DiIIerent types oI air conditioning systems

The basic type oI air conditioning are

Non ductable system
Ductable system
AIR
CONDITIONING
NON-DUCTABLE
PRODUCTS
DUCTABLE
SYSTEM
PACKAGE AIR
CONDITIONERS
CENTRAL
PLANTS
FLOOR MOUNTED WALL MOUNTED
FLOOR STANDING
PACKAGED AIR
CONDITIONERS
AIR COOLED
DUCTABLE SPLITS
CEILING
MOUNTED
EXPOSED
TYPE
HIDE AWAY
TYPE
CASSETTE
TYPE
AIR COOLED
WATER
COOLED
DX
SYSTEM
CHILLED
WATER SYSTEM
VAPOUR
COMPRESSION UNITS
VAPOUR
ABSORPTION UNITS
RECIPROCATING
UNITS, AIR AND
WATER COOLED
CENTRIFUGAL UNITS,
WATER COOLED ONLY
SCREW TYPE UNIT,
WATER COOLED
HOT WATER
FIRED
DIRECT
FIRED
STEAM FIRED SINGLE
AND TWO STAGE
WINDOW AIR
CONDITIONERS
SPLIT AIR
CONDITIONERS
NON DUCTABLE conditioning system
Non ducted product reIer to those air conditioners that do not used any air ducting to cool
the conditioned space .
This include window mounted air conditioners and non ducted split air conditioners .
These products are suitable where air throw is limited to around 4m and small spaces
are involved .
Where large spaces are involved multiple units are used to distribute the air .
In order to distribute the air uniIormly using less units , ductable system are preIerred.
1.ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
It is a machine which can be seen mounted in the window , called as window air
conditioners.
Here the compressor ,condenser Ian , condenser and evaporator are enclosed in single
cabinet
This unit is to be installed in a wooden Irame either in the window or in a hole in the
wall .
The air blown through the condenser must pass Ireely through without restriction .
These air conditioner come in cooling capacities oI 0.5, 0.75, 1.5 ,and 2tons Ior room
size 5 &20 sq mts.
They are preIerred Ior their low noise levels.
Disadvantage
Split air conditioners are more expensive than the window mounted type.
Types oI split air conditioners indoor unit
The out door units are always similar
The indoor units are available in diIIerent types to suit the needs oI air conditioner space
The diIIerent types oI indoor units are
Iloor mounted
High wall mounted
Ceiling mounted
Floor mounted 1 2 3
it is kept on the Iloor against the wall oI the space to be air conditioned
Here air throw is Irom the top, the space above the indoor unit must be Iree Irom
obstructions
Advantages
Outdoor unit can be mounted on rooI or the ledge some distance away Irom the room to
be air conditioned .
Mounting saIety and serviceability
In wall mounted units ,the wall to
which out door unit support Irame
work is grouted , is structurally
sound and capable oI supporting its
load and this applies to any other
structure on which ODU is mounted
This Irame work should be
properly designed with a catwalk to
permit serviceability along with
saIety railing
Coastal installation
Following taken into consideration
The condenser Ian outlet is not Iacing see wind.
ODU are not located near ground level , close to beach.
Care is taken to give supporting Irame work ,a good quality anticorrosive paint
treatment
The isolator switch and electrical components are properly protected Irom moisture.
This type is ideal Ior living rooms or oIIice rooms where adequate Iloor space is
available.
High wall mounted
It is Iixed to the wall at a height oI about 2.5m usually below the Ialse ceiling .
It is mounted on the wall , preIerred Ior rooms having less Iloor space .
The controls are operated either by a corded or cordless remote control unit .
This model is widely used Ior domestic and commercial applications.
Ceiling mounted
These are designed to be suspended Irom the main ceiling
They are available in three models.
1. Exposed
2. Hidden
3. Cassette
Exposed
They are Iixed directly to the ceiling and are visible.
Units are similar to Iloor mounted units
These are easy to install
Are preIerred in commercial areas or oIIices that do not have a Ialse ceiling .
Hide /away
These units are mounted on the ceilings but designed Ior the hidden .
They are concealed by a paneled box or Ialse ceiling.
These are suitable Ior commercial areas where the interior design required concealed air
conditioning equipment .
It is used in places like restaurant and oIIice.
Cassette type
These are mounted above the Ialse ceiling with out let grill Ilushed with bottom oI Ialse
ceiling.
A small motorized pump is employed to the drained out the condensate.
Ductable air conditioning systems
There are two types oI ductable system
!ackaged type
Central plants
The ductable implies any air conditionings suitable Ior ducting.
!ackaged air conditioning system
These are oI two types
1.Air cooled ductable splits
2.Floor standing packaged air conditioners
Air cooled ductable splits
The indoor portion here do not occupy the Iloor space as placed above Ialse ceiling and
connected to the ducting.
Currently available in 3, 5 and 7.5 tons capacities
Ideally located in corridors , above loIts, where accessibility is not a problem (so that
attending machine is not a problem)
Floor standing packaged unit
These are shaped like a cupboards and are placed in a small enclosed adjusting to the
conditioned area.
A cupboard consist oI compressor, evaporator and evaporator blower.
These are mostly used with ducting but can be used without ducting where cooled air
is thrown directly in to the room.
These come in capacities oI 5, 7.5, 10 & 15tons
These are available in
1.water cooled and
2. air cooled models
Water cooled units
It requires water which used to cool the reIrigerant in the condenser .
Water is pump through the shell and tube condenser which is the part oI the
packaged unit
This water is than sent into a cooling tower outside the air conditioned room where
the heat is dissipated in the atmosphere
Water cooled units give higher capacities and are more power eIIicient owing to
lower operating pressure
Air cooled models
These are suitable Ior places where water is scarce or oI
hard quality or were there is no space Ior a cooling tower
The heat is removed by away oI an air cooled condenser
with a Ian blowing through it .
It is mounted outside building in sunshade or a terrace
Advantages
They required a small plant room
They are serviced Iriendly b`coz oI easy accessibility
They can handle long ducts with used oI more powerIul
Ians
Large tonnage can be handle.
Interiors are clean and undisturbed as machines are
placed in separate plat room
Central plants
Central plants are large air conditioning plants assembled at the site.
These are used Ior big buildings,such as hotels , theaters , hospitals , large oIIice
complexes and Iactories
They are designed Ior accurate control oI all parameters oI comIort
A central plant is housed in the central location
These plant room could be in the basement or adjutants to the building
They consist oI equipments such as one or more compressors, condensers ,air handling
units, water chillers and cooling tower.
They can use direct expansion (DX)or chilled water
1.Direct expansion system (DX)
Here air is cooled and conditioned in the plant room
This treated air is pumped to various parts oI the building
The returning air is sucked through a coil-Iilled arrangement by a Ian
The reIrigerant inside the coil picks up heat Irom this air and evaporates
The cold air is then pumped back to the air conditioned space.
In DX plants the place where this heat exchange takes place is called as air handing unit
(AHU)
This system typically uses ducting passing through structure to the various parts oI the
building to be conditioned.
.Chilled water system
It is a system where interaction oI a reIrigerant and water takes place.
The reIrigerant in shell and tube heat exchanger evaporates by picking up heat Irom water in
other portion oI heat exchanger.
this is circulated to various water air heat exchangers called fan coiled units or air
handing units.
the system is also preIerred where multiple zones are to be cooled ex : hotels and hospitals
The vapors compression system compresses the reIrigerant gas
Smaller central plants use 1 or 2 compressors , large ones use bank oI such machine.
Compressors most widely used in central plants are reciprocating type , screw type and
centriIugal type .
#eciprocating type
It employs a crane shaIt to drive reciprocating piston to compress the reIrigerant
Used where application ranging Irom less than a ton to 120 tons .
Screw type compressor
This employs a pair oI helical shaped screws which mesh while rotating and compress the
volume oI reIrigerant gas
Used in capacities over 100 TR
Centrifugal compressor
This employs 1 or more rapidly spinning disks to Iorce the reIrigerant gas Irom it centre to
it extremity there by increasing it volume into its increase pressure.
Used in application Irom 150TR to several thousand tons
Types of chilled water system
1.!ackage chillers
This provide chilled water Ior many large air conditionings applications
They are mounted on a Irame that has compressor with dry motor , a condenser (air or
water cooled )and a shell and tube heat exchanger.
These can be classiIied as( depending on compressors used)
#eciprocating chillers
Screw chillers
Centrifugal chillers
Where absorptions system is used chillers are called absorption chillers .
Air cooled chiller
Screw type chiller
Centrifugal chiller
Absorption chiller
#eciprocating type chiller
. Vapour absorption machines
This system uses a chemical reaction to produce low temperature .
This system works on cooling cycle called as absorption refrigeration
Used Ior large application where some Iorm oI heat source is economically
available
It consists oI evaporator and an absorber.
Cooling towers Cooling towers
In the cooling tower the water is sprayed through nozzles into air.
The water becomes small droplets and evaporates there by losing heat and
becoming cool.
This cool water Ialls into the sump tank at the bottom oI the cooling tower
Irom were it is circulated in through the shell and the tube condenser and the
cycle repeats again.
There are two types 1. Atmospheric or natural draIt tower 2. Forced draIt
tower
'apour absorption machine
This employs cooling cycle know as absorption reIrigeration
This is used Ior large application with some Iorm oI heat source is economically available
It consist oI evaporator and absorber
Inside absorber there is salt solution , lithium bromide , has strong aIIinity to water
In low pressure evaporator chamber has water and a mist oI water vapour
The salt solution in absorber chamber absorbs water vapour Irom low pressure evaporator
chamber
this maintain the low pressure in evaporator chamber and causes water temperature to drop
The solution Iormed by mixing oI water and salt is heated so that salt solution is regenerated
The solution is pump through higher pressure section where heat is used to separate the
reIrigerant (water )Irom absorbent salt (lithium bromide
Salt then releases water evapour at high temperature
'apour is condensed in condenser to water using cool water Irom cooling tower and return to
evaporator to begin the cycle again .
Air handling unit Air handling unit
it is a centriIugal type Ian that pumps the air
this Ian is usually located in the air handler/water coil cabinet
its purpose is to create a pressure diIIerential so that the air Irom the conditioned space is
drawn back to the unit.
The air passed through a Iilter Iirst to remove the dust and then over the the coils or chilled
water coil where the heat is rejected
this cooled air is drawn back into the suction Ian then back Ieed into the conditioned space
which is to be cooled.
A damper arrangement in the suction side oI AHU is kept alittle open to draw in the Iresh
air .
AHU is sheet steel cabinet housing cooling coil and blower Ian.
Motor being mounted on outside the cabinet , drives the blower by a pulley belt
arrangement.
Depending on appications AHUs varies in sizes.
an coil unit
it is a sheet metal cabinet that houses a chilled water coil constructed out oI copper tube and
aluminum Iins. , boiler with motor and an air Iilter.
It is used where multiple areas are to be cooled .
The water is chilled centrally and pumped to various parts oI the building through insulated
pipes
the chilled water enter the FCU , where heat exchange take place between the room air and
the chilled water in the coil.
Air passed over the coils using a three speed blower motor, mounted in the FCU
The air speed can be controlled by choosing the bower motor speed Irom a selector switched
in the conditioned space
Thermostat is mounted in the air conditioned space that controls a solenoid valve that closes
when desire temperature is reached and shuts oI Ilow oI chilled water in FCU water coil and
when temperature rises the thermostat activates the solenoid valve to open and allowing
chilled water Ilow in the coil
freshening air freshening air
Installation practice Ior air coil units
The indoor units oI any split air conditioners
are connected to out door unit through
reIrigerant piping which is imported copper
pipe
SoIt drawn copper tubing is used Ior single
phase non ducted split air conditioners and
hard drawn , l grad copper tubing is used Ior
three phase ducted splits or package units
ReIrigerant pipe insulation
ReIrigerant piping carrying gas Irom evaporator (cooling coil) to the compressor is
known as suction line and piping carrying liquid reIrigerant Irom the condenser to
evaporator is liquid line
The insulation .
II metering device is located in ODU the suction and liquid lines must be separately
insulated and a gap maintained between two.
II device is located in IDU the suction and discharge line must be insulated together
System design approach
energy eIIiciency
optimum space utilization
cost eIIectiveness
1 initial cost
2 operating cost
application- based equipment
Saving energy on air conditioning
a little care to minimize energy consumption on air - conditioning will result in
substantial saving in the long run .
Energy saving can be made by adopting an energy eIIicient building design.
Building design
orientation
use materials like Ioam concrete , double wall glazing ,hollow concrete blocks etc
Energy efficient air conditioning equipment
to use equipment with the best energy eIIicient ratio.
!ackage air conditioners / ducted splits are available with reciprocating compressor as well as
scroll compressors.
Scroll compressors are oI higher EER and hence save on energy.
For higher tonnage's screw and centriIugal equipment are most preIerred because oI low
operating costs.
Where heat source such as steam or hot water is available as a by product oI economically
absorptive type units are a good energy saving choice.
EIIective maintenance and utility management
regular maintenance will ensure eIIicient perIormance.
Cleansing oI Iilters, de-scaling oI the heat exchangers , lubricating Iriction points , such as Ians
, motors and shaIts, should be done regularly
this will save energy on the air conditioning
turn oII the the system when not in use will save energy.
There are two type oI AHU
1.single skinned type
2. Double skinned type
In single type consist oI single layer cabinet and are usually placed inside an AHU
room.
The room has to be insulted so that the air in does not pick up heat Irom outside warm
air and acoustics in the conditioned space is maintained
In double type has an inner and outer cabinet which sandwiched a layer oI thermal
insulation
They are more expensive than singled skinned type but have more advantages oI
thermal and acoustic insulation