Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

HVAC Systems

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is the technology of indoor and
vehicular environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a sub-discipline of mechanical
engineering,

based

on

the

principles

of thermodynamics, fluid

mechanics,

and heat

transfer. Refrigeration is sometimes added to the field's abbreviation as HVAC&R or HVACR, or

ventilating is dropped as in HACR (such as the designation of HACR-rated circuit breakers).
HVAC is important in the design of medium to large industrial and office buildings such
as skyscrapers and in marine environments such as aquariums, where safe and healthy
building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from
outdoors.
The invention of the components of HVAC systems went hand-in-hand with the industrial
revolution, and new methods of modernization, higher efficiency, and system control are
constantly introduced by companies and inventors worldwide. The three central functions of
heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning are interrelated, especially with the need to
provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality within reasonable installation,
operation, and maintenance costs. HVAC systems can provide ventilation, reduce air infiltration,
and maintain pressure relationships between spaces.

Three function of HVAC:

Heating
It is significant in maintaining adequate room temperature especially during colder
weather conditions. There are two classifications of heating: local and central. The latter is
commonly used because it is more economical. Furnace or boiler, heat pump, and radiator make
up the heating system.
Ventilation
It is associated with air movement. There are many types of ventilation, but they all
function similarly. Ventilation is necessary to allow carbon dioxide to go out and oxygen to get
in, making sure that people are inhaling fresh air. Stagnant air causes the spreading of sickness,
usually airborne, and allergies. But it is also essential to maintain an efficient ventilation system,
especially in the attics. Insufficient ventilation usually promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi
such as molds because of high humidity. It will also decrease the effectiveness of rather and roof
sheathing insulation because of water vapor condensation.
Air conditioning System
It controls the heat as well as ventilation. They often come in different sizes. Most air
conditioners have large air ducts, so it is better to check out the building first to see if they can be
installed. Or else, you can use the split system or remote coils. It is necessary, though, that air
ducts are properly cleaned. Pathogens thrive in dirty air ducts. Return-air grills are also
vulnerable to chemical, microbiological, and radiological elements.
The Future of HVAC

Using PLCs (programmable logic Controllers) in HVAC is trend nowadays. But a great
deal of the development of HVAC lies on the ever changing technology and continuous
innovation. Companies are adopting wireless technology after they found out that networking
HVAC controllers, which often use sensors, can eventually cut installation and labor cost. The
only downside of this could probably be the risk of being exposed to RF (radio frequency)
radiation.
The installation of an HVAC system is imperatively if we want to achieve maximum
comfort and be healthy of our homes, office spaces and other building facilities. But you also
need to consider the building size in installation an HVAC system. Optimum efficiency and
comfort level are best achieved if the system is appropriate for the size. After all, any effective
system usually means more incurred cost in the future. You should also see to it that HVAC is
carefully integrated to the overall building design so other aspects needed for proper operations,
such as cabling, are not sacrificed.
Related Studies
In February 1990, Grinblat, Roland ( 230 ParsellsLa..,Closter, NJ, 07624) conducted
similarly study entitled Supplemental Air conditioning System for Building, where air
conditioning system uses less condenser water and employ a mix of air-cooled and water-cooled
air conditioning units in the range of ratios from85:15 to 70:30, in terms of cooling capacity.
Moreover, the said study justifies the following claims: a) A supplemental air conditioning
system for space the cost of using the building condenser water, used to cool the condenses of
water -cooled air conditioning units, said building having a core and a plurality of floor spaces
and supplying condenser and water cooled air, each floor spacing having a ceiling plenum to
conduct said cooled air from the building core to the building spaces, and air return means to

draw heated air from the ceiling plenum and conduct said heated air to the building core, said
building having a supply of said condenser water, characterized in that the supplemental air
conditioning system comprises at least one air-cooled air conditioner and at least one watercooled air conditioner unit having a condenser cooled by said building condenser water and
located within said floor space to lower the temperature thereon in the range of 2-10 degrees F.,
each of said units blowing out cold air, with the ratio of tons of air conditioning capacity between
said respective units being air the range of 85:15 to 70:30 and with the water-cooled unit blowing
cold air into the ceiling plenum and the air-cooled unit blowing cold air to the floor space below
said drop ceiling.
a) A supplemental air conditioner system as in the first claim wherein the air conditioning
units have a capacity in the range of 20 to 30 tons and the water-cooled air conditioning units
have a capacity in the range of 3 to 9 tons.
b) A supplemental air conditioning system as in the first claim wherein said temperature is
lowered from about 78 degrees F.
c) The supplemental air conditioning as in claim 2 wherein the system comprises a single
water-cooled air conditioner unit and at least four air-cooled air conditioner units.
The same study was conducted by Pierson, Tom L. ( Sugar Land TX US) entitled Package
Systems for Building Air Conditioning and Process Cooling where he found out that a package
chilling system for providing chilled water to an air conditioning system for a building that
includes a duct system; and a water chilling system; wherein: a duct system is operable
communication with a building that has a plurality of room, at least one of the rooms having a
sensor for detecting the temperature in the room. The duct system comprises at least one supply
duct for directing low temperature air from the air handling system to the building and at least
one return duct for directing high temperature air from the building to the air handling system;

the air handling system includes the plurality of air handling units, each air handling units
comprising an air inlet for receiving high temperature air from the building. A cooling coil that
includes at least one conduit through which chilled water flows, the cooling coil having multiple
passes and positioned for heat transfer contact with a high temperature air, and a fan for
increasing the velocity of air in the air handling unit; the water chilling system is installed at a
location proximate the building, and is operable connected to the air to the air handling system;
and water chilling system includes a movable support structures comprising a support base on
which a plurality of water chilling system components are fixed, the components includes at least
one water chiller for lowering the temperature of the water from high to low temperature. This
package chilling system may also be used to provide chilled water to industrial processes such as
chemical plants, automotive plants, textile mills, computer cooling, and factory air conditioning.
However this study focuses only on chilled-water and air conditioning system design for an
18000 sq. meter, college engineering building which includes the cooling load calculations and
the ducting system design using the equal friction method.

Chilled Water Air Conditioning

With chilled water air conditioning, the refrigeration machinery (the compressor, condenser,
evaporator, etc.), doesn't directly cool the air.

The evaporator cools water to about 45.

That chilled water is pumped to cooling coils in the areas being cooled, and a fan draws the air in
those areas through the chilled water coils, cooling the air.

In comparison, with standard air conditioning, the evaporator coil directly cools the air.

The refrigerant flows all the way to the air handlers in the areas being cooled, and a fan draws
the air in those areas through the evaporator coils, cooling the air.

With chilled water air conditioning, the compressor is usually mounted on a rack or frame,
within a few feet of the evaporator that cools the chilled water.

If the condenser is water cooled, it's usually mounted on the same rack.

If the condenser is air cooled, it will be installed outside the building.

One advantage of chilled water air conditioning is that if the chilled water piping leaks
somewhere in the building, only water is lost, and repairs only require plumbing work.

In comparison, with standard air conditioning, a leak in a refrigerant line inside the building will
probably require brazing, leak testing with nitrogen, evacuation of the system, and recharging
with a refrigerant that is a lot more expensive than water.

Another advantage of chilled water air conditioning is that if air stops flowing through the
cooling coil, the chilled water will simply return to the chiller.

Since the water will not have picked up any heat, it will still be cold, and the chiller will respond
by unloading and turning off.

With standard air conditioning, if air stops flowing through the cooling coil, there is a possibility
that liquid refrigerant will return to the compressor and damage it.

Another advantage of a chilled water system is that in a building like a hotel, hundreds of rooms
can be cooled individually, with each room having it's own chilled water air handler, all supplied
by one chilled water system.

If you're troubleshooting a chiller, our Chiller Evaluation Manual has cycle diagrams for aircooled and water-cooled chillers, and guidance on evaluating chiller operating pressures and
temperatures. (air-conditioning guide.com,2010)