FAN COILS AND CHILLED BEAMS
The rise and rise of chilled beams
R
ecent reports anticipate that the chilled beam market will grow exponentially between now and 2020 (globally at a CAGR
of 11.14%).
This increase is in some ways unsurprising, as the benefits provided by chilled beams to commercial buildings such as offices, hotels, healthcare facilities and educational institutions are significant.
However, some confusion still remains as to the benefits of chilled beams in comparison to FCU counterparts, and certain misapprehensions have proved difficult to shake.
With this in mind, we’ve broken down four key areas of differentiation between FCUs and chilled beams below.
The chilled beams market is growing at the expense of traditional FCUs, mainly because chilled beams are more energy efficient. While in recent years the efficiency of FCUs has increased – largely due to legislation driving the introduction of electronically commutated (EC) motors – they still can’t compete on performance against chilled beams.
In fact, chilled beams offer savings of up to 40 36 June 2017
Another vital consideration is upkeep, and the installation and maintenance costs are much higher with an FCU. Fan coils obviously have a fan, which involves electrical wiring, resulting in additional costs. In addition, because the water temperature is so low in an FCU system, condensation will form on the pipework and the coil. This results in the need for anti- condensation protection, for example drip trays, at additional cost. As condensation will form on the coil and makes it wet, FCUs usually need a filter to prevent the coil becoming clogged with dirt.
These filters will then need regular replacement, to ensure they never reach a point
While fan coil units (FCUs) have long been the go-to solution for air conditioning in UK commercial buildings, they are not without their disadvantages. Therefore, it is unsurprising that chilled beams, with efficiency, flexibility and cost benefits, are enjoying a surge in popularity. Chris Jones, product manager at Fläkt Woods, explains why it’s time to move on from the FCU.
per cent over traditional air conditioning systems. Chilled water temperatures in chilled beams operate at higher water temperatures than fan coil systems; for example 14oC flow compared to 6oC respectively.
This means the chiller used to create the chilled water will perform more efficiently for a chilled beam than for a fan coil, because the lower the chilled water temperature, the higher the energy use.
where microbial growth is facilitated. What’s more, over time the blower and housing, dampers and mechanical connections, plus the tube and fins are likely to become dirt encrusted, thus preventing normal operation. This means an extensive cleaning regime must be undertaken to ensure the FCU system operates effectively.
In contrast, the installation and maintenance requirements for chilled beams are much lower. In a chilled beam system there is no need for condensation protection, because typically the chilled water temperature is above a room’s dew point (i.e. where condensation is formed). And since a chilled beam coil is dry, it doesn’t require a filter. Equally, as chilled beams have no moving parts, cleaning requirements are far less onerous by comparison.
The benefits of chilled beams, as opposed to FCU systems, also pertain to the end user, as they can provide a higher overall level of comfort. Low and even air velocities, along with a good distribution of fresh air, mean that chilled beams provide a pleasant environment for room occupants. However, the biggest point of
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