VAV SYSTEMS

TRANE CHILLED WATER VAV SYSTEMS

For constant volume systems, supply fan must be sized by summing the peak
design airflow requirements
For vav systems, supply fan may be sized based on the worst case block
airflow; 6
Using multiple air handling units(under 24 000 lps) is preferable than having
one large unit; 11
Cooling coils at 2.5m/s
Limit flexible duct length to 2m; 71
If reducer is needed, locate at least 3 duct diameters upstream to the VAV
unit; 74
Add balancing dampers to runout ducts downstream of VAV unit; 74s
If variable volume supply fan motor is larger than 7.3 KW, ashrae 90.1
requires the motor to be equipped with a VSD; 132
Do not locate duct static pressure sensor at the discharge of the supply fan
unless fan pressure optimization control is used
Vav systems that use DDC on VAV terminal units, fan pressure optimization is
required; 132
Single zone vav excellent for large, densely occupied zones that have
variable cooling loads such as gyms, lecture halls, arenas, auditoriums and
places of worship;157
Single zone vav control for any AHU that contains chilled water cooling coil
and supply fan that has a motor greater than 5 hp
Space pressure control common approach is install VAV for return;
modulates to provide positive or negative pressure in the space; 187

FAN TYPES

Forward curved fans used to deliver large volumes of air against low static
pressures
Backward curved fans for systems that require greater than 750 pa static
pressure

ZONING

Zone space or group of spaces within a building with heating and cooling
requirements that are sufficiently similar so that desired conditions can be
maintained throughout using a single sensor
More often an art than science and requires judgement by design engineer
Zoning can be:
o Single room separated by physical boundaries
o Group of several rooms one VAV would be used to serve the entire group of
rooms and one sensor would be installed in only one of the rooms

Open area may be provided with several zones to provide better temp.
control

AHU

Draw thru fan arrangement results in shorter AHU since less distance is needed
between upstream cooling coil and the fan; 37
Box filters and bag filters MERV 13 16
MERV 13 filter to clean both return and outdoor air for LEED; 44
At least MERV 6 installed upstream of all wet surfaces including cooling coils as per
ASHRAE standard 62.1 ; 44
Final heap filters may be required for hospitals, clinics, etc. 45
Avoid blow thru config for final filters ; 45
If using UV-C lamps in AHU, include interlock switches and warning signs at each
entry location, substitute or shield any susceptible materials, replace as per
manufacturer; 49
at least 3 diameters of straight duct after ahu supply
when elbow or junction is needed near AHU, consider a discharge plenum
downstream of a housed fan
place main duct runs, and VAV units above hallways and other unoccupied areas; 73

Linear Slot Diffusers

maximum separation distance end to end is 3 diffuser length; to wall is 2 diffuser

lengths
maintain parallel distribution; 76
for return air linear slots, place them perpendicular to supply diffusers

Return Plenums

pressure drop thru return grilles should be 5 7.5 pa

ZONE SENSOR LOCATION

Do not place zone sensor near diffuser discharge to avoid influence; 100
Make sure only one VAV unit serves particular zone sensor
Do not place on walls with large amount of heat loss

Methods to asses zone population; 117

o Time of day occupancy schedules cafeterias and some classrooms ; 187
o Occupancy sensors- private offices, open plan office spaces
o Carbon dioxide sensors - recommended for zones that are densely occupied
such as gyms, conference rooms, auditoriums; 186
o

OUTDOOR AIR VENTILATION

When supply air temp is lower than Tzone is delivered thru zone thru ceiling
mounted diffusers the system is 100 % effective at getting outdoor air to actual
breating zone; 103
A more common practice is to locate the static pressure sensor approximately 2/3 of
distance between supply fan outlet and inlet to the critical VAV terminal unit; 173
2 common methods to control outdoor air temp; 172
o Varying position of OA damper in proportion to the change in supply airflow ,
which is determined by the signal being sent to the VSD on the supply fan
o Using an airflow measuring device to directly measure and control the outdoor
airflow; 172
For vav systems that use DDC, if design system outdoor airflow is greater than 1.4
m3/s or if AHU is equipped with a modulating outdoor air damper, Demand controlled
ventilation is required for any zone larger than 50 m2 that has a design occupancy of
40 pax/100 m2
o Exception systems with supply and/or outdoor airflow less than 0.6 m3/s
o Systems with exhaust air energy recovery

NOISE

If barrier walls are used for air cooled chillers , they should be at least 0.6 m taller
than chiller
Use lined flexible ductwork to connect VAV terminal units to supply air diffusers

COLD AIR VAV SYSTEMS

Cold air vav systems typically deliver supply air at temperature of 7 11 C

ENERGY RECOVERY

Recommended for systems with higher amounts of outdoor air or for tightly
constructed buildings with minimal amount of local exhaust
For dry climates, it is often unnecessary to mechanically dehumidify outdoor air such
as coil loops and fixed plate heat exchangers; 163