i have ac package unit with supply and return .the question is can i use the unit to supply fresh air only by open the connection between the unit and return duct . if i do that will be any effect on unit components like compressor?
If you are using it for fresh air only and no cooling, then you will still have to change the filters and maintain the fan motor and blower assembly....it won't hurt the compressor...
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am asking if i use it for cooling but with 100% fresh air , that's mean i will not use the return air. is the compressor designed to cool return air and some of fresh air or the compressor can cool the 100%fresh air.
Generally speaking most units are designed to draw some outside air....when you go to 100% outside air, as in situations where you are using volatile chemicals or other situations where the air must be constantly changed, the air conditioner system has special design elements to compensate for the special situations that would be encountered, such as humidity control....proper sizing of the unit, air volume controls, mixing damper...specially located return discharge so you aren't returning air directly into the makeup supply....Here's a pdf of a unit designed for 100% fresh air supply....
A/C units are designed to drop the air temp about 16° to 18°F for each pass through the evaporator section, a unit using 100% fresh air has to be capable of dropping a variable amount, this means a larger unit with blower speed control and in unit temperature and humidity sensing....In some cases it must drop the temperature 40 or even 50°F, and in some instances not at all or maybe 5°...In a case where the humidity is high and the air temperature is low, the unit must act as a dehumidifier to both cool and then reheat the air, otherwise you will have a very uncomfortable environment and possibly ruin the furniture, peel the wallpaper off, have mold and mildew growing on the walls....
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Are you asking if it can draw outside air and circulate it into the home. Yes it can. There is more to it if as an AC unit you want it to be efficient. Damper need to be added and controlled to switch between drawing from the inside or the outside.
This system may also provide heating you don't want to draw 30 degree air in and heat it. Or draw 90 degree air in and cool it. So the duct work need some type of damper to switch it. The damper needs to be controlled by system. You don't want to have to remember to have to do it manually.
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What is the outdoor ambient air temperature and humidity? What indoor temperature and humidity are you trying to maintain? What are the loads you must accommodate (heat conduction and air infiltration into the room, people and energy-producing equipment in the room)? What is the capacity of the AC unit under various conditions?
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If you alrady have the return air duct inplace and you are adding 100% outside air duct, add two damper packages and an economizer controller. In that case, you will be able to calculate a "minimum" outside air volume during cold winter and hot summer months, but have the ability for "free cooling" when the outside air is between 45 - 60 degrees F.
100% Outside air units are designed for adding ventilation air to a space or process (kitchen, laboratory, etc.) and only condition the air to a minimum temperature. A secondary unit will then condition the space for comfort.
See below:
https://www.trane.com/commercial/uploads/pdf/673/admapn020en_0406.pdf
http://www.makeupairresidential.com/?gclid=CJKy-c3A_cUCFVKPHwod6rgAbg
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Another issue you have not addressed is how tight the building is. If the building is too tight, your static pressure will be way off creating more strain on the air handler fan motor. Also if the temperature difference between the inside air and outside air is too great, your condenser unit will be operating with too much head pressure and it will damage the compressor and shorten its life.
The capacity of
the unit must have been selected based on heat load or cooling load calculations
with certain number of air changes per hour and other
parameters. If you change it
now it will affect the capacity and performance of the equipment.
I used to work maintenance in a hospital. The surgery dept. was all one pass air to prevent cross contamination. Each surgery room had a ceiling exhaust fan to deal with the positive air pressure created by the supply air. Air conditioners do not have air cooled compressors. The compressor needs to be hot. Otherwise there will be a chance of liquid refrigerant returning to the compressor, and it would damage the compressor. What cooling there is, is supplied by the remaining cooled evaporated refrigerant in the returning suction line.
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