Air Conditionning and Refrigeration

Fundamentals of Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.

Topics are covered at theoretical classes by way of highly illustrated and application-driven materials. “What-if” questions are extensively used to engage students in the discussion. The students are also urged to conduct their own research outside the classes’ environment. Several exercises are solved to illustrate the application of theoretical knowledge and better assimilate the topics covered. In the Laboratory, students conduct several experiments and service air conditioning units using appropriate air conditioning and refrigeration tools and equipment. Experiments are conducted individually or in groups of 2 or 3 students. Moreover, invited lecturers from the industry give talks on specific topics of the syllabus.
The evaluation of the course unit is split into three parts:
– Final written exam (70%);
– Written report of a selected laboratory experiment (20%);
– Written report commenting on the invited talk (10%).

The main aims of this course unit are: to understand the thermodynamic mechanisms that govern air-water vapor mixtures; to understand the key drivers of thermal comfort and perform heat load calculations; to characterize main air conditioning and refrigeration systems and their field of application; to identify the main components of air conditioning and refrigeration (AC-R) systems and how they interact to heat/refrigerate a space; to be aware of air conditioning and refrigeration tools, accessories and equipment used in the AC-R field.
At the end of this course unit the student is expected to be able to: understand the importance of the air conditioning and refrigeration field; integrate AC-R fundamentals with day-to-day phenomena; describe the main components in an AC-R system and select the most appropriate system for a specific application; list air conditioning and refrigeration tools, accessories and equipment and perform basic maintenance operations in AC-R systems.

– Introduction to air conditioning and refrigeration
– Thermal comfort
– Psychrometrics
– Heat load calculations
– Air conditioning processes
– Air flow in ducts
– Air distribution
– Air filtering systems
– Refrigerants
– Air conditioning systems
– Refrigeration cycles
– Cascade and multistage refrigeration systems
– Legislation

Laboratory experiments:
– Air conditioning and refrigeration service tools, accessories and equipment
– Cutting, bending, and flaring copper tubing
– Brazing copper tubing
– Refrigerant recovery from an air conditioning unit
– System evacuation and standing pressure test using dry nitrogen
– Other methods of leak detection in air conditioning systems
– System charging with refrigerant
– Air conditioning calculations using an experimental setup

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