Air Track HVAC Blog

Ventilation Unit: Advantages and Disadvantages.

What is forced ventilation? How it is done and what is required? In our review – all kinds of equipment for ventilation systems, pros / cons, characteristics. Tell me what to look for when choosing what to buy venting units

Ventilation system in an apartment or in a house:

If exhaust ventilation is usually designed and laid at the stage of building a house, the plenum often left unattended builders. It is assumed that the flow should be carried out through the open windows, leaky structure. But most of the houses are insulated which do not let the air to flow. As a result, there are problems arrive, without forced ventilation which works much worse or does not work at all.
Ventilation devices are capable of ensure the house quiet, clean, comfortable and fresh air.

1: Window flaps.

Mounted on PVC windows. The advantages: cheap, invisible in the interior, installed quickly and easily, does not require drilling holes in the wall.
Disadvantages: window flaps are usually not equipped with filters and sound insulation, are not protected from freezing, moreover manufacturers specify that the window ventilators are functioning only with good extract.

2:Wall intake valves

These devices are mounted on the wall. In fact, they are adjustable window. Equipped with thermal insulation layer, filter against coarse dust and insects. What is important to consider when choosing a valve? For effective ventilation in the apartment or in a house must be a sufficient number of the incoming air.

Disadvantages: of air-supply valves – in extreme cold can pass the cold, and in summer (at the same temperature of air inside and outside) cease to provide the inflow

3: Ventilators

Advantages of ventilators – the ability to perform forced ventilation at any time of the year (as there are fans, forced pounding the air), the presence of the ceramic heater, performing the heating of the cold stream from the street, high performance, the ability to install high-quality filters, providing multi-stage cleaning system from dust, exhaust and other contaminants. What is important to consider when choosing? The volume of incoming air, noise, filter class, power consumption, and size of the device.
Disadvantages: with the installation of the ventilator increases the cost of electricity (especially in cold weather).

4: Supply and exhaust valves recovery

This is not entirely forced ventilation, because the devices have not only the influx, and the hood. They can operate with a ventilation system as well as regular air inlets. Their main advantage – the presence of the built-in heat exchanger, allowing to warm air without energy. Almost invisible in the interior. When choosing-exchanger valve is necessary to take into account the capacity of the device, air flow, noise level, country of origin, the period of warranty, the build quality.

Disadvantages: the heat exchanger valves – not as effective as in ventilation installations, reheating is not provided, so the frost can pass cold air.

5: Fresh air ventilation systems.

This is ideal ventilation for the house, apartment or office. The interior ventilation is invisible (hidden under the ceiling ducts). At the same time the performance of the device will be enough to ensure effective ventilation throughout the house, apartment or office

Disadvantages: complexity of installation work – need to lay ducts, installation of the system is possible only before the final finish of the room. You cannot save on electricity

Basic Modern Air Conditioner Functions

Air conditioners can be found in all price categories with a similar set of features and modes.

Infrared remote control with LCD display used to manage all the modern air-conditioner that allows you to set the mode of operation of a split system, the desired temperature, programming the timer to turn on / off the air conditioner, etc.

As a rule, the number of functions of an economy class air conditioners do not differ much from the models top price category. Reason such harmonization is that to provide added functionality is not required to modify or complicate the design of the air conditioner, only need to reprogram the microcontroller controlling the operation of the air conditioner and add the buttons on the remote control.

Because of this producers can inexpensively add new modes conditioners or additional functions and successfully build on their basis of their advertising campaigns. As a result, in terms of affordability, the difference between the air-conditioned different price groups are often absent.

Less common features that really lead to a rise in price of air conditioning, as their implementation requires changes in its structure. For example, the built-in motion sensor saves energy and temperature sensor in the control panel allows you to maintain the set temperature of the indoor unit is not in the area, and where is the remote. How these functions are needed and whether or not for them to pay for the air conditioning to you.

Major modes and air-conditioning functions:

Cooling and heating 

The main modes of the air conditioner used for air conditioning and heating.

Ventilation

The operating mode in which only works indoor fan, without including the compressor. Used for even air distribution throughout the room and can be used, for example, in winter, when warm air from heaters or central heating batteries accumulates on the ceiling and the floor is cold.

Automatic mode

In this mode, the air conditioner itself controls the selection of the operating mode (cooling, heating or ventilation) to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Dehumidification

The dehumidification air conditioner reduces the humidity. Generally speaking, dehumidification is always accompanied by its cooling. The warm air comes into contact with a cold heat exchanger (radiator) of the indoor unit, resulting in a heat exchanger to condense moisture, which is discharged through the drain hose. The same principle works all modern air driers. Therefore, in the dehumidification mode, the air conditioner operates in the same manner as in the cooling mode, only the room temperature is reduced by no more than 1 ° C.

Air purification.

To clear the air before the heat exchanger of the indoor unit set one or more filters. The primary air conditioner filter for cleaning the air from large dust. This filter is a conventional fine mesh and protects not only the inhabitants of the conditioned space as the interior of the air conditioner. To clean this filter enough wash it with warm water.

Setting the temperature.

For heating and cooling modes can be controlled by the air temperature to within 1 ° C in the range of 16-18 to 30 ° C. Typically, the temperature sensor is installed in the indoor unit, but some models have an additional sensor, built-in remote control (function «I Feel»). In some models also have built-in indoor unit remote infrared thermometer that measures the temperature of the surrounding surfaces (function «I See»).

Fan speed

The indoor unit fan can rotate at different speeds, respectively, changing the amount of air passing through the internal unit (this option is called the air output or “pumping”the air conditioner is measured in m³ / h). Typically, the fan is from 3 to 5 fixed speeds plus auto mode.

The direction of air flow

The direction of air flow generated by the indoor unit can be adjusted vertically by means of horizontal plates (louver) having fixed positions 5-7. In cooling mode, the flow is usually directed horizontally along the ceiling to the cold air did not get to the people. In heating mode, the air flow is directed downwards, because hot air is lighter than cold air and rises upwards. In addition, the blinds can automatically swing up and down, evenly distributing the flow of air around the room.

The timer on and off

With the 24-hour timer, you can set the auto power on and off the air conditioner, for example, can include air-conditioning for an hour before returning to work.

Night mode

After the inclusion of the air-conditioning mode, sets the minimum speed of the fan (to minimize noise) and gradually increases (in cooling mode) or decreases (in heating mode) at a temperature of 2-3 degrees for several hours. It is believed that such temperature conditions are optimal for sleeping.

Panasonic WhisperGreen Select – Best Indoor Air Quality Solution

Select Panasonic is a best solution to maintain indoor air quality, which reconstructs the ventilation industry with a new set of functions that allow you to customize and install more than 250 different configurations.

It has a speed switch Integrated Pick-Flow to select the desired air flow (50-80-110 CFM). Plug and play modules also contribute to the further expansion of the setting.

It has a DC motor technology and mounting Smart Flow Flex-Z Quick angle used in accordance with the latest codes and industry standards.

With Smart Flow function, when the fan faces static pressure, the speed is automatically increased to provide optimum CFM output. This feature provides confirmation that the installer does not have to worry about damage to the fan performance.

Boilers: Various Types and Classification

 

In today’s energy work a variety of types of boilers. They can be classified by type of fuel, coolant type, accommodation type, level of mechanization. The specific type of boiler is selected depending on the goals and objectives, operating conditions and customer requirements.

  1. Fuel type
  • Gas: The advantage of this kind of boiler is that the gas – one of the most economical and environmentally friendly fuels. Gas boiler does not require complicated and cumbersome equipment fuel and slag removal, and can be fully automated.
  • Fuel oil: These boilers can run on waste oil, fuel oil, diesel oil. They quickly put into operation, do not require special permits, the connection negotiation, obtaining gas limits (as opposed to gas).
  • Solid: To the solid fuel concerns coal, peat, wood, pellets and briquettes from waste wood processing and agriculture. The advantage of this type of boiler is the availability and low price of fuel, but it requires the installation of fuel and ash handling systems.
  1. Coolant type
  • Steam:  In such a boiler heat carrier is steam, which is used mainly for manufacturing processes in industrial plants.
  • Water: This type of boiler is designed for heating and hot water supply of residential buildings, industrial and public facilities. The coolant is water, heated to +95 +115 ° C.
  • Combined: In these boilers are placed as steam and hot water boilers. Hot water is used to cover the load for hot water, heating and ventilation, and the steam is supplied to provide the technological needs of the enterprise.
  • Diathermic oil: In this boiler is used as a coolant in the high-temperature organic liquid, the temperature of which can reach +300 ° C.
  1. Accommodation type
  • Modular: This type of boiler is becoming increasingly popular in Russia in recent years, thanks to many advantages in comparison with stationary boilers: fastest time of installation and commissioning, factory-assembled modules, the ability to increase capacity by adding units, battery life, high efficiency, mobility. Depending on the placement of block-modular boiler can be detached, and attached, integrated, roof, basement.
  • Stationary: Stationary boilers are usually built when the required power exceeds 30 MW, or the construction of a modular boiler for some reason impossible. Stationary boilers distinguished by major building and construction (foundations, walls and partitions, roof). Installation of equipment on site is performed.
  1. The level of mechanization

Depending on the degree of mechanization / automation processes are the following types of boiler:

  • Hand: Small boilers can be equipped with boilers, in which the fuel supply is performed manually by operators. The fuel is supplied to the boiler room truck or in some cases from the outside through a loading hopper. The ash and slag from the ash hopper and are removed manually by the operator and exported outside the boiler room via trolley.
  • Mechanized: Modern boilers are equipped with solid mechanization, significantly facilitate the work boiler operator. Fuel supply by means of conveyors or skip hoists. Coal is pre-processed. The ash and slag may be removed by various methods – mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or a combination thereof.
  • Automated: This type of boiler assumes full automation and minimal presence of the human factor. Fully automated, as a rule, gas boiler.

 

Energy-saving technologies in Modern chillers

 

In the development of modern HVAC equipment of particular importance is given to the problem of energy conservation. The amount of energy consumed by the equipment during the annual life cycle is one of the main criteria for decision-making when considering proposals submitted to tender. To date, a significant potential for energy efficiency is the development and establishment of climatic equipment, able to cover as precisely as possible the load schedule in constantly changing conditions

At the same time, the daily schedule of excess heat is also uneven pronounced maximum. Traditionally, chillers with capacity of 20-80 kW installed two identical compressors and make the two independent refrigerant circuits. As a result, the machine can operate in two modes at 50% and 100% of its rated capacity. The new generation of chillers with cooling capacity from 20 to 80 kW allows you to perform three-stage capacity control. In this case, the total refrigerating capacity is distributed among the compressors in a ratio of 63% and 37%.

The new generation of chillers both compressors are connected in parallel and operate on a single refrigerant circuit, that is, have a common condenser and evaporator. This arrangement significantly increases the energy conversion efficiency (KPI) of the refrigerant circuit when operating at part load. For such chillers at 100% load and outdoor temperature of 25 ° C KPE = 4, and at the 37% CPE = 5. Given that 50% of the time the unit is working with a load of 37% of this gives a considerable energy saving.

Microprocessor controllers

Microprocessor controllers are set for the effective implementation of new solutions in the chillers, which allow:

  • control all the operating parameters of the equipment;
  • adjust the set point temperature of the water at the outlet of the unit in accordance with the parameters of the outside air, process or commands from a centralized control system (supervisor);
  • selects the optimal power control step;
  • In the case of real need to quickly and effectively perform a defrost cycle (for heat pump models).

As a result, an automatic compressor to minimize the short-inclusions, optimize working hours of compressors and the adjustment parameters of the water leaving the chillers in accordance with real needs. As on average, it takes place during the day only 22 incorporating compressor while the compressor includes conventional chiller 72 times.

Another important advantage which enables the use of new chillers, is that eliminates the need for installation of bulky storage tanks and built into the body of the unit circulation pump eliminates the need for an additional pump station.

Energy-efficient gas compressor

As you know, for the accurate performance load curve of the chiller is very important type of used compressors. Traditionally, large capacity chillers used piston or rotary screw compressors. The reciprocating compressor has many moving parts and, consequently, low efficiency due to large frictional losses. In the operation of reciprocating compressors there is a high level of noise and vibration, as well as there is a need for their regular maintenance. Screw compressors, in turn, have a complex structure, and as a result, very high cost. Production of screw compressors is low-profit.

Service of such compressors consuming and requires highly skilled personnel. In recent years, the market of new type of compressor SCROLL appeared that lack specific deficiencies reciprocating and screw compressors. Scroll-compressors have a high energy efficiency, low noise and vibration, and require no maintenance. This type of compressors is simple in construction, is very reliable and, at the same time is inexpensive. However, performance Scroll-compressors usually does not exceed 40 kW.

Selection of Industrial Refrigeration Equipment

Choosing industrial refrigeration equipment for enterprises, primarily necessary to define what tasks you are going to put in front of him and try to take into account all the factors that will continue to affect the performance of the system cooling. Such options may be few, but you need to choose the most optimal.

To correctly determine the choice of refrigeration equipment must always take into account the system parameters such as:

  1. extreme heat
  2. the amount of heat in a time interval,
  3. Hydraulic resistance, as well as pre-agree on the heat dissipation and duplication systems.

As practice shows, in most cases, for a rational use of the equipment necessary to install more than one cooling system, and more. This is because the performance of the equipment at different times can be different: for example, a higher weekdays and weekends – lower. In such cases it is sufficient to install a small, which will increase the wear resistance of the cooling system and save on operating costs.

When choosing a pump to circulate the fluid, you will need to take into account the following factors: the diameter of the pipes, liquid lifting height and its distance from the energy source.

If the result of calculating the cost of refrigeration equipment coincides with the cost of downtime of the equipment, then we can consider the option of picking system spare equipment. In this case the two systems communicate with each other by the control unit, which in the case of an emergency or an unexpected stop of the main equipment will automatically turn spare.

Chiller Purchasing equipment with a powerful electric drive, you should consider that it has a limited number of starts per hour and running at the same time in the most unfavorable mode. Starting currents in this case is increased tenfold, and increases heat power cable is hundreds of times.

In contrast to the rated speed, increasing the current strength affects the torque, which increases at the start of dynamic impact on the shaft, bearings and couplings. Now, having seen the consequences of such a choice, you can imagine how many are able to serve in a similar refrigeration equipment operating conditions.

Absorption chiller – Advantages

Absorption chillers – a very promising field of refrigeration, is becoming more widely used because of the pronounced tendency to modern power management. The fact is that for absorption chillers main source of energy is not electricity, and waste heat that inevitably occurs in plants, factories and so on. N. And irrevocably thrown into the atmosphere, whether it is hot air, cooling air hot water, and others.

The main advantages of absorption chillers:

  1. The ideal solution for creating tri-generation enterprise. Tri generation complex – a complex allows to date as much as possible to reduce the cost of electricity, hot water, heating and cooling for the enterprise through the use of its own cogeneration power plant in conjunction with an absorption chiller;
  2. Long service life – within 20 years before the first major overhaul;
  3. Low cost of produced cold, cold is produced almost free of charge
  4. Reduced noise and vibration as a result of the lack of compressors with electric motors, as a consequence – quiet operation and high reliability;
  5. The use of refrigeration / heating units with the flame of a gas generator of direct action eliminates the boilers to be used in conventional installations. This reduces the initial cost of the system and makes absorption chillers competitive compared to conventional systems, which utilize boilers and chillers;
  6. Maximizing energy savings during periods of peak demand. In other words, do not consume electricity for the production of cold / heat absorption chillers do not overload the power supply enterprise, even in times of peak demand;
  7. There is the possibility of combining in the district steam systems with efficient refrigeration unit of double effect;
  8. It is possible to load balancing in conditions of maximum efficiency in the cooling mode. The device handles the critical load in the cooling mode, with minimal power consumption through the use of refrigerants with a flaming gas generator direct effect or generator with steam heating;
  9. It allows the use of emergency generators at the power, as energy consumption in absorption chillers is minimal when compared with electric refrigeration units;
  10. Security for the ozone layer does not contain refrigerants that deplete the ozone. Cooling is carried out without the use of refrigerants containing chlorine;
  11. Minimizes the overall impact on the environment as the consumption of electricity is reduced and the gas causing the greenhouse effect and global warming as a consequence.

The Approach of Modern HVAC Maintenance Schedule

The usual approach to the preventative maintenance of the heating, ventilation and conditioning Systems (HVAC) is based on hours of operation to determine regular system maintenance schedule. But over the past decade the Cutting-edge developments in the HVAC technologies allows performance based Services rely on the information on HVAC systems. It allows to perform the proper HVAC maintenance whit needs, not when the schedule says.

The Concept of modern preventive maintenance is based on indicators reliability, testing tools, diagnostics and computer modeling to identify the service requirements. Systems are monitored regularly and its actual performance is compared with certain metrics, As a result it’s possible to keep track of potential problems and assign the activities for the current or upcoming scheduled maintenance before the system fail.

In fact, many companies have the necessary technological basis for to use forward-looking approach. For example, modern complex building automation system designed in view of to support programs for predictive maintenance, as they have smart interface for data collection, processing and access to data, which allows you to maintain efficient operation of building systems.

Systems of detection and fault diagnosis systems, HVAC (FDD) – another editorial technology that is used in the forecasting approach to systems maintenance building. FDD technology automatically detect failures of the main components HVAC-systems and report on them, so that professional services timely notice a potential problem and significantly reduce the risk of long periods of inactivity. Using FDD allows building owners to save

The most recent developments in modeling techniques forecast Service use sophisticated computer programs to compare Performance of existing HVAC-systems with comprehensive information on similar systems. This allows performance services in a proactive manner to assign terms of service and have it all necessary spare parts in stock.

Many organizations have implemented powerful building automation system. But only half of operational services uses building automation system at full capacity. In many cases personnel need additional training to take advantage of all the potential of these functions.

Advantages of condensing boilers for heating systems

The latest Worldwide Energy Regulations affecting heat generation equipment and batteries on the use of efficient technologies. Condensation of water vapor is the most promising innovative technology in heating with high efficiency which is called condensing boilers.

The principles of combustion and condensation is burning any hydrocarbon fuel that provides heat which will give the end products as carbon dioxide (CO 2) and (H 2 O) water, Vaporized water spends heat, which can get back to transformed into water under high temperature due to condensation process the gas transformed into the liquid again. Design of traditional boilers does not include the condensation process and the temperature of the combustion products is always maintained at a high level. Material used for Condensing boilers are different from the traditional the heat exchanger, their heat exchanger made of an acid resistant alloy or stainless steel.

So many commercial heating systems have been promoting plans to renew old boiler rooms with the installation of latest condensing boiler solutions, but what are the main advantages of condensing boilers? Why are the most efficient option?

Increased Utilization of heat. In condensing boilers the water formed as vapor and releases energy that produce heating process. It allows more efficient operation, and also able to produce large amounts of heat from power. When we compare the process of Conventional boilers it wastes much more amount of energy.

Reduced installation costs

The gases burns at low temperature (below 40 ° C), which gives the opportunity to apply for condensing boiler flues from plastic, Due to its small size and low weight of the boiler equipment installation of the boiler requires less space, thereby reducing the installation costs of the heating system.

Adaptation to demand. Condensing boilers are adapted to demand for small to very high in any range of operation, and that allows you to work more efficiently. In conventional boilers the flue gas temperature and water in the boiler has to be above the dew point of the gases which will not allow them to adjust effectively to required changes.

Performance. Condensing boilers achieve efficiencies up to 108% relative to the lower calorific value of the fuel, putting the savings in heating between 10% and 15% on consumption compared to other modern systems and up to 30% in older facilities.

Quick amortization. The monthly reduction in gas consumption, enable faster amortization of the installation. To this aid and bonuses that trigger the regions they are added.

Lower emissions of CO 2. The reduced use of fuel affects greater care of the environment, in condensing boilers use advanced technology that burns the fuel-air mixture in optimal proportions, which minimizes the possibility of incomplete combustion of fuel. This reduces the amount of harmful emissions by 20%.

Since the condensate is chemically aggressive, in order to use it you need to make boiler elements from chemically resistant materials, so the cost of will be quite high. Though expensive it’s cheaper to buy because efficient condensing boiler, which can allows you to save on fuel consumption.

For more information about Commercial Heating Systems and Services Contact Air Track Inc.

The use of evaporative cooling devices in air conditioning systems in industrial buildings

Ensure air quality problem in a production environment, of course, belongs to the category of technology, because the focus is not so much to provide a comfortable environment, as aims to provide the necessary working conditions.

Without exaggeration we can say that the requirements for maintenance of the microclimate of the working area in the non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are sufficiently “extreme” – this applies to the withdrawal of heat generation, and to ensure the necessary gas composition of the air.

It is known that the atmosphere in the working areas of non-ferrous metallurgy is characterized by relatively high concentrations of various gases, harmful effects on the health of staff and, consequently, complicating the implementation of their manufacturing operations.

The necessity of a large volume of gas emission assimilation determined the characteristics of the air in the production area, when its entire volume as possible is divided into separate work areas in which the local pumps are organized in combination with natural aeration space.

The problem of providing the desired microclimate in the crane cab is being addressed by at least two directions.

The first direction may include technical solutions that provide cab climate by supplying air from a central ventilation system through the movable duct. The disadvantages of this engineering solution is to limit the technological capabilities of the crane and decreased ventilation capacity due to deformation of the duct arising during operation.

The second direction is the use of self-contained air conditioning systems.

Today, we can confidently say that the main devices for cleaning the air from harmful gases are chemical filters, which are columns, equipped with a variety of nozzles, in which the contact between the aqueous solutions of reagent and purified air. Operation of these devices requires no special training, they are effective, reliable and easy to maintain.

However, these devices still have some drawbacks in terms of air quality in the limited space. Thus, during the absorption of harmful gases caused by direct contact of an aqueous solution of the reagent and air is carried adiabatic humidification. In fact, the moisture content has reached the resulting purified air is greater than the parameters of adiabatic humidification.

Ensuring the microclimate in the working areas of non-ferrous metals associated with the solution of a number of specific problems caused not only a high level of heat and water generation associated with certain technological processes, but also high gas content of the atmosphere. Used traditionally centralized ventilation methods require the use of large air exchange rates, which may not always be justified from an economic and environmental standpoints, and in some cases creates an unsolvable technical problem, which is fully applicable to the provision of the microclimate in the cabs of moving objects.

Known technical solutions in the field of air purification of harmful gases, based on the use of chemical methods, by themselves unable to provide the required sanitary standards of the air environment.

Therefore, the solution to this problem is possible based on the combined use of heat and humidity of air pre-processing to achieve a balance in the exchange of heat and moisture between the streams in chemical interaction