HVAC Systems: Overview
Michael J. Brandemuehl, Ph.D, P.E. University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
Overview
System Description Secondary HVAC Systems
Primary HVAC Systems
Electric chillers
Air distribution
Room diffusers and air terminals Duct Design Fan characteristics Air Handling Units Cooling coils Pipes and pumps
Air and water cooled Compressor technologies Performance Absorption Engine-driven
Thermal chillers
Cooling towers
Water distribution
Overall Design Process
Michael Brandemuehl
System Overview
Core Objectives: healthy, productive, comfortable indoor environment
Heating
to perimeter spaces Cooling to perimeter and core spaces Humidification or dehumidification as needed Ventilation to occupied spaces
Deliver over time and space
Time and Space
HVAC needs in each room change over day and over year At any time, may need heating and cooling in different rooms of building
Core
needs cooling even in winter
HVAC system must meet simultaneous diverse loads
Michael Brandemuehl
System Options
Separate HVAC system for every zone
Residential Motel Strip
mall
One HVAC system for entire building
Distribute
heating, cooling, ventilation to individual zones
Typical Home System
AIRFLOW
(WITH FAN AND FILTER) (AIR CONDITIONING)
AIRFLOW
Michael Brandemuehl
Typical Large Commercial System
Distributed HVAC Systems
Packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) Water loop heat pump (WLHP) Packaged rooftop unit (RTU)
Michael Brandemuehl
Typical Small Commercial System With Rooftop Units
Packaged Rooftop Unit (RTU)
Michael Brandemuehl
Slab Installation with Side Discharge
Typical Small Commercial System With Split System
Michael Brandemuehl
Water Loop Heat Pump System
System Characteristics
Rooftop Units (RTU) or Split Systems One unit each zone Refrigerant in cooling coil Ventilation Ceiling diffusers and ductwork Simple controls one thermostat per zone Separate billing for each tenant Sometimes separate boiler and radiators
Michael Brandemuehl
Zoning
One thermostat per zone Rooms with similar load profiles
Good:
offices on same side of building Bad: exterior office and interior conf. rm.
Proximity (one thermostat!) Air communication allows larger zones Recognize local loads in large spaces
Central HVAC System
Terminal devices Fan coil units Air and water distribution systems Heat exchangers Central heating and cooling sources
Michael Brandemuehl
Typical Central System
Packaged Central System
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Large Central System Equipment
Typical Large Central System
Michael Brandemuehl
Benefits of Central and Distributed System Designs
Central
Distributed
Large equipment has higher quality, efficiency, and durability Maintenance is concentrated Noise is removed from zone Diversity allows lower installed capacity Can use thermal storage
Easy to provide zoning Direct control by occupants Easier independent scheduling for energy savings Generally lower capital costs and shorter lead time for equipment Dont need dedicated maintenance staff, use service contract Can often install on roof, less useable space for equipment
Typical Design Approach
Start at the zone and work out
Loads Air
diffusers and zone terminals Air distribution system Air handlers Chilled water distribution Central cooling and heat rejection
Michael Brandemuehl
Meeting Zone Loads
SA (hRA hSA ) Qtot = m SAc p (TRA TSA ) Qsen = m
Given controlled room air temperature, can control airflow or supply temperature to meet changing sensible loads
Return Air (RA)
Supply Air (SA) Loads Qtot and Qsen Controlled Room Conditions
Air Handling Systems (All Air)
Constant air volume (CAV) systems
Constant
zone airflow Meet varying loads with varying supply air temperature
Variable air volume (VAV) systems
Constant
zone supply air temperature Meet varying loads with varying supply airflow
Michael Brandemuehl
Air Handling Systems (cont.)
Dual duct (DD) systems
Mix
hot and cold air at each zone Use constant or variable supply airflow
Multizone (MZ) system
Mix
hot and cold air for each zone at the air handler
Typical CAV AHU System
Michael Brandemuehl
Typical VAV AHU System
Typical Dual Duct System
Michael Brandemuehl
Typical Multizone System
Air-Water Systems
Use combination of conditioned air and zone water coils Ventilation requires air Zone heating and cooling loads can be met with fan coils
Michael Brandemuehl
Fan Coil
One or two coils (use seasonal valves if one coil for both hot and cold water) Thermostat controls water flow Ventilation must be met with conditioned or unconditioned outdoor air
Fan Coil System: 4 Pipe
Michael Brandemuehl
Fan Coil System: 2 Pipe
Integrated With Central System
Michael Brandemuehl
General System Classification
Secondary HVAC Equipment and Systems
Generally in the building Air distribution Water distribution Air handlers and fan coils Primary sources of heating and cooling Chillers and heat rejection Boilers Engines and generators Thermal Storage
Primary HVAC Equipment and Systems
Air Delivery to Zone
Fully mixed zone
Supply
air is mixed uniformly with room air Air can be introduced at ceiling, walls, floor
Displacement ventilation
Supply
air is slowly introduced at floor Air rises, absorbing heat and pollutants
Michael Brandemuehl
Mixed vs. Displacement
Typical Diffusers
Michael Brandemuehl
Diffuser Selection
Mix air without causing draft, quietly, with low pressure drop Velocities less than 50 fpm (0.25 m/s) in occupied zone Diffuser manufacturers report throw: distance till velocity is reduced to specified level Beware of change in throw at reduced airflow
Air Terminals
Control supply airflow entering zone (VAV) Control supply air temperature (CAV & VAV) Interact with zone thermostat
Michael Brandemuehl
Alternative Air Terminals
Parallel Fan Power Mixing Box
Modulate VAV airflow for cooling Draw warm air from plenum and add heat as necessary Maintains higher air velocity in heating to overcome stratification
Michael Brandemuehl
Duct Design
Optimization of initial cost with operating costs
Larger
ducts have lower velocity, pressure drop, and fan energy Small ducts reduce ducting costs and save building space Double duct size reduces fan power by factor of 32!
Typically use sizing heuristics
Air Handling Units (AHU)
Delivers air to zones Heats and cools air Often integrates ventilation
Michael Brandemuehl
AHU Configurations
Fans
Centrifugal Fan
Axial Fan
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Coils
Filtration
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Mixing Dampers
Control airflow rates of outdoor and recirculated air Mix air streams
Uniform
temperature Uniform concentration
Pressure Control
Hot and Cold Water Distributrion
Deliver heat to the AHUs Remove heat from the AHUs
Michael Brandemuehl
Hot and Cold Water Distribution
System Configuration
Michael Brandemuehl
Pumps
Energy Efficient Design
Low pressure drop in piping and fittings High efficiency motors and pumps Variable speed pumping Properly sized two-way valves
Michael Brandemuehl
Overview
System Description Secondary HVAC Systems
Primary HVAC Systems
Electric chillers
Air distribution
Room diffusers and air terminals Duct Design Fan characteristics Air Handling Units Cooling coils Pipes and pumps
Air and water cooled Compressor technologies Performance Absorption Engine-driven
Thermal chillers
Cooling towers
Water distribution
Overall Design Process
Central HVAC Plants
Michael Brandemuehl
Chillers in Central HVAC Plants
Chillers
Michael Brandemuehl
Electric Chillers
Expansion Valve Evaporator Condenser
Air cooled Water cooled Reciprocating Scroll Screw Centrifugal
Compressor
Evaporator
Refrigerant to water heat exchanger Typically water in tubes, refrigerant on shell-side Usually designed for constant water flow
Michael Brandemuehl
Condensers
Air cooled
Plate
fin heat exchanger Multiple fans for capacity control
Water cooled
Shell
and tube heat exchanger Cooling tower
Reciprocating Chiller
Used to be common at relatively small capacities More recently displaced by scroll and screw compressors Control capacity with cylinder unloading
Michael Brandemuehl
Scroll Chiller
Small capacities < 50 tons Most common in smaller air conditioners and packaged unitary equipment Typically no capacity modulation
Screw Chiller
Medium capacities, 30-500 tons Relatively low speed, direct drive Capacity modulation using slide valve or variable speed drive
Michael Brandemuehl
Centrifugal Chiller
Large capacities, 2002500 tons Highest efficiencies Often improved cycle efficiencies Capacity control with inlet vanes or VSD
Chiller Performance
Larger chillers are more efficient Capacity and efficiency increase when compressor lift (pressure differential) is reduced
Higher
evaporator temperature Lower condenser temperature
Michael Brandemuehl
Part Load Performance
3.5 3
Energy Input Ratio, kW/Ton, Power per Capacity
2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Efficiency degrades at part load
Load, Tons
Absorption Chillers
Compressor replaced by pump Absorb refrigerant in other liquid Pump liquid to higher pressure Use heat to drive refrigerant from solution
Michael Brandemuehl
Absorption Chillers
No fluorocarbons Energy source can be waste heat Relatively low efficiency, COP = 0.6 Risk of crystallizing solution
Cooling Tower
Michael Brandemuehl
Cooling Tower Types
Open tower
Use
tower water in condenser Water treatment Closest approach
Closed tower
Closed
condenser water loop with heat exchanger Less maintenance
Cooling Tower
Reject heat from warm condenser water to outdoor air using evaporation
Michael Brandemuehl
Cooling Tower Concepts
Evaporative process allows heat rejection to temperature below outdoor dry bulb Condenser return water approaches outdoor wet bulb Approach = Tcw,out Twb Range = Tcw,in Tcw,out
28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18
Tcw,sup
er ns de W er at
Temperature
Range
Tcw,ret
n Co
Twb,lvg
ulb etb
Approach
W Air er ow
Twb,ent
Energy Efficient HVAC Design
High efficiency components
Chiller Tower
Fans
Pumps Motors
Design for part load conditions
Multiple
chillers, towers, pumps speed drives Control system to monitor and adjust operation
Variable
Question heuristic design criteria
Michael Brandemuehl
