Air Handling Unit: Temperature Control

Air Handling Unit
Air Handling Units are often called AHU. The air-handling unit is box-like
equipment with a fan and a cooling coil inside. Some units also contain air
filters. The whole fan and motor assembly, comprising shaft, bearings,
pulley, belting is usually put inside the AHU.
The basic function of the AHU is to suck air from the rooms, let it pass
through chilled water cooling coils and then discharging the cooled air back
to the rooms. Normally, letting it pass through panel or bag filters also filters
the air. A certain amount of fresh air may be introduced at the suction duct
so that air in the rooms may be gradually replaced. AHU's come in many
sizes and shapes. Usually, the air conditioning designer will choose a
particular AHU based on the air flow requirements and the cooling capacity.
If humidity of the air has to be controlled, steam coils, or other heating coils
may be installed. If the air has to be very cleaned, special HEPA filters have
to be installed at the ducting outlets or at the AHU filter box. Moisture in the
air is condensed out when it comes into contact with the chilled water coils.
At the bottom of the AHU, a pipe is installed so that water that is collected
can be drained out.
The fan and motor assembly is usually mounted on vibration dampers that
absorb any vibrations generated. Removable panels are installed so that
personnel can enter into the AHU for maintenance. Maintenance is mostly
changing or washing of air filters, greasing of bearings, changing of belts,
and general inspection and cleaning work.
Temperature Control
Controlling the flow of chilled water through the cooling coils alters the
temperature of the discharged air into the rooms. Control valves are used to
throttle chilled water through the chilled water coils. A simple temperature
control system uses thermostats to control on-off solenoid valves. A better
control system uses temperature sensors, controllers, and motorized control
valve. More complicating systems may have motor speed control for the fan.
Humidity Control
Some critical processes may require that the humidity of the air-conditioned
space be controlled. During the normal cooling process, as the air becomes
cooler, the relative humidity of the air tends to increase. If the relative
humidity have to be brought down, the air have to be heated by steam coils
or other means. Steam coils, if installed will have their own controls. A
typical control system has a temperature sensor, controller, and control
valve. Usually, humans monitor the relative humidity, and the steam
controller settings are adjusted accordingly.
Psychrometry
Persons who want to control temperature and humidity of the air in the air
conditioning system should have an understanding of psychrometry. They
make use of psychrometric charts to determine various parameters of the air
at any condition. For example, by knowing two parameters, you can look up
the chart to find the other values. The values found in a typical
psychrometric chart are:
 Dry Bulb Temperature

 Wet Bulb Temperature
 Dewpoint Temperature
 Relative Humidity
 Humidity Ratio
Other parameters that can be found from the psychrometric chart are:
 Enthalpy
 Sensible Heat Ratio
 Vapor Pressure
 Specific Volume
2ND ARTICLE
With chilled water air conditioning, the refrigeration machinery (the compressor, condenser,
evaporator, etc.), doesn't directly cool the air.
The evaporator cools water to about 45°.
That chilled water is pumped to cooling coils in the areas being cooled, and a fan draws the
air in those areas through the chilled water coils, cooling the air.
In comparison, with standard air conditioning, the evaporator coil directly cools the air.
The refrigerant flows all the way to the air handlers in the areas being cooled, and a fan
draws the air in those areas through the evaporator coils, cooling the air.
With chilled water air conditioning, the compressor is usually mounted on a rack or frame,
within a few feet of the evaporator that cools the chilled water.
If the condenser is water cooled, it's usually mounted on the same rack.
If the condenser is air cooled, it will be installed outside the building.
One advantage of chilled water air conditioning is that if the chilled water piping leaks
somewhere in the building, only water is lost, and repairs only require plumbing work.
In comparison, with standard air conditioning, a leak in a refrigerant line inside the building
will probably require brazing, leak testing with nitrogen, evacuation of the system, and
recharging with a refrigerant that is a lot more expensive than water.
Another advantage of chilled water air conditioning is that if air stops flowing through the
cooling coil, the chilled water will simply return to the chiller.
Since the water will not have picked up any heat, it will still be cold, and the chiller will
respond by unloading and turning off.
With standard air conditioning, if air stops flowing through the cooling coil, there is a
possibility that liquid refrigerant will return to the compressor and damage it.
Another advantage of a chilled water system is that in a building like a hotel, hundreds of
rooms can be cooled individually, with each room having it's own chilled water air handler,
all supplied by one chilled water system.
If you're troubleshooting a chiller, our Chiller Evaluation Manual has cycle diagrams for air-
cooled and water-cooled chillers, and guidance on evaluating chiller operating pressures and
temperatures.
I hope this page has helped you understand chilled water air conditioning, and please, feel
free to contact us with any specific HVAC questions you might have, including questions
about air conditioning on Guam, or refrigeration on Guam.

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Air Handling Unit

 Dry Bulb Temperature

The evaporator cools water to about 45°.

If the condenser is air cooled, it will be installed outside the building.

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