Window Air conditioners

The control system (thermostat and selector

switch),

electrical protection system (motor overload

switches and winding protection thermostat
on the compress motor),

air circulation system (fan motor, centrifugal
evaporator blower and propeller fan for aircooled condenser) and

ventilation (fresh air damper) and exhaust
system

Installation

Ensure that there is liberal space on both the
sides (minimum 30 cm on each side) for free
flow of air to the condenser fan,

So also the space behind the unit (condenser)
should be clear (minimum 2 m) to allow free
flow of the hot condenser outlet air.

If there is any obstruction, the outlet air can
short cycle to the suction side of the condenser
fan, leading to higher condensing temperature
and consequent reduction in unit capacity.

Installation

The best height of installation is about 75 to 120
cm above the floor level for uniform circulation
of supply-air across the living height of the
room.

It also ensures easy accessibility for service. Too
high or too low an installation should be
avoided.

Do not install near a heating appliance, nor
near a door or in a corner of the room.

Split units

The indoor units are ceiling suspended,
wall mounted or kept on floor as a console
model and is generally known as the fan
coil unit

Split units

The distance between the indoor and
outdoor units has to be as small as
possible(maximum 10 m)

As this distance increases the pressure
drop in the suction and liquid lines also
increases, resulting in reduction of the unit
capacity

Split units

Too high a vertical lift in the liquid line
(when outdoor unit is at a lower level) can
cause flash gas in the liquid line.

Also higher vertical lift of the suction line
(when outdoor unit is at a higher level than
the indoor unit) can cause the problem of oil
return

Package air conditioner

These can be considered as the bigger versions of the
room air conditioners and are used for air
conditioning loads beyond the capacity range of the
room air conditioners.

They are available in nominal capacities of 3, 5, 7, 10,
and 15 tonne. Like the room air conditioner, the
package unit also houses the air filtering, coolingdehumidifying and air handling components and is
factory assembled.

Components for heating and humidifying purposes
can also be included within the unit.

The condenser can be of the water-cooled or the aircooled type.

Package air conditioner

The water-cooled type can be completely
factory assembled, charged (with refrigerant)
and tested.

Thus the laying of refrigerant piping, pressure
leak testing, evacuation. Charging. etc. need
not have to be carried out in the field.

This not only reduces the field labor, but also
ensures a cleaner system, being assembled in
the factory with strict quality control
procedures

Package air conditioner

The air-cooled type obviously cannot be factory assembled
and charged. Laying of the refrigerant piping between the
indoor and outdoor units, pressure testing, evacuation,
charging, etc. have to be carried out in the field.

Because of the scarcity of water, air-cooled units are favored,
Though their capacity will be less than that of, the watercooled condenser using the same compressor.

For the evaporator side, centrifugal fans are provided, which
can develop higher static pressure. So air distribution duct
and grills can be connected to the unit.

Air quantities generally ware 10 to 11.3 m3 /min. (350 to 400
cfm) per ton

Central air conditioning plants

The central air conditioning system can be either of the direct
or the indirect type.

In the direct system, the air from the space to be airconditioned is circulated over the cooling coil (of a
refrigeration plant) in which the low-pressure refrigerant
liquid is boiling.

The latent heat of vaporization for the liquid refrigerant is
taken from the air being circulated over the coil. So this is
known as the `Direct-expansion (DX) system.

In the indirect system, chilled water or brine from the
refrigeration plant is circulated through the cooling coil
located in the air-handling unit to cool and dehumidify the
room air. Such a system is known as the central chilled water
(or brine) system.

Chilled Water System

Though chilled water system requires more power per unit of
refrigeration (kw/tonne), the system offers plenty of
flexibility in selection, lay out and operation.

The chiller packages can be located in a central plant room,
away from the air-conditioned space. The air-handling units
too can be located at convenient locations for each zone/ area
and interconnected to the chiller packages with chilled water
lines.

Multiple chiller packages interconnected on the water sides
(chilled water as well as condenser water systems) can be
used for high loads, as high as say 1000 tonne.

For loads exceeding 200 tonne, water-chilling packages with
centrifugal compressors can be used,

Chilled Water System

Chilled water system is particularly suitable for air
conditioning of large hotels, multistoried office buildings,
industrial processings, etc.
As almost all the sides (generally three sides) of the rooms
are surrounded by air-conditioned areas, the transmission
gain and so the sensible heat load of the room is generally
low.
Each room has to be provided with independent ON/OFF
and temperature control .Prevention of transmission of noise
(cross-talk) from one room to the other.
Transmission of odors (such as smoking of cigars,
cigarettes, food articles, human body odor etc.) from one
room to another should be avoided

Chilled Water System

Air distribution through the ducts from a
common air-handling unit for a number of
rooms cannot be used. Here the fan-coil unit
is the correct choice.

Fan-coil units are similar to the indoor unit in
a split system room air conditioner except that
the chilled water coil replaces the DX coil.

Usually, a solenoid operated three-way
diverting (or by-pass) valve is provided on the
inlet-chilled waterline to the unit.

Chilled Water System

The valve is controlled by the room thermostat, When the
room temperature is above the set point, the solenoid coil of
the three-way valve is energized and the valve opens the port
to supply chilled water to the coil.

When the thermostat goes off on temperature, the solenoid is
de energized closing the supply port to the coil and opening
the by-pass port.

The by-pass port is connected to the return chilled water line
from the unit and thus the supply-chilled water by passes the
coil of the unit.

A two-way solenoid valve can also be used, but it has the
disadvantage of creating `water hammer' (and associated
banging noise) every time it closes.

Further, when the two-way valve is closed, water flow to the
particular unit is stopped.

Refrigeration components

Refrigeration unit / chiller

Compressor and motor condenser
Metering device
Evaporator
Accessories
Lubrication system
Safety and operational controls

Air side components air handling units

Fan coil units

Blower coil units
Fresh air ahu
Ducting system
Variable air volumes
Grills and dampers controls

Water side components

Chilled water pumps

Chilled water piping system
Valves and strainers
Mixing valves
Double regulating valves
Auto vents
Pressurization units

Selecting a system
Performance requirements

Capacity requirements
Spatial requirements
First cost
Operating cost
Reliability
Flexibility
Maintainability

Control options

Noise
Ventilation
Filtration
Effect of failure
Space considerations
Floor space
Plenum space
Furniture placement
Maintenance
accessibility

Roofs
First cost
System cost
Cost to add zones
Ability to increase capacity
Contribution to life safety
needs
Air quality control
Operating costs
Energy costs

Control options
Electricity
Water costs
Chemical costs
Manpower costs
Maintenance

costs

Labor costs

Licensing for operators

Material costs
Energy-efficient operating
modes
Economy
cycle
(free
cooling)
Heat recovery

The system selection

1.Does the system fit in the available space, or does it require some
architectural modification?

2.Does the system use more floor space than others considered, or does
it require construction of additional space for mechanical rooms or
shafts?

3.Will the system deliver the desired uniform temperature under
varying weather and solar conditions? If compromises are made from
the ideal control zoning, how much variation may be expected between
spaces?

4.How much will the system cost to own compared to others
considered? What is the recovery time of the initial investment, interest
on investment system life, and the future cost of replacement
equipment?

5.What are the operating costs for energy, maintenance, labor, and
supplies of this system compared to others?

The system selection

What reliability can the owner expect compared to other
systems? What component failures affect the entire building,
and which affect only limited areas? How easily can the
system be serviced? How quickly can the system be restored
to operation after various equipment failures?

Is the system flexible enough to meet changes in the owners
needs? What is required to add a control zone? Can the
system meet the increased capacity requirements of a space
when equipment is added? How will changes in the interior
layout and arrangement affect performance?

All-Air Systems

An all-air system provides complete sensible and latent
cooling, preheating, and humidification capacity in the air
supplied by the system.

No additional cooling or humidification is required at the
zone, except in the case of certain industrial systems.

Heating may be accomplished by the same air stream, either
in the central system or at a particular zone.

All-air systems - advantages

The location of the central mechanical room for major equipment
allows operation and maintenance to be performed in unoccupied
areas. In addition, it allows the maximum range of choices of
filtration equipment, vibration and noise control, and the selection
of high quality and durable equipment.

Keeping piping, electrical equipment, wiring, filters, and vibration
and noise-producing equipment away from the conditioned area
minimizes service needs and reduces potential harm to occupants,
furnishings, and processes

These systems offer the greatest potential for use of outside air
(free cooling) instead of mechanical refrigeration for cooling.

Seasonal changeover is simple and adapts readily to automatic
control

A wide choice of zoning, flexibility, and humidity control under all
operating conditions is possible, with the availability of
simultaneous heating and cooling even during off-season periods.

All-air systems - advantages

vi. Air-to-air and other heat recovery may be readily

incorporated.
vii. They permit good design flexibility for optimum
air distribution, draft control, and adaptability to
varying local requirements.
viii.The systems are well suited to applications
requiring unusual exhaust or makeup air quantities
negative or positive pressurization, etc.)
ix. All air systems adapt well to winter
humidification.

Disadvantages
They require additional duct clearance,
which reduces usable floor space and
increases the height of the building.

All-Water Systems

All-water systems for heating and cooling use hot or
chilled water for space conditioning, with the air in
the space heated or cooled by conduction,
convection, or radiation. The following are the
principal types of all-water systems:
i. Baseboard radiation
ii. Freestanding radiators and convectors
iii. Wall, floor, or ceiling panels
iv. Bare pipe (racked on wall)
v. Fan-coil units

Fan-coil units

Four basic principles of air conditioning that also apply to
heating are
i. Temperature control
ii. Humidity control
iii. Air movement
iv. Air purity (filtration and outside air makeup)

Room fan-coil units for the domestic market are generally
available in nominal sizes of

200, 300, 400, 600, 800, and 1200 cfm, often with multispeed,
high-efficiency fan motors

Capacity Control

Fan-coil unit capacity can be controlled by coil water flow, air
bypass, fan speed, or a combination of these. Water flow can
be thermostatically controlled by either return air or wall
thermostats

Fan speed control may be automatic or manual. Automatic
control is usually on-off with manual speed selection. Units
are available with variable-speed motors for modulated speed
control. Room thermostats are preferred where fan speed
control is used. Return air thermostats do not give a reliable
index of room temperature when the fan is off.

Maintenance

Room fan-coil units are equipped with either cleanable or disposable
filters that should be cleaned or replaced when dirty. Good filter
maintenance improves sanitation and provides full airflow, ensuring
full capacity.

The frequency of cleaning varies with the application. Applications in
apartments, hotels, and hospitals usually require more frequent filter
service because of lint.

Fan-coil unit motors require periodic lubrication. Motor failures are not
common, but when they occur, it is possible to replace the entire fan
quickly with minimal interruption in the conditioned space. The
defective motor can be repaired or replaced.

The condensate drain pan and drain system should be cleaned or
flushed periodically to prevent overflow and microbiological buildup.
Drain pans should be trapped to prevent any gaseous backup.

Advantages

A major advantage of the all-water system is that the delivery system
(piping versus duct systems) requires less building space, a smaller or
no central fan room, and little duct space.

The system has all the benefits of a central water chilling and heating
plant, while retaining the ability to shut off local terminals in unused
areas. It gives individual room control with little cross contamination of
recirculated air from one space to another.

Extra capacity for quick pull down response may be provided. Because
this system can heat with low-temperature water, it is particularly
suitable for solar or heat recovery refrigeration equipment.

For existing building retrofit, it is often easier to install the piping and
wiring for an all-water system than the large ductwork required for an
all-air system.

Disadvantages

All-water systems require much more maintenance
than central all-air systems, and this work must be
done in occupied areas.

Units that operate at low dew points require
condensate pans and a drain system that must be
cleaned and flushed periodically. Condensate
disposal can be difficult and costly. It is also
difficult to clean the coil.

Filters are small, low in efficiency, and require
frequent changing to maintain air volume. In some
instances, drain systems can be eliminated if
dehumidification is positively controlled by a
central ventilation air system.

Air-and-Water Systems

Air-and-water systems condition spaces by distributing air and water
sources to terminal units installed in habitable spaces throughout a
building. The air and water are cooled or heated in central mechanical
equipment rooms.

The air supplied is called primary air; the water supplied is called
secondary water. Sometimes a separate electric heating coil is included
in lieu of a hot water coil. This chapter is concerned primarily with airand-water induction units, fan-coil units, and radiant panels as used in
air-water systems

Air-and-water systems apply primarily to exterior spaces of buildings
with high sensible loads and where close control of humidity is not
required.

They may, however, be applied to interior zones as well. These
systems work well in buildings such as office buildings, hospitals,
hotels, schools, apartment buildings, and research laboratories.