Air Handling Unit: Unit (Often Abbreviated To AHU)
Air Handling Unit: Unit (Often Abbreviated To AHU)
• that stands for the closely related functions of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
• provide ventilation
• How air is delivered to, and removed from spaces is known as room air distribution
Design considerations
Ductwork
• Duct runs should be kept as short as possible, to minimize flow resistance and noise.
• Ducts should be properly sized for their length of run and their flow rates.
• The use of flexible ducting should be avoided wherever possible and the total number of elbows
should be minimized to reduce flow resistance and noise.
• Supply air diffusers and return air grilles should be located to assist their function and minimize
cold drafts
• 50 CFM Energy bath exhausts and minimum 100 CFM kitchen exhausts ensure moist air removal
to the exterior.
Air Conditioning
• An air conditioning system provides cooling, ventilation, and humidity control for all or part of a
house or building
• A duct system must be carefully maintained to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the
ducts.
• An alternative to large ducts to carry the needed air to heat or cool an area is the use of remote
fan coils or split systems.
• These systems, although most often seen in residential applications, are gaining popularity in
small commercial buildings. The evaporator coil is connected to a remote condenser unit using
piping instead of ducts.
• All modern air conditioning systems, down to small "window" units, are equipped with internal
air filters
Mechanical Ventilation
• "Mechanical" or "forced" ventilation is used to
control indoor air quality.