![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Extended Care Facilities |
Packaged Multizone System |
Packaged Multizone Unit(s) |
![]() |
![]() |
Packaged multizone units supply several zones from a single packaged unit by providing dampers in each supply duct that mixes cold and hot air together to achieve the correct amount of conditioning to meet the specific zone requirements. While mixing hot and cold air is an excellent method of controlling zone temperature, it wastes energy since air is reheated after being cooled.
Some models (such as the Carrier Bypass Multizone Units) mix hot or cold air with "neutral" bypass air from the return side of the unit. This neutral air is neither cooled or heated, rather it is mixed with either cold or hot air to achieve the desired temperature to meet zone requirements. This saves a great deal of energy over conventional multizone units that utilize only a hot deck and a cold deck without a neutral deck.
The mixed air is then delivered throughout the building through single zone ducts, each serving a unique zone.
The advantages of this system are that they can provide simultaneous cooling and heating from the same unit. Also since it is a packaged, self-contained unit the first cost and installed cost tends to be less than a built-up multizone system that uses a central station air handler and chiller or condensing unit. The disadvantages are that they are relatively expensive to install and operate.
A life-cycle cost analysis should be performed to assess the impacts of first cost, installed cost, operating cost, equipment life, replacement cost and service costs. Carrier has computer software available to assist with these types of analyses.
( top of page | outline )