Chilled Beam
“…we’ve begun manufacturing in the U.S.”
“AEI followed their rigorous testing of chilled beam technology with a commitment to a linear mile of beam in a laboratory setting, no less, which was at the time by far the largest-scale introduction of chilled beam to the U.S. market. Because of it, we’ve begun manufacturing in the U.S.”
AEI identified lab air change rates and equipment load density as the primary determinants of lab conditions suited to use of energy efficient chilled beam cooling technology. As a continuation of our work with the National Institutes of Health on their Sustainable Design Initiative, testing various laboratory benchtop-integrated exhaust and cooling strategies to decrease energy use in labs, we identified the potential of chilled beams.
Through a variety of configurations in full-sized mockups and extensive CFD analyses we were able to prove the viability of chilled beams for use in this application. In addition to climate control and support of a safe and functional lab environment, chilled beams represent potential energy savings, improved spatial efficiencies, simpler maintenance, quieter operation, and more uniform air temperature and velocity distribution.
By separating cooling capacity from ventilation requirements, the peak air change rate can be reduced by over 50%. AEI worked closely with the manufacturer, TROX, to fully convey the requirements that laboratory application would place on their product. We subsequently used chilled beams for the University of Washington School of Medicine’s South Lake Union Phase II lab building. Operational since 2008, the facility is likely the largest lab application of chilled beams in the world.
See also: Article: Chilled Beams
