We often hear the terms rooftop unit, unit heater or water tower. But what is this equipment? How do they work? This guide will help you find your way around the next time your BAULNE technician visits you.
ROOFTOP UNITS
These are the most versatile units. They also have the advantage, as their name suggests, of being located on the roof of the building, allowing you to maximize the interior space available for your operations. They are ideal for heating, ventilating and cooling a commercial or industrial building. Some more specialized units can also control ambient humidity. A basic unit generally lasts a long time, making the covered area comfortable in all seasons. High-grade units integrate technologies that maximize energy efficiency through smart sensors and software. When a unit is fitted with such an equipment, it is possible for your BAULNE technician to receive an alert that will enable them to target and solve the problem quickly and efficiently.
UNIT HEATERS
These units are powered by natural gas or electricity. They are very useful for heating a more specific area, or one that is more difficult for the main unit to reach. A mass of air is pulsed by a fan outside a heat exchanger. A heat source passes through this exchanger, and the heated air mass can be directed to the desired area.
RADIANT HEATERS
Radiant heaters provide heat by infrared radiation. Unlike unit heaters, they are not designed to heat a mass of air. Instead, they heat objects and people in the environment covered by the unit. These units are highly energy efficient. This type of unit is also often found on outdoor terraces.
HEAT EXCHANGERS
A heat exchanger is a relatively simple system that brings a hot and a cold fluid into indirect contact. The purpose of a heat exchanger is to recover heat to reduce energy costs in a process or system. For example, a plant generating hot effluent might want to use this effluent to heat water for use in the process.
VENTILATION SYSTEM
The ventilation system includes ducts, fans, air exchangers and air filtration systems. In short, they are the lungs of your system. It helps bring in fresh air, filter it to remove some of the airborne dust, and evacuate stale air. A ventilation system ensures the health and safety of occupants, while optimizing energy costs.
WATER OR AIR COOLING UNITS
Cooling units are frequently found in commercial and industrial installations. A water-cooled unit cools the water in a circuit. This cooled water is fed into a network of pipes that serve to absorb heat from the air. These units are usually coupled to a cooling tower and form part of a more complex system. Air-cooled units use a fan to push air through a network of cooling lines to release heat from the ambient air outside the building.
COOLING TOWERS
A water tower is used to exchange heat by contact between water and ambient air. Hot water from a process or system is sent in droplet form over an exchange surface. This exchange surface allows the water to flow freely into a basin. Air is blown in the opposite direction to the hot droplets, transferring the heat to the ambient air. The cooled water is then collected and returned to the process or system.
BOILERS
Boilers are used to supply hot water or steam to other building systems or to a process. They are usually powered by natural gas or electricity. As they are pressurized equipment, they must be operated and maintained with care. The operation of a boiler is legislated, and control and maintenance parameters are determined by the capacity of the burner.
https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/document/rc/B-1.1,%20r.%206.1%20/
https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/document/rc/m-6,%20r.%201
DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM
This type of system is frequently installed in buildings with indoor swimming pools. The unit draws in warm, humid air from the surrounding area. The extracted air is condensed to reduce humidity, and the heat can be recovered to heat the pool water, resulting in substantial savings.
Don’t hesitate to visit the BAULNE website to find out more about our range of services and discover more tips and tricks to make your life easier.
