Sunday, November 12, 2006
Inverter Drives The Answer At Thomas More Square
When it came to replacing worn-out fans fitted to the air supply units in premises at London's Thomas More Square, resident HVAC contractors TAC took the opportunity to install energy-efficient Alldales inverter drives. With a small foot print and the potential to link to existing BMS systems using serial communications, Alldales drives offer new opportunities for existing buildings to reduce energy consumption without the need for a total refit or additional space. The Thomas More Square complex, adjacent to Tower Bridge, comprises six buildings housing up to 5,000 people.
The site is occupied by a number of tenants with different operating needs, among them a global financial institution trading worldwide, 24 hours, seven days a week.
Building occupancy patterns also vary considerably throughout the day.
The buildings are served by 2 11kV chillers, with the condenser water cooled by air from 4 160 Kw fans.
Historically, airflow has been regulated by means of soft starters and variable pitch of the fan blades to achieve the desired settings.
Where a building is operating around the clock with fluctuating demand, this can place a heavy load on the motors.
TAC took the opportunity in replacing a burnt-out motor to adopt a different strategy, aimed at providing both an economical replacement solution and switching to a more energy efficient approach.
TAC approached Alldales as a supplier with whom they had worked before and who could provide the necessary consultancy and installation expertise.
Incorporating variable speed drive technology into HVAC systems can make a huge difference in energy consumption, an important consideration given that HVAC systems account for up to 1/3 of all energy consumed in a typical office building.
Inverter drives work by regulating the speed of the motor to adjust flow, with the blades maintained in a fixed position.
The secret lies in the 'law of the cube': any reduction in centrifugal load results in a threefold decrease in power input.
This means a reduction of 20% in motor speed could halve energy requirements.
Savings in energy costs, have anywhere up to £14,000 worth of electricity every year, based on a typical 75kW motor are not unrealistic.
In addition, by reducing wear and tear, the life of plant components is extended.
With the first inverter drive installed and already delivering operational benefits and energy savings, TAC plans to replace the soft starters to the remaining fans as and when they reach the end of their operating life.
Looking to the future, TAC hopes exploit the serial comms facility of the inverter drives to integrate air handling and delivery with a new BMS system, which has been recently installed on site.
The site is occupied by a number of tenants with different operating needs, among them a global financial institution trading worldwide, 24 hours, seven days a week.
Building occupancy patterns also vary considerably throughout the day.
The buildings are served by 2 11kV chillers, with the condenser water cooled by air from 4 160 Kw fans.
Historically, airflow has been regulated by means of soft starters and variable pitch of the fan blades to achieve the desired settings.
Where a building is operating around the clock with fluctuating demand, this can place a heavy load on the motors.
TAC took the opportunity in replacing a burnt-out motor to adopt a different strategy, aimed at providing both an economical replacement solution and switching to a more energy efficient approach.
TAC approached Alldales as a supplier with whom they had worked before and who could provide the necessary consultancy and installation expertise.
Incorporating variable speed drive technology into HVAC systems can make a huge difference in energy consumption, an important consideration given that HVAC systems account for up to 1/3 of all energy consumed in a typical office building.
Inverter drives work by regulating the speed of the motor to adjust flow, with the blades maintained in a fixed position.
The secret lies in the 'law of the cube': any reduction in centrifugal load results in a threefold decrease in power input.
This means a reduction of 20% in motor speed could halve energy requirements.
Savings in energy costs, have anywhere up to £14,000 worth of electricity every year, based on a typical 75kW motor are not unrealistic.
In addition, by reducing wear and tear, the life of plant components is extended.
With the first inverter drive installed and already delivering operational benefits and energy savings, TAC plans to replace the soft starters to the remaining fans as and when they reach the end of their operating life.
Looking to the future, TAC hopes exploit the serial comms facility of the inverter drives to integrate air handling and delivery with a new BMS system, which has been recently installed on site.
# posted by Medical Information : 2:14 PM
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