ENERGY SAVING Localised control
In large factories or production sites, it is sensible to consider localised control of temperature and/ or humidity – creating the correct conditions in specific areas of the space – rather than conditioning the whole manufacturing facility. In the case of humidity control, zones can be created in the areas of need, and nozzles for high pressure atomised water humidifiers would be positioned near to the production line with the sensor over the critical area. These systems are modular, and therefore can be scaled up or down according to the area required. Naturally, some of the moisture will be taken up by the large factory air volume, but energy is reduced by reducing the size of the humidifier - not by reducing the specification or conditions desired.
Large industrial facilities by the nature of their size are expensive to condition. Here, zoning may not be as appropriate, and the opportunity to reduce the physical air volume of the shop floor may be limited. But we can employ low energy solutions which create large energy savings.
One example of this is the use of destratification fans. With any conventional air heating system warm air will rise to roof level by natural convection. In high factories, warehouses and sports centres, this can result in high temperature gradients and consequently increased energy usage. There can frequently be differences of up to 10°C between ‘shop floor’ and ceiling levels, creating a huge waste of heat and energy. Destratification fans reverse the natural convection process, recirculating warm air back to working level providing a reduction in roof space temperature and uniform temperature distribution. Heat where you want it - reducing energy bills.
Air curtains
Equally, Air curtains provide a barrier of high velocity air that helps block incoming winds and stops warm air escaping. They achieve this by delivering a powerful barrier of heated air across the entire width of the doorway. Units can be fitted to existing or new buildings and are ideal for open doorways.
Stops warm air escaping whilst allowing free movement of people and machinery - saving energy and costs.
In some cases, the addition of one piece of equipment leads to energy savings by reducing the demand of other machinery or equipment - reducing overall energy costs. One example leads us back to our earlier example of dehumidification in cold stores.
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The dehumidifier is installed inside the cold store itself, and the dry air leaving the dehumidifier is ducted to directly above the doors where the moisture enters the cold room. The dehumidifier absorbs moisture from around the dew point (eg -25°C) and dries it to dew point that is normally below the evaporation temperature. In such cases, all the moisture present within the facility is absorbed quickly and effectively by the dehumidifier. Ideally, the dehumidifier absorbs all the moisture that enters the cold storage area, so that it is no longer necessary to defrost the evaporators in the refrigeration installation. At the very least it shall reduce the frequency, requiring less complex defrosting systems and reducing the risk of formation of ice and condensation.
These dehumidifiers are energy efficient and typically lead to overall energy savings across equipment required within the application.
Controls
Controls are the other way to ensure the best energy efficiency, modulating output to demand or turning off a system when conditions are achieved. Control of temperature and humidity is well documented, but CO2
factor in regulating the volumes of fresh air brought into a building. The proportion of CO2
animals exhale this gas, it mixes quickly with the ambient air. A high CO2
content becomes
apparent in humans through rapid fatigue and loss of concentration. The negative effects become noticeable that much more quickly in small rooms in which there are many people (eg. conference rooms). In order to initiate suitable countermeasures such as an increase in the supply of fresh air, it is important to measure not only parameters such as relative humidity and temperature, but also the CO2
content.
This is a great tool to allow us to not only monitor the quality of the air but to also record it so that we can come to a considered solution on how to improve the indoor air quality. By regulating the fresh air coming into the space you reduce the amount of new air required to be conditioned. Again – saving energy and costs whilst being mindful of providing sufficient oxygenated air for human requirements. To reduce energy it is wise to look at how the energy is used rather than just how much. Adding further equipment to a facility may at first seem illogical, but may in fact ensure that the energy used is put to its most effective best use – thereby not only saving energy consumption and costs, but also increase staff wellbeing, production and profitability.
is also an important in natural ambient air is about 0.04 % or 400 ppm. When humans and
The most energy efficient systems which result in the most productive environments are ones where the components work together, with good design and installation, and not where equipment is just lazily turned off
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