What you're solving for
The required HVAC size in BTU for a
7000070000
70000
sq ft room.
What's given in the problem
Room area:
7000070000
70000
sq ft
BTU per sq ft:
2020
20
Helpful information
11
ton of cooling capacity is equivalent to
1200012000
12000
BTU.
How to solve
Multiply the room area by the BTU per square foot to find the total BTU requirement.
Step 1 . Calculate the total BTU needed
o Multiply the area by
2020
20
BTU/sq ft.
70000 sq ft×20BTUsq ft=1400000 BTU70000 sq ft cross 20 the fraction with numerator BTU and
denominator sq ft end-fraction equals 1400000 BTU
70000 sq ft×20BTUsq ft=1400000 BTU
Solution
The required HVAC size is
14000001400000
1400000
BTU.
BTU to Watt conversion formula = divide the energy value by 3.412 = value in Watt
HVAC electrical load calculation involves determining the total power requirements of an
HVAC system, including the main unit, fans, and other components, to ensure proper
sizing and prevent overloading electrical circuits. The calculation often involves
converting heating/cooling capacity (BTU/hour or tons) into electrical power (watts or
kilowatts) using factors like efficiency ratings (SEER/EER).
Here's a breakdown of the process:
1. Determine the HVAC System's Heating and Cooling Capacity:
Manual J Calculation:
This is a detailed method using software to calculate the total heat/cool load for a specific
building, considering factors like insulation, window sizes, and occupancy.
Rule of Thumb:
A quick estimate can be made using a rule of thumb, such as 500 to 600 square feet per ton of
cooling.
2. Convert Capacity to Electrical Power:
Using SEER/EER: The capacity in BTU/hour (e.g., from Manual J or a rule of thumb) is
converted to watts (or kilowatts) using the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for
cooling or the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER).
Example: If a system has a 4-ton capacity and a SEER rating of 10, the cooling load would
be approximately 48,000 BTU/hour / 10 = 4,800 watts.
Formula: Watts = BTU/hour / SEER (or EER).
3. Account for Other HVAC Components:
Fans: Duct fans and other fans within the system also draw power.
Heating: If the system includes electric heating, the power consumption of the heating
elements needs to be added.
Other Accessories: Pump motors, controls, and other components also contribute to the
total load.
4. Determine the Total Electrical Load:
Sum up the electrical loads from the main unit, fans, heating elements, and other
components to get the total HVAC electrical load.
This total load is crucial for determining the appropriate electrical circuit size and
ensuring that the system can operate without overloading the circuit.
5. Additional Considerations:
NEC Requirements:
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has specific rules for sizing conductors and overcurrent
protection devices for HVAC equipment.
Manufacturer Specifications:
Always refer to the manufacturer's specifications for the exact power consumption of each
component.
Continuous Loads:
Continuous loads, like an HVAC system, require a larger ampacity rating than non-continuous
loads.
The wattage for airport desk lighting can vary, but a common range is 0.40 watts per
square foot (LPD) for ticket counters. For example, a ticket counter that is 100 square
feet would require 40 watts of lighting.
More details:
Lighting Power Density (LPD):
LPD is a measure of the total wattage of lighting per square foot of a space.
Ticket Counter Specifics:
UpCodes notes that a common value for ticket counters is 0.40 watts per square foot.
Other Airport Areas:
The UpCodes table also provides LPD values for other areas, such as baggage areas (0.28
watts/ft²), concourses (0.49 watts/ft²), and passenger loading areas (0.71 watts/ft²).
The average electricity load for shops and stalls within an airport terminal is difficult to
pinpoint precisely, but it's estimated to be around 19.7 kWh per square foot per
year. Lighting and cooling account for about 46% of this energy consumption.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Overall Airport Energy Consumption:
On average, airports (as part of the transportation complex sector) use approximately
19.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per square foot per year, with 34.7 thousand Btu
of natural gas.
Lighting and Cooling:
These two factors contribute significantly to overall energy consumption, representing
about 46% of the total.
Shops and Stalls:
The electricity load for shops and stalls within an airport terminal is likely to be within
the same range as the overall airport average, as they are part of the terminal facilities.
Factors Affecting Load:
The specific electricity load for a shop or stall will depend on factors like size, type of
equipment used (refrigeration, lighting, etc.), and operating hours.
A 400 kVA inverter, when converting DC power from solar panels to AC, can produce
roughly 320 kWh of energy daily, assuming optimal conditions. This calculation factors in
the kVA rating, voltage, and current of the inverter, and the amount of sunlight received
in a day, according to [Link].
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
kVA vs. kW:
While a 400 kVA inverter has a rated capacity of 400 kVA, the actual power it delivers in
usable AC power (kW) is typically around 80% of the kVA rating. In this case, it would be
320 kW (400 kVA * 0.8).
Daily Energy Output:
Assuming the inverter is operating at its rated capacity and receiving adequate sunlight
throughout the day, it can produce 320 kW of power in a single day.
Factors Affecting Output:
The actual daily energy output can vary depending on factors like:
Solar Panel Orientation and Tilt: Proper orientation and tilt angle are crucial for
maximizing sunlight absorption.
Shading: Any shading on the solar panels will reduce energy production.
Weather Conditions: Cloud cover or other weather conditions can affect the
amount of sunlight available.
Inverter Efficiency: Different inverters have varying efficiencies, which can affect
the amount of usable power they produce.
Example Calculation:
400 kVA inverter, assuming 0.8 power factor = 320 kW.
Daily sunlight hours (assuming a 32-hour day, which is an average for many
locations) = 320 kW * 32 hours = 3200 kWh.
A general "thumb rule" for 400kVA UPS power consumption is that the UPS will typically
consume around 10% to 15% of its rated kVA capacity when running at no load
(idle). This means a 400kVA UPS might consume 40 to 60 kW when not providing power
to any equipment.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
No-load consumption:
When the UPS is not providing power to any connected devices, it will still consume a
certain amount of power to maintain its internal functions (charging batteries, running
fans, etc.). This is the "no-load" consumption.
Full load consumption:
When the UPS is fully loaded, it will be drawing power to supply the connected
devices. This will be much higher than the no-load consumption.
Power factor:
The relationship between the apparent power (kVA) and the real power (kW) is the
power factor. A higher power factor means the UPS is more efficiently using the available
power.
Other factors:
Factors like the type of UPS (online, offline, etc.), the efficiency of the inverter, and the
load profile will also influence the total power consumption.
In practice:
To estimate the power consumption of a 400kVA UPS, you can use the following:
1. Estimate no-load consumption: Assume around 10% to 15% of the kVA rating (40 to 60
kW for a 400kVA UPS).
2. Estimate full-load consumption: The full-load consumption will depend on the devices
connected. Add up the power consumption of all the equipment that will be backed up
by the UPS.
3. Consider runtime: The runtime of the UPS will depend on the total power drawn and
the battery capacity.
Important notes:
Consult manufacturer's data:
The most accurate information about power consumption can be found in the UPS
manufacturer's documentation.
Consider future needs:
When selecting a UPS, it's crucial to consider future growth and potential load
increases.
Safety margin:
It's recommended to add a safety margin to the calculated load to avoid overloading the
UPS.
Calculating the "Utility Consumption List" for a Fire Fighting system including Two
Diesel Engines
Karan A.
Karan A.
Senior Project Manager
Published Dec 17, 2024
+ Follow
Calculating the utility consumption list for a firefighting enclosure system with two
diesel engines involves assessing all utilities the system consumes during operation and
standby. Here's a step-by-step approach:
1. Understand System Components and Utility Needs
Identify the major utilities consumed by the system:
Diesel Fuel: For engine operation.
Electric Power: For control panels, battery charging, lighting, etc.
Water: For the fire-fighting process or cooling systems, if applicable.
Lubricating Oil: For maintaining engine performance.
Compressed Air: For starting systems (if not electric).
Other Consumables: Filters, grease, and other periodic maintenance materials.
2. Gather Engine Specifications
For each diesel engine, refer to the manufacturer's specifications. Key parameters
include:
Fuel Consumption Rate (e.g., liters/hour at rated load).
Oil Consumption Rate (liters/hour or service interval requirements).
Battery Charging Power (kW or Amps).
Engine Cooling Requirements (if water is used).
3. Determine Operating and Standby Scenarios
Operating Mode:Duration of operation (e.g., how many hours the engines will run
during a fire emergency or test).Load percentage (e.g., 50%, 75%, or full load).
Standby Mode:Duration of standby (e.g., 24/7 monitoring).Utilities consumed in idle
state (e.g., trickle battery charging, enclosure lighting).
4. Calculate Individual Utility Consumption
Fuel Consumption
Use the formula:
Fuel Consumption (Liters)=Fuel Rate (L/hr)×Operating Hours
For example:
If the engine consumes 30 L/hr at full load and runs for 5 hours, the total fuel
consumption is: 30 L/hr×5 hours=150 L
Electrical Consumption
Calculate power needs for:
Control Panel (e.g., 0.5–1 kW depending on system complexity).
Battery Charger: Power (kWh)=Charger Power (kW)×Operating Time (hours)
Lighting (e.g., LED lights consuming 10–50 W).
Lubricating Oil
Typically specified as:
Oil Consumption (Liters)=Oil Rate (L/hr)×Operating Hours
For example:
Oil consumption rate is 0.1 L/hr; for 5 hours of operation:
0.1 L/hr×5 hours=0.5 L
Water Consumption
If the engines or enclosure require water for cooling:
Water Consumption (Liters)=Flow Rate (L/min)×Operating Time (minutes)
Compressed Air
If air is used for engine starting:
Determine the air tank size and number of starts per operation.
5. Combine Consumption for Both Engines
Double the calculated values for each utility (assuming similar engines) or adjust based
on specific configurations.
6. Add Auxiliary System Consumption
Include any additional utilities for:
Fire pump operation.
Enclosure ventilation fans.
Heater systems (if applicable).
7. Format the Utility Consumption List
Prepare a clear table like this:
8. Validate Against Manufacturer Guidelines
Ensure all calculated values align with the manufacturer’s documentation and the actual
system setup.
To create a detailed and expanded calculation for the utility consumption list of a
firefighting system with two diesel engines, let’s calculate each utility component step by
step.
1. Diesel Fuel: For Engine Operation
Assumptions:
Fuel consumption rate per engine: 30 liters/hour at full load (manufacturer spec).
Operation duration: 5 hours.
Number of engines: 2.
Calculation:
Total Fuel Consumption=Fuel Rate per Engine×Operation Duration×Number of Engines
Total Fuel Consumption=30L/hr×5hr×2=300L
Result: Total diesel fuel required is 300 liters.
2. Electric Power: For Control Panels, Battery Charging, Lighting
Components:
Control Panel: Consumes 1 kW (continuously).
Battery Charger: Requires 50 W (0.05 kW) for trickle charging per battery. Two batteries,
so total power = 100 W.
Lighting: Uses 50 W for enclosure lighting.
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Assumptions:
Standby mode: 24 hours/day.
Operating mode: 5 hours/day.
Power needs are continuous during standby and operation.
Calculation:
Control Panel Power Consumption:
Power (kWh)=Power Rate (kW)×Duration (hours)
For 24-hour standby mode:
1 kW×24 hr=24 kWh
For 5-hour operation mode:
1 kW×5 hr=5 kWh
Battery Charging Power:
For 24-hour standby mode:
0.1 kW×24 hr=2.4 kWh
For 5-hour operation mode:
0.1 kW×5 hr=0.5 kWh
Lighting Power:
For 24-hour standby mode:
0.05 kW×24 hr=1.2 kWh
For 5-hour operation mode:
0.05 kW×5 hr=0.25 kWh
Total Electrical Power Consumption:
Standby Mode Total=24+2.4+1.2=27.6 kWh
Operating Mode Total=5+0.5+0.25=5.75 kWh
Result: Total electrical power required is 33.35 kWh (27.6 kWh for standby + 5.75 kWh
for operation).
3. Water: For Cooling or Fire-Fighting Process
Components:
Cooling Water: Flow rate is 10 liters/min per engine.
Firefighting Water: Flow rate is 1,500 liters/min (fire pump specification).
Operation duration: 5 hours.
Calculation:
Cooling Water:
Water Consumption (L)=Flow Rate (L/min)×Operation Time (minutes)×Number of Engine
s
10 L/min×(5 hr×60 min/hr)×2=6,000 L
Firefighting Water:
1,500 L/min×(5 hr×60 min/hr)=450,000 L
Total Water Consumption:
Total Water Consumption=6,000+450,000=456,000 L
Result: Total water required is 456,000 liters.
4. Lubricating Oil: For Engine Performance
Assumptions:
Oil consumption rate per engine: 0.1 liters/hour.
Operation duration: 5 hours.
Number of engines: 2.
Calculation:
Oil Consumption (L)=Oil Rate (L/hr)×Operation Duration (hours)×Number of Engines
1 L/hr×5 hr×2=1.0 L
Result: Total lubricating oil required is 1.0 liter.
5. Compressed Air: For Starting Systems
Assumptions:
Air tank capacity: 50 liters per engine.
Starting pressure: 30 bar.
Air usage: 1 tank per engine start.
Number of starts: 1 test start + 1 emergency start per engine.
Calculation:
Air Consumption (L)=Tank Capacity (L)×Starting Pressure (bar)×Number of Starts per Engi
ne×Number of Engines
50 L×30 bar×2 starts×2=6,000 L
Result: Total compressed air required is 6,000 liters.
6. Other Consumables: Filters, Grease, and Maintenance Materials
Assumptions:
Filters: Replaced every 200 hours. Proportional cost for 5 hours of operation = 5200×1
filter×2 engines=0.05 filters
Grease: Used at 50 g per hour per engine. For 5 hours = 50 g/hr×5 hr×2 engines=500 g
Summary of Results
Consumption Breakdown
This detailed breakdown helps ensure all utility requirements are accounted for when
preparing or managing the firefighting enclosure system.