Air conditioning is treating air in such a way that temperature, humidity and

contamination of dust particles are adjusted to level suitable for the purpose for
which the air conditioning is intended for.

Air conditioning involves various processes such as:-

1. Cooling or heating air
2. Addition of moisture in the air (Humidification) or removal of moisture
from the air (Dehumidification)
3. Controlling movement of air
4. Purification of air
5. Addition of fresh air from outside
6. Distribution of air
Advantages of air conditioning.
o Working efficiency of personnel is improved.
o increased sales in shops and stores due to comfortable conditions (customer
and staff)
o Reduction in cleaning decorating and furnishings last longer.
o Better patronage in hotels, theatres etc.
o Industrial processes work at maximum efficiency e.g. computer.
o Entry of noise, dust draught is reduced due to sealed windows
Factors affecting comfort air conditioning.
o Temp of air- maintenance of desired temp within an enclosed space even
though the temp of outside air is above or below.
o Humidity of air -increasing or decreasing of moisture contents of air during
summer or winter to produce comfortable heath condition.
o Purify of air - clean air is comfortable thus proper filtration, cleaning and
purification is essential to keep air free from dust.
o Motion of air - air circulation is controlled in order to keep constant temp
through out the conditioned space.

Typical air conditioning system

Air is drawn in through grilled damper then filtered to remove solid particles in
suspension. Air preheating is done to achieve desirable level of relative humidity.
Humidification is provided by employing washers which also act like a filter of
matter which has passed the earlier filter. Washers' works in conjunction with
eliminator plates which-perform role of crude filter for water droplets created by
intense washing process. Air is then passed through heaters i.e, water pipe coil
exchanger which is also has some basic apparatus used for cooling the air. When
cooling the floor chilled water enters coil from refrigerator.

Central air system.

This is used for conditioning large space e.g. theatres, open plane office and large
factory space. Air moves through a series of large pipes (ducts). Outside air is
taken in through a duct within opening on the roof or on a wall. A protection grill
stops large objects and small animals, birds entering the system. Air passes through
dry filter to remove dust. During winter air is heated by steam or water thus air
absorb moisture, in summer is cooled with cold water to below dew point. Air
passes then through scrubber plates where it's washed again by stream of water to
remove remaining dust particles. The eliminator plates intercept any droplets of
water held in the air such that only absorbed moisture is carried forward to final
reheater. Air is also recirculated. The condenser, evaporator and compressor are
mounted separately with the condenser often on an outside wall or on a roof.

Window air conditioner

The window air conditioner mainly used for conditioning of air in the room.
Commonly it is mounted in a window, hence it is known as a window air
conditioner.
The window air conditioner unit consists of the following components as shown in
fig
Refrigeration unit
Evaporator/cooling coil, condenser, compressor, expansion device Air circulation
fan
windows air conditioning diagram
Working
I) The hot air coming from room is flowing on the evaporator (cooling
coil), the cooling coil absorbs heat from the hot air.
II) The moisture of air gets removed on the cooling coil surface by the
process of condensation of air.
III) Thus the air is cooled and dehumidified to meet the requirement of
comfort air conditioning in the room.
IV) The filter cleans the air coming from the room before passes through the
cooling coil.
V) The tray is provided below the cooling coil (evaporator) to collect
moisture which condenses from the recirculation of air.
NB The flow of hot air (from the room) and cooled air (to room) is taking place by
the evaporator blower.
VI) The refrigerating unit provides a cooling effect at the evaporator.
 VII) The condenser fan circulates air on the outside of condenser tubes, the
refrigerant in condenser rejects heat to outside atmospheric air. Necessary
fresh air is allowed to mix with the recalculated room air to meet the
ventilation requirement.
VIII) Ventilation air is controlled by ventilation damper. The room -
temperature is controlled by a thermostat using an on-off power supply to
the compressor motor.
Limitations
 It produces noise in the room because of the compressor is very near to the
room.
 The evaporator and condenser are enclosed in a single unit. Therefore
evaporator cannot be used as an interior of room because condenser requires
outside air for cooling.
 It requires an appropriate size of window or hole in the wall to fit the
conditioner.
Split air conditioner

It is a modification of the window air conditioner.

Construction
This unit differs from the window air conditioner. In terms of splits of the unit into
two parts. In the split air conditioner, the window air conditioner divided (split)
into two parts.
First part: Includes the evaporator, filter, evaporator fan, and grille (cooling coil).
They placed inside the room.
Second part: Includes condenser, condenser fan, and compressor. This placed
outside the room.
The first part (inside of the room) and the second part (outside of the room) are
connected by small diameter tubes. Therefore, a small hole required in the wall for
the installation of a split air conditioner.
split air conditioner diagram

The advantages of a split air conditioner over a window air conditioner

 The compressor is outside of the room, therefore no compressor noise in the
room.
 No window opening and fixing needed.
 The compressor is outside of the room, therefore no compressor noise in the
room.

Reasons for air conditioning

-To improve the control of industrial process or operation of particular commercial
equipment.
-To maintain the human comfort i.e. according to requirement of human body. The
following conditions effect body comfort:
a) Air temperature
b) Relative humidity
c) Air movement.

Components of an air conditioning system.

1. Air Heaters.
The air heating is the first process point air must pass through. This is necessary in
regions where both heating and cooling air conditioning may be done. During
summer this device. is switched off Heating is accomplished by electric heating,
gas heating, steam heating and hot water.
2. Air Cooling
This is the second device over which air must pass. Air cooler may be evaporator
or refrigeration plant or chilled water coil. Moist air contact the cold metal surface
of fins, condensation occur and moisture of air is reduced. For this condensation to
occur temperature of metal surface must be less than dew point of air so that
correct mass of moisture is corrected.
3. Humidification.
This is achieved through humidifier water or steam. There are three methods of
using water as a humidifying agent which is sprayed into the airflow.
- Passage of moist air through a spray chamber containing, very large number of
small water droplets.
- Passage of air through wetted surface
- Direct injection of water drops of aerosol size into the room being conditioned.

4. Dehumidification
Method.
- Cooling to a temp below the dew point
- Adsorption
- Absorption

5. Cooler coils and air washers.

Disadvantages of air washers
-More bulky, large quantity of water used.
-Corrosion is great risk.
-Maintenance is more expensive.
-Uses an open chilled water circuit thus causing deposition of scale, rust and slime
thus reduce beat transfer.

6. Air Washers
It consists of spray chamber in which dense cloud of spray water is provided by
pumping water through nozzles. On passing through chamber air passes an array of
deflector plates or perforated metal screen which secure uniform distribution of air
flow over the cross-section of washer. The air leaves the washer by passing
through a bank of eliminator plates which prevent carry over of moisture
(unevaporated). It also improves the cleaning ability of the washer i.e. removes
small particles from air flow. Inside the chamber there. are nozzles which atomise
the water arranged in banks.
Maintenance.
- Checking nozzles for clogging and unblocking.
- Cleaning of strainer.
- Removal of rust and corrosion on surfaces using a wire brush.
- Lubrication of pump, bearings.
- carrying out water treatment.

7. Filters
Purpose of filters is to free air off as much of airborne contaminants. They reduce
cost of cleaning, deteriorating of building and protection of heating or air
conditioning equipment.
Types

-Dry filter, viscous and electrostatic filter.

(a) Dry filters

They use material such as cotton wool glass fibre. The efficiency of filter depends
on area of medium offered to the air stream and thus filter arranged as V to
increase area. After use, contaminant retained increase resistance to air flow thus
need to replace filter.
(b) Roller type
When the filter is dirty a press switch will switch on an electric motor which will
turn the dirty spool and allow clean fabric to enter the filter chamber.
(c) Absolute Filters.
Dry fabric types are very efficient in removing even the smallest particle from the
air. This happens due to close packing of a very large number of small diameter
fibres which results in a high resistance to air passing through filters.
(d) Viscous filter.
They have large dust holding capacity thus used in a high degree of atmospheric
pollution. The filter medium is coated with non-flammable, non-toxic oil which the
contaminant adhere to as. They pass through filter. Types of viscous filter are cell
type, automatic type, automatic spray viscous filter.
 8. Dampers
They control flow of air within duct work by varying resistance to air flow and this
is done manually or automatically. Without some way of controlling air flow in
forced air system some spaces would receive too much air while other would not
get enough. Dampers ensure even distribution of air. By balancing air flow or
shutting off or opening certain duct for zone control. Dampers may be installed in
grills or even in duct itself. Types of dampers are butterfly, spit dampers.

Assignment: discuss maintenance of air dampers