In the pharmaceutical industry, an air handling unit (AHU) is a heat exchange device that provides a clean and controlled environment for manufacturing, packaging, and testing pharmaceutical products.
AHUs are used in HVAC systems or industrial factories that require clean rooms, such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and electronics technology industries.
AHUs play a vital role in the pharmaceutical industry by supplying contamination-free fresh air, maintaining the safety and quality of products, and avoiding pathogens transmitted through the air.
AHUs filter the air, maintain the temperature and humidity in clean rooms, and adjust the pressure in the clean room area.
The principle of AHU is based on thermodynamics and fluid dynamics
- A blower supplies air from outside.
- The air is filtered through the filters to remove contamination.
- The air is cooled or heated as per the required temperature to flow to the clean room area.
- The chiller produces chilled water, and the air handling unit (AHU) sends the chilled water to the cold water coil, which exchanges heat between the water and air. The cool air is then sent through the ducts by the fans.
- Central air conditioning can efficiently heat or cool large spaces and facilities.
AHUs' components must be properly designed, installed, and maintained to ensure their effectiveness in removing contaminants from the air. AHUs come with several types of filters, including HEPA filters, bag filters, and panel filters.
The AHU is a large metal box containing separate ventilators for supply and exhaust, heating coil, cooling coil, heating/cooling recovery system, air filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, mixing chamber, and dampers.
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