PRELIMINARY HVAC PLAN for PROJECT
FIRST FLOOR
The plan for the first level involves the mechanical room, which contains three air handling units and a geothermal pump. There are two 7 ton units, one which supplies air to the second floor, and one which supplies air to the 2700 square foot gallery and lobby spaces. A 3 ton unit supplies air to the 1200 square foot storm shelter and restrooms. The geothermal pump runs water in a closed loop system into a geothermal well field, which has a total of 20 loops that extend 75 feet into the ground. On the site, which is in Norman, Oklahoma, the temperature at that depth is a constant 67 degrees year round. This is perfect for cooling the air during the summer, and can substantially warm the air in the winter. In the event that more heat is needed in the winter, the air handling units can be supplemented with electricity to improve the mechanical heating. Overall, energy costs should be reduced as a majority of the time the geothermal cooling and heating will be used.
SECOND FLOOR
The layout for the second floor is fairly simple. Vertical ducts running directly up from the mechanical room below supply air from the 7 ton air handling unit. Air, which is heated or cooled by the geothermal well field, is forced through a long duct which branches into the three main rooms on the floor as well as the bathroom. Large return vents at the ends of the rooms draw air back to the unit. The space in the upper lobby is only 300 square feet and is very open to the space below. Because there are a few supply vents and a large return vent directly below-- and since this space is not meant to be occupied for long periods of time since it acts circulation -- it was decided that the air flow would be enough to maintain this space at a fairly comfortable temperature.