Innovative heating and ventilation system delivering maximum comfort for minimum costs
Wellington’s Victoria University was searching for a solution to the heating and ventilation of its new Maru building that would deliver maximum plant efficiency and occupant comfort and minimise energy usage and costs.
Our Setpoint team’s answer did this and more. By designing and supplying a fabric ducting solution utilising a membrane system our team enabled much more effective use of the variable refrigerant flow system.
Where a traditional ducting kit would have fixed outlet locations regardless of the air handling unit (AHU) mode, our membrane system allows for the usage of either the top or bottom half of the duct (with custom directional flow control and diffusion rates on either half) for better usage of the supply air in cooling or heating mode respectively.
In heating mode the top half of the duct is closed off through building management system (BMS) communication with the AHU. The duct is now effectively in heating mode with diffusion rates and directional flow control (DFC) elements set up to provide efficient room heating.
Similarly, when the AHU switches to cooling mode, the duct will shut off the bottom half of the duct and go into cooling mode with air coming out through the permeable material on top as well as DFC elements orientated specifically to cool the room down.
The use of a lightweight fabric duct instead of traditional galvanised duct is particularly suitability in seismic areas, which is of major benefit for buildings located on some of New Zealand’s most significant fault lines.
The BMS system designed by our team includes time scheduling and comfort heating/cooling of the mechanical plant, as well as environment heating and cooling, which in combination provides tempered fresh air to the multiple workspaces and individual rooms. Controllers monitor the spaces and initiate heating or cooling to the VRF units depending on the individual space demands. All spaces have occupancy sensors to only start up the respective AC units during unoccupied times.
As specialists in controlling and managing the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and lighting within buildings, we have more than 50 engineers working nationwide offering bespoke solutions and sound local support that can be relied on.
Our solutions exceed customer expectations in terms of performance and our strong relationships over many years with clients, such as Victoria University, are evidence what we do really delivers results.
