Design Steps 1. Load Estimating -Cooling -Heating 2. Air System Design 3. Equipment Selection 4. Supporting System
Each piece of equipment from the design stage through the selection and installation should be maximized to give the customer the most economical and efficient system you can for every dollar he has invested
Step#1: Load Estimating -Cooling -Heating
-2 Methods of estimating -Block load -Room by room Accuracy: Blessing or Curse Rough Load Estimating Benefits Disadvantages -Fast -Liability Maximized -Little Paperwork -Over Sized -Bid More Jobs -Bad Reputation -Missed Sales -Call Backs/ Missed Profits -Can't Guarantee Performance
Accurate Load Estimating Benefits Disadvantages -Time Consuming -Liability Minimized -More Skill Required -Properly Sized -More Paperwork -Underbid Competitor -Bid Fewer Jobs -Professional Estimate -Good Reputation -Insure Profitability -Guarantee System -Increase Sales/ Customer Base
Estimating The Air Conditioning Load
Survey the Structure: To determine the best method of installing the system
Building Orientation: -Relationship to the sun -Wind direction -Location in relation to the other buildings -Surrounding trees
Building Size: For conduction and convection gains or losses
Building Shape: For air distribution and lay out of duct system
Infiltration + Exfiltration: -Air coming inside + air going outside -Door location -Door construction -Number of doors
People Occupancy
Equipment Located With In The Structure
Ventilation Requirement
Equipment Location
Utility Services
Building Codes
Principals Of Load Estimating For Air Conditioning Systems
Heat sources for air conditioning load calculations
Inside Conditioned Space -People -Appliances -Lighting
Outside Conditioned Space -Transmission gains -Walls -Roof -Solar Gains -Windows
Additional Loads -Ceilings -Floors -Infiltration gains -Cracks in building envelope
Outside Heat Sources (Transmission Gains) -Walls/ Roof -Affected by materials used in construction/ the total area of the surface/ solar effects as well as the temp diff. across the material
To Determine the amount of heat transfer thru the buildings surfaces (by conduction) the following formula is used. BTU's/hr = (Overall co-efficient of heat transfer) X (Surface Area) X TD (U-Factor)
How To Reduce Conduction Gains Through Walls + Roofs 1. Additional Insulation In Walls/ Roofs Insulation %reduction in heat flow 1 48 to 55% 2 62 to 68% 3 70 to 74% 4 72 to 78%
It should be noted that any increase beyond 4 will not significantly improve overall U-Factor of structure
2. Roof Materials Light Construction Wooded frame (18 BTU's sq ft) max no insulation Medium Construction 4 Concrete (19 BTU's sq ft) max no insulation Heavy Construction 6 Concrete (15 BTU's sq ft) max no insulation
The above info is taken at peak solar gain times, approx. 3:00 pm. in the afternoon
Solar gains can be reduced by two methods: -Shaded roof = reduction by 75% -Roof sprays = reduction of 65%
U Factors for typical construction types -Residential wall = 0.25 -Residential roof = 0.31 -Commercial wall = 0.33 -Commercial roof = 0.40
Transmission Gain Calculation -Find the total heat gain through a residential wall with the following dimensions. -Length = 20' -Height = 8' -Outside ambient temp 85F -Inside room temp 75F Heat Gain = Area x TD x U-Factor 400 BTU/H= (20x8)160 x 10 x 0.25
Outside Heat Sources (Solar + Conduction Gains)
Windows The Solar heat entering a structure through glass is immediately absorbed in the room. The amount of solar gain through the windows is determined by the TD surface area and type of glass used in its construction. Conduction gains through glass will also use the same formula
To determine the amount of heat gain (solar as well as conduction) the following formula would be used
BTU's/Hr = Overall co-efficient of heat transfer x surface area x TD Typical U-Factors For Window Construction
Single Pane Window 1.13 Double Pane Window 0.65 Storm Window 0.45 The above factors will change if indoor or outdoor shading is used or if heat absorbing gas is used
How to Reduce Solar Gains through Glass Type %reduction in Solar Gains Heat absorbing Glass 25% Double Pane Glass 10 to 20% Stained Glass 30 to 65% Outside Awnings 75% Outside Venetian Blinds 35%
How to Reduce Conduction Gains Through Windows Type % Reduction in Conduction Gains Storm Windows 60% Double Pane Windows 43%
Transmission/ Window Gain Calculation -Find the total heat gain through a residential wall with the following dimensions: -Length = 20' -Height = 8' -Outside ambient temp 85F -Inside room temp 75F -There are two windows located on this wall 2' x 4' ordinary glass no shading -U-Factor = 0.25 for transmission gain on walls -U-Factor = 1.13 for transmission gain on windows Heat Gain Wall= Area x TD x U-Factor 400 BTU/H= (20x8)160 x 10 x 0.25
Heat Gain Window= Area x TD x U-Factor 180 BTU/H= (2x8x2)16 x 10 x 1.13
Outside Heat Sources (Solar + Conduction Gains)
Floors Normally floors would be considered to be a heat loss for heating load calculations if it is a slab or basement construction. However if a unconditioned space is located below the floor level which is conditioned it would be calculated in a cooling load calculation
Air Change (Infiltration Load) (Exfiltration)
*Air change is the continuous exchange of air between every building and its surrounding
-This air change is the result of two different processes: Ventilation + Air Leakage
Ventilation: Is a controlled air change. Can be provided by -Bathroom fans -Kitchen fans -Exhaust fans -Dryer vents Air Leakage: Is an uncontrolled air change as air flows through -Cracks -Structural joints -Window frames -Door frames
*Another source of heat that must be considered is infiltration loads or losses. This is the air that enters a building due to cracks around windows and doors. The degree of infiltration depends on quality of construction, doors being opened and also wind velocity.
Ventilation Ventilation standards are governed by ASHRAE: American society of heating refrigeration and air conditioning engineers. These standards are set to dilute unwanted odors and replenish used oxygen with in the conditioned space Acceptable Ventilation Standards Range from 5 to 7.5 CFM/ Person/ hour Range from 15 to 30 CFM/ Person/ hour (Smoking)
Inside Heat Sources (People, Lights and Appliances)
People Heat gain from occupants is based on the average number of people expected to be present to be present in the building as well as the activity they are involved in. Sensible + latent heat loads are present (Rule of thumb 330 BTU's/ hr total heat) Activity Total heat BTU's/ hr Seating at rest 270 Moderate office work 450 Bowling 1500 Restaurant 490
Lights The load from lights is substantial and must be calculated in any load calculation Incandescent Lighting: 3.4 BTU's/ watt Florescent Lighting: increase lighting load by 25 % (ballast)
Appliances Heat gains from appliances located with in the conditioned space must also be calculated. They can be a sensible or latent load Appliance Sensible Heat BTU's/ hr Latent Heat BTU's/ hr Coffee Brewer Gal 900 220 Toaster Pop-up 37 8 Hair Drier 2300 700 Based on Average Usage
Summery of Outside Heat Sources The majority of summer cooling loads consist of outdoor heat sources such as -Direct solar heat -Conduction heat -Infiltration
-Solar heat enters directly through glass by radiation and through building materials by conduction
-Direct solar gains are felt immediately. Conducted solar gains are not felt for several hours
-Amount of conducted solar heat depends on the type of construction materials
-The U-factor is a value applied to the quantity of heat flowing through 1 sq foot of building material
-Heat conduction through construction materials takes place as a result of temp diff. between outdoor and indoor temps
-The amount of heat entering a building depends upon the size of the surface area + the resistance to heat transfer
-Building orientation can reduce the cost of air conditioning equipment of up to 25% because the amount of solar radiation + conduction gains would be reduced. Approx. 7 hours of continuous sun is required to heat the inside of the building (12 of brick)
-Solar gains are much faster through glass than other materials such as wood or brick
-The infiltration load enters the building through cracks around windows, doors and through open doors + windows
-Ventilation is also a source of heat gain to be covered later
-Indoor heat sources include people, lights, appliances, and motors
-Stored heat can become an additional heat source for the morning start up of air conditioning
-The stored cooling capacity can be used to off-set part of the heat load during max load periods
-The use of cooling storage means that smaller equipment can be selected (operation of system in early morning or night).
Methods of Reducing Loads Heat loads can be reduced by: -Addition of insulation -Whether stripping -Double pane windows -Insulated crawl space -Storm windows -Indoor shading -Outdoor Shading -Solar reflecting glass -Cooling storage