An air handling unit (AHU) is the largest-scale, most custom commercial air conditioning there is, and is typically on the rooftop or wall of a building. This is a combination of several devices closed in the shape of a box-shaped block, used for cleaning, air conditioning, or refresh the air in a building. In short, air handling units regulate (temperature & humidity) the thermal state of air, along with the cleanliness of its filtration, and they do so by distributing air via ducts that extend to every room in your building. Unlike normal air conditioners, ahu hvac are built to suit individual buildings, adding internal filters, humidifiers, and other instruments to control the standard of air and coziness inside.

Main functions of an AHU

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (Commerical Industrial HVAC) systems are at the heart of modern engines, which must perform using optimal ventilation and air quality in large buildings. Ahu in hvac are generally mounted on a roof or outside wall and distribute conditioned air through ducts to various rooms. These systems are made for the specific requirements of the building where they have to be cooling, heating, or ventilating.

Hvac air handling units are crucial for air cleanliness and CO2 level control in high-traffic settings like shopping malls, theaters, and conference halls. They draw fresh air and help reduce the number of blower fans required — a two-fer to save on energy costs and meet air quality compliance requirements. Critical environments, such as cleanrooms, operating theaters, etc. require not only temperature control, but critical hygiene that's often facilitated through dedicated fresh air handling units. Also, explosion-proof air handling systems safeguard against gas explosions for facilities handling combustible gases.

What does an AHU consist of?

Ⅰ. Air Intake: custom air handling unit take in outside air, filtering, conditioning, and circulating it in the building or recirculating indoor air when appropriate.

Ⅱ. Air Filters: These can be mechanical filters that can extract various airborne pollutants — dust, pollen, and even bacteria. In kitchens or workshops, specialized filters can help manage specific hazards, promoting cleaner air and preventing ingredient buildup in the system.

Ⅲ. Fan: The most important part of an hvac air handling unit the fan, which discharges air into the ductwork. Selection of fan by type including forward-curved, backward-curved and airfoil fans according to static pressure and airflow needs.

Ⅳ. Heat Exchanger: The heat exchanger is used to allow thermal interactions between the air and coolant, and help bring the air up to the required temperature.

Ⅴ. Cooling Coil: Cooling coils drop the air temperature flowing through using water droplets that are collected in a condensate tray.

Ⅵ. ERS: The Energy Recovery System (ERS) also helps improve energy efficiency by transferring thermal energy between extracted air and the outdoor air, reducing the additional heating or cooling requirement.

Ⅶ. Heating Elements: To provide further temperature regulation, heating components, including electric heaters or heat exchangers, can be incorporated into the AHU.

Ⅷ. Humidifier(s)/De-Humidifier(s): These are appliances that regulate the moisture in the air for ideal indoor conditions.

Ⅸ. The Mixing Section: This creates a balanced mix of indoor air with outside air, so that the air sent to be conditioned is at the right temperature and quality while consuming as little energy as possible.

Ⅹ. Causative: Silencers: Reduces the noise to keep the environment pleasant as Noise is produced during the operation of the fans and other components.

Energy efficiency of AHUs

Energy efficiency (since 2016, a requirement under the European Ecodesign Regulation 1235/2014) is an essential feature of an air handling unit (AHU). It does so with heat recovery units that mix indoor and outdoor air, bringing the temperature differential closer together, which saves energy for air conditioning. The fans have variable control which gives them the capability of modulating to the airflow requirements as needed, enabling the hvac air handling unit to be more efficient and overall less energy demanding.