat
through the natural process of evaporation.
• Warm recirculating water is sent to the cooling tower where it
is sprayed through nozzles into the air. A portion of the water is
evaporated into the air passing through the tower.
which lowers the temperature of the remaining
water.
• This process provides significant cooling to the
remaining water stream that collects in the tower
basin where it can be pumped back into the
system to extract more process or building heat,
thereby allowing much of the water to be used
repeatedly to meet the cooling demand.
 CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM
SECONDARY COMPONENTS
Secondary components, sometimes called "system" equipment,
deliver heating and cooling to occupied spaces:
• Air handling equipment may be centrally located or several air
handlers may be distributed throughout a facility.
• Most facilities use modular air handlers, but built-up air
handlers may be found in larger facilities. All air handlers adjust
air temperature and humidity and remove dust and other
particles from air before distributing it to occupied spaces.
• This is accomplished through a series of coils, filters,
humidifiers, fans, and dampers.
AIR HANDLING UNIT(AHU)
 Device used to condition and circulate air as part of an HVAC
system
 Large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling
elements, filter, and sound attenuators.
 Connects to ductwork that distributes the conditioned air
through the building and returns it to the AHU
 Smaller air handlers may contain a fuel-burning heater or a
refrigeration evaporator placed directly in the air stream
 Large commercial air handling units contain coils that circulate
water
 Boiler provides hot water or steam
 Chiller provides chilled water
Consists of:
a. Fans
b. Heating and cooling coils
c. Filter
d. Humidifier
e. Controlling dampers
 CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM
SECONDARY COMPONENTS
 Ducts, plenums and shafts distribute air. Plenums above Refrigerants in chiller systems are generally
suspended ceilings are frequently used for return air. Large chlorofluorocarbons (HFCs and HCFCs). CFCs can no
multi-story facilities often use shafts built into the structure for longer be used due to environmental concerns of ozone
supply air return air and outside air. depletion . HCFC 22 shall be phased out by the year
 Terminal units are devices at the end of a duct or pipe that 2020 and majority of new central installations are with
transfer desired heating or cooling to the conditioned space. refrigerant HFC-134a. The table below provides a brief
Some types commonly used with central HVAC systems include compilation of current and future refrigerants for
fan-coil units, induction units, and convectors. various types of air-conditioner packages.
 Controls are used to make components work together
efficiently.
 They turn equipment on/off, adjust energy outputs (chillers,
boilers), adjust flow rates (fans, pumps, coils), adjust
temperatures (air, water, thermostats in conditioned spaces),
and adjust pressures (ducts, pipes, conditioned space).
 CENTRAL PLANT SYSTEM
Central plants • The system uses multiple scroll compressors and the
capacity varies from 5 TR to 80 TR.
• The AHU is customized hence it can be used for heavy duty
VRF Central DX Chilled water
system system system and non-standard applications.
• They use air-cooled or water cooled condensers.
DX CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING PLANT
• A DX plant is most efficient from the thermodynamic point
•  In this system the huge compressor, and the condenser
of view since the heat transfer is directly between the
are housed in the plant room, while the expansion valve
refrigerant and air.
and the evaporator or the cooling coil and the air handling
unit are housed in separate room.
• The cooling coil is fixed in the air handling unit, which also
has large blower housed in it.
• The blower sucks the hot return air from the room via
ducts and blows it over the cooling coil.
• The refrigerant gas directly cools the air hence DX ( Direct
Expansion ).
• The cooled air is then supplied through various ducts and
into the spaces which are to be cooled.
• This type of system is useful for small buildings.
Direct Expansion (DX) Type of
Central Air Conditioning Plant
In the direct expansion or DX types of
air central conditioning plants the air
used for cooling space is directly
chilled by the refrigerant in the cooling
coil of the air handling unit. Since the
air is cooled directly by the refrigerant
the cooling efficiency of the DX plants
is higher. However, it is not always
feasible to carry the refrigerant piping
to the large distances hence, direct
expansion or the DX type of central air
conditioning system is usually used for
cooling the small buildings or the
rooms on the single floor.

The Air Handling Unit Room

The refrigerant leaving the condenser in the plant room enters the thermostatic expansion valve and then
the air handling unit, which is kept in the separate room. The air handling unit is a large box type of unit that
comprises of the evaporator or the cooling coil, air filter and the large blower. After leaving the thermostatic
expansion valve the refrigerant enters the cooling coil where it cools the air that enters the room to be air
conditioned. The evaporator in the air handling unit of the DX central air conditioning system is of coil type
covered with the fins to increasing the heat transfer efficiency from the refrigerant to the air.
There are two types of ducts connected to the air handling unit: for absorbing the hot return air from the
rooms and for sending the chilled air to the rooms to be air conditioned. The blower of the air handling unit
enables absorbing the hot return air that has absorbed the heat from the room via the ducts. This air is then
passed through the filters and then over the cooling coil. The blower then passes the chilled air through
ducts to the rooms that are to be air conditioned.
 Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is an air-condition system configuration where there is one outdoor condensing unit and
multiple indoor units. The term variable refrigerant flow refers to the ability of the system to control the amount of
refrigerant flowing to the multiple evaporators (indoor units), enabling the use of many evaporators of differing
capacities and configurations connected to a single condensing unit. The arrangement provides an individualized
comfort control, and simultaneous heating and cooling in different zones.

VRF systems are similar to the multi-split systems which connect one outdoor section to several evaporators. However, multi-
split systems turn OFF or ON completely in response to one master controller, whereas VRF systems continually adjust the
flow of refrigerant to each indoor evaporator. The control is achieved by continually varying the flow of refrigerant through a
pulse modulating valve (PMV) whose opening is determined by the microprocessor receiving information from the thermistor
sensors in each indoor unit. The indoor units are linked by a control wire to the outdoor unit which responds to the demand
from the indoor units by varying its compressor speed to match the total cooling and/or heating requirements. VRF systems
promise a more energy-efficient strategy (estimates range from 11% to 17% less energy compared to conventional units) at a
somewhat higher cost.
CENTRALIZED CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS
It serve multiple spaces from one base location and it’s TYPE CAPACITY
divided into two types namely: Reciprocating compressor upto 200TR*
• Water cooled system and
• Air cooled system. Screw compressor 100 to 750TR*
Water cooled system Centrifugal compressor 200 to 2000TR*
These system includes a chilled water pump which
Components of water cooled system:
circulates the chilled water through the chiller’s evaporator
section and through the cooling coils of the AHUs.
The system has the following type of chilled water pumps.
Primary pumps and Secondary pumps
The common types of chiller are
• reciprocating compressor,
• screw compressor
• centrifugal compressor.
 CENTRAL PLANT-CHILLED WATER
SYSTEM
i. Indoor air loop includes fans, cooling coils, terminal units, dampers, ducts, and controls. The air in the conditioned space is
driven by fans through cooling coils and then distributed to terminal units. Dampers are used to control airflows to terminal
units and fans are used to maintain a given air pressure in ducts. The cooling and ventilation loads are transferred from the
conditioned space to chilled water.
ii. Chilled water loop includes pipes, pumps, cooling coils, chiller evaporators, valves, and controls. The chilled water in pipes
is driven by pumps to circulate between cooling coils and chiller evaporators. Valves are used to control the water flow to
cooling coils. The heat is transferred from air handling units (AHUs) to chiller evaporators.
iii. Refrigerant loop includes evaporators, compressors, condensers, expansion valves and controls. The refrigerant absorbs
heat in chiller evaporators by changing phase from liquid to gas. The working of compressors makes the refrigerant a high
pressure and high temperature state. The refrigerant with high temperature is cooled in chiller condensers. The high pressure
refrigerant in gas is released by expansion valves back to evaporators again with phase change. The heat is transferred from
chiller evaporators to chiller condensers.
iv. Condenser water loop includes cooling towers, chiller condensers, pumps and controls. The condenser water in chillers is
delivered to cooling towers by pumps. The heat is transferred from chiller condensers to cooling towers.
v. Outdoor air loop includes fans, cooling towers, and controls. The outdoor air is driven by fans to go through cooling towers
and to exchange heat with condenser water. The heat is transferred from cooling towers to ambient environment.
CHILLED WATER AIR CONDITIONING PLANT
• The chilled water types of central air conditioning plants are installed in
the place where whole large buildings, shopping mall, airport, hotel,
etc., comprising of several floors are to be air conditioned.
• While in the direct expansion type of central air conditioning plants,
refrigerant is directly used to cool the room air; in the chilled water
plants the refrigerant first chills the water, which in turn chills the room
air.
• In chilled water plants, the ordinary water or brine solution is chilled to
very low temperatures of about 6 to 8 degree Celsius by the
refrigeration plant.
• This chilled water is pumped to various floors of the building and its
different parts.
• In each of these parts the air handling units are installed, which
comprise of the cooling coil, blower and the ducts. The chilled water
flows through the cooling coil.
• The blower absorbs return air from the air conditioned rooms that are
to be cooled via the ducts.
• This air passes over the cooling coil and gets cooled and is then passed
to the air conditioned space.
CONDENSER WATER PUMPS COOLING TOWER
• When steam returns to water it is called "condensate" and the • A cooling tower is a heat rejection device which
steam-to-water part of an HVAC system is called the extracts waste heat to the atmosphere through the
condensate loop. cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature.
• The pump that moves condensate back from the condensate • Cooling towers are used to reject heat through the
loop into the rest of the HVAC system is called the condenser natural process of evaporation.
water pump. • Warm recirculating water is sent to the cooling tower
• Condenser water pumps are used to circulate water through where it is sprayed through nozzles into the air.
the condenser section of a water-cooled chiller and the • A portion of the water is evaporated into the air
associated cooling tower.   passing through the tower.
• The condenser water absorbs heat from the chiller’s condenser • As the water evaporates, the air absorbs heat, which
section and releases it into the atmosphere in the cooling tower lowers the temperature of the remaining water.
by evaporation.  • This process provides significant cooling to the
remaining water stream that collects in the tower
basin where it can be pumped back into the system
to extract more process or building heat, thereby
allowing much of the water to be used repeatedly to
meet the cooling demand.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHILLED WATER PUMPS
• The primary loop circulates chilled water through the chillers and
the secondary loop circulates chilled water through the
distribution system
• The chilled water circulation (primary) pumps are constant volume
and the chilled water distribution (secondary) pumps are variable
volume operating from a variable speed drive.
• This allows the chillers to receive a constant chilled water flow
rate, while the distribution system flow rate can vary to match
load.
ADVANTAGES :
 In case of the chilled water system the compressor, condenser,
expansion valve and the chiller are all kept at the same level in
the single plant room.
 There is no problem as such of the height difference between
the condenser and the air handling unit since the refrigerant
does not travels to the air handling unit.
 The flow of the refrigerant is limited to the chiller plant. The
water chilled in the chilled flows to the various air handling
units kept on different floors of the building.
 The whole arrangement and the structure of the chilled water
type of central air conditioning plant makes it more suitable for
cooling the large multi storey buildings and even for very long
distances along the same floor level.
 This makes the chilled water central air conditioners more
popular than the direct expansion type ones.
  They are cost effective and there is a reduced hazard by not
having refrigerant piped all over the building.
DISADVANTAGES
 Cooling towers
Chillers utilize external cooling towers to transfer heat to the
atmosphere, and these structures can be costly to build. 
 Enhanced maintenance needs
Since chilled water cooled systems use water for transferring heat,
this exposes the water to a variety of conditions that can create
scaling.
 Less effective in humid environments
Chilled water cooling systems don’t work as well in climates with
high prevailing humidity. 
DUCT DESIGN
A Duct can be described as a device used to provide an isolation
path to carry an item from one place to other place without
bringing the product in contact with the atmosphere before the
delivery point.
Duct Classification System
Ducts are classified with respect to the
velocity or the pressure of the air
inside the ducts. They are as under:
A) Velocity: They are further
classified in to two types as given
under:
LOW VELOCITY: Air velocity does
not exceed 2500 fpm in the
ducts.
HIGH VELOCITY: Air velocity
exceeding 2500 fpm in the
ducts.
B) Pressure: They are further
classified in to three types as
given under:
Low pressure: Up to 100mm of water
gauge.
Medium pressure: From 100mm to
170mm water gauge.
High pressure: From 170mm to 312mm
water gauge.
Purpose of a duct
The major purpose of a duct is to carry the air from one
point to the other without bringing it in contact with the
outside atmosphere. This can be either Supply Air or Return
Air
TRANSITION
FITTING
SUPPLY
GRILL
SUPPLY FAN RETURN
AIR DUCT RETURN
COIL AIR GRILL
FRESH
AIR DUCT
FILTER
SUPPLY AIR: It is defined RETURN DUCT:It is defined as FRESH AIR DUCT:It is
as the conditioned air the air being supplied back to defined as the ambient air
being supplied from the the air conditioner from the air being supplied to the air
air conditioner outlet. conditioned area. This air is conditioner inlet from the
This air is treated air & returned back to the air outside atmosphere. This
contains all the desired conditioner after being air is supplied to the air
qualities as provided by circulated in the conditioned conditioner inlet from the
the air conditioning area.Return air path should be outside atmosphere after
system 1.25 to 1.5 times the Supply air being initially treated.
path
TYPES OF SUPPLY DUCT SYSTEMS
EXTENDED PLENUM SYSTEM (Single plenum)
RADIAL SYSTEM  The extended plenum duct system generally consists
 The radial duct system in its simplest form consists of one or two box.
of a central supply plenum.  This extended plenum has the same dimensions
 That feeds a number of individual branch ducts (height and width) from the starting collar to the end
arranged in a generally radial pattern. of the run.
 It is designed and sized so that each individual run  maximum length of the extended plenum is not
leaving the plenum can feed two or more supply greater than 24 ft. from the air handler
outlets.
EXTENDED PLENUM SYSTEM (Double plenum)
 Two plenums are used, this total length can be
extended to 48 ft.
To sum up, observe the following general rules for the
extended plenum system:

 Single plenums should not exceed 24 ft. in length.

 Double plenums should not exceed 48 ft. in total
length.
 Keep branch run starting collars 24 in. from the end REDUCING TRUNK SYSTEM
caps.  The reducing trunk duct system is very similar
 Never locate a take-off in the end cap. to the reducing plenum system
 This type of system generally takes more sheet
REDUCING PLENUM SYSTEM
metal to build
 Air velocity lost to the branch runs reaches  The reducing trunk system also can be applied
Approximately 50%, the plenum size is reduced to using lengths of round duct and manufactured
regain the velocity in the remaining portion of the fittings.
plenum.
 This system is relatively easy to fabricate and install.
Additional sheet metal sometimes is required to build
the system, but if done correctly it can deliver good
results. It may be necessary to balance the system
branch dampers properly.
 DUCT DESIGN
Aspect Ratio Round Duct Advantages :
 Lowest Friction
Height
i dth > Less material required for
W
fabrication.
Disadvantages :
> Height Required to install round
Aspect Ratio = Long Side / Short Side
Duct is more.
= Width of the duct / Height of the duct
Best Aspect Ratio is 1 : 1
> Fabrication time is more.
Maximum permissible aspect ratio is 4 : 1
Square Duct Advantages :
CONSIDERATIONS FOR DUCT DESIGN
> Less Friction as compare to
1. AVAILABLE SPACE rectangular duct

2. EVEN DISTRIBUTION IN ALL PARTS OF ROOM > Less material required for
fabrication as compared to
3. SOUND LEVEL - QUIET rectangular duct.
Disadvantages :
4. NO DRAFTS / SUFFOCATION > Height Required to install
square Duct is more as
5. APPEARANCE compared to Rectangular Duct.
Rectangular Duct
6. ADJUSTABLE Advantages :
> Height Required to install the
7. NO MOISTURE CONDENSATION / DRIPPING rectangular duct is less.

8. HEAT GAIN AND LEAKAGE LOSSES > Easy to fabricate at site.

Disadvantages :
9. FRICTION LOSS > Friction is more in rectangular duct
as compared to round and square
duct.
 DIFFUSERS Ceiling diffusers-
GENERAL
•A ceiling diffuser consists of concentric rings or
The objective of air distribution system design is to choose the inner cones made up of vanes arranged in fixed
location and type of supply air diffusers and the location and type directions
of the return air grilles. Selection of the type of diffusers depends •. They can be round, square or rectangular in
on: shape.
Room Geometry •They are suitable for higher supply air
Internal heat sources( eg: people, appliances) temperatures and for conditioned spaces with low
Velocity of air required and room temperature head space .They can deliver more air compared to
TYPES OF DIFFUSERS grilles and slot diffusers. .

Bar Grilles-
•It is an outlet for supply air or an inlet for
return air.
•They have adjustable/fixed discharge pattern,
and
•They can be mounted either on the sidewalls
or in the ceiling.

Jet type diffusers- Slot diffusers-

•Used in high ceiling areas such as sports arenas •It consists of a plenum box with single
or multiple slots and air deflecting
where the. conditioned air must be projected a vanes.
long distance from the outlet •They are mounted either on the side
walls(as long as 30 meters) or in the
Laminar flow diffusers- ceiling and can be used for both supply
•Used for special applications such as and return air
hospital operating rooms and laboratory •They are particularly suitable for large
clean rooms where a uniform vertical flow open-spaces that require flexibility to
of clean conditioned air is required suit changing occupant distribution.
.