Rooftop chiller plant benefits from improved air circulation
To ensure adequate air circulation around the eight chillers on the roof of the energy centre of the BBC Media City as part of the £80 million redevelopment of the former BBC White City, Gilberts Blackpool has installed new louvres on all four sides. The 7700 m2 energy centre provides power, heating, cooling and other services to the entire 7 ha Media Village site. Most of the chillers, installed in 2009, needed premature replacement, as an existing rendered blockwork wall was restricting the passage of air.
To solve the problem, large sections of the wall were removed and replaced with Gilberts Series 27 acoustic weather louvres secured and supported on a steel framework.
Main contractor Wates Smartspace used the louvres to create four steel screens around the facades, about 270 mm deep and with sizes up to 3.6 m high and 24 m long. Total area is 247 m2.
‘Architecturally, the louvres look as continuous as possible, despite flashing around the existing wind post and closing off areas adjoining the structure,’ explains John Hanger of Gilberts. ‘Our Series 27 was, we felt, the most appropriate solution — balancing sufficient ventilation to the chillers to help prolong their life and their operating efficiency with sound-attenuation protection to the adjacent areas.’
