Air handling units
Find the balance E
Outdoor air pollution levels and energy efficiency are frequently talked about in the media and most recently, the topic of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has been making the headlines. But, the fundamental principles of energy efficiency and good IAQ are at odds according to Nick Baldwin of Mansfield Pollard
nergy efficiency requires a tightly sealed building to minimise the escape of heated or cooled air, reduce outdoor air infiltration, and
restricted use of HVAC systems; good IAQ calls for sufficient quantities of clean air to enable a sense of wellness without toxic pollutants and for carefully controlled temperature and humidity. To successfully improve energy efficiency and good indoor environmental quality, a balanced approach is required. Since most people will spend nearly 90% of their time living or working in a built environment it is not appropriate to expose human health to large quantities of harmful particulates (and gases) in the name of protecting the environment. Neither is it appropriate to act in a reckless way with regards to the use of our limited natural resources.
An essential factor in providing adequate fresh air efficiently is that the HVAC systems must be fitted with effective filtration to prevent the majority of particles (and gases) in the outdoor air from making their way indoors. A poorly / incorrectly ventilated working
environment can affect your business in a variety of costly ways. These can include low employee morale, computer downtime, damaged interiors and high capital expenditure to replace prematurely deteriorated air conditioning systems. In addition, indoor air quality has a huge bearing on human performance. As IAQ reduces there is a direct correlation with productivity and an increase in sickness levels. A recent Healthvent EU research
An essential factor in maintaining efficiency is
Every day we eat 1kg of food, consume 2kg of liquid and breathe 25kg of air – Nick Baldwin
project reported that almost two thirds of the burden of disease traced back to poor IAQ was a result of pollutants coming into a building. The reducing quality of outdoor air, especially in major urban areas is a cause for concern. However, this risk can be significantly mitigated via effective pre-filtration prior to air entering the building. The global introduction of ISO 16890 filter classification, based on particulate classes, means that filter specification can be aligned to the real condition of the desired application.
regular maintenance. It has been shown that preventative rather than reactive maintenance can reduce energy consumption cost by 5%-40% depending on the system or equipment involved, and improve equipment life and uptime. Likewise, the space being supplied by the HVAC equipment should be evaluated regularly for changes in occupancy and use, as activities conducted in a space also contributes heavily to indoor air pollution. Mansfield Pollard has extensive experience of working closely with a variety of sectors to provide ventilation solutions which minimise operating costs whilst meeting with the appropriate regulations. It is crucial that we can understand exactly what the customer requires and work with them, and any other stakeholders, to develop a solution which provides the best overall outcome in terms of capital outlay and operating costs. It is also vital to have a good understanding of the current regulatory framework and a strong sense of how that is likely to develop over time. Many of the companies that we work with have outdated ventilation systems which require updating to meet regulatory requirements and to take advantage of new, more efficient technologies which, in turn, leads to a reduction in operating costs. Our aim is to provide innovative ventilation solutions, with a focus on energy efficiency whilst working with our customers to minimise any operational disruption.
SCREENS KEEP AHUs CLEAN I
t is estimated that there are some 47,000 chillers of 250kW and above in the UK, each chiller serving air handling plant. These are suffering daily from the chiller coils being
contaminated with airborne debris where just 1mm of dirt will reduce efficiency by 21%. RABScreen of Newbury may have a solution with its high quality air intake screens. These screens are fitted to the outside of dry air coolers, chillers, air handling units, condensers, compressors, cooling towers and generator intakes to protect the equipment from incoming debris. This saves money by extending the life of disposable filters, saves as much as 30% of input energy on chiller coils and saves
May 2017
labour by reducing cleaning and chemical use. As a result, the typical return on investment of fitting Rabscreen air intake screens is less than six months. There are a wealth of applications for the air intake screens with air moving equipment fitted across industry, in food processing factories, hospitals, hotels and retail, and in schools, colleges and universities. Manufactured in the USA by Permatron, the RABScreen BHA air intake screen is an engineered mesh using polyester and polypropylene. Polyester is negatively charged and polypropylene is positively charged which means that any air movement excites the mesh to create an electrostatic charge.
A partly cleaned RABScreen
www.heatingandventilating.net
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