Air Conditioning Installers - London and Sussex 

AHU

AHU - An air handler, or air handling unit (AHU) is a device used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Usually, an air handler is a large metal box containing a blower, heating and/or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers. Air handlers usually connect to ductwork that distributes the conditioned air through the building, and returns it to the AHU. Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served, without ductwork.

Air Conditioning

An air conditioner is an appliance, system, or mechanism that is designed to extract heat from an area using a refrigeration cycle. A complete system of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning is referred to as HVAC. Its purpose is to provide comfort conditions during hot days and nights. Air-conditioning units pump out thermostatically controlled cool air that has been chilled through heat extraction.

Air Ioniser

An air ioniser is a device which uses high voltage to ionise, or electrically charge, molecules of air. These machines can be designed either to generate specifically charged ions (all positive or all negative), or to create both polarities indiscriminately. However, most commercial air purifiers are designed to generate negative ions. Negative ions are particles that temporarily contain an extra electron, causing the entire molecule to possess a negative electrical charge. Conversely, a positive ion is deficient by one electron and has an overall positive charge

Climate Control

This is commonly used to describe the automatic setting of temperature where the Climate Control system, will provide either heating or cooling automatically, to reach the temperature set point

Cold Air Outlet Tubes

Portable Air Conditioning units which have flexible cold air outlet tubes are normally called 'spot coolers' and are designed to create an umbrella of cool air. The position of that umbrella is determined by the direction of the flexible cold air outlet tube, often referred to as a nozzle. This unit is ideal for cooling individual work stations or, more especially critical areas such as IT, Data Centres and Server Rooms. As well as cooling the air, the moisture is re-condensed out of the air and collected in an integral water reservoir that is emptied manually. An automatic condensate pump can be fitted as an extra.

Dehumidification

De-humidifiers dry the air without cooling it. They work like a normal air conditioner, except that a heat exchanger is placed between the intake and exhaust. In combination with convection fans they achieve a similar level of comfort as an air cooler in humid areas, but only consume about a third of the electricity. They are also preferred by those who find the draft created by air coolers discomforting. Air conditioners automatically act as dehumidifiers when they chill the air and thus need to handle the accumulated water as well. Some models use the condensing coil and fan to evaporate the accumulated water into the outdoor air, while normal units simply allow the water to collect in a tank. Some air conditioning units need to be connected to a drain.

Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is an appliance that reduces the level of humidity in air, usually for health reasons, as humid air can cause mold and mildew to grow inside homes, which has various health risks. Very high humidity levels are also unpleasant for human beings, and can cause unsightly condensation. Dehumidifiers are useful in a variety of situations including new buildings, and buildings which have been subject to flooding.

Electronic Air Purifiers and Smoke Eliminators

An electronic air purifier is an air purifier that uses an advanced and effective type of technology to absorb contaminants in the air. Electronic air purifier products are used for businesses and residences in order to keep the air indoors safer and healthier for people to breathe. The filtering system used in an electronic air purifier uses a cutting edge design and knowledge of the behaviour of contaminants in the air in order to work powerfully. Electronic air cleaners are able to remove particles, fumes, odours and gases from the air. The technology used in electronic air cleaners makes them one of the most effective and advanced types of air purifiers on the market today. Electronic air purifiers are an efficient and low maintenance type of air purifier. They are easy to care for and deliver the same quality as other filtering systems on the market. With at least 95% efficiency, it's no wonder that electronic air purifiers are becoming a popular and convenient way to provide clean and healthy air.

Evaporative Portable Air Conditioners

Evaporative coolers provide a cooling effect by natural evaporation, in the process increasing relative humidity. Fans and air movers increase cooling through air circulation. Evaporative air conditioners do not have a compressor or condenser. Instead, liquid water or ice is poured into a tank and air movement releases this as vapour. Because they do not have a refrigeration circuit, they do not need hoses or pipes, allowing them to be truly portable. These units add humidity and are not suitable for computer, IT or server room applications. In moderate humidity locations there are many cost-effective uses for evaporative cooling, in addition to their widespread use in dry climates. For example, industrial plants, commercial kitchens, laundries, dry cleaners, greenhouses, spot cooling (loading docks, warehouses, factories, construction sites, athletic events, workshops, garages, and kennels) and confinement farming (poultry and dairy) all often employ evaporative cooling.

Fans and Air Movers

A mechanical fan is a device used to produce an airflow for the purpose of comfort, ventilation, exhaust, or any other gaseous transport. Typical applications include climate control, cooling systems, personal comfort (e.g., an electric table fan), ventilation (e.g., an exhaust fan).

Heat Recovery Ventilation

Heat recovery ventilation (also known as a heat exchanger, air exchanger or air-to-air exchanger) is a ventilation system that employs a counter-flow heat exchanger between the inbound and outbound air flow. HRV provide fresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing the heating (or cooling) requirements. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs), as the name implies, recover the heat energy in the exhaust air, and transfer it to fresh air as it enters the building.

Heaters and Heating

A heater is any object that emits heat or causes another body to achieve a higher temperature. This can be to heat an object or heat air. An electric heater is an electrical appliance that converts electrical energy into heat. The heating element inside every electric heater is simply an electrical resistor, and works on the principle of Joule heating: an electric current flowing through a resistor converts electrical energy into heat energy. Radiant/Radiative heaters or 'space heaters' Radiant or radiative heaters contain a heating element that reaches a high temperature. The element is usually packaged inside a glass envelope resembling a light bulb and with a reflector to direct the energy output away from the body of the heater. The element emits infra-red radiation that travels through air or space until it hits an absorbing surface, where it is partially converted to heat and partially reflected. This heat directly warms people and objects in the room, rather than warming the air. This style of heater is most useful in an area that is unable to be kept with minimal airflow. They are also ideal for basements and garages since they are good at spot heating. They are an excellent choice for task specific heating. Convection heaters In a convection heater, the heating element heats the air next to it by conduction. Hot air is less dense than cool air, so it rises due to buoyancy, allowing more cool air to flow in to take its place. This sets up a constant current of hot air that leaves the appliance through vent holes and heats up the surrounding space. They are ideally suited for heating a closed space. They operate silently and are a good choice where heating is required for long periods of time or if left unattended. Fan heaters or 'forced convection heaters' A fan heater is a variety of convection heater that includes an electric fan to speed up the airflow. This reduces the thermal resistance between the heating element and the surroundings, allowing heat to be transferred more quickly. This type of heater is a good choice for quick heating of enclosed spaces. 'Mechanical' or 'forced' ventilation is used to control indoor air quality. Excess humidity, odours, and contaminants can often be controlled via dilution or replacement with outside air. Heat recovery ventilation systems employ heat exchangers to recover some heat from exhausted air, to preheat the incoming outside air

Heatpumps

Heat pumps = Using air conditioners to heat Heat pumps are an integral part of air-conditioning technology. Heat pumps transfer heat from one environment to another via refrigerant. In cooling mode, heat pumps transfer the heat in an enclosed area (room, industrial process) to the outside air, resulting in a cooling of the area in question. This is the role that heat pumps play in common refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Heat pumps, however, also allow this process to be reversed. They can pump heat extracted from the outside air indoors, allowing indoor environments to be heated as well as cooled using the same technology. Heat pump efficiency Heat pumps offer numerous advantages as a heating solution. The same systems used to cool can also be used to heat, resulting in less initial investment and simplicity in operation and maintenance. They / Heat pumps also have an important advantage in the area of efficiency. Unlike fossil-fuel based heating systems, heat pumps extract available heat from the outside air. Heat pumps offer efficiency gains on the order of 3:1 and higher, compared to electrical heating. Thus for every unit of energy consumed by the heat pump, three or more units of heat are gained. Heat pump comfort Heat pumps in combination with inverter technology offer unparalleled indoor heating comfort and process efficiency. Heat pumps can extract heat energy from the outside air even on the coldest days of winter. Heat pump systems are capable of meeting exacting industrial heating and cooling requirements as well as of providing comfortable and efficient indoor heating.

Hose Exhaust Portable Air Conditioners

Hose systems 'Air-to-Air' and 'Monoblock' are vented to the outside via air ducts. The 'monoblock' version collects the water in a tank or tray and should stop when full. The Air-to-Air version re-evaporates the water and discharges it through the ducted hose and can hence run longer between tank emptying. The hose (s) must discharge outside the area being cooled, via a partially open window or door, or sometimes into a false ceiling. We can provide an installation service to make holes through walls where possible.

Humidification

Refrigerated air conditioning equipment usually reduces the humidity of the air processed by the system. The relatively cold (below the dewpoint) evaporator coil condenses water vapor from the processed air, (much like an ice cold drink will condense water on the outside of a glass), sending the water to a drain and removing water vapour from the cooled space and lowering the relative humidity. Since humans perspire to provide natural cooling by the evaporation of perspiration from the skin, drier air (up to a point) improves the comfort provided. The comfort air conditioner typically creates a 40 - 60% relative humidity in the occupied space. In food retailing establishments, large open chiller cabinets act as highly effective air dehumidifying units. Humidification is often necessary in colder climates where continuous heating will make the air drier, resulting in uncomfortable air quality and increased static electricity. Various types of humidification may be used, but generally in air conditioning or climate control, evaporative coolers are used where dry air is blown over a reservoir evaporating some of the water

Humidifiers

Humidification is often necessary in colder climates where continuous heating will make the air drier, resulting in uncomfortable air quality and increased static electricity. Various types of humidification may be used: Evaporative: dry air blown over a reservoir will evaporate water. The rate of evaporation can be increased by spraying the water onto baffles in the air stream. Vaporizer: steam or vapour from a boiler is blown directly into the air stream. Spray mist: water is diffused either by a nozzle or other mechanical means into fine droplets and carried by the air.

HVAC

HVAC stands for 'heating, ventilation, and air conditioning' and is sometimes referred to as 'climate control' and is particularly important in the design of medium to large industrial and office buildings and in marine environments. The three functions of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning are closely interrelated. All seek to provide thermal comfort, acceptable indoor air quality, and reasonable installation, operation, and maintenance costs. HVAC systems can provide ventilation, reduce air infiltration, and maintain pressure relationships between spaces. How air is delivered to, and removed from spaces is known as room air distribution.

LTHW

LTHW - Low Temperature Hot Water - low temperature materials and procedures have reduced the cost of these systems such that a cost advantage may be possible when replacing deteriorated steam and high temperature water systems.

Portable Air Conditioning

Portable air conditioners come in three forms, split, hose exhaust, and evaporative. The main uses/advantages of Portable Air Conditioning are:

• It is portable, and thus location can be easily changed.
• Temporary - in areas where air conditioning might not normally be needed, but there is a temporary requirement.
• Emergency - portable air conditioning units can be supplied as emergency backup, in case of fixed air conditioning failure - especially critical in such areas as IT, Data Centres and Server Rooms.
• If a permanent solution where fixed air conditioning is not possible.

Split Portable Air Conditioners

A split system has an indoor unit on wheels connected to an outdoor unit via flexible pipes, similar to a permanently fixed installed unit. Split system room Air Conditioners come as either refrigerant based or water cooled.

Water Chillers

A water chiller is a device that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle. This cooled liquid flows through pipes in a building and passes through coils in air handlers, fan-coil units, or other systems, cooling and usually dehumidifying the air in the building. Chillers are of two types; air-cooled or water-cooled. Air-cooled chillers are usually outside and consist of condenser coils cooled by fan-driven air. Water-cooled chillers are usually inside a building, and heat from these chillers is carried by recirculating water to outdoor cooling towers.