Example 5.

Summer Cycle (Air Flows To Be Calculated)

A Lecture Theatre measures 15 m x 10 m x 6 m high.
It is to be air conditioned in summer so that the room is maintained at 22oC dry-bulb temperature, 50%
saturation.
Determine the cooling coil and reheater outputs required by using a psychrometric chart if the plant schematic is
as shown below.

DATA:
Outdoor condition is 28oC, 80% saturation.
The Apparatus Dew Point ADP is 7.5oC.
The latent heat gain is 10.0 kW.
The sensible heat gain is 12.0 kW.
Maximum occupancy is 200 people.
The cooling coil contact factor is unknown at present and should be calculated.
Use CIBSE guide B2 (2001) to determine air flow rates and calculate the mass flow rate of fresh air and supply
air to the room.
The lecture room may be taken as an Assembly hall.
The room is a non-smoking area.
Mass Flow Rates
Information from CIBSE Guide B2 (2001) Table 3.3 is as follows (see Ventilation – Ventilation rates section);
The recommended outdoor air rate is 8 l/s/person for non-smoking.
Information from CIBSE Guide B2 (2001) Table 3.1 is as follows (see Ventilation – Ventilation rates section);
Assembly halls and auditorium refers to Table 3.6 (see Ventilation – Ventilation rates section);
The recommended total air supply rate is 6 – 10 air changes per hour for high level mechanical strategy.
Fresh Air Flow Rate

Fresh air rate = 8 l/s/p x 200 people = 1600 l/s = 1.6 m3/s
The specific volume at the outside condition may be determined from a psychrometric chart. It is 0.88 m3/kg.
Mass flow rate = Volume flow rate / specific volume
Mass flow rate (Fresh Air) = 1.6 / 0.88 = 1.82 kg/s .

Supply Air Flow Rate

If the maximum ventilation supply air rate is taken from Table 3.6 to be 10.0 air changes per hour, then the mass
flow rate can be calculated.

Volume flow rate (m3/h) = Volume of room (m3) x air change rate (ac/h)
Volume of room (m3) = 15 x 10 x 6 = 900 m3
Volume flow rate (m3/h) = 900 (m3) x 10 (ac/h)
Volume flow rate (m3/h) = 9000 m3/h
Volume flow rate (m3/s) = 9000 / 3600 = 2.5 m3/s.
Mass flow rate = Volume flow rate / specific volume
The specific volume at the supply condition may be approximated at this stage from a psychrometric chart. It is
0.834 m3/kg.
Mass flow rate (Supply Air) = 2.5 / 0.834 = 3.0 kg/s.

Fresh Air And Recirc. Ratio.

The ratio by mass is therefore;

Fresh air rate = 1.82 kg/s

Supply air rate = 3.00 kg/s
Recirculation air rate = 3.00 - 1.82 = 1.18 kg/s

The ratio of fresh air to total supply air is;

1.82 / 3.00 = 0.6, i.e. 60% fresh air and therefore 40% recirculated air.
It is not unusual to have a high percentage of fresh air in a high occupancy room such as a Lecture
theatre.
The air flows are shown on the schematic diagram below.
Supply Air Temperature by Calculation
In this example the supply air temperature will be found by rearranging the following formula:

Hs = ma x Cp ( tr - ts )
where:
Hs = Sensible heat gain to room (kW)
ma = mass flow rate of air (kg/s)
Cp = Specific heat capacity of humid air (approx.1.01 kJ/kg degC)
tr = room temperature (oC)
ts = supply air temperature (oC)

Rearranging the above formula gives:

( tr - ts ) = Hs / ( ma x Cp )
( tr - ts ) = 12 / ( 3.00 x 1.01 )
( tr - ts ) = 3.96 deg.C
since tr = 22oC
ts = 22 - 3.96 = 18.04 oC
ts = 18 oC approx.

The processes can now be plotted on a psychrometric chart as shown below.

1. Points O, M and R can be shown on the chart.
2. Point ADP can be indicated and lines drawn between these points as shown.
3. The room ratio line can be drawn.
4. Point S is then shown on the chart, on the room ratio line at 18oC.
5. A horizontal line is then drawn from point S towards the line O – ADP.
6. Point W can then be found where the horizontal line W - S intersects the line O - ADP.
From the psychrometric chart point W is at approximately 9oC dry bulb.
The heat ratio is 12 kW sensible / 22 kW total = 0.545.
The specific enthalpies are shown below.
Cooling Coil Output
The cooling coil output is as follows:

H cooling coil = ma (hM - hADP)

where:
H cooling coil = Cooling coil output (kW)
ma = mass flow rate of air (kg/s)
hM = specific enthalpy at condition M (kJ/kg) determined from psychrometric chart.
hADP = specific enthalpy at condition ADP (kJ/kg) determined from psychrometric chart

The specific enthalpies at points M and ADP are shown on the psychrometric Chart above.

H cooling coil = 3.00 ( 64 - 24)

H cooling coil = 120.0 kW

Reheater Battery Output

The heater battery or reheater output is as follows:

H heater battery = ma ( hS - hW)

where:
H heater battery = Heater battery output (kW)
ma = mass flow rate of air (kg/s)
hS = specific enthalpy at condition S (kJ/kg) determined from psychrometric chart.
hW = specific enthalpy at condition W (kJ/kg) determined from psychrometric chart.
The specific enthalpies at points W and S are shown on the psychrometric Chart above.

H heater battery = 3.00 ( 36 - 26.5)

H heater battery = 28.5 kW