Impact of Environmental Factors on Air Handling Unit Performance in the Libyan Oil Sector: The Case Study of Ras Lanuf Oil & Gas Company
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21706580Keywords:
Air Handling Unit, Desert-coastal environment, Dust accumulation, Filter pressure drop, Cooling coil fouling, Performance-based maintenanceAbstract
Air Handling Units (AHUs) are critical safety infrastructure in oil and gas facilities, responsible for maintaining positive pressurization, thermal comfort, and air quality in control rooms, electrical substations, and process areas. However, in desert-coastal environments such as northern Libya, AHUs face extreme environmental stressors—intense Saharan dust storms, ambient temperatures exceeding 45°C, and elevated coastal humidity—that accelerate performance degradation, increase energy consumption, and threaten operational reliability. Despite these challenges, maintenance practices in Libyan hydrocarbon facilities remain predominantly reactive or calendar-based, lacking condition-monitoring frameworks. This study quantitatively evaluates the perceived impact of dust accumulation, high ambient temperature, elevated humidity, and cooling coil fouling on AHU operational performance at Ras Lanuf Oil and Gas Processing Company. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, structured questionnaires were administered to 40 experienced AHU specialists, yielding a 100% response rate. Instrument reliability was confirmed via Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.82). Descriptive analysis revealed that 87.5% of respondents confirmed dust accumulation significantly increases filter pressure drop and reduces airflow efficiency; 90.0% agreed that high temperatures and humidity increase cooling loads and electrical energy consumption; 85.0% confirmed cooling coil fouling reduces heat exchange efficiency; and 87.5% affirmed that performance-based monitoring indicators effectively support predictive maintenance planning. All four research hypotheses (H1–H4) were empirically supported. The findings demonstrate that combined environmental exposure creates synergistic degradation mechanisms, including exponential filter pressure rise, conductive thermal insulation on coils, elevated psychrometric latent loads, and accelerated atmospheric corrosion collectively impairing AHU capacity, increasing power draw, and shortening equipment lifespan. Practically, it offers an actionable roadmap for transitioning from calendar-based servicing to condition-based, performance-monitored maintenance protocols, including differential pressure-triggered filter replacement, automated coil washing, anti-corrosion coatings, and real-time sensor integration.
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