Learn more about HVAC in this article and a webinar!
Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition, also known as HVAC, is the most important application after lighting! The one is necessary to see, the other is necessary to feel comfortable and nice, no matter if we are talking about home, the office or any other place, in which we spend our time.
Depending on where you live on this planet, air conditioning can have a considerable impact on your energy consumption, making air conditioning the biggest consumer of electricity in households and commercial spaces. Despite the fact that this results in high costs for comfort, the amount of energy, which is required, makes air conditioning everything but green and energy efficient.
So what is the solution for enjoying the benefits of an air conditioning system without wasting to much electricity? – Easy, just follow these steps:
Step 1 – Understanding the types of air conditioning systems:
Left: Direct Expansion (DX) Systems, Right: Water Systems
Depending on your desired application and size of the place, the decision between “Direct Expansion (DX) Systems”, which uses a refrigerant to directly cool or heat, and “Water Systems”, which first cool or heat water, which then creates the according temperature in the place. Although DX systems might be more efficient, as they cool or heat the air directly, water systems have their advantages, when it comes to large multi storey buildings, as water keeps the pressure high.
So in short, once you understand the different air conditioning systems, you will be able to implement the right one for your project.
Step 2 – Choosing the right indoor unit:
Capture: Common choice between remote controller, wired controller or a centralised controller
Especially in warmer regions of this world, indoor units are a common site in every room of a home or building. All come with their pros and cons. Example giving, the solution with the remote controller has the great benefit that No additional wiring is necessary. However, in order to have the desired temperature, there is a high dependency on the remote controller, which can easily be misplaced and its batteries run out. Furthermore, the remote controller uses batteries, which are not the best solution for the environment.
The answer to the problems of the remote controller can be solved with a wired solution. However, as name already states, additional wiring is necessary. Furthermore, since the controller would be easily reachable, unauthorised people, e.g. your own children, could temper with the settings.
Lastly, especially common in commercial buildings, such as malls and offices, the centralised controller is first choice, as the building will be heated or cooled automatically, without any required controller, which can run out of battery, or be tempered with.
Again, as for the choice of the desired system, the choice for the right indoor unit depends on the requirements and the size of the building too.
Step 3 – Integrate your air conditioning into a smart system
The integration of air conditioning does not have to end with the choice of the right system and the indoor unit. In order to get the maximum out of your system, you have to make it smart.
Making smart does not mean to use smart thermostats, but to have air conditioning fully integrated in your smart system, which controls further functions, such as lighting, your shutters or blinds, etc., meaning your “smart home or building”.
The advantage is not only that all the air conditioning is not only working with other applications, you also have heaps of possibilities to visualise your entire energy consumption, including all applications and functions. Best suitable for integrating your air conditioning is an open technology, such as KNX, as it offers the most possibilities to have any air conditioning system be integrated.
Want to learn more?
No problem – Have a look here at the webinar, which comprehensively explains you, how air conditioning works with KNX, followed by practical examples by one of the leading manufacturers for HVAC solutions.
Click here to watch the latest recording of the KNX Application and Solution Webinar.