CHAPTER 3

DESIGN CONSIDERATION OF COOLING LOAD CALCULATION

Before being designed the space, the maximum time of heat which enters to
space must be known, because the selection of cooling is based on the maximum
cooling load. That time is called peak time. This time is varying on various condition
and place.

3.1. Cooling Load

The interior of a building gains heat from a number of sources. If the
temperature and humidity of the air in rooms are to be maintained at a comfortable
level, heat must be extracted to offset this heat gain. The net amount of heat that is
removed is called the cooling load. The cooling load must be determined because it is
the basic for the selection of the proper size cooling equipment and piping. It is used
to analyses energy and conservation.
The cooling load on air conditioning systems are primarily those imposed by
heat flow through structural components and by air leakage or ventilation.

Figure 3.1. Heat Flow Diagram Showing Building Heat Gain Heat Storage and
Cooling Load

The methods for calculating cooling loads that will be used in this thesis are
essentially those recommended by carrier handbook. These calculation procedures
described are considerably accurate.
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3.2. Heat Storage Effect

The gross room heat gain is the rate at which heat is being received in the
room at any time. This heat gain is made up of components from many sources (solar
radiation, lighting, conduction, people, equipment, infiltration). All the heat is
received from these sources usually does not go immediately to heating the room air.
Some of the heat especially radiant energy (from sun, light, people) is absorbed by the
room materials both the structure and the furnishing. The heat is absorbed and stored
in the building materials is called the heat storage effect. As a result the net heat gain
to the room air from the heat sources is often less than the gross heat gains. The room
cooling loads, the rate of heat that must be removed from the room to maintain the
design conditions is the sum of these net heat gains. It is very important to account for
the heat storage effect because it may result in considerably reduced actual loads.

3.3. Room Heat Gain

Eventually the temperature of the building materials will rise enough so that
they will give off heat to the room air. Usually, the storage continues pass the peak
load time of day and the net effect is a reduction of peak loads.
The components that contribute to room heat gain consist of the following:
(1) Conduction through exterior walls, roof and glass.
(2) Conduction through interior partitions, ceilings and floors.
(3) Solar radiations through glass
(4) Lighting
(5) People
(6) Equipment
(7) Heat gain infiltration of outside air through openings.
It is convenient to arrange these heat gains into two groups: those from
external sources outside the room, and those internally generated. From the earlier
description it is seen that items 1 through 3 are external heat gains, and items 4
through 6 are internal heat gains. Infiltration can be considered as a separate class.
It is convenient to arrange these heat gains into a different set of two groups:
sensible and latent heat gains. Sensible heat gains result in increasing the air
temperature and latent heat gains are due to addition of water vapour, thus increasing
humidity. Items 1 through 4 are solely sensible heat gains.
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Items 5 and 7 are part sensible and part latent and item 6 can fall in either
category or both depending on the type of equipment. So, it is necessary to separate
the sensible and latent heat gains because the section of cooling equipment depends
on their relative values.

Figure 3.2. Room Heat Gain Components

3.4. Types of Room Heat Gain

The room in the building gain both sensible heat and latent heat in the
summer. The energy flow into the room is made up of room sensible and room latent
heat gains (RSHG and RLHG). The sum of these is the room total heat gain (RTHG).
A. Room sensible heat (RSHG)
(1) Solar and transmission heat gain through walls, roof, etc.
(2) Solar and transmission heat gain through glass.
(3) Transmission gain through partition walls, ceiling, floor, etc.
(4) Infiltration
(5) Internal heat gain from people, power, lights, appliances, etc.
(6) Additional heat gain not accounted above, safety factor, etc.
(7) Supply duct heat gain, supply duct leakage loss and fan horsepower.
(8) Bypassed outside air load.
B. Room latent heat (RLHG)
(1) Infiltration
(2) Internal heat gain from people, steam, appliances, etc.
(3) Vapor transmission
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(4) Additional heat gain not accounted above, safety factor, etc.
(5) Supply duct leakage loss.
(6) Bypassed outside air load.

3.5. Condition through Exterior Wall

The conduction heat gain through the exterior walls, roof and glass are each
found from the following equation.
Q = U×A×CLTDC (3.1)
where, Q = net room conduction heat gain through roof, wall and
Glass (BTU/hr)
U = overall heat transfer coefficient for roof, wall and
glass(BTU/hr ft2 °F)
A = area of roof, wall and glass (ft2)
CLTDC = corrected cooling load temperature difference (°F)

CLTDC= [(CLTD+LM) K+ (78-tR) + (to-85)] (3.2)

Dailyrange
to = DB – L (3.3)
where, CLTD = cooling load temperature difference (°F)
LM = correction for latitude and month
K = correction for color of surface
= 1~dack color or urban area or industrial area
= 0.5~light color roof in rural area
= 0.65~light color wall in rural
To = average difference outside design temperature

tR = room temperature (°F)

f = correction for ceiling ventilation (for roof only)
= 0.75~with attic fan
= 1~without attic fan and otherwise
DB = dry bulb temperature (°F)

3.6. Conduction through Interior Unconditioned Space

The heat that flows from interior unconditioned spaces to conditioned spaces
through partitions, floor, and ceiling can be found from this equation.
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Q = U×A×TD (3.4)
where, Q = heat gain through partition, floor, or ceiling (BTU/hr)
U = overall heat transfer coefficient for partition, floor ceiling
(BTU/hr ft2 °F)
A = area of partition, floor, or ceiling (ft2)
TD =temperature difference between unconditioned a condition space (F)
(Assume temperature of unconditioned space is 5 °F less than the outdoor
temperature)

3.7. Solar Radiation through Glass

Radiation energy from the sun passes through transparent materials, such as,
glass, becomes a heat gain to the room. Its value varies with time, orientation, shading
and storage effect.
The net heat gain can be found from the following equation.
Q = SHGF × A × SC × CLF (3.5)
where, Q = net solar radiation heat gain through glass (BTU/hr)
SHGF = maximum solar heat gain factor (BTU/hr ft2 F)
A = area of glass (ft2)
SC = shading coefficient
CLF = cooling load factor for glass

3.8. Heat gain from lighting

The room is used inflorescent or incandescent for lighting. The heat gain from
the lighting can be calculated by using the following equation.
Q = 3.4 × W × CLF × BF
(3.6)
where , Q = heat gain from lighting (BTU/hr)
W = lighting capacity (watts)
BF = ballast factor
= 1.25 for inflorescent lighting
= 1 for incandescent lighting
CLF = cooling load factor for lighting
The factor CLF accounts for storage of lighting heat gain. No effect can be
allowed for any of the following conditions:
(1) Cooling system operates only during occupied hours.
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(2) Cooling system operates less than 16 hours.

(3) Temperature of the space is allowed to rise during non-
occupied hour
For above conditions, use CLF = 1
3.9. Heat gain from people
The heat gain from people is composed of two parts, sensible heat and the
latent heat resulting from perspiration. Some of the sensible heat may be absorbed by
the heat storage effect, but not the latent heat.
The equations for sensible heat gains from people are-
Qs = qs ×CLF × n (3.7)
Ql = ql × n (3.8)

where, Qs = sensible heat gain (BTU/hr)

Q L = latent heat gain (BTU/hr)
qs = sensible heat gains per person

q L = latent heat gains per person

n = number of people
CLF = cooling load factor for people
= 1~air conditioning system is shut down

3.10. Equipment
The heat gain from equipment may sometimes be found directly from the
manufacture or the nameplate data, allowing for intermittent use. Some equipment
produces both sensible and latent heat.
The CLF factors (not shown) are applied if the system operates hours. The
heat output from motors and the equipment driven by them results from conservation
of the electrical energy to heat.
The proportion of heat generated the heat gained by the air conditioned space
depends on that whether the motor and the driven load are both in the space or only
one of them is.

3.11. Heat Gain Infiltration of Outside Air through Openings

The outside airs which may enter the building are infiltration and ventilation.
Infiltration occurs when outdoor air enters through opening, due to the wind pressure.
The openings of most concern to use are cracks around the window sashes and door
edges and opening doors.
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Infiltration air entering a space in winter would lower than the room air
temperature and that air in summer would be higher than that of space temperature.
Sensible heat and latent heat equations can be used to find the heat gain
resulting from the infiltration air. If the lower room humidity resulting from
infiltration is acceptable then the latent heat loss effect may be neglected.
There are two methods used to estimate the CFM of infiltration air.
(1) Crack method
(2) Air change method
The crack method assumes that a reasonably accuracy of the rate of air
infiltration per foot of crack opening can be measured or established. The crack length
and area should be determined from building architectural plans or field
measurements. The following table is for the maximum allowed design infiltration
rate through exterior windows and doors.
Table 3.1. Recommended maximum allowed design infiltration rates through
exterior windows and doors.
Item Infiltration
Windows 0.75 CFM/ft crack
Doors 1.0 CFM/ft crack
The air change method assumes that the number of air changes per hour (one
air change is equal to one room volume) in a room due to infiltration air can be
determined.
Using the definition of air change, the infiltration rate in CFM is
CFM = A C × V/60
(3.9)
where, CFM = air infiltration rate to the room (CFM)
AC = number of air change per hour for room
V = room volume (ft³)
Table 3.2. Air Change per Hour Occurring Under Average Condition In
Residences, Exclusive or Air Provided For Ventilation
Kind of Room Single Glass No Weather Storm sash of Weather
strip stripped
No windows or exterior 0.5 0.3
doors
Windows or exterior doors 1.0 0.7
on one side
Windows or exterior doors 1.5 1.0
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on two side
Windows or exterior doors 2.0 1.3
on three side
Entrance Halls 2.0 1.3

3.12. Door Usage

For building that have frequent door usage (e.g. department stores) the
infiltration that results from door opening should be included. The rate of door usage
(number of people per minute) is first determined, with the device of architect owner.
For doors that are left indefinitely open, special means may be used to try to
offset infiltration. Unit heaters, which can blow warn air directly at the opening, the
air curtains, which direct a vertical warm air barriers across the opening are two such
methods. However, it is difficult to determine the effect on the building heating load
of those methods.
Additional air infiltration may occur through a porous wall. If the walls have
significant porosity, sealant coatings or other covering may be applied to them.
In high rise buildings, a thermal stack effect may increases infiltration through
existing cracks. This occurs when the warmer inside air, which rises through the
building and exists out through cracks on upper stories, is replaced by colder outside
air entering through cracks on lower flower. Consult ASHARE hand book for more
information.
Much publicity is being given today to reducing infiltration in existing
building by use of weather stripping, and the sealing of cracks around frames, still
plates, wall penetration, and other openings. There are many excellent publications
available from governmental agencies and utility companies on this subject.

Table 3.3. Infiltration Rate for Frequent Door Usage

Type Ft³ per person
Swinging door, no vestibule 900
Swinging door, vestibule 550
Revolving door 60
The procedure for combing the infiltration rates of individual rooms on
opposite walls, in order to find the total building infiltration rate will be discussed.
3.13. Heat Gain from Ventilation
The outside airs which may enter the building are ventilation. Ventilation
occurs when outdoor air enters through opening, due to the wind pressure. Sensible
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and latent heat equation can be used to find the heat gain resulting from ventilation
air.
Qs = 1.1 × CFM × TC (3.10)
Ql = 0.68 × CFM × (w´o-w´i) (3.11)
where, Qs = sensible cooling load from ventilation air (BTU/hr)
Q l = latent cooling load from ventilation air (BTU/hr)
CFM = infiltration rate to the room (CFM)
TC = temperature (t1-t2) (°F)
w´o = outdoor humidity ratio (lb.w/lb.da)
w´i = change in humidity ratio (lb.w/lb.da)

3.14. Heat Transfer to the Surrounding

Some of the sensible heat gain to the room is transferred through the structure
to the surrounding and never appears as part of room load. This is a separate effect
from heat storage. This heat loss should be calculated and a correction made to the
room sensible heat gains from conduction, solar radiation, lights, and people and
equipment heat gains. The following equations are used to determine the correction
for heat transfer to the surrounding.
Fc = 1- 0.02 k (3.12)

UwAw +UgAg
k = L (3.13)

where, Fc = multiplier to correction each room sensible heat gain

k = unit length conductance (BTU/hr ft² °F)
Uw/Ug = overall heat transfer coefficient of wall, glass
(BTU/hr ft² °F)
Aw/Ag = area of wall, glass (ft²)
w = wall
g = glass
L = exterior wall length (ft)