HEAT RECOVERY
Heat recovery- the way ahead?
Anyone running any business knows the increasing headache of trying to make money in the current climate. Every tool
that can contribute towards reduced overheads is welcomed. It means that for the building services industry, the focus is increasingly shifting onto energy efficient systems, especially those that offer heat recovery. Ian Rogers, Gilberts Blackpool sales director has some insight
COMMERCIAL COMBI BOILER HOT WATER AND HEATING IN ONE UNIT
The HeatMaster Evo W
e all know the importance of ventilation: it is essential for the health and wellbeing of occupants and the building fabric, especially as we construct increasingly airtight buildings. If the air cannot escape, nor can the heat. Yet ventilation accounts for around 30% of heat loss in most commercial buildings (an estimated 25% in industrial buildings)(1). It is therefore no surprise
that there is increasing awareness of and need to reduce that heat loss as part of the overall ventilation strategy.
It’s not just the £s it can save the building occupant. It’s about reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint. It’s about contributing towards BREEAM, which has a positive impact on the sale potential or rentability of the premises. Traditionally, we talk about mechanical ventilation with heat recovery- MVHR- but, as the name suggests, that uses energy to power the system- the fans etc. There is another way! In an ideal world, we would use natural ventilation as it uses no power to function, but in most of today’s industrial and commercial buildings, it is not a practical solution. However, we can use hybrid ventilation. Most systems available are stand-alone units that air individual zones, using natural ventilation as much as possible, only switching to add-on power- usually a low energy fan- to supplement airflow as and when needed. The knowledge of hybrid systems has evolved, so now they can also offer heat recovery. Any degree of heat recovery is to be encouraged: warmth that is retained within the building means lower power consumption to maintain the ambient. That degree of heat recovery can vary significantly depending on the system chosen. It pays to verify the technical specification of the systems being considered: they can vary
from 45-65% as standard, with potential (e.g. Gilberts’ Fusion Deo) to achieve up to 75%. To put that in real terms, over an average year, Fusion Deo running at 65% heat recovery would use just 34kW of power (of which 13kW is the low energy fan) yet recover some 30,000kW of heat(2). Further, there would be little likelihood of need for supplementary heating, and possibly reduced requirement for photovoltaic panels for energy offsetting, both of which impact positively on the overall build capital costs. By extracting the heat from the exhaust air via the heat exchanger and transferring it to the cooler incoming air, it is possible to reduce internal demand for supplementary heat, even when the external temperature is as low as -6°C. It is worth noting that the transfer process, of heat to cooler air, can potentially result in condensation. Most systems include means to collect and remove this condensate. Latest developments now mean it is possible to utilise this as chilled water circulation in summer months. Hybrid ventilation with heat recovery has the advantage over the established MVHR in that it uses less energy- by harnessing natural air movement rather than utilising mechanical fans to create the airflow. From a practical perspective, ventilation with heat recovery systems, be they mechanical or hybrid, require an external façade through which to draw the fresh air; transfer grilles can direct the fresh air through partitions. Thus there is a limit as to the size/depth of building in which they can be used as the sole means of ventilation. Regardless, they have a valid place in many of the UK’s building projects and need to be given suitable consideration and credence to help save the planet. Certainly, if MVHR is being considered for a non-domestic installation, one has to also look at the hybrid alternative. At least research it and talk to the experts to see just what can be achieved.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
HeatMaster Evo | 6 models | 25-120kW outputs • Perfect option for light commercial applications • Space saving installation
• Fast heat up and rapid recovery - ensures constant supply of hot water (473-1754 l/h @ 60O
• Can be installed in cascade to meet large commercial building requirements
• Quick and easy to install • Search ACV combi boiler for more information
Contact your local Business Development Manager for a quote
uk.sales@
acvuk.com
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May25.indd 1 4/4/25 10:08 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2025 9 C)
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