HVAC systems are integral to building management.  They may be connected into a Building Management System (BMS), and you think you have control, however the BMS may only start and stop the motors for various applications.  There will be no individual motor control to enable you to adjust the air flow or the ability to optimise the energy consumption of the motors.

HVAC Optimisation AssessmentHVAC Optimisation Assessment

Inverter Drive Systems offer a HVAC Optimisation Assessment to ascertain and optimise the motors that power your HVAC systems.  We look for:

  • large motors that run for extended periods
  • we check motor age and type (checking for drop in efficiency)
  • efficiency ratings
  • run hours
  • times of operation
  • seasonal changes
  • occupancy levels
  • cost implication in the event of a failure
  • and whether we would recommend inverters are fitted

 

During the HVAC Optimisation Assessment we look for the best location for the inverter, cable lengths and runs, what type of sensors may be fitted, or options to fit suitable sensors. Feedback options, ModBus and BacNet are fitted on the specifically designed for HVAC, ACH580 inverter with STO and Fireman’s override as standard.

Already have inverters installed?

At Inverter Drive Systems, we specify, supply, install and commission ABB inverters, during a HVAC Optimisation Assessment we will check that your previously installed inverters are fully optimised.

For HVAC systems with inverters already installed we check:

  • current parameter settings
  • control philosophy
  • operating periods, internal clock
  • seasonal periods
  • occupancy levels
  • inverter lifecycle
  • age of the drive
  • motor age and type
  • previous fault history
  • previous service history
  • fan replacement period
  • cleanliness of the filters

 

You may have had inverters installed and set to a specific running limit due to time or cost constraints on initial install.  It may be possible to further reduce your energy consumption with these inverters by fitting sensors and setting a PID to further control the inverter.

On HVAC systems we would normally set your inverter to 40Hz, this is your 20% speed reduction which gives a 50% energy saving.  But on further interrogation you notice that there may not be as many people in the office at any particular time, the systems still run at 40Hz, by fitting a co2 sensor you will be able to determine occupancy levels and the inverter will adjust to run according to these requirements, a further speed reduction of just 5% could still give you an additional 15% energy saving.  Similarly with a temperature sensor, the British weather is un-predictable, and is never constant, the inverter will react to the differing temperature and therefore the inverter will ramp up and down the speed accordingly, this will optimise your plant giving a variable energy saving.

We at IDS will be happy to look at your inverters when we are on site, as part of our energy efficiency motor audit, we can check your current inverters, offering a health check and an inverter optimisation assessment to further enhance the energy reducing capabilities.

Book a HVAC Optimisation Assessment by calling our engineers on 0115 944 1036 or email [email protected]