AIR-HANDLING PROCESSES

Chapter 9
ERIC F. CURD
JORMA RAILIO
JAN GUSTAVSSON
JAAP HOGELING
MAMDOUH EL HAJ ASSAD
JAN EMILSEN
SANTE MAZZACANE
RALF WIKSTÉN
 Contents of Chapter 9
• INTRODUCTION • AIR-HANDLING PROCESSES
• Scope and Purpose • Air-Heating Equipment
• Linking with Other Chapters • Humidification and Dehumidification
• Aims of an Air-Handling System, • Air Distribution
Including the Unit and Ductwork
• FANS
• AIR FILTERS
• General
• Why Air Filters?
• Centrifugal Fan
• Atmospheric Air and Dust
• Axial Fans
• Filters and Test Methods
• Effect of Speed of Revolution
• Filters in Operation
• Fan and Duct Network
• Life–Cycle Issues
• Series Fan Connection
• Summary
• Fan Volume Flow Regulation
• References
• References
• HEAT EXCHANGERS AND HEAT-
RECOVERY UNITS • AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF AIR-
• HANDLING (HVAC) SYSTEMS
General Theory of Heat Exchangers
• Methods for Automation Control
• Plate Fin–and–Tube Heat Exchangers
• Main Types of Control Equipment and
• References Automation Level
 Contents of Chapter 9
(cont’d)
• General Technical Requirements • SOUND REDUCTION IN AIR-
• Automation Equipment and Instrumentation HANDLING SYSTEMS
• Process • Basic Concepts
• Controller • Free-Field Noise Transmission
• The Choice of Controllers
•
• Criteria for Acceptable Air-Handling
Sensors
•
Unit and HVAC System Noise Levels
Placing of Sensors in HVAC Systems
• Changing Speed by Using Frequency • FUNDAMENTALS OF ENERGY
Converters SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION IN
• Building the Control Station INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS
• AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, DUCTWORK • Design Aspects of Energy-Efficient
• Friction Loss Calculation Systems
• Design Methods • SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND
• Thermal Losses by Transmission SYSTEM DESIGN ASPECTS
• Air Leakage from Ductwork • Aspects Related to the Quality of
Extract or Exhust Air
• Other Questions
 DESIGN GUIDEBOOK, Chapter 9
• Air filtration for better IAQ
• Air handling processes
• Controls, ductwork, sound reduction
• Energy considerations, special questions
• Basic features of air handling processes,
and theory behind equipment and control
• Link between CHAPTER 4 (physical
fundamentals) and Applications (for
details of equipment, and practical items)
 BASIC QUESTION

• “What are the theoretical

aspects of air handling units,
ductwork design, and the
optimisation of building energy
systems”
 AIR HANDLING UNIT,
COMPONENTS
• FILTERS • FANS
• HEATERS • SILENCERS
• COOLERS • HUMIDIFIERS
• HEAT • DEHUMIDIFIERS
RECOVERY
9.4 AIR HANDLING PROCESSES

COVERS:-
Selection; Heat requirements;Direct fired
units;Air heaters; Coil selection;
Humidification& Dehumidification;
Methods of Ventilation;
Methods of Air Distribution;Air Handling
Equations & examples.
 AIR HEATING EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION:-

•Unit selection.
•Heating media.
•Air heating coils.
 AIR HEATING EQUIPMENT
HEAT REQUIREMENTS:-
Fabric Loss f = (AU) (ei - ao)

Ventilation Loss v = 0.33 NV(ei - ao)

Plant load p = f + v
Use of F1 and F2 factors relating to the
mode of heating for various percentages
of convection and radiation can be used
to improve on the above solutions.
 AIR HEATING EQUIPMENT
The governing equations for Sensible Heat and
Latent Heat requirements are given.

The magnitude of energy loss resulting from one m3.s-1

heated from an external temperature of -5 C to 20C
is considered.
This is shown to be approximately 30kW showing the
energy losses that occur by ventilation.
 AIR HEATING EQUIPMENT

The following media used for Air Heating Coils.

are considered together with the design requirements:-

•Low temperature hot water

•Steam
•Electricity
 DIRECT FIRED AIR HEATERS

This section covers the following types of unit and

the necessary selection factors. :-
•Gas Fired
•Oil Fired
•Solid fuel fired
 HUMIDIFICATION &
DEHUMIDIFICATION
Required for the following reasons:-
•Control of air moisture content within
a space for the well being of human, animal
or plant life
•Control of air moisture content within
a space for the control of a process or product
storage
A table is included relating the various effects
that high and low humidity have on given factors
 HUMIDIFIER TYPES
The various methods by which controlled
humidification can be achieved is covered.

•By a fine mist or spray

•Absorbent pad evaporation
•Water vaporization
•Steam injection
 HUMIDIFICATION UNITS
With water storage:-
•Spray type
•Pan-type
•Mechanical pan
•Steam generated pan
Without water storage:-
•Spinning disk
•Steam jet
•Ultrasonic atomisation
Air Washers
Selection factors for the above
 PSYCHROMETRICS
100% Saturation Moisture content.kg.kg-1
KEY.
1.Humidification only
2.Heating & humidification 1
3.Sensible heating only
8 2
4.Dehumidification & heating
5.Dehumidification only
6.Cooling & dehumidification
7 3
7.Sensible cooling only
8.Evaporative cooling only

6 4
5
Dry bulb temperature.
Guide vanes
AIR WASHER Eliminator
plates
Low-pressure spray

S Spray banks

Spray Nozzle
banks

Humidified
Air flow air out
Chilled water tank
Drain/ overflow

Heater Water supply

Mixing valve
Chilled water flow and return from
and to refrigeration plant.
CAPILLARY AIR WASHER
Capillary cells Eliminator plates. Leaving humidified air

Air Flow

Strainers

Make up, treated Cooler

water D Drain
 DEHUMIDIFICATION
Required for the following reasons:-
•Reducing moisture content of a gas to aid
the manufacture of hygroscopic material
•To stop fouling of heat exchanges
•To stop fine dusts or salts being discharged into a
conditioned space
 DEHUMIDIFICATION
Dehumidification is achieved by either:-
•Compression
•Refrigeration
•Liquid sorption
•Solid sorption
•A combination of the above
 LIQUID SORPTION
Dehumidified Air Air to waste

Duct work Spray Header Duct work

Cooling coil Heating coil

Fresh air intake Regenerative air intake

Weak Strong
liquid liquid

SORBENT TANK
 SOLID SORPTION
Fresh air to be dehumidified

Sorbent bed being used Sorbent bed being

to dehumidify regenerated

HEATER

Regenerative air
 AUTOMATIC ROTARY
REGENERATION
Rotating adsorbent bed Heated air to regenerate bed flows through this
area
of continuously rotating desiccant bed

Air to be
dehumidified Partition and seal to
flows through this Separate reactivation from
section process
Roller
Drive motor.
 AIR DISTRIBUTION
REQUIRED TO:-
•Provide Oxygen for life
•Remove odours
•Reduce bacteria count
•Remove toxic gases, dusts and vapours
•Remove explosive gases and dusts
•To provide adequate air for combustion
•Reduce the moisture content
•Reduce mold growth
•Add or remove heat from the space
 VENTILATION METHODS

Ventilation of a space is achieved by:-

•Natural Ventilation.A combination of(wind &
thermal forces)
•Mechanical extract - induced input
•Mechanical input - Forced Extract (Plenum)
•Mechanical input- Mechanical extract
 NATURAL VENTILATION
THERMAL FORCES
High-density cold air
during winter months
creating an external Warm air leaving cowl
pressure

Heated building.
Low-density air
displaced by cold
air rises.

Low level
inlet
 NATURAL VENTILATION
WIND FORCES

Wind lift over roof

Wind Direction
Positive pressure on this face Negative
of the building. pressure

Air enters & leaves through

designed openings and
crackage
MECHANICAL - EXTRACT
INDUCED INPUT
Extract fan

Induced air
negative pressure
 PLENUM SYSTEM
Forced extract

Upward air flow

Duct work system

or unit heaters
Positive pressure space.
Make up air Mechanical input

Fans discharging warm or cold

air down wards
 MECHANICAL INPUT -
MECHANICAL EXTRACT
Extract fan.
Upward air flow

Duct work system

or unit heaters Positive or negative
pressure space.
Make up air Mechanical input

Fans discharging warm or cold

air down wards
METHODS OF AIR DISTRIBUTION

Achieved by either:-
•Upward ventilation (displacement)
•Downward Ventilation
•Crosswise
•Mixed Upward-Downwards
 UPWARD VENTILATION
DISPLACEMENT
Extract ductwork

Input ductwork Input

In a wide hall the air in this area will be stagnated

 DOWNWARD SYSTEM
Cool air inlet

Coanda effect on ceiling

Low level extracts

In a wide hall the air in this area will be

stagnated
 CROSS WISE
Air flow entering through a complete perforated wall and
extracted at the other side.

Air flow

Work bench.

Laminar Flow Room Arrangement is

shown above, however many other
arrangements are possible
MIXED UPWARD-DOWNWARD
SYSTEMS
Extract air

Input air

Extract air Extra

 AIR HANDLING EQUATIONS
Air Mixing.
Considering any two gas streams “A” and “B”
which when
combine produce a mixed condition “C”
Flow Stream A

qvA; qmA; θ A; m WA; h A Mixed conditions C

qvC; qmC; θ C; m WC; h C

Flow Stream B
qvB; qmB; θ B; m WA; h B
 MASS FLOW
For Mass Flow.
Assuming no flow losses occur, the
total mass of a gas introduced into and
out of the system must be constant
hence: -
qm A + q m.B = qm C
 MOISTURE CONTENT
For Moisture Content
Similarly the total quantity of moisture in the
system will be the same before and after
mixing. However the amount of moisture per
unit mass of the gas will change, hence in this
case the equation must include mass.
qmA x m wA + qmB x mw B = qmC m w C
 ENTHALPY

For Enthalpy.
Provided that no gain or loss of heat takes
place during the mixing process, then the total
heat in the two air streams before mixing must
equal that of the combined air stream after
mixing.
qmA x hA + qmB x hB = qmC x hC
 TEMPERATURE
For Temperature.
Heat gained or lost by stream A = Heat gained or lost by steam B.
 Heat gained or lost in stream A    Heat lost or gained in stream B  
   
 Heat lost or Gained by Associated 
  Heat lost or Gained by Associated 
   
 moisture .   moisture 

 qmA x c pg  A   C    qmB x c pg  c   B  
   
q
 mA x m wA x c pW 
 A   
C   qvB x mwB x c pW  C   B 
   
qV A  A   C c pg  c pw mw A qV B  C   B  c pg  c pw mwB 
 TOTAL ROOM AIR MOVEMENT
Primary air leaving the grille, secondary
entrained air from the room,entrainment is
related the leaving jet velocity.
Total air is the combined air stream.
Induction expressed by the momentum equation :-

qmP vp + q ms vs = (qVP + qVS) vT

The induction ratio (R) is the ratio of the total

air to the primary air.
 SENSIBLE HEAT AIR
REQUIREMENTS

skWx 273 
qV= r  s 
351
 DUCTWORK
• MAIN ITEMS:
* design principles
* balancing
* air leakages
• BASIC THEORIES IN CHAPTER 4 (fluid
flow)
 ENERGY ISSUES
• FAN EFFICIENCY
• HEAT RECOVERY OPTIMISATION
• DIMENSIONING
• DEMAND-CONTROLLED
VENTILATION