An Air Handling Unit (AHU) plays a central role in conditioning and distributing air within a building’s AC system. It acts like the lungs of the system, performing several crucial functions:
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Air Intake and Mixing: The AHU draws in fresh outside air and mixes it with recycled indoor air in specific proportions. This ensures a balance between providing fresh air and maintaining energy efficiency.
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Air Filtration: The AHU employs filters to remove dust, pollutants, and allergens from the incoming air, ensuring cleaner and healthier air circulation within the building.
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Temperature and Humidity Control: The AHU plays a key role in regulating temperature and humidity. It can:
- Heat the air using elements like steam coils or hot water coils.
- Cool the air by passing it over chilled water coils connected to a chiller system.
- Dehumidify the air by removing excess moisture through condensation processes.
- Humidify the air by adding moisture using methods like steam injection or ultrasonic humidifiers.
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Air Distribution: Once conditioned, the air is forced through a network of ducts by fans within the AHU. These ducts then deliver the treated air to various zones or rooms within the building.