Better known as RTUs, Rooftop Package Units offer a versatile and efficient solution for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) in industrial facilities.
Whether you want to upgrade your existing HVAC system or plan to install a new industrial project, understanding RTUs will improve your operational efficiency and environmental control of your commercial setup.
We will talk about RTUs below to understand their benefits and applications in industrial setups.
Understanding Rooftop Package Units
A rooftop package unit is a type of HVAC system that ensures heating, cooling, and ventilation in an industrial building. As its name implies, it is set up on rooftops.
The HVAC support of RTUs comes in one compact box. And because all components of the system are placed inside a box, the system is referred to as a packaged unit.
They are mostly found in commercial or industrial facilities. However, some homes do have them.
For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the industrial RTUs only.
Industrial Applications of Rooftop Package Units
RTUs are used in commercial buildings and industrial setups, primarily. The commercial buildings may be an office, a hotel, a food reservoir, or a supermarket.
The RTU includes components such as:
Evaporator coil
Fan
Compressor
And condenser
You may think of an RTU as a combination of an air conditioner and a chiller.
These systems can also be installed on the ground, depending on the manufacturer’s manual.
RTUs differ from splits used in residential buildings, as they do not have an evaporator fan and coil which is separate from the condenser and compressor.
How does RTU work?
When you install the RTU, the low-pressure cold gas refrigerant reaches the compressor. Subsequently, the compressor reaches a refrigerant with a gas phase. Then, it flows to the condenser coil.
Once there, the metal kept inside the coils absorbs the heat. On the other hand, the condenser fan takes this heat outside of the building.
Additionally, fresh air comes inside the duct to the building when hot air enters the rooftop unit. Filters that are present in front of the return air prevent pollutants and excess dirt from accumulating.
Heating Up
If a heating coil is installed in an RTU, you can add heating to this package. The most common heat coils are water coils. The water coils supply heat from the hot water produced by the boiler. Here, the fan coil acts like a heat exchanger.
Benefits of Using RTUs in Industrial Applications
Installing RTUs has multiple benefits:
You can save space on your industrial setups.
You can avail low noise pollution (especially compared to splits)
It is much easier to install than other HVAC systems.
The maintenance associated with these is less painstaking and cumbersome.
The purchasing cost of the device is less, compared to chillers and air conditioners.
Challenges of Installing RTUs
However, you should keep certain challenges of installing RTUs in mind:
The device can be used in a limited capacity, similar to air conditioning.
There is also limited refrigeration capacity.
You can enjoy only limited control over aeration quality
The limited air release makes the use of RTU for bigger projects more involving more units and more space required.
You cannot add many extra features
Maintaining the RTUs
You would want to:
Save operating costs
A safe work environment
And ensure RTUs operate for a long time.
For these to happen, it is recommended that you check and maintain the RTUs and their components thoroughly – either with your onsite technician teams or with an expert support provider like Earnest.
The checks can be done either routinely (quarterly, bi-weekly, or daily) or annually, depending on your machine’s needs.
Both can increase the reliability and efficiency of your equipment, depending on your inspection consistency. A mix of both helps to elongate your equipment’s life.
Routine inspections inspect and analyze the general condition of your equipment, while annual inspections are a more thorough maintenance call.
How frequently you check and inspect your RTU usually depends on the following:
the age of the equipment,
the condition of the equipment
The conditions of the components
Size of the facility,
and at times, the physical location.
For instance, given the wear and tear of an RTU, the frequency of routine checks will vary in Bangladesh compared to the US. A highly humid country would face more deterioration compared to the USA.
Checklist for Routine Checks
Following are some tips for routine checks:
Check for the condition of equipment and how it is operating including its parts, if applicable
Keep an eye out for the coolant levels, pressure, and temperature. Check how much these vary
Make sure to change the filters at least quarterly, if not monthly or bi-monthly.
Checklist for Annual Checks
Following are some essential tips for yearly checks:
Grease prevents the metal parts of bearings from coming in contact with each other. So we recommend greasing at least once a year.
Change the belts inside the RTU to keep the movement flowing smoothly.
Cleaning the drainage pans at least twice a year is recommended so that they don’t plug up. This is because they can dry out and crack, developing holes.
You should also clean condenser coils and evaporator coils at least once a year if not more.
RTUs as HVAC
HVAC suppliers like Earnest will help you in setting up RTUs for industrial purposes. Earnest is the largest HVAC supplier in Bangladesh. Their extensive knowledge and experience will help you design and install the best HVAC systems as per your specific requirements.
You can contact them to install RTUs for industrial purposes.
Summing Up
Rooftop Package Units (RTUs) offer many benefits to industrial units, as mentioned above. As industrial plants and commercial spaces increase, RTUs are becoming popular as HVAC systems.
However, you should also keep in the challenges associated with RTUs and provide improvements timely. You need to do this to ensure the optimal performance and longevity of RTUs. By regularly inspecting and maintaining RTUs, industrial facilities can ensure a safe work environment, reduce operating costs, and extend the lifespan of their HVAC equipment.
For more in-depth or expert support, you can contact renowned HVAC suppliers like Earnest.
