AHU System Archives - DRI Rotors

Role of HVAC for Incorporating Best Practices in Commercial Spaces

Implementing healthy interior practices is essential in commercial buildings, as it fosters a safe and comfortable environment for the occupants. The practices help in optimizing the operations of the buildings and, at the same time, also contribute to the sustainability of the complex setup. It is mandatory for commercial buildings to abide by the building codes and environmental regulations outlined by the regulatory bodies to ensure the safety, efficiency, legal compliance, and sustainability of the buildings. Here, HVAC systems play a crucial role in incorporating best practices in commercial settings by exercising energy efficiency and improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the space. The systems strategically maintain and extend the lifespan of the facility in the long run.

Installing advanced technologies such as VFDs, ERVs, building automation systems, etc., into the HVAC systems can help in driving the energy efficiency of the buildings. The variable frequency drives (VFDs) exercise precise control of the systems and modulate the energy consumption. Additionally, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) optimize ventilation by exchanging heat and humidity between incoming and outgoing air. Dwelling in smart technologies in building automation systems, energy management strategies are employed that monitor and regulate the HVAC systems on the basis of occupancy patterns. All the factors together contribute to a significant saving of energy, translating to a reduction in the operational costs of the building.

Modern HVAC systems focus on improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the building. Enabling proper ventilation, and filtration, and implementing humidity control, provides a healthier and more comfortable IAQ for the occupants of the building. Installing Treated Fresh Air Handling (TFA) systems is beneficial for the removal of pollutants, allergens, and contaminants from space. By introducing fresh air into the room, the systems bring about the solution to pollution with dilution.

To ensure the ventilation standards are met, TFA conducts the preconditioning of outdoor air to provide fresh air into the room. The systems are involved in filtration and treatment of air before it is introduced into the room, as a result, the air circulating within the room is clean and healthy. Apart from improving IAQ, the TFA also comes with the proficiency to recover both sensible and latent energy with the help of energy recovery wheels, which play an instrumental role in minimizing energy utilization and go a long way in controlling humidity as well.

In the pursuit of enhancing IAQ in a commercial setting, monitoring the humidity level is also essential to abide by best practices. Humidity control is essential for a healthy indoor environment as it harbors the growth of mold, bacteria, and fungi, responsible for giving rise to a range of respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, and allergic reactions. The advanced Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) come in handy for monitoring humidity levels, facilitated by unique passive dehumidification wheels. The technology executes adequate ventilation of the space to replenish the fresh air and reduce the pollutant level in the air. The maintenance of optimal humidity levels significantly contributes to alleviating the discomfort due to excess moisture. In addition to improving the IAQ, it creates a pleasant environment for driving the productivity of occupants by reducing the instances of lethargy and health issues in them.

In turn, the HVAC systems promote the eco-friendly operation of the building. Demonstrating compliance with energy efficiency, they play an instrumental role in curtailing greenhouse emissions of the facility. Boosting sustainability, the buildings are in alignment with LEED, ASHRAE, ASSOCHAM, Indian Green Building Council codes, and other energy certifications.

It is important to conduct regular maintenance of the HVAC systems to drive greater longevity and reliability of the building. Failing to perform the maintenance can severely impact the lifespan of the system and ultimately disrupt the building’s operation. Systems in good condition save a lot of operational costs and prevent the sudden breakdown of the systems. Employing predictive maintenance tools and software in the form of smart sensors, regular system upgrades, and integration of advanced technologies with Building Management Systems (BMS) can help in the early detection of any issue or error.

Looking at the role of HVAC systems in abiding by the best practices of commercial buildings, industry players can further upscale the offering by installing technologically advanced systems in the building. AI-driven systems or IoT-powered systems enable centralized monitoring, data storage, etc., exercising enhanced performance of the building.

Optimizing the air quality of commercial spaces with advanced HVAC systems

With people becoming highly conscious about their health, there has been rising awareness around the poor IAQ in commercial spaces. Modern-day commercial spaces are generally glass skyscrapers exhibiting a complex and packed structure with no space of windows for accommodating air conditioning systems. Restricting any scope of fresh air ventilation, the facilities can significantly contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ), which can negatively impact the health of the occupants.

Spaces such as malls, hospitals, large office buildings, airports, and other facilities are generally huddled by a large number of people, which leads to the buildup of carbon dioxide and pollutants, responsible for poor IAQ within the space. The situation is further worsened by the air conditioning systems recirculating the stale air, making the indoor environment hazardous for the occupants. It can potentially give rise to a range of health issues entailing respiratory problems, allergies, and even serious conditions of cardiovascular diseases. Prolonged exposure to poor IAQ is also responsible for the development of a condition called Sick Building Syndrome, where people become susceptible to various allergies and life-threatening diseases. It also comes with the ability to affect cognitive function, giving rise to a decline in productivity coupled with increased absenteeism in a person.

This necessitates the deployment of advanced technologies that work towards enhancing the quality of air in the commercial facilities. To achieve acceptable air quality, the industry should proactively consider installing Fresh Air Ventilation systems in tandem with the air conditioning units to provide comprehensive ventilation solutions within the space. Making use of Air Handling Units (AHU) entailing Treated Fresh Air Units (TFA) and Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) provides a viable solution for introducing fresh air into the space while reducing energy consumption, translating to a decrease in the operational cost of the building.

To achieve good air quality, employing Treated Fresh Air Handling (TFA) systems is essential. These systems precondition the incoming fresh air to meet ventilation standards and maintain excellent indoor air quality (IAQ).
By filtering and treating the air before it enters the space, TFA systems eliminate pollutants, allergens, and contaminants, effectively impeding the spread of airborne diseases. As a result, these units ensure a consistent supply of clean and healthy air, significantly reducing health issues associated with poor air quality. Additionally, TFA systems are equipped with energy recovery wheels, which recover both sensible and latent energy, contributing to improved IAQ, humidity control, and energy savings.

Another major advantage of the system relies on its ability to optimize indoor air quality round the year. Contributing to a stable and comfortable environment, it alleviates health risks and boosts the productivity of the occupants, irrespective of the weather conditions outside. Delivering fresh air continuously, it maintains air quality at acceptable levels for indoor settings. In educational institutes or offices, this plays a pivotal role in elevating the motivation and engagement of the people, resulting in overall better performance of the individuals.

In addition to this, TFA systems come with the ability to provide energy-efficient solutions. It is proficient at meeting the desired ventilation standards without amplifying the energy cost of the building. Striving to manage the airflow efficiently, it ensures appropriate circulation of fresh air, negating the excessive need of heating or cooling the enclosed space. As a result, the benefit is not just limited to energy savings but eventually translates to a significant reduction in the operational costs of the facility as well.

Elaborating on the advantages of the system, TFA can bring about a significant reduction in overall system capacity requirements. By handling and distributing the air efficiently, the system lowers demand for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Ultimately contributing to a reduction in the overall load of the system, it culminates in lowering the operational costs and energy consumption of the systems.

In the pursuit of improving the IAQ, people generally tend to overlook humidity. But maintaining the optimal humidity of the space is crucial for achieving the desired result. Moisture in the air is responsible for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi, which can impact the health of the person. Therefore, TFA aids in controlling humidity within acceptable limits and prevents the growth of microorganisms and the issue of static electricity. In the process of eliminating humidity from the air, it does not incur additional cost, making it a cost-effective solution for commercial spaces. In addition to ensuring the health and safety of the people occupying the space, maintaining proper humidity protects the various materials present in the space and preserves the longevity and reliability of the materials.

Here, the Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) can also be beneficial for addressing the issue of humidity. Well equipped with unique passive dehumidification wheels, it ventilates the space adequately by removing indoor air pollutants, monitoring humidity levels, and replenishing fresh air in the process. Managing the humidity level, it plays a pivotal role in addressing the issue of mold growth, unpleasant odors, and discomfort arising from excessive moisture. Resisting the accumulation of pollutants, odors, and contaminants, it supplies fresh air for a comfortable, healthy, and productive environment. Therefore, managing the RH (relative humidity) levels, maximizing energy recovery efficiency, and reducing cross-contamination provides a comprehensive solution for improving the air quality of the space.

Therefore, looking at the complexity of the commercial facilities, employing the systems can come in handy for optimizing the air quality. Looking at the wide gamut of benefits the systems have to offer, entailing pre-conditioning of incoming air, delivery of fresh air, energy-efficient ventilation, and humidity control, they are very likely to prioritize the health and safety of the occupants. And in the process, the systems also reduce the load on the HVAC systems, making them a viable and practical solution for large, complex buildings.

Mitigating poor IAQ concerns with efficient ventilation

By Rahul Aeron, Vice President, Desiccant Rotors International | The Daily Guardian| March 05, 2024

With the plummeting Air Quality Index at the onset of winter, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) remains a pressing matter as it can severely impact the health of the occupants. Where pollution is engulfing the country, people prefer staying indoors to avoid being exposed to severe pollution levels outside. But contrary to the common misconception that air inside the room is safe, it comes as a surprise to many that indoor air is 10 times worse and more polluted than outdoor air.

This is primarily because packed buildings lack proper ventilation. With people keeping the doors and windows closed during the winter, the air inside the room is incapable of escaping outside. As a result, the indoor air quality deteriorates manifold, making it severely polluted as compared to the outdoor air. The problem is further compounded in commercial and industrial spaces, such as healthcare, construction, factories, hotels, airports, offices, etc., as they come with complex and tight structures without much scope for ventilation.

The presence of numerous indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the form of synthetic building materials, furnishings, cleaning supplies, etc. invariably degrades the air within the closed premises. To further escalate the problem, the presence of humidity in the space encourages the growth of microorganisms such as mould and mildew that give rise to musty odour and severely affect the well-being of the occupants.

Poor IAQ can give rise to breathing issues, lethargy, pain in the eye, coughing, headaches, fatigue, and many more health conditions. In addition to this, inadequate ventilation can cause a phenomenon called ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ that can impact the overall health and well-being of a person.

Therefore, gauging the health consequences arising from poor IAQ, it is imperative that occupants focus on improving the ventilation of the enclosed space to experience enhanced public health. By improving the IAQ, ventilation can invariably contribute to curtailing the health risks related to respiratory illness and chronic conditions.
As a result, to achieve optimal ventilation, installing an HVAC system in the building can significantly enhance the proper ventilation of the space. It comes with the ability to supply a steady flow of fresh air throughout the building. It works on the mechanism of bringing fresh air from outside to carry out the dilution of indoor contaminated air. In the process of removing stale air from the inside, it also filters the pollutants coming in from the outside. The systems are adept at maintaining a positive pressure in the building that forces the contaminants to move out of the space.

In addition to ventilating the space, HVAC systems provide thermal comfort to the occupants. They employ advanced desiccant technology to remove moisture from the air with the intervention of hygroscopic substances. It comes handy in maintaining the optimal RH of the building which invariably contributes to toning down the air as per the requirement of the given space and goes the extra mile to inhibit the growth of unwanted microorganisms such as mould, mildew, and other substances.

Installing advanced Energy Recovery systems can further help in addressing the issue of poor IAQ efficiently. Making use of Enthalpy Wheels, the technology is adept at ventilating the space that too without compromising the air conditioning load of the room. Therefore, in the process of improving the IAQ, it also reduces the operational cost of HVAC systems significantly. Moreover, looking at the alarming rate of pollution, employing Air Purification Systems can be of great help in controlling the depleting state of IAQ. Being well equipped with honeycomb-designed chemical filters, it comes in handy in removing the gaseous contaminants from the building.

Looking at the rising menace of poor IAQ on health conditions, in addition to employing an HVAC system, people should also adopt Green Buildings with alacrity. By making use of green products, the buildings are the way forward in striking the right balance between the comfort of the occupants and reducing the energy consumption of the building.

Why HVAC Experts Recommend Energy-Efficient Air Handling Units (AHUs) For Sustainable and Effective Management of Air Quality in Large Spaces

GUIDE TO CHOOSING ENERGY-EFFICIENT AIR HANDLING UNITS (AHUS) FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF AIR QUALITY IN LARGE COMMERCIAL AREAS

According to one recent estimate, the world’s population may reach 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion by

Reaching net zero goals will be difficult given this rate of population expansion. Many nations are going through an energy-intensive period of commercialization and urbanization, specifically driving growing demand for energy services. When we add the issues of combating climate change, energy saving becomes a critical goal for all business enterprises.

Energy is squandered in business enterprises in several ways. For instance, inefficient appliances waste energy in the commercial sector, and extra heat produced during peak occupation hours could be put to better use. Because there are few easy and reasonably inexpensive ways to track and manage the energy used in buildings and businesses, enormous amounts of energy are lost every day.

A meticulous inspection of any commercial building is required to design solutions to properly manage several parameters like air quality and humidity to maintain appropriate temperature and air quality in large open spaces. Depending on specific business needs, HVAC experts offer several solutions to improve occupant safety, comfort, productivity, structural preservation, and increased energy efficiency.

VENTILATION AND COOLING CHALLENGES IN LARGE COMMERCIAL COMPLEXES

Large entrances, insufficient insulation, air leakage, and inefficient heat distribution are all factors in energy loss in large buildings. Excessive outside air penetration makes buildings more susceptible to high energy expenses. Even in enclosed large areas, creating the proper air distribution (also known as thermal stratification) is challenging. Warm air rises, whereas cold air tends to settle, creating stratified layers prone to stagnation. In addition, cold downdrafts frequently arise along vertical surfaces due to temperature differences. These may result in unwelcome cold areas in the structure. By bringing in a lot of cold air at once, conventional HVAC cooling systems can make the issue worse.

Another factor is the variation in fresh air needs as per occupancy levels in different parts of a large facility. When the building is completely occupied, additional air may be required to meet the structure’s needs for fresh air. Hence, it is crucial to design the HVAC system when the requirement for air intake fluctuates so that these variations may be rapidly and readily addressed.

Finally, in large buildings, poor airflow, air stratification, and moisture accumulation can all work together to foster the growth of hazardous mold. In addition, stale air can be a thriving place for bacteria, viruses, and other airborne toxins to thrive.

Condensation of moisture is also common in large structures, especially those that are not insulated. Like all moisture concerns, this one could result in fungus growth troubles and structural damage to the building. Finally, in large buildings, poor airflow, air stratification, and moisture accumulation can all work together to foster the growth of hazardous mold. In addition, stale air can be a thriving place for bacteria, viruses, and other airborne toxins to thrive.

Troubleshooting ventilation and cooling issues can be challenging, particularly in buildings with several integrated HVAC components. It’s crucial to identify the root cause of any issues your building has if you’re encountering these or other similar issues. Energy-smart HVAC solution experts can help resolve most of these issues by using innovative solutions, significantly improving the affected buildings’ comfort, safety, productivity, and energy savings.

AIR HANDLERS CAN EFFICIENTLY MANAGE COMPLEX VENTILATION AND AIR PURIFICATION NEEDS OF VAST AREAS

One of the most efficient ways to manage the proper ventilation requirements for purifying and rejuvenating the interior air in a building is using an air handling unit, often known as an AHU. An essential part of any sizable air-cooling system, AHU allows simultaneously cooling vast areas while also assisting in regulating indoor air quality (IAQ). The system is fixed to a building’s ground floor, basement, or roof during installation.

By regulating temperature and airflow across different parts of a commercial complex, an AHU installation ensures that the occupants receive fresh air with comfortable cooling. AHUs are used frequently in conjunction with other heating and cooling systems. These units are often large and attached to ducts that distribute regulated air throughout the structure and expel exhausted air.

HOW AIR HANDLING UNIT (AHU) WORKS

An AHU unit is made up of components mounted in sizable, easily accessible box-shaped units called modules. These modules contain the necessary ventilation components for cleaning, cooling, or replenishing the indoor air in a location. Air handling devices pull outside air, clean it, and distribute it throughout the rooms. They can also pull indoor air that has been “recycled.” Several filters trap particles, viruses, bacteria, odors, and other air contaminants.

The AHU lowers the energy needed for air cooling since the exchanger mixes internal and outdoor air, lowering the temperature contrast when the air enters the coil and leading to lower energy consumption. The fans can operate as per the required flow rate thanks to the equipment’s variable regulation, which reduces consumption. Coils, heat exchangers, and other components are all optimized to provide the lowest pressure drop to achieve the highest efficiency, resulting in extremely low maintenance and operating costs.

DESICCANT ROTORS INTERNATIONAL (DRI): YOUR PARTNER IN TRANSITIONING TO “NET ZERO” WITH RESEARCH-BACKED SOLUTIONS

DRI’s mission is to develop sustainable green building solutions to assist companies in their transition to net zero. With a focus on innovation and new product development, DRI has taken the lead in developing numerous components and solutions using its expertise in desiccants, corrugation technology, and air system design.

DRI offers a wider range of services and products on a global scale – including, energy recovery, indoor air quality, fresh air treatment, evaporative cooling, green buildings, dehumidification, and pollution control. To offer maximum flexibility and the optimal solution for a company, the DRI AHU product line consists of 15 types with air volumes ranging from 1700 to 60000 CMH and internal static pressures as high as 1000pa.

DRI application experts are renowned for their capacity to design and construct customized equipment and installations for various commercial sectors. With five cutting-edge manufacturing facilities, DRI has received ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. With a focus on quality and on-time delivery, the plants are vertically integrated and house all essential components and production processes.