Air handling units with an integrated cooling system combine air treatment and mechanical cooling in one factory-assembled unit. They are designed to simplify installation, reduce plant room requirements, and provide compact, standalone HVAC solutions. Such units are mostly applied in buildings, where the cooling capacity is moderate and there is no central chiller. They are favourable in cases, when installation time is critical and plant room space is limited.
Integrated Cooling System
Unlike conventional AHUs that rely on chilled water from a central chiller, these units include:
- Built-in compressor(s) (scroll, screw, or inverter-driven)
- Direct expansion (DX) cooling coil
- Refrigerant circuit with refrigerant
- Air-cooled or water-cooled condenser
- Expansion valve (often electronic)
This eliminates the need for an external chiller, chilled water or pump sets.
Plug-and-Play Design
- Factory-tested refrigeration circuit
- Pre-wired electrical components
- Integrated controls
- Reduced on-site installation time
- Skid-mounted or rooftop-ready configuration
Ideal for projects where fast deployment is required.
Precise Temperature & Humidity Control
- Step or inverter-based compressor modulation
- Hot gas bypass (for low-load stability)
- Reheat options (electric, hot gas, or hydronic)
- Optional humidifiers
This makes them suitable for applications requiring tight environmental control.
Compact Footprint
Because cooling is built-in, there is no separate chiller room, no cooling water piping (air-cooled models), and reduced mechanical plant space. This is common in retrofits, space-constrained buildings, and modular constructions.
Energy Efficiency Features
- Variable speed compressors
- EC plug fans
- Heat recovery wheels or plates
- Economizer/free cooling mode
- Demand-controlled ventilation
Advanced Controls & BMS Integration
- Built-in PLC or microprocessor controller
- BACnet / Modbus compatibility
- Remote monitoring
- Fault diagnostics
- Alarm logging
Summary
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Built-in refrigeration | No external chiller required |
| Compact footprint | Saves plant space |
| Factory-assembled | Faster installation |
| Integrated controls | Simplified BMS connection |
| Energy-efficient components | Lower operating cost |
| Customizable filtration | Suitable for healthcare/pharma |