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Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

MECH3005: Building Services

Experiment 1: A Study of the Performance of a Fan Coil Unit

Objectives

To study the basic components of a fan coil unit.


To test the performance of a fan coil unit under various air volume flow rates.

Introduction

A fan coil unit is a terminal device of an air conditioning system. It is basically a water-to-air
heat exchanger apparatus which provides the functions of cooling and/or heating air using hot
or chilled water, with airflow to the room ensured by one or more electrically driven fans.
Fan coil units may be of the cabinet style within a room for free air delivery, or of the chassis
style concealed within the building structure (such as, inside the ceiling plenum), with
minimal ducting appropriately connected to the inlet and/or outlet of the unit.

A fan coil unit often includes a small motor driven centrifugal fan, a finned coil (hence
termed as fan coil unit), condensate collecting facilities when cooling, and controls (see the
construction of a typical fan coil unit in the figure below). A filter and an outer casing may
also be installed.

Testing procedures for fan coil units have been developed by the relevant professional
institutions and described in the standards such as ASHRAE 79-2002 (ASHRAE, 2002) and
BS 4856 Part 2: 1975 (BSI, 1975). The rig of this experiment is set up to allow direct
measurement of the important parameters for assessing the performance of a fan coil unit.
However, it may not produce very accurate results as compared with the standard laboratory
tests of the equipment as the laboratory environment is not controlled to sufficient accuracy.

Theory

The cooling capacity of the fan coil unit is given by the following equations:

Sensible: Qsen c pa Vs t i t o
Latent: Qlat h fg Vs g i g o

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Total: Qtotal Vs hi ho Qsen Qlat

where: is the density of the air, kg/m3


cpa is the specific heat capacity of the air, kJ/kg.K [cpa = 1.005 + 1.87 g]
g is the moisture content of the air, kg/kg
Vs is the air volumetric flow rate, m3/s
ti is the dry-bulb temperature of inlet air, oC
to is the dry-bulb temperature of outlet air, oC
hfg is the latent heat of vaporisation for water, kJ/kg
gi is the moisture content of inlet air, kg/kg
go is the moisture content of outlet air, kg/kg
hi is the specific enthalpy of inlet air, kJ/kg
ho is the specific enthalpy of outlet air, kJ/kg

The sensible heat ratio, SHR, of the psychrometric process is determined by: SHR = Qsen /
Qtotal

In practical applications, a fan coil unit (FCU) system may come with a primary (outdoor) air
air handling unit (AHU), such as in hotel guestrooms. This will ensure a high latent load
requirement of the conditioned space can be met. A typical schematic diagram of such a
system is shown below.

Equipment and Instruments

A fan coil unit (Carrier model number 42CMA006) connected to a chilled water supply
and provided with fan speed control.
Rotating vane anemometer and hood from Airflow Developments Ltd (for air flow
measurement).
Therm digital psychrometer model 2286-2 (for measuring air dry-bulb temperature and
humidity condition).
Digital thermometer (for measuring chilled water temperature).
Multi-channel low air velocity and air temperature measuring system (8-channel)

Procedure

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1. Set the fan speed to HI. Wait at least 5 minutes.
2. Measure the air flow rate using the vane anemometer and calibrated hood. The air
velocity multiplied by the calibrated effective area of the hood (see the graph in the
Appendix) give the volume flow rate.
3. Measure the dry-bulb temperature and humidity condition of the inlet air.
4. Measure the dry-bulb temperature and humidity condition of the outlet air.
5. Measure the face air velocities at four points of the test section outlet.
6. Monitor the entering chilled water temperature to the coil during the experiment. It will
be varying owing to the cycling of the refrigeration machine controls.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for MED and LO fan speeds. Wait at least 5 minutes between two
settings or the measured parameters become relatively steady.
8. Repeat steps 1-6 twice.

Results and Calculations

Estimate the moisture air properties using the psychrometric chart or other means.
Calculate the sensible, latent and total cooling capacity of the fan coil unit being tested
under different air flow rates.
Calculate the airflow rate using both the hood method and the average face velocity
method (you will need to measure the outlet area).
Determine the sensible heat ratio of the process under the different conditions.
Draw a graph showing the variation of sensible, latent and total cooling capacity for the
fan coil unit versus the volumetric air flow rate.

Discussion

During the experiments, discuss in your group:

Why do we have to wait at least 5 minutes between two settings? Are 5 minutes
sufficient?
Why a mixing box is installed after the fan-coil unit in this test rig?
Why the mixing box is insulated?

Based on the results obtained, try to:

Discuss the influence of fan speed on the cooling capacity of the fan coil unit.
Comment on the accuracy of the results obtained and limitation of the experiment.
Comment on the accuracy of the airflow rate measurement using the average face
velocity method.
Discuss the major factors affecting the design of a fan coil unit system.

Laboratory Report

Each student should prepare their own report based on the data and information obtained

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during the experiment. While the results from the observations and measurements can be
shared among the members in the same student group, each student shall generate
information to show his/her own understanding and ideas. Students making direct copy of the
information in others report (plagiarism), if found, will be disqualified.

You are not expected to copy the contents of this lab sheet in your report. You may describe
directly the test results, and discuss about the results. You are also not expected to take a
photo of the test rig.

The laboratory report shall be submitted to Professor Yuguo Li (email: liyg@hku.hk) within
FOUR weeks after completion of the experiment. Submitting either printed copy or electronic
copy of the report is acceptable, and the latter is preferred. Late submission will subject to
reduction of 10 marks.

References

ASHRAE, 2002. ASHRAE Standard 79-2002: Methods of Testing for Rating Room Fan-coil
Air Conditioners, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, GA. [RD 697.00218 A82 S78 A]

BSI, 1975. BS 4856 Part 2: 1975, Methods for Testing and Rating Fan Coil Units, Unit
Heaters and Unit Coolers, Part 2: Thermal and Volumetric Performance for Cooling
Duties: Without Additional Ducting, British Standards Institution (BSI), London.
[electronic resource: HKU library, Specs & standards. BSI]

Catalogue of the 42CMA Chilled Water Fan Coil Unit, Carrier Hong Kong Limited.
[available from our course website]

Wang, S. K., 2001. Handbook of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, 2nd ed., Chapter 28,
McGraw-Hill, New York. [697.93 W24 h][* available in eBook]

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Appendix

Curves for electronic direct reading anemometer when used in conjunction with the calibrated
hood for measuring through ventilation grilles:

3
Volume flow (m /s) Extract 305 x 222 Supply 229 x 152
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.12 Supply 305 x 222 Extract 229 x 152
0.11
0.1
0.09
0.08 Supply 152 x 152
0.07
0.06
Extract 152 x 152
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Velocity (m/s)

* When taking a reading from a supply grille, use the solid line.
** When taking a reading from an extract grille, use the dash line.

Revised 10/08, YL

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