Optimising energy efficiency through adaptive air handling

Industry: Commercial Building

Application: Air Handling Fans

Site Challenge:  The Castlegate Business Park in Monmouthshire in Wales, UK, provides a range of accommodation for offices and light industry, including production space and storage facilities.

To provide ventilation, the facility has an air handling unit, with a supply fan and a return fan. Each fan was directly driven by its own motor through a pulley system. The speed of each fan could be controlled manually by varying the ratio of the drive wheels between the motor and the fan, but this had no effect on the speed of the motor and offered no potential for saving energy.

Recent changes in activity had led to a reduced air demand. A current tenant of the centre had previously been engaged in the manufacture of semiconductors, an activity that generates large amounts of heat and a subsequent demand for air circulation. As this activity had ceased, the air handling unit now had more capacity than required.

The business needed to reduce energy consumption and realised that the HVAC system was not running as efficiently as it could but did not know how to resolve the issue. They approached APDS in Bristol for help and to look at the potential for using low voltage AC drives on the installation.

ABB Drive Solution:

APDS installed a 22kW ABB standard HVAC drives on the supply fan and a 15kW drive on the return fan. Running the air handling unit according to demand and taking account of the reduced occupancy, the ABB drives have reduced energy costs by 70 percent, lowering running costs from 180 pounds to just 50 pounds a week.

The annual saving of over 6,000 pounds will give a payback time of 16 months. The savings were verified by the customer using the same methods employed by ABB and APDS.

Benefits:

• Instant automatic control
• Reduced energy costs from £180 to just £50 pounds a week
• An annual saving of over £6,000.
• Energy costs reduced 70 percent
• Payback time of 16 months

Conclusion:

The success of this project underscores the importance of proactive energy management and the role advanced technologies, such as low voltage AC drives, play in achieving substantial operational efficiencies. Castlegate Business Park’s decision to collaborate with APDS has not only resulted in immediate financial gains but also establishes a pathway for continued energy-conscious operations. With a payback time of just 16 months, the project stands as a testament to the tangible benefits that arise when businesses invest in sustainable practices, demonstrating the potential for significant cost savings and a reduced environmental footprint.

Footnote:

Please note these customer-approved stories are collected since 2000. While some company names may have changed during this time, the principles and methods described to save energy or improve productivity are applicable today. contact APDS Ltd Bristol: 01179 822 049 www.apds.co.uk