Mechanical Layout and Details

Introduction

The objective of mechanical design is to create an effective environmental

system. Structural thinking should be introduced at the early stages in the design
process. These will provide buildings and residential dwellings with mechanical and
other environmental subsystems to support horizontal and vertical movement of
men and materials. It also provides functional heating, ventilating, air conditioning
(HVAC) power, water and waste disposal. In addition, acoustical and lighting needs
are often influenced by structural design.
The requirements for provisions of heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
power, water and waste services can be visualized in the form of a tree diagram.
These services usually originate at a centralized location and trace their way
horizontally and vertically throughout the structure to serve the activity spaces.
The designer should be well versed with heating, ventilating, air conditioning
systems, as well as vertical transportation which include escalators and elevators.
This module familiarizes you on how to locate the machines, raceways,
wirings, motors, generations and the like in its proper places.

HVAC Basics
The purpose of an HVAC system is more than just warming or cooling a
space. Instead, it serves to improve indoor air quality and provide comfort for
everyone inside a building. While there are several different types of HVAC
systems, they all begin with the same essentials.
First, there is a source of fresh air intake from the outside or from within the
home. This process is called ventilation, and it happens in two different ways.
Natural ventilation is present in most homes and refers to the way air typically
moves in and out through windows, doors, vents, and other openings. This
exchange of air is necessary to replenish oxygen, and to remove odors, carbon
dioxide, unpleasant odors, and excessive moisture.
Mechanical ventilation uses a mechanical system--the V in HVAC--to move
air in and out. In the past, there was plenty of natural ventilation in most homes
from gaps and cracks in the construction along with opening and closing of doors.
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However, modern construction is creating homes that are far more tightly sealed
so ventilation is becoming an increasingly important component in home HVAC
systems. Once the air is brought in, it is drawn into an air handling unit where the
work begins. Here, air is drawn through filters to remove dirt, dust, allergens, and
other particles. Next up is comfort. Air is either sent to be heated or sent to be
cooled and have excess humidity removed.
Once the air is clean, fresh, and at a comfortable temperature, it is directed
into the home. For central systems, this means moving through a network of ducts
and registers to different rooms. For other systems, this usually means being
directed right into the space.
HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition!

This is an area of mechanical engineering that is concerned with the design of these
systems in building architecture.

▪ Heating refers to the process of effective placement of heaters in the

building to minimize energy costs but also create comfortable living
environment

▪ Air Conditioning refers to the process where air condition units are
placed at strategic points in the building (either in the form of centralized or
individual) such that the energy costs can be minimized. Alongside, it is
also important that the heat in the building removed most effectively,
fastest and create uniform temperature conditions.

▪ Ventilation refers to the process where the stale air is removed. This is
in concern with Kitchens etc.

HVAC combines energy calculations along with fluid flow (in the building)
through Energy simulations and CFD and utilizes them in understanding building
physics.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is the technology of indoor
and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and
acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC is an important part of residential structures
such as single family homes, apartment buildings, hotels and senior living
facilities, medium to large industrial and office buildings such as skyscrapers and
hospitals, onboard vessels, and in marine environments, where safe and healthy
building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using
fresh air from outdoors.

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Basic Of HVAC in details :
1. Heating :

▪ Heaters are appliances whose purpose is to generate heat (i.e. warmth) for
the building. This can be done via central heating. Such a system contains
a boiler, furnace, or heat pump to heat water, steam, or air in a central location
such as a furnace room in a home, or a mechanical room in a large building.
The heat can be transferred by convection, conduction, or radiation.

hvac diagram- basic of hvac

▪ In the case of heated water or steam, piping is used to transport the heat to
the rooms. Most modern hot water boiler heating systems have a circulator,
which is a pump, to move hot water through the distribution system (as
opposed to older gravity-fed systems). The heat can be transferred to the
surrounding air using radiators, hot water coils (hydro-air), or other heat
exchangers. The radiators may be mounted on walls or installed within the
floor to produce floor heat.

2. Ventilation
▪ Ventilation is the process of changing or replacing air in any space to control
temperature or remove any combination of moisture, odors, smoke, heat,
dust, airborne bacteria, or carbon dioxide, and to replenish
oxygen. Ventilation includes both the exchange of air with the outside as well
as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors
for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for
ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural
types
▪ Mechanical, or forced, ventilation is provided by an air handler (AHU) and used
to control indoor air quality. Excess humidity, odors, and contaminants can

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 often be controlled via dilution or replacement with outside air. However, in
humid climates more energy is required to remove excess moisture from
ventilation air.

ventilation -Basic of HVAC

▪ Kitchens and bathrooms typically have mechanical exhausts to control odors
and sometimes humidity. Factors in the design of such systems include the
flow rate (which is a function of the fan speed and exhaust vent size) and
noise level. Direct drive fans are available for many applications, and can
reduce maintenance needs.
▪ Ceiling fans and table/floor fans circulate air within a room for the purpose
of reducing the perceived temperature by increasing evaporation of
perspiration on the skin of the occupants. Because hot air rises, ceiling fans
may be used to keep a room warmer in the winter by circulating the warm
stratified air from the ceiling to the floor.
▪ Natural ventilation is the ventilation of a building with outside air without
using fans or other mechanical systems. It can be via operable windows,
louvers, or trickle vents when spaces are small and the architecture permits
3. Air conditioning
An air conditioning system, or a standalone air conditioner, provides cooling and
humidity control for all or part of a building. Air conditioned buildings often have
sealed windows, because open windows would work against the system intended to
maintain constant indoor air conditions. Outside, fresh air is generally drawn into the
system by a vent into the indoor heat exchanger section, creating positive air
pressure.

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 Air-Conditioning-basic-of-hvac
Air conditioning and refrigeration are provided through the removal of
heat. Heat can be removed through radiation, convection, or conduction.
Refrigeration conduction media such as water, air, ice, and chemicals are referred to
as refrigerants. A refrigerant is employed either in a heat pump system in which a
compressor is used to drive thermodynamic refrigeration cycle, or in a free cooling
system which uses pumps to circulate a cool refrigerant (typically water or a glycol
mix).

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Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Systems Layout

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment perform

heating and/or cooling for residential, commercial or industrial buildings. The HVAC
system may also be responsible for providing fresh outdoor air to dilute interior
airborne contaminants such as odors from occupants, volatile organic compounds
(VOC’s) emitted from interior furnishings, chemicals used for cleaning, etc.

Operational Definition of Terms

Adiabatic Saturation is the introduction of water into unsaturated air to
increase its humidity ratio.
Dew Point is the temperature at which an air-water mixture will become
saturated and begin to yield drops of condensed water.
Dry Bulb Temperature is the air-water vapor mixture as measured in the normal
way with a Fahrenheit Thermometer.
Enthalpy is the quantity of British thermal unit per minute in a fluid or gas.
Humidity Ratio is the weight of the actual water vapor in a mixture per pound
of dry air.
Latent Heat is the heat energy required to change the state of a substance.
Relative Humidity is the ratio which indicates the degree of saturation of the
air with water vapor.
Sensible Heat is the heat in British thermal unit absorbed by a substance in
changing its temperature without its state.
Thermal Conductivity is the amount of heat that flows from one face of a
material to another.
Heat Resistivity is the ability of materials to resist the transfer of heat.
Insulation is a material used to stop the transfer of heat.
R Value is a uniform rating of heat resistance that flows through building
materials. The higher the R number, the greater the resistance to heat
flow.

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Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Air conditioning
Air conditioning may be defined as the simultaneous control of air
temperature, humidity, motion and purity of air in a confined space.
Air Conditioning Systems
Air conditioning which is the process of controlling the physical properties of
air, maybe divided into 2 general classes:
1. Air Conditioning for human comfort
2. Process air conditioning
Comfort air conditioning is a modern method of controlling the temperature
and humidity of air in an enclosed space so that it will give comfort to the majority
of the occupants of the space.
Process air conditioning is concerned with producing an air condition within
an enclosed space that is most favorable to the manufacturing operation being
conducted in that space.
In general, comfort air-conditioning maybe defined as the simultaneous and
automatic control of temperature humidity, and air motion so that the greatest

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feeling of comfort is produced for the largest number of people. Air conditioning
consists of cooling the air, dehumidifying it, and placing the air in motion. Cooling
the air requires refrigeration, while dehumidifying the air requires either
refrigeration or chemical treatment.

How does an Air Conditioner work?

An air conditioner cools and dehumidifies the air as it passes over a cold
coil surface. The indoor coil is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger with rows of tubes
that pass the liquid through the coil. Finned surfaces connected to these tubes
increase the overall surface area of the cold surface thereby increasing the heat
transfer characteristics between the air passing over the coil and liquid passing
through the coil. The type of liquid used depends on the system selected. Direct-
expansion (DX) equipment uses refrigerant as the liquid medium. Chilled-water
(CW) can also be used as a liquid medium. When the required temperature of a
chilled water system is near the freezing point, freeze protection is added in the
form of glycols or salts. Regardless of the liquid medium used, the liquid is
delivered to the cooling coil at a cold temperature.

Functions of air conditioning systems are:

1. Cooling and dehumidifying air

2. Heating and humidifying air
3. Cleaning of air (Filtration)

Circulation of Air Conditioning Standards

1. Heating and Humidifying
A relative humidity of 30 to 35 percent is found most satisfactory in winter.
With this proportion a temperature from 70˚to 75˚F (21.1˚-23.9˚) is comfortable.

2. Cooling and Dehumidifying

For summer cooling, temperature of 76˚ to 80˚F (24.4˚C-26.6˚C) and 50
percent relative humidity are frequent design average.

3. Air Motion
A gentle motion of air produces a refreshing and stimulating effect. The
velocity should average 15 to 25 ft. per minute measured 36 inches above the floor.

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Upward System of Air Conditioning of Theatre

Here, the advantage

is that there is a
draft air when the
supply air enters
inside which is
inconvenient to the
audience.

This is more
convenient than
upward method
because the supply air
is mixed first to warm
air before reaching the
audience

4. Air Supply
Many codes require about 30 cu. ft. per min. per person. Since the indoor
air is recirculated and reused in air conditioning, a smaller amount of air is required,
5 to 10 cu. ft. per person is sufficient.

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11
Detailed construction of a centralized air conditioning duct system

(a)

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(b)

13
(c)

14
(d)

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(e)

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(f)

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 (g)

Types of Air Conditioning (AC) systems

Cooling Only Split-System

A split system is a combination of an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor

condensing unit. The indoor air handling unit contains a supply air fan and an air-
to-refrigerant heat exchanger (or cooling coil), and the expansion device. The
outdoor condensing unit consists of a compressor and a condenser coil. Split-
systems are typically found in residential or small commercial buildings.

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 These systems have the highest Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of all the
available AC systems. Manufacturers are required to take the EER rating and
provide a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) for use by consumers. SEER
ratings vary widely and range from 10 to 20. The higher the SEER rating, the more
efficient the AC system operates. If heating is required, an alternate method of
heating the interior of the building must be used, usually in the form of electric or
gas heating.

Cooling Only Packaged System

A cooling only packaged system is a single unit combining all the

components described in the split system. Since the unit is a package, it must be
placed outside the building and indoor air is “ducted” from the building to the
packaged system and back through an air distribution system. These units typically
have SEER rating from 10 to 18. If heating is required, an alternate method of
heating the interior of the building must be used, usually in the form of electric or
gas heating.

Heat Pump

Heat pumps are similar to cooling only systems with one exception. A
special valve in the refrigeration piping allows the refrigeration cycle to be operated
in reverse. It cools the indoor air and ejects heat to the outdoors. A heat pump can
also cool the indoor air, but when the valve is reversed, the indoor air is heated.

Chilled Water System

In a chilled water system, liquid water is pumped throughout the building to

“chilled water coils”. Since the liquid water needs to be at a cold temperature, a
“cooling plant” is required. The plant is typically referred to as a chiller plant. Vapor
compression equipment in the plant, cools the water to a cold temperature and
pump the cold water to air-to-water heat exchangers where needed.

Window Air Conditioners

A window air conditioner is typically installed in a window or custom opening

in a wall. The Window AC can only cool small areas and are not intended to provide
cooling to multiple rooms or zones. These air conditioners are manufactured as
cool only or can provide both cooling and heating.

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Packaged Terminal Heat Pump

Packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHP) are similar to a window-mounted air

conditioner. These units are typically installed in a sleeve passing through the
outdoor wall of an apartment, hotel, school classroom, etc. PTHPs are completely
self contained and require only an electrical connection in addition to the opening
in the building shell. They use the outdoor air as the heat source in winter and as
a heat sink in summer. They can also provide ventilation air. Flexibility and lower
installed cost are the primary advantages of the PTHP. Disadvantages include in-
room maintenance, higher operating cost, relatively short life, imprecise "on-off"
temperature control, and they can be rather noisy.

Controlling humidity with an AC system

Humidity is becoming more of a concern to building operators and owners.

High indoor humidity leads to mold and mildew growth inside the building. There
are several methods of controlling indoor humidity. The simplest (and most
expensive) method is to connect a humidistat to an electric heater. When the
humidity inside the building rises above the humidistat set point, the heater is
turned on. The additional heat causes the air conditioning system to run longer and
remove more moisture.

Comfort requires more than just providing warmth in rainy season or

coolness in summer. True comfort means a correct temperature, correct humidity
or amount of moisture in the air, and clean, fresh, odorless air.

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Air Conditioning Equipment and Controls

An air conditioning system has the following equipment and controls

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1. Compressors
Compressors used are of two types:
a. Reciprocating is commonly referred to as piston type
b. Centrifugal refers to two rotary type compressors
For up to 100 tons, reciprocating units are used because centrifugal
compressors are not manufactured in these sizes.

2. Condensers
Condensers used for liquefying have three general designs:
a. Air cooled condensers
Air cooled condensers are seldom used for capacities
above 3 tons of refrigeration unless an adequate water supply
is extremely difficult to obtain. The principal disadvantages of
this kind are the high power cost and the reduction of capacity
on hot days.
The conventional air-cooled condenser consists of the
condenser coil, compressor, and condenser fan with motor,
crankcase, heater, controls, service valves and filter drier.
b. Water-Cooled condensers
Water cooled condensers are of three types:
1. Double pipe condenser

Also double-tube type consists of two tubes, one

inside the other. Water is supplied through the inner
tube. The refrigerant is passed through a tube that
encloses the inner tube. Refrigerant flows in the
opposite direction than water.
2. Shell and tube condensers – Shell-and-tube
condensers are the
largest power version
with a water-cooled
condensers with a
capacity from 10 up to
10 000 tons. They work
on the same principle of
" Shell-and-Coils,
capacitors; i.e., with
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 water flowing inside the pipes refrigerant flows
outside the tube. You could tell these types that
the water on the side of the tube condensers,
while the refrigerant in the shell side

3. Shell and coil condensers - Shell-and-Coils,

capacitors
have a welded
or flanged
outer shell with
a coil inside
are made of
ribbed water
tube. Coil
inside the shell
is continuous. Water flows through pipes of the
coil, while the refrigerant flows above and
beyond. The outer surface of the heat
exchanger tubes and fins are in contact with the
refrigerant. This is a vertical Shell-and-the
condenser Coil. This can also be done in a
horizontal position.

Water cooled condensing units are provided

with cooling towers usually located on the roof of the
building
c. Evaporative Condensers
This type of condenser makes use of both air and water
for cooling and is available in sizes up to 100 tons or more. It
is applicable in areas where there is a high cost of water for
condenser purposes. However, it uses only 3 to 5 percent of
the amount if the condenser is entirely water cooled.

3. Evaporation and Coolers

A conventional evaporator of an air-conditioning system includes a
evaporator coil, blowers, motors, control and filter.
There are several methods used for cooling in air conditioning:
a. Direct evaporative cooling - (open circuit) is used to lower the
temperature of air by using latent heat of evaporation, changing liquid
water to water vapor. In this process, the energy in the air does not
change. Warm dry air is changed to cool moist air.

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 b. Indirect evaporative cooling - (closed circuit) is similar to direct
evaporative cooling but uses some type of heat exchanger. The cooled
moist air never comes in direct contact with the conditioned air.
c. Hybrid - Direct and Indirect cooling has been combined with vapor-
compression or absorption air conditioning to increase the overall
efficiency and /or to reduce the temperature below the wet-bulb limit.

4. Air cleaning equipment

Air may contain large quantities of dust, cinders, soot, smoke, fumes, pollen,
grit, bacteria and odor. These contaminating elements in the air are removed by
filtration and by air washing.
Air-conditioning filters are of different types:
a. Dry-filter consists of wire frames or panels, enclosing felt, cotton, batting,
cellulose pockets through which the air is screened.
b. Viscous filters consists of a series of metal deflecting plates or screens
coated with viscous oil coming in contact with these surfaces. The air flow
is abruptly changed in direction and the dust is trapped in the oil film and
remains there.
c. Automatic viscous filters. It is a system consisting of two endless vertical
filter curtains with a denser front curtain and passes downward through an
oil reservoir with the rear curtain catching entrained oil in the air.
d. Electric precipitators. Consists of a positive electric field and negative
grounded tubes which serves to remove from the air the fine dusts, mists,
unburned particles in smoke and other matters which would pass through
the dry and viscous filters.

5. Fans - Fans used in Air-Conditioning are of two tubes:

a. Centrifugal Fans (Radial Type of Fan)
The air enters at one side near the axis of the wheel
and is discharged radially through the outlet placed at a
tangent to the wheel.
b. Propeller Fans (Axial Type of Fan)
The air enters at the rear of the fan and emerges at the
front in a line parallel to the axis of rotation.
6. Air Outlets - An important step in efficient space comfort conditioning is the
proper selection of air outlets. This section presents generalized descriptions and
characteristics of the types of grilles, registers and diffusers commonly used in
commercial air distribution applications today.
a. Grilles and Registers - The term grille is commonly
applied to any air outlet or intake that consists of a square or
rectangular face and neck and whose facial appearance is made
up of stationary or adjustable louvers which may be used to
deflect the air. A register is simply a grille which incorporates an
integral damper for air volume control. Supply grilles and
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 registers usually have adjustable louvers and are available in
single or double deflection models.
b. Linear Bar Grille - The linear bar grille is normally used
where an architectural blend of the grille to its surroundings is
required.
c. Linear Slot Diffuser - Linear slot diffusers incorporate
adjustable pattern controllers in a multi‑slot configuration. Slot
sizes are available in ½ in. [13 mm], ¾ in. [19 mm] or 1 in. [25
mm] widths with a choice of one to ten slots. Adjustable pattern
controllers allow horizontal left, horizontal right or vertical
discharge for maximum flexibility.
d. Round Ceiling Diffuser - Round ceiling diffusers
consist of several concentric cones suspended below the ceiling
line by an outer cone.
e. Square Ceiling Diffuser - Square ceiling diffusers
consist of several concentric square cones and a round neck.
f. Louver Face Diffuser - Louver face diffusers are
available with a square or rectangular face composed of a fixed
modular core.
g. Round Plaque Diffuser - Round plaque diffusers
consist of a plaque mounted inside an outer frame with a round
inlet.
h. Square Plaque Diffusers - Square plaque diffusers
are comprised of a square plaque situated in a backpan with a
round inlet.
i. Perforated Ceiling Diffuser - Perforated ceiling
diffusers are available with a square or rectangular face supplied
through a round or square neck.
j. Radial/Twist Diffusers - Radial/twist diffusers consist
of a circular or square face with multiple air vanes, either fixed or
adjustable, and a round neck.
k. Plenum Slot Diffuser - These diffusers consist of a
factory fabricated plenum with integral pattern controllers for
vertical or horizontal air pattern adjustment.
l. Light Troffer Diffuser - Light troffer diffusers are
designed to integrate with commercially available light fixtures in
suspended ceiling systems.

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7. Control Equipment
Air conditioning equipment and devices are of different kinds. These maybe:
a. Sensing Device. Consists of the following:
1. Thermostats
2. Humidistats
3. Pressure Regulations
b. Actuating Devices
1. Dampers
2. Control Valves
3. Relays
c. Indicators
Air Conditioning Symbols
The air-conditioning layout is drafted on plans. The following are the
approved acronyms:

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 ACRONYM MEANING
ACCU Air- cooled condensing unit.
WCCA Water-cooled
CT Cooling Tower
ATC Automatic Temperature Control
CAC Central Air Conditioner
FCU Fan Coil Unit
AHU Air Handling Unit
HVAC Heating and Ventilating Air Conditioner
PAC Package Air Conditioner
RAC Room – Air-Conditioner
TR Tons of Refrigeration

HVAC Conventions

Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment is drawn on floor plans

using symbols. They show the location and tube of equipment, movement of hot
and cool air and water. The location of horizontal ducts is shown by outlining the
position of the duct. The flow of air through the ducts is indicated by an arrow. Air
flow coming from the heating-cooling unit is shown by an arrow pointing out from
the diffusers. Return air is indicated by an arrow pointing into the duct.

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Climate Control Methods and Heat Transfer

Heat is transferred from a warm to a cool surface by:

1. Radiation is the heat that flows to a cooler surface through space in the
same manner light travels.
2. Convection is a warm surface that heats the air, the warm air rises and cool
air moves in to take its place causing a convection current
3. Conduction is the heat that moves through a solid material, the denser the
material the better it will conduct heat.

Heat loss or gain is the amount of heat that passes through the exterior
surface of a building. Thermal conductivity is the amount of heat that flows from
one face of a material, through the material, and to the opposite face. It is defined
also as the amount of heat transfer through a 1-Sq.Foot area, 1 inch thick with a
temperature difference of 1 degree Fahrenheit.
The unit of measurement for heat is Btu (British thermal unit) which is the
unit of heat needed to raise the temperature on 1 pound of water 1 degree
Fahrenheit.
Resistivity is the ability of materials to resist the transfer of heat while
insulation is the material used to stop the transfer of heat, block moisture, stop
sound, resist fire and resist insects.

Some kinds of insulating materials are:

1. Flexible Bat
2. Flexible Blanket
3. Loose Fill Reflective Material
4. Rigid Board
5. Additives
6. Spray on
7. Corrugated Paper
8. Surface Air Film

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Conventional Heating Systems

The two most efficient types of heating systems are:

1. Perimeter heating refers to the heat outlets that are located on the outside
walls of the rooms.
2. Radiant heating functions by heating an area of the wall, ceiling or floor.

Sample of Heating Ventilating Air conditioning System Layout

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Sample Residential HVAC System Layout

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