What Are the Types of AHUs?
Air handling units are large, mechanical equipment that distributes air. They can serve a single room or an entire building. These units typically contain filter racks, heating and cooling elements, sound attenuators, dampers, and a blower. Typically, they are connected to HVAC ductwork, which circulates the conditioned air from the unit.
There are two main types of AHUs. The first is the basic blower coil setup. These typically service a single temperature zone. The second type is the variable air volume (VAV) AHU, which can serve multiple terminal boxes. Both types are generally available for industrial or commercial applications.
Terminal units with fans are the simplest AHUs. These contain a heat exchange coil and a fan. These systems typically do not use refrigerant, but they do have a basic filter. They are usually used in perimeter zones and for morning warm up in the heating season.
Blow-through units use a fan-driven blower to push air through a cooling coil and filter chamber. The air is then discharged through the ducting system. These types have a section after the fan with a positive pressure. They are generally made of metal, and some are painted to resist corrosion.
Another type of AHU is called a fan coil unit. They have simple controls and are used in local or small applications. These units can take fresh air, but are usually only used for recirculation. These units are generally smaller and cheaper than their larger counterparts. They also have variable speed drives.
There are three main types of AHUs: rooftop, indoor, and outdoor. All of them work to control the following parameters in a room. A rooftop unit is usually mounted on a rooftop, while an indoor AHU is usually mounted in the ceiling. And both of these types are designed to prevent the entry of foreign objects.
These units are an essential part of an HVAC system. The selection process should be done carefully and based on several criteria, including energy use and maintenance cost. They need to achieve the desired level of comfort within a building while minimizing costs. In addition to the air carrier, an AHU is comprised of a rectangular box, either single or double-skinned.
