ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HVAC HELP
Upgrading one component within an HVAC system could reduce the energy consumption of a building by 40%. Tony Wright, Divisional Director at ebm-papst, explores the core benefits of upgrading the fan component of a HVAC system to an EC (Electronically Commutated) motor across a range of sectors.
One of the simplest ways to reduce energy consumption in a commercial building is to ensure all HVACR equipment is fitted with the highest efficiency ‘EC technology’ fans. In the refrigeration, air conditioning, and building technology sector, uncontrolled AC motors are still frequently used to drive fans. But they have a serious disadvantage: comparatively low efficiency. This has an effect on energy consumption in practically all applications.
It’s possible to boost energy savings, without the hefty pay out of installing a completely new HVAC system through retrofit. In a retrofit or upgrade, specific components are upgraded to improve the performance of an existing HVAC or refrigeration system. Typically, inefficient fans with AC motors are replaced with highly efficient EC fans.
FM Airport
When the fan in the Air Handling Unit (AHU) that serves the check-in area failed, Birmingham Airport urgently needed a replacement. The solution was a completely new FanGrid system. A contra-rotating axial fan served the air conditioning system for the check-in area of the Airport. When the motor of the fan broke down the entire air conditioning system shut down. Airport management needed help quickly and contacted service provider and air treatment experts Munters, for support. Instead of replacing the big contra-rotating axial fan, we replaced it with a new FanGrid design with five EC fans. This design prevents whole system failure. If one fan were to fail, the remaining four can increase their speed. They can compensate for the loss and continue to deliver the air volume required. The retrofit reduced Birmingham Airport’s power consumption of 24 kW to 6.6 kW. Its energy consumption is reduced by 72% and the airport saves over €12,000 per year.
EC motors are brushless DC motors powered by AC mains. They use permanent magnet motors, running on high voltage direct current (DC) electricity, with built in AC to DC conversion, allowing them to run direct from single phase or three phase mains supplies. The result is high performance, silent speed control and long-life expectancy in a product which is the same size as the old, power hungry AC products it replaces.
We know it’s not always financially viable to upgrade entire HVAC systems to reap the benefits of this improved technology. Here are some examples from a range of sectors where only upgrading the ‘fan’ component of a system to EC technology provided the perfect solution:
28 | TOMORROW’S FM
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