Product category:
Building management systems
News Release from: Industrial Purification Systems | Subject: Filtering out particles
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 March 2006
Filtering out the problems in the
pipeline
Under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, systems must be upgraded to incorporate all 'cost-effective' energy efficiency measures, and water heating/cooling systems are the prime target
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive becomes law in 2006 and will apply to almost all buildings with a useful floor area of over 1000sqm, whether new-build or renovations In new buildings, alternative heating and cooling systems must be considered at the design stage, and in major renovations, systems must be upgraded to incorporate all 'cost-effective' energy efficiency measures
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 17 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
High efficiency media filtration technology
IPS, a specialist in water filtration self cleaning technology, has secured a contract worth GBP300k for the delivery of high efficiency media filtration systems destined for Saudi Arabia.
High efficiency media filtration for water sources
IPS introduces the latest and most reliable high efficiency media filtration technology, getting a balance between cost efficiency, performance and the environment
Developers can use modern materials, insulation and glazing to ensure a certain degree of energy efficiency, but since 80% of most buildings' energy demand flows through its heating and cooling systems, much of the scope for improvement in performance clearly lies there.
Almost all heating or cooling systems, conventional or alternative, involve water, and over time that water picks up particles which in extreme cases can silt up entire heating systems, requiring expensive maintenance, repair or even replacement.
A build-up of solids no thicker than a human hair inside pipework can reduce heat transfer by up to 30%, drastically reducing efficiency and increasing energy consumption.
Further reading
Water-based heating systems are inefficient!
In an age where super-efficient heating and cooling systems are at the heart of modern building design, it is remarkable that many ingenious systems begin to fail immediately, for the simplest reasons
Paper manufacturer uses river water filtration
Swedish paper manufacturer Billerud Beetham will supply an advanced media filtration system for the provision of high grade water derived from a variable water source, a river
Dow Chemicals shows 5.2% cut in fuel consumption
A global chemical manufacturer has invested in a Maxsys Fuel System for use on its steam-raising gas fired process boiler, and shown a 5.2% cut in fuel consumption
The 'cost-effectiveness' of remedial measures becomes a key factor.
Developers may be forced to consider wholesale replacement of systems, which can be extremely expensive and in older buildings often impractical.
Adjacent to Liverpool Street Station in London lies a major redevelopment project which includes listed Victorian warehouse buildings alongside new build.
Energy Management consultant Nigel Brown of RPM Consultants was called in to work on the project.
The existing air conditioning system used a cooling tower where water was chilled by being sprayed into the air, consequently picking up particles and dirt until it had become 'more like cocoa than water'.
The system was frequently clogging, but the cost of replacement would have been prohibitive.
Having had considerable experience in the US and Canada where air conditioning has long been the norm, Nigel contacted St Helens based Industrial Purification Systems (IPS) who installed a Vortex Media Filter, a type of unit often used in US air conditioning systems.
"The worst problems are often caused by the tiniest particles, those in the range of 1-5 microns, which often evade filtration and coat the inside of pipework," says Andy Evans, of IPS.
"These can often be organic, and resistant to chemicals too.
Even modern enhanced heat exchanges can be fouled over time, losing efficiency and using more energy.
The key is to filter these particles out as well as the larger solids that are relatively easy to remove.
Doing that alone can contribute up to a 10% increase in efficiency, even in a new system".
Nigel Brown saw the results almost immediately.
"Within a short time after installation, the chilled water in the system looked as clear as tap water.
That cut down on fouling and clogging and made the whole system more efficient and less expensive to run.
We're also planning to move the Vortex Media Filter unit into the condenser line soon to keep that part of the system clean too".
The Vortex media filter uses two types of filtration technology combined in order to remove such very fine contaminants.
Firstly, raw water is filtered through a high-speed vortex which uses centrifugal force to propel larger particles out of suspension, and then re-filtered through multi-layered media, or 'sand'.
Because larger particles are removed before the water passes through the sand filter, much finer sand can be used without any clogging problems.
The whole system self-cleans using an automatic backwash cycle requiring less water and far shorter operating times than traditional sand filters.
Being portable, the system can easily be moved from one location to another, (in this case from cooling reservoir to condenser) since filtered water remains acceptably clean for a considerable time.
Or individual filtration systems can be inserted into each separate line to continuously filter the cooling water, permanently protecting against biological fouling, scaling, corrosion and legionella to a degree that traditional systems or chemical treatment programmes alone cannot guarantee.
"When everything is double or triple glazed and the whole building is stuffed with insulation, there are still significant energy improvements to be made through heating and cooling systems running better and cleaner.
The Vortex Media Filter represents an extremely cost effective addition to almost any heating or cooling system," says Andy.
• Industrial Purification Systems: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
