BSEE
here’s no denying that seeking out units which boast high efficiency impellers and filters, effective drainage points, and durable casing plays an integral role in meeting ventilation requirements within a variety of buildings. However, a ventilation system will only perform as well as its controls will allow it to, which is why taking the time to consider a system’s
T
Choosing a venlaon system requires careful consideraon of a number of factors, but as Ana Cross, associate product manager of Air Handling Systems (UK) at Elta Group explains, an increased focus on indoor air quality and energy eciency of buildings means opng for a system that incorporates controls and energy recovery should be a top priority
accompanying or integrated control strategy is so important. No ventilation product sits on its own, it needs some form of controls or Building Management System (BMS) to ensure it is working as it should and it can also be adjusted to new requirements within a building. Controls will essentially determine how and when a ventilation unit runs, whether that’s scheduling airflow, linking to a BMS, permitting fault signals and alarms, or communicating that filters need changing. What’s crucial though, is to opt for a ventilation controls strategy which perfectly balances indoor air quality (IAQ) and operating costs.
Indoor air quality
It can be easy to take indoor air quality for granted, but with people spending a considerable amount of time indoors, and guidelines now in place that highlight the impact of air quality on the health, comfort and well-being of building occupants,* it has quickly become a key priority in building design. As awareness of the effects of ventilation on our health increases, there is a bigger focus on implementing effective ventilation strategies in commercial buildings.
This is where ventilation controls can play a significant role. As a general rule,
they should take into account internal temperature, CO2 and external temperature in order to maintain acceptable indoor air quality, without sacrificing thermal comfort. However, with the variable high levels of air pollutants present in the outside air, a more technical approach is required. Indoor air quality and energy management devices, such as Air Designs’ KINAIRTICO, are able to automatically manage ventilation and maximise air quality. Equipped with sensors to enable demand-controlled ventilation in direct response to occupancy levels and internal temperature, these controls are perfect for managing air within commercial environments, ensuring the supply air quality is delivered into the occupied space at an approximate SUP2 category** with levels of particulates just below the WHO guidelines (2005).
Efficient operation
Aside from improving the air quality within our buildings, the other primary reason for introducing controls into a ventilation system is to maximise energy efficiency. Ventilation units account for a large proportion of the UK’s consumption of natural resources and energy, which has understandably brought attention onto how we can improve its environmental impact. One of the most effective ways to do this is to adopt innovative, demand- controlled ventilation which can be monitored in real-time to
automatically adjust to occupancy levels. The natural rhythms of buildings such as offices and schools mean that, for substantial periods of the day, they are largely unoccupied.
A defining feature of control devices like the KINAIRTICO is the ability to use pre-programmed settings based on occupancy levels and time of year. Using the intuitive touch-screen interface, operators can adjust ventilation levels to reflect an empty building, which may be the case overnight or during the summer break. Choosing to use real-time monitoring and smart maintenance will help to guarantee that new buildings can achieve nearly-zero energy status, while continuing to deliver healthy air and thermal comfort. Summer bypasses and night purge modes further increase the options at an operator’s disposal.
Energy recovery units
Although not strictly a set of controls, energy recovery units are another way to manage air quality, thermal comfort, and running costs. Mechanical ventilation with heat and cooling recovery (MVHCR) is the best example of this, which alters the temperature of the incoming air depending on the differential between outside and inside temperature. This helps to keep thermal comfort at a constant level, without spending a significant amount on heating bills or air conditioning. Through the use of a heat exchanger (which can also operate in reverse), the heat/cool within outgoing air is transferred to warm/cool incoming air, in an automatic process that keeps the internal temperature at a user-defined comfort level throughout the year.
uIndoor air quality and energy management devices, such as Air Designs’ KINAIRTICO, are able to automacally manage venlaon and maximise air quality
24 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2019 uUlmately, a venlaon system is only as good as its controls
BUILDING CONTROLS Staying in control of ventilation
uControls will essenally determine how and when a venlaon unit runs, whether that’s scheduling airflow, linking to a BMS, perming fault signals and alarms, or communicang that filters need changing
A breath of fresh air
Ultimately, a ventilation system is only as good as its controls. For applications where balancing indoor air quality and energy efficiency is paramount, controls should be the first port of call. Realistically, this applies to all commercial buildings, from offices to educational facilities, which have specific demands when it comes to ventilation. Ideally, controls should allow the user to reduce ventilation rates when required, allow for out of hours use, increase ventilation in summertime, avoid cold draughts, and avoid excessive energy consumption in the heating season.*** With its dedicated platform KINAIRTICO, Air Design is able to fully integrate its own control devices across all air handling and energy recovery products, offering different levels of machine management either locally (in unit or room controller) or via BMS interface protocols (Modbus or BACnet). Project specific control devices that are required to follow a TREND control system’s philosophy are also available.
‘ No venlaon
product sits on its own, it needs some form of controls or Building Management System (BMS)
’
*
http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/air- quality/policy/who-guidelines-for-indoor-air-quality
** Dependent on fine filtration being present in the mechanical ventilation system such as ePM1 55 per cent (and above) fitted in the NRVU, and that the filters are regularly maintained/replaced; Also dependent on ODA categories.
***
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation- for-school-buildings
https://air-design.com/product/kinairtico Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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