Air Conditioning

Preparation material



1. Basic principles for air conditioning

All units that influence the atmosphere fall under the air conditioning heading.
This lesson deals solely with units that deal with air for human use. Not dealt
with are process atmospheres such as smoke extraction, dryers, cooling air,
compressed air etc.

1.1 Air pressure

The atmosphere is made up of a mixture of gases that approximates 78%
nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The remaining 1% consists of argon, carbon
dioxide, water vapour and various rare gases.

The atmospheric pressure is the sum of the partial
pressures of its components and is designated as
static pressure p s. This has an effect on the system
from all sides.

If the atmosphere is accelerated, a associated
dynamic pressure p d = v / 2 exists

The total pressure in the system is the sum of the partial pressures, p t = p s
+ p d

The status of the atmosphere is determined by the pressure p [Pa], the
volume V [m] and the temperature [K]. The following is valid:

V x p / T = constant

In the area of air conditioning, alterations are relatively small and so the status
of the atmosphere is taken as being constant.
Example: How much does the volume alter if the air temperature is reduced
from 30C to 20C at a constant pressure? It is reduced by only 3%.

1
Air Conditioning
Preparation material



1.2 Thermodynamic base
principles


The energy content of the
atmosphere depends upon the
sensible heat of the air and upon
the latent heat stored in water
vapour. If the atmospheric status
alters, the heat is calculated by
using:

Q = c atmo x m atmo x T +
h water x m water

This can be presented
graphically in a simple way in an
h/x (Molier / Carrier) diagram.
From this, all the values for the
calculations related to
components associated with an
air conditioning unit can be read
off.








2
Air Conditioning
Preparation material




Normal presentation of psychrometric chart in UK and USA.
3
Air Conditioning
Preparation material



The diagram below shows the water vapour saturation of the atmosphere.



Temperature [ C ]
Water vapour in the air [ g / kg air ]
Water vapour in the air [ % ]
100 %
Mist area
The maximum
saturation is
obtained from the
100% line. If this is
exceeded, water
condensation occurs
(falling below the
dew point).

The so-called mist
area lies below the
100% line. In this
area water droplets
float in the air (fog)
or precipitate on
cold surfaces.


The atmospheric energy status is shown by the line of equal enthalpy.

Because only the energy change, h, is
of interest for design, a zero point has
been arbitrarily set in the diagram.
h 1
h = h 2 - h 1 [ kJ / kg ]
h 2
In order to be able to work with the h/x
diagram, only 2 of the 4 parameters
required are necessary :
Temperature [C]
Water vapour content x [g/kg]
Relative humidity [%] = x / x max
Specific enthalpy h [kJ/kg]


The remaining parameters can be
obtained from the diagram. In addition,
the atmospheric density can also be
derived from it.




4
Air Conditioning
Preparation material


1.3 Climate

The climate in Germany varies between hot and dry (40C, =40%) and cold
and humid (-30, = 80%).

The graph
shows the
pattern of
heating needs.
These depend
on the external
temperature
and air
humidity.
Additional
influences on
the local
climate are the
region, the
landscape and
the degree of
building
development. City temperatures are higher than outside because of building
development.

The frequency of distribution for air temperature and air humidity varies a
great deal regionally. The graphs shows the distribution for Nrnberg that
shows a peak
at an air
humidity of ca.
=60% and
an external
temperature of
about 0C.

The relative
humidity is
not constant
over the
course of a
day because
the
temperature
fluctuates
whilst water
vapour
saturation hardly changes.
Heating distribution
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%
16.0%
18.0%
J
a
n
F
e
b
A
p
r
M
a
i
J
u
n
J
u
l
A
u
g
S
e
p
O
k
t
N
o
v
D
e
z
3
7

C
3
3

C
2
9

C
2
5

C
2
1

C
1
7

C
1
3

C
9

C
5

C
1

C
-
3

C
-
7

C
-
1
1

C
-
1
5

C
-
1
9

C
-
2
3

C
-
2
7

C
0g/kg
6g/kg
12g/kg
18g/kg
0 h
500 h
1000 h
1500 h
2000 h
2500 h
3000 h
3500 h
Nrnberg Frequency of Distribution Over 10 Years

5
Air Conditioning
Preparation material


1.4 Comfort level

The term comfort is not something that can be measured precisely. Attempts
have been made to convert this term into measurable parameters (ASHARE
55-81, ISO 7730, DIN 1946). Whether a person feels comfortable or not in a
room depends upon many factors:
Room design (daylight, colours, height, plants, wall temperature)
Noise pollution (machinery, people, surroundings, air conditioning)
Room atmosphere (quality, hygiene, odour, air speed, temperature,
humidity)

Air conditioning has an influence on the areas highlighted in bold print.
Depending upon the intensity of body activities and air pollution, 20 30 m/h
fresh air is necessary for the removal of CO
2
and moisture and, in the case of
smokers, a additional 20+ m/h of fresh air.

Humans produce waste heat
because of their
metabolism. Depending on
the activity, this waste heat
output amounts to 100 300
W.

This waste heat must be
released from the human
body into the surroundings.
This occurs in 2 ways heat
radiation (convection) and evaporative cooling.

Convection
Radiation
Evaporation

Heat radiation and convection are more effective if a greater amount of skin is
exposed and the cooler the surrounding walls and air are.

Evaporation depends upon the airs relative humidity. The lower the air
humidity the greater the uptake capacity of the air. If the humidity level is in
excess of 80% the evaporation rate is too low and people perceive the
atmosphere as being oppressive. If the air speed is increased, the greater
associated air volumes can compensate for this effect. In this way the
perceived air temperature alters and the air is felt as being cooler (e.g. ceiling
fan).

We understand the influence of the surroundings on humans under the term
thermal comfort. A comfort zone of 18C to 24C air temperature and a
relative humidity of 30% to 70% has arisen as a result of this. For health
reasons, the room air temperature should not lie more than 6 K below the
external temperature.
6
Air Conditioning
Preparation material



2. Air conditioning

2.1 Functions

The following terms and abbreviations are used with regard to the
atmosphere:

EA external air
IA inflow air
RA recirculated
air
XA extracted air
OA outflow air
MAX maximum
working area
pollutant
concentration in
the air

Because the status
of the external air in
Germany exceeds
the thermal comfort
level for most of the time, the inflow air is heated, cooled, humidified and de-
humidified. Moreover, air circulation units must also eliminate the internally
generated heat and moisture loadings.

The air exchange required can be achieved either by passive ventilation
(window, shafts) or by means of air conditioning. The external air volume flow
required [m / h] is calculated according to the number of people, the air
pollution level (MAX) or the heating load that is to drawn off or led in.


m
m te
ittlere Temperatur
ittlere Feuch
AB
ZU
Fe
W
P
M
uchte g/h
rme kW
ersonen
AK
Raumparameter :
mittlere Feuchte
mittlere Temperatur
Volumenstrom
UM
Raum
AU
EA
Room
IA
RA
Room parameters:
Average humidity
Average temperature
Volume flow
Humidity g/h
Heat kW
No of people
MAX
XA
FO
OA
7
Air Conditioning
Preparation material


2.2 Components

DIN 1946 symbols for air conditioning and the function:

Compressor/ventilator:

Acceleration and pressure increase





Heat transfer / Cooling index:

+ heat inflow
- heat removal




Heat / coolness recovery:

Recuperative, heat transfer only
Regenerative, additional moisture transfer




Air humidifier in this case a spray
humidifier:

Adiabatic humidification





Filter:

Cleaning the air

8