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LESSON

COOLING AND DEHUMIDIFYING

LECTURE
SUB-OBJECTIVE
At the end of this Lesson the Trainee will be able to describe without error
cooling and dehumidifying.
1.0

INTRODUCTION
Refrigeration is the heart of the comfort cooling part of air conditioning. All
comfort cooling systems use one of the standard refrigerating cycles, standard
refrigerants, standard types of compressors, condensers, piping, refrigerant
controls, motor controls and evaporators.
The refrigerant evaporating
temperature of most comfort cooling systems is about 40 to 50 F. (4 to 10 C).
This chapter describes most designs, which use mechanical refrigeration for
cooling and dehumidifying.
Absorption systems are becoming more popular for comfort cooling purposes.

2.0

PRINCIPLES OF ATMOSPHERE COOLING


One's comfort as well as the success of certain industrial operators (dealing
with hygroscopic materials and processes) depends upon temperature and
humidity.
The first mechanical atmosphere cooling and humidity control used cooled
water both to reduce temperature of the air and dehumidify it. Air was passed
over water-cooled coils or through cooled water sprays.
Fig. 10-3-1 shows the basic operation of such cooling units. Return air is
mixed with some fresh air. Then this air mixture is filtered and cooled.
Moisture is removed before it is redistributed into the building.

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Fig. 10-3-1. Basic operation of a conditioner, which cools, air and removes
moisture from fresh and re-cumulated air.
Cool air leaving the evaporator is at 100 percent relative humidity. This
saturated air, as it mixes with air in the conditioned space, warms up
somewhat. Thus relative humidity is brought down to a comfortable level.
There is a more positive way to control relative humidity. It involves by passing
some of the return at into the air conditioner outlet to warm up the cooled air
before it leaves the duct system. This method is shown in Fig. 10-3-2.

2.1

Fig. 10-3-2. Comfort cooling installation with return air bypass.


COOLING

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In a cooling cycle, the dry bulb db temperature of the air is lowered. When this
happens (Fig. 10-3-3 A to B) the relative humidity increases. Some moisture
would be removed to make this air comfortable. Moisture can be removed by
either of two methods:
1.

Dehydrate the air with chemicals.

2.

Cool the air down to the saturation curve at C and then remove moisture
by condensing it on a cool surface. See line C to D, Fig. 10-3-3. The
distance from C to D is the drop in vapor pressure or grains of moisture
removed.

Re-heating along a horizontal line, D to E, will decrease the humidity.


However, what most often happens is the air leaving at D is mixed with the
room air, which is at some intermediate condition between 85F. (29 C) and 100
= (38 C). The mixture meets on the line between D and A.
If a third of the air, by weight, is passed through the evaporator, the mixed air
temperatures will be a third of the way from D to A - that is to F. The system in
Fig. 10-3-2 mixes the air inside the air conditioner and also introduces fresh air
into the air conditioner.

3.0

Fig. 10-3-3. Cooling cycle on psychometric chart


COMFORT COOLING SYSTEMS
Several types of comfort cooling systems are in common use. They can be
classified by arrangement of the mechanism.

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1.

Self-contained or unit coolers.

2.

Remote (controlled from a distance).


The self-contained system includes:

1.

Window units.

2.

Through-the-wall units.

3.

Cabinet units.
Remote units are of two types:

3.1

1.

The condensing unit is remote. The evaporator is installed in the room


to be conditioned or in the main duct.

2.

The central air conditioning plant. The condensing unit and the
evaporator are installed away from the place being contained. A cooled
brine or water is circulated to heat exchangers in the various spaces to
be conditioned.

COOLING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR CONDITIONING PURPOSES


Cooling equipment usually consists of evaporators. These are kept at
refrigerant temperatures of 40 to 50 F. (4 C. to 60 C) and air to be conditioned
is moved through them.
There are several ways to cool the air:
1.

By mechanical refrigeration.

2.

By absorption refrigeration.

3.

With ice.

Ice may be the cooling medium, particularly if cooling is only needed for a few
days of the year. Cold water from streams or wells may also be used. The
water should be 50 F 40 C) or cooler to produce satisfactory dehumidification
removal of moisture from the air).

But most air conditioning installations use automatic mechanical or absorption


refrigeration for cooling. The mechanical system consists principally of:
1.

Condensing unit.

3.

Motor-driven fans,.

4.

Filters.

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3.2

5.

Ducts and airflow controls.

6.

Motor controls.

7.

Temperature and humidity controls.

8.

Piping.

9.

Refrigerant.

UNIT COMFORT COOLERS


Unit or self-contained air conditioners are of two types:
1.
2.

Comfort cooling only for summer.


Both summer cooling and winter heating.

Both types have a complete refrigeration plant. This includes condensing unit,
refrigerant valves and evaporators. Filtering equipment is also a part of the
system. Individual room thermostats provide control. These units may also be
classified as window or in-the-wall units, or console units.
The window units and in-the wall units are air-cooled, easily mounted and
operate from 120V or 240V single-phase circuits. Capacity varies from 4000
Btu/hr. to 40,000 Btu/hr.
Console units may be either air-cooled ro water-cooled. They are installed in
the room to be conditioned or in an adjacent room with short ducts to deliver air
and provide for return air.

4.0

WINDOW UNITS
The window or wall-mounted comfort cooler is very popular. The window unit
mounts on a window will and installation is relative easy. The condenser is
locate din the section of the cabinet that is outside the building. Outside air is
forced over the condenser by a fan. Inside the room another fan draws air in
through a filter and forces it over the evaporator.
The same motor may drive the two airflow fans or each may have its
own motor. Fig. 10-3-4 shows the airflow in a window air conditioner.

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Fig. 10-3-4. Schematic drawing of air circuit in window air conditioner.

Axial type fan is used at condenser. Evaporator air circuit uses radial flow fan. Same
motor drives both fans.
Window units are available in several types. One type cools and filters the air
and has a fresh air intake. Another type has these same devices but, in
addition, has an electrical resistance-heating unit to furnish heat. A third type
uses a reverse cycle system (heat pump) to permit the use of the refrigerating
units both for comfort cooling and heating.
Window units may be obtained to fit double hung window casement windows
or they can be installed in special wall openings.
The condensate from the evaporator is often drained to the base of the motor
compressor and the condenser where it helps to cool these parts. A capillary
tube or a bypass type AEV refrigerant control is usually used.
Some units change the cooled airflow from side to side at the unit runs.

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Fig. 10-3-5. Schematic of window or in-the-wall comfort cooling unit. Note


conditioned airflow and separate condenser airflow.
Rotating angle deflector plates does this. The plates are mounted on a shaft,
which is turned by an air-operated rotor in the exhaust air. This is shown in
Fig. 10-3-6.
Thermostats control the systems. The sensitive bulb is usually mounted at the
inlet of the evaporator. A differential of about 5 F. (3 C) is normal.
If the part of the bulb farthest from the evaporator is insulated, the bulb will
respond better to the evaporator temperatures. It will cool sooner and stop the
unit before it overcools. It will also stop the unit if the evaporator ices up and
will prevent it from starting again until the ice melts.

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Fig. 10-3-6. Oscillating grille deflector. The conditioned air outlet for an air
conditioner which, continually sweeps the air from side to side as long as the
fan runs. an air turbine.
5.0

CONSOLE AIR CONDITIONERS


In console air conditioners whole systems are mounted in a cabinet. They vary
capacity from 2 hp. Such units are often used in small commercial
establishments such as restaurants, stores and banks.
Console models may have either water-cooled or air-cooled condensing units.
Air-cooled models, needed in some localities because of water restrictions,
must have air ducts to the outdoors for condenser cooling.
Fig. 10-3-7 shows a water-cooled console unit. Return air enters the lower
grille. Cooled air is discharged at the upper grilles. Ducts can be connected to
portions or all of the upper section. These are needed when partitions interfere
with cooled air distribution. The condensing unit is mounted in the bottom of
the console. Air blowers are in the middle, while the evaporator is in the top of
the cabinet.
Console units also have adjustable fresh air intakes and evaporator bypass
controls as shown in Fig. 8-3-8. All must have drains to remove the
condensate flowing from the evaporator.

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Most of the console models have a complete refrigerating system, filtering


system and evaporator. Fig. 10-3-9 is a schematic of a console unit.
Water-cooled units required plumbing connections to both fresh water and a
drain. The drain also receives the moisture condensed out of the air by the
evaporator in the summer.
One company has developed three openings in one rubber hose for this
purpose. This permits moving the unit quickly from room to room. Such units
usually do not provide for winter conditioning facilities.

Fig. 10-3-7. A self-contained console type, comfort cooling air conditioner.


Which has a water-cooled condenser. Cooled air is delivered at upper grille.

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LESSON 3 PAGE9

Fig. 10-3-8. Air circulation in console comfort cooling air condition.

Fig.10-3-9. Schematic of console type air conditioner.

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