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FAN CONVECTORS BSEE


Smith’s demystifies fan convector technology


Jim Bennett, Sales & Marketing Director at Smith’s, sets out to explain why fan convectors are a highly effective, economical and simple solution to heating small and large commercial spaces.


the know use them effectively on successful project after successful project yet for many, they still seem to be a mystery. Certainly the public has no concept of what a fan convector is; they’re just content when the commercial building they walk into is nice and warm. Public perceptions aside, the commercial benefits of using fan convectors in light commercial projects up and down the country becomes self-evident when you examine how fan convectors operate, how simply they are installed and how flexible they are when it comes to siting and controlling them. Fan convector technology is often missing from the curriculum on heating engineer courses, so it’s no wonder that many


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commercial installers do not have fan convectors on their radar and/or believe that they do not have the knowledge to install them. In fact, the installation is exactly the same as a radiator; it connects directly to the central heating system – the only difference between the two is the requirement for a power source to operate the fan.


uDiagram showing how fan convectors work.


Hydronic fan convectors distribute heat evenly throughout a room using forced convection. Inside the casing is a fan and a heat exchanger of aluminium fins with copper pipes. These are easily connected to a


an convectors are still the secret weapon of the industry, even in the commercial sector. Those in


standard two-pipe central heating system in the same way as a panel radiator might be. Hot water, heated by the boiler or for that matter, a heat pump, is passed through the heat exchanger and the heat from the hot water is transferred to the aluminium fins. Cooler air is drawn in by the fan and heated as it passes over the heat exchanger before being expelled gently back into the room.


Fan convectors can be installed in a number of positions to suit user


requirements; on the wall, at low or high level, in the wall, in the floor, in the ceiling or under a kitchen unit. They are versatile, quiet to run and easy to install and offer many advantages for end users which makes them a very worthy competitor in the heating industry. We have just launched our Caspian Skyline, which has innovated our existing Skyline model, by incorporating EC motor technology and the design has been altered so that the fan convector lies flush in the ceiling.


Cost savings The commercial


applications this type of heating lends itself to are easily apparent. Specifying fan convectors over panel radiators brings cost savings to the end user because they can be timed to switch on with much shorter lead times. Radiators require much longer lead times to come to temperature and then warm a room. Even then, a good 10% of their heat is lost heating the wall behind them.


In our own factory tests, we have proven that a space can be heated from a standing starting temperature of 12°C to a comfortable 25°C within 15 minutes. The inherent design of the fan convector means that they use a mere 5% of the water content of an equivalent output radiator which means they are also significantly more efficient.


Fan convectors are compatible with all types of wet central heating systems and functions equally efficiently, whether


connected to a conventional boiler or renewable


technology, such as biomass boilers or ground or air source heat pumps. In line with EU legislation, the leading fan convectors will also


VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.bsee.co.uk


incorporate the latest EC motor technology which can result in running cost savings as high as 80% to deliver heat quickly, efficiently and effectively.


Most fan convectors have multiple heat output settings to enable either a quick heat up or background heat to maintain the room temperature. Because fan convectors use forced convection, the direction of heat is controlled and equally distributed to ensure that no heat is lost. With the heat output switch left on either normal or boost position, the fan convector will come on and off automatically with the central heating system. As they use the same pipework, they can be controlled individually, as a group or linked to the building’s control system, as required.


There are many


advantages for businesses considering fan convectors as their primary heating solution; not only can they assist in reducing business costs and carbon footprint, they have the flexibility to be positioned on the ceiling, in the floor or at a high level which fundamentally alleviates the pressure for more floor space in the premises.


Optimum solution


Due to their ability to provide almost instantaneous heat to larger spaces, where more than one radiator would usually be required, fan convectors have been universally acknowledged to be the optimum heating solution for many light commercial properties and public facilities, especially where they are used intermittently and when heat is required quickly. Although room types and sizes vary dramatically, Smith’s products are designed to heat up to around 12kW which means they are most compatible in the following properties: uNurseries, schools, colleges and universities


uChurches/places of worship


uLeisure and sports centres uHospitals uSmall office complexes uMuseums uRailway stations uNursing/care homes Many businesses are beginning to opt for renewable technology to support their heating system to reduce their business costs


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2016 39


and carbon footprint. However, when businesses select a heat pump as their energy source, and compromise with a panel radiator, the investment in renewable technology could be considered to have been wasted.


Fan convectors operate effectively at system water temperatures as low as 35°C meaning they are truly compatible with renewables. A standard domestic radiator is essentially designed to operate at much higher temperatures, around 70°C. While it is theoretically possible to run them at lower temperatures, their performance and heat output will be dramatically reduced and their physical size will have to be


uCaspian low surface temperature fan convectors have been specially developed for a wide range of applications in larger spaces and commercial environments.


substantially increased. So, to ensure the heat pump runs continuously, which is when they operate at their optimum efficiency,


organisations should consider pairing it with a modern fan convector.


Fan convectors are considered a very worthy competitor in the heating industry and deserve more than just a second look. Providing a highly effective, economical and simple solution to heating small and large commercial spaces, the advantages and versatility they offer over radiators in a number of heating scenarios means that fan convectors remain a positive choice to meet the demands faced by today’s heating engineers.


http://www.smiths-env.com


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