The controlled ventilation system has been installed in a new development of serviced business units at Ards Business Centre in Newtownards, near Belfast. It exploits the natural temperature of the earth to provide pre-warmed fresh filtered air for clients and tenants in winter and pre-cooled air in summer.
The system was proposed by M&E consultants Bennett Robertson after extensive research of low carbon cooling solutions for the development.
CIBSE Low Carbon Consultant Gary Bennett of Bennett Robertson explains: "Our client wanted an environmentally friendly, comfortable building with low energy and maintenance costs. We considered the AWADUKT Thermo system to be an elegant and simple solution to the anticipated solar overheating for the East and South facing units in the development.
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"We are using the system in conjunction with conventional tempered air handing units and night cooling: the system simply replaces conventional fresh air inlet ductwork and louvers. Treated fresh air is supplied to the office units via displacement floor grilles, with the access floor system used both as the supply plenum and to provide access to the floor slabs for thermal storage."
With a Co-efficient of Performance of around 50 compared with just three or four for a ground source heat pump, AWADUKT Thermo is becoming an increasingly popular choice for both commercial and domestic premises.
It relies on a network of polypropylene pipes laid at just 1.5m below ground where the earth’s temperature is a constant 8-12ºC throughout the year. Fresh air is drawn through the pipes via an air intake and the solid walled polypropylene acts as a very good heat conductor allowing excellent heat transfer between the ground and the air.
By using the system, it is possible to raise the temperature of air taken in by up to 9K in winter and reduce the temperature by up to 14K in summer.
(GK/JM)
