HVAC BASICS

S.NO CONTENT PG.NO

Unit Conversion 2
1 Psychrometric Process and its 4
properties
2 Heat load 6
3 Refrigeration system & AC 9
Units
4 DUCT 16

Page 1 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

LENGTH
1000mm = 1m
1m = 100 cm
1m = 3.28 ft
1m = 39 inches
1ft = 12 inches
1ft = 0.30 m
1ft = 12 inch
1ft = 304 mm
1 inch = 25.4 mm = 2.54 cm = 0.0254 m
1 inch = 0.08 ft

AREA
1m2 = 1000000 mm
1m2 = 10.76 ft2
1m2 = 1550 inch2
1 ft2 = 144 inch2

VOLUME
1m3 = 35.31 ft3
1L = 0.001 m3
1m3 = 1000l
1cfm = 0.4719 L/s
1L/s = 2.118 cfm
1 CMH = 1/1.7 cfm

Ton
12000 BTU/Hr = 1 TON
1 TON = 3.516 KW
1 TON = 12 MBH
1 TON = 3025.9 Kcal/Min

Page 2 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

1 TON = 200 BTU/Min
1 KW = 3412 BTU/Hr

Mass
1 lbs = 0.453 kg

Temperature conversion
0 oC = 273 K = 32 oF

Fahrenheit to centigrade
o
C = 5/9 (oF - 32)

Centigrade to Fahrenheit
o
F = 9/5 x oC +32

What is HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

HVAC refers to the different systems used for moving air
between indoor and outdoor areas, along with heating and
cooling process.

Ultimate goal of HVAC is thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Based on three principles,

 Thermodynamics
 Fluid mechanics and
 Heat and mass transfer

There are three modes of heat transfer,

 Conduction
 Convection and
Radiation

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 Psychrometric is the study of science ,which deals
with thermodynamic properties of air.

Process of psychrometric

1. Sensible heating,
2. Heating with dehumidification
3. Dehumidifying only
4. Cooling and dehumidifying
5. Sensible cooling
6. Evaporative cooling
7. Humidifying only
8. Heating and humidification
These are the 8 process of psychrometric.

Psychrometric properties

 Dew point temperature (Saturated Air)

 Relative humidity
 Humidity ratio (or) Specific Humidity (or) Absolute Humidity.
 Dry-bulb temperature
 Wet-bulb temperature
 Enthalpy
 Entropy
 Moist air

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Definitions

Dew point temperature is the temperature at which

moisture starts to condense out of the air. Dew point is also
know as saturation temperature.

Relative humidity is the ratio of actual mass of water vapour

in saturated vapour pressure

Absolute humidity or humidity ratio or specific

humidity is the mas of water vapour present in 1 m3 of dry air
and is generally expressed in terms of gram per cubic meter of
dry air (g/m3 of dry air)

Spec.humidity = water vapour (grams) / dry air(kg)

Dry-bulb temperature is the temperature of air recorded by

a thermometer, when it is not affected by the moisture present
in the air.

Wet bulb temperature is the temperature recorded by a

thermometer, when it’s bulb covered with a wet cloth exposed
to the air.

Moist air is a mixture of air and vapour. The amount of water

vapour present in the air depends on the absolute pressure and
temperature of the mixture.

Saturated air is a mixture of air and water vapour. The

amount of water vapour is in maximum level of the air, at this
condition air cannot absorb some more water vapour into it.

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Wet bulb depression is the difference between dry bulb
temperature and wet bulb temperature at any point. The wet
bulb depression indicates relative humidity of the air.

Dew point depression is the difference between the dry

bulb temperature and dew point temperature of air

Enthalpy H = U + PV

Entropy is DEGREE OF RANDOMNESS

A building or room gain heat from many resource. The sum of

all these heat sources is known as the heat gain of the building,
and is expressed either in BTU. For an air conditioner to cool a
room or building its output must be greater than the heat gain.

12000 BTU/Hr = 1 TON = 3.516 KW

Load factor:
 Orientation of building
 Exposed walls
 Partition wall (negligible if both spaces are
conditioned)
 Equipment
 Lightning
 Occupants
 Window glaze
 Roofs
 Process taken
 Infiltration and exfiltration (negligible)

Page 6 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

Dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature and humidity
ratio are the sufficient data for heat load calculation, with these
data you can find out the enthalpy.

Q = U A Δ(T)
Where ,

Q = Heat gain, BTU/Hr

U = Thermal coefficient , BTU/Hr oF ft2
ΔT = Temperature difference , oF

U = 1/R

Where,

R = Thermal resistivity, Hr oF ft2/BTU

We have to find climate data for where we gonna take heat

load. It may be a various country,state or continent too. We can
get details from ASHRAE standards.

ASHARE climate data 169

We can get climate data for some specific area from
this code of ASHRAE.

Or you can get weather data from ISHRAE Handbook Table 1.2

Take solar heat gain from ISHRAE tables.

Wall according to its orientation

Glaze table no - 1.8 (acc. To orientation)
Lightning power density table no - 1.38
Occupant load - 1.24

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Steps
1. Find U value
2. Take Project Summary ( Area, Occupants, LPD, Equipment,
Infiltration, Wall and Glaze which are exposed to direct
sunlight)
3. Calculate the difference in temperature of outdoor and
indoor(want to achieve)

If a wall had window , then it’s area should be reduce from

exposed wall area.

Have to find sensible , latent and total heat gain.

Sensible heat factor = sensible heat load / total heat load

Total Heat Load = Sensible Heat Load + Latent Heat Load

Sensible Heat :

Q = 1.08 x CFM x ΔTair (Btu/hr)

Q = 1.23 x L/s x ΔTair (W)

Latent Heat :

Q = 0.69 x CFM x Δw lb of H2O/lb dry air (Btu/hr)

Q = 3.0 x L/s x Δw gH2O/kg dry air (W)

Total Heat :

Qtotal = 4.5 x CFM x Δh (Btu/hr)

Qtotal = 1.2 x L/s x Δh (W)

Page 8 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

 Air Conditioning is a process,which is used to
condition the air for what are all the properties actually we
need like moisture level, Temperature, Cleanliness and Air
distribution.

TYPES OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

 Vapour compression refrigeration system

 Vapour absorption refrigeration system

These are the two kinds, widely used for

refrigeration system.Among this two, VCRS is mostly used
system for refrigeration

TYPES OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS

 Direct expansion
 Split unit

 Fan coil

 Variable Refrigerant Flow

 Package AC

 Window AC
 Floor mounted unit
 Roof top unit - AHU
 Geo-thermal Heating & Cooling
 Central Air Conditioners
 Chiller plants
 Air cooled Chiller
 Water Cooled Chiller
 Brine Chiller
 VAM Chiller
 AHU
 Precision air conditioning

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Split and window air conditioners are used for small house or
buildings, which is not applicable for larger area, if it
happens ,cost may vary in huge.

Central air conditioner is used in larger places like Theater,

Hospital, Airport and Shopping malls etc.,

COMPONENTS OF AIR CONDITIONERS

Direct Expansion:
 Evaporator coil
 Condenser coil
 Blower fan
 Expansion valve
 Compressor
 Refrigerant

Expansion
Valve

Evaporator

Compressor

Fig 1. Vapour Compression Cycle or Refrigerant Cycle

Page 10 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

Variable Refrigerant Flow:

AHU CSU Cassette

Single outdoor unit can connected with multiple Indoor unit.

Indoor unit can be high-wall , cassette, fan-coil, AHU.
Controlled refrigerant is supplied in the evaporator unit as per
load requirement.

Both Split Unit and VRF is a Direct expansion units, but in Split
unit you cannot vary the flow of refrigerant and you can do
vary the refrigerant flow with variable refrigerant flow (VRF)
Unit. In some case, Using VRF unit to simultaneously heating
and cooling the space that we want to conditioning. Each
Conditioned Space having a thermostat, by the way each space
can be maintained separately.

Page 11 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

Chiller:
 Air Cooled Chiller

Air Cooled Chiller

AHU AHU

Space Space Space Space

Space Space Space Space

CHILLER → AHU → SPACE

Advantage:

 Cost is less ,because equipment is less.

 Requires less place by means of , it can install over the roof.
 Less maintenance required than WCC

Disadvantage:

 Placed outside of building. ACC make noises,which may

affect nearby buildings
 Exposed to atmosphere, So not able to give service as much
as WCC

Page 12 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

 Water Cooled Chiller

Cooling Tower

Water Cooled Chiller

AHU AHU

Space Space Space Space

Space Space Space Space

COOLING TOWER →CHILLER→ AHU → TERMINALS

Advantage:
 Water cooled chillers are more efficient, especially for larger
cooling loads.
 Water cooled chillers provide longer service, because it is
inside of building.
Disadvantage:
 Water cooled chiller installation cost is high.
 Need constant and clean water flow.
 Requires more spaces

Page 13 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

Compressor:
 Reciprocating
 Scroll
 Screw
 Centrifugal

Air Cooled chiller works under adiabatic heat exchange.

Adiabatic - there is only heat transfer and no mass transfer.

PRECISION AIR CONDITIONING

 It is used in critical operation like server rooms

 Especially, which are need high precision control in
temperature and humidity ,there we can install precision air
conditioning.
 Example, IT hardware can produce high concentrated heat
load, it may very sensitive to temperature and humidity
change.
 This may lead to huge cost expense for company
 And this is made for 24*7 operation
 Except precision AC , there is no AC to give precise
temperature and humidity

PRECISION:
 SHF - 0.90 -0.99
 80% - 90% sensible / 20% latent
 CMF/TR - 600 -1000
 Temperature - 20 +/- 1
 Humidity - 50 +/- 5

Page 14 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

 AIR HANDLING UNIT

AHU usually located in the basement, on the roof or

on the floors of buildings. AHU can serve load for specified area
or zone or perhaps a single purpose such as a building toilets.

AHU units condition and distribute the air towards building. AHU
take fresh ambient air from outside clean it, heat it, cool it and
humidification too and then forced through duct and deliver to
room through terminals.

It may has both supply duct and return duct.

COMPONENTS:
 AHU housing
 Cooling or heating coil
 Fan
 Filter
 Panels
 HEPA (High efficiency particulate air-filter)
 Humidifiers

Page 15 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION

Duct is a tube or passageway distributes the conditioned air to
the conditioned room.

Classification of ducts:

 Supply air duct

 Return air duct
 Fresh air duct
 Low pressure duct - 50mm
 Medium pressure duct - 150 mm
 High pressure duct - 150 to 200mm
 Low velocity duct - Less than 600 m/min
 High velocity duct - More than 600 m/min
 Elbow duct
 Trouser piece
 Reducer/enlarger

Water gauge 1m = 9.81 kPa. 1mm = 10 Pa.

Materials used:

 Galvanized iron sheet metal

 Aluminium sheet metal
 Black steel

Galvanized iron - thickness around 0.55 - 1.6 mm . Zinc

coating of this metal prevents rusting and avoids the cost of
painting.

Aluminium sheet metal - used because of lighter in weight

and resistance to moisture.

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Black sheet metal - always painted unless they withstand
high temperature.

Duct shape :

Circular, rectangular and square shapes.

Circular
 carry more in less space
 Less duct materials
 Less duct surface
 Less friction
 And less insulation is needed.
Rectangular
Mostly preferred because it is flat surface, can design


convenient to room space and easy to work with it.

Square - may be preferred according to site condition

Pressure in ducts
The pressure of air must be greater than the
resistance to the flow, otherwise no air will circulate to the
space.

 Static pressure
 Dynamic or velocity pressure
 Total pressure

Total pressure is the sum of static pressure and dynamic

pressure

PT =PS + PV
From, above condition we can overcome the pressure losses
caused by the various obstacles on the way from the fan to
conditioned space.

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Youtube channel : Discussion Zone

Page 18 of 18 GSK HVAC EDITION