Heating Coil in the Main Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Once the cold season is hot water or steam is supplied to the heating coils in the AHU.
This coil heats the leaving the AHU, sending warm air to all of the rooms.. The coil
consists of a copper header supplying steam to a copper tube which passes through a
continuous aluminium fin for added heat transfer surface area

HEATING COIL CALCULATION

When a certain volume of air passes a heating
coil, air temperature is increased from t1 to t2.
This process takes place at constant air
humidity. The effect of the heating coil is
calculated as follows:

Q = L . 1.2 .D t [kW], where:

L = air flow rate, [m3/s]

D t = increase in temperature across the coil,
[C]
Example on calculation of required heating coil
effect:
t1 = 0 C, RH = 50%
t2 = 20 C
L = 1.4 m3/s
Q = 1.4 . 1.2 . 20 = 34 kW
Air velocity
The air velocity across the heating coil is
calculated as follows:

v = L [m/s], where: V = A
A

L = air flow rate m3/s

A = gross area m2

Water volume
To calculate pressure drop on the water side
of the heating coil and determine the size of
the shunt valve, the water volume in a heating
coil must be given.

This is calculated as follows:

q = Q [kg/s], where
Cp.D t

Q = heating coil effect, [W]

t = temperature increase of water through the
heating coil, [ C]
Cp = 4.175 j/kg C at a water temperature of
50 C
Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is a device built for efficient heat transfer from one fluid to another,
whether the fluids are separated by a solid wall so that they never mix, or the fluids are
directly contacted. They are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, space heating,
power production, and chemical processing. One common example of a heat exchanger is
the radiator in a car, in which the hot radiator fluid is cooled by the flow of air over the
 radiator surfac

e.

Types of heat exchangers

A typical heat exchanger is the shell and tube heat exchanger which consists of a series of
finned tubes, through which one of the fluids runs. The second fluid runs over the finned
tubes to be heated or cooled.
Another type of heat exchanger is the plate heat exchanger. It directs flow through baffles
so that the fluids are separated by plates with very large surface area. This plate type
arrangement can be more efficient than the shell and tube. Advances in gasket technology
have made the plate type increasingly practical.Now plate type heat exchangers is a
standart for HVAC applications

A third type of heat exchanger is the regenerative heat exchanger. In this, the heat from a
process is used to warm the fluids to be used in the process, and the same type of fluid is
used either side of the heat exchanger. (These heat exchangers can be either plate and
frame or shell and tube construction.)

A fourth type of heat exchanger uses an intermediate fluid or solid store to hold heat,
which is then moved to the other side of the heat exchanger to be released. Two examples
of this are adiabatic wheels, which consist of a large wheel with fine threads rotating
through the hot and cold fluids, and heat exchangers with a gas passing upwards through
a shower of fluid (often water) and the water then taken elsewhere before being cooled.
This is commonly used for cooling gases whilst also removing certain impurities, solving
two problems at once.
The air handling unit is an integrated piece of equipment consisting of fans, heating and
cooling coils, air-control dampers, filters and silencers. Air Handling Units are often
called AHU.The purpose of this equipment is to collect and mix outdoor air with that
returning from the building space. The air mixture is then cooled or heated, after which it
is discharged into the building space through a duct system made up of five-feet diameter
pipes.Air Handler is normally associated with heating/cooling (HVAC) systems in
commercial buildings. These are normally very large systems moving 2000 CFM to
10,000 CFM and higher. They may be mounted on the top of the roof or in large
mechanical rooms located in the building. They often have an economizer or inlet damper
that allows for a small amount of outside air or make-up air to be pulled in through the air
handler.

Cooling Coil in the Main Air Handling Unit (AHU)

AHU cooling coil can use chilled water or refrigerant as direct expansion system.Chilled
water temperature varies between 5-7'C.Refrigerant temperatures at direct expansion
systems can be as low as 2' C.
COOLING COIL
In calculating the required cooling effect, it is
important to consider that part of the effect is
used to separate the water (latent heat) and
the remaining effect to lower the air
temperature (sensible heat). It is therefore
necessary to incorporate enthalpy differences
in the calculations to absorb the latent heat
part. The cooling effect is calculated as
follows:
Q = L . 1.2 . D h[kW], where:
L = air flow rate, [m3/s]
h = enthalpy difference for air through the coil,
[kJ/kg]

Example on calculation of cooling coil effect:

L = 1.4 m3/s
t1 = 25C, RH = 50%
t2 = 12C, RH = 100%

Enthalpy can be obtained from tables or

simply from a Mollier diagram:
h1 = 50 kJ/kg
h2 = 33 kJ/kg
Q = 1.4 . 1.2 . (50 - 33) = 28.56 kW

AIR HANDLING UNIT FANS

AFAN is an air pump that creates a pressure difference and causes airflow. The impeller
does work on the air, imparting to it both static and kinetic energy, which vary in
proportion, depending on the fan type.
Fan efficiency ratings are based on ideal conditions; some fans are rated at more then
90% total efficiency. However, actual connections
often make it impossible to achieve ideal efficiencies in the field.RINCIPLES OF
OPERATION
All fans produce pressure by altering the velocity vector of the flow. A fan produces
pressure and/or flow because the rotating blades of the impeller impart kinetic energy to
the air by changing its velocity. Velocity change is in the tangential and radial velocity
components for centrifugal fans, and in the axial and tangential velocity components for
axial flow fans

The centrifugal return fan pulls air from occupied building space through the return air
ducts. The return fan has airfoil type blades which are the most efficient among all
centrifugal fan blades. Some of this air is exhausted outside through the exhaust air
damper, while a small amount of it (variable) continues through the air handling unit to
mix with air drawn in from outdoors. This mixture of outside air and return air, before
additional heating and cooling, is called mixed air
The mixed air is filtered before entering the supply fan. The airfoil type centrifugal
supply fan pushes the air through the heating and cooling stages of the AHU. The air is
then distributed through a system of ductwork to all areas of the

Centrifugal fan impellers produce pressure from (1) the centrifugal force created by
rotating the air column contained between the blades and (2) the kinetic energy imparted
to the air by virtue of its velocity leaving the impeller. This velocity is a combination of
rotative velocity of the impeller and airspeed relative to the impeller. When the blades are
inclined forward, these two velocities are cumulative; when backward, oppositional.
Backward-curved blade fans are generally more efficient than forward-curved blade fans.

Axial flow fans produce pressure from the change in velocity passing through the
impeller, with none being produced by centrifugal force. These fans are divided into three
types: propeller, tube axial, and vaneaxial. Propeller fans, customarily used at or near free
air delivery, usually have a small hub-to-tip ratio impeller mounted in an orifice plate or
inlet ring. Tubeaxial fans usually have reduced tip clearance and operate at higher tip
speeds, giving them a higher total pressure capability than the propeller fan. Vaneaxial
fans are essentially tubeaxial fans with guide vanes and reduced running

Fan selection

Fan selection

Fan selection is based on the calculated total pressure increase required (sum of pressure
losses) and desired air flow rate per time unit.
Normally, the desired operating point can be achieved with several fan sizes. If a small
fan is selected, the operating point will lie far to the right of the optimal point. The result
will be low efficiency. If a larger fan is selected, the operating point will lie further to the
left of the diagram and greater efficiency will be achieved. The initial cost of a larger fan
is therefore often offset by lower operating costs.

CENTRIFUGAL FANS TYPE IMPELLER DESIGN HOUSING DESIGN AIRFOIL

Highest efficiency of all centrifugal fan designs. Ten to 16 blades of airfoil contour
curved away from direction of rotation. Deep blades allow for efficient expansion within
blade passages. Air leaves impeller at velocity less than tip speed. For given duty, has
highest speed of centrifugal fan designs. Scroll-type design for efficient conversion of
velocity pressure to static pressure. Maximum efficiency requires close clearance and
alignment between wheel and inlet.

BACKWARD INCLINED BACKWARD CURVED

Efficiency only slightly less than airfoil fan. Ten to 16 single-thickness blades curved or
inclined away from direction of rotation. Efficient for same reasons as airfoil fan. Uses
same housing configuration as airfoil design.
Higher pressure characteristics than airfoil, backward-curved, and backward-inclined
fans. Curve may have a break to left of peak pressure and fan should not be operated in
this area. Power rises continually to free delivery. Scroll. Usually narrowest of all
centrifugal designs. Because wheel design is less efficient, housing dimensions are not as
critical as for airfoil and backward-inclined fans.

FORWARD CURVED FANS

Flatter pressure curve and lower efficiency than the airfoil, backward-curved, and
backward-inclined. Do not rate fan in the pressure curve dip to the left of peak pressure.
Power rises continually toward free delivery. Motor selection must take this into account.
Scroll similar to and often identical to other centrifugal fan designs. Fit between wheel
and inlet not as critical as for airfoil and backward-inclined fans.

AXIAL FANS
Low efficiency. Limited to low-pressure applications. Usually low cost impellers have
two or more blades of single thickness attached to relatively small hub. Primary energy
transfer by velocity pressure. Simple circular ring, orifice plate, or venturi. Optimum
design is close to blade tips and forms smooth airfoil into wheel.

TUBEAXIAL FANS

Somewhat more efficient and capable of developing more useful static pressure than
propeller fan. Usually has 4 to 8 blades with airfoil or single thickness cross section. Hub
is usually less than half the fan tip diameter. VANEAXIALGood blade design gives
medium- to high-pressure capability at good efficiency. Most efficient of these fans have
airfoil blades. Blades may have fixed, adjustable, or controllable pitch.

TUBULARCENTRIFUGAL

Performance similar to backward-curved fan except capacity and pressure are lower.
Lower efficiency than backward-curved fan. Performance curve may have a dip to the
left of peak pressure. Cylindrical tube similar to vaneaxial fan, except clearance to wheel
is not as close. Air discharges radially from wheel and turns 90 to flow through guide
vanes.

POWER ROOF VENTILATORSCENTRIFUGAL

Low-pressure exhaust systems such as general factory, kitchen, warehouse, and some
commercial installations.
Provides positive exhaust ventilation, which is an advantage over gravity-type exhaust
units. Centrifugal units are slightly quieter than axial units. Normal housing not used,
since air discharges from impeller in full circle. Usually does not include configuration to
recover velocity pressure component.
PERFORMANCE CURVESa PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
APPLICATIONS
Highest efficiencies occur at 50 to 60% of wide open volume. This volume also has good
pressure characteristics. Power reaches maximum near peak efficiency and becomes
lower, or self-limiting, toward free delivery. applications. Usually only applied to large
systems, which may be low-, medium-, or high-pressure applications. Applied to large,
clean-air industrial operations for significant energy savings. Similar to airfoil fan, except
peak efficiency slightly lower. Same heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
applications as airfoil fan. Used in some industrial applications where airfoil blade may
corrode or erode due to environment. Higher pressure characteristics than airfoil and
backward-curved fans. Pressure may drop suddenly at left of peak pressure, but this
usually causes no problems. Power rises continually to free delivery. Primarily for
materials handling in industrial plants. Also for some high-pressure industrial
requirements. Rugged wheel is simple to repair in the field. Wheel sometimes coated with
special material. Not common for HVAC applications. Pressure curve less steep than that
of backward-curved fans. Curve dips to left of peak pressure. Highest efficiency to right
of peak pressure at 40 to 50% of wide open volume. Rate fan to right of peak pressure.
Account for power curve, which rises continually toward free delivery, when selecting
motor. Primarily for low-pressure HVAC applications, such as residential furnaces,
central station units, and packaged air conditioners. High flow rate, but very low-pressure
capabilities. Maximum efficiency reached near free delivery. Discharge pattern circular
and airstream swirls. For low-pressure, high-volume air moving applications, such as air
circulation in a space or ventilation through a wall without ductwork. Used for makeup
air applications. High flow rate, medium-pressure capabilities. Performance curve dips to
left of peak pressure. Avoid operating fan in this region. Discharge pattern circular and
airstream rotates or swirls. Low-and medium-pressure ducted HVAC applications where
air distribution downstream is not critical. Used in some industrial applications, such as
drying ovens, paint spray booths, and fume exhausts. High-pressure characteristics with
medium-volume flow capabilities. Performance curve dips to left of peak pressure due to
aerodynamic stall. Avoid operating fan in this region. Guide vanes correct circular motion
imparted by wheel and improve pressure characteristics and efficiency of fan. General
HVAC systems in low-, medium-, and high pressure applications where straight-through
flow and compact installation are required. Has good downstream air distribution. Used
in industrial applications in place of tubeaxial fans. More compact than centrifugal fans
for same duty. Performance similar to backward-curved fan, except capacity and pressure
is lower. Lower efficiency than backward-curved fan because air turns 90. Performance
curve of some designs is similar to axial flow fan and dips to left of peak pressure.
Primarily for low-pressure, return air systems in HVAC applications. Has straight-
through flow. Usually operated without ductwork; therefore, operates at very low
pressure and high volume. Only static pressure and static efficiency are shown for this
fan. Low-pressure exhaust systems, such as general factory, kitchen, warehouse, and
some commercial installations. Low first cost and low operating cost give an advantage
over gravity flow exhaust systems. Centrifugal units are somewhat quieter than axial flow
units. Usually operated without ductwork; therefore, operates at very low pressure and
high volume. Only static pressure and static efficiency are shown for this fan. Low-
pressure exhaust systems, such as general factory, kitchen, warehouse, and some
commercial installations. Low first cost and low operating cost give an advantage over
gravity flow exhaust systems.

Heating Coil in the Main Air Handling Unit (AHU)

Once the cold season is hot water or steam is supplied to the heating coils in the AHU.
This coil heats the leaving the AHU, sending warm air to all of the rooms.. The coil
consists of a copper header supplying steam to a copper tube which passes through a
continuous aluminium fin for added heat transfer surface area

HEATING COIL CALCULATION

When a certain volume of air passes a heating
coil, air temperature is increased from t1 to t2.
This process takes place at constant air
humidity. The effect of the heating coil is
calculated as follows:
Q = L . 1.2 .D t [kW], where:

L = air flow rate, [m3/s]

D t = increase in temperature across the coil,
[C]
Example on calculation of required heating coil
effect:
t1 = 0 C, RH = 50%
t2 = 20 C
L = 1.4 m3/s
Q = 1.4 . 1.2 . 20 = 34 kW
Air velocity
The air velocity across the heating coil is
calculated as follows:

v = L [m/s], where: V = A
A

L = air flow rate m3/s

A = gross area m2

Water volume
To calculate pressure drop on the water side
of the heating coil and determine the size of
the shunt valve, the water volume in a heating
coil must be given.

This is calculated as follows:

q = Q [kg/s], where
Cp.D t

Q = heating coil effect, [W]

t = temperature increase of water through the
heating coil, [ C]
Cp = 4.175 j/kg C at a water temperature of
50 C