30 Product Developments
Don’t forget the condensate!
HISTORICALLY, GRAVITY DRAINS have been used in the removal of condensate water from air conditioning units, however, in many applications this seemingly simple solution can prove anything but simple to install and can pose potential health and safety risks. One effective solution to this problem is a condensate pump.
Where to install the pipe? When installing air conditioning (AC) systems, engineers have often had to face the headache of where to install the pipe to remove the condensate. Traditionally, a gravity drain was considered a simple solution for condensate removal.
Condensate is a natural by- product of the cooling process. So when fitting an AC system, whether in a commercial,
industrial or domestic application, engineers have to consider the evacuation of condensate water generated by the AC unit. In some cases it may be drained with a plastic pipe leading away from the system. However, this traditional method has many potential disadvantages, such as water damage issues, space limitations and inflexibility of installation.
For instance, installing gravity drains in new buildings can prove tricky if this has not been considered at the design stage. Adding air conditioning to a building as an after- thought once complete can also prove challenging. Gravity drain systems require the AC unit to be placed on the wall that is nearest to the outside wall and also require sufficient space to drain by gravity.
However, without planning where to position a gravity drain in advance, AC units may end up installed some distance from outside walls or in space restricted plant rooms, thus making it tricky to use gravity drains to remove condensate. Other disadvantages of using a gravity drain system include potential water damage to the building. Leaking water from gravity drain systems can damage a building’s façade, costing the building’s owner tens of thousands of pounds in repairs to the structure’s exterior.
In a bid to meet the global rise in the requirement for comfort air conditioning while answering the challenges posed by gravity drains, the AC industry realised it needed to devise an alternative method of condensate removal which was both fast and reliable. Manufacturers therefore considered these problems and as a result an alternative
solution was introduced to the market: the condensate water removal pump. The advent of this technology was revolutionary in air conditioning since it increased the number of applications that AC could be used in, and made retrofitting units in older buildings simpler. Condensate removal pumps have proved that there is no longer a need for gravity drain systems, since a pump can evacuate water up and away from the AC unit. These pumps can simply and effectively remove condensate water whatever the application, whether in a flat on the 30th floor of a building, or in the basement of an office block. Ultimate flexibility is also guaranteed, as the unit inside the room can be placed anywhere. For example, the Silent + Mini Orange from Aspen Pumps can pump condensate water up to 10m straight up and is as quiet as 19DBA.
J&E Hall
ACR News September 2014
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