DRIVE AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY
Why VSD technology is practical and economic
Karl Jones, the managing director and founder of Digicon, a Danfoss distributor, and reportedly one of the largest independent variable speed drive specialists in the industry, explains how the two companies worked together to deliver HVAC drives for temporary COVID-19 hospitals which needed to be up and running extremely fast. He also describes Digicon’s wider experience in, and approach to supplying, such drives to the wider healthcare sector.
Danfoss Drives and Digicon Solutions, an approved Danfoss Distributor, stepped up to the challenge to help in the battle against the global coronavirus pandemic when the Danfoss Drives team in the UK was asked to provide HVAC drives for temporary COVID-19 (NHS) hospitals which needed to be fully operational by April 2020. Alan Baird, Country manager for UK and Ireland at Danfoss Drives, explained: “From our factory in Gråsten (in Denmark) we were originally quoted a six-day delivery for the particular drives. However, when we explained that they were required to help directly in our fight against COVID-19, our colleagues in Gråsten managed to confirm and provide a next day delivery. That was fantastic, and we were all very grateful.” The drives, type FC102 in IP66 form, were ordered for a prototype system to provide heating, ventilation, and air- conditioning for a new type of mini ‘field hospital’ located in rural areas of the UK. Helping people requiring treatment to be cared for locally, rather than moving them to healthcare facilities in cities, affords numerous benefits for patients, their families, and the NHS – something greatly helped in this instance by the rapid response provided by Danfoss and Digicon.
Suitability for outdoor use Danfoss’s Alan Baird added: “The type of enclosure specified on this occasion is ideal for outdoor mounting, which not only facilitates installation, but also saves spaces inside the building. High IP ratings such as IP55, 66, and 67, are standard for Danfoss, and are typically stock items within our nationwide distribution network. However, in this case the specific rating and quantity were not
immediately available; hence the request to have the HVAC drives built as an ‘express order’ by the factory,
A typical HVAC system.
which our team duly delivered on – due to the importance of the customer, and clear benefits for the patients, staff, and visitors from the comfort and cooling these would provide.”
Karl Jones. 90 Health Estate Journal October 2020
As managing director of Digicon, I work with a number of NHS Trusts to understand their short-term requirements, and coordinate with the Danfoss supply chain to minimise the number of express orders the company has to fulfil unless critical measures demand otherwise. We would like to pass on our sincere thanks to the team in Gråsten for supplying the Danfoss drives so quickly for our NHS hospitals. We can’t say enough about the fantastic support from all involved. This great example of teamwork, resulting in such a quick response in times of crisis, demonstrates the coordination and partnership that exists between Danfoss and its supply chain. There are 50+ engineers in the Danfoss Distributor network, all of whom are available and prepared to do their utmost to assist any hospitals or healthcare facilities in situations where it’s crucial for
them to get their existing drives working again or replaced if failures occur.
Going ‘above and beyond’ This recent example is not the first time that Digicon has gone above and beyond to help our customers. We have very extensive experience supplying Variable Speed Drive solutions, services, and support, in the healthcare sector. Among the hospitals and healthcare providers we have supplied have been Birmingham Children’s Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Stafford Hospital. and Kettering General Hospital. Digicon prides itself on its ability to step in at short notice and out-of-hours, to ensure the continuous operation of critical plant, such as in hospitals.
At Warwick Hospital, Digicon installed and commissioned Variable Speed Drives to AHU fans and heating pumps. The drives were integrated into the hospital’s existing building management system to provide significant energy and operational cost savings. Siobhan Hill, Energy manager for South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This scheme is one of several measures we are implementing at our facilities to reduce energy consumption, cut our bills , and to
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