Fans
www.heatingandventilating.net
Why compromise on air quality?
Chris Jones, product manager at FläktGroup looks at how the latest mechanical ventilation technology works to minimise and reduce energy usage whilst delivering ‘fresh’ air even where natural ventilation is not an option
overnments around the world are under increasing pressure to clean up their air pollution, which has been ranked as the fifth highest health risk in the world. It is estimated to kill 40,000 people in the UK every year and the latest government figures show that Britain remains in breach of European limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 16 cities around the country. At the same time, owners and managers of
G
commercial buildings are being asked to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Certainly, the commercial sector has a significant role to play as heating and cooling, in particular, accounts for a considerable amount of a commercial building's energy consumption. Fortunately, new technology is providing the opportunity for efficiency and air quality to be simultaneously achieved.
Catch 22
Outdoor air pollution discourages occupants from opening windows for ventilation, yet it is needed to avoid overheating in the warmer months. Whereas in the winter, opening windows creates draughts which are a major source of heat loss and can make rooms feel uncomfortably chilly. This is the dilemma faced by specifiers working on buildings that are exposed to high levels of noise and outdoor pollution. However, by designing a comprehensive ventilation system for a building, it is possible to create an optimum microclimate to deliver a healthy environment that doesn’t have to compromise energy efficiency.
A mechanical solution
One proven efficient, and cost-effective, solution is the use of mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) units. These work by extracting moist, stale air from the interior of the building and replacing it with fresh filtered air from outside. The system uses the heat from the outgoing air to warm the incoming air via an air-to-air heat exchanger mounted within the MVHR.
This technology ticks the box both in terms of IAQ and energy efficiency by recovering thermal energy from outgoing air. Displacing fossil fuels predominantly used to generate space heating, they offer considerable scope to reduce energy bills and achieve substantial carbon reductions, particularly on sites with multiple buildings. Designed for a wide range of applications in the
commercial sector, including offices, education institutions, healthcare facilities and retail buildings, FläktGroup’s eCO PREMIUM range is available in different air-flow capacities, from 0.2 to 0.9m/s. Importantly, the flow of outside air into the building helps to reduce the levels of allergens, as well as balancing moisture and humidity levels within the premises – all of which can vastly improve IAQ.
Delivering results
The system is capable of recovering 85 per cent of the thermal energy and offers control and intelligence. Like many energy-saving lighting control systems, the unit can automatically adjust to
April 2018 FläktGroup’s eCO PREMIUM range
www.heatingandventilating.net
changing demands within a specific space, offering demand controlled ventilation. With a presence detector, the system can switch on and off according to occupancy and an internal CO2 sensor adjusts the air supply in accordance with the number of occupants.
As an added benefit in noisy towns and cities, this type of mechanical ventilation can also limit outside distractions, with smaller openings in the façade. Any noise from the air handling unit (AHU) itself can be reduced by fitting silencers in the ductwork or close to the unit. With energy efficiency and IAQ currently at the top
of the regulatory agenda, it is important for HVAC professionals to stay up to speed with the latest developments. By deploying the latest heat recovery systems and demand control fans in mechanical ventilation units, designers can deliver ‘fresh’ air even where natural ventilation is not an option – and minimise energy usage in the process.
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