Let’s try to clarify the operation of these systems so as to lessen the confusion. The air handling unit has a chilled water coil and a fan that blows air over the cold coil before delivering it to the space. These differ from the Rooftop units that have the complete refrigerant circuit housed within the equipment. Air handling units cool the air by passing the warm room air over a coil that has chilled water circulating through it.

  • FCU’s are generally used for controlling the space where they are installed.
  • The main focus for such a unit is to take air from the outside, cool it and then blow it inside.
  • When the heat is removed from the space by the chilling tower, the cooling tower serves to pump the air through the pipes into the cooling tower.
  • When the AHU is used for fresh air only then it is known as FAHU .

FCUs are a type of HVAC equipment that is used to condition the air in buildings. The fan blows air over the coils, which cools or heats the air depending on the setting. The controller regulates the fan speed and coil temperature to maintain the desired indoor temperature. FCUs are often used in office buildings, hotels, and other commercial buildings. FCUs are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit different needs. FCU stands for fan coil unit, and refers to a self-contained unit composed of a fan and a heating or cooling heat exchanger.

Air Conditioning 6 – Fan Coil Unit (FCU)

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Additionally, if your FCU is not working properly or is not efficient, replacement may be the best option. By Pressing submit, I consent that my information be shared with Trane approved affiliates and third party partners, including connecting me with a local Trane dealer to be contacted about products and services. Dealers can answer questions, help you find the right products for your home, and repair your system. An FCU is a standalone system that circulates existing air in a small space.

This is an extra set of pipes leaving the chiller and connecting to the cooling tower outdoors. Cooling towers are mostly installed at ground level or on the roof. The two most common types of chillers https://1investing.in/ are air-cooled and water-cooled. This refers to the method by which the chiller ejects the heat from the system. The HVAC system, like any other installation, requires regular maintenance and care.

On the other hand, there is no such system of ductwork in a Fan Coil Unit. What is the normal rating of commercial HVAC chiller compressor. AHU have sections for reheating and humidifying whereas the FCU does not have any. The AHU system usually channels air through ducts whereas the FCU don’t have any ductworks. They are quite versatile and inexpensive, having options to be installed in concealed in ceilings, exposed , underfloor, or mounted vertically against a wall. We have technicians to help troubleshoot chillers, total chiller packages to ensure that you have all your needs met, pre-mixed glycol, and technical know-how to help you pick the right chiller for your needs.

difference between ahu and fcu

They are either available in standard sizes or custom size & body construction. In addition to the standard components (blower fan & filter), it has advance filters, UV light, mixing chambers, etc. depending upon the requirement & construction. In appearance, there are horizontal, vertical, suspended ceiling, wall-mounted and so on. In terms of size, the most commonly used horizontal fan coil is generally 435mm~1850mm in length , 440mm~500mm in width and 230mm~240mm in thickness.

What is an AHU coil?

Air-Cooled Chiller serving an Air Handling Unit with Hot Water CoilAir-cooled chillers are available from as small as 10-tons to as large as 600-tons. Air-cooled chillers can be order with factory installed pumps that can save on installation time. As air from the rooms in the building pass over the chilled water coils, the heat will be absorbed by the chilled water circulating through the coils in this equipment. Central air conditioning (or central A/C) is a system in which air is cooled at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans and ductwork.

The heat is absorbed by chilled water, whereas the rooftop units room air will be cooled by refrigerant circulating through the indoor coil. An air handling unit AHU is a component of your HVAC system that cools or heats air and distributes it in your space using ductwork. A fan coil unit on the other hand is an independent cooling or heating system that is used to cool smaller spaces without the use of ductwork. A water-cooled chiller is a large piece of equipment used industrially and located in the interior of a building, containing the evaporator and the condenser. The cooling tower acts as a large heat exchanger that sits on the roof of the building.

They’re mostly used in commercial refrigeration systems, but occasionally, an FCU can be found in a short hallway to recirculate air instead of having ductwork there. A fan coil unit is a device that uses a coil and a fan to heat or cool a room without connecting to ductwork. Indoor air moves over the coil, which heats or cools the air before pushing it back out into the room. FCUs can be less expensive to install than ducted systems, and are available in ceiling, floor-mounted and freestanding configurations. All of these components work together depending on the scale and layout of the building.

difference between ahu and fcu

If you can’t handle the cleaning yourself, you can always hire an expert to professionally clean your AHU. A professional will know how to effectively clean your coils and check for drain line blockages. On the condenser water side you could have a temperature sensor in the condenser water supply piping, sensing the temperature.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which is better, an AHU or an FCU. Each air conditioning system is different and has different requirements, so what works best for one system may not work best for another. The fastest way to determine whether you have a heat pump or not is to turn the heat on at your thermostat. Once you feel hot air coming through your vents, walk outside and see if the outdoor unit is running.

The main focus for such a unit is to take air from the outside, cool it and then blow it inside. It’s a system that works incredibly well, and it can bring in front a very good set of results in the long run. There is also very limited use of ducks which feels negligible to mention. It is a very flexible and simple system that provides fresh air at a very low cost. The world of commercial and industrial chillers is full of parts and devices, and it is always helpful to know what they are. DX coils contain refrigerant that circulates within the coil in order to absorb or reject heat from the air passing over the coil.

There is a drawback factor in the fan coil units, which is the noise they make. In comparison to air handling units, the noise that FCUs create is very high, but when we compare them to normal air conditioning systems, it is regarded as an acceptable decibel. Air handlers can be roof mounted or sit in a mechanical room on any floor in the building.

Sharing Options

AHUs are usually installed in larger air conditioning systems, while FCUs can typically be found in smaller systems. So if you are looking to install a new system, you should consider the size and type of system that is best suited for your specific requirements. In general, AHUs are best suited for larger air conditioning systems, while FCUs can be used to provide precise temperature control to specific areas.

With the focus on energy efficiency some chillers have the option of recovering the some of the heat that is normally rejected to the atmosphere. This recovered heat can be used for pre-heating of various systems. Water-Cooled Chiller serving an Air Handling UnitThe chiller will need to be connected to a cooling tower for its heat rejection.

difference between ahu and fcu

Because of its small size, their fans are usually placed within the same space as the unit itself. The result is a minor uncomfortable noise that can be heard within the vicinity. This could be regarded as the single most advantageous flaw of the FCU system. Chilled water coils use chilled water from a central chiller plant to remove heat from the air.

These units can be either mounted on the ceiling of a room or on the floor. This is a common question that can be easily confused since both involve the movement and cooling of air. An air handling unit operates by bringing in fresh air from the outside, while a fan coil unit generally recirculates and conditions the air in an interior space. Let’s see if we can break down how these systems work and alleviate the confusion. A fan coil unit is a small terminal unit that is often composed of only a blower and a heating and/or cooling coil.

Air handling units, in appearance, have ceiling type, vertical type, horizontal type and combined type, etc. Among them, ceiling air handling unit is also called hanging cabinet; Combined air handling unit, also called combined air cabinet or group cabinet. The product sizes of different brands are slightly different, but it is certain that the sizes of these four units are much larger than fan coil units, especially the combined air handling units. A fan coil unit is simple and self-contained, and consists of just a coil and fan. They usually don’t use ductwork, and only recirculate the indoor air.

Ultimately, the best option for your own system will depend on your specific requirements and budget. An AHU can be beneficial in many air conditioning applications. Because of its larger size, it can provide a steady flow of air to an entire building. Additionally, it can be used in combination with other components such as FCUs to provide additional cooling or heating power to specific areas. An AHU is typically installed in larger air conditioning systems because of its ability to provide a steady flow of air to an entire building, rather than an individual room or area.

What is the difference between AHU and FCU?

AHUs are usually connected to a central HVAC system whereas an FCU can function or be installed itself. Because of this, it is often the AHU that is used to ventilate an entire building whereas FCUs are used in smaller and often local spaces only. It is no surprise that AHU is the bigger HVAC system not to mention, the FCU is also regarded as the smaller version of the AHU. In this regard, the smaller FCUs can be called terminal units.

They are not as powerful as AHUs, and thus may not be able to provide enough cooling or heating for larger areas. Additionally, because of their small size, they may require more frequent maintenance. They are typically more expensive than FCUs and require more maintenance. Additionally, they may be too large for smaller air conditioning systems, making them a less desirable difference between ahu and fcu choice in some cases. Some of the fan coils lack the capacity to handle better filtration options such as HEPA filters, UV Lighting or MERV 13 filters, this is due to lack of physical space or fan static pressure limits. Water-Cooled Chiller and Cooling Tower serving Air Handling UnitsYou may have a temperature sensor in the room asking for more cooling or less cooling.

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