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E N E R G Y M A N A G E M E N T
Better by design
Keith Carpenter, southern regional manager of Emerson Network Power, considers the consultation
process to be undertaken as the Ecodesign Directive takes wider effect and identifies an existing
proactive building services industry focus on energy saving.
To the point have the initial responsibility of that will be included in the channelled through the relevant chiller, but with the addition of spiral scrolls, the upper scroll
Since 2005, the Ecodesign implementation through best Working Plan for 2009-2011, representative and consultative an integral dry cooler circuit, being stationary whilst the
Directive has been one of the practice and other voluntary and the list includes, amongst bodies. thereby reducing power lower scroll orbits, rather than
key enabling mechanisms to measures. others, air conditioners above consumption and DX rotates. This creates a series of
drive forward the European 12kW, ventilation systems, Leading lights mechanical cooling. gas pockets travelling between
Union’s policy designed to Being prepared network, data processing and Although the specific policy the two scrolls and these
reduce the levels of During the first three years data storing equipment. aims of the key Directives were
environmentally damaging following the coming in to force Industries involved will again set out only a relatively short
Free Cooling is a concept
pockets are continually
compressed towards the centre
emissions and to increase the of the Directive, nineteen have a pivotal role during the time ago, manufacturers and
that has been understood
of the scrolls, where they are
use of renewable energy product categories have been ensuing consultation process. providers supplying the building
for many years, based on
discharged as high-pressure
sources. The Directive the subject of preparatory Consequently, those involved in services industry have long
the principal that the air
gas. The innovative design of
establishes a framework to studies, fourteen of which have providing products and systems been focusing on the energy outside a building is, on the digital scroll compressor
prescribe design principles to been completed and the for the building services efficiency of products and occasions, both cool and enables the separation of the
apply to energy using products building services industry industry and the industry itself systems. The industry has not
dry enough to be used to
scrolls to be controlled, which
and systems, together with any played an important and will be concerned to ensure that been slow to appreciate and
directly cool inside the
allows continuous modification
necessary labelling influential part in the their contribution towards the welcome these design
building, thus obviating
of the compression cycle to
requirements under the Energy consultation process. technical, economic and initiatives, understanding their
the need to use the
deliver the specific cooling
Labelling Directive. The Commission recently environmental analysis involved importance in the overall, long
The industries concerned confirmed the product groups in the consultation process is term, energy efficiency picture.
building’s air
capacity required as the heat
In the case of air conditioning
conditioning system
load fluctuates.
products, several best practice EC fans
measures and innovative design The dry cooler circuit is built Correct air distribution is
features reflect technological into the same mechanical essential and another relatively
improvement enabling greater assembly that supports the recent technological advance
application of previously condenser coils and fans and, has been the introduction of
existing concepts and the where capacity is approximately Electronically Commutated (EC)
introduction of new technology. 300 kW and above, the coil area motors. The variable speed
Resulting from initiatives by is generally maximised by control the motor offers, when
individual manufacturers or sophisticated W formation coil utilised in an air conditioner fan
providers, these improvements arrangements. system, enables capacity and
are currently available for The condenser fans also load to be closely matched at all
building service professionals serve the dry cooler circuits times.
for whom energy efficiency is of and, using intelligent control The resulting efficiency of the
prime importance. routines, can control the EC Fan leads to a reduction in
compressor head pressure energy consumption of some
Free cooling whilst maximising the free 30%, together with a significant
Free Cooling is a concept that cooling operation. lessening of noise and heat
has been understood for many emissions. The infinitely
years, based on the principal Digital scroll variable speed control of the EC
that the air outside a building is, compressor Fan extends the working life of
on occasions, both cool and dry The compressor is a key moving parts and reduces
enough to be used to directly component but major consumer maintenance costs, making a
cool inside the building, thus of energy within the air significant contribution towards
obviating the need to use the conditioning system, as a overall savings in lifetime costs.
building’s air conditioning conventional compressor will
system. However, using power on and off as the level of Ecodesign
traditional methods of the cooling capacity varies. Over the coming months, the
assessing the amount of energy However, a more recent Ecodesign principles applying
available on such occasions innovation, the digital scroll to the products in the
could result in creating compressor, provides precise Commission’s Working Plan for
unwanted moisture in the thermal management to ensure 2009-211 will be analysed,
building. Improved technology that the cooling capacity discussed and formalised. All
has led to the introduction of the precisely matches the heat load, interested parties, like Emerson
integral free cooling circuit with thereby reducing energy Network Power, will be able to
a self-contained control system. consumption. take advantage of opportunities
For example, in a free cooling Part of the essential heat given to make their views
chiller the ambient air, transfer process is to compress known through representative
temperature permitting, is used the gas refrigerant to the and consultative bodies,
to cool the chilled water supply, desired discharge pressure and continuing their contribution
utilising compressors, this is achieved using scroll towards the achievement of
evaporators, condensers, etc, compressor technology. This goals that could not be more
as in a conventional air cooled technology is based on two significant.
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JULY 2009 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 19
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