Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is the energy recovery process of exchanging the energy

contained in normally exhausted building or space air and using it to treat (precondition) the incoming
outdoor ventilation air in residential and commercial HVAC systems. During the warmer seasons, the
system pre-cools and dehumidifies while humidifying and pre-heating in the cooler seasons.
An energy recovery ventilator (also abbreviated ERV) is a type of air-to-air heat exchanger that not
only transfers sensible heat but also latent heat. Because both temperature and moisture are
transferred, ERVs can be considered total enthalpic devices. On the other hand, a heat recovery
ventilator (HRV) can only transfer sensible heat. HRVs can be considered sensible only devices
because they only exchange sensible heat. In other words, whereas all ERVs are HRVs, not all HRVs
are ERVs, but many people use the terms HRV, AAHX (air-to-air heat exchanger), and ERV
interchangeably. The efficiency of an ERV system is the ratio of energy transferred between the two
air streams compared with the total energy transported through the heat exchanger.
The FAN COIL UNIT (FCU) is a simple appliance that works by itself, rather than as a component in
an HVAC system. It contains only a coil and a fan to re-circulate indoor air in a smaller space
because it does not use ducts to deliver further. The function is carried out as the fan transfers air
over the coil to change the temperature warmer or cooler before pushing it out into the room.
To summarize the main differences in the FCU and AHU, the simple fan and coil system is able to
work completely alone rather than as a contributor to a larger HVAC system. Large buildings that
have multiple rooms are more likely to need the air handler to deliver air evenly through ducts. An
FCU also relies on the air already inside a building rather than pulling in fresh oxygen from the
outside. Fan Coil Unit design falls principally into two main types: blow through and draw through. As
the names suggest, in the first type the fans are fitted such that they blow through the heat
exchanger, and in the other type the fans are fitted after the coil such that they draw air through it.
Draw through units are considered thermally superior, as ordinarily they make better use of the heat
exchanger. However they are more expensive, as they require a chassis to hold the fans whereas a
blow-through unit typically consists of a set of fans bolted straight to a coil.

Ducts are conduits or passages used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to deliver
and remove air. The needed airflows include, for example, supply air, return air, and exhaust
air.[1]Ducts commonly also deliver ventilation air as part of the supply air.

A register is a grill with moving parts, capable of being opened and closed and the air flow directed,
which is part of a building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The placement
and size of registers is critical to HVAC efficiency. Register dampers are also important, and can
serve a safety function. A grille is a perforated cover for an air duct (used for heating, cooling, or
ventilation, or a combination thereof). Grilles sometimes have louvers which allow the flow of air to
be directed. A register differs from a grille in that a damper is included.

A grille is a device for supplying or extracting air vertically without any deflection.
A diffuser normally has profiled blades to direct the air at an angle as it leaves the
unit into the space, as shown below.
Variable Air Volume (VAV) is a type of heating, ventilating, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
Unlike constant air volume (CAV) systems, which supply a constant airflow at a variable
temperature, VAV systems vary the airflow at a constant temperature. The advantages of VAV
systems over constant-volume systems include more precise temperature control, reduced
compressor wear, lower energy consumption by system fans, less fan noise, and additional passive
dehumidification.

Even a simple VAV system has several advantages over a CAV system. One is more precise
temperature control. To meet a space cooling load, a CAV unit operates the fan and compressor at
full capacity until the temperature drops to a specified limit, and then the compressor turns off. This
on/off cycling causes the temperature to fluctuate above and below the temperature setpoint. In a
single-zone VAV unit, the fan speed varies depending on the actual space temperature and the
temperature setpoint, while the compressor modulates the refrigerant flow to maintain a constant
supply air temperature. The result is more precise space temperature control.[2]
Another advantage is energy savings and reduced wear. VAV fan control, especially with modern
electronic variable-speed drives, reduces the energy consumed by fans, which can be a substantial
part of the total cooling energy requirements of a building. Modulating control of the compressor also
reduces wear and delivers further energy savings.[2]
A final advantage is increased dehumidification. Because VAV air flow is reduced under part-load
conditions, air is exposed to cooling coils for a longer time. More moisture condenses on the coils,
dehumidifying the air. Thus, although a constant-volume and a single-zone VAV unit maintain the
same room temperature, the VAV unit provides more passive dehumidification and more
comfortable space conditions.
A variable-frequency drive (VFD; also termed adjustable-frequency drive, variable speed drive, AC
drive, micro drive or inverter drive) is a type of adjustable-speed drive used in electro-
mechanical drive systems to control AC motor speed and torque by varying motor

input frequency and voltage.

A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression or absorption
refrigeration cycle. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool equipment, or
another process stream (such as air or process water). As a necessary by product, refrigeration
creates waste heat that must be exhausted to ambient or, for greater efficiency, recovered for
heating purposes.[1]
Chilled water is used to cool and dehumidify air in mid- to large-size commercial, industrial, and
institutional facilities. Water chillers can be water-cooled, air-cooled, or evaporatively cooled. Water-
cooled systems can provide efficiency and environmental impact advantages over air-cooled
systems

What are Water Cooled Chillers & Air Cooled Chillers?

Water cooled chillers and air cooled chillers are refrigeration systems used to cool fluids or dehumidify air in both
commercial and industrial facilities. Chilled water has a variety of applications from space cooling to process uses.

Components of a Water Cooled Chiller & Air Cooled Chiller

The components of water cooled chillers and air cooled chillers are very similar. Each product contains an
evaporator, condenser, compressor, and an expansion valve. The primary difference is whether air or water is used
to provide the condenser cooling.

How Water Cooled Chillers & Air Cooled Chillers Work

The cycle begins in the evaporator where a liquid refrigerant flows over the evaporator tube bundle and evaporates,
absorbing heat from the chilled water circulating through the bundle. The refrigerant vapor is drawn out of the
evaporator by the compressor. The compressor then pumps the refrigerant vapor to the condenser raising its
pressure and temperature. The refrigerant condenses on or in the condenser tubes, giving up its heat to the cooling
water (or air). The high pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser then passes through the expansion device that
reduces the refrigerant pressure and temperature as it enters the evaporator. The refrigerant again flows over the
chilled water coils absorbing more heat and completing the cycle.