Chapter 2 Commercial HVAC Systems

Commercial HVAC Systems

Used in Office Buildings Strip Malls Stores Restaurants Other commercial buildings

Heating
Used to increase the temperature of a building space Consist of:
Heating device Fan and or pump Heat exchangers device that transfers heat from one substance to another without allowing the substances to mix

Hot Water Heating Systems

Uses hot water as a medium to heat building spaces Most common heating system used in commercial HVAC systems Consist of: Hot water source Hot water boilers Steam to hot water exchangers heat is transferred from the steam to the water in the piping Circulating pump Piping Controls which ensure the water is at the correct temperature and location

Steam Heating System

Uses steam as a medium for heat Steam flows through heating units or coils to provide heat to the spaces More difficult from a control standpoint due to the rapid rise in temperature

Electric Heating Systems

Heating systems that consist of electric resistance heating elements and a fan that circulates air across the elements Advantages Simple control Ease of installation Low Maintenance cost due to no piping

Electric Heating Systems

Disadvantages High cost of electricity Precautions must be taken to make sure heating elements do not get damaged due to excessive heat

Commercial Heating Sources

Radiant heat panels electric heat panels that are embedded in ceiling panels Electric baseboard heater device using electric heat located along baseboards or walls

Heat Pump Systems

Direct expansion refrigerant system that contains devices and controls that reverse the flow of refrigerant Transfers heat from the outdoors to the inside to produce a heating effect Used on some commercial applications

Natural Gas or Fuel-oil Fired Systems

Commonly used in commercial applications Fuel is burned in a heat exchanger Heat is transferred by the air flowing across the heat exchanger

Ventilating
IAQ Indoor Air Quality designation of contaminants present in the air
Contaminants Thousands of chemical compounds Sources of contaminates are carpet fibers, adhesives, and ceiling tiles EPA ranks IAQ as one the top 5 environmental threats to human health Improving IAQ can be achieved by introducing more outside air to dilute these contaminants

Air Conditioning
Outside Air Economizers unit that uses outside air to cool building spaces Use of outside air reduces the energy expenditures for a building Used when the outside air is the proper temperature and humidity Not used very often in the Houston climate occasionally during winter Not used when outside air is below 45 degrees because of possible freezing of coils

Direct Expansion Cooling

Direct Expansion Cooling cooling produced by the vaporization of refrigerant in a closed loop system Some commercial and heat pumps use Uses an evaporator coil in the ductwork for the transfer of heat Commonly used in residential and or light to medium commercial applications

Water Chillers
Water chillers device that cools water Used in large commercial buildings that requires large quantities of cooling Automatic valves at the terminal devices or cooling coils provide temperature control Include: Reciprocating use piston-type positive displacement compressors small to medium applications Centrifugal use an electric motor or steam turbine to rotate an impeller are most common commercial chillers Absorption use water as a refrigerant and steam to cause a water and lithium bromide solution to separate large capacity applications

Humidification

Process of adding moisture to the air

Required in cold climates where continual heating of outside air dries out the air Manufacturing where humidity level must be maintained for the process Steam or water often introduced in commercial buildings Humidity control is often used to ensure that moisture isnt added unless required

Dehumidification
Process of removing moisture from the air
May be required for human comfort Methods used
Passive dehumidification process using the existing cooling coils of a system No additional equipment required Uses condensation process the moisture condenses out of the air as it is cooled Removes enough moisture to achieve human comfort Desiccant dehumidification process in which the air contacts a chemical substance that absorbs the moisture Used when very low humidity is required in a space Commonly used in commercial or industrial application to reduce rust and corrosion in pneumatic systems

Air Handling Units

Consist of Fan Has rotating blades or vanes that move air Most AH have only one fan Most common used in commercial applications is the centrifugal fan Must be sized to deliver proper flow to the building spaces Ductwork distribution system for a forced air heating and cooling system Consist of square, rectangular, or round sheet metal that is coated for energy efficiency Sized to allow correct amount of flow Filters porous material that removes particles from the air

Dampers
Dampers adjustable metal blade or set of blades to control the flow of air

Commonly used to control

Outside air Return air Exhausting air flow
Depending on application they can be used to control the air flow across heating and cooling flows

Air Handling Units

Heating Coils finned heat exchanger that adds heat to the air flowing over it Steam Hot water Electric heating coils Cooling Coils finned heat exchanger that removes heat from the air flowing over it Humidifiers Dehumidifiers Sensors Controls

Constant Volume AHU

Moves constant volume of air over it
Control the building space by changing the temperature of the discharge air Disadvantage is that the fan operates 100% therefore offering no energy savings Used in commercial buildings include Single-zone Multi-zone Dual-duct Terminal reheat Induction AHU

Single zone AHU

Unit that provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to only one building zone or area

Multi-zone AHU
Unit that is designed to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to more than one space

Dual-duct AHU
Unit that has hot and cold air ducts connected to mixing boxes at each building space

Terminal Reheat AHU

Units that deliver at a constant 55 degree temperature to building spaces

Variable Air Volume AHU

Moves a variable volume of air
Vary the amount of air instead the temperature of the air to a space Were developed and became widely used in the 1970s More energy efficient unit Provide a constant 55 degree air supply Disadvantages cuts down on outside air when volume of air is decreased Electric motor variable frequency drives often used
Variable Air Volume Terminal Boxes VAV receives air from VAV AHU and maintains the set-point in a space