Energy efficient zonal climate control system for commercial buildings

摘要

A climate control system for an enclosed indoor space which is divided into a plurality of zones A,B, comprising means for heating and cooling vvater 106,112,124, means for supplying ventilation air 128 and a control system 120,50; each zone A,B being provided with a buffer vessel 122 for storing temperature controlled water; a plurality of air terminal devices 4, each having a pipe element with a water inlet and outlet, and an inlet connection for ventilation air, which induces air flow into the device from an adjacent space; a flow and return pipe system for connecting the buffer vessel 122 to the inlet and outlet of each air terminal device 4; and a pump 124 for pumping temperature controlled water through the pipe system. A method is also claimed by controlling the temperature of water within the buffer vessel 122, in which the air temperature can be controlled in an energy efficient manner with temperature differentials between the target temperature within the zone A,B and the water temperature of less than 15°C. The main heating means, which may be a heat pump 124, may be provided in a central plant room 100 and each zone A,B may have its own plant room 102,104 housing the buffer vessel 122 in which the water temperature may be between 14°C and 30°C. The cooling means may be a free cooling element or a dry air cooler 123. The heat pump may be a reverse cycle refrigeration unit and may be controlled by pressure sensors 116 in the pipe system. A pipe system bypass 127 may be used to allow water to return to the buffer vessel 122 in a neutral condition when flow through the chilled beam air terminal devices 4 is not required.