How are HVAC systems different in Commercial Buildings?

In warehouses, large business offices, malls, big department stores and other sizeable buildings, an split-system air conditioner (A/C) approach is often used. The condensing unit normally exists on the roof and can be quite large.  Alternatively, there may be many smaller units on the roof, each attached inside to a small air handler that cools a specific zone in the building.

In larger buildings and particularly in multi-story buildings, the A/C split-system approach begins to run into problems. By running the pipe between the condenser and the air handler, you exceed distance limitations or the amount of duct work and the length of ducts becomes unmanageable. At this point, it’s time to think about a chilled-water air conditioning system.

In a chilled-water A/C system, the entire air conditioner lives on the roof or behind the building. It cools water to between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This chilled water is then piped throughout the building and connected to air handlers as needed. There’s no practical limit to the length of a chilled-water pipe if it’s well-insulated.

In all of the systems described above, air is used to dissipate the heat from the outside coil. In large systems, the efficiency can be improved significantly by using a cooling tower. The cooling tower creates a stream of lower-temperature water. This water runs through a heat exchanger and cools the hot coils of the air conditioner unit. It costs more to buy the system initially, but the energy savings can be significant over time, especially in areas with low humidity, so the system pays for itself fairly quickly