www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I February 2024 27
Project
Air-cooled chiller inspection and commissioning .
Building management services : One independent control system was installed to integrate some parts of the system for better energy management . These components work in harmony to provide a comfortable and energy-efficient HVAC solution . The chiller cools the water , which is then circulated through the chilled beams . The chilled beams cool or heat the air passing over their coils , which is then distributed to the occupied space . The AHUs supply fresh air and condition it before reaching the chilled beams . The piping facilitates the circulation of water , while the ducting distributes the conditioned air . By leveraging these components , the chilled beam system offers efficient temperature control , enhanced indoor air quality , and reduced energy consumption .
Integration and control : To achieve optimal performance , the chilled beam system components must be integrated and controlled effectively . The building management system ( BMS ) plays a vital role in co-ordinating the operation of the chilled beams , AHUs , and other system components . The BMS monitors and adjusts the temperature , air distribution , and water flow to ensure thermal comfort while maximising energy efficiency .
The control system includes hardwired controllers for each group of chilled beams , enabling individual temperature control for different spaces . This flexibility allows for efficient operation , especially during the future conversion of the building for use as Engineering Research Laboratories .
Chilled beam cooling has a number of advantages :
• Reduced ceiling void height ( decreases required space by 50 %).
• The system requires 30 – 50 % lower air flow allowing reduced plant sizes and variable .
• operation , allowing increased plant efficiency .
• The airflow from the chilled beam is lower than the conventional diffuser type ; therefore reducing the feeling of draft .
• Adaptable to room orientation and usage .
• Little noise levels . Chilled beams reduce maintenance compared to the conventional variable air volume ( VAV ) systems , since the chilled beam only requires an annual dusting of the filter . Low maintenance and operating cost : up to 50 % savings compared to conventional VAV system can be achieved .
Controlling the internal environment of the building without using conventional air makes this project unique . An air-cooled chiller is located on roof of the building . The unit is used to heat up and cool the water which circulates in the air handling unit . The chilled beam HVAC system offers several benefits compared to conventional variable air volume ( VAV ) systems . Here are the key advantages of chilled beam technology :
Energy efficiency : Chilled beams are highly energy-efficient due to their lower air supply requirements . They operate at higher cooling capacities while using significantly less fan power . This results in reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I February 2024 27