Aerotech Fans
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Aerotech Fans
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Technical answers to common questions about air handling units.
In extreme climates where cooling 100% hot outdoor air requires massive chiller tonnage, an enthalpy heat recovery wheel typically recovers 60-80% of the energy. This aggressive reduction in the required cooling load usually results in an ROI (payback period) of 12 to 18 months.
Yes, retrofitting standard AC motors with Electronically Commutated (EC) plug fans in an Air Handling Unit (AHU) is one of the fastest ways to improve HVAC energy efficiency. EC motors can reduce AHU brake horsepower consumption by up to 50% during partial load conditions.
A terminal HEPA filter is located at the very end of the ductwork, right at the ceiling diffuser of the cleanroom. This ensures the air is sterilized of 99.99% of particles down to 0.3 microns immediately before entering the occupied zone, preventing contamination from ductwork shedding.
A fire damper is a passive fire protection device installed where AHU ductwork passes through fire-rated walls. If duct temperatures exceed a critical limit (usually 72°C or 165°F), a fusible link melts, snapping the damper shut to prevent fire from spreading through the HVAC system.
Cleanrooms classified as ISO 5 (Class 100) or cleaner strictly require terminal HEPA or ULPA filtration mounted directly in the ceiling grid. Centralized HEPA filters in the AHU are insufficient for these classes due to the risk of particulate shedding within the downstream ductwork.
An enthalpy wheel is a rotating desiccant-coated matrix that transfers both sensible heat (temperature) and latent heat (humidity) between the hot incoming fresh air and the cold exhaust air, recovering up to 80% of the HVAC energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Electronically Commutated (EC) motors are brushless DC motors that maintain peak electrical efficiency across their entire variable speed range. They consume up to 50% less power than traditional AC motors and operate with drastically lower acoustic noise, making them ideal for commercial FCUs.
A G4 filter is a pleated, primary coarse filter used at the intake of an AHU. It captures large particulate matter (like dust, pollen, and insects) with 90% arrestance, acting as a sacrificial shield to protect the expensive secondary F7 fine filters and the chilled water coils.
Double-skin Air Handling Units utilize Polyurethane Foam (PUF) injected between two galvanized steel sheets. While primarily designed to prevent thermal bridging, the dense PUF core acts as a massive acoustic dampener, significantly reducing the breakout noise from the high-static centrifugal blowers inside.
Water pooling around an AHU is almost always caused by a blocked condensate drain line or an improperly trapped drain pan. Because the blower creates negative pressure inside the cabinet, the drain must feature a P-trap with sufficient depth to overcome the static pressure and allow water to exit.
For luxury hotels and hospital wards, the Fan Coil Unit (FCU) must not exceed a Noise Criteria (NC) rating of NC-30 to NC-35 at maximum RPM. Achieving this requires internally lined acoustic foam chassis, vibration-isolated mounting brackets, and electronically commutated (EC) motors.
Dual enthalpy sensors measure both the temperature and humidity of the outside air versus the return air. When the outside air is cooler and drier than the indoor air, the BMS opens the outside air dampers to 100%, providing 'free cooling' and completely shutting down the mechanical chillers.
