Mechanical Works and Systems

Bistal, Dillera, Dolorito, Junio

Mechanical Systems
• A mechanical system is a set of physical components that convert an input motion and force into a
desired output motion and force.
In building planning, Mechanical systems are any building service using machines. They include
elevators, escalators, and heating and air-conditioning systems. The introduction of mechanization in
buildings in the early 20th century brought about major adjustments; the new equipment demanded
floor space, and the design team began to include electrical and HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning) engineers. Heating and cooling changed dramatically. Modern buildings, with their
large heat gains, turned central heating into little more than a supplement. Heat removal is a much
more serious burden, especially in warm weather. The roofs of high-rises are occupied by cooling
towers and mechanical penthouses; entire floors are often dedicated to the containment of blowers,
compressors, water chillers, boilers, pumps, and generators.
Elevator Systems
Mechanical Systems
Elevator Systems
An elevator system is an easy concept to understand. In its simplest form there is a single elevator,
moving vertically, for serving users on all floor levels. When a user desires to ride the elevator they
press a button located in the elevator lobby. The lobby is defined as the area of the building, adjacent
to the elevator, on a given floor. The user presses the either of two buttons, up or down, correlating
to the direction they want to move. The elevator responds to the pressing of this button via the path
of predetermined travel routes or cycles. An elevator that is initially idle will dispatch immediately to
the floor of the user request. The elevator will stop only for other requests for moving in its current
direction of travel. Once all requests have been serviced in one direction of a cycle, the elevator will
reverse and begin responding to requests in the same manner as before. An elevator that is idle for
several minutes will return to the ground, or bottom, floor.
Logic Controller
These systems include a logic controller that takes the rider input and translates it into meaningful actions.
According to How stuffworks, Inc. the logic controller's central processing unit (CPU) must be given at least
three critical pieces of information, namely:
Where people want to go?
Where each floor is?
Where the elevator car is?
The first input comes directly from the riders. The user pushes the floor number inside the elevator car
signaling their final destination. When the floor buttons are pushed the logic controller receives the signal and
registers the user's request.
The second input "where each floor is" can often be determined by the addition of holes located on a long
vertical tape inside the elevator shaft. The elevator car is equipped with a light or magnetic sensor that reads the
number of and which holes are being passed by the elevator car as it ascends and descends. The computer is
equipped with a means of varying the speed of electric motor (connected to either of the following system
designs) so it can slow down the car when it is approaching a floor at which it is to stop.
Scheduling Elevator Operations
Logic controllers must have some way to determine in what order riders should be picked up and
dropped off. Many elevator systems will move in one direction (e.g., upward) and only pick up
riders that are also signaling to go in that direction (e.g., upward). When the final floor that has been
requested in that direction (e.g., upward) is reached the elevator will turn around and pick up all
riders signaling the opposite direction (e.g., downward). Of course, the elevator car also stops at all
floors for which riders, already inside the car, have input a requested. A more sophisticated system,
often used in hotels and other large buildings with a lot of foot traffic, involves the traffic patterns
that reoccur. These systems have logic controllers that are programmed with information about the
demand on each floor with respect to the time of day and they route the elevator cars accordingly so
as to minimize the wait for all riders. When there are multiple elevator cars, the logic controller bases
the movement on each car on that of the others. Often, the elevator car is equipped with a load
sensor so that if the elevator is full to capacity it sends a signal to the control system and the logic
controller signals the car not to pick up any more passengers until the load is lowered.
Elevator Door Control
The control system's computer also controls the movement of the elevator car doors. The amount of
time for which the doors are held open when a floor is reached is programmed into the logic
controller. The elevator car doors also have a sensor that detects if someone or something is caught
in the door and stops the door closing mechanism from closing the door with the large force that is
required. This is also part of the safety system since it ensures that people are not hurt when trying to
enter or exit the elevator car.
Hydraulic Elevators
The system includes a piston and cylinder arrangement connected to the hydraulic
system.  The tank is filled with hydraulic fluid (oil or some other highly viscose
fluid) and connected via the valve to the cylinder.  When the control system
signals the elevator to move up to an upper-level floor the pump (controlled by an
electric motor) pushes the hydraulic fluid into the cylinder.  At this point the valve
is closed and the fluid has nowhere to go but into the cylinder.  As it does so, it
forces the piston to move upwards, consequently pushing the elevator upwards
also.  As the elevator car approaches the signaled floor a signal is sent to the motor
to shut off, thus stopping the flow of liquid and the subsequent movement of the
piston and elevator.  When it is time for the elevator to move down to a lower level
the valve opens and the fluid is allowed to drain (slowly) from the cylinder into the
tank.  This relieves the pressure in the cylinder allowing the piston, and
consequently the elevator car to accelerate downwards.  When the elevator car
approaches the correct floor a signal is sent to the valve (controlled by a solenoid
switch) to close the valve.  When the valve is shut the fluid settles and the piston
and elevator car rest where they are at the signaled floor.
Roped Elevators
Whereas hydraulic systems rely on pushing the elevator car up
and down, roped elevators pull the elevator cab using ropes or
cables. One end of the steel ropes are attached to the elevator car
while the other end is attached to a counterbalance. This
counterbalance weighs approximately the same amount as an
elevator car that is 40% full. In between the car and the
counterbalance the ropes are looped around a sheave, that is, a
pulley with grooved ridges that hold the ropes in place. This
sheave is connected to a motor that turns the sheave both
clockwise and counterclockwise. When the sheave rotates in one
direction the elevator car rises, when it rotates in the opposite
direction the elevator car lowers. The adjacent figure shows the
basic roped elevator system. Number 5 in the above diagram
shows the guide rails. These ensure that the elevator car is stable
and does not swing from side to side as it moves up and down the
elevator shaft.
Escalator Systems
Mechanical Systems
Escalators
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors
of a building.
Escalators are powered by constant-speed alternating current motors and move at approximately 1–2
feet (0.30–0.61 m) per second. The maximum angle of inclination of an escalator to the horizontal
floor level is 30 degrees with a standard rise up to about 60 feet (18 m). Modern escalators have
single piece aluminum or steel steps that move on a system of tracks in a continuous loop.
Direction of movement (up or down) can be permanently the same, or be controlled by personnel
according to the time of day, or automatically be controlled by whoever arrives first, whether at the
bottom or at the top (the system is programmed so that the direction is not reversed while a
passenger is on the escalator).
Escalators
• The benefits of escalators are many:
• They have the capacity to move large numbers of people.
• They can be placed in the same physical space as one might install a staircase. 
• They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic).
• They can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits‫ز‬
• They may be weatherproofed for outdoor use. 
• They can help in controlling the traffic flow of people For example, an escalator to an exit effectively
discourages most people from using it as an entrance, and may reduce security concerns. 
Four Typical Configurations of Escalators

PARALLEL

• Up and down escalators "side by side or

separated by a distance," seen often in metro
stations and multilevel motion picture
theaters).
Four Typical Configurations of Escalators

CRISSCROSS ESCALATOR

• (Minimizes structural space requirements by

"stacking" escalators that go in one direction,
frequently used in department stores or
shopping centers).
Four Typical Configurations of Escalators

MULTIPLE PARALLEL

• two or more escalators together that travel in

one direction next to one or two escalators in
the same bank that travel in the other
direction.
Four Typical Configurations of Escalators

ESCALATOR NEXT TO STAIRCASE

• It is preferred that staircases be located

adjacent to the escalator if the escalator is
the primary means of transport between
floors.
Basic Components of Escalators include:
• Landing Platform
• Escalator Truss
• Track System
• Escalator Steps
• Handrail
• Balustrade
Basic Components of Escalators
• Landing Platforms

These two platforms house the curved

sections of the tracks, as well as the gears
and motors that drive the stairs. The top
platform contains the motor assembly and
the main drive gear, while the bottom holds
the step return idler sprockets. These
sections also anchor the ends of the
escalator truss.
Basic Components of Escalators
• Truss -  is the structural frame of the
escalator and consists of three major
areas:

• The lower section, 

• Incline section, 
• Upper section. 
Basic Components of Escalators
• Tracks system is built into the truss to
guide the step chain, which continuously
pulls the steps from the bottom platform
and back to the top in an endless loop.
There are actually two tracks:

• One for the front wheels of the steps

(called the step wheel track).
• One for the back wheels of the steps
(called the trailer-wheel track). 
Basic Components of Escalators
• Tracks system assembly components
include:
• Circle Tracks or Crab tracks
• Beveled Track
• Chain Wheel, Upper Upthrust (hold
down) Track
• Chain Wheel, Upper Line Track
• Step Wheel, Lower Upthrust Track
• Step Wheel, Lower Line Track or Flat
Track
• Chain Wheel, Return Track
• Step Wheel, Return Track
Basic Components of Escalators
• Steps - are solid, one piece, die-cast
aluminum or steel. Yellow demarcation
lines may be added to clearly indicate
their edges.
• Steps Components:
• The Step Plate (Tread
• The Step Riser 
• The Demarcations 
• Frame/Yoke 
• Trail Wheels 
• Step Hook 
Basic Components of Escalators
• Handrail - provides a convenient
handhold for passengers while they are
riding the escalator. In an escalator, the
handrail is pulled along its track by a
chain that is connected to the main drive
gear by a series of pulleys.
Basic Components of Escalators
• Balustrade - consists of the handrail and
the exterior supporting structure of the
escalator. It is the escalator exterior
components extending above the steps and
it supports the handrail. It is either
designed as Interior Low-deck or Interior
High-deck.

The balustrade may also refer to the

individual interior panels, skirt panels, and
deck covers of the escalator. Each interior
balustrade panel section is individually
removable to allow easy access to the
escalator interior for cleaning,
maintenance, and component replacement.
Basic Components of Escalators
Balustrade Components
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
Mechanical Systems
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
HVAC systems are milestones of building mechanical systems that provide thermal comfort for
occupants accompanied with indoor air quality.
HVAC systems can be classified into central and local systems according to multiple zones, location,
and distribution. Primary HVAC equipment includes heating equipment, ventilation equipment, and
cooling or air-conditioning equipment.
Central HVAC systems locate away from buildings in a central equipment room and deliver the
conditioned air by a delivery ductwork system. Central HVAC systems contain all-air, air-water, all-
water systems. Two systems should be considered as central such as heating and cooling panels and
water-source heat pumps.
Local HVAC systems can be located inside a conditioned zone or adjacent to it and no requirement
for ductwork. Local systems include local heating, local air conditioning, local ventilation, and split
systems.
Central HVAC System Local HVAC System
HVAC System Selection
System selection depends on three main factors including the building
configuration, the climate conditions, and the owner desire.
The design engineer is responsible for considering various systems and
recommending more than one system to meet the goal and satisfy the owner of
a building. Some criteria can be considered such as climate change (e.g.,
temperature, humidity, and space pressure), building capacity, spatial
requirements, cost such as capital cost, operating cost, and maintenance cost,
life cycle analysis, and reliability and flexibility
However, the selection of a system has some constraints that must be
determined. These constraints include the available capacity according to
standards, building configuration, available space, construction budget, the
available utility source, heating and cooling building loads.
Basic Components of an HVAC System
The basic components or equipment of an HVAC system that delivers conditioned air to satisfy thermal
comfort of space and occupants and the achieve the indoor air quality are listed below

• Mixed-air plenum and outdoor air control • Heating and cooling coils

• Air filter • Self-contained heating or cooling unit

• Supply fan • Cooling tower

• Exhaust or relief fans and an air outlet • Boiler

• Outdoor air intake • Control

• Ducts • Water chiller

• Terminal devices • Humidification and dehumidification equipment

• Return air system

Component Diagrams
Classification and Comparison of HVAC Systems
Types of a system depend on addressing the primary equipment location to be centralized as
conditioning entire building as a whole unit or decentralized as separately conditioning a specific
zone as part of a building. Therefore, the air and water distribution system should be designed based
on system classification and the location of primary equipment. The basic components above should
also be applied in selecting between two systems.
Classification and Comparison of HVAC Systems
HVAC System Requirements
Four requirements are the bases for any HVAC systems. They need primary equipment, space
requirement, air distribution, and piping.
Primary equipment includes heating equipment such as steam boilers and hot water boilers to heat
buildings or spaces, air delivery equipment as packaged equipment to deliver conditioned ventilation
air by using centrifugal fans, axial fans, and plug or plenum fans, and refrigeration equipment that
delivers cooled or conditioned air into space. It includes cooling coils based on water from water
chillers or refrigerants from a refrigeration process.
HVAC System Requirements
Space requirement is essential in shaping an HVAC system to be central or local. It requires five
facilities as the following:
• Equipment rooms: since the total mechanical and electrical space requirements range between 4 and
9% of the gross building area. It is preferable to be centrally located in the building to reduce the
long duct, pipe, and conduit runs and sizes, to simplify shaft layouts, and centralized maintenance
and operation.
• HVAC facilities: heating equipment and refrigeration equipment require many facilities to perform
their primary tasks of heating and cooling the building. The heating equipment requires boiler units,
pumps, heat exchangers, pressure-reducing equipment, control air compressors, and miscellaneous
equipment, while the refrigeration equipment requires water chillers or cooling water towers for large
buildings, condenser water pumps, heat exchangers, air-conditioning equipment, control air
compressors, and miscellaneous equipment. The design of equipment rooms to host both pieces of
equipment should consider the size and the weight of equipment, the installation and maintenance of
equipment, and the applicable regulations to combustion air and ventilation air criteria.
HVAC System Requirements
• Fan rooms contain the HVAC fan equipment and other miscellaneous equipment. The rooms
should consider the size of the installation and removal of fan shafts and coils, the replacement,
and maintenance. The size of fans depends on the required air flow rate to condition the building,
and it can be centralized or localized based on the availability, location, and cost. It is preferable to
have easy access to outdoor air.
• Vertical shaft: provide space for air distribution and water and steam pipe distribution. The air
distribution contains HVAC supply air, exhaust air, and return air ductwork. Pipe distribution
includes hot water, chilled water, condenser water, and steam supply, and condenser return. The
vertical shaft includes other mechanical and electrical distribution to serve the entire building
including plumbing pipes, fire protection pipes, and electric conduits/closets.
• Equipment access: the equipment room must allow the movement of large, heavy equipment
during the installation, replacement, and maintenance.
HVAC System Requirements
Air distribution considers ductwork that delivers the conditioned air to the desired area in a direct,
quiet, and economical way as possible. Air distribution includes air terminal units such as grilles and
diffusers to deliver supply air into a space at low velocity; fan-powered terminal units, which uses an
integral fan to ensure the supply air to the space; variable air volume terminal units, which deliver
variable amount of air into the space; all-air induction terminal units, which controls the primary air,
induces return air, and distributes the mixed air into a space; and air-water induction terminal units,
which contains a coil in the induction air stream. All the ductwork and piping should be insulated to
prevent heat loss and save building energy. It is also recommended that buildings should have
enough ceiling spaces to host ductwork in the suspended ceiling and floor slab, and can be used as a
return air plenum to reduce the return ductwork.
The piping system is used to deliver refrigerant, hot water, cooled water, steam, gas, and condensate
to and from HVAC equipment in a direct, quiet and affordable way. Piping systems can be divided
into two parts: the piping in the central plant equipment room and the delivery piping. HVAC piping
may or may not be insulated based on existing code criteria.
HVAC System Requirements : in Hierarchy
Central HVAC Systems
A central HVAC system may serve one or more thermal zones, and its major equipment is located
outside of the served zone(s) in a suitable central location whether inside, on top, or adjacent to the
building. Central systems must condition zones with their equivalent thermal load. Central HVAC
systems will have as several control points such as thermostats for each zone.
The thermal energy transfer medium can be air or water or both, which represent a all-air systems,
air-water systems, all-water systems. Also, central systems include water-source heat pumps and
heating and cooling panels.
 Variations of Central HVAC Systems
• All-air System • All-water System • Air-water System (Hybrid)
• Single Zone System • Fan-coil units • Fan-coil and Air handling units
• Multi Zone System • Induction units
• Terminal Reheat System • Heating and Cooling Panels
• Dual Duct System
• Variable Air Volume System

• Water-source Heat Pumps • Heating and Cooling Panels

Local HVAC Systems
Some buildings can have multiple zones or have a large, single zone, which needs central HVAC
systems to serve and provide the thermal needs. However, other building may have a single zone
which needs equipment located inside the zone itself, such as small houses and residential
apartments. This type of system is considered as local HVAC systems since each equipment serving
its zone without crossing boundaries to other adjacent zones (e.g., using an air conditioner to cool
down a bedroom, or using an electrical heater for the living room). Therefore, a single zone
requires only one-point control point connected to a thermostat to activate the local HVAC system.
Some buildings have multiple local HVAC systems as proper equipment serving specific single
zones and controlled by the one-point control of the desired zone. However, these local systems are
not connected and integrated to central systems, but still part of a large full-building HVAC
systems.
Variations in Local HVAC Systems
References:
• Mechanical Systems: https://www.slideshare.net/mmd243/mechanical-systems-of-building-1
• Elevators:
https://user.eng.umd.edu/~austin/ense621.d/projects04.d/project-elevator.html#:~:text=An%20elev
ator%20system%20is%20an,located%20in%20the%20elevator%20lobby
.
https://elevation.fandom.com/wiki/Hydraulic_elevators
• Escalators:
http://www.electrical-knowhow.com/2012/04/escalators-basic-components-part-one.html
• HVAC: https://www.intechopen.com/books/hvac-system/types-of-hvac-systems