Constant Air Volume (CAV)

Constant Air Volume (CAV) systems are a classic solution to meet

HVAC needs. Being a simple system in nature, it has become one of
the most popular systems overtime. The basic concept of CAV
systems is to use a constant supply air volume through the
distribution system while heating or cooling the air to meet the
spaces needs. There are typically 3 different types of CAV systems;
single duct, reheat, and mixed air.

Single duct systems have one distribution system coming from the
source where the air is either heated or cooled. The air, at a constant
volume, is then distributed throughout the system to meet the HVAC
needs.

A reheat system is taking the single distribution system of the single

duct method, and adding reheat coils in the ductwork for further
temperature control at each individual space. This allows for some
spaces to have different supply temperatures than others.

A mixed air system alternatively has two distribution systems, one for cooling and the other for heating.
These two ducts meet at the space and are controlled by a mixing box.

This box is a simple valve mechanism that based on the needs of the space, decides how much warm
and cool air should be let into the diffuser to accommodate the necessary load.

All of these CAV systems have the capability to control

heating, cooling, humidity, gas, and particulates. The
pressure and air velocity of the air on the other hand are
not really controlled. Since there is a constant volume of
air being treated and distributed, there is no chance for
pressure changes to be made at individual spaces. This
also limits the velocity control capabilities since there is
no variation in distribution.

Variable air volume (VAV)

The simplest VAV system incorporates one supply
duct that, when in cooling mode, distributes supply
air at a constant temperature of approximately 55
F (13 C). Because the supply air temperature is
constant, the air flow rate must vary to meet the
rising and falling heat gains or losses within the
thermal zone served.
 Even a simple VAV system has several advantages over a CAV
system. One is more precise temperature control. To meet a
space cooling load, a CAV unit operates the fan and compressor
at full capacity until the temperature drops to a specified limit,
and then the compressor turns off. This on/off cycling causes
the temperature to fluctuate above and below the temperature
set point. In a single-zone VAV unit, the fan speed varies
depending on the actual space temperature and the
temperature set point, while the compressor modulates the refrigerant flow to maintain a constant
supply air temperature. The result is more precise space temperature control.

Another advantage is energy savings and reduced wear. VAV fan control, especially with modern
electronic variable-speed drives, reduces the energy consumed by fans, which can be a substantial part
of the total cooling energy requirements of a building. Modulating control of the compressor also
reduces wear and delivers further energy savings.

A final advantage is increased dehumidification. Because VAV air flow is reduced under part-load
conditions, air is exposed to cooling coils for a longer time. More moisture condenses on the coils,
dehumidifying the air. Thus, although a constant-volume and a single-zone VAV unit maintain the same
room temperature, the VAV unit provides more passive dehumidification and more comfortable space
conditions.

DUAL-DUCT SYSTEMS

The dual duct low pressure system was also

designed to meet the comfort needs of
different zones. A dual duct system has two
separate supply ducts from the HVAC unit to
the outlets in the spaces. One duct supplies
cold air, and the other supplies heated air. In
this system both the heating and cooling
coils operate at the same time, just as with
the multizone system. The hot air and the cold air are mixed with dampers at each zone in order to
obtain the air temperature needed for that zone. This system is intended to be constant volume-variable
temperature (CV-VT).

This system also uses too much energy because the hot air and cold air are bucking each other.
Therefore the dual duct system that mixes hot and cold air is now generally banned.

The dual duct system also has other problems. The cold duct usually requires most of the supply air. This
results in less flow in the hot duct at times and therefore a higher hot duct static pressure. When a zone
called for heating, the high static pressure in the hot duct resulted in a high cfm that created drafts and
noise in the conditioned spaces.
 HIGH PRESSURE MIXING BOXES

To solve the problems of non-constant airflow rate in a

dual duct system, a high pressure mixing box was
developed. This replaced the mixing dampers. The mixing
boxes control the cfm to a constant flow rate. The boxes
change the system into a true constant volume-variable
temperature (CV-VT).

The dual duct mixing boxes require a high static pressure

to operate - usually a minimum of 1.5 inches wg. The system itself generally requires about 3.0 inches
wg duct pressure to operate properly. The high fan horsepower required to maintain the high static
pressure, plus the bucking condition, means a high energy usage. The cost of operating the dual duct
system was too high.

Another problem was that, because of the higher pressure often present in the hot duct, the hot air
might flow back through the mixing box and into the cold duct. This could raise the air temperature in
the cold duct so that the supply air could not cool the spaces adequately.

LOW PRESSURE REHEAT BOXES

Later, low pressure reheat units for the zones were developed. The supply air had to be cold enough to
meet the needs of the zone with the greatest cooling load. The supply air to all other zones had to be
reheated. There was no temperature control unless the boiler was operating. In the summer when the
boiler was normally turned off, the system could only deliver cold air that was produced by the central
cooling system. Often the conditioned spaces

MULTIZONE SYSTEM
The multizone system was an early
system that was designed to meet the
varying needs of different zones. It has a
separate supply air duct to each zone in a
building. There is a heating coil and a
cooling coil in the central air handling
unit. Both coils are in operation at the
same time. Dampers after the coils mix
the hot and the cold supply air to the
temperature needed to satisfy each zone.

When heating and cooling occur at the

same time it is called bucking because
the heating and cooling coils are working against each other. The supply air to each zone is mixed to a
temperature somewhere in between the hot and the cold supply air. The multizone system uses too
much energy to heat and cool the air at the same time.

Because they waste energy, multizone systems are no longer being installed. They are generally banned
by local building codes throughout the country.
Fan Coil Unit System
A Fan Coil Unit (FCU) is a simple device consisting of a heating
and/or cooling heat exchanger or 'coil' and fan. It is part of an
HVAC system found in residential, commercial, and industrial
buildings. A fan coil unit is a diverse device sometimes using
ductwork, and is used to control the temperature in the space
where it is installed, or serve multiple spaces. It is controlled either by a manual on/off switch or by a
thermostat, which controls the throughput of water to the heat exchanger using a control valve and/or
the fan speed.

Due to their simplicity and flexibility, fan coil units can be more economical to install than ducted 100%
fresh air systems (VAV) or central heating systems with air handling units or chilled beams. Various unit
configurations are available, including horizontal (ceiling mounted) or vertical (floor mounted).

Noise output from FCUs, like any other form of air conditioning, is principally due to the design of the
unit and the building materials around it. A correctly selected FCU, like some of those from the UK, can
offer noise levels as low as NR25 or NC25

The output from an FCU can be established by looking at the temperature of the air entering the unit
and the temperature of the air leaving the unit, coupled with the volume of air being moved through the
unit. This is a simplistic statement, and there is further reading on sensible heat ratios and the specific
heat capacity of air, both of which have an effect on thermal performance.

Fan Powered Box System

In an air-conditioning system, a variable air valve with an auxiliary fan to mix induced air from a ceiling
plenum with the primary air. Either parallel or series flow
fan powered terminals can be installed in the ceiling
plenum. Each type takes its return air from the ceiling
plenum or else has its induction port connected to a duct
from the occupied space. Each contains a VAV damper to
modulate primary air, plus a fan-and-motor assembly. The
basic difference in configuration of these terminals is
shown in the figures, Parallel Flow ,Fan Powered
Terminal and Series Flow, Fan Powered Terminal. In a
parallel flow terminal, the fan is outside the primary
airstream and runs intermittently, that is, when the primary air is off. In a series flow terminal, the fan is
in the primary airstream and runs constantly when the zone is occupied. While both types of fan
powered terminals provide VAV energy savings at the central fan, they differ from each other in their
inlet static pressure requirements.
Self-Contained Air Conditioning System
It commonly found in hotels, motels, senior housing facilities,
hospitals, condominiums, apartment buildings, add-on rooms &
sunrooms. Many are designed to go through a wall, having vents
and heat sinks both inside and outside. Different standard
dimensions are found in the market including 4216 inches (1067
x 406 mm), 36x15 inches, and 40x15 inches.

Although PTACs are used mostly to heat or cool a single living

space using only electricity (with resistive and/or heat pump
heating), there are cooling-only PTACs with external heating
through a hydronic heating coil or natural gas heating. Typical
PTAC heating and cooling capacity values range from 2 to 5.5 kilowatts (7,00019,000 BTU/h) nominal.
One characteristic of PTACs is that condensate drain piping is not required because the condensate
water extracted from the air by the evaporator coil is drawn by the condenser fan onto the condenser
coil surface where it evaporates. Conventional PTACs still require condensate drain piping to be
installed.It is also known as Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner

PTACs are commonly installed in window walls and masonry walls. Their installation typically requires
the following:

Louvers
Metal sleeve
Heating coil
The PTAC itself
Room enclosure
 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

ASSIGNMENT
ME ELECTIVE 2

SYSTEMS USED IN HVAC

ABEN, CHRISTIAN LOUIE B. MAY 18, 2017

BSME 4
2:00-3:00 TTHS