Date: 19.9.

2021

COOLING/ HEATING LOADS FOR AIR- CONDITIONING

Prof Arun Atre |SPPU| BS III 2019 PATTERN

Visiting Faculty at SBPCOAD & MCOA Pune

Formerly visiting faculty at BNCA/DYPSOA/ASAD/PVPCOA

Estimation of air conditioning load (AC load Calculations)

Open Plan office space has the data as a basis for estimating the
space cooling and heating loads:

(All figures are Imperial system of units & figures in [ ] brackets

are in Metric system.)

Open-plan office space located in multi-story office building

1. Floor area = 115 feet × 50 feet =5380 Sq. ft. [35m × 15m
= 525 Sq. M].

2. Floor-to-ceiling height = 12 ft. [3.7 m]

3. Inside Design Conditions = 25 ºC, RH 50%

4. Outside Design Conditions = 40 ºC, RH 75 %
5. West-facing wall, 12 ft. high ×115 ft. long [3.7 m × 35 m]
Thickness -8 in. [203.2 mm] lightweight concrete block.
6. Twenty clear, double-pane (¼ in. /6.4 mm) windows
mounted in aluminium frames. Each window is 4 ft. wide × 5
ft. high [1.2 m × 1.5 m].
7. Flat roof constructed of 4 in. [100 mm] concrete with 2 in.
[50 mm] insulation.
8. Occupancy: Space is occupied by 35 people doing
moderately active work.
9. Fluorescent lighting in space = 1 W/ft2 [10.5 W/m2].
 10. Computers and office equipment in space = 0.5 W/ft2
[5.4 W/m2]
11. The office space is surrounded by spaces that are air
conditioned.

Calculate the total AHU capacity to supply conditioned air

in this space. Work out the ducting layout mentioning the
c/s sizes and branches, indicating the outlets for SA and
RA to be provided in the false ceiling.

Draw the RCP for the office space and section

Steps for estimation:

Table

1. TONNAGE BASED ON SPACE DIMENTIONS –

For 8ft to BEDROOM EXECUTIVE RECEPTION GENERAL SHOP SUPER

10ft ht (AT NIGHT) CABIN OFFICE MARKET
1 TR CAN 175 SQ FT 150 SQ FT 140 SQ FT 170 SQ FT 120 SQ FT
SERVE 16 SQ M 14 SQ M 13 SQ M 15 SQ M 11 SQ M

As per the chart given above 1TR can serve @ 170 sqft of
area for the heights upto 10ft only.
The area under consideration is 525 sq.mt i.e. 5380 sq. ft.
(p.n. All AC calculations shall be done in sq. ft. basis as per
practice)
Hence, required Tonnage = 5380 ÷ 170 = 31.64 TR
----------------------------- (A)

The total height of the office space is 4.5M and the height up
to FC is 3.7M i.e. approx. 12ft
 The above table is limited up to 10ft of height. The following
table gives the multiplying factors for the extra height
exceeding 10ft limitation. The above tonnage needs to be
incremented for this height.

In case height is more than Multiplying factor

10ft to increase capacity
i. Say 11’(3.35M) 1.1
ii. Say 12’(3.65M) 1.2
iii. Say 13’(3.95M) 1.3
iv. Say 14’(4.25M) 1.4
v. Say 15’(4.55M) 1.5
vi. Say 16’(4.85M) 1.6
vii. Say 20’(6.OM) 2.0

As per chart the multiplying factor for 12 ft. is 1.2 hence the
tonnage calculated above @A needs to be incremented by
1.2
Therefore, Tonnage required = 31.64 × 1.2 = 37.968 TR
------------------- (B)

Calculate various loads on Air-conditioning system as follows

–
2. HEAT LOAD DUE TO EXTERNAL SURFACES
Q = U × A × ∆T
Where,
Q = heat gain by conduction, Btu/hr [W]
U = overall heat-transfer coefficient of the surface, Btu/hr •
ft2 • °F [W/m2 • °K]
A = area of the surface, ft2 [m2]
ΔT = dry-bulb temperature difference across the surface, ºF
[°C]

U (Selected Value) should be given for ease of calculation in

the problem.

a. Conduction heat gain through the west-facing wall

(assume shading devices are installed):
*U-factor = 0.06 Btu/hr • ft2 • °F [0.33 W/m2 • °K]
* Total area of wall + windows = 12 ft. × 115 ft. =1380 sft.
[3.7 m × 35] m = 129 m2]
& Area of windows = 20 windows × (4 ft. × 5 ft.) = 400 sft.
[20 × (1.2 m × 1.5 m) = 36 m2]
*Net area of wall = 1380– 400= 980 sft. [129 – 36 = 93 m2]
* ΔT = outdoor temperature (104 ºF [40 ºC]) – indoor
temperature (77 ºF [25°C])
Q = U × A × ΔT
Q = 0.06 × 980 × (104 – 77) = 1587.6 Btu/hr.
(Similarly calculate for other walls)
b. Conduction heat gain through the roof: It is not taken
into account as roof is not exposed.
c. Conduction heat gain through the west-facing
windows:
*U-factor = 0.63 Btu/hr • sft • °F [3.56 W/m2 • °K]
* Total area of glass = 20 windows × (4 ft. × 5 ft.) = 400 sft.
[20 × (1.2 m × 1.5 m) = 36 m2]
*CLTD hour=104-78 = 27ºF [40-25 = 15°C]
*Q = 0.63 × 400 × 27 = 6804 Btu/hr.

So,
HEAT LOAD DUE TO EXTERNAL SURFACES =a +b + c
=1587.6+0+6804
= 8391.6
Btu/hr. -------(C)
 3. Equipment load –

Work environment Heat load from BTU/sft/h

equipment

General office 00.25 to 01.00 01 to 006 BTU/Sft /h

Watts/Sft

Computerized office 01.00 to 03.00 03 to 010 BTU/Sft /h

Watts/Sft

Totally automated 15.00 to 50.00 050 to 175 BTU/Sft/h

office Watts/Sft

Laboratories 05.00 to 20.00 015 to 070 BTU/Sft /h

Watts/Sft

Manufacturing plants 05.00 to 45.00 015 to 150 BTU/Sft/h

Watts/Sft

Considering the Computerized Office category for calculation

purpose the Heat load due to

Equipment can be taken between 3 to10 BTU/ sq. ft.

Therefore, 5380 x 10 = 53800 BTU/h ------------------------------------

(D)

4. Heat load due to occupancy – Humans dissipate heat into

the space and their perspiration adds to the humidity and
therefore to the latent heat.
 Heat gain from Sensible heat Latent heat Total Heat
occupants Activity BTU/h/person BTU/h/person
BTU/h/person

Seated at theatre 225 105 330

Seated, very light 245 155 400

work

Moderately active 250 200 450

office work

Standing light work, 250 200 450

retail store

Light bench work, 275 475 750

factory

Walking (3 mph), 375 625 1000

factory

Heavy machine 635 965 1600

work

Indoor 710 1090 1800

Stadium/Gymnasiu
m

Total heat load = Sensible heat + Latent heat

For a moderately working office the Total heat is 250 +200 = 450
BTU/h/person.

There are 35 no of persons occupying the space. Assuming full

occupancy we have,

Heat load for 25 occupancy = 35 x 450 = 15750 BTU/h

--------------------------- (E)
4. Lighting load – This load depends on the type of light fittings
provided, as well as the Lux and

Lumens needed for normal working conditions. Special works will

need special fittings and Lux outputs.

For normal working office we can assume the heat load due to
lighting as,

1 Watt/sq. ft. therefore for 5380 sq. ft. of area, Total Wattage =
5380 Watts

Where, 1 W = 3.4 BTU/h

(You may reduce accordingly for LED/CFL.)

Therefore, Heat load due to lighting = 5380 x 3.4 = 18292 BTU/h

---------------- (F)

5. Increment in Load due to Air changes required (Fresh

air intake with stale air removal)

This load is into effect due infiltration/exfiltration when Air change

takes place. The effect is also due to constant opening/closing of
door/windows. These losses are to be taken into account.

Therefore, for each air change @ 25% loss is to be considered for

change in entire volume of air in the space.

Hence, Load due to Air loss = 1.25 x Volume of space

i. e. Load due to Air change = 1.25 x 64560 =80700 BTU/h

----------------------- (G)

6. Total Load - Adding all the heat Loads, (C+D+E+F+G)

=8391.6+53800+15750+18292+80700 = 179933.6 BTU/hr
Now, 1TR = 12000 BTU/h

Therefore, Tonnage due to heat load calculation is 176933.6 ÷

12000 = 14.74TR

---- (H)

Total tonnage required = Tonnage as per space dimensions (B) +

Tonnage due to various loads (H)

Total tonnage required = 37.968 TR + 14.74 TR = 52.708 say 55

TR

This is the rate at which air needs to be conditioned.

(12000 BTU/HR =1 TR (Ton of Refrigeration) or

3030 KCAL/HR = 1 TR

1 TR = 3.5168 KW)

So 55 TR =55x3.5168=193.4 KW

AHU Capacity & Duct Design

As per market survey of ac units 1TR => 400 cfm

So, 55 TR x 400 = 22000 cfm =Q = AHU capacity

Equal Friction Method: Q=VXA

22000=1000 X A duct area (Velocity

=1000fpm)

Duct Area = 22000/1000 = 22 sq. ft.

Rectangular Duct size will be 7.33’ x 3’ (7’6”x 3’0”)

Or 6.28’ x 3.5’ (6’6” x 3’6”)

Choose suitable size.

No of Branches = 6

Cfm per branch = 22000/6= 3666.

Branch Duct Size =3666/1000 = 3.66 sq. ft.

Duct size = 2.5’ x 1.464 = 2.5’ x 1.5’

No of Outlets per branch = 3

No of outlets = 6x3 = 18

Cfm/outlet =3666/3=1222

Size of Outlet 1222/1000 =1.222 sq. ft. = 1.10 x1.10 =13.2”

x13.2” 1say 13x13sq.in.

Outlets in ceiling are called Diffusers.

(Outlets in wall are called Grilles.)

Diffuser has to be located symmetrically in the false ceiling grid.

RCP Reflected Ceiling Plan:

Show false ceiling grid

Show Duct & Branches

Show outlets/ Diffusers in center of false ceiling sheet

Schematic AHU room

Duct support

Collar & diffuser connection