Fan coils Three-pipe
www.heatingandventilating.net
FCUs: could this be the smart approach to heating and cooling?
Aermec UK’s David Evans
Fan coil units (FCUs) have a proven track record and are the mainstay of many HVAC systems around the world, providing an inexpensive and efficient solution for cooling or heating. Two and four-pipe systems have been the norm but now there’s a smarter alternative, a three-pipe system developed by fan coil manufacturer Aermec. David Evans, general sales manager, Aermec UK elaborates
F
CUs are often used as a secondary HVAC system in many buildings but also used as a primary system for smaller applications such
as small offices. They are simple to operate, easy to maintain and provide flexibility.
Two and four-pipe systems can be found in many
HVAC projects. A two-pipe system can be cost-effective, but heating and cooling cannot be delivered at the same time. Either the building is heated or it is cooled. Four-pipe systems on the other hand consist of two
separate cooling and heating water coils, each having its own dedicated set of pipes enabling the system to handle a variety of environments and load changes, providing simultaneous heating and cooling.
But now the FCU landscape is changing opening
up opportunities to drive down costs, reduce emissions and lower TCOs with a three-pipe hydronic system – the 3WP, that combines the advantages of a refrigerant-based VRF system with a four-pipe hydronic system. Buildings are high energy users. Ambitious energy
targets are being set world-wide to drive down energy consumption and reduce emissions. In the UK, the Government is engaged in consultations to revise Part L and F as the country moves towards less reliance on fossil fuels and zero energy buildings. Heating and cooling loads vary in different environments and for variable hours per year,
depending on the building and its usage but other factors need to be considered such as personal settings, insulation, shading, mass, location and age as well as heating patterns, daily, weekly and 24/7. Daily heat/cool reversals are the main reason for a more complex HVAC system than a traditional 2-pipe hydronic system. The three-pipe offers a global solution. According
to Aermec, the 3WP offers a significant reduction in installation costs and pipework compared with traditional four-pipe systems and can provide full heating and/or cooling to any room at any time. At the heart of the three-pipe are optimised
circuit heat exchangers, designed to operate at extra 22 July 2021 DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW
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