Monitoring & metering
HOW TO OPTIMISE ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH SENSOR SELECTION
Choosing the right HVAC sensors can have a significant impact on energy efficiency and power usage effectiveness (PUE). Anu Kätkä from the measurement technology company Vaisala believes that while sensor costs are relatively small, their
impact on energy use can be disproportionately large, and in the following article, she explains why….
A 66
ccording to the International Energy Agency, the operations of buildings account for 30 per cent of global energy consumption and 26 per cent of global energy-related emissions (eight per cent being direct emissions in
buildings and 18 per cent indirect emissions from the production of electricity and heat used in buildings). This sector therefore represents an enormous opportunity in the fight against climate change, and one of the key issues is the accuracy of indoor and outdoor measurements, when managing indoor environments.
The cost of accurate sensing technologies is negligible in comparison with the magnitude of the cost savings and the climate-related importance of energy efficiency. This was highlighted at COP28, where the global community agreed to double energy efficiency measures by 2030.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A SENSOR Sensors and transmitters play an essential role in building automation and building management systems (BMS). Sensors are crucially important because everything the system does is based on measurements. The BMS monitors prevailing indoor and outdoor conditions through parameters such as temperature and humidity, and uses this data to manage the building as efficiently as possible. Precise indoor conditions can only be accurately maintained through accurate measurements that can be trusted to remain accurate throughout the life of the building. Additional sensors may be necessary when a
BMS is already in place and if there is a requirement to verify, monitor and optimise the building systems, or when a separate environmental monitoring system is required to monitor, map, and highlight trends. It may also be necessary to report to third parties, for example to show that service level requirements have been fulfilled. Good HVAC measurements can reduce energy consumption, while inaccurate measurements can cause it to increase. For example, false high temperature readings can result in excessive cooling. This means more energy is being used,
resulting in higher costs and greater CO2 emissions. False low readings might result in insufficient cooling, which increases discomfort and risk to IT equipment. Similarly, if air is too dry it can cause short circuits in IT equipment, and too
August 2024 Instrumentation Monthly
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
