PREPARED BY NOOR AZILA BINTI JAMARI LECTURER CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Most large multistory buildings use highly centralized air conditioning equipment. The roof and basement are the usual choice for these central station systems. The basement has the advantage of easy utility connections, noise isolation, not being valuable rental area and the fact that structural loads are not a problem.

The roof is the ideal location for fresh air intakes and heat rejection to the atmosphere. Cooling tower are noisy, produce very hot and humid exhaust air, so the best location for cooling rower is placed on the roof.

SECTION OF A TYPICAL MULTISTORY BUILDING WITH A ROOFTOP CENTRAL STATION MECHANICAL SYSTEM

In most buildings, the mechanical equipment is shown to be on the roof. This section shows an all-air system served by a single central air handling unit on the roof. To avoid the large vertical ducts, separate air handling units can be placed on each floor and only water circulates vertically. This saves much energy because moving air great distances requires much power.

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT IS STILL ON THE ROOF, EACH FLOOR HAS A SEPARATE AHU

The advantage of all-air system is complete control over air quality is possible. The disadvantage is that all-air systems are very bulky and a significant part of the building volume must be devoted to them. There are 5 system in all-air system categories. i. Central Plants ii. Variable Air Volume (V.A.V) iii. Terminal Reheat System iv. Multizone System v. Double Duct System

The central air conditioning system has the limitation of the same air quality being delivered throughout the building. If the structure is zoned or divided and compartmented into several different functions such as offices, workshops, canteen. The temperature of each element can be controlled with zoned thermostats. The fan precedes the chiller and reheater coils and blow air through the air-handling unit. Several ducts radiate from the unit to designated zones within the building.

This is a single duct system that can easily have many zones. A variable air volume control box is located wherever a duct enters a separate zone. A thermostat in each zone controls the air flow by operating a damper in the V.A.V control box. More cooling is required, more cool air is allowed to enter the zone.

VAV system. Floor plan of a VAV system.

VAV control box.

At the first the terminal reheat system looks just like the V.A.V system but in fact it is very different. This system has terminal reheat boxes in which electric strip heaters or hot water coils reheat air previously cooled. All others zones will reheat the cold air to the desired temperature.

Terminal reheat system.

In this system, every zone receives air at the required temperature through a separate duct. These ducts are supplied by a special multizone air handling unit that custom mixes hot and cold air for each zone. This is accomplished by motorized dampers located in the air handling unit but controlled by thermostats in each zone. Depending on the temperature, the ratio of hot and cold air varies but the total amount of air is constant.

The multizone unit is supplied with hot water, chilled water and a small amount of fresh air. Each multizone unit can handle about 8 zones. Because moderate air temperatures are created by mixing hot and cold air, this system also wasteful of energy. Disadvantage this system are costs relatively high while the thermal control is relatively poor.

Like the multizone system, the double duct system mixes hot and cold air to achieve the required air temperature. Instead of mixing the air at a central air handling unit, mixing boxes are dispersed throughout the building. The double duct system creates a high level of thermal comfort and allows for great zoning flexibility, it is very expensive, requires much building space and its wasteful of energy.

Double duct system.

To reduce the size of the ducts, a highvelocity version of this system High-velocity air systems (6000 feet/minute) consume more fan power than normal velocity systems(2000 feet/minute). Because of these problem and because V.A.V system are a good alternative, dual duct systems are not used much anymore.

These system supply both airand water to each zone of a building. It greatly decreases the size of the equipment because of the immense heart-carrying capacity of water as opposed to air. Air is supplied mainly because of the need for ventilation. There are 2 system in air-water system categories. i. Induction System ii. Fan- coil with supplementary air But in this topic is cover induction system only

A small quantity of high-velocity air is supplied to each zone to supply the required fresh air and to induce room air to circulate. Most induction terminal units are found under windows where they can effectively neutralize the heat gain. As the high-velocity air shoots into the room it induces a large amount of room air to circulates. This combination of room air and fresh air, then passes over heating or cooling coils.

Local thermostats regulate the temperature by controlling the flow of either hot or cold water through the coils. It takes a lot of fan power to circulate air at high velocity throughout a building. Because of the high cost of energy and the expense of high-velocity ductwork, the use of induction systems is limited.

Induction system.

Induction system.

Induction unit with cooling or heating coils

These systems supply no air. There are 2 system in all-water system categories. i. Fan-coil System ii. Water Loop Heat Pump System But in this topic is cover Fan-coil system only.

The fan-coil unit basically consists of a fan and a coil within water circulates. The units are in the form of cabinets for placement under windows. The fan blows room air across coils containing either hot or cold water. Thermostatically controlled valves regulate the flow of water through the coils. A 4 pipe system, which is has 2 pipes for hot water supply and return and another 2 pipes for cold water supply and return.

Condensation on the cooling coils must be collected in a pan and drained away. When the fan-coil unit is on an outside wall, it is possible to have an outdoor air intake connected to the unit. A three-speed fan switch allows occupants of the zone to have some control over the temperature. Fan-coil units are most appropriate for air conditioning buildings with small zones (eg. Apartments, condominiums, motels, hotels, hospitals and schools). Fan coil units also located above windows, in small closets or in the dropped ceiling above a bathroom.

Fan Coil System.

Schematic diagram of an under window FCU ( 4 pipe system).

FCU placed in a small closet.

FCU placed above a dropped ceiling.