SKAA 2032 1

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER 2, SESSION 2017/2018
COURSE CODE : SKAA 2032

COURSE : MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROGRAMME : SKAA

DURATION : 2 HOURS

DATE : JUNE, 2018

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
1. SECTION A AND B MUST BE WRITTEN IN SEPARATE BOOKS

SECTION A: ELECTRICAL
1. ANSWER THREE (3) QUESTIONS FROM SECTION A.
2. ALL CALCULATIONS MUST BE CLEARLY SHOWN.

SECTION B: MECHANICAL
1. ANSWER THREE (3) QUESTIONS FROM SECTION B.
2. ALL VALUES ARE AS USED IN LECTURE NOTES.

WARNING!
Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for
disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from
the study.

This examination question consists of (7) printed pages only.

 SKAA 2032 2

SECTION B: MECHANICAL

Q1. Air conditioning and Ventilation

• Sketch an air conditioning diagram and explain the function of

(i) Compressor
• suck the refrigerant vapor
• compress the refrigerant into a higher temperature and pressure
• refrigerant vapor leaves the compressor through discharge port
• pumped it to the condenser unit in superheated vapor state

(ii) Condenser
• heat from superheated refrigerant vapor will be blown away to
the outside air
• refrigerant cooled off
• changes to saturated liquid state
• liquid refrigerant then flows into the expansion valve

(iii) Evaporator
• liquid refrigerant changes to a gas state
• remove heat out of the cooled space
• heat absorbed will leaves the evaporator together with the
refrigerant to the compressor again

(i) Expansion valve

• creates a pressure drop reduces pressure of refrigerant liquid

(10 marks)
 SKAA 2032 3

(b) Describe the main difference between CAV (Constant Air Volume)
system and VAV (Variable Air Volume) and state two advantages of the
VAV system over CAV system?
• CAV system, the supply air flow rate is constant, but the supply air
temperature is varied to meet the thermal loads
• VAV systems, however, vary the airflow at a constant temperature.

2 advantages
✓ more precise temperature control
✓ reduced compressor wear
✓ lower energy consumption by system fans
✓ less fan noise
✓ additional passive dehumidification.
(4 marks)

(c) A split unit air conditioner is to be installed at the top floor of a double
storey medium sized building. The dimension of its width, high and
length for the top floor are 15 ft, 9.2 ft and 24 ft respectively with the
building orientation of facing South. Calculate the suitable type of air
conditioner based on its horsepower (HP)? Given the split unit Capacity
in Appendix 1.
Volume = 15  24 = 360 ft 2
 9000 BTUs / hr
The unit has more that 8 feet height = 1.3  9000 = 11700 BTUs / hr
11700 BTUs / hr  1.5 HP
 SKAA 2032 4

(4 marks)
(d) Describe briefly the ventilation process of Mechanical and Natural
ventilation?
Mechanical or forced ventilation: through an air handling unit or direct
injection to a space by a fan
Natural ventilation: occurs when the air in a space is changed with
outdoor air without the use of mechanical systems (e.g. operable
windows, temperature and pressure differences )

(2 Marks)
(20 marks)
 SKAA 2032 5

Q2. Fire prevention system

(a) Describe 5 classes or types of fire

(5 Marks)
(b) State three conditions for a fire to start and briefly explain all the three
conditions
In order to start, every hostile fire requires an initial heat source, an initial
fuel source, and something to bring them together.
(3 Marks)
(c) Figure Q2 shows a carbon dioxide extinguishing system. Describe
briefly the operation of this system

✓ Store in different room and sufficient number of tank/ capacity for

allocated volume of space
✓ During fire, alarm will be triggered and CO2 will be released through
sprinklers.
(2 Marks)
(10 Marks)
 SKAA 2032 6

Q3. Lifts and Escalators

(a) Briefly explain in terms of their movement, function and speed
between an escalator and elevator.
LIFTS(ELEVATOR) ESCALATOR
MOVEMENT GOES VERTICAL MOVING STAIRS
• a vertical transportation • a conveyor transport
FUNCTION • moves people or goods device for carrying
between floors people between floors
• a single-width
escalator traveling at
SPEED • speeds up to 10 m/s about 0.5 m/s
• can move about 2000
people/hr.
(5 Marks)

(b) Escalator was invented by Charles Seeberger in 1897 and sold rights to
Otis Elevator Company in 1902, name five (5) most applications of
this escalator for the public used.
1. Shopping complex
2. Airport
3. Exhibition or convention center
4. Central station
5. Stadium
(5 Marks)
(c) Sketch a schematic diagram of an escalator which shows how the
mechanism operating. List five (5) important components in this
schematic diagram.
It includes the escalator, track, trusses/ gliders, balustrading, step
treads and landing, chain, wires and machinery directly connected
 SKAA 2032 7

(5 marks)

(d) An escalator of 35 degrees inclined, moving at a speed of 0.5 m/s. The

length of the step is taken as 400 mm tread for one person per step.
Calculate the number of person moves per hour?
3600  1  0.5  cos(35o )
N= = 3686.084 person.hr −1
0.4
(5 marks)
(20 marks)

Appendix 1