HVAC Worked Examples

Worked HVAC examples for airflow, cooling load, duct sizing, chilled water, kitchen hood, and exhaust fan checks.

Cooling Load Estimator

Sample inputs: area: 450; occupants: 55; lighting: 12; equipment: 18; ventilation: 10; envelope: 85

  • Envelope load: 38.25 kW
  • Lighting load: 5.40 kW
  • People + ventilation load: 13.79 kW
  • Subtotal before latent/margin: 75.44 kW

Use approximately 27.13 TR as a preliminary cooling capacity before detailed heat-load verification.

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Duct Sizing & Velocity Checker

Sample inputs: airflow: 2400; width: 600; height: 350; maxVelocity: 7; frictionClass: 1.2; codeProfile: gcc

  • Airflow: 1.133 m³/s
  • Duct area: 0.210 m²
  • Calculated velocity: 5.39 m/s
  • Equivalent round diameter: 496 mm

The selected duct is within the entered velocity target of 7.00 m/s.

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Airflow & CFM Calculator

Sample inputs: area: 120; height: 3.2; ach: 8; people: 25; cfmPerson: 20; tons: 12

  • Room volume: 384.00 m³
  • ACH-based airflow: 1,808 CFM
  • People ventilation airflow: 500 CFM
  • Cooling-ton airflow: 4,800 CFM

Plan around 5,280 CFM based on the governing airflow method plus margin.

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Chilled Water Pipe Sizing Tool

Sample inputs: tons: 120; deltaT: 5.5; pipeId: 125; length: 90; maxVelocity: 2.4; margin: 10

  • Cooling load: 422.04 kW
  • Required flow: 72.59 m³/h
  • Pipe velocity: 1.64 m/s
  • Approximate friction head: 1.98 m

The selected pipe diameter is acceptable for preliminary velocity planning.

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Exhaust Fan Sizing Calculator

Sample inputs: length: 12; width: 8; height: 3.5; ach: 12; units: 4; cfmUnit: 75

  • Room volume: 336.00 m³
  • ACH-based exhaust: 2,373 CFM
  • Fixture/equipment exhaust: 300 CFM
  • Recommended fan capacity: 2,729 CFM

Select an exhaust fan around 2,729 CFM before checking external static pressure and acoustic criteria.

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TR to CFM Calculator

Sample inputs: codeProfile: ashrae; tons: 18; cfmTon: 400; ventilation: 650; margin: 10

  • Code / standard profile: ASHRAE planning
  • Cooling airflow: 7,200 CFM
  • Outdoor air allowance: 650 CFM
  • Design margin: 10 %

Use approximately 8,635 CFM supply airflow for preliminary TR-to-CFM planning.

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kW to BTU Calculator

Sample inputs: kw: 35

  • Input capacity: 35.000 kW
  • BTU per hour: 119,425 BTU/h
  • Refrigeration tons: 9.952 TR
  • kcal per hour: 30,115 kcal/h

35.000 kW is approximately 119,425 BTU/h or 9.952 TR.

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Kitchen Hood CFM Calculator

Sample inputs: codeProfile: ashrae; length: 2.4; depth: 1.1; captureVelocity: 90; exposureFactor: 115; margin: 10

  • Code / standard profile: ASHRAE planning
  • Hood plan area: 2.64 m2
  • Hood plan area: 28.42 ft2
  • Capture velocity used: 90 fpm

Plan approximately 3,235 CFM kitchen exhaust before manufacturer hood selection and balancing.

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