Filters & air cleaning
Sustain the future, refurbish the past
When it comes to HVAC technology, retrofitting, refurbishment and effective maintenance are increasingly attractive alternatives to buying new. John Grenville, managing director of ECEX, explains why
increases exponentially, so it is clearly unsustainable. That’s why a financially supportable low energy path is the best route to a sustainable future and energy efficiency in existing buildings offers a great opportunity to achieve this. One of the best routes to sustainable development in the HVAC sector is through retrofitting and refurbishment of heavy-use equipment like air handling units and condensers. Retrofitting is, essentially, the addition of new technology or features to older systems, and refurbishment refers to the process of returning something to a good state of repair (which can include retrofitting as part of the mix). Around 60% of the buildings that will be standing in 2050 have already been built. Although there has been much recent focus on measures to reduce the emissions from new buildings, the existing building stock remains largely untouched. The Carbon Trust says: “Nearly all refurbishments offer opportunities to reduce carbon emissions beyond the standards set by building regulations. However, conventional refurbishment projects often miss the opportunities available, leading to unintentional and unnecessary increases in energy use and associated emissions.” There are compelling reasons to consider
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upgrading options such as retrofitting or renovation of HVAC technology before replacement. As well as cutting carbon emissions, these include saving energy, reducing costs and preventing wastage. Relatively simple measures can make a big
difference. For example, HVAC systems have made considerable progress in the last two decades and new control technology (including variable speed drives) can be retrofitted to boost energy efficiency
whopping 15 trillion watts of power is being used across the planet at any one time. As the population grows, this energy consumption
The value of retrofit
• Accelerate your return on investment because you can retrofit equipment at a fraction of the cost of replacing it.
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• Extend the life of an older system. • Reduce the disruption caused by replacing large pieces of HVAC equipment, especially in city centre locations. • Improve comfort conditions by ensuring more consistent temperatures and better-controlled humidity.
and reduce operating costs. An air conditioning system might also benefit
from – or be required by legislation to use – an alternative refrigerant. ‘Drop-in’ replacements are available in some circumstances. Another good example of retrofitting is fixing external filters such as our own ECEX Air Intake Screens. These are long lasting, weather-resistant filters designed specifically for high velocity airflow applications such as chillers, dry air coolers, air handling units (AHUs), cooling towers and air conditioning units. They are designed to prevent airborne debris
from entering the air conditioning or ventilation system and causing irreparable damage to coils or internal filters. Lasting up to 15 years and cleaned simply using a soft brush, hose or vacuum, the Air Intake Screens are the first line of defence for air intake systems, reducing maintenance time by up to an impressive 70%, extending the service life of
etrofitting HVAC equipment can save energy, but its benefits don’t end there. It also allows you to:
equipment, prolonging internal air filter life by up to 60%, and maximising airflow to save energy. However, retrofitting and refurbishment are not the only options short of replacement. There are also many reasons to choose maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). For example, MRO minimises disruption by increasing installation flexibility, reduces downtime, overcomes the transport and access difficulties associated with replacing a unit, and is more environmentally friendly because it re- uses existing equipment.
MRO is also less expensive than replacing an AHU
(just 35 to 50% of the cost of a new unit according to some estimates) and offers the opportunity to upgrade the existing specification by taking advantage of the latest energy efficient EC plug fans and components. It also minimises disruption by increasing installation flexibility.
The best engineering businesses offer an MRO
service. Our own, for example, covers the repair and replacement of all types of coils, belt drives, motors, fans, bearings and spares. Finally, a warning – there is a temptation when planning for HVAC retrofits to focus on only a specific component or portion of the HVAC system. Unreliable chillers or air handlers that no longer meet the needs of the conditioned space might be serious problems that urgently need to be addressed. However, before making less serious retrofit decisions, it pays to take a step back and decide if other projects planned for the building will affect HVAC system operation. Installing more energy efficient windows or lower intensity lighting, for example, might reduce cooling loads. If this sort of project is planned in the near future, then it makes sense to plan the retrofit/refurbishment programme after they have been completed.
Retrofitting an air handling unit might be a better option than replacement. The pictures shows an air handling unit before and after retrofit 24 July 2017
www.heatingandventilating.net
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