Name Notes Reference

Period One
Dissecting HVAC Systems (The goal of the heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system is to create and
maintain a comfortable
environment within a building)
Comfort Requirements  Temperature, Humidity, P1
Air movement, Fresh
Air, Clean Air, Noise
levels, Lighting,
Furniture and work
surfaces
 A comfortable
environment is broader
than just temperature
and humidity. Also
include: Dry-bulb
temperature, Humidity,
Air movement, Fresh
Air, Cleanliness of the
air, Noise levels
 Most HVAC systems
used today deliver
conditioned (heated,
cooled, humidified, or
dehumidified air to the
conditioned space to
add or remove sensible
heat and moisture.
The Five System Loops Any HVAC system can be P2
dissected into basic subsystems.
These subsystems are referred
to as “loops.” There are 5
primary loops that can describe
virtually any type of HVAC
system.
*Keep in mind, these 3
observations
 Not every system uses
all 5 loops
 The temperatures used
in this period are
representative of
conditions found in a
typical HVAC system,
but will differ from
 application to
application.
 While another loop
could be added for
heating and humidifying
the space in some
systems, this clinic
focuses primarily on
comfort cooling, not
heating.
1. Airside Loop (yellow)  The First loop is the P3
airside loop, and the
First component of this
loop is the conditioned
space.
 The first two comfort
requirements
mentioned were dry
bulb temperature and
humidity.
Dry-bulb temperature In order to maintain the dry- P3
bulb temperature in the
conditioned space, heat
(referred to as sensible heat)
must be added or removed at
the same rate as it leaves or
enters the space.
Humidity In order to maintain the P3
humidity level in the space,
moisture (sometimes referred
to as latent heat) must be
added or removed at the same
rate as it leaves or enters the
space.
Supply Air Conditioned Air P3
Return Air Air that carries the heat and P3
moisture out of the space.
Supply fan Next component of the airside P5
loop.
 Delivers the supply air
(SA) to the space.
Return fan Draw air from the space and P5
move it back to the equipment
that contains the supply fan.
Cooling coil A heat exchanger, (CC), is often P6
used to cool and dehumidify the
supply air before it is delivered
 to the space. (i.e. the coiling
coil cools and dehumidifies the
entering mixed air from 80’F to
55’F.
Variable-air-volume (VAV) Varies the quantity of constant P9
system temperature supply air in
response to the changing
cooling load in the space.

(In this system, a VAV terminal

unit is added to the airside
loop).

--Modulates the quantity of

supply air delivered to the space
by changing the position of the
airflow modulation device in the
VAV terminal unit.
Zone Conditioned space or group of P9
similar spaces.

--Has a separate VAV terminal

unit that varies the quantity of
supply air delivered to that
space or zone.
-VAV terminal unit contains an
airflow modulation device,
typically a rotating-blade
damper.
Thermostat Compares the dry-bulb
temperature in the conditioned
space to a set point.
Fan-Coil Unit (Example of airside loop) P10
installed in a conditioned space.

--Return air from the space is

drawn into the unit at the base
and can be mixed with outdoor
air that enters through a
separate damper in the back of
the unit.
(this mixed air passes through a
filter, a supply fan, and a cooling
coil before being discharged
from the top of the unit, directly
into the conditioned space.
Central Air Handler (example of the airside loop) P10

-Typically installed outside of

the conditioned space, possibly
on the roof or dedicated
mechanical room.

--Return air from the space is

drawn into the unit through the
return air-dampers and mixes
with outdoor air that enters
through another set of
dampers.(this mixed air passes
through the filters, the supply
fan, and the cooling coil before
being discharged from the air
handler.
Supply-Air Distribution System Typically constructed of sheet- P11
metal ducts, fittings, and
diffusers, is used to direct the
supply air from the central air
handler to one or more
conditioned spaces.
--The airside loop includes a
central air handler and
ductwork to deliver supply air to
multiple VAV terminal units.

--From each VAV terminal unit,

the supply air travels through a
section of flexible duct to
remotely located diffusers.
Diffusers Used to distribute the supply air P11
effectively to the conditioned
space.
Plenum The space between the ceiling P12
(Ceiling Plenum Return) and the roof, or floor, above.

2. Chilled-Water Loop In the airside loop, a cooling coil P12

(blue) is used to coil and dehumidify
the supply air.

-The cold fluid flowing through

the tubes of the coil may be
either water or liquid
refrigerant.
 -Systems that use water flowing
thought the coiling coil also
contain a chilled-water loop.
Evaporator  Water flowing through P13
the cooling coil must be
colder than the air
passing through it.
 A heat exchanger is
used to cool the water
that returns from the
coil-at 57’F- back to the
desired supply-water
temperature of 42’F.
Shell-and-Tube Evaporator Has cold liquid refrigerant P13
flowing through the tubes.

--Warm water enters at one end

of the shell and fills the space
surrounding the tubes.
--Heat is transferred from the
water to the refrigerant inside
the tubes, and chilled water
leaves from the opposite end of
the shell.
Pump -3rd component of the chilled- P14
water loop is a pump that
moves water around the loop.
(this pump needs to have
enough power to move the
water)
Control valve -Varies the quantity of water P14
flowing through the coiling coil
using this control valve.
-As the cooling load decreases,
the modulating control valve
reduces the rate of chilled-
water flow thought the coil,
decreasing its cooling capacity.
Two-Way Versus Three-Way
Valves
Two-Way Control Valve -At part-load conditions, it P15
reduces the rate of chilled-
water flow through the coil
-The water flowing through the
system varies, which allows the
pump to reduce its capacity &
save energy at part load.
 - The control valve is located at
the outlet, or downstream, of
the coiling coil. (this location
ensures that the tubes inside
the coil are always full of water).
Three-way control valve -Also reduces the rate of flow P15
through the coil, but it bypasses
the excess water to mix
downstream with the water
that flows through the coil.

-The quantity of water flowing

through the system (water
flowing through the coil plus
water bypassing the coil) is
constant at all loads.

--A valve located at the inlet, or

upstream, of the coil may
modulate to the point where
the water just “trickles” through
the tubes, not filling the entire
tube diameter. (Resulting in
unpredictable heat transfer and
less-stable control).
Small Chilled-Water System A packaged water chiller P16
produces chilled water by
transferring heat from the water
to the refrigerant inside the
evaporator.
3. Refrigeration Loop Recall that in the chilled-water P16
(green) loop, the evaporator allows heat
to transfer from the water to
cold liquid refrigerant.

-Liquid refrigerant at 38’F enters

the tubes of the shell-and-tube
evaporator. As heat is
transferred from the water to
the refrigerant, the liquid
refrigerant boils.

-typically responds to changing

cooling loads by unloading the
compressor. (unloading
depends on compressor type)
Compressor Used to pump the low-pressure P17
 refrigerant vapor from the
evaporator and compress it to a
higher pressure.

This increase in pressure also

raises the temperature of the
refrigerant vapor-120’F.

**Common types of
compressors used in HVAC
systems include reciprocating,
scroll, helical-rotary (screw),
and centrifugal.
Scroll compressors -generally cycle on and off. P17
Helical-rotary compressors -use a slide valve or a similar
Centrifugal compressors unloading device.
-typically use inlet vanes or a
variable-speed drive in
combination with inlet vanes.
Condenser -After being discharged from
the compressor, the hot, high-
pressure refrigerant vapor
enters a condenser.
3 Most common type of
condensers
Air-cooled condenser Has the hot, high-pressure P18
refrigerant vapor flowing
through the tubes of a finned-
tube heat exchanger and uses
propeller-type fans to draw
outdoor air over the outer
surfaces of the tubes and fins.
Evaporative condenser (A variation of the air-cooled) P19

-Within device refrigerant flows

through tubes and air drawn or
blown over the tubes by a fan.
(Difference is water is sprayed
on the outer surfaces of the
tubes).
-As the air passes over the
tubes, it causes a small portion
of the water to evaporate.
(Evaporation process improves
the heat transfer from the
condensing refrigerant),
remaining water falls into the
 sump to be recirculated by a
small pump and used again.
Water-cooled condenser (most Water flows through the tubes P19
common type)(shell & tube while the hot refrigerant vapor
design) fills the space surrounding the
tubes.
-As heat is transferred from the
refrigerant vapor fills the space
surrounding the tubes.
-As heat is transferred from the
refrigerant to the water, the
refrigerant vapor condenses on
the outer surfaces of the tubes
and the condensed liquid
refrigerant falls to the bottom of
the shell.
Expansion device The final step of the P19
refrigeration cycle is for this hot
liquid refrigerant to pass
through an expansion device.

-This device creates a large

pressure drop hat reduces the
pressure, and correspondingly
the temperature, of the
refrigerant. The temperature is
reduced to a point- 38’F in the
example-where it is again cold
enough to absorb heat inside
the evaporator. There are
several types of expansion
devices, but the one in the
example is a thermostatic
expansion valve (TXV).
Helical-Rotary Water Chiller Uses an evaporator to produce P20
chilled water by transferring
heat from the water to the
liquid refrigerant.

-The compressor consists of two

screw-like rotors to compress
the refrigerant vapor, raising its
pressure and temperature.

-A second heat exchanger

serves as the water-cooled
condenser, where refrigerant is
 condensed inside the shell and
water flows through the tubes.

-The expansion device (not

shown) used is an electronic
expansion valve.
Not all HVAC systems use all five P20
Finned-Tube Evaporator (Coil) loops.

-We looked at airside loop,

chilled-water loop, and the
refrigeration loop.

-Instead of chilled water flowing

through the tubes of the cooling
coil, some systems have cold
liquid refrigerant flowing
through the tubes.
-the finned-tube cooling coil is
also the evaporator of the
refrigeration loop. As air passes
through the coil, heat is
transferred from the air to the
refrigerant. (This heat transfer
causes the refrigerant to boil
and leave the evaporator as
vapor.
No Chilled-Water Loop The chilled-water loop does not P21
exist. Heat is transferred from
the airside loop directly to the
refrigeration loop.
Packaged Rooftop Air (does not use the chilled-water P21-22
Conditioner loop)

-It combines several

components of the airside loop
with all the components of the
refrigeration loop.

-(similar to the central air

handler). Return air from the
space is drawn into the unit and
is mixed with outdoor air that
enters through a separate
damper.

-This mixed air passes through

 the filters, the cooling coil
(which is also the evaporator),
and the supply fan before it is
discharged from the unit.
-Packaged inside this same
piece of equipment are one or
more compressors, an air
cooled condenser complete
with propeller-type fans, and
expansion devices.
4. Heat-Rejection Loop -4th loop. In the refrigeration P22
(red) loop, the condenser transfers
heat from the hot refrigerant to
air, water, or some other fluid.

-In a water-cooled condenser,

water flows through the tubes
while the hot refrigerant vapor
enters the shell space
surrounding the tubes. Heat is
transferred from the refrigerant
to the water, warming the
water.
Cooling tower The warm water returning from P23
the condenser is sprayed over
the fill inside the tower while a
propeller fan draws outdoor air
upward through the fill.

-One common type of fill

consists of several thin, closely
spaced layers of plastic or wood.

-The water spreads over the

surface of the fill to increase the
contact with the passing air.
This causes some of the water
to evaporate, a process that
cools the remaining water. The
remaining cooled water then
falls to the tower sump and is
returned to the condenser.

-A fluid cooler is similar to an

air-cooled condenser. Water
flows through the tubes of a
finned-tube heat exchanger and
fans draw outdoor air over the
 surfaces of the tubes and fins.
Heat is transferred from the
warmer water to the cooler air.
5. Controls Loop (purple) P27

Period Two
Direct-Expansion(DX) Versus
Chilled-Water Systems
Direct-Expansion (DX) Systems P30
Chilled-Water Systems P34
Factors Affecting the Decision P36

Period Three
Common HVAC System Types
Single-Zone Systems P45
Multiple-Zone Systems P57

Period Four
Factors That Affect Selection of
the HVAC System
Preference of Building Owner P68
Available Construction Budget P68
Size and Shape of Building P69
Function of Building P70
Architectural Limitations P71
Life-Cycle Cost P72
Ease of Operation and P73
Maintenance
Time Available for Construction P74
P75