HVAC Basics

Bin Yan
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning
HVAC Energy Consumption
2
Cooling 642 kWh/m
2

Heating 623 kWh/m
2

Electricity 414 kWh/m
2


Annual Energy Use
>60%
A lab building on campus
32%
DOE numbers
HVAC
3
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning
Temperature
Humidity
Pressure
Ventilation
68F (20C) and 75F (25C)
30% relative humidity (RH) and 60% RH
A slightly positive pressure to reduce
outside air infiltration.
Rooms typically have several
complete air changes per hour
Diagram of mechanical system on the blackboard
Where?
4
Mechanical Room: Boilers, chillers, pumps, heat exchangers

Air Handling Units (AHUs): heat, cool, humidify, dehumidify, ventilate, filter and
distribute the air.
Room Controls: thermostats and Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes
Pictures from http://www.learnhvac.org/
In the mechanical room
5
Boiler
Chiller
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
Heating
6
Also to radiators, terminal reheat, domestic hot water.
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
Heating
7
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
Cooling
8
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
AHU Air Handling Unit
9
Return air
Exhaust air
Outside air Supply air
Where does air come from and go to?
AHU
10
Damper
Heating/Cooling Coil
Fan
Sensor
Filter
Whats in an AHU?
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
AHU - Economizer
11
Economizer mode: Using outside air for cooling rather than mechanical cooling.
Linked
Minimum in summer
More outside air in winter
55F
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
AHU Heating and Cooling
12
dehumidification
55F
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
Humidification
13
Why before the cooling coil?
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
VAV
14
Two variables Temperature & Air Volume damper
The box you can see in
the hallway.
IF temperature too high
First reduce reheat till fully closed
Then increase air volume
IF temperature too low
First reduce air volume till minimum
Then start reheat
Pictures from https://rfd-training.tac.com/docs/HVAC.pdf
Winter
15
Outside
Return
Mixed
Summer
16
Outside
Return
Mixed
Cooled and
dehumidified
17
The Real World
Any difference? Anything wrong?
52F
18
The Real World
52F
Chilled water is still used when outside air is far below 52F
Temperature increased after humidification.
Sensor error.
Separate control caused counteraction.
What we have learned?
19
Whats in the mechanical rooms.
What happens in air handling unit.
How VAV works.
What can happen in the real world.
The system that ensures the thermal comfort.
Thanks!
20
binyan@design.upenn.edu