2792016 [Nifow Calculation HVAC Trairing Solitons 3¢HVAC 7 © Training Solutions Home Blog Hvac Technician Licensing by State RETURNING STUDENTS LOGIN HERE Contact Us. CLICK HERE to see how you can have HVAC Become a Member of the HVAC Tech Hangout Troubleshooting Help at your Fingertips! S a este pete Get ou Compressor a = = = = bred = Troubleshooting Flow or 18 1a 10 aaa Chart aio, te aE —— = = = = see Send It To Me! _ seaToMet Airflow Calculation Yoreterainn0% seaith by Ron Walker In seems tke airflow isthe lost ‘component of system evaluation and troubleshooting To accurately measure the performance ofa system or use the charging data accurately you cent must measure the amount of ar passing across the evaporator coll convent Retzys ‘The srlow is measured in cubic Commercial. feet per minute (CFM). 350 to 400 CEM per ton of cooling is requires fr proper airconditioning system operation. For example, if you are hacking 23 ton system, the air Motor Starters - Video Aow requireds between 1050 and EEE 2 Phase Voltage Unbalance 1200 CFM == Too little alow, and you will be unable to charge the system propery. Low low may ice up ‘Awesome Day of HVAC he coil and allows liquid refrigerant to flooe the compressor Too much aifiow ane! the system Teaning ‘and high humidity levels may bea problem in the home. Both ofthese conditions crastially affect system performance and may damage the compressor. Wanted — HVACR. Technicians hnpshwwartwactainingscluvons.neairlow-caledaton! 8yara2016 [Nifow Calculation HVAC Trairing Solitons Measuring a system's arfiow using the temperature rise method does not require any expensive IMPACT airflow measurement tools, just a thermometer, voltmeter, clamp-on ammeter, and a calculator. ee This method of airflow measurement can be used with ether a gas ire furnace or an AC/hea ERE pump system with electri trip heat. In this procedure, a mathematical formula and the temperature diference between the supply ir andthe return ar (Delta-T) are used to establish ‘the CFM volume ofthe system, Both the gas fired furnace and elect strip hea ystems are require tobe running in the heating mode, but the methods used ae different fer each Temperature Rise Method ~ Gas Heat Toots + Thermometer + Caleulator 1 Disconnect power. 2 Set the furnace to run an HIGH speed inthe heating mode, High speed is what the system ‘usually cuns i, when inthe cooling mode 2 Reconnect power, 4 Set the thermostat to cal for heat. fits a two stage system, it must be fing an the second stage 5. Check the furnace data plate an determine the BTU output of the furnace and record the value. Allow time for the system temperatures to stabilize. 7. Measure and record the return air temperature at the fter rack {8 “Locate duct approximately 36" away rom the supply air plenum, Measure and record the supply air temperature at this point {9 Disconnect power and reset the blower speed back to its orginal set 10 Determine the Delta-T by subtracting the return air temperature from the supaly ai temperature 11. “Multiply the Delta-T value by 1.08. Record ths value, 112 Divide the BTU rating ofthe gas fred furnace by the value determined in step 7. The answers your airfiow in CFM, Sample: BTUH: 100,000 Supply A Temperature: 120F Return Air Temperature: 70F + 202F-70F = 50F (Delta-T) + to9000 /1.08 x50 + 100000 /54 1882 CFM smperature Rise Method - Electric Heat (air conditioning and heat pumps) Toole: + Thermometer + Caleulater + Voltmeter hnpshwwartwactainingscluvons.neairlow-caledaton!yara2016 [Nifow Calculation HVAC Trairing Solitons + Ammeter steps: 1 Set the thermostat to cal for heat Wat fo ll stages of heat to energize If this is a heat pump, make sure ONLY the electric heat i operating fr this test 2 Using your voltmeter, measure and record the supply voltage tothe air han. |. Using your ammeter, measure and record the total amperage drawn by the air handler. 4. Multiply the recorded supply voltage bythe amp draw. This gives you the power in Wats. '5. Multiply the answer derved in step & by 3414, This converts Watt to the BTU output of the clectric heat 6 Allow time for the system temperatures to stabilize. 7. Measure and record the return ar temperature atthe iter rack {8 “Locate duct approximately 36" away from the supply air plenum, Measure and record the supply air temperature at this paint {9 Determine the Delta T by subtracting the return alr temperature from the supply air temperature 110. “*Mulliply the Delta-T by 108, Record this value 1 Divide you BTU output determined in ste 5 by the value tained instep 10 o determine the actual CFM ample Air Handler Supoly Voltage: 235 Volts Air Handler Ap Draw 75 Amps Supply Ae Temp: 30F Return Air Temp: 74F + 235Vx75 Ax 3414 ~ 60171 BTUH output + OF-74F = 36F Datta + 6017/0836 + 6171/3888 ~1548 CFM Ie seems to most technicians that measuring airflow is iieult an time consuming Aditonaly, airflow measurement snot a troubleshooting technique usually taught to service technicians. Knowing to calculate the airflow of a system in CEMis a useful tool when troubleshooting a problem airconditioning system. “The key isto be out ofthe line of sight ofthe heat exchanger or electric strip heat Radiant heat ‘causes erroneous temperature readings, throwing off the aiflow calculation, “the constant 1.08 is derived from the product ofthe specifi heat of 70 ar (24 btu times its density at sea level (075 ths cubic foot times the numberof minutes per hou (69 min\hour. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ron Walker [ter retiing from the US. Marines and achieving his 8S degree, Ron Walker entered the HVAC field He has been an HVAC technician, service ‘manager, and business owner. Working as aservice manager he spent many years training HVAC technicians to be more technically competent and really understand their rade. is passion for teaching and helping others resulted in the creation of HVAC Training Solutions, LC, hnpshwwartwactainingscluvons.neairlow-caledaton!