


You find creative solutions that will meet the objectives without added expense. The real challenge is how get environmental controls and amenities as you get higher?” Mehdi Jalayerian, Executive Vice President for Environmental Systems Design, Chicago, which is a consultant for HVAC design for supertall towers, says, “Supertalls are like cities standing vertically. But when a high-rise enters the supertall category, this single system approach becomes less efficient and more expensive. When it comes to a normal high rise, massive heat pumps and exchangers and a single cooling system and chiller plant on the roof can service the whole building. This brings perplexing problems for engineers who have to design temperature control systems for these buildings in order to make them habitable. These skyscrapers have become a status symbol for countries all over the world that are trying to out-do each other by constructing a taller and better structure. But the prowess of engineers is often challenged by the construction of supertall buildings as they have to focus on the structural design as well as their construction stability. Their obvious advantage is that they circulate fresher air than normal packaged rooftop units.Skyscrapers rise thousands of feet into the sky, and although these magnificent structures may look invincible, it is the responsibility of the architects to make them habitable. They require increased insulation, additional parts, and potentially more energy to run. These units are known as 100 percent dedicated outdoor air units, or makeup air units. So all the air running through the unit comes from outside, and the unit uses no return air. For example, some units condition 100 percent outdoor air. There are also some specialized applications for packaged rooftop units. However, depending on the application they can be a part of a more complex control system. Here’s a view of a basic packaged rooftop unit: Window air conditioners are basically just small rooftop unitsĪ basic thermostat typically controls packaged rooftop units. There is usually a clear, insulated divide between the evaporator coils that cool the return air, and the condenser coils and compressor that eject heat to the atmosphere. Some units have small heating elements near the blower to further adjust the air’s humidity. The air then flows through a blower, leaving it conditioned and ready for the space. The refrigerant is cooled with a standard refrigeration cycle. Then it continues to the cooling coil which chills air by running it over refrigerant. The air then moves through a rack of filters. Some units also mix outdoor air with the returning air to produce fresher air for the space. How a Packaged Rooftop Unit Worksįirst, air returns back to the packaged rooftop unit from the space the unit is ventilating. Avoid expensive post-sale surprises with this HVAC due diligence checklist. Depending on the building, you could be stuck footing the bill for millions of dollars in HVAC repairs before the building can be occupied.
