Chilled Beams.....what features?

[bufordga]

I am working on an office project that requires chilled beams - in ga - ...I haven't worked with chilled beams before and am reviewing several manufacturers....any tips on the features I should be looking for in chilled beam design?

 

[GMcD]

Ease of access to the condensate drain pan and drain. A chilled beam, as they are referred to in the North American market, are just ceiling mounted induction units, a 1960's technology that has gone from being installed around perimeters of buildings to ceiling mounts. A glorified re-cool coil with a high velocity primary air supply.

 

[remp]

There are 2 types of chilled beams
1. Active chilled beams( they have fresh air pumped to them and induce the room air to supply to the space - basically old style induction units and are placed in the ceiling space.

2. Passive chilled beaams - just similar to large cooling coils (can be 1000mm x 2000mm above the ceiling which is perforated) and the radiation effect brings about cooling. Fresh air is ducted seperatly on its own system, but min fresh air only so the air handlign plant is real small. Good systems for large office blocks.

Check out Frenger.co.uk, they ahve good stuff in their website.

 

[cry22]

From what I've read, they do make sense when you have a very high sensible load such as Labs (in the 10 to 20 watts/SF range), they are actually cheaper that the convenetional system in high sensible applications. You save a great deal on ductwork and fan HP/energy, headroom, etc.

And yes, as GMcD said, it is the old induction system with a new chic name.

Check out the Carrier literature on induction units, you'll get all the basics.

 

[ChrisConley]

Main things to watch are induction rates (more induction is better), sound levels (some units can have a very unpleasant hiss), access is important, but none of the manufacturer's I've reviewed have used a condensate pan or drain.

GMcD who are you using that has a condensate pan? I've been using chilled beams like a standard radiant system: blended chilled water with a monitored room dewpoint.

 

[GMcD]

Chris- I haven't been using the induction type chilled beams at all, as I am in a mild climate and doing direct radiant ceiling cooling systems with either slab systems or suspended panels. The original poster indicated he was in Georgia, and if there was ever a hot'n'humid climate, that's one. Even if the the ventilation air supplied to the induction type chilled beams is as dry as possible, these induction style chilled beams stll work on the basis of a fully mixed space air conditions, and if low temperature chilled water is used in the chilled beam coil, there WILL be some latent cooling and condensation going on. If higher temperature chilled water is used, then condensation is likely not an issue in the chilled beams, but it means that the DOAS main ventilation supply better be as dry as possible to allow some space humidity from people loads to be absorbed.

I am trying to get away from any overhead air supply/fully mixed room air systems and trying to do as much, if not all, the room sensible heating and cooling from direct radiant systems, with low level displacement style ventilation air supply as a separate system. Easy in a mild or dry climate, a little more complicated in a hot'n'humid climate.

 

[AbbyNormal]

lol don't get me started

Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[ozmosis]

An interesting article here from one of our key customers:

http://www.lincolnescott.com/Refresh1/

that provides an interesting insight into the subject matter