Air conditioning - a refrigeration problem

As the climate changes and the demand for some form of air conditioning or comfort cooling increases, we are forced with the dilemma of trying to maintain a building within a comfortable range of conditions, whilst endeavouring to minimise any impact on the environment.

It is more than likely that in commercial buildings some form of mechanical cooling or refrigeration is required. Where this is necessary the Building Services Engineer should look towards the Refrigeration Engineer for assistance and guidance in selecting the most appropriate refrigeration system for a particular application.

This paper gives an overview of air conditioning, the approach to its design, discusses the problems of refrigeration and suggests how a better understanding will improve both air conditioning design and their respective refrigeration systems.