The challenge
As the summer temperatures finally start to arrive in the UK, building air conditioning systems are ramping up to what’s often their period of peak operation.
And as the outdoor weather heats up, occupants in buildings such as offices, universities and hospitals are in even more need of cooling systems. At this time of year, building managers face the challenge of providing efficient air conditioning, while keeping a careful eye on energy use and operating costs.
Water quality is critical
Water flowing within pipes and around buildings is a critical element of delivering effective cooling. And an important aspect of effective air conditioning system function is the waters quality.
One of the first signs of poor water quality can be reduced cooling efficiency, often due to fouling and build-up of deposits in cooling coils and on sensors. As little as 0.6 mm of fouling within cooling coils can cause an increase in energy consumption by 20%, increase in flow temperatures of 2 oC and reduce chiller cooling capacity of 20%. Water flowing in the pipes is the energy carrier, and any corrosion, scale or biofilm can reduce its capacity to do this.
Longer term, building facilities teams might notice increased energy consumption as deposits force system components such as pumps and valves to work harder and consume more energy. This in turn creates greater strain and can lead to more frequent breakdowns and reactive callouts for repairs.
Filtration & water treatment
Enwa’s EnwaMatic and Water Treatment technology has been specifically designed to deliver excellent results for whole HVAC systems. It’s a technology that filters water to less than 10 microns, controlling key water parameters to prevent corrosion, scaling and fouling.
In addition, the water treatment process is dynamic and self-regulating responding to water conditions in real time, ensuring effective treatment is in place.
It’s a practical alternative to chemical dosing, which can be a time-consuming activity. And the media bed filter system can undertake a simple backwash procedure (that can be fully automated) eliminating the need to replace, cartridges or filter bags and dispose of them. Or to have to remove and clean strainers or magnets which takes time, has health and safety implications for operators and can lead to neglect.
Alternative to conventional chemical inhibitors
It’s a modern alternative to chemical water treatment. Traditional chemical inhibitors can contribute to bacterial problems by providing nutrient sources. EnwaMatic doesn’t provide a nutrient source and its self-regulating chemistry elevates the water’s pH while maintaining the correct flow rates and temperature profiles – all of which create a harsh environment for bacteria to grow and establish in. It also removes the need to safely store drums of treatment chemicals on-site, reducing health and safety risks.
Buildings and systems of all sizes can benefit from this approach to water treatment this summer. Whatever the system volume, there is an EnwaMatic to match – from less than 5m3 all the way to 150m3 with bespoke options for larger and taller buildings with bigger volume and higher pressure requirements.
Technical support & consultancy
Our team of experts has worked in all types of building – from hospitals to universities to life sciences, offices and data centres. We deliver and commission water treatment solutions that give building air conditioning systems the best possible chance of optimum performance, in the face of increasing outdoor temperatures.
The MET Offices’ State of the Climate report ’23 showed significantly more ‘really hot days’, it’s therefore vital to ensure that cooling systems are in good condition at all times, and that they’re optimised for energy performance. Water quality has such a significant impact on the long-term operation of air conditioning that it’s a critical aspect of system performance that shouldn’t be overlooked. By automating your approach, the process can be made straightforward and dependable.
If you’d like to find out more about our approach to water treatment, we can offer CPD-accredited presentations on the principles behind it, condition survey your premises and our expert engineering team will be happy to discuss to meet your site requirements.
