Appendix 1. Glossary of concepts.
Access floor.
A platform structure typically consisting of 0.6 m x 0.6 m (2 ft x 2 ft) concrete-filled steel floor panels supported on pedestals 0.2 to 0.46 m (8 in. to 18 in.) above the concrete structural floor slab. Each panel can be independently removed for easy access to the underfloor plenum created below and can include openings for electrical outlets, grilles or any other floor
accessory in its thickness. In most office installations, carpet tiles are laid on top to provide a finished floor surface. Raised floor systems provide maximum flexibility and significantly lower costs associated with reconfiguring building services.
Active diffuser
Any air supply outlet that relies on a local fan to deliver air from the plenum through the diffuser into the conditioned space of the building.
Air-conditioning
The purpose of air conditioning is to control the filtration, air movement, temperature and humidity of an atmospheric environment. Air conditioning is always associated with the cooling and dehumidification process of air and is always therefore identified with refrigeration
equipment.
The full control over relative humidity by the addition of moisture by means of a humidifier and the use of a humidistat constitutes full air conditioning, but this control is not always exercised.
However, the more often used partial or comfort air-conditioning which uses refrigeration equipment only and is therefore capable of cooling as well as dehumidifying is still referred to as air conditioning. This description leads to the following definition of air-conditioning: Air conditioning is the control of air temperature, air quality and humidity.
Air flow
The movement of air -- typically defined as that within a defined volume such as a room, duct or plenum.
Air handling unit (AHU)
The component of an HVAC system that is responsible for conditioning and delivering air through the system. Within the AHU, a portion of the return air from the conditioned space is recirculated and mixed with incoming outside air for conditioning and delivery to the space, and the remainder is exhausted to the outside. The AHU typically contains one or more supply and return fans for maintaining air movement, and heating/cooling coils and filters to condition the air. The cooling coil and other equipment, as necessary, are used to control the moisture content of the air.
Air inlet (see also Air outlet)
Inlets are apertures through which air is intentionally drawn from a conditioned space. Grilles, diffusers and louvered openings can all serve as inlets. Examples are return inlets at ceiling level and floor diffusers that become return inlets for specially designed perimeter heating solutions for open plenum designs.
Air outlet (see also Air inlet)
Outlets are apertures through which air is intentionally delivered into a conditioned space.
Grilles, diffusers and louvered openings can all serve as outlets. Examples are floor and ceiling diffusers.
Air supply volume
The volume of supply air flowing through a cross sectional plane of a duct per unit time. Found by multiplying air velocity by the cross sectional area of the duct, measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm) or liters per second (L/s).
Air velocity
The rate at which air travels in a given direction, measured as a distance per unit time. The units used vary according to the scale of the phenomenon, in the HVAC field, air velocity is commonly expressed as feet per minute (fpm) or meters per second (m/s).
Air-water
An air-conditioning system where the primary transporting medium for energy is air and water.
All-air
An air-conditioning system where the primary transporting medium for energy is air.
All-water
An air-conditioning system where the primary transporting medium for energy is water.
Ambient air
Air in the general surroundings of the space in question, whether an external or internal space.
Generally this refers to areas outside of work locations for the building occupants.
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
BSRIA
Building Services Research & Information Association.
Churn
The percentage of building occupants annually that move from one workstation to another.
Cop
The COP gives indicates the ratio between achieved usable heat(or cold) and the energy needed to achieve this heat (or cold). Environmental heat or cold are free and sufficient avalaible and are not included in determining the COP. The efficiency of this process is expressed with the term Coefficient Of Performance (COP).
Customer
The customer for this research will be the potential European customer for Ecoflair.
Diffuser
An air supply outlet through which conditioned air is discharged into a space. A wide variety of diffusers can be located in the ceiling (ceiling-based HVAC system), floor (underfloor air
distribution system), or integrated into the furniture (task/ambient condition system), and configured to deliver air in various directions and patterns.
Displacement ventilation (DV)
In displacement ventilation systems (used for cooling only), low-velocity supply air at a temperature slightly below room temperature is introduced into the occupied zone of a space at low level -- diffusers are usually configured as large-area floor pedestals or low side-wall. By extracting air from the space at ceiling level, an overall floor-to-ceiling air flow pattern is produced. This upward movement of air in the room takes advantage of the natural buoyancy of heat gain to the space. As air is heated and rises into the region above the occupied zone, some of it exits the space with only partial mixing with the room air. Space contaminants also migrate upwards producing higher concentrations in the warm stratified air near the ceiling.
Displacement ventilation systems aim to minimize mixing of supply air with room air, instead maintaining conditions in the occupied zone as close as possible to that of the conditioned supply air, leading to an improved air change effectiveness.
Draft
Movement of air causing undesirable local cooling of a body due to one or more of the following factors: low air temperature, high velocity or inappropriate air flow direction.
Duct
A duct is an encased conduit, usually constructed of sheet metal and having a round, square, or rectangular cross-section, through which air moves around an HVAC system. Other types of duct construction include fibrous glass ducts (rigid fiberglass with aluminum facing) and
flexible ducts (used to connect diffusers, mixing boxes, and other terminal units to the air distribution system).
Ductwork
The network of ducts comprising an HVAC system, typically connecting the AHU to supply, return, intake and exhaust grilles, and underfloor and ceiling plenums. Ductwork can be exposed or concealed within floor or ceiling plenums, services zones and plant rooms.
Economizer (see Outside air economizer) Energy use
A term referring to the total energy used by a system in the course of its operation. In the context of HVAC this would include energy used by components such as fans, refrigeration and heating equipment, cooling towers, and pumps.
Exhaust opening, or inlet
Any opening, a grille for example, through which air is removed from a space.
Fan coil unit
A fan terminal unit with a heating (electric or hot water) and/or cooling (chilled water) coil on the discharge of the unit.
Fan-powered mixing box
A compartment containing an integral fan that mixes two air supplies before being discharged.
In underfloor applications, these boxes may be configured as having one ducted inlet supplying room or return air, for example, to be mixed with plenum air entering the box through an unducted opening. A reheat coil can be added to the discharge of the unit.
Fan terminal unit
A compartment containing an integral fan that delivers a constant or variable volume of air to the space. These units are often used in perimeter and other special zones where large and rapid changes in cooling and/or heating load requirements occur.
First costs
The initial costs involved in a building project, typically incurred during the construction and installation stages.
Floor-to-floor height
The vertical height between the finished-floor level of a space in a multi-story building and that of the floor immediately above or below it.
Grille
A perforated or louvered covering on any area that air passes through. Grilles can be placed in the ceiling, floor or wall and can be fixed, or adjustable.
HVAC system
An HVAC system is one that is able to provide heating, ventilating and air-conditioning to a building, either as a combined process or as individual operations.
Individual control
Used to describe a system incorporating individual, or occupant, control in which occupants are able to adjust the operating parameters according to their personal preferences. In the
context of HVAC, underfloor systems can include grilles designed for easy occupant adjustment of the direction and volume of supply air serving their workspace.
Indoor air quality (IAQ)
This term generally refers to quantifiable properties of the respirable air inside a building.
Chemical, biological and physical factors -- such as the air temperature, humidity, gaseous composition, and concentrations of pollutants -- are considered indicators of the quality of air occupants are exposed to. Providing a sufficient rate of ventilation to exhaust heat, moisture and pollutants generated inside a building is a key component of meeting IAQ standards such as those in ASHRAE Standard 62; which provides designers with guidelines for achieving acceptable ventilation rates and indoor air quality.
Interior zone
Spaces located further than 5 m (15 ft) from the façade, which can be either high-occupancy (accommodating a number of work spaces) or low-occupancy (circulation or general meeting areas for example). Spaces within this zone are not directly affected by loads generated by the building envelope, such as solar heat gain or heat loss.
Life-cycle costs
A measure of the total costs involved in a building project, calculated by including initial costs (e.g., construction and installation) and those estimated over the lifetime of the building (e.g., long-term operation and maintenance). Considerations of life-cycle costs are important when making decisions at the initial design stage.
Lower zone
The volume of a conditioned space below the stratification height produced by a DV or UFAD system.
Market
The market for this research will be the European commercial market for HVAC systems.
Mixing systems (also known as mixing-type air distribution)
In mixing systems, conditioned air is delivered to the space at velocities much greater than those acceptable to occupants. Conventional overhead air distribution is an example of a mixing system. Supply air temperature may be above, lower, or equal to the air temperature in the occupied zone. The incoming high-velocity air mixes rapidly with the room air by entrainment so that by the time it enters the occupied zone its temperature and velocity are within an acceptable range. Mixing systems are designed to maintain the entire volume of air in the space (floor-to-ceiling) at a relatively uniform temperature, humidity, and air quality condition.
Occupant control
Used to describe a system incorporating individual, or occupant, control in which occupants are able to adjust the operating parameters according to their personal preferences. In the context of HVAC, underfloor systems can include grilles designed for easy occupant adjustment of the direction and volume of supply air serving their workspace.
Occupied zone
The volume of a conditioned space containing the occupants of the space. Typically this is taken as extending from floor level up to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft), and sometimes considered as set in 0.6 m (2 ft), on plan, from external walls.
Outside air
This term can denote either the air outside a building, or air taken into a building that has not previously been circulating through the HVAC system.
Outside-air economizer
An HVAC control strategy that uses outside air under suitable climate conditions to reduce the required mechanical cooling. When the outside air temperature is less than the required supply air temperature during cooling periods, the economizer allows a building’s mechanical
ventilation system to use up to 100% outside air, thereby reducing the energy required to cool the mixture of outside air and warm recirculated air under normal operating conditions. This
method of cooling, often described as ‘free cooling’, is widely used in temperate climates where outside air temperatures rarely go above 21-24°C (70-75°F) during most days and will periodically be less than the supply air temperatures (night time economizer cycles are
frequently employed, for example). As UFAD systems supply air at a higher temperature than that for ceiling-based systems (typically 18°C (65°F) for UFAD, 13°C (55°F) for ceiling HVAC), many North American temperate climates will have a significantly larger number of daytime hours during which the economizer can be used. Some method of variable volume relief must be provided to exhaust the extra outside air to the outside. In addition, enthalpy-based economizer control is recommended to maintain proper humidity levels (particularly during nighttime) and protect against condensation in the plenum.
Overhead systems
A typical, overhead air distribution system supplies air to, and removes air from, a conditioned space at ceiling level. Both supply and return grilles are located in the ceiling plane, above which there will be a ceiling plenum of sufficient depth to accommodate the extensive supply ductwork, as well as other building services. Relying on the principle of mixing-type air distribution, ceiling-based supply and return systems are designed to condition the entire volume of the space (floor-to-ceiling), thereby providing a single uniform thermal and ventilation environment. This control strategy provides no opportunity to satisfy different thermal preferences among the building occupants.
Passive diffuser
Any air supply outlet that relies on a pressurized underfloor plenum to deliver air from the plenum through the diffuser into the conditioned space of the building. Passive diffusers have no local fans associated with them, although they can be converted to an active diffuser by attaching a fan-powered outlet box to the underside of the diffuser.
Perimeter zone
This is the zone immediately adjacent to, and within 5 m (15 ft) of, the external façade.
Perimeter spaces require special consideration in terms of their heating and cooling loads, which are significantly different to those of internal/core zone areas due to the influence of factors such as solar gain and fabric heat loss through the building envelope.
Plenum (see also Service plenum)
Any defined space, typically above a suspended ceiling or beneath a raised floor, through which supply air and/or voice, power and data cabling and other building services can be distributed.
Plenum height
The vertical distance between the top surface of a structural floor slab and the top surface of the raised floor system above it, which contains, and defines, the underfloor plenum.
Accounting for the typical thickness of raised floor panels, the clear space within the underfloor plenum will be 33 mm (1.3 in.) less than the plenum height.
Plenum inlet
Any location in an underfloor plenum where conditioned air that has been ducted from the air handler is discharged into the plenum.
Plenum partition
A partition, typically formed from vertically oriented sheet metal, erected within the plenum in order to divide up the plan of a conditioned space and create separate zones within the
underfloor area.
Pressurized plenum
In this system configuration, the underfloor plenum is under a positive static pressure
produced by the central AHU that drives the air along the plenum and up through the diffusers.
Typical pressures are quite low (12.5-50 Pa [0.05-0.2 in. H2O]).
Raised floor
A platform structure typically consisting of 0.6 m x 0.6 m (2 ft x 2 ft) concrete-filled steel floor panels supported on pedestals 0.2 to 0.46 m (8 in. to 18 in.) above the concrete structural floor slab. Each panel can be independently removed for easy access to the underfloor plenum created below and can include openings for electrical outlets, grilles or any other floor
accessory in its thickness. In most office installations, carpet tiles are laid on top to provide a finished floor surface. Raised floor systems provide maximum flexibility and significantly lower costs associated with reconfiguring building services.
Recirculated air
Return air that is diverted from the exhaust route, mixed with incoming outside air (in some systems, recirculated air bypasses the cooling coil and is mixed with the cool air leaving the coil to produce the warmer supply air temperatures used in UFAD designs), passed through the AHU for conditioning, and delivered to the conditioned space –- essentially a means of
recycling the air circulating through an HVAC system for energy saving purposes.
Return air
The air extracted from a conditioned space (typically at ceiling level) and returned to the air- handling unit (AHU), where a portion is recirculated and the remainder is exhausted to the outside.
Sensor
A device that can detect and measure a variable, for example air temperature, velocity, humidity, or light levels.
Static pressure (see also Total pressure; Velocity pressure)
Pressure is the force exerted per unit area by a gas or liquid. In air distribution systems, static pressure is equal to the total pressure minus velocity pressure and represents the pressure exerted by the air at rest. Air distribution pressures are typically measured in inches of water (in. H2O) or Pascals (Pa).
Stratification (see also Thermal stratification)
The creation of a series of horizontal layers of air with different characteristics (e.g.,
temperature, pollutant concentration) within a conditioned space. UFAD systems, and other displacement ventilation-based systems, rely on the upward convection of air driven by thermal plumes to remove heat loads and contaminants from a space. This results in both thermal and pollutant stratification in which a layer of warmer, more polluted air forms above the occupied zone where it will not affect the occupants.
Stratification height (see also Displacement ventilation)
In a displacement ventilation system, a horizontal interface, known as the stratification height, is established at the height in the room where the air flow rate in the thermal plumes equals the total supply air volume entering the room at or near the floor level. The stratification height divides the room into two zones (upper and lower) having distinct air flow conditions.
The lower zone below the stratification level has no recirculation and is close to displacement flow. The upper zone above the stratification level is characterised by recirculating flow producing a fairly well mixed region. In a properly designed displacement ventilation system, the stratification height is maintained near the top of the occupied zone (1.8 m [6 ft]). In UFAD systems, a stratification height similar to that found in DV systems is formed, but the airflow conditions in the lower zone, and in some cases the upper zone, are changed due to the greater mixing provided by the turbulent floor diffusers.
Supply air
The air entering a space through an outlet, diffuser, or grille, having been delivered from the air-handling unit (AHU).
Supply duct
Any duct through which supply air is delivered to the conditioned space from the AHU, local fan, or other air movement device.
Task/ambient conditioning (TAC) system
Any space conditioning system that allows occupants to individually control the thermal environment in the localized zone of their work space while still maintaining acceptable
environmental conditions in the building’s ambient spaces (circulation and open-use spaces for example). This is typically achieved by enabling occupants to adjust the volume and direction of the air supply serving their workspace, according to their personal preferences. TAC systems therefore generally include a large number of supply diffusers throughout a building, many located in close proximity to the occupants. Although not a requirement, most TAC systems are integrated with the use of underfloor air distribution.
Thermal comfort
That condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. Thermal comfort is influenced by both subjective and objective factors. Heat transfer between the human body and the environment, and hence acceptance of the thermal environment is influenced by a combination of environmental factors (air temperature, radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity) and personal factors (clothing and activity level). There is also evidence that people who know they have control over their local thermal environment are more
tolerant of temperature variations, making it easier to satisfy their comfort preferences.
Thermal stratification (see also Stratification)
The creation of a series of horizontal layers of air having increasing temperature with height within a conditioned space. UFAD systems, and other displacement ventilation-based systems, rely on the upward convection of air driven by thermal plumes to remove heat loads and contaminants from a space. This results in both thermal and pollutant stratification in which a layer of warmer, more polluted air forms above the occupied zone where it will not affect the occupants.
Total pressure (see also Static pressure; Velocity pressure)
Pressure is the force exerted per unit area by a gas or liquid. In air distribution systems, total pressure is equal to the sum of static pressure and velocity pressure. Air distribution pressures are typically measured in inches of water (in. H2O) or Pascals (Pa).
Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system
An underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system uses an underfloor plenum (open space between the structural concrete slab and the underside of a raised floor system) to deliver conditioned air, from the AHU, directly into the occupied zone of the building. Air can be delivered through a variety of supply outlets typically located at floor level, or integrated as part of the office furniture and partitions. Return grilles are located at ceiling level, or at least above the
occupied zone. Under cooling conditions, underfloor systems produce an overall floor-to-ceiling air flow pattern, similar in principle to displacement ventilation. This upward convection of warm air is used to efficiently remove heat loads and contaminants from the space. In contrast to true displacement ventilation systems, UFAD systems deliver supply air at higher volumes and higher velocities, enabling higher heat loads to be met. Although the supply air is
delivered in close proximity to occupants, the risk of draft discomfort is minimized, as supply air temperatures are higher than those for conventional ceiling-based systems, and occupants have some amount of control (typically volume and sometimes direction and temperature) over their local air supply conditions.
Underfloor plenum
The open space between a structural concrete slab and the underside of a raised floor system.
Commonly used as the access route for telecommunications cabling, in underfloor systems, the supply air is also delivered through this space.
Variable air volume (VAV)
A control strategy of an air supply system in which varying heating and cooling loads are met by adjusting the air flow volume, keeping the temperature of the air constant. Alternatively a constant air volume, variable temperature (CAV-VT) system can be employed in which the temperature of the air flow is varied, while the volume is kept constant.
VAV box
A variable air volume control box. Typically, a VAV box is ducted on its inlet and uses dampers to control the volume of air discharged from the unit.
Velocity pressure (see also Static pressure; Total pressure)
Pressure is the force exerted per unit area by a gas or liquid. In air distribution systems, velocity pressure is the pressure due to the velocity and density of the moving air. Air distribution pressures are typically measured in inches of water (in. H2O) or Pascals (Pa).
Ventilation
The process of intentionally supplying outside air to a building achieved by either natural or mechanical (forced) means.
Ventilation effectiveness
Ventilation effectiveness describes the system’s ability to remove pollutants generated by internal sources in a space, zone, or building. In comparison, air change effectiveness describes the ability of an air distribution system to ventilate a space, zone, or building Zero-pressure plenum
In this system configuration, the underfloor plenum is maintained at very nearly the same static pressure as that of the conditioned space. Supply air is delivered to the plenum by the central AHU, and small fan-powered air outlets are used to discharge air from the plenum into the conditioned space. Some systems may create a slight negative pressure in the plenum to draw recirculated air (typically directly from the room through open floor grilles, or down from the ceiling through shafts) into the plenum where it is mixed with the supply air from the AHU.
Zone
Also known as a control zone for an HVAC system, a zone is defined as a space or group of spaces in a building having similar heating and cooling requirements throughout its occupied area so that comfort conditions may be controlled by a single thermostat.
Zoning (see also Interior zone; Perimeter zone)
The practice of dividing a building into smaller zones for control of the HVAC system. For example, buildings may be zoned into individual floors, rooms, or spaces with distinct loads, such as perimeter and interior zones.
Appendix 2. Ecoflair.
ECOFLAIR – the system
Ecoflair is an innovative HVAC system that is based on two closed rings, providing cold and hot water to terminal units as to satisfy all needs regarding heating or cooling loads. Another distinctive character is given by the presence of a number of heat transfer units, operating as inverse cycles which restore the required temperature difference between the two rings by transferring heat from cold to hot water. A central unit, dubbed “Energy Provider”, provides positive or negative thermal power to compensate for the imbalance between positive and negative thermal loads; this unit, when possible, uses free cooling and heat recovering techniques. In July 2002, following a detailed study, Ecoflair® was submitted to the European Patent Office for evaluation.
Following a thorough examination, this was the verdict:
ECOFLAIR® is a design innovation.
ECOFLAIR® is a registered trademark of Uniflair
ECOFLAIR® is an intellectual property patent for Uniflair’s exclusive use The workplace
Climate control of enclosed spaces (microclimates) entails controlling and maintaining environmental parameters within a range of values that will assure the wellbeing of people working in the air-conditioned environment.
The main control parameters are temperature, humidity, air quality, noise level, airspeed, lighting, fresh air supply, and workspace colour scheme.
Providing a comfortable environment for occupants involves measuring phenomena that alter the state of said environment and counterbalancing their effect. An environment is influenced by effects generated inside (endogenous) and originating from outside (environmental or exogenous).
This results in the need for protection of health and quality of air indoors, perception of indoor air quality, and integrated design of high levels of air quality to promote health, comfort and productivity of occupants.
As far as air treatment goes, the most critical points are ventilation, fresh air supply and filtration. Exposure to bacteria and mould can cause irritation and infections - risks that are 15% higher indoors than out. Saving on a building’s running costs is not compatible with workplace quality. Nonetheless, a deteriorated workplace is uneconomical as the probability of sickness increases, whilst a comfortable environment, with good air quality, can result in an increase in productivity of between 1.5 and 6%. The best results are achieved with the “upflow stratified-effect air distribution” technique.
How does Ecoflair work?
In the winter a building needs heating, but some rooms also need cooling (for example the room where computer mainframes are situated). In this situation the two loops provide the necessary level and cooling and heat from the mainframe room can be transferred to the rooms that need heating.
ECOFLAIR® is designed to monitor conditions in each single environment, to detect positive and negative load situations, to compensate the demands of areas with different requirements (transferring heat from one to the other), requesting integration through an external generator, to provide just the portion of energy not balanced internally.
There is a single generator for the whole installation and it can meet both the system's cooling and heating needs to come to the aid of the part not compensated by internal transfer.
Modern buildings often have areas with a lot of windows, open-plan office spaces and climatic zones. This can result in very different internal loads within the building. This calls for the need of local climate control to achieve individual comfort conditions.
Next to the different climate wishes, modern buildings also face frequent changes in layout,
in use and in equipment power. This calls for the need of flexibility (the ability to redesign spaces quick and inexpensive). Ecoflair offers this flexibility, local control and even energy savings.
Each person can control his own space while the company they work for will not have to waste enormous amounts of energy required to power traditional air-conditioning and heating systems while operating at the same time. If hot and cold demands are not balanced, the energy provider will simply rebalance the situation.
The components
Series Models [size]
Unitile UTAT UTAT0030B
Heat transfer unit HTWH HTWH0091B
Air control unit ACCH ACCH0081A
Hydraulic kit HYDRAULIC KIT 5 size (see below) EPAC0251A Energy provider without free-
cooling EPAC
EPAC0501A EPAF0251A ECOFLAI
R
Energy provider with free-cooling EPAF
EPAF0501A
Unitile
Zone terminal units
(Unitile) named: UTAT, for local air treatment: it controls air temperature, ventilation, filtration and air- quality.
Thanks to the special layout, the grille permits to create the climatic bubble around the user.
Installation: under the floor. The user sees only the grille.
Dimension: 600 x 600 mm
Each Unitile is connected to the Local User Terminal (LUT).
The user with his LUT (on his desk) can change fan speed and the temperature oh his climatic bubble.
The Unitile is connected to the hydraulic circuit through the hydraulic kit.
This kit is connected to the two loops and supply the UTAT with hot or cold water, hot if the Unitile is heating, cold if the user need cooling.
Uniflair studied 5 different hydraulic kits, in order to give the maximum choice to the customer. Using the first solution the user has the most personalised control, with the other solution that different UTAT have to share with other UTAT the same water temperature.
1 UTAT – 1 hydraulic kit 2/3 UTAT – 1 hydraulic kit 4/5 UTAT – 1 hydraulic kit 6/7 UTAT – 1 hydraulic kit 8/9/10 UTAT – 1 hydraulic kit.
Installation: under the floor;
the user sees nothing.
Dimension: 600 x 600 mm
Heat Transfer Unit
Maintains correct temperature difference between the two loops.
Installation: under the floor; the user sees nothing. The transfer units can be connected at any point of the system in connection with the heating loop and cooling loop. Units can be single or multiple. Additional units can be added at any time to suit changes in the building's operating conditions.
Dimension: 600 x 1200 mm
Kit for 1 Unitile
Kit for 10 Unitile
cooling loop
evaporator
cooling compressor heating loop
condenser temperature
sensors
Energy Provider
Keeps loops at most convenient temperature and counters loss of load balance.
Moreover makes free cooling if is possible, i.e. use external air to refresh the water directly.
Installation: external
Dimension: 3807 x 1193mm h:1618mm (0251A model); 5242 x 1344 mm h:2140mm (0501A model).
general view bottom view bottom view w/o panel
Air control UNIT
Flow rates depend on quantity of CO2 and VOC (volatile organic content).
The unit makes the recovery on expelled air.
Installation: on the floor in a service room Dimension: 1661 x 1861mm h:681mm
Outlet hot water Outlet cold water
Inlet cold water Inlet hot water
Appendix 3. Questionnaire.
Questionnaire New Air-conditioning products.
Job description: ………
(Name company): ………...
Section 1. air-conditioning in general.
1. What does Commercial Cooling mean to you?:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Our company designs/ installs mainly: (you can select more than one answer)
Installations for Commercial Cooling Installations for Residential cooling Installations for Industrial Cooling
Other, please specify: ____________________________________
3. For commercial cooling our company uses mainly the following products:
VRF Split systems VAV split systems
VAV under floor systems Conventional fan coil units
DX split systems Thermal storage
Chilled ceiling
Other, please specify: _________________________________________
4. The products you purchase are mainly: (you can select more than one answer) Standard systems
Special systems custom made
No systems, but separate parts from different manufacturers
Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
5. The companies in your sector compete mainly on (select the most important):
Price
Differentiation differences in service (ex. delivery, installation, maintenance, repairs) Differentiation, physical differences (ex. functions, performance, norms)
Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
6. What important features must a product possess that your company purchases? (HVAC/air- conditioning systems)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. What are the three most important factors for product quality?
High performance Long warranty
Low energy usage Known brand
Long life cycle (it works for a long time) Easy to change lay-out
Easy to install Low noise level
Easy to replace (parts) Field tested
Reliability
Other, please specify: __________________________________________
Section 2. product characteristics.
8. Are you familiar with all-water systems where the perimeter units are installed under floor?
Yes
If no, please go to question 13
9. Are you enthusiastic about all-water systems where the perimeter units are installed under floor?
Very enthusiastic Enthusiastic Indifferent
Not very enthusiastic Not enthusiastic
10. Why are you not satisfied with under-floor all-water systems?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
11. In what applications do you think under-floor air-conditioning systems are suitable?
Very suitable neutral not suitable Office buildings
Buildings using a raised floor
Schools and light manufacturing applications
High ceiling area like an auditorium or theatre Television studios When personal zones are required
Buildings without room for a duct
In buildings with a high change /chunk rate
Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
12. What should change/made better about under-floor systems in general?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
13. Do you think individual climate control is desirable with an HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-treatment and cooling) system?
Yes
If no, please go to question 15
14. What is a reasonable price to achieve this function?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
15. Why is a personal climate not desirable with a HVAC system?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
16. Do you think it is important to have the possibility to expand your air-conditioning system(in case of increased thermal load) without redesigning the lay-out of the entire system? (i.e. simply add or remove perimeter units)
Very important Important Indifferent Not very important Not important
17. How important is it to being able to change the lay-out of your office in a quick and economical way?
(the flexible office) Very important Important Indifferent Not very important Not important
18. I find it very important for my suppliers to:
Important Neutral Not important
Deliver quality products Deliver cheap products To provide good ‘after- sales’ service
To provide more warranties To have better payment schedules
To have a better distribution To have a shorter delivery time
To provide more
information about products
Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
Section 3. Uniflair Europe
19. Have you heard of the company Uniflair Europe?
Yes
If no, please go to question 24 20. Where did you hear of Uniflair:
Internet Sector organisations
Fairs Direct mailing
Magazines
Other, please specify: ___________________________________________
21. Have you ever requested information about products or prices with Uniflair?
Yes
If no, please go to question 24
22. Have you ever ordered products from Uniflair?
If yes, please go to question 24 No
23. Why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
24. Do you wish to receive more information about the products of Uniflair?
Yes No
If you wish to receive information about new products or other existing products of Uniflair.
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Appendix 4. The competition.
HIROSS Flexible Space System
• System Description
The Flexible Space System is basically an under floor air-conditioning system making use of the floor void directly as a plenum for the distribution of air. Supply and return channels are created by means of baffles and Conditioned Air Modules (CAM) are suitably located throughout the office space to generate conditioned air locally to serve the needs of the space. The CAM units deliver conditioned air into the floor void supply plena and draw spent air back through the return plena.
Chilled water is delivered to the CAM by means of small diameter pipework and condense water is drained away.
Fresh air will be delivered directly to the CAM from outside via a central ventilation system. Extract air will be taken away at high level in the space near risers or through the toilets.
Let into the floor over supply plena are individually controlled Fan terminals of either recessed or floor standing configuration. These terminals introduce air into the space above in accordance with the dictates of their own on board controls system.
Return air grilles are positioned in the floor over return plena to permit the return of spent air to the CAM unit for re-conditioning.
The building is generally divided up into several zones per floor and these zones are defined by means of fire barriers placed in the floor void.
The whole system is controlled by means of the Electronic Management System and Hiromatic Advanced Controller. All CAMs’ and Fan Terminals can be connected into the system permitting centralized monitoring and control of various functions to take place.
The system may be integrated with a Building Management System subject to compatibility and requirements.
HIROSS reserves the right to vary the specification of any of it's product range in line with it's policy of continuous development and improvement.
All manufacturing of HIROSS products is carried out under the Quality Assurance program operated by the factory in line with ISO 9000.
• Raised Floor system
The raised floor is constructed in the following way:
Floor panels are supported on structurally sound pedestals and stringers with electrostatically conductive gaskets. This sub-structure provides the structural support for Fan-Tiles and Return Grilles where floor tiles are cut to permit their placement.
The floor area is cleared of other trades materials as far as possible and a pedestal height survey carried out with reference to the datum level of the finished floor, usually provided by others.
The sub floor is then prepared in accordance with the agreed program by first sealing with a PVA sealant or similar and then marked out to a greater or lesser degree subject to requirements to define pedestal positions. This permits any under floor services to be installed without clashing with pedestals.
Again subject to requirements the services can be laid or part laid and then the floor installation commences.
The floor area is given over entirely to the flooring installer. No other trades should be permitted to walk or in any other way load the floor until the floor has been laid for 48 hours. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in deterioration of the levelness of the floor, and other loss of quality.
Wherever possible the floor layers will sectionalise the work to permit other trades to continue their work but the major trades such as concrete, cement and plastering should definitely be complete before the floor commences.
The floor void will become a service zone for high grade electronics and conditioned air for consumption by the users of the space and it is therefore in the interests of the user that dust and contamination be minimized before the floor commences.
Once laid the floor is then fitted out with Fan-Tiles and return grilles along with fire barriers and air segregation baffles. This element may be delayed if a tenant has not been found.
• Panels
The floor panels are made from high quality chipboard encapsulated in aluminium foil on all sides, 38mm thick and 600mm square, the panels tolerance is such as to allow full panels to be removed from any location and substituted with others.
The floor panels may be cut by band saw or jig saw and the exposed edge taped with a vapour sealing aluminum tape.
The panels can be cut to accommodate most forms of floor box electrical outlet, access port or power pole and when laid on the gasket provide a suitably tight air seal.
Panels are delivered to site in weatherproof protection and should not be subjected to wetting or high levels of Relative Humidity.
• Pedestals
Pedestals are constructed from two elements. The base and the head. The head comprises a specially shaped stringer and panel support compression bonded to a height adjustable vertical tube with nylon insert. The head is offered onto the base which comprises a structurally designed base plate with fusion bonded threaded stud and lock nut.
The whole assembly is coated with corrosion resistant plating.
The height adjustment is generally +/- 25mm and the base is bonded to the sub floor by means of an epoxy adhesive.
A head gasket of electrostatically conductive vinyl permits the panel to bed down evenly on the pedestal. The gasket has small lugs, which hold the panel in place when others are removed.
• Stringers
Galvanised steel stringers type MPM generally are fixed to the pedestal heads by means of self tapping removable screws. Each stringer provides a structural load bearing support for panels, return grilles and Fan-Tails. The stringer is supplied with a vinyl profiled self clipping gasket along its length to provide a permanent air seal and acoustic cushion. Other grades of stringer can be supplied subject to application.
• Technical specifications
The technical specifications of the proposed raised floor are:
(a) Point load 480 kgr
(b) UDL 1860 kgr per sq. meter (c) Sound insulation 32db
(d) Fire resistance 1Hour.
• Fire Barriers
Although the floor void is deemed not to be a hidden void by virtue of the grilles placed within it we still divide the void up into the various air zones by means of fire barrier. The barrier is made of gypsum board partition.
• Air Segregation Baffles
Air segregation baffle is made from gypsum board.
Air Conditioning Equipment
• Conditioned Air Modules (CAM)
Each CAM is a vertically arranged air handling unit containing as standard EU5 Filters, copper pipe/aluminium fin cooling coils and Electric Heating Coil, Direct drive fans and comprehensive controls system. (Low pressure hot water heating coils and Humidifier are optional extras.)
The unit is made with self-supporting steel framework clad with acoustically lined steel panels. The unit is finished in standard powder coat finish and stands on a purpose made base frame.
The base frame is available in a variety of configurations to direct the air as required and is height adjustable +/- 35mm for final cutting in on site level with the access floor.
Fresh air ductwork may be connected to the unit but this is not standard. Normally the Fresh Air is introduced to the return air plenum.
Any further acoustic enclosures may be constructed on site but do not form part of this proposal.
Access for maintenance is only required from the front.
• Power and Controls:
The electrical wiring meets IEC regulations.
Each CAM is supplied with a complete internal wiring loom connecting all fitted electrical components. A gland is provided for the incoming power and control wiring and all connections of external control and power cabling will be run to the units from the relevant tenant board on each floor which we have assumed will be supplied and installed by the electrical contractor.
The factory wired board in each CAM unit is isolated from the air flow and includes all necessary switches and circuit breakers to serve the specified requirements and has a main isolator for complete isolation of the unit during maintenance or other shut down.
Auxiliary circuits are all supplied at 24v via a built in transformer.
Various volt free contacts are available for use by the customer .
The Automatic control of the unit is electronic and includes a Macroface board.
Visualisation of the controls is achieved through a Hiromatic Controller which provides easy access to set point adjustment and all other built in functions.
Through an optional interface (Not Included in this proposal) it is possible to link the complete HIROSS system to the central BMS. The Hiross system is compatible with most systems on the market but the engineering and definition of actual requirements must be investigated to ensure satisfactory operation.
• Fan-Tile Units.
There are two models available. FTU 450 and FTU 300. The 450 range offers a very quiet and user friendly control but requires 215mm clearance within the floor void. The FTU 300 offers a more simplified control without visualisation locally and slightly lower capacity and requires only 150 - 180mm clearance within the floor void. The major
difference is that the FTU 450 has two floor grilles whereas the FTU 300 requires only one.
Each unit contains twin scroll fans driven from a single motor, an open/shut control damper, electric heating coil (Optional), and a self contained on board control system.
The units require no pipework or ductwork connections and are easily relocated in a matter of minutes.
A standard factory fitted power cable rated at 13amp minimum links the unit to a segregated power supply. This power may be controlled via the BMS and contactor control to enable the default function on fan speed to be utilised. The standard European plug may be replaced with a 13amp fused plug or specialist cable as an option.
An 8 wire flat data cable links the unit back to the CAM to provide monitoring and control options.
• Console Terminal Units
The console terminal unit is located on top of the access floor with vertical discharge grille and is used where obstructions below the floor preclude the use of recessed terminals or where a preference for this configuration exists.
Each unit contains twin scroll fans driven from a single motor, an open/shut control damper, electric heating coil (Optional),and a self contained on board control system.
The units require no pipework or ductwork connections and are easily relocated in a matter of minutes.
A standard factory fitted power cable rated at 13amp minimum links the unit to a segregated power supply. This power may be controlled via the BMS and contactor control to enable the default function on fan speed to be utilised. The standard European plug may be replaced with a 13amp fused plug or specialist cable as an option.
An 8 wire flat data cable links the unit back to the CAM to provide monitoring and control options.
• Return Grilles
Return grilles constructed in the same material as those used for the Fan-Tiles are 600mm long and 150mm wide. They comprise solid parallel aerofoil blades supported with transverse bars and coated in neutral silver anodised finish as standard. Other colors are available as an option.
The grilles have the same height adjustment feature as the Fan-Tail grilles for easy alignment with the final floor covering.
Carrier Axis
York FlexSys
Trox FSL
Titus
Speculative office buildings invariably use ceiling-based infrastructure for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and networking, consisting of a ducted VAV system
for HVAC and "poke-throughs" for networking. Despite first cost savings, the inadequacies of these systems are well known. Poke-through modifications require interruptions of the occupied floor below, with dust and measurable disruption of activities. They also result in surface mounted or partially embedded outlet boxes that are non-relocatable and safety hazards. The cost of relocation is charged out at about
$400 a box, until the number of holes puts the structural integrity of the slab in question, after which they cost up to $800 a box (so that structural patching can occur). At the same time, ceiling-based HVAC with the typical hard ducting and fixed zone sizes also has performance weaknesses. The Soffer Organization reports that their most frequent complaints are "too hot/too cold". First cost decision-making is driving engineers to larger and larger zones (now at an average of 15-20 people, moving towards 50 sharing a thermostat), and to "blanket" diffusers that are further apart, resulting in even poorer performance of these fixed, ceiling-based approaches.
One of the most promising new approaches to delivering both HVAC and networks to the individual workstation is the use of a raised floor plenum instead of a ceiling plenum.
Based on cost-benefit studies, the Soffer Tech Office building will use a raised floor for both HVAC and modular power and networking. The HVAC will use the floor as a supply air plenum, with user relocatable air diffusers. Some underfloor ducting will distribute conditioned air to redefinable zones under the floor, with air temperature controlled by thermostats and VAV dampers. These pressurised plenums allow tenant layouts and densities to change continuously, with thermal conditioning ensured by the continuous addition and relocation of VAV diffuser "pots" in the floor. The 18" raised floor will also support underfloor networking and relocatable outlet boxes. These floor based infrastructures leave the ceiling free for creative lighting and acoustic solutions, adding interest to the workplace.
The major benefits of this system are the provision of service (connectivity, HVAC, user comfort (temperature control and air quality), and ease of reconfiguration. The floor based delivery or air can also reduce energy costs since cooling air temperatures do not need to be as cold, and air can be delivered to the occupant without having to cool the entire volume of space. In the Tech Office building, this was calculated at $875 per year for this project given - a conservative estimate due to the limitation of simulating raised floor air supply with DOE2. There are also significant first cost gains in the underfloor HVAC systems since a majority of the ducting can be eliminated.
The three part high performance package (raised floor, plenum air supply with relocatable diffusers, and structured/relocatable wiring for data-power-voice) does cost
$0.27 more per square foot than conventional systems on this project. However, the facility cost savings in the first reconfiguration (churn) will yield $4.66 per square foot (7 times the additional cost investment), which will accrue with each full tenant reconfiguration. The floor based HVAC has other benefits. Since the air diffusers can be open and closed (to a minimum) as well as relocated by the occupants, facility management complaints about thermal comfort and air quality will diminish. Combined with a variable frequency drive air handler, the tenants can introduce more air diffusers as needed to meet the needs of additional meeting spaces and higher density layouts (gaining the benefits of just-in-time purchasing of infrastructure rather than first cost redundancies).
Since the air diffusers and the outlet boxes can be relocated, added and subtracted, waste is dramatically reduced - with tenant turnover no longer requiring base building and fit-out components to be thrown away. Finally, there is growing evidence that personally controllable air systems increases individual productivity.
Denco Officecool
Johnson Personal Environmental Module
Argon Panel Air Terminal
