We work closely with our clients to develop highly efficient Industrial Ventilation Solutions, this can help eradicate a number of issues.
Cooling
Where the scope is too cool, within reasonable parameters i.e., the maximum allowable temperature is higher than the design ambient, Ventilation can be used as a stand-alone solution for your cooling needs.
We are specialists at developing solutions that complement the plant arrangement and location of heat sources for maximum cooling effect.
Through continued training to understand the nuances of air movement, we have been changing the approach across industrial sites. This has varied from the traditional approach of mechanical exhaust, with passive supply, to provide more targeted cooling and efficient Ventilation.
Heat Recovery
Where we have areas nearby on site that require background heating or condensation control, we can capture heat and transfer it using forced and passive mechanical ventilation through to other areas. This recovery of heat reduces operational costs and minimises waste energy, offsetting requirements for heater running.
Typical cooling solutions incorporate mechanical supply either using plate fans or ducted systems with grilles or nozzles to disperse the air. Where air is being used for heat transfer, this is typically via either passive or mechanical transfer, with similar systems to the supply. Where heat is not required elsewhere on site, we would typically exhaust to atmosphere passively.
Requirements for Design
If you would like Air Technology Systems to provide a cooling solution for your site, we would need the following information as a minimum:
- Building dimensions and layout (including equipment positions, sections to highlight available space, external walls etc.).
- Heat load of different equipment and their positions.
- Internal and external design temperature basis for summer conditions (and winter if applicable).
- Any specifications relevant to Ventilation or the plant area.
Continuous Background Ventilation
Continuous Background Ventilation often comes together with heating requirements, as winter design conditions are typically far below 5°C.
We assess any areas for heat transfer on site, combining cooling solutions with Ventilation solutions to minimise heating requirements.
Continuous Ventilation needs can vary from non-critical, unoccupied areas that only require passive Ventilation, through to confined space or ATEX rated areas reliant on guaranteed Ventilation rates and distribution, to ensure the safety of operatives.
As part of the resilience to our ventilation solutions we advise you if a duty / standby fan arrangement or a boxed spare fan would best suit your needs.
High Velocity Capabilities
Air Technology Systems can use our high velocity air induction systems to provide highly efficient mixing and dilution, push air down long, narrow spaces with limited space for equipment. We entrain air to increase the volume of air moved by the system.
We provide solutions including: combinations of plate fans and louvres, and internal recirculation / transfer fans. This helps to overcome congested plant areas and prevent dead spots. Often on larger projects, all these systems will be seen.
Where value can be added to the efficiency of a system by using an exhaust system, we design it to work in conjunction with the supply to ensure it is operating as effectively as possible.
Dilution / Contaminant Removal
Using a forced air Ventilation System, we can incorporate several gas detection systems or other alarms. This provides a system that either turns on on receipt of a signal, or ramps up to increase the Ventilation rates, which results in dilution Ventilation.
We can provide solutions for vehicle exhaust, gas detection, incorporating items such as traffic light entry systems within our controls, to add another layer of safety to your site.
Dilution systems are perfect for using air induction nozzle systems, as these promote efficient dilution and mixing, and move larger volumes of air than supplied due to entrainment.
These systems are typically used in battery storage areas; chemical storage or dosing rooms; vehicle reception buildings; to name a few.
Odour Control
When considering Odour Control, often no thought is given to how the replacement air is delivered, and whether it can assist in improving the capture and exhaust of contaminants.
Air Technology Systems can use our expertise to help reduce the volumes of air treated. This is done through a combination of specific air supply patterns, containment of areas with curtains, reduction of fugitive emissions and increased efficiency of capture - to add significant value to Odour Control projects by designing the Ventilation in conjunction.
In addition to improving and sometimes decreasing the size of the required Odour Control, we can also use Ventilation to provide segregation between areas on site. We prevent odorous air entering a MCC Room located within the plant area, protecting both the operators and the equipment located within.
Humidity Control and Condensation Prevention
We are often asked to control systems using humidity sensors. Humidity Control is typically not understood and is often requested in scopes in a way that contradicts the rest of the design basis, or requires significant heating to enable the control method requested.
However, unless we are conditioning the air to remove moisture or raise the temperature, this can present a risk in certain applications such as MCC Room Ventilation - where the internal relative humidity is less than the external relative humidity, for example in winter months.
Typically, an internal temperature is also required to be maintained, and the usual approach to ventilate MCC Rooms is to operate the Ventilation on cooling only. This requires little to no background heating, as we are not bringing in cold air when not required.
Cold Water Pipes
Our capabilities also cover the maintenance of areas containing cold water pipes at a minimum temperature above the temperature of the pipes.
This carries the risk of air hitting the cold pipes and the temperature falling below the dew point of the air to condense out. In these applications, it is more important to maintain good airflow patterns than to maintain a specific temperature.
Here we would typically use either fresh air supply, or transfer systems (obtaining free heating from other areas on site with equipment heat gains or existing heating) to distribute air using supply systems, across the pipework and equipment.
Where do we use Humidity Control?
Other scenarios where Humidity Control is requested is within areas with open bodies of water typically creating humid environments.
We can improve using either purely Ventilation systems, or Ventilation in conjunction with heat transfer or electric heating; maintaining air flow to capture and remove water vapour and droplets in the air.
As with condensation control in pipework areas, we would typically distribute fresh air or pre-heated air, due to the effectiveness of the supply.
Local Exhaust Ventilation
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is a specialist mechanical extraction approach used for the protection of people and processes in line with COSHH and Health and Safety Executive regulations.
Where specifications and design for industrial buildings typically follow an arbitrary design basis, LEV follows a much stricter design basis and is only effective when used exactly as designed.
This is due to the inherent inefficiencies of mechanical extraction at capturing and transporting contaminants across open spaces.
LEV Qualifications
We also hold the P601, P602, P603, P604 and W201 qualifications for design, PPE, management of design and LEV, and occupational hygiene, respectively. This enables us to assess and design bespoke LEV solutions for your needs.
With LEV systems, not only is it important to consider the specifics of the extraction systems, but we also need to ensure that any replacement air does not impact the operation and control of the LEV.
We provide a complete solution incorporating LEV to specific areas, in addition to general Ventilation and other Ventilation applications across the site to provide a turn-key solution for all your needs.
For more information on our bespoke Industrial Ventilation Solutions, please contact one of our specialist engineers today.