Mid-sem Ques. Paper solution (Oct.

2014)
Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Buildings (10M11CE115)
SECTION-A
Q.1. (i) Piping, Valves, Pumps, Expansion tanks, Heat exchangers, Terminal units.
(ii) Duct mastics and aerosol sealants are the preferred duct sealing materials. Duct tape is no longer
acceptable because its adhesive tends to dry out, rendering it ineffective.
(iii)

(iv) Sudden obstruction in water flow causes water in upstream to undergo compression waves, which is
known as water hammer. Its effect can be reduced by introducing surge tanks/air vents in u/s.
(v) It is the water which comes from various sources mainly from runoff. Major polluting factors are
leakages from machinery, spalling of chemicals, cement, etc. causes pollution of storm water at a site.
(vi) Using Alum coagulation is done. It is mixed in water at a slow rate.
(vii) Because if hardness remains, it causes scaling in the boilers rendering it less efficient and also causes
deterioration of components.
(viii) Due to change in pressure in piping systems, waste water reverses its direction and comes out of
plumbing fixtures. It can be prevented by vacuum breakers, air gaps, etc.
(ix) Copper, galvanized iron, PVC, stainless steel. Most common are PVC and galvanized iron.
(x) CFC causes depletion of Ozone layer which is hazardous to environment. Substitutes include
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

(xi) Condensation is accumulation of moisture around colder objects. In cooling systems, it is prevented
by insulating pipes with fibre glass or polymers.
(xii) The moisture, air, and heat interactions are complex. As air temperature rises, its capacity to hold
moisture rises also, and the warmer air becomes less dense. These combined interactions are described by
psychrometry.

(xiii) Amount and duration of heat flux, Surface area receiving heat, Material ignitability, Fuel continuity,
Material ignitability, Thickness, Surface roughness, Thermal inertia of the fuel, Ceiling height,
Length/width ratio, Room insulation, Size and location of openings, HVAC operation, etc.
(xiv) Confinement is the most passive design response to smoke migration. It is to try to confine smoke
to the fire area itself. Compartmentation is important in these approaches. Partial smoke barriers (often
called curtain boards) are suspended from the ceiling in an effort to trap the initial layer of hot air and
smoke.
Dilution: For a limited time in a fires early stages, the dilution of smoke with 100% outdoor air
(provided by the HVAC system) may make conditions bearable during occupant evacuation. Large
quantities of fresh air are needed in so short a time, however, that dilution alone is rarely sufficient for
smoke control.

SECTION-B
Q.2.

Q.3.

The refrigeration cycle is a particularly useful mechanical process in heating as well as cooling
applications. The two types of heat transfer process commonly used in mechanical equipment for
buildings are the compressive and the absorption refrigeration cycles. the compressive refrigeration cycle
is a scheme for transferring heat from one circulated water system (chilled water) to another (condenser
water). This is done by the liquefaction and evaporation of a refrigerant, during which processes it gives
off and takes on heat, respectively. The heat it gives off must be disposed of (except in the heat pump),
but the heat it acquires is drawn

out of the circulated water known as the chilled water, which is the medium for subsequent cooling
processes. Refrigerants are gases at normal temperatures and pressures, and must be compressed and
liquefied to be of service later as heat absorbers.
Q.4.
Cooling-only systems are:
(a) Fans, (b) Unit air conditioners, (c) Evaporative cooling systems (d) Roof spray, (e) Coolers.
Unit air conditioners: The is perhaps the most commonly seen piece of mechanical equipment in the
United States. Perched in windows in full view of passersby, these window-box air conditioners noisily
remind us that many of our buildings still are not centrally mechanically cooled. Mechanical cooling was
considered a luxury until long after World War II. Built-in, through-wall air conditioners offer a low-firstcost way to provide separate zones for individual apartments, motel rooms, and so on (see Section 9.8). In
noisy cities, the drone of these units masks street noise for the interior, thus potentially helping to promote
relaxation. Unfortunately, such scattered units rarely afford the chance to conserve energy through the
exchange of waste heat or the higher efficiencies that can accompany larger equipment. However, if
turned on only when cooling is needed (i.e., when people are present), they can provide substantial
savings over the larger always-on systems.
Fans: Before the advent of mechanical air conditioning, cooling was commonly achieved with simple air
motion provided by fans. The summer comfort chart encourages increased air motion as a way to extend
comfort into air temperatures in the mid-80s F. As a general rule, people will perceive a 1F decrease in
air temperature for every 15 fpm increase in air speed past the body (about a 1C decrease for every 1 m/s
increase). Ceiling fans are often installed and run at slow speed to destratify warm air at the ceiling in
winter; they can be run at higher speed in summer to provide added comfort through increased air motion.
The air motion produced by ceiling fans will vary with the fan height above the floor, the number of fans
in a space, and the fans power, speed, and blade size.

Q.5.
Ozonation: This was first used in full-scale drinking water treatment in 1906. It is a powerful oxidizing
and disinfecting agent, destroying most bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic organisms. It requires a
shorter contact time and dosage than chlorine and leaves no chlorine taste. Ozone is formed by passing
dry air (or pure oxygen) through a system of highvoltage electrodes. It is an unstable gas and must be
generated on site. When ozone reacts with an organic, it produces oxygen and an oxidized form of the
organic. Ozone not used in this process quickly decays to oxygen.

Ultraviolet Radiation: Special lamps are used within a reactor, whose radiation disrupts the genetic
material of the cells of organisms, making them unable to reproduce. Although effective against bacteria
and viruses, UV radiation does not inactivate either Giardia or Cryptosporidium cysts. Otherwise, it is an
effective primary disinfectant system, requiring a short contact time and without halogenated by-products.
Yet again, a secondary disinfectant system is usually necessary. This system is not suitable for water that
contains high levels of suspended solids, turbidity, color, or soluble organic matter.
Nanofiltration: These filter membranes start with pore sizes of 0.2 to 0.3 micron and are then dipped into
a polymer that leaves a thin film, decreasing the pore size to 1 nanometer. This pore size removes
bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and organic material. It also gives the membranes an affinity for calcium,
contributing to water softening. However, it also means that the membranes need periodic acid cleaning
to remove the calcium deposits. Adding phosphates to nanofiltered water reduces its capacity to dissolve
lead. With such extremely small pore sizes, this process requires very high water pressures, in turn
requiring energy. Yet again, a secondary disinfectant system is usually necessary.

SECTION-C
Q.6.

Q.7.
Gas-Fired Heaters: Radiant heaters fired with either natural gas or propane are often found in
semioutdoor locations such as loading docks and repair shops. When vented, they can be used in more
traditional environments such as the retail store in a remodeled warehouse shown in Fig. 9.16. Their
advantage is that they heat surfaces first rather than air, so that comfort is obtained without the need for
high air temperatures. When high rates of air exchange are expected, high-intensity radiant heaters are
often used. Radiant heaters should be sized by the surface temperature change they produce. Many
manufacturers specify this surface for specified mounting heights and angles relative to the surface to be
heated.
Hot water boilers are rated according to heating capacity by several different categories. Heating
capacity is the rate of useful heat output with the boiler operating under steady-state conditions, often
expressed in MBh (1000 Btu/h). This
useful heat assumes that the boiler is within the heated envelope of the building; thus, the heat that
escapes from the boiler walls is available to help heat the building. AFUE, the annual fuel utilization

efficiency, is defined as 100% minus the losses up the stack during both the on and off cycles, and the
losses due to infiltration of outdoor air to replace the air used for combustion and for draft control.
Finally, the net I = B = R rating (a designation of the Institute of Boiler and Radiator Manufacturers) is
published by the Hydronics Institute Division of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
The net I = B = R rating load is lower than the heating capacity rating, because it consists only of the
heating to be delivered to the spaces and excludes the heat loss of the boiler itself.
Q.8. Ductwork required will be of the following type and functions.

Outdoor air ducts supply outdoor air to the air-handling unit. Outdoor air is used for
ventilating the occupied building spaces.
Return air ductwork removes air from the conditioned building spaces and returns the air
to the air-handling unit, which reconditions the air. In some cases, part of the return air in
this ductwork is exhausted to the building exterior.
Exhaust (relief) air ductwork carries and discharges air to the outdoors.
Mixed air ductwork mixes air from the outdoor air and the return air ductwork and
supplies this mixed air to the air-handling unit.
Supply air ductwork supplies conditioned air from the air-handling unit to diffusers and
registers that introduce the occupied space.
Supply air inlets (diffusers and registers) allow the conditioned air from the supply air
ductwork to enter the occupied space.
Return air outlets (e.g., return air grilles) allow air from the occupied space to enter the
return air ductwork.

Q.9.
The measurable characteristics that determine these largely subjective qualities are:
true colour (i.e. the colour that remains after any suspended particles have been removed)
turbidity (the cloudiness caused by fi ne suspended matter in the water)
hardness (the reduced ability to get a lather using soap)
total dissolved solids (TDS)
pH
temperature
taste and odour
dissolved oxygen.
Permissible limits are as follows:

Q.10.

Q.11.
Thicker, taller buildings have more floor space away from climate influences; being electrically lit rather
than daylit, they generate heat and need cooling all year. These buildings are called internal load
dominated (ILD). In contrast, thinner buildingsin which nearly all spaces have an exterior wallneed
heating in cold weather and cooling in hot weather; electric lighting by day is largely unnecessary. These
buildings are called skin load dominated (SLD). The ultimate choice of building form is determined by a
combination of design issues; the energy use issue can help in the selection process. Once the building
form has been chosen, the functions can be distributed according to typical architectural criteria, including
thermal zoning considerations.