Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,

3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

(Cooling load)

Cooling load calculation is normally made to size HVAC systems and their
components. In principle, the loads are calculated to maintain the indoor design
conditions.
In cooling load calculation, there are four heat flow terms:
1-Cooling load:
Is the total heat required to be removed from the space in order to bring it at
the desired temperature by the A.C. equipments. The purpose of estimation of
cooling load is to determine the size of the A.C. equipment.
2-Heat gain:
Is a simultaneous summation of all external heat flows plus the heat
generated inside the building.
(heat gain )

3-Space heat extraction rate:

Is usually the same as the space cooling load but with an assumption that the
space temperature remains constant.
4-Cooling coil load:
Is the summation of all the cooling loads of the various space served by the
equipment plus any loads external to the spaces such as duct heat gain, duct
leakage, fan heat
-Components of cooling load:
The components of cooling load are classified into (external sources) which
are the heat gain sources coming from outside and (internal sources) which are the
heat gain sources generated inside the conditioned space.

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

There is another classification for the cooling load components which are:
sensible & latent heat gain:
A-Sensible heat gain:
The sensible heat gain is occur when there are a direct addition of heat to the
enclosed space which caused by any or all of the following sources:
1- Conduction through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, doors &
windows due to temperature difference.
2- The heat received from solar radiation
a- Heat transmitted directly through glass of windows or doors.
b- Heat absorbed by wall & roofs exposed to solar radiation.
3- Heat conducted from unconditioned places in the same building.
4- Heat given from light, motors, machinery, cooking operation ,etc.
5- Heat received from the occupants.
6- Heat carried by infiltrating air.
7- Heat gain through the walls of ducts carrying conditioned air
through unconditioned spaces.
8- Heat gain from the fan work

B-Latent heat gain:

Which is occur due to addition of water vapor to the air of enclosed space. The
latent heat gain may occur due to any or all of the following sources :
1- Heat gain due to moisture in the outside air entering by
infiltration.
2- Heat gain due to vaporization of moisture from occupants.
3- Heat gain due to vaporization of moisture from any process such
as cooking of food.

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

4- Heat gain due to moisture passing directly into the conditioned

space through permeable walls or from outside where the water
vapor pressure is higher

-Design conditions:
The amount of cooling load has to be accomplished to keep building
comfortable depends on the desired conditions indoor & on the outdoor conditions
in a given day.
-Indoor design conditions:
For most of the comfort systems, the recommended indoor conditions:
1- Summer: 23 to 26 Co DBT & 50% RH
2- Winter : 21 to 23 Co DBT & 20-30% RH

-Outdoor design conditions:

Outdoor design conditions are determined from published data for the
specific location.

-Calculation of cooling load:

1-Heat gain through external walls and roofs:

Q =U A (Ti-TO) =

Q:Sensible heat flow

A: Area of wall
U: Overall heat transfer coefficient (w/m2.c).
∆T (Ti-To): temperature difference for the inside & outdoor temperature.

For summer months the combined effect of convection, conduction,

radiation & thermal (time lag) for ( opaque surfaces) are to be considered. The

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

time lag is the difference between the time of peak outside temperature & the time
of the resulting indoor temperature. All of the transmitted solar radiation does not
immediately act to increase the cooling load, some is absorbed by wall & is
radiated back to indoor space even after the sunset. Therefore the time at which
the space may realize the heat gain as a cooling load is considerably offset from
the time the heat started to flow. This phenomenon is called «thermal storage
effect».
Q = U A CLTD
Where :

CLTD : cooling load temperature difference for roofs, walls (from tables 6-2 and
6-4).
Not that the values in tables (6.2 & 6.4) assume a dark color, design outdoor
temperature of 35 c , mean outdoor temperature (Tm = 29.4), design inside
temperature (TR = 25.5), a daily range (DR = 11.6 C), clear sky on the July 21&
latitude = 40 o north.
When conditions are different, CLTD values from tables (6.2 & 6.4) must be
corrected before being used.
For walls:
QW = UW AW CLTDcorr.
CLTDcorr. = [ CLTD (tables 6.3 + 6.4) + LM (table 6.5)]* K + (25.5-TR)
+ (TO-29.4)

Where: LM: latitude month correction factor from table (6.5).

K: wall color correction factor
K = 1 for dark colored or light in an industrial area.
K= 0.83 for permanently medium - colored ( rural area)

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

K= 0.65 for permanently light - colored ( rural area)

TO = to- ( )
Dr: Daily range

Ex.1
For roofs:
Qr = Ur Ar CLTDcorr.

CLTDcorr.= [( CLTD (table 6.2) + LM (table 6.5)) *K + (25.5-TR) + (TO-29.4)] *f

K: wall color correction factor
K= 1 for dark colored or light in an industrial area .
K= 0.5 for light colored roof
f: is a factor for attic fan & or ducts above ceiling.
f = 1 for no attic or ducts.
f = 0.75 for positive (mechanical) ventilation
(25.5 - TR): is the indoor design temperature correction.
(To - 29.4): Is the outdoor design temperature correction.

Ex.2
2-Heat gain thought glass:
Cooling load caused by solar radiation:
Qr = A Sc (tables (6.9 + 6.10 + 6.11))× SHGmax. table (6.6) × CLF (tables (6.7 +
6.8))
Cooling load caused by conduction:
Qc = Ug A CLTDcorr.
CLTDcorr = CLTD (table 6.12) + (25.5 - TR) + (To - 29.4)
Where: SC: shading coefficient

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

CLF: cooling load factor =

SHGmax: maximum solar heat gain transmission.

Total heat gain from windows:
Q = A (U. CLTDcorr. + SC. SHGmax .CLF)
Ex.3
3-Heat gain from adjacent unconditioned spaces:
Which is the heat gained from adjacent unconditioned spaces which have
usually temperature higher than the temperature of conditioned space.
Q = U A (Tb - Ti)

Where: Tb: temperature of unconditioned space

Ti: temperature of conditioned space
4-Heat gain due to infiltration:
The infiltration air is the air that enters a conditioned space through window
cracks & opening of doors.
Qi.s = mi.Cp (To - Ti) = 1.22 V (To - Ti) (kW)
Qi.l = mi. hfg (wo - wi) = 2940 V (wo - wi) (kW)
Qi.total = m ( ho – hi) = 1.2 V (ho – hi) (kW)
L crack = 2 (H + w)
mi: mass flow rate of infiltrated air (kg/s)
V: volumetric rate of infiltrated air (m3/s) (from table (8)
Cp = 1.017 kJ/kg. Co
ρ = 1.2 kg/m3
For two walls exposed we must take the length of crack for the wall which
has the greatest length.
Ex.4, Ex.5

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

5-Heat gain due to ventilation:

The ventilation (i.e. supply of outside air) is provided to the conditioned space
in order to minimize odors, concentration of smoke, carbon dioxide and other
undesirable gases so that freshness of air could be maintained. If the infiltration air
quantity is larger than the ventilation quantity then the latter should be increased
to at least equal to the infiltration air. The outside air adds sensible as well as
latent heat.
Q v.s = mv Cp (To-Ti) (kW)
Q v.L = mv hfg (wo- wi) (kW)
Q v.total = mv (ho - hi) (kW)

Where:
mv: mass flow rate of ventilated air
wi , wo: humidity ratio inside & outside the room
hfg: latent heat of vaporization of water ≈ 2450 kJ/kg

Ventilated air flow rate for persons:

Vv= (Vv / person) No. of persons
mv = Vv ρ = 1.2 Vv

Where:
(Vv / persons): quantity of ventilating air per person gated from table (10)
Ex.6
6-Heat gain from occupants:
The human body in a cooled space constitutes a cooling load of sensible &
latent heat. The heat gain from occupants is based on the average number of

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

people that are expected to be present in conditioned space and depends upon the
activity of the person.
Q o.s = (Qs / person) No. of persons. CLF
Q o.L = (QL / person) No. of persons
Where:
Qos & Qo.L are the total sensible and latent heat gain from occupants.
(Qs / person) & (QL / person): Amount of sensible & latent heat gain from one
person from table (11)
CLF: cooling load factor from table (12)
Ex.7
7-Heat gain from appliances:
The appliances frequently used in air conditioned space may be electrical, gas
fired or steam heated. Table (7) gives most of the commonly used appliances.

8-Heat gain due to processes:

The exist of processes in the conditioned space add the heat to space and lead
to increase the humidity of air.
Q p = Q ps + Q p.L
Q p.L = mv hfg
Q p.L: Latent heat added
mv: vapor generation rate (kg/s)
hfg: latent heat of vaporization (kJ/kg)

9-Heat gain from lighting equipments:

The heat gain from electric lights depends upon the rating of lights in watts,
use factor & allowance factor.

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

Q lights = power of lights * use factor * allowance factor

Use factor = 1 in residence, commercial stores and shops.
= 0.5 in industrial workshops.
Allowance factor = 1.25 (for fluorescent light)
Ex.8

10-Heat gain from power equipments:

The power equipments such as fan, motor or any other equipments of this
type add heat in the air conditioned space.

Qeq =

Load factor: is the fraction of the total load at which the motor is working.
Load factor and use factor always taken as 1.
If the fan is located before the air conditioner the heat energy must be added to
the load. If the fan is located after the air conditioner the energy is added to the
room sensible heat load.

11-Heat gain through ducts:

The heat gain due to supply duct depends upon the temperature of air in the
duct & temperature of the surrounding the duct.
QD = U AD (Ta - Ts)
U: overall heat transfer coefficient.
AD: surface area of duct.
Ta: Temperature of ambient air.
Ts : Temperature of supply air.

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Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Architectural Engineering,
3d Class-2nd Course (2018-2019), Course Title: Air Conditioning

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