HVAC Introduction

Introduction
The modern day definition of air-conditioning was created in the early 20th century based on
the vision and works of Hermann Rietschel, Alfred Wolff, Stuart Cramer, and Willis Carrier.
Cramer, a textile engineer in North Carolina, is credited with coining the phrase "airconditioning" in 1906. In 1908, G.B. Wilson developed the first holistic definition of what
air-conditioning encompasses.
The Original Definition of Air-Conditioning
To maintain a suitable degree of humidity in all seasons and in all parts of a building
To free the air from excessive humidity during certain seasons
To supply a constant and adequate supply of ventilation
To efficiently wash and free the air from all micro-organisms, effluvias, dust, soot,
and other foreign bodies
To efficiently cool the air of the rooms during certain seasons
To either heat the rooms in winter or to help heat them
To combine all the above desiderata in an apparatus that will not be commercially
prohibitive in first cost or cost of maintenance
(Source: Nagengast, B., 1999, "Early Twentieth Century Air-Conditioning Engineering",

ASHRAE Journal, March (p.55)
Though he did not actually invent air-conditioning nor did he take the first documented
scientific approach to applying it, Willis Carrier is credited with integrating the scientific
method, engineering, and business of this developing technology and creating the industry we
know today as air-conditioning.
Back to top
Description
Today's HVAC&R engineer, or mechanical engineer of record (MER), continues to be a
steward of the basic discipline issues identified by Mr. Wilson nearly 100 years ago. Roles
have expanded, though, to address more modern quality of life issues. ASHRAE offers the
current vision of the MER's stewardship responsibilities: to improve the quality of life by
helping keep indoor environments comfortable and productive; by helping to deliver healthy
food to consumers; and by helping to preserve the outdoor environment.
As part of a holistic controlled environment design solution, the MER is responsible for
addressing seven major processes. These are:
1. Heatingthe addition of thermal energy to maintain space or process conditions in
response to thermal heat loss
2. Coolingthe removal of thermal energy to maintain space or process conditions in
response to thermal heat gain
3. Humidifyingthe addition of water vapor to maintain space or process moisture
content
4. Dehumidifyingthe removal of water vapor to maintain space or process moisture

content
5. Cleaningthe process of removing particulate and bio-contaminants from the
conditioned space.
6. Ventilatingthe process of providing suitable quantities of fresh outside air for
maintaining air quality and building pressurization.
7. Effectivenessthe process of achieving the desired thermal energy transfer, humidity
control, filtration, and delivery of ventilation air to the breathing zone of the occupied
space in accordance with required needs.
It is important for the MER to be involved early in the project, even as early as the
programming stage, so that mechanical system space issues and facility energy budgets can
be evaluated and integrated into the design process before building construction elements,
configurations, and orientations are finalized (see also WBDG High-Performance HVAC). A
few critical issues that need to be considered early are:
Financial Focus: Will the project be a code minimum type facility or will total
ownership cost perspectives be considered that balance capital first costs against longterm ownership and operating costs?
Owner Sophistication: The MER needs to understand the abilities of the owner and
keep these in mind as mechanical system architecture issues are considered. The best
of design solutions aren't much good if operators do not understand how to correctly
operate or control the equipment.
Operations and Maintenance: No matter what level of system complexity is applied, it
is imperative that suitable space be made available for equipment without
compromising performance or maintenance access. A good MER will understand the
requirements published in equipment installation manuals and focus on providing
prescribed minimum service and operating considerations in the planning of a facility
layout.
Before any equipment selections can be finalized, the MER will need to perform a thermal
load calculation for the developing facility based on internal and external influencing factors.
In many cases, this activity will be expanded to include analysis of comprehensive energy
models. These models will foster dynamic integration opportunities whereby the design team
and owner can evaluate the impacts of trade-offs between facility construction elements,
mechanical system alternatives, and available operating efficiencies. Load calculations can be
utilized for any or all of the following design activities:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Defining the basic load dynamics

Evaluating solution alternatives via life-cycle analysis
Optimizing system performance
Selecting final HVAC equipment
Establishing energy budgets for owners
Verification of proposed equipment performance
Commissioning Design Intent for seasonal comparison
The MER will be responsible for securing/developing the following fundamental information
from the Owner and design team members:
Basic Load Calculations:
o
o
o
Establish summer/winter design weather conditions paying particularly close

attention to regional weather issues and impact on
humidification/dehumidification considerations.
All elements of the building envelope must be identified so that thermal
energy loss/gain can be determined. Reference should be made to ASHRAE
Standard 90.1 for regionally documented envelope construction minimum
thermal quality considerations.
Orientation of walls and roofs need to be defined so that sun angle
impacts can be evaluated.
The composite construction of all walls, roofs, and floors needs to be
defined so that thermal transfer calculations can be performed. This
information will also be useful when a dew point analysis is performed
on the envelope.
Thermal mass and color of walls and roofs need to be defined so that
thermal time lags and radiation absorption can be evaluated.
Fenestration U-values and solar heat gain coefficients need to be
defined.
External/internal shading provisions need to be defined that may
impact fenestration heat gain.
Lighting:
Lighting densities and ballast loss factors need to be mapped per
individual space. Maximum densities are identified for individual
space types in ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
Opportunities to capture natural light (Daylighting) and apply
occupancy sensing techniques to reduce light heat gain need to be
explored.
Basic internal sensible heat gain allowances for receptacle loads need to be
established.
Miscellaneous sensible and latent heat gain values need to be identified for
special circumstances.
People contributions:
The total number of people and the occupancy usage profiles need to
be established.
The activity levels of people need to be identified.
Ventilation:
For a given space, the area factor and people factor ventilation rate
components need to be calculated per ASHRAE Standard 62.1.
Depending on HVAC system architecture employed, critical space
calculations may need to be performed to adjust ventilation quantities
to ensure adequate outside air is being provided to occupied spaces
during all system fluctuations.
Calculate all building exhaust requirements and compare to minimum
required outside air ventilation rates. The overall impact of building
pressurization dynamics must be evaluated for the facility, for seasonal
conditions, and for regional locations. The MER must fully understand
how moisture and thermal gradients work with the building envelope
construction and what influence infiltration/exfiltration has on
condensation potential.
Basic system zoning:
Identify spaces and zones.
Establish summer/winter design temperature set-point conditions and

dead-band ranges per thermal comfort recommendations of ASHRAE
Standard 55.
Energy Modeling:
o Establish realistic average weather profiles for project location.
o Define realistic 24-hour usage profiles for the entire calendar year taking into
account workdays, weekends, holidays, etc.
o Obtain current rate structures from utilities.
o Define accurate equipment power consumption paying particular attention to
part load efficiencies.
Life-Cycle Analysis:
o Define capital cost impacts of equipment and system alternatives.
o Determine client applicable time value of money evaluation parameters.
o Determine accurate maintenance costs for equipment and system alternatives.
Integrated Design Process (See also WBDG High-Performance HVAC)

Once the facility thermal issues are identified, the MER will be faced with application
decisions to find appropriate, constructible, controllable, affordable, and maintainable
HVAC&R solutions. These solutions must be integrated and coordinated with parallel design
and planning activities of fellow design team members. While not totally encompassing, the
following discipline considerations need fundamental attention:
Architectural Interaction:
Impacts By
Equipment room locations, accessibility, and size
Location and appearance of air distribution devices
Floor to floor height, depth of structure, ceiling height,
and available utility space in ceiling cavity
Component aggregation and location of building
envelope elements
Location of Life Safety features such as fire and smoke
rated construction and the impacts on HVAC
constructability
Location and construction of noise sensitive areas
Selection of interior finishes and VOC impacts.
Impacts To
Location of
equipment
Orientation of the
building
Structural Engineering Interaction:

Impacts By
Type of construction: steel,

concrete, wood, etc.
Foundation design
Fireproofing techniques
Seismic criteria
Impacts To
Location, weights, and

support/attachment of equipment
Civil Engineering Interaction:

Impacts By
Impacts To
Location of site utilities

Siting and landscaping impacts on thermal
loads and noise trespass
Size and location of utility

connections
Electrical Engineering Interaction:

Impacts By
Size of available power service
Layout of design
Gen-set ventilation, heat removal, and
fuel support requirements
Location of electrical infrastructure:
switchboards, panels, feeders, etc.
Impacts To
Equipment power requirements
Coordination of power hook-up
and disconnecting means
Coordination of Fire Alarm shutdown and smoke detectors
Location of duct, pipe, and air
distribution
Plumbing Engineering Interaction:

Impacts By
Type and capacity of heat generation
plant for hot water heating
Location of plumbing infrastructure:
equipment, piping, etc.
Impacts To
Make-up water requirements and
backflow protection
Condensate drainage disposal
requirements
Location of duct, pipe, and air
distribution
Fire Protection Engineering Interaction:

Impacts By
Fire pump ventilation, heat removal, and fuel
support requirements
Location of sprinkler and standpipe
infrastructure: equipment, piping, heads, etc.
Back to top
Impacts To
Location of duct, pipe, and
air distribution

HVAC Introduction

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

HVAC Introduction

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

HVAC Introduction

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction

(Source: Nagengast, B., 1999, "Early Twentieth Century Air-Conditioning Engineering",

4. Dehumidifyingthe removal of water vapor to maintain space or process moisture

Defining the basic load dynamics

Basic Load Calculations:

Establish summer/winter design weather conditions paying particularly close

Establish summer/winter design temperature set-point conditions and

Integrated Design Process (See also WBDG High-Performance HVAC)

Structural Engineering Interaction:

Type of construction: steel,

Location, weights, and

Civil Engineering Interaction:

Location of site utilities

Size and location of utility

Electrical Engineering Interaction:

Plumbing Engineering Interaction:

Fire Protection Engineering Interaction:

You might also like