Variable-speed drives slash running costs of AHU

Since the installation of two ABB variable-speed drives at a block of managed business premises in Monmouthshire, the running cost of the air-handling unit has been reduced by over 70%. Costs have been reduced by over £6000 a year, and carbon-dioxide emissions reduced by 12 t a year. Castlegate Business Park comprises offices, production space and storage facilities — to provide a range of accommodation for offices and light industry. The fans in the AHU were previously driven via a pulley system, with no speed control apart from the initial set up. The AHU was recently refurbished to meet a lower average demand following the cessation of producing semiconductors by one tenant, with the generation of large amounts of heat and associated demand for air circulation. APDS, an alliance partner of ABB Drives, installed a 22 kW drive on the supply fan and a 15 kW drive on the extract fan. Running the AHU according to demand and taking account of reduced occupancy will achieve a payback of 16 months.

Related links:

• www.abb.co.uk

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