Energy Efficient Intelligent HVLS fan (High Volume Low Speed)
The project develop a new method to reduce the electricity consumption to ventilation, heating and cooling in large high ceilinged rooms by using controlled draft/mixture by mixing fans.
The principle is weakly developed/widespread and mostly known from airports where large slowly rotating impellers are located below the ceiling. However, experience show that the potential can be extremely energy efficient and in many cases replace traditional cooling by creating controlled draft during summer and reduce the heating consumption during winter by reducing the thermal stratification and return the heat below the ceiling to the occupied zone.
The project capture the impeller design and intelligent control through measure protocal for validating “cooling+heating+mixing effect” compared to “energy consumption+indoor climate”.
The project develops a method to reduce the electricity consumption for ventilation in large ceilinged rooms by use of a new developed HVLS fans (See photo section 3) and an intelligent controller. The technology is applicable for industrial buildings, livestock buildings, shopping malls, office buildings with arcades, hangars, activity halls etc.
A HVLS fan (High Volume Low Speed fan) having a diameter of 3-7 meter is useable alone or as a supplement to existing ventilation system during hot peaks in summer period and to avoid thermal stratification during winter. During winter the HVLS fan will move the hot air below the ceiling to the occupied zone. During summer the HVLS cool by creating controlled draft with high air velocity and turbulence levels.
Beside new design of impellors an intelligent controller will be designed regulating summer- and winter mode.
In order to compare energy efficiency and cooling effect for different HVLS fans a standardized test procedure will be developed.
In the end is developed a design tool for advisors and consultants, which can be used in order to decide if the HVLS ventilation system is beneficial to select, which dimension of impellers are optimal, evaluate optimal location in the room. Finally, the design tool can be used to calculate the energy reduction.
The developed product is finally tested in a dairy farm and a SAS hangar.
The new ventilation concept developed for rooms with high distance to the ceiling can be used both for cooling in the summer and reduction of energy during the winter.
The target for the development is the climate in North Europe.
The ventilation concept is based on HVLS fans – High Volume Low Speed fans – which are fans with large blades and a diameter of more than 2 meter in diameter. Large volume of air is moved with low speed.
The product has nothing to do with the small diameter fans used in warmer countries which have a much smaller diameter and rotate rapidly with consequent high sound levels.
The controller developed for the new product is aimed for the northern European climate.
In the industry can be seen many facilities with high distance to the ceiling and where it will not be realistic to invest in air condition systems for the workers or customers. Here the new product can be a solution for cooling in the summer. Likewise, the product can be reduced for energy reduction in the winter, where the fan rotates clockwise and destroy the temperature gradient in the room so the heat is not ending in the top of the building below the ceiling.
The hypothesis of energy saving has been proven. With the newly developed HVLS fan with new propellors, intelligent control and smart user interface both improved indoor climate and energy reduction have been obtained. The energy saving was 20-30% compared to conventional air conditions systems, which has been demonstrated in 3 sportshalls.
Finally, a design guide has been developed for advisors that can be used for dimensioning ventilation with HVLS fans in rooms with high distance to the ceiling.
The project is co-financed by the ELFORSK program with project no. 352-032, and is carried out by following participants: Nordicco A/S and Teknologisk Institut.
Key figures
Category
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| Nordicco A/S | ||
| SAS / Coor Service | ||
| Kvægproducent |
