Air Handling Units

1. Energy Efficiency & Control Strategies

Apveek is working on the strategies which focus on adjusting AHU components (fans, dampers, and coils) in real-time based on actual building demand rather than running at constant peak capacity.

Demand-Controlled Ventilation (DCV):

Instead of bringing in a fixed amount of outside air, CO2 sensors in the occupied zones monitor human presence. If a conference room or classroom is empty, the AHU closes the outdoor air dampers to the minimum required level, saving massive amounts of heating and cooling energy.

Static Pressure Reset (SPR):

In Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems, the supply fan traditionally maintains a constant static pressure in the ductwork. With an SPR strategy, the automation system monitors the VAV box dampers. If all dampers are wide open, pressure increases; if they start closing because zones are satisfied, the fan slows down, significantly reducing fan energy.

Supply Air Temperature (SAT) Reset:

When the overall cooling demand of a building is low, the AHU increases its supply air temperature. This allows the chiller plant to operate more efficiently and prevents over-cooling.

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​​​​​​​2. Air Quality & Filtration Strategies

Balancing fresh air delivery with energy consumption is a core challenge for AHU management.

Economizer Modes (Free Cooling):

When the outdoor air temperature and humidity are favorable (typically cool, crisp days), the AHU opens its outdoor dampers to 100% and turns off mechanical cooling chillers entirely. It uses the outside air directly to cool the building.

Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV/HRV):

Using a thermal wheel or a plate heat exchanger to intercept exhaust air before it leaves the building. The AHU extracts the heating or cooling energy from the stale outgoing air and transfers it to the incoming fresh outdoor air without mixing the two airflows.

Advanced Filtration Tiers:

Implementing a dual-stage filtration strategy—usually a low-cost MERV 8 pre-filter to catch large dust particles, followed by a MERV 13 or MERV 14 final filter to capture fine particulates, bacteria, and allergens. This protects both indoor occupants and the AHU's internal components.

3. Maintenance & Reliability Strategies

Static Pressure Drop Monitoring:

Placing differential pressure sensors across filter banks.

Instead of changing filters on a rigid calendar schedule (e.g., every 3 months), filters are only replaced when the pressure drop reaches a specific limit, maximizing filter lifespan while preventing fan strain.

Coil Cleaning and UV-C Cleansing:

Regularly treating cooling coils with UV-C germicidal lights or scheduled chemical washes. B

iofilm buildup on coils acts as an insulator, forcing the system to work much harder to achieve the same heat transfer.

Chillers in Special Applications

- Special working conditions;

- Low temperature Chilled-water application, reach up to -45 Degree C;

- Screw, Scroll Compressors applied in different working conditions;

Modular Heat Pumps

- Energy Efficiency: Instead of running a large, single compressor at low (inefficient) loads, the central controller activates only the exact number of modules required to meet the current demand.

- True Redundancy: Because the cooling circuits are independent, a single module failure does not cause a total plant shutdown. The remaining units continue to operate, ensuring uninterrupted cooling for critical environments like hospitals or data centers.

- Scalability: Facilities can easily add or remove modules. This eliminates the need to over-purchase capacity during initial construction and allows the cooling system to grow alongside the facility.

- Easier Rigging and Installation: Individual modules are compact enough to fit through standard doorways and into freight elevators. They also often use single-point water and power connections, dramatically reducing installation time and field labor costs.

- Lower Maintenance Downtime: Maintenance can be performed on one module while the others remain active, eliminating the need for extensive planned shutdowns.