Air filters increase hospital's air flow, reduce bottom line

University of Louisville Hospital decreased energy consumption, and realized labor savings from the reduction in filter changeouts

By Healthcare Facilities Today
December 3, 2013

Air filter solution helps the University of Louisville Hospital decreased energy consumption, and realized labor savings from the reduction in filter hangouts, according t a case study on the FacilitiesNet website.

The air-handling unit (AHU) at the University of Louisville (Ky.) Hospital was originally installed to provide airflow to the oncology area of the hospital. Over the years, additional ducts were incorporated, and now the AHU provides airflow to five areas of the 404-bed hospital, which serves as the leading academic and research facility in the area.

Looking for an alternative to replacing its costly motor, John Gildehaus, the hospital’s director of engineering, asked American Air Filter (AAF) Solutions to assess the hospital’s filtration system and recommend viable solutions.

The AHU uses variable inlet guide vanes to control the flow of the supply fan. The variable inlet vanes, in their fully open state, could not supply enough airflow capacity, due to the high static pressure in the system. The work output of the fan and its motor contribute directly to the airflow exiting the AHU.

Read the case study.