What is an economizer? Simply put, it is a mechanical device that is designed to reduce the consumption of energy, whether it be fuel, electricity, or other. https://www.hvacrschool.com/aint-no-fooling-free-cooling-tales-economizer/

1. Bryan Orr
Ain’t No Fooling With Free Cooling (Tales of the Economizer)
hvacrschool.com/aint-no-fooling-free-cooling-tales-economizer/
This article was written by Gary McCreadie from “HVAC know it all”. You can learn more
about Gary and his tips and growing community on Facebook and on LinkedIn
What is an economizer? Simply put, it is a mechanical device that is designed to reduce the
consumption of energy, whether it be fuel, electricity, or other. According to Wikipedia, the
first economizer was patented by Edward Green in 1845. It was used to increase the
efficiency of stationary steam boilers.
1/3

2. This article will revolve around air-side economizers. You will typically see them as an
accessory built into rooftop units used for the purpose of “free cooling”. Free cooling is a
funny term because it’s not actually “free”, the fan motor and economizer controls must be
powered in order to operate, which consumes energy. The term merely demonstrates the
fact that less power consumption is taking place due to the fact we are utilizing outdoor air
to cool a space rather than the use of a compressor or compressors. Economizers also offer
the added feature of providing fresh air to the building and its occupants. A carbon dioxide
sensor can be integrated into the setup. As CO2 levels increase within the building, the
outdoor air dampers are commanded to open, filling the space with fresh air. As CO2 levels
drop off, the dampers return to their minimum position.
The Guts of an Economizer
The economizer set up employs several parts in order to operate correctly.
1) A set of outdoor air dampers that are directly linked to the return air dampers are used
to control air flow. They move together as one, as the outdoor air dampers begin to open,
the return air dampers begin to close and vice versa.
2) An outdoor air sensor. This sensor is responsible for determining if the outdoor air is
acceptable for free cooling. In most cases, there will be an option between a sensible
temperature sensor or an enthalpy sensor.
Sensible Temp Sensor – Measures dry bulb temperature of the air
Enthalpy Sensor – Measures heat content within the air measured in btu/lb. This sensor
takes dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature into account for total heat content.
3) An indoor air sensor, this sensor reads sensible temperature and is responsible for
maintaining mixed or discharge air temperature. The damper assembly will modulate
according to feed back from this sensor to maintain a pre-determined mixed or discharge
air set point. On newer economizer controls, like the Honeywell Jade for example, you are
able to set the mixed or discharge air temperature as desired.
4) The damper actuator, which receives a signal from the economizer control board and
moves to the assigned position to maintain the mixed air or discharge air set point.
5) When using free cooling you must remember that you are introducing fresh air, this
added air into the space can cause positive pressure issues within a building. To eleviate
this problem economizers in most cases will have a built-in barometric relief damper or
power exhaust system.
6) The control board is the heart and soul of the operation. The control board receives
sensor input signals, internally calculates the next step and relays the output signals to the
damper actuator and power exhaust motor if utilized.
Order of operation
To keep it simple, the following example will be based on a single stage cooling rooftop unit
complete with an economizer package.
On a call for cooling from the thermostat or BAS (building automation system), the Y1
terminal will be powered. In most cases, the signal will first move through the rooftop
2/3

3. control board and over to the econmizer control. At that point, the econmizer control will
then decide whether to proceed with free cooling or mechanical cooling based upon the
outdoor air conditions either using sensible temperature of the air or the heat content of
the air measured in enthalpy. If the outdoor air is not suitable for free cooling, the control
signal will be then relayed back to the main control board of the rooftop and initiate
mechanical cooling (compressor operation). If the outdoor air is suitable for free cooling,
the outdoor air dampers will modulate from their minimum position (damper minimum
position is set up during commissioning to maintain constant fresh air to the building and
occupants) to maintain the mixed air or discharge air set point until the space temperature
is reached. Once the thermostat or BAS has been satisfied, the call for cooling will cease.
Most air side economizers in general, work as explained above. It is best to contact the
manufacturer of the equipment you are working on for technical advice or when issues
pertaining to that system arise.
— Gary McCreadie – HVACKNOWITALL.com
3/3