Energy Efficiency In Mechanical Ventilation

The thermal demand of a building is determined by the energy needed to condition the indoor air and maintain it in comfortable temperature and humidity conditions.

In the case of our country, these conditions are established in the Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings, which takes into account different conditions of use and types of building.

Building Ventilation

The energy It is used to compensate for heat losses or gains through the building envelope, however, it is also used to acclimatize the outside air that is brought into the building and that is not in the necessary conditions. It is important that the air intake from outside is carried out in a controlled manner to ensure the quality of indoor air, guaranteeing health standards.

In a natural ventilation system he entry and extraction of air is carried out through pressure differences In this way there is no control over the incoming air, so we cannot adjust the energy consumption or guarantee an optimal amount of ventilation.

This fact can be avoided thanks to the use of a mechanical ventilation system that, which allows us to control the air intake through fans that generate the required air flow. In order to guarantee the healthiness of the air, an extraction flow must be set that is the most unfavorable between the requirements that have been set for extraction and impulsion

A mechanical ventilation system must have intake and extraction ducts to be able to introduce the exact air required, thanks to indoor air quality measurement and control systems

Thanks to this type of system, the necessary air can be introduced into each room This reduces the energy consumption of the system itself (since it works for less time and with less flow) and of the air conditioning system (less need for energy thermal or electrical).

High Efficiency Ventilation Systems

As we have seen, thanks to these ventilation systems, the energy consumption of a building can be reduced (with the consequent savings on the bill)). However, if we also recover the energy from the air before it is removed, we can further increase energy efficiency.

The extracted air has required energy consumption to achieve the right temperature, and it is eliminated to the same extent that fresh air is introduced Mechanical ventilation systems can include a heat or energy recovery system between these two air streams.

These heat recovery systems guarantee maximum efficiency thanks to the recovery of energy from the air and by the use of fans that work at variable flow, which are driven by electric motors, which also have great energy efficiency.

High energy efficiency ventilation systems are very important in the design of new buildings, but also when renovating existing buildings.

Regulations To Be Complied With By Ventilation Systems

All the fans that are contemplated within Regulation 327/2011 must meet minimum energy efficiency requirements. Fans that are integrated into other products are also included Only fans that comply with the provisions of said regulation may carry the CE label, which allows its commercialization in Spain or in another country of the European Economic Area.

If the requirements set out in Regulation 327/2011 in relation to the energy efficiency of a ventilation system exposed on the market are not met, tests of the fan in question may be carried out by independent laboratories and accredited public notaries that verify the values actual fan.