Air Conditioning Systems

(Comparison /Application /Selection)

Contents
1. Introduction
2. System Classifications and Categories
2.1 All-Air System
2.1.1 Constant volume single zone system
2.1.2 Constant volume zoned reheat system
2.1.3 Constant volume bypass system
2.1.4 Variable volume all-air system
2.2 Air-And- Water System
2.3 All-Water System
2.3.1 Gravity convection system
2.3.2 Forced convection system (Fan coil system)
2.3.3 Ventilation systems
2.4 Unitary Refrigerant-Based System
3. Selection of Air Conditioning System
3.1 System Options Constraints
3.2 Selection Report as a Part of the Design Concept Report
3.3 Inquiries required in system selection report
References
1. Introduction
The goal of any air conditioning system is to maintain a desired
environmental condition (temperature, relative humidity, air purity, noise level,
pressurization) within a closed space. Almost in each building or application,
Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

there are different air conditioning system options available to the HVAC
designer to satisfy these desired environmental conditions. However,
maintaining the desired inside environmental conditions inside the space has not
to be the only goal of the HVAC designer. The designer must be aware of and
account for specific goals that the owner may require other than merely
providing a desired environment. The HVAC designer is the only responsible
for considering various HVAC systems options for a certain application and
recommending the one or two systems that will perform as desired and satisfy
the specific goals of the owner and at the same time maintain the desired
environmental conditions inside the space. Then, the designer and the owner
must be collaborating to select the best design form these options. The owner
can make appropriate value judgments if the designer provides complete
information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Just as
the owner does not usually know the relative advantages and disadvantages of
different systems, the designer rarely knows all the owners financial and
functional goals. Hence, it is important to involve the owner in selecting the
system. This stage of design is called design concept stage. In this stage, the
following activities have to be carried out by the HVAC designer:
Determination of the inside design conditions suitable for the application.
Study of the architectural and the structural of the building. This stage is
important to know the available spaces and shafts and their sizes that can
be utilized by the HVAC equipment and installations.
Cooling load calculation. Rules of sump can be used in this stage. The
building cooling capacity is required to know the approximate sizing of
the HVAC equipment and installations. At the end of this stage and based
on the available building spaces for the HVAC equipment and
installations, the HVAC designer can reject many HVAC system options.
Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

 Preliminary cost analysis for the different HVAC system options that are
proposed for the project. The analysis must include capital cost, operating
cost (energy cost, maintenance cost and labor cost), lifetime of each
HVAC system option, and interest rate.
At the end of this stage, Design concept stage, the HVAC designer prepares a
design concept report including all the above issues and submits this report to
the owner. Meetings between the designer and the owner is required to discuses
this report and all the specific goals of the owner. The outcomes of these
meetings and discussions is the selection of the appropriate HVAC system that
satisfy all the required goals and criteria of the owner and at the same time can
fit the architectural and structural of the building satisfying the desired
environmental conditions inside the space.
The objective of this lecture is to refresh and increase our knowledge of the
different air conditioning systems then the HVAC system selection criteria is
analyzed and discussed. The lecture is mainly focus on the following topics:
Air conditioning systems categories.
Advantages and disadvantages of each of the air conditioning systems.
Applications of each of the air conditioning systems.
Method of control and sizing in each air conditioning system.
Criteria of selecting HVAC system for a certain application.
2. System Classifications and Categories
Air conditioning systems are normally classified and categorized based on
the terminal cooling medium, the medium that responsible of providing the
cooling load for the space, together with how to control cooling in the
conditioned area. In the following classification, the air conditioning systems are
mainly classified to four main systems based on the terminal cooling medium.
Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

Then each of these systems is sub classified according to the method of control
cooling in the conditioned area.

Air Conditioning Systems

All Air

Air-and-Water

All Water

Unitary Equipment

Single zone

Fan coil

Fan coil units

Window

Reheat

Induction

Unit Ventilator

Through wall

Bypass

Radiant

Valance Unit

Rooftop

Variable air vol.

Two-pipe

Unitary

Dual Duct

Three-pipe

Air Heat pumps

Multi zone

Four-pipe

Water Heat Pumps

2.1 All Air System

In all-air system, complete sensible and latent cooling capacity of the
zone is removed by cold air supplied to the space. This air is centrally cooled
outside the conditioned space and supplied to the space via a duct system. No
additional cooling is required at the zone. Heating may be accomplished by the
same air stream either in the central system or at a particular zone. The heating
is accomplished in the central system if the required purpose of heating is either
winter heating of the conditioned zones or control of the RH inside the space.
The heating is accomplished at a particular zone in case of a required separate
control to the temperature and relative humidity of the space.
All-Air system can be classified as single-path systems and dual-path
systems. Single-path systems contains the main cooling and heating coils in a
series air flow path, and use a common duct distribution system at a common
air temperature to feed all terminal air distribution devices. In a dual-path
Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

system, the main cooling and heating coils are in parallel flow and uses a
separate cold and warm air duct distribution systems. The use of the dual-path
system is limited due to its disadvantages of high cost of the duct system, more
sizes and spaces are needed for the dual duct system and the bade energy
utilization.
Single duct system may be further classified according to the method of
control as follows:
Single Duct All-Air System
Constant Volume

Variable Air Volume

Single Zone

Reheat

Multiple Zoned Reheat

Induction

Bypass

Fan Powered
Variable Diffusers

2.1.1 Constant Volume Single zone system

This is the simplest all-air system where a supply unit is used to serve a
single temperature control zone. The zone may consist of a single room or
multiple rooms as shown in Fig. 1.

Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

AHU
0

Space 1
R1

Space2
R2

Space 3
R3

Fig. 1 Single zone constant air volume system

Methods of Sizing
Two methods can be used to size a constant air volume system:
Zone air flow rate is calculated based on the sum of spaces airflow rates
calculated at the individual's peak load of each space (Sum of peaks).

Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

 Zone air flow rate is calculated based on the zone peak load (peak of
sums).
The second method gives smaller equipment and duct sizing for the system but
may be lead to insufficient air change per hours inside each space and high
temperature levels at the peck load time of each space.

Method of Control:
Change the supply air temperature in response to the zone load. The thermostat
is commonly located in the common return of the different spaces of the zone.
The supply air temperature is changed either by regulating the flow rate of the
cooling medium (chilled water) to the cooling unit.

Disadvantages
No separate control of the different rooms of the zone.
Additional duct clearance requirements can reduce usable floor space and
building height as a result of duct risers, fan rooms and duct work.
Longer fan operating hours are required to take care of unoccupied
periods.
Air balancing is difficult and may have to be done several times when a
common air system serves areas that are not rented simultaneously.
Accessibility to terminal devices demands close cooperation between
architectural, mechanical and structural designers.

Advantages

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 Low cost of the system.

Centrally located equipment concentrate the operation and maintenance in
unoccupied areas and this permits maximum choice of filtration system,
odor and noise control level and high-quality, durable equipment.
Complete absence of conditioned area drain piping, electrical equipment
power wring and filters.
Ease of construction and operation of the system
Precise control of the temperature and humidity of the zone if the zone
consists of single room.
The possibility of completely turning off the HVAC system of a certain
zone when required.
Adaptable to automatic seasonal changeover and to winter humidification.

Zoning of the building rooms

Two factors must take in account during grouping of multiple rooms in a single
zone:
The rooms must have similar cooling load profile along the day. This
narrows the temperature variation of each room in the zone.
The orientation and locations of the group of rooms in each zone must
lead to simple, short, ease with construction air duct routing. This reduces
the duct cost and the fan power.
Cross contaminations must be taken in account.

2.1.2 Constant Volume zoned reheat system

Air Conditioning Systems (Comparison/ Application/ Selection)

The multiple zoned reheat system is a modification of the single-zone

system by inserting locals heaters (see Fig. 2) at the different rooms (become
zones after inserting these heaters) of the single zone system (becomes multiple
zoned systems after inserting these heaters). Inserting these heaters provides the
following advantages and disadvantages of the system:

Fig. 2 Reheat and bypass all air system

Advantages
Separate control of the different rooms/zones of the system.
Simultaneous heating or cooling of perimeter areas with different
exposures.
Close tolerance of control for process.
Disadvantages
Inefficient method for temperature and humidity control from energy
wise.
High internal humidity level can be occurred inside the space during using
terminal heating unit for temperature control.

Applications
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This system is used when:

Certain rooms of a zone in the building have strong variation of the
cooling load that leads to unacceptable level of temperature inside these
rooms at part load conditions.
Precise temperature control is required for some rooms of the building.

2.1.3 Constant Volume Bypass system

In this system the quantity of room supply air is varied to match the space
load by dumping excess supply air into the return ceiling plenum or return air
duct, i.e., by passing the room as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, this system is
considered as a constant volume primary system with a VAV secondary system.
While this system reduces the air volume supplied to the space, the system air
volume is constant.
Applications
This system is generally restricted to small systems where a simple method of
temperature control is required, a modest initial cost is desired and energy
conservation is less important.
Advantages
Separate control of certain rooms/zones of the system.
Close tolerance of control for process.

Disadvantages
Inefficient method for temperature control from energy wise.
Insufficient amount of fresh air supplied to the space at part load.

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 Humidity control is a potential problem in this system.

Complex duct system is required.

2.1.4 Variable Volume All-Air System

The variable volume system compensates for varying cooling loads of the
spaces by regulating the volume of cooling air supplied to these spaces. Special
zoning is not required because each space supplied by a control outlet is a
separate zone. A schematic of a VAV system is shown in Fig. 3. Variable air
volume system can be applied to interior or perimeter zones, with common or
separate fan system, and with separate or common temperature control. The
greatest energy saving associated with VAV system occurs at the perimeter
zones, where variation in solar load and outside temperature permit reduction in
supply air quantity.

Fig. 3 VAV system

Sizing Method
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 The AHU unit and the main duct system are sized based on the air flow
corresponding to the peak load of the sum of the zones load (Peak of
Sum). Also the refrigeration equipment is sized based on this load.
Terminal equipments (motorized dampers, diffusers, and branches of
ducts) of each zone are designed based on the air flow rate corresponding
to the peak load of this zone.

Method of Control
A VAV system controls temperature within a space by varying the
quantity of the supply air rather than varying the supply air temperature. A VAV
terminal device is used at each zone to vary the quantity of the supply air to this
zone according to the temperature signal of the sensor located in this zone.
Varying the air flow rate to each space leads to variation of the air pressure in
the main duct. A pressure sensor is located in the main duct to sense this
pressure and gives a signal to the variable speed fan of the air handling unit to
change its velocity to change its supply air flow rate. For example at part load of
a certain zone, the VAV box of this zone closes to reduce the air flow rate to this
zone. The pressure inside the main duct increases due to this action. The
pressure sensors at the main duct sense this pressure and give a signal to the fan
to reduce its speed to decrease the supply air flow rate by the amount that
reduced in the considered zone.

Applications
The variable air volume is recommended to be used in the applications that have
the following characteristics:
Strong variation in the spaces cooling load.
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 High diversity of load between spaces.

The fresh air requirements are not a critical issue.
Precise control of the RH is not required.
Applications of high sensible heat ratio.

Advantages
Separate temperature control of the different rooms/zones of the building.
Smaller equipment can be used, especially when the diversity of the load
is high.
Operating cost of the variable volume systems are generally the lowest
cost as compared to the other systems. Since the volume of air is reduced
with a reduction in load, the refrigeration and fan power closely follow
the actual air-conditioning load of the building.
Efficient system for energy conservation.
No balancing is required; the system is virtually self balancing.
The system has low initial cost as compared to other systems that have
individual spaces control, because it requires only single runs of ducts and
simple control at the terminal.

Disadvantages
Dramatically Reduction of the fresh air supplied to a certain zone at part
load conditions.
Humidity control is very difficult when VAV system is used. In the
applications where the humidity level is critical, systems may have to
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limited to constant air volume. In the applications of low sensible heat

ratio, such as in conference rooms, the VAV box minimum set point is
usually limited to 50%, and reheat is added as necessary to keep humidity
level low during part load.
Low air change per hours at part load
More complicated control system
Higher capital cost as compared to the constant air volume.
To overcome on the disadvantages of the reduction of the air change per hours at
part load, variable air volume terminal devices of different configurations are
used, including reheat, induction unit, and fan-powered systems as shown in Fig.
4.

Fig. 4 Various VAV systems

Also primary/Secondary air systems can be used to overcome on the reduction

of the percentage of the fresh air at part load. In this case the primary system
supply the conditioned outside air requirements directly to the space and the
secondary system provide additional cooling with VAV box for space load
control, see Fig. 5. Normally the second cooling coil is designed to be dry (i.e.,
sensible cooling only) to reduce the possibility of bacterial growth which can
create air quality problem.
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Fig. 5 Primary/Secondary VAV system

2.2 Air-And- Water System

In an air-and-water system, both air and water are distributed to each
space to cool the space, see Fig. 6. Both cooling and heating are carried out by
changing the air or water temperatures, or both, to control the space temperature
throughout the year. The air and water are cooled or heated in central
mechanical equipment room. The air supplied is called primary air; the water
supplied is called secondary water. Both air and waters shares the cooling load
of the building.

Fig. 6 Air-and-water system

The air side of air-and-water systems is comprised of central airconditioning equipment, a duct distribution system, and a room terminal unit.
The air supplied is constant volume and is called primary air, to distinguish it
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16

from room air, which is circulated over the room coil. It provides filtered
outdoor air for ventilation. In the cooling season, air is dehumidified in the
central conditioning unit to achieve comfort humidity conditions throughout the
space served and to avoid condensation due to normal room latent load on the
room cooling coil. The primary air normally controls space humidity. Therefore,
the moisture content of the supply air must be low enough to offset the room
latent heat gain and to maintain a room dew point sufficiently low to preclude
condensation on the secondary cooling surface. While some systems operate
successfully without a secondary coil drain system, a condensate drain is
recommended for all air-and-water system. In winter, moisture is frequently
added centrally to limit dryness. As the air is dehumidified, it is also sensible
cooled to offset a portion of the room sensible loads.
The water side consists of a pump and piping to convey water to a heat
transfer surface within each conditioned space. The heat transfer surface in the
form of a coil may be an integral part of the air terminal (as in induction units), a
completely separate component within the conditioned space (radiant panel), or
either (as can be the case in fan-coil units). The water is cooled by direct
refrigeration or by introducing chilled water from the primary chilled water
circuit; the water side is called the secondary water loop.

Method of Control
Each room temperature is controlled by varying the capacity of the coils
within the room by regulating either the water flow through it or the air flow
over it by the following techniques:
The room thermostat signal controls the chilled water control valve.
Also fan speed is used to control the room temperature. Fan speed control
may be automatic or manual.
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 The room relative humidity is controlled by controlling the temperature of

the supply primary air.
Changeover from summer to winter air conditioning in the units (primary
and secondary) requires changing the action of the room temperature
control system.
Reasons for using this type of system instead of all-air system
1.

Because of greater specific heat and greater density of water compared

to air, the cross-sectional area required for the distribution system is
less than that required for ductwork to accomplish the same cooling
task. Consequently the quantity of air supplied can be low compared to
an all air system, and less space need to allocate for the cooling
distribution system.

2.

If the system is designed so that the air supply equal the air needed to
meet outside air requirements or that required to balance exhaust, or
both, the return system can be eliminated for the areas conditioned in
this manner.

3.

The pumping power needed to circulate chilled water throughout the

building is usually less than the fan power needed to deliver and return
the supplanted air. Thus, space and operating cost savings can be
realized.

4.

The water side, by complementing rather than totally replacing the air
side, retains for air-water systems many of the major performance
capabilities of more versatile all-air system, including positive
ventilation, central dehumidification, winter humidification, and good
temperature control over widely fluctuating sensible cooling and
heating loads for a large number of control zones.

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Sizing Method
The quantity of primary air to each space is determined by the fresh air
requirement for this space.
The fan of the primary air AHU unit and the main duct system are sized
based on the sum of the primary air flow rates to all the spaces served by
this air handling unit.
The cooling capacity of the primary air AHU is calculated based on the
air enthalpy difference across the coil. In practice to eliminate the water
condensation on the room chilled water coil, the air is strongly cooled to
make dry as possible to maintain the room dew point below the room coil
surface temperature. In this case, the primary air offset all the room latent
heat and part of the room sensible load. In this case the capacity of the
cooling coil of the terminal unit equal the room cooling load minus the
room load that was offset by the primary air system. The disadvantage of
this deep cooling of the primary air is the loss of large amount of energy
(the energy that paid in cooling the primary air) during the off position of
the room terminal unit when the room becomes empty or unused.
The chillers capacity is calculated based on the peak of sum of the entire
space load taken by the secondary units plus the load of the AHU of the
primary system.

Applications
High rise building where no space is available for large duct works.
Applications that has no enough spacing for large sizes of air handling
units if all air system is used.
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 The system is working well in offices buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools,

apartment houses and other applications that need separate control of each
space and separate on/off control for every space.
Applications that have exterior spaces with high sensible loads and where
closely control of the RH is not required.
Applications that have great variation in the sensible heat loads.
Applications that have high diversity of loads between spaces.

Advantages
Separate temperature control of the different rooms/zones of the building
with the possibility of adjusting each thermostat for a different
temperature at relatively low cost.
Separate heating and cooling sources in the primary air and secondary
water gives the occupant in each space the possibility of choice of heating
or cooling.
Less space is required for the distribution system.
The sizes of the central air handling units are smaller compared with those
of other systems.
Dehumidification, humidification, filtration are performed in a central
location remote from the conditioned space.
Ventilation air supply is positive and may accommodate recommended
outside air quantity.
Spaces can be heated without operating the primary air system via the
secondary water system.

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 Building load rather than sum of rooms peaks determine capacity

requirements which leads to small capacity.
Low operating cost.
When all primary air is taken from outdoor, recirculation occurs only
within the room, which reduces the possibility of cross contamination.
System components are long lasting. The room's terminal units operating
dry have anticipated life of 15-25 years. The piping and ducting system
longevity should equal that of the building.

Disadvantages
The primary air supply usually is constant with no provision of shutoff.
This is disadvantages in residential applications, where tenants or hotel
room guests may prefer to turn off the air conditioning, or where
management may desire to do so to reduce operating cost.

Secondary air flow can cause the terminal units coils to become dirty
enough to affect performance. Line screen or low efficiency filters used to
protect these terminals required frequent in room maintenance and reduce
unit thermal performance.

A low chilled water temperature is needed to control space humidity

adequately and to prevent condensate on the terminal units.
Controls tends to be numerous and complex than those for many all air
systems.
The system should not be used in spaces with high exhaust requirements.
The system is inefficient if the outdoor air requirements are high.
The initial cost of the system is higher than that of the all air system.
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 Humidity control is difficult.

Classifications
Air-and-water system can be classified to three types according to the terminal
unit type of the secondary water system. These types, as shown in Fig. 7, are
Air-and-water induction unit
Air-and-water fan coil unit
Air-and-water panel system

(a) Air-Water induction unit

(b) Fan coil unit

Ceiling panel system

Fig. 7 Types of terminal units of air-and-water system

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2.3 All-Water System

In all water system, the room is heated or cooled by direct heat transfer
between the room circulated air and the chilled or hot water through the heat
transfer surface of the terminal unit. In this system all the room load is carried
out by the circulated water at the terminal unit. The system can be classified
according to the method of the heat transfer between the room and the circulated
water as follows,

2.3.1 Gravity Convection System

In this system hot/cold water system delivers heat/cool to a space by
water that is hotter/cooler than the air in contact with the heat transfer surface. In
this system air moves past the heat transfer surface because of the density
difference of air caused by heated or cooled surfaces. This system also transfer
large amount of heat by radiation to cold surfaces. Although this system
provides good comfort conditions, the system is suitable for heating but caution
should be exercised in their application of cooling. Examples of such systems
include the following:
Baseboard radiation
Free Standing Radiators
Wall or Floor Radiant
Bare Pipe (racked on wall)

2.3.2 Forced Convection System (Fan Coil System)

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 In this system (including cooling as well as heating), the air room is

moves by fan through the room, the circulated air room is filtered and the
outside ventilation air is introduced.
Terminal units (Fan coil units) with chilled water coil, heating coil,
blowers, replaceable air filters, drain pan for condensate are designed for
this purpose.
The room fan coil units are available in many configurations to fit under
windowsills, floor mounted, ceiling mounted, and floor-to-ceiling chase
enclosed unit.

2.3.3 Ventilation Systems

Uncontrolled Local Ventilation System
In this system the outdoor air was provided to the room through the
infiltration, wall opening or window opening. In this case the amount of the
fresh air is affected by the infiltration and the stack effect. This system has many
disadvantages and does not meet the ventilation requirement of ASHRAE
Standard 62.

Central Ventilation System

In this case a central outside air pretreatment system, which maintain
fresh air at about 18-21 C, is used.
Ventilation air may then be introduced to the room either through the fan
coil unit or through a separate air outlets.
The ventilation load is carried out by this central ventilation system.

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 The ventilation air contributes significantly to the room latent cooling

load, so a dehumidifying coil should be installed in the central ventilation
system to reduce room humidity during periods of high outside moisture
content.

Sizing Method
In case of central ventilation system, the quantity of ventilation air to each
space is determined by the fresh air requirement for this space.
The fan of the central ventilation system and the main duct system are
sized based on the sum of the ventilation air flow rates to all the spaces
served by this central unit.
The cooling capacity of the coil of the central ventilation system is
calculated based on the air enthalpy difference across the coil. In practice
the cooling coil capacity equals the ventilation load.
The capacity of the cooling coil of the terminal unit is selected based on
the peak cooling load of the space served by this terminal unit.
The chillers capacity is calculated based on the peak of sum of the entire
space load taken by the fan coil units plus the load of the AHU of the
ventilation system.

Method of Control
Each room temperature is controlled by varying the capacity of the coils
within the room. Two methods can be used:

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 By regulating the water flow through it by modulating the chilled water

control valve. The fan of the speed is selected high, medium or low. This
method of control leads to high RH in the space.
Two position control (on/off) of the chilled water valve with using
variable speed fan. This system gives bitter RH but it cost much.

Applications
High rise building where no space is available for large duct works
Applications that has no enough spacing for large sizes of air handling
units if all air system is used.
The system is working well in offices buildings, hotels, apartment houses
and other applications that need separate control of each space and
separate on/off control of the system for every space.
Fan coil system are used in numbers of hospitals but are less desirable
because of the low efficiency of the filtration system and difficulty of
maintaining adequate cleanliness in the space.
Applications that have great variation in the sensible heat loads.
Applications that have high diversity of loads between spaces.

Advantages
Separate temperature control of the different rooms/zones of the building
with the possibility of adjusting each thermostat for a different
temperature at relatively low cost.

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 Separate heating and cooling sources in the primary air and secondary
water gives the occupant in each space the possibility of choice of heating
or cooling.
Less space is required for the distribution system.
The sizes of the central air handling units are smaller compared with those
of other systems.
The ability to shut off local terminals in unused areas.
No cross contamination from circulated air between rooms.
The system can be use for existing building retrofitting.
Ventilation air supply is positive and may accommodate recommended
outside air quantity.
Spaces can be heated without operating the ventilation air system via the
secondary water system.
Building peak load rather than sum of rooms peaks determine capacity
requirements which leads to small capacity.
Low operating cost.

Disadvantages
All-Water-System requires much more maintenance then central all air
system and this work must be done in occupied area.
Condensate pan and drain system is required and this must be cleaned and
flushed periodically, condensate disposal can be difficult and costly.
Filters are small, low in efficiency, and required frequent changing to
maintain air volume.
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 Summer room humidity level tends to be relatively high

Low filtration efficiency leads to unclean coil and low performance of it.
It is also difficult to clean the coil if necessary.
The system is inefficient if the outdoor air requirements are high.
The initial cost of the system is higher than that of the all air system.

2.4 Unitary Refrigerant-Based System

Unitary air conditioning equipment is an assembly of factory matched
refrigerant cycle components for inclusion in filed designed air-conditioning
systems. Some of the many types of unitary air conditioners available include
the following characteristics:
Arrangement: single or split
Heat rejection: air cooled, evaporative condenser, water cooled.
Unit exterior: decorative for in space applications, functional for
equipment room and ducts, weather proofed for outdoors.
Placement:

Floor standing, wall mounted, ceiling suspended, roof

mounted.
Indoor air: vertical up flow, counterflow, horizontal, 90 and 180 turns
or for use with forced air furnaces.
Locations:
Indoor- exposed with plenums or furred in ductwork concealed in closest,
attic, crawl spaces, basements garages, utility rooms, or equipment room,
wall built in, window.
Outdoor- roof top, wall mounted, or on ground.

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Unitary air conditioner, in contrast to room air-conditioner, includes fans

capable for operating with ductwork, although some unit may be applied with
plenum.
Central unitary air conditioner tends to serve zoned systems, with each
zone served by its own unit. For large single spaces where central systems are at
their best advantages, multiple units are often advantageous because as load
sources move within the large space, the many smaller interlocked and
independent systems have more flexibility than one central system.

Applications
Building that need air conditioning of only small numbers of rooms that
are far away from each other.
Applications that need metering and accounting of energy to each tenant.
Applications of small cooling capacities
Applications of intermitted use of the rooms.
Air conditioning of existing building.
Apartment and dormitories

Control
The control of the unitary units is on-off control to the refrigeration machine via
a thermostat in the zone or in the return air duct.

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Advantages of multiple units systems.

Simple and inexpensive individual room control.
Individual air distribution for each room, usually with convenient and
simple adjustment by the occupant.
Heating and cooling capability at all times, independent of the mode of
operation of other spaces in the building.
Individual ventilation air, normally operating whenever the conditioner
operates.
Consistent performance assured by manufacture-matched components.
Usually some space saving.
Usually lower initial cost
Only one terminal zone is affected in the even of equipment malfunction.
Usually quick availability and installation are possible.
Equipment serving spaces that become vacant can be turned off locally or
from a central point, without affecting occupied spaces.
High quality and reliability because manufacture assembles components.
System operation is simple.
Energy can be metered directly to each tenant.
Equipment locations allows for shorter duct runs, reduced duct space
requirements, and ease of service access.

Disadvantages
Operating sound level can be high

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 Limited performance options are available because air flow and cooling
coil and condenser sizing is fixed.
No generally suited for humidity control.
Energy use may be greater than for central system.
Air distribution control may be limited.
Ventilation capability is fixed by equipment design.
Overall appearance can be unappealing.
Air filtration option is limited.
Equipment life is reduced for outdoor units.

3. Selection of Air Conditioning System

It is the responsibility of the HVAC designer to select a HVAC system for a
certain project that meet all or most of the requirements of the owner. To
simplify this job, collaboration and meetings between the designer and the
owner are recommended. The designer and the owner must collaborate to assign
and rating the different goals, design criteria and requirements of the owner.
Some of these criteria are:
The available budget of the project.
The relative important of the first cost as compared to the operating cost.
The extend and frequency of maintenance and whether maintenance
required entering the required space.
How often a system may be expected to fail, how much of the project
would be affected by a failure, and how long before the failure will be
corrected.

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 How much area and volume from the building can be taken for the HVAC
equipment.
How the HVAC service is sale or rented to the tenant of the spaces of the
project.
What are the parameters that required to be controlled and what are
precision and accuracy of the control system.
What are the special equipments of the HVAC system, ACH, clean spaces
or not, sound level, fresh air requirements, etc.
Since these factors are interrelated, the owner and the designer must consider
how each affects the other. The relative importance of these factors differs with
different owners and often changes from one project to another.

3.1 System Option Constraints

The first step in selecting a system or rejecting other systems is to
determine and documents constraints dictated by performance, capacity,
available space and other factors. These constraints narrow the choice to systems
that can fit the applications. Examples of these constraints are:

Cooling load
Known the cooling load often narrows the choice of the system that can fit
within the available space and are compatible with the building architectural.
Zoning Requirements
The required zoning of the building, the degree of control required in each zone
and the equipment space required for individual zones also narrows the system
choice. The factors that must be taken in account in zoning a building are:
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 The variation of the cooling load with time in each space. The spaces that
have similar variation in load can be grouped in one zone.
Special requirements of the spaces. Spaces of similar special requirements
can grouped in one zone.
Inside design conditions and the acceptable limit of variation of it inside
each space. Spaces of similar conditions can be grouped in one zone.
The required on/off schedule of the HVAC system of each space. Spaces
of similar schedule can grouped in one zone.
The closest of the locations of different spaces. Spaces that are close to
each other can be grouped in one zone.
The owner of different spaces. Spaces of the same owner are
recommended to be grouped in one zone. Spaces of different owners are
not recommended to be grouped in one zone.
The total cooling load of the spaces of each zone. The grouping of spaces
in one zone is limited by the space available for the equipment that serves
this zone.
Cross contaminations can limit the grouping of some spaces in one zone.
The false ceiling height can limit the number of spaces that can be
grouped in one zone.
Architectural constraints
Always architectural constrains narrows the selection of the HVAC system.
Some of the architectural constraints that can limit the selection of a HVAC
system are:
The size and appearance of the terminal devices (diffusers, fan coil units,
or radiant panels).

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 The required special support forms the stricture for the major components.
The heavy of the major components and the stricture can hold it or not.
Space available to house the equipments and its location relative to the
occupied space.
The acceptability of the components obtruding into the occupied space,
both physically and visually.
The space available in the false ceiling to pass the duct and piping system
or inserting the terminal devices.
First and operating cost
The first and the operating cost of the HVAC system can narrow the selection of
the system. These cots must be within the budget limit of the project. The major
factors that affect the cost of each of the HVAC system are:
The operating energy source of the system; electricity or natural gas and
the price of each source, and the possibility and cost of extending these
sources to the building.
The control system, accuracy and the number of variables required to be
controlled.
Centralize the system or using individual components. The cost of a
central unit is smaller than the cost if individual units are used.
Maintenance cost of the HVAC system.
Cost of the spare parts of the system.

3.2 Selection Report as a Part of the Design Concept Report

The last step of the system selection is preparing a report, by HVAC
designer, containing a summary of the design and selection criteria. This report
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is called Design concept Report. In this report, brief outline of the system
deemed inappropriate, and a comparison of the systems selected for detailed
study. The designer should add the owner's requirements and goals in this report.
He has put weighted multiplier for the owner's requirements and goals. There
are many assessments tools that can be used to system selections. The
examination of the total and operating costs of the HVAC system is the
important system selection tools. There are many other selection tools that can
be used in different applications according to the requirements of the
applications. Some of these tools are:
Comfort Consideration:
Control option, noise, ventilation, filtration.
Space consideration:
Floor space, plenum space, furniture placement, roofs, maintenance
accessibility.
First Cost:
System cost, costs to add zones, ability to increase capacity.
Operating cost:
Energy cost (gas and electricity), Water cost, Gas and electricity extending
installation costs, maintenance cost, and operating cost.

3.3 Inquiries required to be addressed in the system selection report

1. Does the system fit in the available space, or does it requires some
architectural modification? Does the system use more floor space than
others considered, or does it requires construction of additional space for
mechanical rooms or shafts.

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2. How much will the system cost to own compared to others considered?
What are the recovery time of the initial investment, and the future cost of
replacement equipment?
3. Will the system deliver the desired uniform temperature under varying
whether and solar conditions?
4. What are the operating costs-energy costs, maintenance, operating labor
and supplies of this system compared to the others?
5. What reliability can the owner expect compared to other systems.
6. If the system flexible enough to meet changes in the owner's needs? What
is required to add a new zone? Can it meet the increased capacity
requirements of space when new equipment (load) is added?

Finally the system selection report should conclude with a recommended

system choice along with reasons for the choice.

References
1. ASHRAE HANDBOOK, Fundamentals
2. ASHRAE HANDBOOK, HVAC Systems and Equipment
3. Harry J. Sauer and Ronald H. Howell, Principles of heating ventilation and
air conditioning, a text book supplemented to the 1989 ASHRAE HandbookFundamental.

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