INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS

SRI LANKA

Graduate Diploma Level-Mechanical

Engineering

COOLING LOAD CALCULATIONS Hand out-15

Cooing load or heat load calculations provides the basis of selecting an AC system and allied equipment.
This also provides the sizing of associated components such as ductwork and piping systems. Generally, a
cooling load is computed for 'peak load' and 'partial load' and then it is used to simulate to achieve any load
reductions.

Components of the Heat Load

The heat load comprises of two basic components, heat transferred to the building and heat generation
inside the buildings, which is;
1. External gains
a. Solar radiation through windows
b. Solar radiation through the walls
c. Heat transmission through windows, walls, roof etc.
d. Infiltration of air and its heat gain

2. Internal gains
a. Electric lighting
b. Occupancy
c. Power dissipation
d. Process work

External Loads
External heat gains are made up of three deferent components, solar, conductive (temperature) and
convective (air flow). Solar radiation that reaches the earth is in two forms; direct and diffuse.
Diffuse radiation
This occurs when solar radiation is absorbed and reflected from dust and vapours from the atmosphere.
Diffuse radiation can also have a heat gain effect on a building by being reflected from other surfaces onto
the building.

Direct radiation
This occurs when the radiation has the direct effect on the building in other words it is not diffused or
reflected. The amount of gain depend upon the location of the building, orientation, time of day and the day
of year

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HEAT GAIN FROM SOLAR RADIATION

The most significant heat
gain for the majority of
modern buildings,
although not always the
greatest in terms of
magnitude, is that from
the sun. To understand
the manner in which sun
has an influence upon a
building, it is necessary to
understand the principles
of solar geometry.

Position of the earth in the

course of its orbit around
the sun creates seasonal
changes on earth.

Fig. 1 position of earth in its orbit around the sun

September and March has the highest solar radiation due to earths rotation closer to sun.

Fig. 2 Seasonal changes in solar declination

The sun is shining thought the year for all tropical countries (countries located between two tropics). Hence
tropical countries have larger solar gains during most of the year compare to countries in the northern/
southern hemisphere.

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SUN PATH DIAGRAMS

A circular projection of
the sky vault onto a flat
diagram used to
determine solar
positions and shading
effects of landscape
features on a solar
energy system.

Fig. 3 Sun path diagram

for latitude 50 north- for
England

Fig. 3 Sun path diagram for latitude 7 north-for Sri Lanka

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INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS
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Internal gains
Electric lights gives off heat and it will be a load to the air conditioner.

Occupancy will be another load to the system. Activity of the people and room temperature has a direct
effect on the heat generation of the body. Seated rest position of an office worker dissipates 80W (S) & 60W
(L) heat whereas factory worker doing light bench work has heat emission of 100W (S) & 135W (L) at room
temperature at 24C DB.

Computers and office equipment will result in heat gains to the room equal to the total power input. Typical
values are; Personal computer 187W, printer 54W, Fax machine 38W & overhead projector 300W.

Heat transfer calculations

Most of the heat load calculations are based on Q= U A T equation. U is known as overall heat transfer
coefficient or U factor, in units W/m2K

Q = U x A x T , U = 1/R

R = R1 + R2 + R3 .. + Rn , R is the resistance to heat flow in m2K/W.

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Load calculation
Traditional load calculation method by hand depends on instantaneous heat transfer. This is steady state
calculations which often ignore the storage effect and the time lag of the radiation heat component.
Computer based thermal modelling techniques enable transient heat flow to be analysed and the dynamic
response of the building to be assessed hour by hour basis. For such dynamic calculations, knowledge of
the other properties of the elements making up the structure is required, in addition to the U-value. They are;

1. Admittance (Y value)
2. Decrement factor (f)
3. Surface factor (F)

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Space heat gain

The instantaneous heat gains the rate at which heat enters in to or generated within a space.

Space cooling load

This is the rate at which heat must be removed from the space to maintain a constant space air temperature.
The sum of all space instantaneous heat gains at any given time does not necessarily (or even frequently)
equal the cooling load for the space at the same time.

Space heat extraction rate

The rate at which heat is removed from the conditioned space equals the space cooling load only if room air
temperature is constant. Along with the intermittent operation of cooling equipment, controls systems usually
allow a minor cyclic variation or swing in room air temperature. This causes the defence between cooling
load and the heat extraction rate over entire equipment running period.

Cooling coil load

Coil load comprises of cooling load (or heat extraction rate) and system loads, such as fan heat gain, duct
heat gain, outdoor air heat and ventilation load.

Load calculation methods

There are three types of load calculation procedures established by ASHRAE such as;

1. Transfer Function Method (TFM)

2. Cooling Load Temperature Difference Method (CLTD/SCL/CLF)
3. Total Equivalent Temperature Difference Method (TETD)

The transfer Function method is directly used in computer programmes. TETD method, describes an
alternate cooling load calculation method preferred for experienced designer, require greater flexibility in
using judgement in computing cooling loads. CLTD method is the manual procedure of calculating loads,
which describes in this article.
Carrier E-20 is another famous load calculation procedure, which is the same method, used in
CLTD/SCL/CLF.

To calculate a space cooling load, detailed building design information and weather data at selected design
conditions are required.

1. Obtain characteristics of the building. Building materials, component sizes, external surface colours
and shape are usually determined from building plans and specifications.
2. Determine building location, orientation and external shading.
3. Obtain appropriate weather data and select out door design conditions.
4. Select indoor design conditions, such as indoor dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature and
ventilation rate.
5. Obtain a proposed schedule of lighting, occupancy internal equipment, appliance and processes.
6. Select time of day and month to do the cooling load calculations.

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LOAD CALCULATION PROCEDURE

(CLTD/SCL/CLF) Method
Outdoor (external loads) and internal loads are calculated using;
Q = U. A. (CLTD) where, U-factor and t1, t2 have to be calculated. In some cases, U - factors are given for
various materials and different combinations. It is preferred that all the U-factors are calculated for the
particular composite walls and other materials. In Appendix A, useful U-factors and sun gain temperature
difference are included for typical cases that can be used in quick heat load calculations.

External Loads

1. Roof q = U . A . CLTD
U = design heat transfer coefficient (U-factor) W/(m.K)
A = Area calculated from building plans, m2
CLTD = cooling load temperature difference, K

2. Walls q = U . A . CLTD
U = design heat transfer coefficient (U-factor) W/(m.K)
A = Area calculated from building plans, m2
CLTD = cooling load temperature difference, K

3. Glass
Conduction q = U . A . CLTD
U = design heat transfer coefficient (U-factor) W/(m.K)
A = Area calculated from building plans, m2
CLTD = cooling load temperature difference, K

Solar q = A . SC . SHGF . CLF

A = Area calculated from building plans, m2
SC = shading coefficient, dimensionless
SCL = solar cooling load factor, W/ m2

4. Partitions
Ceiling
Floors q = U . A . TD
U = design heat transfer coefficient (U-factor) W/(m.K)
A = Area calculated from building plans, m2
TD = ta - tr
ta = temp. of adjacent space, C
tr = room design temp., C

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Internal Loads

5. Lights q el= INPUT . Ful Fsa (CLF)

INPUT = watts input from electrical plans, W
Ful = lighting use factor
Fsa = lighting special allowance factor
CLF = cooling load factor based on total hours of operation & time

6. People

Sensible q sensible = N F d q shg (CLF)

N = number of people in space
Fd = diversity factor
q shg = sensible heat gain per person, W/person
CLF = cooling load factor by hour of occupancy

Latent q latent = N F d q lhg

N = number of people in space
Fd = diversity factor
q lhg = latent heat gain per person, W/person
CLF = cooling load factor by hour of occupancy

7. Appliances

Sensible q sensible = HEAT GAIN . (CLF)

heat gain= sensible heat gain per appliance, W
q lhg = latent heat gain per appliance, W
CLF = cooling load factor

Latent q latent = HEAT GAIN

heat gain= latent heat gain per appliance, W

8. Power q p= P EF (CLF)
P = horse power ratings from electrical plans
EF = efficiency factor
CLF = cooling load factor by hour of occupancy

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Infiltration Load
9. Infiltration of air
Sensible q s= 1.23 () (to-tr)
= volume flow rate of infiltrating air, L/s
to = outdoor temp. C
tr = room design temp. C

Latent q l= 3.0 () (wo-wr)

= volume flow rate of infiltrating air, L/s
wo = moisture content for outdoor air, kg/kg
wr = moisture content for room air, kg/kg

Ventilation Load

10. Ventilation air

Sensible q s= 1.23 () (to-tr)
= volume flow rate of ventilation air, L/s
to = outdoor temp. C
tr = room design temp. C

Latent q l= 3.0 () (wo-wr)

= volume flow rate of ventilation air, L/s
wo = moisture content for outdoor air, kg/kg
wr = moisture content for room air, kg/kg

11. Heat gain in air distribution system

q = U As (ta-td)

U = design heat transfer coefficient (U-factor) W/(m.K)

A = outside surface area of duct, m2
ta = temp. of duct surface, C
tr = room design temp., C

NOTE: The heat gains of duct system must be considered when the ducts are not in the conditioned space.
Total heat gain from ducts would be 1 to 2 % of the room sensible heat gain, when the ducts are not in the
conditioned space and insulate.

Grand Total Heat

Grand total heat (GTH) in Watts is the addition of the above individual loads from 1 to 16. GTH could be
given in Tons of Refrigeration (TR); KWR = TR x 3.517. Computing the required airflow rate and the coil
conditions are discussed in Psychrometric Analysis in the preceding sections.

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Components of cooling load

Figure below shows the deferent load components contributes to the total cooling load.

Sensible heat gains Latent heat gains

1-Solar gain glasses 8-People-sensible
2-Solar & transmission through walls 9-Lights
3-Solar & transmission through roof 10- Equipment-sensible
4-Transmission through glasses 11- Supply duct heat gain
5-Transmission through partitions 15- Infiltration-latent
6-Transmission through floor 16- People-latent
7-Infiltration-sensible 17- Equipment-latent

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IESL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING FIELD ELECTIVES (MECH) ME 5005

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