Comfort-cooling units are an increasingly common sight in commercial building and renovation
projects. Just as you will typically see improved insulation materials and increasing use of glass facades, they're evidence of the growing concern
for a good indoor climate. People expect efforts
to be made to minimise noise levels from machi-
nery and computer equipment, to be able to adjust heating and lighting for both comfort and economy, and to have furnishings that are ergonomically
sound.
Comfort-cooling units typically heat and cool with air or water, or cool with refrigerants. Water based systems are obviously more environmentally friendly as they minimise the use of refrigerants. Water is also a much better heat carrier, and in larger buildings operating costs are lower than with systems based on refrigerants.
Danfoss is a globally leading producer of components for heating and cooling. The company has developed a complete range of controls for climate terminal units, such as chilled panels and beams for ceilings, fan coils and induction units. These units are available in cooling, heating or combined applications.
The Danfoss controls are based on the same technology as the company's well known radiator thermostats, of which there are about 300 million currently in operation around the world: They're self-acting, which means that they are cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain and they're easier to install than their electronic counterparts. You don't need to involve electricians and you don't need transformers or special approvals. You simply install them. The self-acting technology has also proven itself to be extremely long lasting - Danfoss estimates that these climate controls, like their radiator thermostats, will last at least 20 years.
The range consists of three control types:
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FEK for cooling units |
FEV for heating units |
FED for heating and cooling units |
FED's sequential control ensures that the unit cannot heat and cool simultaneously.
The FED controls are installed in rooms where cooling and heating coils need to be controlled by one regulator, such as offices with varying heat demands. To save energy these controls have a neutral temperature zone that can be set between 0.5 and 2.5 degrees centigrade. As soon as the temperature is more than that required the valves close in both circuits - which is a technically advanced feature. A thin capillary tube connects the thermostat to the cooling and heating adaptor, and both can be mounted with an Allen key.
FEK is typically installed in rooms with surplus heat, often where machines are located. The FEV for heating only is installed in rooms that have a terminal with one heating surface, such as ceilings or at the window.
Temperature settings for all of the controls range from 17 to 27 degrees centigrade.
With RA-C cooling valves (blue cap) and RA-N heating valves (red cap) you can set the flow rate so that it corresponds to the calculated flow in the system, and the setting can be made without tools. The valves have external threads and are made of disinfection-resistant brass. They also operate with a low noise level.
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