Air Handling Unit, or AHU, is a key component of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in a facility. It is responsible for providing comfortable and safe indoor air quality for occupants and maintaining a healthy atmosphere. AHUs are a crucial part of facilities management and provide a vital role in ensuring a building’s optimum performance.
What Does an AHU Do?
An AHU is responsible for providing ventilation, conditioning, filtering, and circulating air within a building. It works in conjunction with other HVAC systems, such as chillers and boilers, to ensure the right amount of air is delivered to the right areas of the building.
The AHU’s primary function is to provide a comfortable environment for occupants. It supplies clean and conditioned air to the building, while also regulating temperature and humidity levels. Additionally, the AHU helps to filter out contaminants, such as dust and pollen, from the air.
What Are the Components of an AHU?
An AHU is composed of a variety of components that work together to provide a comfortable and healthy indoor air environment. These components include:
• Fans: Fans are used to circulate the air within the building, or from one room to another.
• Filters: Filters are installed to filter out dust and other contaminants from the air.
• Heat Exchangers: These are used to transfer heat from one air stream to another, allowing for more efficient heating or cooling.
• Dampers: Dampers regulate the amount of air entering or leaving a space.
• Coils: Coils are used to transfer heat from the air or from a refrigerant.
• Humidifiers: Humidifiers are used to add moisture to the air and help maintain a comfortable environment.
How Does an AHU Benefit Facilities Management?
An AHU is essential for facilities management as it helps to regulate the temperature and air quality within a building. Facilities managers need to ensure that the air quality is comfortable and safe for all occupants. An AHU helps to ensure this by providing ventilation, conditioning, filtering, and circulating air.
The AHU also helps to reduce energy costs as it can be used to regulate the temperature and humidity levels within a building. By doing so, it can help to reduce energy consumption and result in lower utility bills.
Conclusion
An AHU is an important component of the HVAC system and is essential for providing comfortable and safe indoor air quality. It is a crucial part of facilities management and helps to ensure a healthy atmosphere and reduce energy costs.
