ALASALA UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING - MEC544
HVAC SYSTEM
SEMESTER 2022/2023-02
What is an HVAC System and How Does it Work?
Heating Ventilation And Air-Conditioning
“Final Report”
Student Name: Muath Abdulaziz Alidel
Student Name: 11701322
Instructor Name: Dr. Saeed Alnoman
18 / February / 2023
INTRODUCTION
T
he History of Air-Conditioning The idea of cooling yourself off on hot days is not a
new concept. During ancient times many wealthy people used man powered fans, and
came up with other primitive ways to keep themselves cool. However, none of these
methods were long withstanding, so lets fast forward until 1758.This is when great American
inventor Benjamin Franklin, alongside John Hadley, made the discovery that when liquid
evaporates from a surface, it creates a cooling effect. This effect is still the basis of how modern
air conditioners are running today.From here we move right along to 1851 when John Gorrie, a
physician from Florida, created an ice machine that used compression to create ice. Air would
then be blown over the ice's surface to create a cooling effect. Gorrie created his machine in an
attempt to cool patients, so diseases could be prevented. The air conditioner may have taken off
right then, but unfortunately his financial backer died, so he lost funding for his project. What
could have been. Next we find ourselves in 1881 and President Garfield had just been shot. In
order to keep him comfortable a device was created that blew air over wet cloth. While the
invention was able to lower the temperature in the room by 20 degrees, it could not save
President Garfield, who died two months after being shot. Fast forward to 1902. Willis Carrier
created the very first electrical air conditioner for his publishing company in an effort to control
humidity to prevent paper from wrinkling. Carrier's air conditioner blew air over cold coils to
cool the air temperature. He quickly realized the value of his machine and later went on to create
Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America. Now we move on to 1914 when the term “air
conditioning” becomes coined by Stuart W. Cramer. Cramer created a ventilating device that
adds moisture into the air in his textile mill and called it “air conditioning,” which Willis Carrier
borrowed when he named is company.
W
hat is an HVAC system? The modern commercial or office building consists
of many sophisticated systems they systems include foundation and support
structures electrical and lighting and plumbing and fixtures another major part of
any building that is often taken for granted by its inhabitants as HVAC system HVAC stands for
Heating Ventilation And Air-Conditioning in this report we will identify the purpose and goals of
the HVAC system described basic HVAC parts and describe how these parts work together, air
quality is an essential consideration and maintaining the productivity comfort and health of the
occupants and should not be trivialized if air quality and temperature are not maintained
occupant comfort in the workplace can suffer directly affecting productivity and morale. The
goals of an HVAC system. when examining the design of an HVAC system we must remember
the various rules of the HVAC system please we all know that when we're cold we turn the
thermostat up for more heat and when we're hot we turn the thermostat down so the HVAC
system keeps us comfortable by adjusting the rooms temperature but equally important the
HVAC system must keep occupants comfortable by supplying fresh air to a room if we introduce
a significant proportion of fresh exterior air and alleviate carbon dioxide buildup occupants
experience better health and performance gains studies have shown a direct link between CO2
levels and short-term sickleave in office work forces however, our concerns regarding the HVAC
system and occupant health do not and here and heavily air-conditioned energy efficient
environments recirculated conditioned air can carry contaminants which contribute to respiratory
illness it is the HVAC systems job to remove contaminants and dust from the air using filters at
various stages as important as this consideration is in an average office or commercial building
this feature is critical in facilities that contain clean rooms medical facilities or hazardous
materials finally with the spiraling cost of fuel HVAC systems must also be efficient and
economic energy efficient HVAC systems might incorporate valuable air volume designs
components designed for operation at low pressures digital control systems mechanisms for
reclaiming heating or cooling benefits from recirculated air and high-efficiency ECM fan motors
many price products are designed specifically with energy efficiency in mind by understanding
the importance of occupant comfort we realize the significance of the HVAC system in a
building design it's responsible for controlling and providing fresh air for the environment.
How does HVAC affect the environment? Most air conditioners are fueled by electricity and
use refrigerant, which produces gaseous emissions that contribute to global warming and ozone
layer depletion. Some studies predict that by 2050, roughly 25 percent of global warming will be
caused by air conditioning.
W
hat is the economy cycle in HVAC? The economy cycle is one of the energy
saving strategies in the operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
systems. In this strategy, the ultimate goal is to reduce equipment energy
consumption by relying more on what’s already available (ambient outside air for space cooling).
Economy cycle in HVAC: When we hear the word economy or economic immediately we think
about maximising outcomes, achieving objectives and minimising costs. In HVAC systems, we
want to achieve comfort for our occupants while also minimising energy costs. It’s especially the
case now where there are energy audits, skyrocketing energy costs and more serious
environmental responsibilities. To achieve economy, it’s about maximising outputs (or achieving
the desired output) while minimising inputs. In HVAC systems, the input is often in the form of
energy. More energy means more capacity for cooling. However, input could also be coming
from other sources especially which is abundantly available. In this case, the outdoor ambient
temperature can be used for space cooling to save on energy. As a result, the equipment will
require less energy to bring down the air temperature levels.
We will discuss and talk about HVAC Systems: The Five System Loops.
Airside Loop
Chilled Water Loop
Refrigeration Loop
Heat Rejection Loop
Controls Loop
METHODOLOGY
In the methodology I will talk about Our cycles that we make in the presentation.
First Cycle:
Freon Gas
Freon Gas : CHCIF₂
Freon Gas Cycle, Why we use the Freon and what is the benefit on it and when this gas approved?
Uses of Freon: Freon is not only used in air conditioning units, but it has also been used in
upright and chest freezers. On top of those, there are a large number of commercial and industrial
appliances that use Freon in both food transportation and cold storage warehouses. Even
dehumidifiers use R-22.
How Freon Works? : There is a system of coils and compressors in your AC unit. The AC
compresses the R-22 gas, making it very hot. When this gas moves through the coils, it cools
down to a liquid form. In this form, the cooled R-22 absorbs the heat from the outside air, then
pushes the cold air out. It is a constant cycle of hot air in and cold air out that provides comfort in
your home and car.Every AC unit needs a refrigerant to cool the air. When the coolant leaks, the
AC stops blowing cold air. Even worse, these coolant leaks are harmful to the ozone. Most air
conditioner’s manufactured after 2003 do not use Freon as the refrigerant, as strict regulations
have been placed on the use of Freon which makes it more expensive to maintain.Not every
problem related to an air conditioner that only blows hot air is related to the refrigerant. You may
need to change the filter or install a better thermostat. There is no reason your refrigerant should
deplete on its own. If the Freon or other cooling agent is low, you probably have a leak. You
should always call an HVAC technician to find and fix the leak before adding more coolant.
Second Cycle:
Ammonia Gas
Ammonia Gas : NH₃
Ammonia Gas Cycle, Why we use the Ammonia and what is the benefit on it and when this gas approved?
Uses of Ammonia: Ammonia tends to absorb significant amounts of heat from its surroundings
when it is used in the form of refrigerant and air-conditioning equipment. Ammonia is also used
in the purification of water supplies. It also acts as a building block for manufacturing many
different kinds of products including fabrics, plastics, dyes, explosives, and pesticides. Ammonia
also has its use in the treatment of wastewater and waste, rubber, cold storage, paper and pulp,
and in the industries of food and beverages in the form of a stabilizer, neutraliser, and acts as a
nitrogen source. It also has its usage in the manufacturing of several pharmaceuticals.
How Ammonia Gas Works? : In the refrigerant cycle, ammonia gas undergoes compression through
the application of the compressor. This causes the gas to heat up under pressurization. The gas moves into
the condenser where heat is dissipated in the coils. This condenses the ammonia, changing it into liquid
form, but still at high pressure.This pressurized ammonia then moves through the expansion valve, which
is the gateway into an area of lower pressure. Once this occurs, the ammonia starts to boil, starting at -27
deg. F. At this temperature, it is obviously significantly colder than the surrounding space.Inside of a
refrigerated space, extremely cold ammonia cools the surrounding air. As the ammonia warms, the
surrounding air temperature drops. As the ammonia travels through the evaporator, it gradually warms up.
At the end of this cycle, the ammonia is pulled back into the compressor where it starts the cycle all over
again.In factory settings, refrigerated spaces are required to cool down very fast. Household refrigerators
take a few minutes to begin the cooling process after they are started. However, such a delay is not
feasible in a manufacturing environment – therefore, the use of ammonia refrigeration systems in these
environments.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this part of the report I’ll talk about some of the infos that I learned and I think that it's
important.
The Five System Loops.
Airside Loop
What is airside loop? The airside loop responds to changing cooling loads in the conditioned
space by varying either the temperature or the quantity of air delivered to the space. A constant-
volume system provides a constant quantity of supply air and varies the supply-air temperature in
response to the changing cooling load in the space.
What is basic airside safety? The course is an interactive, flexible, and effective way of
learning about the airport environment, airside safety, rules, aircraft danger zones, fire prevention
and in the event of an incident, knowing the procedures to follow in fire action and how to
administer first aid.
Chilled Water Loop
What is a chilled water loop? A chilled water system uses water instead of air to cool your
home. The water absorbs heat from the home and disperses it outside. The system cools the
water down to a temperature of 40 degrees and then circulates it through the water coil's air
handler.
What temperature should chilled water loop be? The majority of annual chilled water use
goes to medium temperature chilled water requirements – 55°F for sensible cooling and 60 to
70°F for process cooling loads
What does Chilled Water stand for in HVAC? CHW – Chilled Water. CHWR – Chilled Water
Return. CHWS – Chilled Water Supply.
How does a chiller loop work? The coolant is chilled in a coolant tank and repeatedly passed
through a heat load where it absorbs heat from industrial processes or equipment. The heat
absorbed from the heat load is then dissipated in an evaporator before returning to the coolant
tank for re-cooling and recycling through the closed-loop.
Refrigeration Loop
Why it is called refrigeration cycle? Since it is a reversible cycle, all four processes can be
reversed. This will reverse the direction of heat and work interactions, therefore producing a
refrigeration cycle.
Which cycle is used in refrigeration? The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle
The vapor-compression refrigeration is the most widely used cycle for refrigerators, air-
conditioners, and heat pumps.
What is COP in HVAC,Refrigeration ? COP is defined as the relationship between the power
(kW) that is drawn out of the heat pump as cooling or heat, and the power (kW) that is supplied
to the compressor. For example: A given heat pump used for air cooling has a COP = 2.
What is refrigerator COP formula? For a refrigerator the coefficient of performance is COP =
Qlow/(-W). Details of the calculation: (a) COP = Qlow/(-W). (-W) = Qlow/COP = 120/5 J = 24 J.
Heat Rejection Loop
What is heat rejection loop? An open loop cooling tower is a heat rejection device in which
there is direct contact between the water to be cooled down and the air. Open loop cooling tower
makes use of direct contact with the air in order to cool down the water. It is essentially a heat
exchanger.
What is heat rejection temperature? Air cooled condensers normally requires between 125°F
to 130°F condensing temperature to reject heat to a 100° ambient, while a water cooled
condenser can operate at 105°F condensing temperature and reject its heat to a 95°F water
stream.
Is heat rejected negative? According to the classical sign convention, heat transfer to a system
and work done by a system are positive; heat transfer from a system and work done on a system
are negative.
How do you calculate heat rejection in chillers?Calculation of Heat Rejection Capacity and
Selection of Cooling Tower [ for example ]
1. T1 Inlet water temperature to chiller: 33℃
2. T2 Outlet water temperature after heat exchange: 38℃
3. M Water flow rate for chiller: 6000 liter/h.
4. Heat rejection capacity calculation: Q = (38-33)*6000= 30,000 Kcal/h.
Controls Loop
What is control loop in control system? What is a Control Loop? A control loop is the
fundamental building block of industrial control systems. It consists of all the physical
components and control functions necessary to automatically adjust the value of a measured
Process Variable (PV) to equal the value of a desired Setpoint (SP).
How does a control loop function? What is a Control Loop? Control loop systems monitor and
regulate the devices, instrumentation, and machines used in industrial or manufacturing
processes. The system operates hardware components and software control functions necessary
to measure and adjust the variables that affect each process.
How is control loop measured? There are two main ways to measure control loop performance,
gain phase measurements or Bode plots and load transient tests. The main difference between
these methods is that the gain phase measurements give a clear, quantitative measurement of the
gain and phase margins of the system under small signal conditions.
What is control loop analysis? Control loop measurements help to characterize how your
power supply responds to changes in demand. You need your supply to respond quickly, but
without excessive ringing or oscillation.
what's are the loops inside the controls loop?
Airside Loop
Chilled Water Loop
Refrigeration Loop
Heat Rejection Loop
COMPRESSOR
An AC or heat pump compressor is the part of an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump
that compresses and pumps refrigerant to meet household cooling requirements.
How it works?
The compressor in the air conditioner or heat pump circulates refrigerant. Refrigerant
absorbs and releases heat as it travels between the indoor and outdoor units, helping to
maintain a cool and comfortable indoor temperature.
What is compressor explain?
Compressor, device for increasing the pressure of a gas by mechanically decreasing its
volume. Air is the most frequently compressed gas but natural gas, oxygen, nitrogen, and
other industrially important gases are also compressed.
CONDENSER
A condenser (or AC condenser) is the outdoor portion of an air conditioner or heat pump
that either releases or collects heat, depending on the time of the year.
How does a condenser work? A condenser is an essential component within any HVAC
system. Its purpose is to take in high-pressure refrigerant gas, emitted by the compressor,
and convert it into liquid state. The refrigerant is cooled and then condenses at a virtually
constant temperature and pressure.
What is in a condenser?
Condenser: The condenser is a set of coils, also located inside the outdoor unit. Here, a fan
blows across the coils, dissipating the heat from the refrigerant inside them and allowing it
to convert back into a liquid, at which point it's sent back inside to start the process over
again.
EXPAVSION VALVE
Expansion valves are devices used to control the refrigerant flow in a refrigeration
system. They help to facilitate the change of higher pressure of liquid refrigerant in the
condensing unit to lower pressure gas refrigerant in the evaporator.
How does a EXPANSION VALVE works?
The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant fluid upstream of the
evaporator. This drop in pressure cools the fluid, it is then sprayed into the evaporator. The
expansion valve is always attached to the evaporator.
How does an Expansion valve control flow?
Thermostatic Expansion Valve uses a valve mechanism to control the flow of liquid
refrigerant into the evaporator coil. The flow is controlled by the pressure in the
evaporator. This type of metering device is able to operate well when the load fluctuates
and hence is suitable for use in air conditioning system.
EVAPORATOR
evaporator (plural evaporators) A piece of equipment used to evaporate the
solvent from a solution. The part of a refrigerator that absorbs heat by evaporating
a refrigerant.
how does an Evaporator works?
The evaporator works the opposite of the condenser, here refrigerant liquid is converted to
gas, absorbing heat from the air in the compartment. When the liquid refrigerant reaches
the evaporator its pressure has been reduced, dissipating its heat content and making it
much cooler than the fan air flowing around it.
What is the function of evaporator in air conditioning?
The main function of evaporator coils is to convert the liquid state to a gaseous state in the
refrigerant. For the completion of the process, the refrigerant has to move from the
expansion valve to the coils of the evaporator.
CONCLUSION
A
fter all, it has been told and done, talking about history and when or how the HVAC
starts helps me to learn more about Heating Ventilation And Air-Conditioning.
Looking back to the cycles that I presented we see that there are two gases cycles
[ Freon ] - [ Ammonia ] and what are the benefits, advantages and disadvantages, also the
equations are included the COP in the cycles. Therefore I reached out to talk about the five
system loops Airside, Chilled Water, Refrigeration and Heat Rejection Loop. And we know how
each of the loops works even the Controls Loop analysis. In addition to RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION , I lecture the most important parts in the Air-Conditioning or Refrigeration
[ Compressor - Condenser - Expansion Valve and the Evaporator ]. What have we learned from
HVAC? HVAC school will teach you about the different types of refrigerants and the impact of
ozone depletion and global warming, as well as overall safety for you on the job. Additionally,
you'll learn about refrigeration cycles and how they impact the overall performance of cooling
systems. What is the importance of HVAC? The main purposes of a Heating, Ventilation and
Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system are to help maintain good indoor air quality (IAQ) through
adequate ventilation with filtration and provide thermal comfort. HVAC systems are among the
largest energy consumers in schools. The HVAC contractor has many unique advantages for
expanding into the residential energy efficiency market. The summary below details important
observations on HVAC contractors and those observations’ impacts on potential expansion into
the residential energy efficiency market. Understanding these impacts can help HVAC
contractors, program administrators, and other actors create and/or sustain a business that
promotes energy efficiency.What is the recommended HVAC maintenance schedule? Your
HVAC systems should be checked by a professional once a year. So if you have a standard
central AC or a furnace, each of these units should be maintained, each year. If you have a heat
pump system that you use year-round, then you'll want to schedule this service once every 6
months.
References
For the introduction I reference for the history part from
Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything book
METHODOLOGY / I use the cycles that we present in our presentation
Ammonia infos : https://www.ny.gov/
Freon infos : https://www.freon.com/en
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION / I took the information from the lectures that we learned , and
my own work
The Five System Loops infos from
[ Refrigeration and Air Conditioning ] Book
Conclusion : My own words
Appendices
Outdoor AC unit
Air Ventilation
Air Condition indoor unit
Thermostat
