Air handling units - how to choose the right one?
We spend more and more time indoors we work, rest. An energy-saving ventilation system ensures comfort and a healthy environment. An air handling unit is the key element in the ventilation system though the unit looks ordinary on the exterior its interior is a complex and sophisticated structure controlled by micro processors.
The main components of an air handling unit are fans supply and exhaust air. Filters clean pollutants from the air and create a healthier environment. Energy efficient heat exchanger supplies the heat from the exhaust air to the fresh supply air. Additional air heating element helps to achieve a high comfort level. Automatic control of the ventilation equipment saves energy and ensures comfortable living conditions.
How efficient must an air handling unit be?
Only a sufficient amount of fresh air can ensure a comfortable and healthy environment in your home. Ventilation intensity is characterized by the amount of air and the frequency of air exchange. The amount of air is the volume of premises. The frequency of exchange shows how many times per hour the air in your premises is exchanged without door air. Health specialists recommend that all the air in residential premises should change at least once per hour. Hence the efficiency of an air handling unit should roughly equal the volume of your premises. It is very important that the required amount of air is achieved with his low energy consumption as possible. Fans use most of the energy in an air handling unit. Therefore, air handling units with modern electronically linked fans will reduce your energy consumption.
What are the types and efficiency of heat exchangers?
A heat exchanger recovers heat in the ventilation system. The average annual heat exchanger efficiency depends on climatic conditions. Air handling units with counter cross flow plate heat exchangers are especially efficient in countries with milder climates. In a plate heat exchanger the flows of supply air and exhaust air are separated by a thin aluminum foil. The heat from exhaust air heats the supply air through aluminum plates. The moisture from the exhaust air condenses on the plates of the heat exchanger therefore plate heat exchangers require water draining. At very low outdoor temperatures the condensed moisture transforms into ice blocking the heat exchanger. Ice is usually defrosted by the heat of the exhaust air or an electric heater. While defrosting cold air gets into the premises by bypassing the heat exchanger and warm indoor air defrosts the plates. At that time the heat exchanger efficiency equals zero reducing the overall efficiency of an air handling unit. A rotary heat exchanger is yet another type of heat exchanger. This technology is designed for colder climate countries because its average annual efficiency is very high and the continuously rotating heat exchanger does not freeze up. A rotary heat exchanger is a wheel made of a highly thermally conductive aluminum foil transferring the heat from exhaust air to supply air during slow rotations. In modern ventilation units air mixing is lower than one-tenth of a percent. A rotary heat exchanger does not only return heat but also a part of moisture into the premises. Therefore the air in the premises is not dried out and the air handling unit does not require water draining. What filters are used in an air handling unit? With a modern ventilation system we hope that the supplied air will not only be heated but also clean. Air filters clean the air from pollutants and help to ensure healthy living conditions. They also protect the ventilation system from pollutants. Filters of different classes protect residential premises from pollution differently. Ordinary filters clean course impurities from the air only. Better quality filters provide effective protection against heavy dust. High quality filters effectively clean hazardous particles allergens and dust from the air and continuously maintain a healthy microclimate in your home. When selecting a filter pay attention to both the filtering class and the filtering surface area. The filters of the same class may feature a different filtering surface area. The filters of larger filtering area are efficient for longer periods while a clogged filter increases energy consumption.
What are the control possibilities of an air handling unit?
A modern automatic control system of an air handling unit helps to save energy and ensure comfortable living conditions. A ventilation unit operates on demand. It changes intensity levels automatically or bi-weekly scheduled programming. It changes intensity levels automatically. Additionally installed modern sensors ensure an adequate reaction to changing environmental factors such as the concentration of carbon dioxide moisture level or the number of people inside the premises. Sophisticated sensor algorithms provide an opportunity to select optimal ventilation modes for daily needs. Remote control enables the monitoring and control of air handling units operation from any place in the world on your pc or smartphone. Do not forget that an air handling units efficiency and the benefit provided by it also depend on whether the ventilation system is installed correctly and the unit is operated properly .
