Types of air conditioning.units for HVAC applications.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning)A quick tour of the types of Air conditioner systems available in Australia for domestic and commercial

applications

Mel Fee

Domestic Home Units.

Air conditioners Some portable models are little more than personal

coolers. Others can cool a small room (up to about 20 square meters). Portable units can be plugged into a normal power point. Expect to pay around $800 to $3000.

A wall/window model is usually installed in a window or external wall, and can cool rooms and open-plan areas of up to 50 square meters. While smaller units can be plugged into a normal power point, larger ones may require additional wiring. Prices range from about $500 to $3500.

A split-system air conditioner consists of a compressor unit that's installed outside, and one or more indoor air outlets. They're usually used to heat & cool one or more rooms, or an open-plan area, of up to 60 square meters. They cost around $1200 to $5000.

The Inverter Spit Systems are the latest in engineering and are noticeably quieter and more reliable in the long term. Moreover, the inverter technology delivers up to 36% energy savings over conventional products.

Another comfort benefit of this technology is that they have eliminated the annoying initial surge of cold air on the heating cycle which is common to conventional high wall mounted splits.

Inverter technology: With conventional air conditioners, the compressor is either on (working to 100% capacity) or off. Inverters can vary the compressor speed and maintain the set temperature within a narrow range. Manufacturers claim inverter models are more efficient and reduce running costs.

Cooling-only or reverse cycle: Reverse-cycle models only cost a bit more than cooling-only models, but you can also use them for heating in winter. While the purchase and installation costs can be high, reverse-cycle air conditioners are among the cheapest forms of heating to run. They cause less carbon dioxide to be produced in power plants burning fossil fuel than other kinds of electric heater

Which system should you recommend? The choice between conventional and inverter is a choice between initial cost savings or long term running cost savings. However, as a rule of thumb professionals would recommend to install the inverter type where possible

Floor mounted console split systems: Often it may be more feasible to locate the indoor unit at floor level. In these situations a floor mounted console type is ideal. Similar in many ways as a high wall mounted split system. Many people believe they are more aesthetically appealing.

A Ducted System is usually installed in the roof or outside on the ground, and ducted to air outlets throughout the house. Costs start from $5000.

Inverter technology: With conventional air conditioners, the compressor is either on (working to 100% capacity) or off. Inverters can vary the compressor speed and maintain the set temperature within a narrow range. Manufacturers claim inverter models are more efficient and reduce running costs.

Cooling-only or reverse cycle: Reverse-cycle models only cost a bit more than cooling-only models, but you can also use them for heating in winter. While the purchase and installation costs can be high, reverse-cycle air conditioners are among the cheapest forms of heating to run. They cause less carbon dioxide to be produced in power plants burning fossil fuel than other kinds of electric heater

Ceiling Cassette split systems: In a large open areas having the indoor unit located in the centre of the room is preferable from both a comfort and aesthetics perspective.

Ducted Systems, refrigerated:These are also a “split system” and manufacture air the same way, but instead of the consol mounted on a wall, it is mounted in the ceiling space. This allows ducting to be connected so cool or heated air can be distributed throughout the home. A unit sized home would cost approximately $5500 installed. A typical 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home from $8000-$10,000 with 30 to 60cents per hour operating costs.

Refrigerated Air Conditioning has become increasingly popular in recent years because it can provide comfort in summer & winter at a selected temperature range of 18 to 25 degrees.

How do they work? There are two separate mechanical parts. An outdoor compressor and an indoor consol/fan coil. These are connected by electrical controls and refrigerated copper piping.

An outdoor compressor unit compresses liquid into a gas state to allow the refrigeration effect to take place, exactly the same way as does your home refrigerator. The compressed gas is transferred through the connecting copper pipe the consol installed inside your home or ceiling space.

An indoor unit/consol basically consists of a fan and a coil ( similar to a car radiator appearance). The fan is connected and then controlled by a room installed thermostat that draws the air from inside the home, passes it through a filter and then recirculates throughout your home approximately 10 times each hour.

Installation, what’s involved? Ducted systems in particular, require a lot of ducting, fittings (none of which are supplied by the machine maker) and labour, and represent about the same cost as the machine. This provides sellers the opportunity to vary the size, quality and labour standard to reduce the selling price. An area many prospective buyers overlook.

What is Zoning? Refrigerated Air Conditioning is often zoned to keep the purchase and running costs to minimum. Typically, the house is zoned according to the families’ lifestyle. How it works is by a series of dampers [gates] that direct the flow of air in the ducting system to one area or another similarly to that of your home reticulation. A control panel inside your home is provided for convenient “zone” use.

Ducted Evaporative Cooling Systems:

Popular and ideally suited to WA,s climate. Cool, clean fresh air is distributed throughout the home via a system of ducts located in the ceiling space. Removes odours from inside the home Pets and indoor plants thrive with these types of cooling systems. Low purchase price from $3000 to $5000 and a low operating price of around 50c a day.

How do they work? It is a natural process, like a sea breeze on call 24hours a day. With an evaporative cooler, outside air is drawn through a water saturated filters , in doing so the hot air sacrifices its heat Thus cooled air is then ducted into the house. Unlike reverse cycle air conditioners which recycles the air continually, evaporative coolers pass the air through the home only once. Air is exhausted from the home via an external, equivalent full door, opening. And with our uniquely designed “Air Security Relief grille” you may operate the system up to half speed with the home entirely locked up.

Are they healthy? There is a perception held by a few that these type of coolers cause health concerns. The media does confuse evaporative cooling with cooling towers. There is no resemblance between the two. Legionella(Legionnaires' disease) is not something you can contract from domestic air conditioning. The majority of cases are caused by incorrect tower maintenance. Cooling towers are used in commercial air conditioning to cool water condensers and in industries to cool recirculatedwater.

Commercial Units.

Ventilation (architecture) on the downdraught system, by impulsion, or the 'plenum' principle, applied to schoolrooms (1899)

Ducted Evaporative Cooling Systems:

An open factory Open screened offices Single offices School classrooms Gymnasium Meeting halls All large open spaces where doors and

windows are left open.

VRF SYSTEMS - (VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW)

Growing end user demand for air conditioning systems that are reliable, flexible, easy to install and yet superior in terms of comfort and control, makes VRF systems the ideal candidate for many applications such as offices, hotels, theatres, shops and hospitals. VRV is quicker and easier to install and requires less plumbing and wiring than water-based chiller systems. Because installation can be carried out one floor at a time, new buildings can be occupied quicker and there is minimum disruption when VRV is retro-fitted in existing buildings.

Medium and Large Ducted

The range of large capacity ducted systems is perfect for larger homes or smaller commercial applications. These systems are capable of maintaining ducted comfort conditions throughout large open plan areas as well as the bedrooms, study and living rooms.

Energy Recovery SystemsThe LOSSNAY system has perfected the recovery of waste energy. The units reduce overall energy costs by extracting stale air and then recovering the heating or cooling energy to either warm or cool incoming fresh air.

Poor air quality can be attributed to many problems arising in the workplace or in the home. It is believed to contribute to a significant loss in productivity, low morale and higher rates of sickness amongst many employees. The object of providing good ventilation alongside air conditioning in residential and commercial buildings is to provide conditions under which people can live and work in comfort and safety.

The units reduce overall energy costs by extracting stale air and then recovering the heating or cooling energy to either warm or cool incoming fresh air. By utilising this energy, saving up to 30% on initial capital costs of heating and cooling plant.

Air Curtains

Air curtains from Mitsubishi Electric Australia are the perfect way to provide your premises with a comfortable, clean and hygienic environment while saving energy.

Not only are Mitsubishi Electric air curtains ideal in conventional applications in offices and stores but they are also highly effective in circulatory and zoning applications in a wide range of open spaces, such as gymnasiums, bowling alleys, halls and lobbies.

Mitsubishi Electric is one of the top air curtain suppliers in Australia and has been manufacturing quality air curtains for years. Contact us or one of our stockiest for more information.

Air curtains for fly controlMitsubishi Electric air curtains provide a solution for fly and other insect control.

Air curtains for restaurantsAir curtains may be used in restaurant applications when there is a need to create an invisible barrier to control temperature. Such as preventing loss of cool air during cooling and warm air during heating. Air curtains for restaurants have other benefits such as blocking out exhaust fumes, smoke, odours and insects.

Air curtains for doorsMitsubishi Electric air curtains for doors are available in three different widths: 900 mm, 1194 mm, and 1180 mm. The models vary in air volume and velocity and suit different applications.

Cooling Towers MSS Model The Aqua-cool MSS-Series cooling tower

designed for easy maintenance and long lasting performance.

The MSS range of cooling towers was he first cooling tower range designed in Australia. the MSS is a range of induced draft counter flow FRP cooling towers ranging from 100 kW through 9.5mW in a single cell. Full height casing access panels allow easy and efficient maintenance of the units. The smooth "mirror finish" interior gel coated surfaces comply with Australian Standards and help to minimize maintenance costs.

Evaporative Condensers MEC Model The MEC range of evaporative fluid

coolers. The MEC is an induced draft counter flow design. The Thermal-Pak coil permits a large coil surface area with a minimum. All these features make this range of product ideal for arduous industrial installations as well as HVAC applications.

Typical AHU components:1 - Supply duct2 - Fan compartment3 - Flexible connection4 - Heating and/or cooling coil5 - Filter compartment6 - Return and fresh air duct

HVAC systems use ventilation air ductsinstalled throughout a building that supply conditioned air to a room through rectangular or round outlet vents, called diffusers; and ducts that remove air through return-air grilles

The End