COOLING LOAD

The cooling load is the amount of heat energy that would need to be removed
from a space to maintain the temperature in an acceptable range or it is the rate at
which sensible and latent heat must be removed from the space to maintain a
constant space dry-bulb air temperature and humidity.

ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER IN COOLING LOAD CALCULATION

A. SPACE HEAT LOAD ITEMS

1. Sensible Heat Gains in Space

a. Heat transmission through the structure
b. Solar radiation
b1. Solar loads through transparent surfaces
b2. Solar load on opaque surfaces
c. Infiltration or air leakage into the space
d. Heat emission from occupants
e. Heat from electric lights
f. Heat to be extracted from materials or products brought in at temperature
higher
than room temperature
g. Heat from other interior sources such as motors and chemical mechanical, gas
steam, hot water, or other appliances present.

2. Latent Heat Gains in Space

a. Infiltration by air leakage and by vapor-pressure difference
b. Moisture from occupants
c. Moisture from materials or products in the space
d. Moisture from other internal sources such as wet surfaces and chemical, gas
steam, hot water, electrical and other appliances

3. Outside Ventilation Air

a. Sensible heat gain due to temperature difference
b. Latent heat gain due to moisture difference

B. HEAT SOURCES FOR COOLING LOAD

1. Heat transmission through barriers such as walls, doors, windows, ceiling,

floors, and partitions, and caused by the different temperatures existing on
the two sides of the barrier.
2. Heat from solar effects
a. Transmitted by radiation through glass and absorbed by inside surfaces
and furnishings.
b. Absorbed by walls or roofs exposed to rays of sun and transferred to
the inside.
3. Heat and moisture introduced with infiltration air
4. Heat load from occupants (sensible and latent)
5. Heat load from machinery, appliances, lights, and combustion equipment

GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR COOLING LOAD CALCULATIONS (ASHRAE)

 1. Obtain the characteristics of the building. Building materials, component,
size, external surface colors, and shapes are usually determined from building
plans and specifications.
2. Determine the building location, orientation, and external shading. Plans and
specifications should contain these information. Shading from adjacent
buildings can be determined by site plan of by visiting the proposed site.The
possibility of abnormally high ground reflected by solar radiation (i.e;, from
adjacent water, sand, or parking lots) should not be overlooked.
3. Obtain appropriate weather data and select outdoor design conditions.
Weather data may be obtained from local weather station.
4. Select indoor design conditions, such as indoor DB temperature, indoor WB
temperature, and ventilation rate. Include permissible variations and control
limits.
5. Obtain a proposed schedule of lighting, occupants, internal equipment,
appliances, and processes that would contribute to the internal thermal load.
6. Select the time of day and month to be the cooling load calculations.
Frequency, several different times on a given day, is required. Particular day
and month are often dictated by peak solar radiation, determined from
tables.
7. Calculate the space-cooling load at design conditions.

REFERENCES:

https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/iframe/thermal-help/heating-and-cooling-loads.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_load

https://www.ashrae.org/education--certification/self-directed-or-group-
learning/fundamentals-of-heating-and-cooling-loads

Guidebook in Air Conditioning Analysis and Design, Jose R. Francisco