Applications Engineering Manuals and Guides

Discusses the fundamentals of sound to aid in the design of quiet HVAC systems. Topics include: definitions, frequency, octave bands, sound power vs. sound pressure, sound ratings (A‐weighting, B‐weighting, C-weighting, noise criteria ‐ NC, room criteria – RC, sone, phone), sound measurement methods, equipment sound rating and industry standards (ARI, AMCA, ASHRAE), source‐path‐receiver, sound paths, attenuation, transmission loss, regenerated noise, room effect, and fan-generated noise.

This publication focuses on air-to-water heat pump hydronic systems for cooling and heating. This manual discusses system design considerations and options, piping, airside considerations, and system operation and control

This publication focuses on systems used to maintain indoor air quality, including filtration systems and other air cleaning devices. To understand the options available to system designers, this guide discusses the systems, their advantages and drawbacks, common implementation practices, and monitoring air quality. This application manual discusses the importance of indoor air quality as one component of the overall building indoor environmental quality.

This manual discusses the various air-to-air energy recovery technologies and their application in HVAC systems. Topics include: why recover energy?, sensible- versus total-energy recovery, effectiveness, unbalanced airflow, outdoor-air preconditioning (or exhaust-air heat recovery), supply-air tempering (or reheat) in series or parallel, ASHRAE Standard 90.1, impact on first cost and operating cost, frost prevention methods, minimizing cross leakage, methods of capacity control, coil loops (or coil runaround loops), fixed-plate heat exchangers (or air-to-air heat exchangers), heat pipes, rotary heat exchangers (or heat wheels, enthalpy wheels, desiccant wheels), ARI Standard 1060, controlling energy recovery devices in dedicated outdoor-air systems and mixed-air systems (constant volume, VAV), economizer operation, active desiccant dehumidification systems, local versus centralized preconditioning.

Discusses proper design and control of central geothermal bidirectional cascade systems that use borefields. Topics include system design considerations (borefield, ground water, water temperatures, chiller/heater selection, system piping, system design options (optimum efficiency design features, supplemental heat, auxiliary energy rejection, contingency cooling, chilled-water pump control), airside considerations (heating design, economizer control, freeze protection, ASHRAE Standard 90.1 compliance), system operation and control (heating only, cooling only and simultaneous heating and cooling).

Focuses on chilled-water terminal systems, including fan-coils, blower coils, classroom unit ventilators, chilled beams, radiant cooling or heating, and sensible cooling terminal units. This guide discusses the advantages and drawbacks of these systems, reviews the various components that make up the system, proposes solutions to common design challenges, explores several system design variations, and discusses system-level control.

Discusses proper design and application of chilled-water, variable air volume (VAV) systems. Topics include: basic system operation, benefits and drawbacks of a chilled-water VAV system, in-depth coverage of the components that make up the system (VAV air-handling unit, VAV terminal units, air distribution system, chilled-water system, hot water heating system, controls), solutions to address common design challenges (zoning, ventilation, humidity control, energy efficiency, acoustics), several system variations (cold air distribution, single-zone VAV, air-to-air energy recovery, dual-duct VAV systems), and common unit-level and system-level control functions (including system optimization strategies).

This manual details basic multiple-machine chilled water systems. Topics include: components of a chilled water system, chillers in parallel, chillers in series, primary/secondary (decoupled) systems, effects of temperatures and flow, low flow system designs, distributed pumping, tertiary pumping, chiller plant controls, chilled water reset, chiller staging, variable-primary flow (VPF) systems, heat recovery, free cooling, sidestream arrangement, system design considerations, preferential loading, alternate energy sources, series-counterflow arrangement, redundancy, contingency planning, condenser water systems, and cooling tower control.

This guide discusses HVAC systems that use a dedicated outdoor air unit to treat all of the outdoor air brought into the building for ventilation, and zone-mounted terminal units to treat the indoor air. Treating the outdoor air separately from recirculated return air makes it easy to verify sufficient ventilation airflow and enables enforcement of a maximum humidity limit in occupied zones.

Discusses the dehumidification performance of various, cold-coil commercial HVAC systems, particularly at part-load conditions. Topics include: why control humidity in buildings, sources of moisture, cold coil versus active desiccant dehumidification, full-load versus part-load conditions, ASHRAE weather data, dehumidification performance of constant-volume systems (packaged direct expansion DX equipment, energy recovery, fan-speed adjustment, mixed-air bypass, return-air bypass, DX coil circuiting, dual path air handlers, supply-air tempering or reheat), dehumidification performance of VAV systems (minimum airflow settings, supply-air temperature reset, supply-air tempering at VAV terminals, colder supply-air temperatures), dedicated outdoor-air systems (neutral versus cold, to space versus to other units, reset control strategies), unoccupied humidity control, building pressure control, airside economizer control, ASHRAE Standards 62 and 90.1.

This manual focuses on using compressor technology in a vapor compression cycle to produce heated water (or other fluid) which then satisfies heating loads such as building heating, process, domestic water and others. It describes concepts, equipment, system and mechanical implementation, energy use, and environmental emissions. The manual also identifies system-level characteristics for effective and reliable operation and control. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with its contents and to review the appropriate sections when designing an application that could benefit from using compressors to produce heated water.

This publication focuses on hot gas bypass guidelines for direct expansion (DX) split systems. While hot gas bypass might also be used in packaged DX equipment or packaged water chillers, this guide is focused on its use in DX split systems that include field-installed refrigerant piping.

The Hydronic Branch Conductor is a valve control unit used in a distributed hydronic heating and cooling system that uses heat pumps in the central plant. Each Conductor is used to direct either hot or chilled water to an area of a building, depending on that area's current need for heating or cooling. This application guide reviews several common system applications for these Conductors and addresses various system design issues related to their use.

Intended to aid designers in the design of ice storage systems using ethylene glycol. Topics include: types of thermal storage (chilled water, ice, eutectic salts), full storage vs. partial storage, ice storage selection and capacity, chiller selection, ice storage system design and control. 

This manual helps HVAC system designers identify and quantify moisture sources in buildings. It also presents moisture-management techniques related to the building envelope, the occupied space and the mechanical-equipment room. Topics include: indoor air quality (IAQ), comfort, moisture sources, condensation, building envelope, dehumidification, equipment room moisture, ventilation air, moisture and equipment, drain pans, condensate traps, insulation, infiltration, vapor-pressure diffusion, design and control strategies, humid climates, and humidity control.

This publication focuses on modular air-to-water heat pump hydronic systems for cooling and heating. This manual discusses system design considerations and options, piping, airside considerations, and system operation and control.

This application manual has been written to help readers understand the refrigerant use restrictions outlined in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15–2019, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems. It is not intended to discuss every requirement in the standard; rather, it attempts to focus on those aspects of the standard that are most pertinent to the HVAC system design engineer.

Discusses proper design and application of packaged rooftop, variable air volume (VAV) systems. Topics include: basic system operation, benefits and drawbacks of a rooftop VAV system, in-depth coverage of the components that make up the system (packaged rooftop unit, VAV terminal units, air distribution system, hot water heating system, controls), solutions to address common design challenges (zoning, ventilation, humidity control, energy efficiency, acoustics), several system variations (cold air distribution, single-zone VAV, air-to-air energy recovery), and common unit-level and system-level control functions (including system optimization strategies).

Trane’s TTA and TWA, 6 – 25 ton condensing unit product line (specific model numbers are listed on the cover) has been designed for use only with R-410A and POE oil. R410A is a higher-pressure refrigerant that requires the other components of the system to be rated for the higher pressures. For compressor lubrication, the refrigerant requires POE oil.

To improve indoor air quality (a subset of IEQ) and mitigate the causes of poor air quality, Trane® recommends an approach targeting four critical strategies that influence the quality of indoor air, including: Dilute, Exhaust, Contain, and Clean. Each strategy has its benefits and limitations in applications. Combining these strategies into the building design and operation can help improve the overall indoor air quality (IAQ). One of the Clean tactics involves applying Synexis® antimicrobial systems to reduce microbes in the air and on surfaces. The intent of this document is to discuss Synexis devices. Device selection, application considerations, operation and maintenance, controls, acoustic data, and guide specifications are covered throughout this document.

This guide focuses on using water source multi-pipe technology in a chiller-heater system to produce heated and or cooled fluid to satisfy building loads such as heating, cooling, process, domestic water, and other loads. It builds off concepts introduced in the Trane® Application Engineering Manual “Heating with Compressors in HVAC Systems” and describes equipment selection and sizing along with system mechanical layout and controls for reliable implementation of chiller-heater systems. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with its contents and to review the appropriate sections when designing an application that could benefit from using water-source heat pumps to heat and cool water.

This publication focuses on air-to-water heat pump hydronic systems for cooling and heating. This manual discusses system design considerations and options, piping, airside considerations, and system operation and control

Discover our comprehensive scripted training presentations designed to educate you on the fundamentals of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC). Each clinic comes complete with a student workbook and corresponding quiz questions and problems to reinforce learning. The series is organized into three sub-categories: Fundamentals, Equipment, and Systems, ensuring a thorough understanding of every aspect of HVAC. Written for both beginners and those looking to deepen their knowledge.

Please contact your local Trane Sales Office for more information on purchasing this series.

This guide focuses on CoolSense System Design. Th e document will cover components of the system, terminal unit controls, and CoolSense system-level control for various modes, and chiller plant configurations. Also covered is code compliance and appropriate acoustic levels for various spaces.

An HVAC system design tool created to size supply and return duct systems using the equal friction design method. This tool features scales for friction loss per unit length, air volume, air velocity, round duct diameter, and rectangular duct diameters. One side uses I-P units, while the other side uses SI units. It also comes with a protective sleeve that includes ASHRAE-recommended design air velocities for various system components and applications.

Please contact your local Trane Sales Office for more information on purchasing this series.

Trane’s RAUJ 20- through 120-ton condensing unit product line has been designed for use only with R-410A and POE oil. R-410A is a high-pressure refrigerant that requires the other components of the system, including the evaporator, to be rated for R-410A pressures. For compressor lubrication, the refrigerant requires POE oil.

Trane’s RAUJ 20- through 120-ton condensing unit product line incorporating fin and tube condenser coils has been designed for use only with R-410A and POE oil. R-410A is a high-pressure refrigerant that requires the other components of the system, including the evaporator, to be rated for R-410A pressures. For compressor lubrication, the refrigerant requires POE oil.

This application guide provides refrigerant piping guidelines for Trane® split system outdoor unit models ranging in capacity from 1.5 to 10 tons when matched to Trane® indoor models BCHC and BCVC 024 through 090. Use the information presented here to properly select interconnecting piping and refrigerant components for these systems. These systems are designed and intended for the use of R-410A and POE oil. All components of the system must also be designed and intended for R-410A and POE oil. This publication also outlines an “envelope” of application that is based on the proximity of the refrigerant components. The guidelines presented pertain specifically to the operating envelope for standard air-conditioning applications that deliver either a constant or variable volume of airflow and that provide no more than 45 percent ventilation (outdoor) air.

Discusses proper design and application of water-source (WSHP) and ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems. Topics include: basic system operation; benefits and drawbacks of a WSHP system; in-depth coverage of the components that make up the system (water-source heat pumps, water distribution system, heat rejection and heat addition, dedicated outdoor-air system); solutions to address common design challenges (thermal zoning, ventilation, humidity control, energy efficiency, acoustics); several system variations (ground-coupled, surface-water, and ground-water heat pump systems, as well as several hybrid system configurations); and common unit-level and system-level control functions (including system optimization strategies).