HVAC – What Is Piping: All about Piping Engineering

HVAC or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning provide comfort for people & maintains an effective Environment for surroundings. Proper HVAC Allows humans to exist under adverse conditions. The requirement of HVAC Systems is a must for critical areas like Control rooms, Electronic Equipment Rooms, switchgear hall, Battery room, workshop area, etc. in a petrochemical plant. The Primary Intent of HVAC-Comfort: Comfort is the primary intent of HVAC systems.Increase in Productivity.Building & Equipment Durability.Increase Life & Health.Inside condition of 21–24 °C & 50–60 % Relative Humidity is most comfortable & purity of air. Basic Refrigeration Cycle: Fig. 1: Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle Air Conditioning Capacity – The “Ton”: One Ton of Refrigeration (TR) is defined as the quantity of heat removed to freeze 1 Ton (1 American short ton is 2000 pounds) of water into ice from and at 0°C in 24 hours.1 Ton of Refrigeration = 12000 Btu/hr or 3024 Kcal/hr TR = Q x Cp x (Ti – To) / 3024 Q = mass flow rate of coolant in kg/hrCp = coolant specific heat in KCal /kg deg CTi = inlet, the temperature of the coolant to the evaporator (chiller) in °CTo = outlet temperature of coolant from the evaporator (chiller) in °C Major Work in HVAC (Fig. 2): The design HVAC system for plant buildings, which requires specific temp., humidity, internal pressure and cleanliness under various conditions.Preparation of Heat load Calculations, System Diagram and Duct/Piping Plan.Equipment Sizing & Selection. HVAC Work Flow: Fig. 2: HVAC System Design Tools and Products: E20-II, Elite System Capacity Report (Fan, Cooling, Heating, Humidification)Year Simulation (Power, Operation, Cost)Load Analysis by Each Room Fig. 4: Simulation of HVAC using tools Scope of work: Preliminary DesignVendor Print CheckingEngineeringField Engineering Basic HVAC Equipment: Fans / BlowersAir Handling Units (AHU)FiltersCompressorCondensing unitsEvaporator (cooling coil)Control SystemAir Distribution System Common HVAC System Types: Window / Split ACDuct-able SplitsPackaged UnitsFan Coil UnitsVRV UnitsDirect Expansion SystemChilled Water System Split System: Fig. 5: An outline diagram of a typical split system Air Handling Unit (AHU): Fig. 6: Diagram showing an AHU Equipments (Fig. 7): ChillersHeat ExchangersCooling TowersHumidifiers Fig. 7: Diagram Showing Major equipment Air Distribution: DuctworkMetalFlexibleDuct boardGrilles, Louvers, & RegistersDampersShut offFireSmokeSealantsSupports HVAC Standards: ASHRAE – The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning EngineersSMACNA – Sheet Metal & Air-conditioning National Contractor’s AssociationNBC – National Building CodeIS – 12332 For Ventilation in Petrochemical Plants & RefineriesIS – 3103 For Industrial VentilationOISD – 163 Safety of Control room for the Hydrocarbon industry References: https://sftool.gov/explore/green-building/section/9/hvac/system-overviewhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580509001897