REPORT

BUILDING SERVICES

AIR CONDITIONING

Submitted By:
Akhil Gupta
B.Arch,VI Sem

WHAT IS AIR CONDITIONING?

AN IDEAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SHOULD MAINTAIN

CORRECT TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, AIR PURITY, AIR
MOVEMENT AND NOISE LEVEL.
ALWAYS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN ALL THE ABOVE
FACTORS MENTIONED AND A COMPROMISE SHOULD BE
MADE TO MAKE THE SYSTEM ECONOMIC.

CLASSIFICATION OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

1.
2.
3.
4.

CENTRAL STATION AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

UNITARY A/C SYSTEM
DISTRICT A/C SYSTEM
SELF CONTAINED AIR CONDITIONED UNITS

WINDOW AIRCONDITIONING UNITS

Easiest mode of air conditioning for any space

As the name implies, it is simply mounted in an external window,
generally 75 mm above the floor level.
Units required for the unit area power connection(220 Volts, single
phase, AC power) through a 15 amps power socket, and condensate
drain disposal.
In hot and dry climates like delhi, U.P. , Rajasthan and others,
efficiency of unit is improved by placing a water tray on top of the unit
which evaporatively cools the air used for condensing and refrigerant.
Window units are recommended for aironditioning of a maximum of
upto 100 sq. m floor space, which has a limited depth upto 10 m, and
has external periphery to allow mountings of these units.
The major advantage of window units is the ease of installation and
relatively low capital cost.
WINDOW UNITS ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE in nominal

capacities of 1 TR, 1.5 TR and 2 TR; the actual capacity being somewhat
smaller.
Here TR is TON OF REFRIGERATION.

MAJOR DISADVANTAGES

Poor air distribution (supply/ return from same face)

Can be best serve for the space upto 5m deep
Requires external window for mounting
Blocks views, is aesthetically not desirable
Generates excessive noise in conditioned area
Unit is prone to compressor burn out due to voltage fluctuations

MAJOR ADVANTAGES

INSTALLATION AND ASSEMBLY LABOUR CHARGES ARE LESSER

ZONNING OR ASSEMBLY DUCT WORK IS ELIMINATED
FAILURE OF THIS UNIT PUTS OFF CONDITIONING IN ONLY ONE
ROOM WHEREAS THE FAILURE OF CENTRAL PLANT OFF-SETS
ALL THE ROOMS TO BE SERVED
IT CAN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF EACH ROOM
SEPERATELY
INDIVIDUAL ROOM CONTROL IS THE SPECIFIC FEATURE OF
THIS SYSTEM

CENTRALISED AIR CONTIONDITIONING SYSTEM

This system is applied for conditioning areas more then 500 sq. m.

CENTRAL A/C SYSTEM OFFERS THE ADVANTAGE OF

utilizing load diversities
consolidated maintenance
much lower operating costs.

USED IN
Cinema halls
Auditoriums
One or two storey office buildings
Libraries
Shopping malls
Hotels
Hospitals

COMPONENTS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLING A

CENTRALISED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

COOLING AND DIHUMIDIFYING COILS

HEATING COILS
BLOWER WITH MOTORS
SPRAYS FOR COOLING, DEHUMIDIFYING OR WASHING
AIR-CLEANING EQUIPMENTS
A CONTROL DEVICE

The central a/c system serves different rooms through extensive

duct work with individual control. The system may use one of
the following method to supply the conditioned air:
Air is conditioned in central conditioned room and is supplied to the required
rooms with controlled air discharge in each room.
1.
The water is chilled in the central conditioned room and is supplied to the
required rooms with individual flow control.
2.
Individual evaporator in each room with thermostatic flow control or direct
expansion system.

COMMERCIAL AVAILABILITY Central DX systems have nominal

refrigeration capacities of 20, 30, 40, 60, 120 and 150 TR.

It generally houses refrigeration machinery as well as air handling units,

and should be preferably located on the lowest floor.
Can serve a maximum of two floors with preferably air handling units serving
so as to prevent spread of fire and possible smoke.

THUMB RULE FOR SIZING PLANT ROOM

50 TR= 50 sq. m area X 3.2 m high
100 TR= 70 sq. m area X 3.6 m high

Natural ventilation and natural light are desirable but often one has to design
only with mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting, with emergency lights
and fire exit doors.
Each handling unit can serve upto 500 sq. m. conditioned area and requires
a room size of 4.5 m X 4.5 m X 3m high
Services required in AHU room are fresh air, condensate drain disposal and
power supply.

AHU room doors must be open outward

Generally two walls and ceiling of AHU rooms are acoustically
Conventionally these systems are designed for designed for water
cooled condensing, achieved by cooling towers mounted on roof
top, or frequently, by spray ponds outside the building.
Whereas, the spray pond are aesthetically most desirable, these are
expansive(3 to 4 times more than the cooling towers) , require
frequent cleaning and change of water and constant removal of
falling leaves and algae, repairs and maintenance of strainers and
nozzles.

SPLIT TYPE A/C UNITS

Split air cooled units of 1TR and 1.5TR capacity are commercially
available
This consists of a DX (direct expansion) fan coil unit (which does not
make any appreciable noise) installed within conditioned space and
an air cooled condensing unit mounted outdoors

ADVANTAGES OF CENTRALISED AIR CONDITIONING

SYSTEM
1.
2.
3.
4.

CAPITAL COST AND RUNNING COST ARE LESS PER UNIT

REFRIGERATION.
IT CAN BE LOCATED AWAY FROM THE AIR-CONDITIONED PLACES
WHICH IS USEFUL AND LESS COSTLY.
NOISE AND VIBRATION LEVEL ARE LESS TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN
AIR-CONDITIONED PLACES AS THE AIR-CONDITIONED PLANT ARE
FAR AWAY FROM THE AIR-CONDITIONED PLACES.
BETTER ACCESSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE.

DISADVANTAGESOF CENTRALISED AIR CONDITIONING

SYSTEM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

INSTALLATION AND ASSEMBLY LABOUR CHARGE IS HIGH.

ZONNING OR EXTENSIVE DUCT WORK IS TO BE DONE.
PLANTS MUST BE KEPT RUNNING EVEN ONLY FEW ROOM IS TO BE
AIR-CONDITIONED.
FAILURE OF A/C PLANT OFF-SETS ALL THE ROOMS TO BE SERVED.
CENTRAL SYSTEM CANNOT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH
ROOM.
INDIVIDUAL ROOM TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED BY
THIS SYSTEM.