ENERGY SAVING EQUIPMENT Modular
Previously fan coil design has not changed radically for many years until now... In addition to meeting specifi cation criteria on market-leading energy effi ciency and exceptionally low sound levels, the latest fan-coil innovation is challenging previous designs, off ering the fi rst modular, repeatable systems. For example, Diff usion’s new Modular Highline 235 fan coil range design comprises eight modules, including 13 fan combinations with almost 300,000 confi gurations ensuring customers can select the fan coil to fi t their individual application. Modular design off ers limitless options, giving customers
fl exibility to select the exact fan coil for their project avoiding energy wastage. The unit’s core becomes the foundation of a customer’s selection, providing the base for the modular approach. This contains key components including fi lters, heat exchanger and fans. AC specifi ers can then choose from a wide range of attenuator and plenum options. To make installation easy discharge plenums are available in rectangular or circular spigots, meanwhile inlet and discharge attenuators are available in lengths to meet the specifi c application’s acoustic requirements. Specifi ers can select exactly the fan coil they require; this helps to avoid energy wastage through over specifi cation as previous ranges had fewer models to select from.
Other advantages of modular fan coil units, such as the
new Highline 235, are that they have been designed to be as compact as possible so they are manufactured from less material, making them more sustainable with lower embodied carbon. The modular design also increases the life of the fan coil as each component can easily be accessed for maintenance, and replaced if necessary. Modular design is particularly important to buildings with a change of use. Units can be re-confi gured on-site to suit the building’s new purpose. This is a huge sustainability benefi t as it saves purchasing new models and the existing models would traditionally be scrapped (which is both costly and wasteful). Instead, the Diff usion modular design enables fan coils to be reused, reducing a building’s overall embodied energy. If a space changes from open plan to an offi ce the unit can be easily reconfi gured to meet noise regulations by simply adding an attenuator to the modular design. The new modular Highline 235 therefore off ers customers fl exibility and quality when selecting the fan coil needed, plus the fl exibility to adapt to future use ensuring its longevity and delivering cost advantages.
Embodied energy As fan coil units reach their pinnacle of energy effi ciency it is
important AC engineers consider embodied energy too. This is becoming increasingly important as we approach the UK’s 2050 net-zero target. It is therefore vital for manufacturers to consider at the design stage both the whole life costing and performance. For example, this was central to Diff usion’s design of the new Modular Highline 235. Diff usion looked at every element of fan coil design and developed the range with optimum performance, low noise, improved effi ciency and ease of serviceability and maintenance in
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mind. Emphasis was on using the most energy effi cient components with the latest technology, utilising less materials, reducing the volume of materials transported, minimising carbon footprint and lowering running costs per unit size. These design innovations ensure reduced energy usage, reduced heat loss and product longevity. For example, fan coil units can be supplied with either
ISO grade media fi lters or a lifetime wire mesh fi lter, like Diff usion’s ‘Eco’ fi lter which is supplied as standard. Diff usion’s ‘Eco’ fi lter off ers a reduction in waste of thousands of non-biodegradable fi lters to landfi ll. A key objective for a fan coil unit, and particularly for
Diff usion’s new Highline 235, is to circulate healthy air sustainably. Dirty fi lters will reduce the air volume handled by the fan coil unit and so adversely aff ect its performance. This means fi lters need cleaning or replacing regularly. The ‘Eco’ fi lter provides a robust environmentally conscious solution that can be simply vacuum cleaned in situ, making maintenance simple too. Reducing air and road miles for products and their components is another way to reduce embodied energy. British designed and manufactured, Diff usion aims to have as short a supply chain as possible. For example, low-carbon motors are sourced from Wiltshire and 60% of Diff usion’s fan coil units are transported less than 30 miles to end-users in London, keeping carbon emissions to the minimum. However, it is important not only to design a fan coil with
a low embodied energy, it is also vital to be able to measure this and prove it with data, so that specifi ers of low carbon buildings have the whole picture and assurance they need. Designed to have a low embodied carbon footprint, Diff usion has used the CIBSE TM65 data collection methodology to collect accurate and detailed embodied carbon information. Working from a component level, this methodology ensures data is comprehensive, and up-to-date. All in all, modular fan coil design off ers a long sustainable
product life for customers since they are easily serviced and units can be re-confi gured on-site to suit a building’s new purpose and confi guration. This lowers the embodied carbon in the life cycle of a building.
www.acr-news.com • January 2024 27
But for a fan coil unit to be truly energy saving, high effi ciency motors and low SFPs are just the start of the design journey. The latest fan coil design features a more
fundamental redesign.
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