Cooling load calculation method
Cooling load calculation method
(OP)
I am doing some research in finding the best method for manual and computer technique cooling load calculation.
I read books and papers for this topic and am confused in comparing the theory and practical use.
Some people do not seem to use the method at all and use the rules of thumb instead.
I am wondering when is the best time to use which methods or should I just use the rules of thumb instead.
Do you mind sharing your professional experiences and suggestions with me?
Thank you so much :)
I read books and papers for this topic and am confused in comparing the theory and practical use.
Some people do not seem to use the method at all and use the rules of thumb instead.
I am wondering when is the best time to use which methods or should I just use the rules of thumb instead.
Do you mind sharing your professional experiences and suggestions with me?
Thank you so much :)





RE: Cooling load calculation method
RE: Cooling load calculation method
The only real question is WHICH rule of thumb. For residential A/C, I've seen salesmen use 1 ton/500 sq.ft. and 1 ton/700 sq.ft. That'll be the difference between gross overkill on margin vs. "good enough" for the customer. I wound up buying from the 1 ton/ 700 sq.ft. guy, mainly because he said that there really wasn't a need for 33% extra tonnage that the other guys would have sold me. Over the subsequent 15 yrs, the nice guy was proven correct; I never needed the extra tonnage, and I believe that my system was more energy efficient than the one I might gotten. Nevertheless, an on-site survey should be conducted to see if the the site is consistent with the rule of thumb being used. Obviously, the guys with the marijuana grow-lamps are going to need the higher tonnage
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RE: Cooling load calculation method
RE: Cooling load calculation method
In my Engineering career, I have fixed a lot of "rule of thumb" projects.
Rules of thumb are for preliminary estimates, not for design.
RE: Cooling load calculation method
"Real" climatic conditions are only part of the story. On one hand, there is opportunity that you tailor any used software with actual climatic data in your area. On the other, usage profile, internal loads, exposures and building elements inertia affect cooling loads so much that you would need to calculate them even if your overall climatic data are not precise at all.
Rules of thumb would not apply even for the very same building rotated so that lounge is moved from south to north. Forget about them as well as about manual calculation.
The one and only way for rules of thumb to work is to heavily oversize the equipment.
RE: Cooling load calculation method
Rules of thumb are good for small jobs and select applications such as IRstuff's residential project. They are useful on larger jobs for establishing preliminary estimates, often used by architects and owners for space planning purposes.
Detailed computations are needed on bigger jobs for economic reasons. (By bigger I mean anything bigger than a 2,000 SF house.)
So when to use which? It depends. What are you trying to accomplish? How much time do you have to do it? Do you have the right tools? The answers to these questions are different for every job and comes with time and experience.
RE: Cooling load calculation method