Tag: rooftop units

AHU & RTU

AHU stands for Air Handling Unit while RTU is an acronym for Rooftop Unit or Rooftop Packaged Units. An RTU is a type of AHU and as such is there any difference between the two AHU vs RTU? There are no differences between an AHU and an RTU except for the fact that an RTU is placed on the rooftop.

The Air Handling Unit is a huge metal box, which helps in conditioning and circulating the air to create an ideal atmosphere. The AHU consists of components such as heating elements, cooling elements, blower or fan, filters, mixing chambers, vibration isolators, humidifiers, heat recovery devices and controls. All these components are also present in an RTU as it is only a type of AHU. Three types of AHUs are available in the market. The Mall Air Handlers and Make Up Air Units are the other two types of AHU.

The Roof Top Unit is an outdoor AHU. As the RTU is mounted on the roof, this removes the concern about creating extra space or room for fitting it as is the case for the other types of AHU. As the Unit is fitted on the rooftop, one should have more care as it is exposed to the weather. The RTU box is made of aluminum sheets or galvanized steel with a coating of corrosion resistance materials. All the components like the fan, motor, damper actuator linkages, water valves and controls are installed inside the box.

Both the RTU and the AHU function in the same manner. They sucks air from the room and pass it through cooling coils. After this the cold air is discharged into the room. The moisture in the air is condensed as it passes through the cooling coils.

Summary

1. An RTU is a type of AHU.
2. AHU stands for Air Handling Unit and the acronym RTU means Rooftop Unit.
3. The Roof Top Unit is an outdoor AHU.
4. As RTUs are mounted on the roof, there is no concern about creating extra space indoors for it as would be the case for the other types of AHU.
5. As the RTU is fitted on the rooftop, one should have more care as it is exposed to the weather.
6. Both the RTU and the AHU function in the same manner. They suck air from the room and pass it through cooling coils.
7. The AHU and RTU consists of components such as heating elements, cooling elements, blower or fan, filters, mixing chambers, vibration isolators, humidifiers, heat recovery device and controls.

From http://www.differencebetween.net