A damper, in the context of an Air Handling Unit (AHU), is a valve-like device that regulates airflow within the unit and the ductwork connected to it. Here’s a breakdown of their role in AHUs:
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Types of Dampers in AHU:
- Outdoor Air Damper: Controls the amount of fresh air entering the AHU from outside.
- Return Air Damper: Regulates the amount of return air (previously circulated air within the building) entering the AHU for mixing with fresh air.
- Exhaust Air Damper: Controls the amount of air exhausted from the building by the AHU system.
- By-Pass Damper: Sometimes present, it allows conditioned air to bypass certain sections of the AHU (like cooling coils) for situations where full cooling isn’t required.
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Function of Dampers:
- Maintain Airflow Balance: Dampers help ensure a proper balance between fresh air intake, return air, and exhaust air. This is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality and efficient operation of the AHU.
- Control Temperature and Humidity: By regulating airflow, dampers can indirectly influence the temperature and humidity of the conditioned air delivered to the building. For example, reducing outdoor air intake during cold weather can help maintain warmer indoor temperatures.
- Zoning (in some cases): In complex AHU systems with zone control capabilities, dampers might be used to regulate airflow to specific zones within a building.
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Control Mechanism:
- Manual Dampers: Adjusted by hand, offering simple control but requiring manual intervention.
- Motorized Dampers: Integrated with a motor and controlled electronically through a Building Automation System (BAS) or a central controller. This allows for automatic adjustments based on pre-programmed settings or real-time sensor data.
Here are some short and unique keyphrases for “damper in ahu”:
- AHU’s Airflow Gatekeepers: The Role of Dampers
- Balancing the Breath of a Building: Dampers in AHUs
- Controlling the AHU’s Breath: How Dampers Work
