What is an air curtain and how does it work?
An air curtain is a system that creates a directed air stream across an open doorway. This forms an invisible air barrier – a “door made of air” – that reduces the exchange of air between indoor and outdoor areas. This can help to reduce the ingress of cold outside air, draughts and heating or cooling losses.
How does an air curtain work?
An air curtain draws in air through an intake and accelerates it using fans inside the unit. The air is then discharged across the open doorway as a controlled air stream. This air stream counteracts the natural exchange of air between the two areas and helps to separate the indoor and outdoor environments.
For effective air separation, the air stream needs to reach across the doorway and be matched to the conditions at the entrance. Factors such as door height and width, temperature differences, wind exposure and pressure conditions within the building therefore need to be taken into account when selecting and sizing an air curtain.
Teddington air curtains equipped with the patented CONVERGO® pressure chamber nozzle system allow the discharge direction to be adjusted to the conditions at the doorway, providing a stable, precisely directed air stream.
Watch the video to see how thermal currents affect open doors and gateways and how a Teddington air curtain creates an effective barrier between indoor and outdoor air.
How does an air curtain do?
An air curtain reduces the exchange of air through an open doorway. Depending on the application, this can help to:
- reduce heating and cooling losses
- reduce draughts around entrances
- limit the ingress of cold or warm outside air
- reduce the ingress of insects and dust
- reduce the spread of odours between different areas
- keep the doorway freely accessible
Areas of application and benefits
Air curtains are used at entrances to shops, offices and public buildings as well as in specialist applications such as cold storage and freezer rooms. In cold storage applications, air curtains can help to reduce mist and frost formation around the doorway and thereby reduce associated visibility and slip hazards.
Teddington also offers specialist air curtains for industrial applications. These provide a greater air discharge range and are designed for large industrial door openings. Air curtains can also be used to help reduce the spread of odour emissions, for example in waste-management facilities.
Flexibility and adaptability
Teddington air curtains are available in different sizes and housing types for a wide range of installation requirements. Depending on the model, they can be installed horizontally above the doorway, vertically alongside it or integrated into a suspended ceiling. This allows the air curtain to be adapted to different door and building situations.
What are the benefits of an air curtain system?
A Teddington air curtain reduces the exchange of air through an open doorway. This can reduce the ingress of cold outside air, heating losses and draughts around the entrance. The following thermal images illustrate the difference between an open doorway with and without an air curtain.
Without an air curtain
When a door is open, differences in temperature and pressure can cause air to move between indoor and outdoor areas. Heated indoor air can escape while cold outside air enters the building. An air curtain counteracts this air exchange with a directed air stream across the doorway.
The thermal image of a shop entrance shows cold outside air entering through the open doorway when no air curtain is operating.
With a Teddington air curtain
For effective air separation, airflow rate, discharge velocity, temperature and momentum need to be matched to the conditions at the doorway. The precisely adjustable CONVERGO® nozzle allows the air discharge angle to be adapted to the specific installation conditions.
The thermal image shows how the Teddington air curtain reduces the ingress of cold outside air through the open doorway.
By reducing air exchange through an open doorway, an air curtain can reduce heating or cooling requirements. Use our efficiency calculation to estimate the potential savings for your specific door and building situation.
Why you benefit from Air Curtain systems
Teddington air curtains
Teddington air curtains are selected and sized according to the requirements of each project. Performance data such as airflow rates, discharge velocities and sound emissions are specified in accordance with ISO 27327 and monitored by ILK Dresden. These measurements ensure standardised performance data and underline the high quality and reliability of our products.
Types of air curtain installation
Teddington air curtain systems can be installed in two variants: IDW (internally rotating air roll) and ADW (external rotating air roll). Depending on the positive or negative pressure in the building, the respective installation type ensures maximum shielding against unwanted ingress of outside air. There are also different device variants for installation. This allows the air curtain system to be optimally adapted to the respective building situation.
The nozzle makes the difference: the CONVERGO® system
The air discharge nozzle is an important performance feature of an air curtain. The patented CONVERGO® pressure chamber nozzle system combines air volume and discharge velocity to produce a stable, precisely directed air stream for effective air separation.
CORRIGO® air discharge system: advanced lamella technology
In air curtains with conventional lamella technology, airflow can only be adjusted to a limited extent. This means the desired effect cannot always be achieved optimally. As an air curtain specialist, Teddington has developed CORRIGO®, an air discharge system designed for entrance situations with moderate performance requirements and door heights of up to 3.0 metres.
Compared with conventional lamella units, Teddington air curtains with the CORRIGO® air discharge system achieve noticeably better room comfort and significantly improved separation.
How can we help with your project?
Tell us about your requirements using the contact form. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Fields marked with * are mandatory.
- Air discharge system: CONVERGO® pressure chamber nozzle system
- Air discharge range:
- Mounting position:
- Application:
- Shape:
- Heating options:
- Sound insulation:
- Unit length: Custom unit lengths available
- Fan type: AC