Research Proposal: Air Conditioning Design Strategy for Buildings

This research proposal examines air conditioning design strategies for residential buildings, focusing on energy efficiency and thermal comfort. The study, conducted by Building Science Corporation, aims to develop cost-effective designs for moving HVAC systems into conditioned spaces, addressing challenges like dropped ceilings and ductwork placement. The research explores various design strategies, including the use of dropped ceilings, mechanical closets, and coffered ceilings, evaluating their impact on energy savings, aesthetics, and construction costs. The proposal highlights the importance of complying with energy codes and the potential for significant energy savings by moving air conditioning systems inside the conditioned space. The study also addresses the impact of the design on building aesthetics and the importance of providing comfortable living conditions. The report discusses the benefits of different design options, their drawbacks, and the need for innovative solutions to meet the needs of both builders and homeowners. The research emphasizes the need for energy-efficient designs that can be easily implemented in various climatic conditions.

Air Conditioning in Residential Building 1
RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON DESIGN STRATEGY OF AIR CONDITIONING FOR
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
A Proposal Paper on Air Conditioning By
Student’s Name
Name of the Professor
Institutional Affiliation
City/State
Year/Month/Day

Air Conditioning in Residential Building 2
Executive summary
Building Science Corporation directly works with David weekly homed to redesign three plans
of the current floor to locate air conditioned systems in the conditioned place. The importance of
this research paper is to develop a cheap design for moving air conditioned system into the space
conditioned. Also building Science Corporation conducted the analysis of energy to calculate
the most approach which is economical for increasing the performance of energy of the
productions of houses in future. The constructors’ wishes to improve the package upgraded that
will enable the continuous transition as mandated in the new codes.
Building Science Corporation and the constructor develop a strategy design that employs system
of dropped ceilings and coffers for ductwork moving to the conditioned space from the vented
attic. The designed development of the duct coffers in the attic space enables David weekly
homes to embrace the approach of the location of ductwork in the space conditioned, in the stock
of available houses without using dropped ceilings. The constructor recognizes that dropped
ceilings without coffers would be an economic plan for duct location. The builder identifies this
design as a negative effects on aesthetics and could not be good-looking to the base customers
and it's the most important development in the research as David's weekly home and its
customers wish to avoid dropped ceilings (American Society of Heating, 2016). The main
contribution of the research is to give the alternative for working to builders who need to move
their heating ventilation air conditioner systems into conditioned spaces without prolonged
ceiling drop and a mechanical closet or even transforming it to full cathedralized attic not vented.
Transferring the system air conditioning to within conditioned space caused in important energy
saving towards the goal of achieving an energy saving of 50%. Moving air conditioning systems
inside the space conditioned save 4 to 5% in the energy source use and decrease the system of
energy rating at home. The additional upgrades of energy that was implemented are:
improvements to ceiling, walls, air conditioner and heater of hot water, and their cost was very
accurate (Angui Li, 2013)

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TABLE OF CONTENT
Item Page
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………….…….4
Background of the Study………………………………………………….…...5
Statement of the Problem……………………………………………….……..6
Research Objective…………………………………………………….………7
METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………….…….……..9
LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………………..10
Detailed Design………………………………………………………………………24
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS………………………………………………………….26
DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………..…29
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………32
Recommendation……………………………………………………………………33
Summary……………………………………………………………………………34
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………..35
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………36

Air Conditioning in Residential Building 4
INTRODUCTION
This study is based on defining a good design plan for heating ventilation and air conditioning
for domestic building. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems perform cooling and
heating for the residents, commercial and industrial building. They may be responsible for the
giving the fresh air from outside to dilute the interior contaminants like volatile organic
compounds and odours emitted from the furnishing and chemicals used for the cleanings (Anson,
2017).
Air is cooled and dehumidified by the conditioner as it passes over the cold coil’s surface. The
coil inside the houses in heat exchanger of air to liquid with the tube rows where the liquid
passes Fined connected surfaces to the tubes increases the coil surface‘s area hence increasing
the characteristics of heat transfer the air passing over the coil and also liquid passing through the
coil and the type of liquid used to depend on the selected system (Attia, 2015).
Through the innovative evaluation of new efficiency of energy for construction packages in
Texas, BSC seek to get more evidence about the performance of technologies of energy efficient
designed for the production builder in the climate of hot humid.
This research addresses many barriers and gaps. The technology package proposed for this
project is appropriate for the production of family detached houses. From the perspective of the
science building, the Houston package is good for other products in the environments of humid
hot. The information gotten through the research about the technology package implementation
at the scale of the productive community at low-performance data from the houses of the
community will support the deployment of the package in new housing across the climatic zones
of hot humid (B.mazumdar, 2011).

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The immediate impact of the research will be to inform the work of David Weekley homes.
Lessons gotten in economic variation in contractability and design can be applied to businesses
mode; in the future production of buildings. The adoption of stringent international codes of
energy conservation is reducing the performance gap between code built home and ones
constructed to meet the standard of energy efficiency. The component of IECC is the mandatory
inclusion of the system of heating ventilation and air conditioning and this mandate is making
constructors to establish strategies of cost-effective for the ductwork movement to the thermal
enclosure (Bauer, 2016). The project also can impact BA measures on improving the designs'
replicability and cost-effectiveness that meet both the current code of energy and also in future
improvement of the proposed building codes. This gives an opportunity for considering the
importance of the method of duct location inside the conditioned space for production home
builders to remain competitive in their markets. The paper gives the constructions and design
data for production builder in the climate of hot humid (Beavers, 2014).
Background of study
The study is based on the identification of the best strategies of design for implementation of air
conditioning to suit the needs of cooling of the residential building. The passive strategies of
cooling gains control over dissipation of heat are taken as good for the consistent climatic area
while in modern houses, temperature changing is the major problem faced by the occupants. The
unsuitable design cause heat to be trapped that increases temperature inside the room. The area
of the roof that surrounds the building walls is known as a critical part because it is exposed to
heat caused by high radiation of solar. The determination of this design strategies will reduce
consumption of energy and provides comfort to the tenants of the building. This research has
been undertaken to determine the best strategy design for conditioning air in the building so the

Air Conditioning in Residential Building 6
requirement of the occupants in terms of comfort is fulfilled with respect to climate change
(Beavers, 2014).
Statement of the problem
The occupants of houses are facing problems caused by changes in temperature, the unsuitable
design cause heat to trapped by an increase in temperatures inside the rooms.to prevent all the
problems it suitable to design a heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the
conditioned rooms (Beerepoot, 2014).
Motivation for the researcher
The developing countries majorly that are located in dry climate regions experience the problem
of heat retention by the building if ventilation is not enough for cooling at night. The residential
building is designed without considering factors that are responsible for the thermal comfort and
efficient use of energy, hence the dependence on the artificial lighting and ventilation is
prevalent every residential building. Frequent power disruption and load shedding during
summer make the life occupants more troublesome more so in hot summers between mid-
marches and May (Binggeli, 2014).
Research questions
The aim of the research is to study the air conditioning design strategy for the residential
building to reduce the challenges faced by residents in the changing climatic zones. Some of the
research questions that are prepared to perfume this study in details follow:
 Does the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or other cooling
systems have the ability to match the requirements of cooling of the occupant’s houses?
 Does the strategy design being adopted by the building is good in terms of energy
consumptions?

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 What are the benefits of determining efficient air conditioning strategy for residential
building?
 What is the best performing, most cost-effective and most method that is easily
applicable of locating ducts inside the space conditioned for the home in the hot humid
conditions?
 What is the practical and cost-effective method of achieving the source of energy savin
Research objectives
The implementation of the proper strategy of design for air conditioning in residential building is
the essential element to fulfil the requirement of the occupants. The building strategy is
continuously situated in changing the climate that needs proper strategy for installation of air
conditioning (Bodart, 2015). The objectives prepared for performing the research include:
 To determine the capabilities of existing heating ventilation and air conditioning systems
or other systems of cooling for matching the occupant's requirement of a residential
building
 To identify whether the strategy is suitable for the residential building in terms of
consumption of energy’
 To evaluate the benefits of determining suitable strategies of air conditioning for
residential building
Preliminary or primary design
The strategies that exist for duct location in the conditioned space. The figure below shows the
design 1 strategy where the air handling unit is located in the mechanical closet in the living
space and the ductwork is located in the series of dropped ceiling placed strategically. The
benefit of the design is to remain roof space becomes the traditional insulation and the typical
vented can be installed. The barrier of air bec0ke the two-dimensional plane with the penetration
of duct which is the simplified geometry of air barrier and it's economical. Negative impacts of
the strategy are: conditioned area of the floor lost because of mechanical cost, lower ceiling level
that reduced the architectural aesthetics, and potential noise from the mechanical closet (Bom,
2012).

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Risks of air handling unit closet noise can be prevented by implementing measures like:
installing the speed variable of air handling unit with motor commutated electronically as the
motors are quieter than permanent traditional split motor capacitors; installing at the mechanical
closet a weather-stripped door; designing the duct system to perfume low velocities in return and
supply plenums recommended by Building Science Corporation (Bradshaw, 2013).
Another strategy is where the air handler is in mechanical closet and the ductwork is in the attic
close to ceiling plane. Traditional insulation is installed and the ductwork is covered in
insulation. Its advantage is that it doesn't require the dropped ceiling through its disadvantages
are conditioned area of floor lost because of mechanical close and penetration of duct exist
through the barrier of air which needs more air sealing (Brinkman, 2016)
The third strategy is where the air handling unit is placed in an air sealed coffered insulated
closet in the attic and the ductwork is in dropped ceiling placed strategically. Its advantages are:
no penetration of duct through the barrier of air and also the removal of air handling unit from
the conditioned space is possible. Its disadvantages are: more complexity is added for air barrier
and extraction is three dimensional and access to space coffer is the need and may not be easy
with complicated attic design (C, 2013)
The fourth design is where the air handling unit and all work duct are located in air coffered
insulated closet in the attic. Importance of the of the strategy is the removal of the air handling
unit from the living space conditioned and elimination of duct penetration through the air barrier
and also dropped ceiling elimination (Clarkin, 2016). The last strategy is where the air handling
unit and ductwork is placed in the attic and thermal and air barrier is moved to sheathing of
underside roof. The main benefit of the strategy is the removal of air handling unit and
elimination of duct penetration through air barrier. Its disadvantages are the increased cost

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because of additional f insulated surface area and requirement of permeable insulation. A
builder can install; spray foam for the reminder of insulation of the roof o tot install, the
traditional insulation of cavities in the rafter joints (Commerce, 2017).
Builder's science corporations discussed the cons and pros of these duct strategy designs. It was
agreed that the strategies 1 and 5 are ideal but these strategies are implemented frequently in
residential homes. The strategy two is nor bit good because of the added penetrations and
condensation on the buried duct in a hot climate. Strategy 2 and 4 would address for addressing
how to locate the duct in the space conditioned in replicable and economical methods. The
hybrid design represents the method of the design that is worthwhile of research effort because
of lack of work with specific strategy. Because this complex varies, the best strategies for the
designing the heating ventilation and air conditioning system in the residential buildings is
strategy 3 and 4 (Cooper, 2012).
LITERATURE REVIEW
Air conditioning systems accomplish cooling and heating for the residents, commercial and
industrial building. They may be responsible for the giving the fresh air outside the house to
weaken the contaminants airborne inside the house like organic compounds which are volatile
and the ones producing odours emitted from the furnishing and chemicals used for the cleanings.
Air is cooled and dehumidified by the air conditioner as it passes over the surface of the cold coil
(Stamper, 2013). The coil inside the house is the heat exchanger of air to liquid with the tube
rows where the liquid is passed via coil. Fined connected surfaces to the tubes increases the cold
surface area hence increasing the characteristics the air and heat passing over the coil and also
liquid through the coil and the type of liquid used to depend on the selected system.

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In the situation where the system expands directly, air is passed over the coil in the refrigerant
heat inside the house and the boiling point transform it to warm gas from cold liquid. warm
vapour is pushed from the cooling coil through the tube of copper to compressor where the
compression of warm gas occurs. Sometimes, the accumulator is put between the compressor
and the coil of cooling to capture liquid refrigerant is not used and make sure that only vapour
enters the compressor (Siegenthaler, 2012). The pressure of the vapour refrigerants is increased
by the process of compression and increases the vapour temperatures. Vapor is compressed by
the compressor through the heat exchanger called outdoor condenser where hot gas is
compressed to a warm liquid of high pressure and heat is rejected. Warm liquid of high pressure
is pumped through the small copper tube to a filter and to the device of expansion where the
liquid of high pressure is reduced to liquid of low pressure, the cold liquids enter the coil of
cooling inside the room and the process starts again (Santamouris, 2017).
As this liquid passes through cooling coil inside the house on the heat exchanger, two
occurrences are noted over the surface of the coil on the outside of the heat exchanger. The
temperature of air dropped and the air's moisture is removed if the dew point of the indoor air is
more than the surface of the coil’s temperature. The cooling of the air conditioning systems is the
addition of the latent and sensible cooling. Many aspects affect the cooling capacity of DX
conditioner and is inversely proportional to the temperature of outdoors. Indoor temperature and
the humidity affects the total capacity of the system of AC. As indoor temperature roses, the
capacity of latent of air conditioning system increase. Those manufacturing air conditioning
systems normally give the map of the performance of scientific equipment to give hoe sensible
and latent capacity changes with the changing outdoor and indoor humidity and temperature
(Santamouris, 2011).

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Air conditioning systems provide humidly control and cooling in the whole building. The
buildings with air conditioners have windows that are sealed because open windows work
against the intended system to maintain indoor conditions to be constants. Air conditioning and
refrigeration are given through the removal of heat through convection, radiation and conduction.
Plants of air conditioning system should improve to reduce the energy use. Before any
modification is commenced, the record of maintenance should be checked and ascertain the
replacement of Filters, cooling and heating coil cleaning, and control damper maintenance has
been regularly attended. The existing of the ducting systems should be examined to ensure that
there is no leaks and gaskets should be replaced where needed. Insulation is also very important
since heat loss or coldness through the ducts steel is expensive, therefore, all ducting should be
examined for the breakdown insulation and new components can be fitted to the ducting (Shah,
2013)
Type of the air conditioning systems
Systems of cooling
This system function when the indoor air handling unit and unit of outdoor condensing are
combined. The indoor handling units have the fan that supply air and air to the refrigerant coil of
cooling, and the device of expansion. The outdoor unit of condensation has a condenser coil and
a compressor. The split systems are gotten in small commercial buildings or the residential
buildings and have the greater rating of energy proficiency or of the available air conditioning
systems. Manufactures are needed to take the rating of energy efficiency. Further, step and gives

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the seasonal rating of the efficient energy for use by the consumers. The rating of the seasonal
energy efficiency rating vary range and vary from 10 to 20. The greater the SEER rating, the
better the operation of the AC systems. If the heating is needed, another method of heating the
inside the building must be used in form of gas heating or the electric (Economy, 2011).
Cooling only systems
This system is a unit that combines the components described in the systems of split and it is
positioned outside the house and the indoor air is ducted from the house to the system and back
through the system of air spreading. These units normally have SEER rating from 10 to 18. If the
heating is needed, an alternatives methods like gas heating and electric heating shows (Elsevier,
2014).
Heat pump: are similar to the cooling only system. A distinct valve is the piping of refrigeration
allows the sequence of refrigeration to be done in opposite. The pump of heat can cool the air
inside the house but when reversed the valve, the air inside the door is heated. The heater of
supplementary resistance of electric may be used to assist the resist the heat pump at the low
temperature of the outdoors. In colder climates, heat pumps need defrost period, and during this
time the electric heater is the means of heating the interior of the building and manufactured as
package or split systems (Engineering Publications, 2017).
Chilled water system: In a chilled system of water, water liquid is pumped through the building
to the chilled coil of water. Because the liquid water requires being at low temperature, a cooling
company is needed. the plant is known as chiller plant and vapours compressor in it cools water
to the cold temperature and pump it to air to water heat exchanger where required.