“AHU” is an acronym for air handling unit. An air handling unit is a piece of equipment that handles air, as the name suggests. It has a very basic internal structure. At the core of central air conditioning is the air handling unit (AHU). It gathers indoor and outdoor air, filters out dust and other debris, modifies humidity and temperature, and then uses ducts to deliver cool, pleasant air conditioning into the rooms. Read more about air handling unit by visiting our website and if you have any questions related to this topic, connect with us.
An air handling unit: what is it?
A large indoor unit of commercial air conditioning equipment is known as an air handling unit. This enormous “indoor unit” is mounted along an outside building wall or on a rooftop. It generates warm or cold air and distributes it to the rooms for heating or cooling. Air handling systems are often built to order for specific buildings, in contrast to standard commercial air conditioners. Additionally, a filter, humidifier, and other devices for temperature, humidity, air flow, and air cleanliness management can be mounted internally to personalize air handling units.
The air handling unit’s mechanism
A filter, humidifier, blowers (fans), and heat exchanger (fins) are often found in the housing of an air handling device. There is absolutely no intricate machinery. It’s a really straightforward system.
The central air conditioner
The idea of central air conditioning must be understood in order to properly know how an air handling unit (AHU) operates.
The term “central air conditioning” describes a system that employs heat source equipment placed in one place throughout the building to provide the air handling unit with chilled or heated water for use in cooling or heating the rooms. In contrast, “individual air conditioning” refers to a system that necessitates the dispersed installation of several heat source devices, such as one unit on each level or in each area.
Central air conditioning mechanism
For both heating and cooling, central air conditioning combines heat source equipment (such as a boiler or refrigerator) with air conditioning equipment (such as a fan coil or air handling unit). Central air conditioning is also known as centralized air conditioning since all of the building’s heat source devices are located in one place, and the air conditioning units get chilled or heated water for cooling or heating the rooms. Large buildings and institutions frequently have central air conditioning systems installed and in operation.
Central air conditioning benefits
There are several benefits to central air conditioning. For instance, it permits flexible water pipe route design and flexible chiller and air handling unit (AHU) installation site selection. Minimum constraints are placed on the air delivery distance of ducts and the chilled/heated water pipes by central air conditioning. For instance, when a central air conditioning system is in cooling mode, the chiller generates chilled water, which is then sent to the cold water coil via the air handling unit (AHU), which transfers heat between the air and the water. The fans then send the cool air via the ducts. As a result, central air conditioning may effectively heat or cool huge rooms and buildings, depending on the system design or the mix of devices and equipment. Additionally, unlike direct expansion type air conditioners, there is no need to worry about the top limitations of refrigerant tube height difference, tube length, air flowrate, or static pressure because huge water pumps and air blower fans are employed.
The air handling unit’s function
Let’s examine the types of tasks carried out by air handling devices in central air conditioning. As previously said, an air handling unit is essentially a massive interior commercial air conditioner. This massive “indoor unit” is situated outside. Through ducts, it creates, distributes, and circulates warm or cooled air throughout the rooms. The majority of the time, air handling equipment are produced to order. Additionally, they may be tailored to specific building features and purposes.
Large establishments that get a lot of traffic, including theaters and retail centers, frequently utilize air handling devices. Large facilities that are often visited by people are subject to stringent rules regarding carbon dioxide depletion and air purity, which is one of the reasons for this. A large facility must utilize a lot of blower fans to circulate the air and let a lot of air into the structure. The air handling systems might cut down on the number of blower fans needed since they bring outside air into the rooms.
Additionally, companies and other places of employment where flammable gasses are handled use air handling devices. Sparks from an electric equipment have the potential to explode in an area where flammable gasses are handled. For this reason, such locations require air handling systems or equipment that is explosion-proof.
The air handling unit’s mechanism and air conditioning system
In the preceding section, the air handling unit was characterized as a large indoor unit; nevertheless, it is not capable of independently cooling or heating rooms. They need a variety of gadgets, such heat source equipment that doubles as an outside unit. Cooling towers, chillers, or commercial air conditioning outside units (VRFs) are used to supply chilled or heated water to air handling units for air conditioning.
An air handling unit contains a humidifier, air filter, blower fans, reheat coil, hot/cold water coil, and other components. Specialized machine rooms are used to install air handling devices. Maintenance and inspection are made simple by the air handling unit’s integration and unitization of all internal elements.
Air handling systems regulate the air temperature by exchanging heat between chilled or heated water or refrigerant and air using a chiller or VRF as a heat source. Air handling devices therefore provide exceptional operating flexibility. AHUs and chillers, for instance, may be put in medium- and large-sized buildings, whereas VRFs and AHUs can be used in small- and medium-sized structures.
