Building

Services
Lecture 2b

Air Conditioning
Systems

Various Types of Cooling Systems

Ventilation Natural and Artificial
Evaporative Cooling
Air Conditioning
Absorption Coolers
Radiant Cooling
Earth Cooling Tubes

Cooling by Ventilation Systems

Least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool buildings.
Works best when combined with methods to avoid heat buildup.
Natural ventilation will suffice for basic cooling.
Supplemented with spot ventilation, ceiling fans and window fans.
Ventilation is ineffective in hot, humid climates.

Ways of achieving Cooling by Ventilation Systems

Avoiding Heat Buildup - Keep out heat from outside and avoid heat
generating activities. Use spot ventilation during hot days.
Natural Ventilation Tapping the best of natural cool breezes.
Ceiling Fans - To circulate air and improve comfort level.
Centralized Network Advisable for large spaces, to achieve lower
indoor temperatures. Needs ducts to supply ventilation air.

Cooling by Evaporative Systems

Evaporating water into the air provides
a natural means of cooling.
Open windows allow warm indoor air to
be replaced by cooled air.
Provide a steady stream of fresh air.
Cost about one-half.
Use about one-quarter as much energy
of air conditioners.

Disadvantages of Evaporative Cooling Systems

Maintenance Frequent expenditure.
Suitability For Low Humid Areas only.
Water Require continuous supply of water for cooling.
Cooling Limit Cool to a higher temperature than Air Conditioner.

What is Air Conditioning?

In the broadest sense Air Conditioning refers to any form of
Cooling, Heating, Ventilation or Disinfection to modify the
condition of air, for thermal comfort.
Employs same operating principles and basic components of home
refrigerator.

History of Air Conditioning

Egyptians and Medieval Persia

Michael Faraday Ammonia Experiment

Use of Compressor for making Ice

1902 Willis Haviland Carrier

1906 Stuart W. Cramer Psychrometric Chart

1928 Thomas Midgley Jr. CFC

Indoor Air Quality

Applications of Air Conditioning

Comfort Applications or Process Applications
Comfort Applications - Indoor environment that remain

constant in a range preferred by humans despite changes in

external weather conditions or in internal heat loads.
Ex : Residential, Commercial, Institutional and Industrial spaces.

Process Applications Suitable environment for a process,

regardless of internal heat loads and external weather conditions.

Although often in the comfort range, it is the needs of the process
that determine conditions, not human preference.
Ex : Operation theatres, Cleanrooms, Laboratory, Aircraft air conditioning,
Nuclear facilities, Mines, Industrial environments, Food processing.

In both applications the objective is not only to control temperature,

but also humidity, air movement and air quality.

Types of Air Conditioners

Two types Room Air Conditioner & Central Air Conditioner
Type of Room Air Conditioners:
Conditioners
1. Window Mounted Unit
2. Free Standing Portable Unit
Type of Central Air Conditioners:
Conditioners
1. Single Package Unit
2. Split System Unit
3. Mini Split Unit
4. Mini Duct Unit
5. Water Cooled Unit

Components of Air Conditioners

Refrigerant - Circulates through a network of coils through the air
conditioner, alternately absorbing, transporting and releasing heat.
Coil - System of tubing loops through which refrigerant flows and
where heat transfer takes place. The tubing may have fins to
increase the surface area available for heat exchange.
Evaporator - A coil that allows the refrigerant to absorb heat from
its surroundings.
Compressor - Squeezes molecules of the refrigerant gas thereby,
increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant.
Condenser - A coil that allows the refrigerant gas to give off heat
to its surroundings and become a liquid.
Plenum - An air compartment that forms part of the system for
distributing warmed or cooled air.

Components of a Room Air Conditioner

How Does a Room Air Conditioner Work ?

How Does a Room Air Conditioner Work ?

Change in Temperature and Humidity

Central Air Conditioners

Central air conditioners
circulate cool air through a
system of supply and return
ducts.

Types of Central Air Conditioners

Split-System Central Air Conditioner - An outdoor metal cabinet
contains the condenser and compressor, and an indoor cabinet
contains the evaporator.
Packaged Central Air Conditioner -The evaporator, condenser
and compressor are all located in one cabinet, Choosing or
Upgrading Your Central Air Conditioner

Operation of a Large Scale Air Conditioning

Variable Air Conditioning System

Components of a Central Air Conditioner

(Heating)

Operation of a Central Air Conditioner

(Cooling)

Points of Concern
Check for correct amount of refrigerant
Test for refrigerant leaks using a leak detector
Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system,
instead of illegally releasing it to the atmosphere
Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems
Measure air flow through the evaporator coil
Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the
heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously
Inspect electric terminals,
terminals clean and tighten connections, and apply
a non-conductive coating if necessary
Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear
Check the accuracy of the thermostat

Other Types of Cooling

Absorption cooling
- Air conditioner driven by a heat source such as natural gas,
propane, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water.

Radiant cooling
- Radiant cooling cools a floor or ceiling to provide a cooling effect
by absorbing the heat radiated from the rest of the room.
- Although potentially suitable for homes in arid climates, radiant
cooling is problematic for homes in more humid climates.

Earth Cooling Tubes

- Earth cooling tubes involves routing air through underground
tubes or chambers to achieve a cooling effect.
- In practice the technology is not effective.