An air ventilation system circulates fresh outdoor air, removes stale indoor air, and controls pollutants to maintain healthy indoor air quality and comfort in buildings. These systems use fans, ductwork, or wall vents to manage airflow, ensuring clean air reaches living spaces while expelling moisture and contaminants from kitchens, bathrooms, and industrial areas, with types ranging from simple exhaust fans to complex balanced systems that can even recover heat. Key Functions
- Dilutes Pollutants: Reduces concentrations of indoor-generated pollutants like VOCs, dust, and odors.
- Removes Moisture: Extracts humidity from bathrooms and kitchens, preventing mold and mildew.
- Provides Fresh Air: Continuously brings in filtered outdoor air, essential in sealed modern buildings.
- Controls Temperature/Humidity: Can work with HVAC to distribute conditioned air or use heat recovery for efficiency.
Types of Systems
- Exhaust Ventilation: Removes stale air from wet areas (kitchens, baths) using fans, relying on leaks or passive vents for makeup air.
- Supply Ventilation: Pushes fresh outdoor air in, often using existing ductwork, creating slight positive pressure.
- Balanced Ventilation (HRV/ERV): Uses two fans (supply and exhaust) and duct systems for even air distribution, often with Heat Recovery (HRV) or Energy Recovery (ERV) to transfer heat and humidity between air streams.
- Decentralized: Wall-mounted units for single rooms or specific zones, requiring only a wall opening, ideal for retrofits.
