Ability Matrix fan-coil units help achieve ‘Very good’ BREEAM rating
Helping the refurbishment of an office building at Canary Wharf achieve a ‘Very good’ BREEAM rating is the installation of Ability Projects Matrix EC-DC fan-coil units as part of the chilled-water air-conditioning system. The updating of Number 11 at Westferry Circus involved the installation of 231 2-pipe units served by roof-mounted chiller plant. They are installed in the perimeter and central ceiling voids of 11 floors.
The installation is sized for one person per 10 m2 and a small-power load of 25 W/m2. There are additional chilled-water connections on each floor to cater for future high-density requirements of 10 W/m2. Fresh air is provided by an existing air-handling unit at 14 l/s per person.
All FCUs are fitted with self-balancing Matrix fan, electric element thyristor, fan-failure flag switches, BACnet BMS controls and with 4-port R/L or Belimo P/L control valves.
The Matrix control system provides infinite speed control of the entire FCU and also of each fan within it, enabling each duct run to be balanced for air volume through fan speed alone — without the need for volume control dampers. The approach is to deliver the right volume of air to each duct run rather than throttling back excessive air flow.
In set-back mode, a Matrix unit has an electrical input 20%, or less, than that of an equivalent AC unit.
