Sontay helps lift energy efficiency at Eden Project
Sontay sensors and other devices were installed as part of the site-wide upgrade of the building-management system at the Eden Project to provide control of multiple buildings and the iconic biomes. The company’s sensors for temperature, humidity, CO2, pressure and other devices were chosen for reliability, accuracy and ability to work in critical environments.
The Eden Project commissioned CambridgeHOK, which specialises in greenhouse systems, to fit the new system. A new Priva BMS comprising 66 IP LAN-based controllers is responsible for heating many buildings, controlling the energy centre for hot water and the total control of heating and ventilation in the biomes. Sontay products are used throughout the site to measure and deliver reliable date and other inputs to the Priva controllers.
A total of 66 Sontay duct-temperature sensors are used in 33 AHUs in the biomes. Sontay pressure sensors are used in the heating ring main to control inverter drives on the 45 kW pumps in the energy centre. Differential-pressure air switches in AHUs detect positive fresh-air flow or negative extract air. The fresh-air ventilation unit in the bakery in the Link building uses a single-point sensor to measure air speed. The bakery itself uses sensors to measure temperature and CO2 according to the number of visitors. These sensors provide direct feedback for the control of AHU fan speeds in the plant room. Fusible thermal links are installed above boilers in plant rooms for over-heating protection.
Kevin Bate, BMS technician at the Eden Project, says ‘Duncan Grant at CambridgeHOK recommended Sontay. Some sensors are located in quite inhospitable places with respect to temperatures and high humidity, so we need reliable, accurate products for critical control.
