Air handling units

AHU
 The Air Handling Unit (AHU) is a centrifugal type fan that
pumps air.
 The fan is usually located in the Air Handler/ Water Coil Cabinet.
Its purpose is to create a pressure differential so that the air
from the conditioned space is drawn to the unit.
 The air is passed through a filter first to remove dust particles
and then over the cooling coils or chilled water tubes where the
heat is rejected.
 This cooled and dehumidified air is then drawn into the suction
side of the fan and discharged back into the conditioned space.
 A damper arrangement in the suction side of the AHU is kept a
little open to draw in fresh air.
AHU

Air Filter Cooling

Removal of
coil
heat
Removal of dust
Dehumidified air

Suction side Fresh

Conditioned of fan air
Dehumidified
space
cooled air
AHU
 The typical AHU (above) is a sheet steel
cabinet which houses the Cooling Coil and
the blower fan.
 The motor is mounted on the outside of the
cabinet and drives the blower by a pulley-belt
arrangement.
 Depending on their application, AHUs vary in
size from small/medium sized packaged units
to large walk-in models.
Types of AHU
 The 'single skinned' and

 The 'double skinned'

 The 'single skinned' AHUs are widely used.
They have a single layer cabinet and are
usually placed inside an AHU room.
 It is advisable to insulate the room so that the
air in the AHU does not pick up heat from the
outside warm air.
 Keeping the AHU in an insulated room also
reduces the sound levels in the conditioned
space.
Double skinned AHU
 The 'double skinned' type has an inner cabinet and
the outer cabinet. A layer of thermal insulation is
sandwiched between the two cabinets. Though
these AHUs are more expensive than the single
skinned type they have the following advantages:

 Because of the insulation, the cool air inside does

not gain heat from the surrounding air thereby
improving the efficiency of the plant.
Double skinned AHU
 They are more silent because the thermal
insulation also acts like an acoustic
insulation.

 They do not 'sweat' on the outside and can

be kept in the non-airconditioned space
thereby saving on the cost of a separate
plant/AHU room.
Fan Coil Units
 The Fan Coil Unit (FCU) is a sheet metal
cabinet that houses a Chilled Water Coil
constructed out of copper tubes and
aluminium fins, a Blower with motor and an
Air Filter.
 Fan Coil Units are generally used where
multiple areas (example, hotel rooms) are to
be cooled independently, using a central air
conditioning plant.
FCU
 The water is chilled centrally and pumped to various
parts of the building through insulated pipes.
 The chilled water enters the FCU, where heat
exchange takes place between the room air and the
chilled water in the coil.
 Air is passed over the coils using a three speed
blower motor, mounted in the FCU. The air speed
can be controlled by choosing the blower motor
speed, from a selector switch, in the conditioned
space.
 A thermostat* is also mounted in the
airconditioned space. The thermostat controls
a solenoid valve** that closes when the
desired temperature is reached, thereby
shutting off the flow of chilled water into the
FCU water coil.
 Once the temperature in the room rises the
thermostat activates the solenoid valve which
opens allowing the chilled water to flow into
the coil again.
Air-Handling Systems:
 Each building’s air handling systems are the
actual end-users of the hot and chilled water.
 Two types of transfer coils—fan coil units
(small) and air handler coils (large)—
deliver the heat or cooling to building air
systems.
 Both types of air handlers incorporate
variable speed fans that blow air over the
water coils to heat or cool the space in
response to the controls network.
FCU
 The retail spaces and condominiums are
each served by fan coil units.
 Generally, one fan coil serves each retail
space or condominium.
 The fan coils provide both heating and
cooling to a set point that is easily adjusted
by the tenant. The tenant can also adjust the
amount of airflow. These inputs from the
tenant are incorporated into the operating
strategy by the controls network.
Office buildings
 The office buildings are all served by large air
handler units which serve one or more zones.
 Zone control is through individually adjustable
sensor and control units in every zone served. This
ensures effective individually controllable
environments throughout the facility.
 The various inputs from these zones are
coordinated by the controls network.
 The air handlers also have an outside air source (an
economizer) that allows the use of outside air for
heating or cooling when outside temperatures are
appropriate.