ACMV SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Required
Comfort
Level

ACMV
System
Design

The System Design shall be based on

the required comfort level or
condition

ACMV SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Apart from typical office and residential
purposes, special ACMV is also required
for:
Manufacturing processes
Operation theatres (hospitals)
Sensitive equipment
Each has different requirement in the
conditions of air.

ACMV SYSTEM OVERVIEW

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM

Water-Cooled System
Suitable for large system, where
energy need to be transferred in a
long distance

Air-Cooled System
Better for small system

Why water?
Liquid system is preferred because water with
high specific heat density can carry greater
quantity of energy per unit volume than air
Cp (air) = 1.006 kJ/kg.K (at 30C)
Cp (water) = 4.183 kJ/kg.K (at 30C)

To transport water can use small system like

pipe, as compared to air which require (large)
ducting

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM
Water-Cooled System

AIR

Heat

WATER

Heat

REFRIGERANT

Most common system in large scale operation.

Example: Commercial center, Office Buildings

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM
Some Users of Water-Cooled System:
New UTP Campus Academic Building
Casuarina Parkroyal Hotel
KLCC Twin Tower
Hospital Besar Ipoh
Kinta City
KL Sentral
What
Super Kinta
about
Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque GDC?

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM
Air-Cooled System

AIR

Heat

REFRIGERANT

Very common in small scale operation like

houses and small rooms. Could be economical
in some large buildings, depending on the type
of building occupation.

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM
Air-Cooled System

Window Unit
Examples:
Lecture rooms
House
Small Office
Hotel Seri Malaysia

AIR-COOLED SYSTEMS
Air-Cooled
Split Units are examples
of Air-cooled system.
The AC systems for UTP
Main Hall and the MultiPurpose Hall are
examples of large AirCooled Systems.
Systems can be
centralized or individuals.
What are the pros and cons?

TYPES OF AC SYSTEM

Water Cooled System

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

CWS

CHILLER

COOLING
TOWER

CWR

Ducting

CHWS

AHU

Room Space

CHWR

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

GDC
CWS

CHILLER

COOLING
TOWER

CWR

HX

CHWS

Ducting

AHU

Room Space

CHWR

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

AIR HANDLING UNITS
A heat exchanger
equipment to cool air
using chilled water in
tubes.

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

AIR HANDLING UNITS

More even air

distribution of air
through the cooling coil
Heat from motor.

Usually longer. Why?

Typical AHU Configurations

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

CHILLER SYSTEM
A refrigeration system that produces
cold fluids (cold water or air) as part
of the Air-Conditioning process.
There are many types of chillers available
In most cases refrigerants are used. Examples are
R-134a, R-12 (environmentally harmful)

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

CWR

THE HEAT IN THE

CHILLER CONDENSER
MUST BE REMOVED
FROM THE SYSTEM

CWS

To Cooling Tower

CONDENSER

COMPRESSOR

EVAPORATOR
CHWS

CHWR

To AHUs

BASIC CHILLER SYSTEM

How does
it look
Like for
Air-Cooled
System?

WATER-COOLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW

COOLING TOWER SYSTEM

ACMV SYSTEM OVERVIEW

COOLING TOWER SYSTEM
Required to remove heat from the water-cooled condenser (in chiller)
Warm condenser water (CWS) is pumped from the chiller to the
cooling tower.
The water is sprayed
from the top of the
tower.
Air is drawn/sucked
from the bottom of the
cooling tower (counterflow heat exchange).
The use of fins helps increasing the heat transfer to the atmosphere.

Comparison
Air-Cooled System

Water-Cooled System

Can be operated individually at small

areas; e.g. if at night only a small
room requires AC, then only one or
two ACSU is required, and thus save
energy.

System (with chillers) must be

operated in full even if only to serve a
small area, and thus may consume
large energy in such a situation.

Not suitable for operation in large

areas or ones that require long
transportation of cool air because
very large ducts will be required
(lower density than water)

Suitable for operation in large areas

or ones that requires long
transportation of cool air because
water can carry more energy than air.

10

Considerations in design
In any design, the following aspects must be considered:

Compliance to technical specifications; i.e codes,
standards, by-laws etc.

Practicality of design: by considering
 System efficiency
 Ease of maintenance
 Operational issues
 Track record

Cost effectiveness

Time limitation

Space limitation

ENERGY REGULATIONS
Malaysia is yet to have specific regulation on the use of energy in
buildings. So far only have policies/ guidelines are available:

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ACT 1990

ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS 1994
GUIDELINES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
(Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment)

CODE OF PRACTICE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND USE OF

RENEWAL ENERGY FOR NON- RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
UNIFORM BUILDING BY-LAWS (UBBL)
ENERGY COMMISSION (SURUHANJAYA TENAGA)

11

Uniform Building By-Laws

Part III
Part IX

Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part

Space, Light and Ventilation

3rd Schedule Interpretation & ASHRAE Stds

I: Preliminary
II: Submission of Plans for Approval
III: Space, Light & Ventilation
IV: Temporary Works In Connection With Building Operations
V: Structural Requirements
VI: Constructional Requirements
VII: Fire Requirements
VIII: Fire Alarms, Fire Detection, Fire Extinguishment & Fire Fighting Access
IX: Miscellaneous (1st - 10th schedule)

UBBL:
PART III: Space, Light and Ventilation

12

UBBL:
PART III: Space, Light and Ventilation
By-Law No. 40:
Air Wells (Natural ventilation)

UBBL:
PART III: Space, Light and Ventilation
By-Law No. 41:
Mechanical Ventilation Air-Conditioning

13

UBBL:
PART III: Space, Light and Ventilation
By-Law No. 41:
Mechanical Ventilation Air-Conditioning

UBBL:
Third Schedule

cmm: cubic meter of

air per minute

14

UBBL:
Third Schedule

END

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