BSEE ENERGY MANAGEMENT
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FOCUS ON FAN COIL UNITS The modern, Multi‐Room solution
Peter Lowther, Director at Ability Projects – the manufacturer of energy efficient and quiet fan coil units – explains the advantages of adopting a Multi‐Room approach to using Fan Coil Units to heat and cool buildings.
an coil units (FCUs) are the go to terminal unit system to provide cooling and heating to enable the close control of temperature. Often used in commercial office spaces for many years, they are also now to be found in many residential apartments, providing comfort cooling and heating.
And that’s not the only benefit. Using the latest generation in energy efficient motor technologies and optimised control strategies, a fan coil unit system can provide – and indeed exceed – the requirements of the most demanding building energy standards
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When heating or cooling a number of different rooms with different requirements a building would, as standard, need a FCU in each space or to have one temperature for all the spaces, regardless of individual demands. Traditionally, this means supplying fan coils to maintain a comfortable temperature in every office within a building would, therefore, have required many individual units sized to control small zones.
Multi‐Room FCUs
Through a process of constant development, it is now possible to provide a Multi-Room FCU. Designed to allow one conventional ‘draw through’ fan coil to serve a number of small spaces, the Multi-Room FCU has one larger coil, one set of water control valves and one controller.
The individual ‘pressure independent ’ fans in the unit each serve a single duct to a single plenum which then, in turn, provides cooled or heated air to the space. Each conditioned zone can have a single or multiple fans connected to it depending on the loads to be dealt with and the noise required. When the Multi-Room unit is installed and switched on, the pressure independent fans adjust themselves to the differing resistance of each duct and self- correct to deliver the design air volumes to each space. The Multi-Room FCU utilises a supply air sensor in each of the individual fans as well as a conventional single return air sensor in the return air path. Each room will require a wall thermostat used to give a direct temperature reading from the individual spaces and to enable used setpoint adjustment.
Unlike the old-style, manual ‘dial and set’ control valves, the Multi-Room FCU also utilises the latest ‘electronic pressure independent characterised control valves’ (EPIV). Like the air volume fans, these are delivered with the water flow rates pre-programmed, resulting in simple checks rather than complicated commissioning procedures.
Control strategy
This approach to using a FCU demands a specialised control strategy. The space with the largest temperature differential (actual versus required) will become the primary controlled space and the Multi-Room FCU will ensure this space is provided with sufficient cooling or heating. By manipulation of air volumes to each of the other spaces, along with careful control of water flow rate, the other rooms are maintained within a satisfactory temperature range. We have found that occupants were less aware of being
cooler than being too hot, which is why the Strategy Control prioritises cooling first.
The unit continually re-evaluates the various demands, continually reacting and working in real-time in up to five individual spaces. This gives the Multi-Room FCU a wider range of potential applications within buildings and is especially effective in overcoming the problems of overheating in high-rise residential developments. For designers, this all translates into a requirement to find space to locate just one, rather than multiple FCUs. Installers only need to fit that single unit, so there is less pipework and reduced building management system (BMS) networking.
Air and water flow
With the control technology in place, the commissioning team does not have to do anything more than a quality control check on the air and water flow at the end of manufacture. If any of the values change and need to be re-set, this can be completed remotely, without contact with the specific unit.
Although pre-configured in the factory, all the necessary settings for the Multi-Room FCU are available either through the BMS network or a supplied remote access software suite, ensuring that monitoring or reconfiguration can be performed remotely by the facilities manager. As well as improving the ease of specification, installation and use, the economic benefits are also considerable. A single (five space) Multi-Room option costs just 35% of the price of five individual fan coils in an equivalent installation. Alongside the reduction in materials – less copper and aluminium, a single controller and two valves – compared to other FCUs, the Multi-Room also offers notable savings on manufacturing energy consumption and recycling, dismantling and material reworking.
Supplied with the most efficient EC fans it also provides energy saving variable speed strategies as standard. Add a potential 80% reduction in pipe runs, fittings and commissioning and there are substantial savings to be made.
www.abilityprojects.com Feel the power at action‐packed Energy 2017
Among the nine shows held during UK Construction Week at Birmingham’s NEC from October 10-12, Energy 2017 will be dedicated to renewables, innovation and power solutions within the building environment and will explore the reduction of costs through energy saving ideas. As official content partner, The Renewable Energy Association (REA) – the trade association representing renewable energy producers and promoting the use of renewable energy in the UK – will deliver a programme of insightful talks revolving around biomass, wind and solar at the specially designed REA Theatre, sponsored by WElink. The Energy Hub seminar theatre will host sessions on sustainable heating, wellbeing and indoor air quality, while
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n response to visitor demand, Energy 2017 will feature even more innovative products and solutions.
Npower will also deliver educational, thought-provoking presentations that will challenge industry perceptions. The winners of the Low CVP Low Carbon Champions Awards will be announced at Energy 2017 on the evening of October 11, during a special presentation with categories ranging from cars to innovation, from fuels to publications. The awards will demonstrate outstanding and innovative practices in this growing industry sector. Nathan Garnett, Event Director at UK Construction Week,
said: “After the success of the show during the past two years, we are excited to be back again for the third time as the leading show of its type. This year we have introduced many new attractions and will provide many opportunities for topical debate on key industry themes. It presents a highly valuable occasion for those to mix with like-minded professionals and to stay connected to the latest advancements in the sector.”
Free to attend, Energy 2017 will help mechanical and electrical contractors, consultants, project managers, specifiers, distributors and installers uncover innovative new products, find out about the latest industry trends, identify new business opportunities and form vital strategic partnerships.
24 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2017
www.energyliveshow.co.uk/register VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.bsee.co.uk
‘ Through a
process of constant development, it is now possible to provide a Multi‐Room FCU. Designed to allow one conventional ‘draw through’ fan coil to serve a number of small spaces, the Multi‐Room FCU has one larger coil, one set of water control valves and one controller.
’
uAbility Projects’ Multi‐Room FCU. Installers only need to fit a single unit, so there is less pipework and reduced building management system (BMS) networking.
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