Gulf Construction Online - Daikin HRV maintains clean environment

Air Control & Ventilation

The user can select between two clean air operation modes.

Daikin HRV maintains clean environment

01 July 2003

Japan-based air conditioning and control systems manufacturer Daikin Industries recently introduced a new heat reclaim ventilation (HRV) series designed to lend air conditioning and ventilation comfort while being energy efficient.

Promoting the new series VAM-FJ, Daikin also highlighted its existing energy-efficient air conditioning management system Intelligent Manager Eco 21.
VAM-FJ creates a high-quality environment by interlocking with the air conditioner, Daikin says.
"Daikin's HRV recovers heat energy lost through ventilation and holds down temperature changes caused by ventilation, thereby maintaining a comfortable and clean environment," says a spokesman for Abbar & Zainy Electric & Air-conditioning Company (AZEAD), the Saudi Arabian distributor for Daikin.
"This also curbs the load on the air conditioning system and conserves energy. In addition, the HRV is interlocked to Daikin's VRV system, SkyAir and other air conditioning systems and automatically switches over ventilation mode, further increasing the effects of energy conservation.
"HRV operation has been centralised on the air conditioner remote controller, allowing total control over air conditioning and ventilation with a simple configuration," he says.
VAM-FJ comprises nine new models that are smaller than the company's conventional units.
"The use of the newly developed High Efficiency Paper (HEP) element and optimised design of the fan and airflow passages has enabled a size reduction of more than 30 per cent over conventional models while maintaining some 28 per cent reduction of air conditioning load as before. The height of the main units has been reduced by up to 40 mm and easily fits in limited spaces such as behind ceiling panels," says the spokesman
The HEP, which the heat exchange element uses, has superior moisture-absorption and humidifying properties and doubles the current efficiency of moisture absorption, he explains.
"This heat exchange unit speedily recovers heat contained in latent heat vapour and its volume has been reduced by about 25 per cent while maintaining the same heat recovery efficiency.
"This element employs a material with superior flame-resistant properties and is treated with an anti-moulding agent, which is certified for safety by the US' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
Of the 28 per cent reduction in air conditioning load, approximately 20 per cent is due to operation in total heat exchange mode when compared with normal ventilation fans, approximately six per cent is due to auto-ventilation mode changeover switching and approximately two per cent is accounted for by pre-cool, pre-heat control, the company says.
The operation of the air conditioner using the remote controller is interlocked with that of the HRV which, the company says, greatly simplifies the overall system operation. In addition, installation work associated with the HRV remote controller is not necessary because air conditioning and ventilation operations are centralised. Also the use of such a centralised remote controller allows the user to choose a wide range of control systems that integrate air conditioning and ventilation.
The models have been designed for clean operations. For the fresh-up operation, the user can select between two fresh-up modes using the remote controllers. In supply rich mode, raising the air supply maintains proper room pressure to prevent back-flow of toilet/kitchen odours or moisture inflow.
In exhaust rich mode, raising exhaust air decreases room pressure to prevent the leaking of odours or floating bacteria into other rooms.
To prevent dust from falling, the models have directly mounted ducts.
When the HRV operates independently, the fan in an interlocked indoor unit continues turning, so dust does not fall from the air filter.
The remote controller alerts the user when the air filter needs cleaning.
Provision has been made for installing optional products such as the air suction/discharge grille, flexible duct, silencer and high-efficiency filter.
Daikin also offers the BACnet Gateway, which it says efficiently controls its VRV system.
The BACnet Gateway utilises BACnet, the standard communication protocol for the HVAC control industry, to provide an easy connection between the VRV system and BMS (building management system). It enables development of various open systems such as air conditioning control linked with other installations and remote control over telecommunication lines. Daikin's control systems can be used as multipurpose systems that offer flexible application to a variety of needs according to the scale, purpose and control method of each building.
Daikin offers the management system Intelligent Manager Eco 21 which provides clear benefits in providing energy efficiency, efficient control and reduced costs.
"Even if an air conditioning system possesses an excellent energy-efficient profile, this is meaningless unless its operation is appropriately managed. Precise operation management is the key to getting the most out of an energy-efficient system," observes the Daikin spokesman. "The Intelligent Manager Eco 21 is Daikin's energy-efficient air conditioning management system. It maximises the performance and characteristics of air conditioning systems and further improves upon existing energy efficiency."
The Intelligent Manager Eco 21 system offers remote monitoring via modem (watch dog), remote monitoring via LAN (sub PC) and remote access via modem (Remote Intelligent Manager).