HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
The beginnings of HVAC can be traced back to the early 1800s, when engineer Willis Haviland Carrier invented the first air conditioner.
In 1902 in order to improve the conditions of the printing machines, Willis Haviland Carrier invented the first machine for cooling and controlling humidity. And In 1914 he installed the first domestic air conditioner in Minneapolis.
In general,
It can be defined as the renewal of air and its treatment to give it a more healthier condition (that is, to improve the purity, in order to achieve a more suitable breathing air + Comfortable temperature and humidity for people) .
Specifically, HVAC comprises the following actions:
The process of adding heat to the air in order to increase its temperature.
More HVAC systems nowadays are being opted to be more energy efficient. That is why it will be worth mentioning that the recovery air from the extraction, to the heat supply air (inlet) is the most efficient one, since the only energy consumption is that of the two fan motors, extraction and impulsion.
It consists of the opposite, subtracting heat from the air in order to lower its temperature.
The best known ways to cool air are:
A compressor that compresses gas until it becomes liquid (this occurs in the condenser) and then expands it (in the evaporator),stealing the heat from the air that circulates through it.
A more energy efficient system is the evaporative one, which consists of nebulizing drops of water in the air flow so that when these drops evaporate, they significantly cool the air. Although this method is very energy-saving, it has notable restrictions on its use (for example, it does not work in humid areas).
Renewing the air in a closed room from outside air, in order to ensure its quality. A thing that keeps the concentration of polluting gases at levels that can be considered healthy or not harmful.
It’s the extraction function that has always been done, although nowadays there is a trend towards double flow systems (Extraction circuit + Outside air impulsion circuit).
It consists of increasing or reducing the humidity of air, keeping it in its comfort range. In general, it can be said that in the case of heating very cold air, it may be necessary to humidify it in order to reduce a dryness sensation in the respiratory tract.
On the contrary, in some cases where there is a lot of human presence or where there is a lot of humidity, it may be necessary to reduce it. This is done by cooling the air, condensing some of its moisture, and then heating it to a comfortable temperature. Both processes consume quite a bit of energy.
Filtering air in order to remove dust, fumes, pollen, etc. in general, eliminate all types of solid particles suspended in the air. The concern for the quality of the air we breathe is growing, hence the increasing use of filters to retain suspended particles.
An efficient HVAC MAINTENANCE provides healthy and comfortable environments avoiding sick building syndrome.