Air Conditioning Air conditioning is a system or process that controls the temperature, humidity, and air quality in an indoor space to provide comfort and maintain the desired environment Air-conditioning regulates indoor spaces' temperature, relative humidity, and air purity conditions. This process is typically applied to maintain a level of thermal comfort types of Air Conditioning Window Units: These are self-contained units that fit into a window or a hole in an external wall Split Systems: Consist of two main components: an outdoor unit (compressor and condenser) and an indoor unit (evaporator). key components of air conditioning Central Air Conditioning. Used for cooling entire Temperature Control: buildings or large spaces. These systems use a network of ducts to distribute cooled air throughout the Cooling: The primary function of an air conditioner is to cool the air inside a building. room or building. This is typically achieved by using a refrigeration cycle to remove heat from the indoor air and expel it outside. Portable Units: These are standalone units that can be Heating: Some air conditioning systems also provide heating, often using a moved from room to room. They are convenient but heat pump mechanism that can reverse the refrigeration cycle. generally less efficient than fixed systems. Humidity Control: Ductless Mini-Split Systems: Similar to split systems but do not use ducts. They are ideal for retrofitting older Air conditioners can also regulate the humidity level by removing excess buildings without ductwork. moisture from the air. This is particularly important in humid climates, where high humidity can cause discomfort and promote mold growth. how air conditioning works Air Quality: Refrigeration Cycle: Filtration: Air conditioners often have filters that remove dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, improving indoor air quality. Evaporation: The refrigerant absorbs heat from the Ventilation: Some systems incorporate ventilation to introduce fresh outdoor indoor air at the evaporator coil, causing it to air and remove stale indoor air, enhancing air quality and preventing the evaporate. buildup of pollutants. benefits of air-conditioning Compression: The gaseous refrigerant is Comfort: Maintains a comfortable indoor temperature and compressed, raising its temperature and pressure. humidity level. Condensation: The hot refrigerant gas releases its Health: Improves indoor air quality by filtering out pollutants heat to the outdoor air at the condenser coil, turning and controlling humidity. back into a liquid. Productivity: Enhances productivity in work environments by Expansion: The refrigerant passes through an providing a comfortable climate. expansion valve, lowering its pressure and Preservation: Protects sensitive equipment and materials temperature before returning to the evaporator coil. from heat and humidity What is thermal comfort? According to the ASHRAE and ISO 7730 standards thermal comfort is defined as “that condition of the mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment”. What does thermal comfort depend on?
Air temperature Radiant temperature environmental factors
Air velocity Humidity Clothing Metabolism rate personal factors Air Temperature Our bodies will try to maintain a temperature of around 37oC. If the body becomes too hot: • Sweating If the body becomes too cold: • Shivering Occupants are generally happy at room o temperature of 20-22 C Radiant Temperature This is the temperature of the surfaces which surround the person. It’s thermal radiation. Everything, including you, gives off some thermal radiation due to the temperature differences. The heat emitted by surrounding surfaces, such as walls, ceilings, and windows. Radiant heat can significantly impact thermal comfort, especially in environments with large temperature differences between surfaces and air. Air Velocity The faster the air moves the greater the heat exchange will be. • Air speeds of 0.8m/s are allowed without local control • Air speeds of 1.2m/s are allowed with local control Humidity Amount of moisture in the air. The higher the humidity level the more water vapor there is in the air. This makes it harder for our bodies to reject heat
The amount of moisture in the air. High humidity can make people feel warmer because it hinders the evaporation of sweat, while low humidity can lead to dry skin and respiratory discomfort. Relative Humidity The ratio between how much moisture is in the air versus the maximum amount the air could hold, at a given temperature and pressure. 30 to 50% relative humidity is comfortable 60% are uncomfortable Clothing Clothing reduces the body’s heat loss. Clothing is classified according to its insulation value. The unit normally used for measuring clothing’s insulation is the Clo unit. (1 Clo = 0.155 m2°C/W).
The type and amount of clothing worn can greatly influence thermal comfort. Clothing acts as an insulator, affecting how heat is retained or lost by the body. Metabolism Rate Metabolism is measured in Met (1 Met = 58.15 W /m2 of body surface). The rate at which a person’s body generates heat. Activities that increase metabolic rate, like exercise, can make people feel warmer. Conditions for Thermal Comfort • First, a combination of the body core and skin temperature must provide a sensation of thermal neutrality! • Second, the heat produced by metabolism must be equal to the heat given off by the body. The Comfort Equation A heat balance for the body gives:
Thermal Comfort in Different Settings
Residential Buildings: Comfort preferences can vary widely among individuals in homes, so providing means for personal control (e.g., adjustable thermostats, fans, and personal heaters) is important.
Office Buildings: In workplaces, thermal comfort can significantly impact productivity and satisfaction. Open-plan offices often require careful consideration of air distribution and individual comfort controls.
Educational Institutions: In schools and universities, maintaining thermal comfort is essential for concentration and learning. Younger children, in particular, may have different comfort needs than adults.
Healthcare Facilities: Thermal comfort in hospitals and clinics can affect patient recovery and staff performance. Special considerations are required for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and infants. Local Thermal Discomfort Local thermal discomfort refers to the sensation of discomfort caused by temperature variations in specific parts of the body rather than the overall thermal environment.
• Draught • Thermal Radiation Asymmetry causes of local thermal discomfort
• Vertical Air Temperature Difference
• Floor Temperature Contact with Hot or Cold Surfaces: Description: Direct contact with surfaces that are too hot or too cold. Sources: Sitting on cold chairs, touching metal surfaces, or contact with poorly insulated walls. Impact Areas: Any part of the body in direct contact with the surface. Draught • Unwanted local cooling of the body • Depends on the fluctuations in air velocity frequencies. • Frequencies around 0.5 Hz are the most uncomfortable. Frequencies above 2 Hz cannot be sensed Sources: Air leaks around windows and doors, poorly designed HVAC systems, or direct exposure to fans and vents. Impact Areas: Typically felt on the neck, head, and legs. Radiant heat, also known as thermal Description: Temperature differences between surfaces that can cause uneven radiation, is a form of energy emitted radiant heat exchange. by a warm object in the form of Sources: Cold windows, warm ceilings, or floors heated by direct sunlight. electromagnetic waves. Impact Areas: Parts of the body closer to the cold or hot surfaces.
Thermal Radiation Asymmetry
This is defined as the difference between the Plane Radiant temperature of the two opposite sides of a small plane element. • Warm ceilings and cold windows cause the greatest discomfort. • Cold ceilings and warm walls cause the least discomfort.
soln Manage Radiant Asymmetry:
Insulate Cold Surfaces: Use window treatments like blinds or curtains to reduce cold drafts from windows. Heat Reflective Coatings: Apply reflective coatings to windows and other surfaces to minimize heat gain. Surface Heating/Cooling: soln Vertical Air Temperature Difference Address Vertical Air Temperature Differences:
Mixing Fans: Use ceiling fans or air circulation systems to mix air and minimize temperature gradients. Adjust HVAC Settings: Ensure HVAC systems are properly balanced to provide even temperature distribution. Generally, it is unpleasant to be warm around the head whilst at the same time being cold around the feet, regardless of this being caused by radiation or convection. Description: Significant temperature differences between the head and feet. Sources: Poorly distributed heating or cooling, such as ceiling- mounted air conditioners or floor heating systems without proper mixing. Impact Areas: Can affect overall body comfort, especially when standing or sitting for long periods. soln Regulate Floor Temperatures:
Floor Insulation: Use rugs, carpets, or insulated flooring materials to moderate floor temperatures. Underfloor Heating: In cold climates, install underfloor heating systems to keep floors warm. Avoid Direct Sun Exposure: Use shading devices to prevent floors from overheating due to direct sunlight. Floor Temperature
Due to the direct contact
between feet and floor, local discomfort of the feet can often be caused by too high or too low a floor temperature. Sources: Uninsulated floors in cold climates or overheated floors in hot climates. Impact Areas: Feet and lower legs. Temperatures to Access Thermal Comfort Assessing thermal comfort • Mean Radiant Temperature involves understanding and maintaining various temperature parameters within a specific range • Operative Temperature to ensure that most occupants feel comfortable
• Equivalent Temperature • Effective Temperature Mean Radiant Temperature The average temperature of all the surrounding surfaces that can radiate heat to or absorb heat from an occupant. The uniform temperature of an imaginary black enclosure causes the same radiant heat exchange as the actual enclosure.
Importance:
MRT is crucial for evaluating thermal comfort because humans exchange a significant portion of their body heat through radiation. Operative temperature is the uniform temperature of an imaginary enclosure in which an occupant would exchange the same amount of heat by radiation and convection as in the actual non-uniform environment.
Operative Temperature
Move a person from the real room to
an imaginary room and adjust the temperature so the heat losses are the same. The temperature in the imaginary room is the operative temperature if the humidity and the air velocity are the same as in the real room. Importance:
It combines the effects of air temperature and MRT, providing a single value that represents the overall thermal environment's impact on thermal comfort. Comfortable Range:
Generally, 20°C to 24°C (68°F to 75°F) for most indoor environments, similar to the comfort range for air temperature. Equivalent Temperature
Move a person from the real room to an imaginary room and
adjust the temperature so the heat losses are the same. The temperature in the imaginary room is the equivalent temperature if the humidity is the same as in the real room Effective Temperature Move a person from the real room to an imaginary room and adjust the temperature so the heat losses are the same. The temperature in the imaginary room is the effective temperature if the relative humidity is 50% and the air velocity is the same as in the real room. Assignment 1 If the thermal comfort in a workplace is not perfect, how far from perfect is it? Or within what limits should we maintain temperature and humidity to enable reasonable thermal comfort? The PMV and PPD scales
