Chilled Beam Basics Read more

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By now, most of you have heard a good deal about chilled beams, and we thought we’d take an opportunity to discuss the basic application and operation of this intriguing device.

First it is important to note that the name “chilled beam” can be misleading. When I hear this name, I naturally think of a horizontal structural element that is somehow cooled. While this is similar to the passive chilled beam used extensively in Europe, this is not what you will see in a typical chilled beam application in the US. Rather, you’ll see active chilled beams, or more accurately, induction units.

In the typical active chilled beam installation, primary air is ducted throughout the facility, and is provided to each of the terminal chilled beams. This air travels through nozzles within the chilled beam, Induction/Chilled Beam immediately downstream of a coil. The nozzles elevate the velocity of Advantages: the primary air, in-turn causing a slight negative pressure after the coil. Lower Operating Costs This negative pressure causes room air to be drawn through (induced) • Decreased energy consumption through the coil which cools or heats the room air as the space requires. at the Air Handler • Save 25-35% on HVAC costs versus VAV systems

Lower Maintenance Costs • No wiring • No fans • No compressors • No moving parts to fail

Lower Construction Costs

In many chilled beam applications, the primary air is conditioned 100% • Less equipment & piping cost due to drain pan outside air. The airflows are selected based on the required ventilation rates to the space, and the supply air conditions are usually dryer and • Less ducting required slightly cooler than the room air. Energy recovery devices are often • Higher cooling and heating employed in the unit conditioning this primary air, which is commonly capacities = fewer units referred to as a DOAS Unit (Dedicated Outside Air System). • Fewer units = less copper piping

It is important that the primary air is dryer than the room air because it is • Reduction in the size of the DOAS/AHU usually the only source of dehumidification for the space. The chilled beams then provide only sensible cooling as required by the space. • Reduction in the size of the This allows for relatively warm chilled water temperatures increasing chiller/boiler the efficiency of the cooling plant. Added Benefits • Drain Pan to handle latent conditions & provide liability control • Qualifies for LEED points • Quiet Systems • ETL Tested • American Made

Accuspec® specializes in providing the very latest airflow technologies to provide safety and energy-efficiency for your building project. In some applications where sensible and latent load densities are Please select a tab below to view the higher, it may be desirable to provide cooler chilled water temperatures products we represent in each state. to the chilled beams. This will give the chilled beams more cooling capacity, and will cause moisture to be condensed out of the airstream. In these cases, it is very important that the chilled beam have an active drain pan, capable of safely capturing and removing the continuous stream of condensate that will be developed.

NuClimate is a premier, American manufacturer of Active Chilled beams. All of their models are equipped with drain pans as described above, and they can be applied across of a wide range of chilled water temperatures and applications. Contact your Accuspec Sales Representative to see how this remarkable product can be applied to Please feel free to call us to learn your projects. more by clicking here.

Accuspec® is a manufacturer's Q. What are the best applications for Active representative specializing in airflow Chilled Beam Systems? movement and control products within A. High occupancy densities like you would find critical environments. Read more > in a classroom environment are incredibly well- served by the Chilled beam approach. Other good applications include high solar gain office areas, dormitories, and hospitals.

Q. What are the typical primary air conditions for a chilled beam system? A. Drybulb temperatures in the 60s and dewpoint in the mid 40S (Fahrenheit).

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