The effect of free cooling and demand-based ventilation on energy consumption of self-regulating and traditional chilled beam systems in cold climate

Abstract

This paper presents the energy-saving potential of free cooling and demand-based ventilation with chilled beam system. In the analysis, four beam concepts were considered: standard, self-regulating, free cooling and demand-based ventilation chilled beam systems. The self-regulating chilled beam system utilizes high temperature water for cooling and there is no need for regulation valve. The inlet water temperature is close to room air temperature (20–22℃) and the room air temperature is allowed to vary between 21 and 25℃. The free cooling for the inlet water is provided by the preheat coil of the air handling unit. The introduction of demand-based ventilation further increases the energy efficiency. Energy consumption of the robust self-regulating system is slightly higher than with traditional chilled beam system: self-regulating system keeps the room air temperature lower than with traditional beam system. With free cooling, it is possible to save about 15% of the delivered energy compared with the standard beam system. With the occupancy rate of 60%, energy consumption is reduced by 36% with demand-based ventilation, respectively. When both free cooling and demand-based ventilation are used with 60% occupancy rate, the energy consumption is 44% lower than with the traditional beam system.

Keywords

Free cooling Self-regulating Demand-based ventilation Chilled beam Office Thermal comfort

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