The pros and

cons of chilled
beams
Peter Clackett, Technical Director
Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil

William Booth, Operations Manager

BSRIA
 Agenda

09.30 Registration

10.00 Welcome & Introduction - Jo Harris, BSRIA

10.10 What, Why and How - Peter Clackett, Skanska

Description and Application - Peter Clackett, Skanska

Performance testing - William Booth, BSRIA

Comfort break/coffee

Performance testing continued - William Booth, BSRIA

The good, the bad and the ugly -

Peter Clackett, Skanska and William Booth, BSRIA

Q&A - Chaired by Jo Harris, BSRIA

12.40 Networking Lunch

Click on links above to access each presentation

At the end of each presentation, click on link Back to Agenda
What, why, how many ?
 Chilled Beams – What are they?

 They are a cooling device

 They are different from chilled ceilings – These rely
solely on radiant cooling (Output 50 to 55 watts per
square metre)
 They are an alternative to both Fan Coil Units and
VAV systems
 There are three kinds of chilled beams
 Active Chilled Beams can also be used for heating
 Chilled Beams – What are they?

1. Passive – No reliance on primary air supply. They

work entirely on radiant convection. (Output 130 to
170 watts per linear metre)
 Chilled Beams – What are they?

2. Active – These rely on primary air supply to provide

the induction required for performance. (Output 850
to 1400 watts per linear metre)
 Chilled Beams – What are they?

3. Multi Service – These are active beams with the

additional components (smoke detectors, lighting,
sprinklers etc.) (Output 850 to 1050 watts per linear
metre)
 Chilled Beams – The History

 Chilled Beams were developed in Norway in 1975

 Originally used in Scandinavia
 Introduced to UK in 1990’s
 Now used world wide
 Device of choice for some Clients
How many?
 ACB UK Market Data

 Provided by BSRIA’s Worldwide Market Intelligence

(WMI) Group
– Data comes from the HEVAC study
– Annual collection of a/c product sales
– Managed by BSRIA for a number of years with
HEVAC/FETA’s endorsement
 All data to be published in the UK Air conditioning
study next month – buy from WMI
 Author David Garwood (available over lunch)
Market For Chilled Beams & Ceilings*

 UK market reduced over last couple of years

– Many major projects were shelved or put on hold
 Leading suppliers now seeing signs of improvement
 Some major projects now moving forward
 2012 sales were for universities, hospitals and labs
plus a few offices and police stations

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
 UK Fan Coil Market*

 Highly engineered product in UK market

 But ….. Highly price driven

 Customers of fan coils look at :

– First – price
– Second – thermal performance
– Third – acoustic performance

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
 Chilled Beams vs Fan Coil Units

 Active chilled beams main substitute product for FCUs

 Conversely, ACB players fighting back against threat of

FCU through marketing:
– Demonstrating how ACB can be a suitable replacement for
FCU
– Placing emphasis on:
• Energy efficiencies
• Long life expectancy
• Low maintenance
• Occupant comfort * Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
 Market Data 2010-2012*

Item 2010 2011 2012

Market (£M) Active Chilled Beams 9.7 9.9 8.0
Fan Coils 26.6 27.1 23.7
Variable Air Volume 2.3 6.7 5.3

Volume ( Units) Active Chilled Beams 34,500 33,400 27,000

Fan Coils 51,500 54,000 46,800
Variable Air Volume 5,500 13,300 13,500

Unit price Active Chilled Beams £281 £298 £296

Fan Coils £517 £502 £506
Variable Air Volume £418 £504 £393

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
 2012 Market Data*
2012 Market Share (£M) 2012 Market Share (units)
Variable Air Active Chilled Variable Air
Volume, 5.3 Beams, 8.0 Volume,
13,500
Active Chilled
Beams, 27,000

Fan Coils,
Fan Coils, 23.7 46,800

2012 Unit Price

Variable Air Active Chilled

Volume, £393 Beams, £296

* Data provided
Fan Coils, £506 by WMI, BSRIA
 FCU Market Players (Ranked By Value)
2012
Ability Projects
70% Market

Diffusion
Dunham Bush
TEV limited
Trox

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
 ACB Market Players (Ranked By Value)
2012
Trox
80% Market

Frenger Systems (Lindab)

Halton
SAS international
Krantz
Swegon
20% Market

Flaktwoods
LTI Advanced systems Technology (Keifer brand)
Waterloo Air products
Others
* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA
Back to Agenda
Description and application
Active Chilled Beams - Considerations

 Still requires central bulkhead or similar for services

(Supply Duct, Extract Duct, Chilled Water Pipework,
Controls etc.)
 Careful control of primary supply air temperature
required to prevent perception of “cold draughts”
 Chilled water temperature needs accurate control
Active Chilled Beams - Considerations

 Performance of the whole space needs to be

evaluated
 The air patterns are very hard to predict
 Air distribution throughout the space is load
dependent
 Computer modelling does not give the true air
movement answers
 You MUST understand the product, how it works and
how it integrates to its environment
Active Chilled Beams - Considerations

 Heating application requires careful design – It can

be counter intuitive
 Full “mock-up” of partial areas is the best solution to
understand the product
Video not available in pdf. format
Active Chilled Beams - Advantages

 Cheaper to buy
 Low Maintenance
 One “Fix” device – Does not require secondary
ductwork/Grilles etc.
 Only require simple controls – On/Off is adequate for
cooling
 Variable Self Limiting Output
 No condensate drainage required
Active Chilled Beams - Advantages

 Supply conditioned air to the space

 Large induction ratios
 Fully mixes the air within the space
 Very slow air velocities within the occupied zone
 Multi service beams allows ancillary services to be
concealed
Active Chilled Beams - Advantages

 Works well when combined with other cooling

sources – Requires full scale mock-up testing to
ensure that they do not interact
 Very quiet product
 Can be visually pleasing
Active Chilled Beams - Disadvantages

 Not liked by letting agents – Not flexible enough

 No energy allowances under Building Regs. (FCU’s
allowed 0.6w/(l/s) - FAVAV allowed 1.2w/(l/s))
 Normally requires higher system static pressures
 Airflow may be greater than required for occupancy
Active Chilled Beams - Disadvantages

 Poor chilled water temperature control can lead to

“indoor rain”
 May require sound masking (pink noise) to maintain
privacy levels
 Requires careful co-ordination to get the solution right
Back to Agenda
Performance testing
 ACB Definitions

 Reference temperature: return air onto beam (usually

underside in active beams)
 Mean water temperature: average of water into and
out of beam
 Difference gives indication of cooling potential: no
difference means no cooling should happen
 BS EN 15116:2008 “Ventilation in buildings. Chilled
beams. Testing and rating of active chilled beams”
Schematic of test chamber
Performance Testing BS EN 15116:2008

 Internal heat supply method

– Heat sources within chamber (DIN men)
 External heat supply method
– Heated walls (same concept as radiator test room)

 General principle of a calorimeter with steady state

boundary conditions and 60 min steady state data
 Performance Testing BS EN 15116:2008

 Temperature difference
ΔΘ = Θr – θw
Θr = reference air temperature
Θw = mean cooling water temperature

 qp = primary air flow rate

 3 steady state conditions at ΔΘ = 6, 8 and 10K with constant qp

 Repeat at ΔΘ = 8K nominal with qp at 80% and 120% to determine
influence of primary air on thermal performance

 Repeat all five at half the nominal water flow rate

 Performance Testing BS EN 15116:2008
 Performance follows the form of
Pw = Pk * ΔΘm

Where
Pw is waterside cooling capacity
Pk is specific cooling capacity
m is an exponent
Alternatively, Pk = Pw / ΔΘm

Also, Pk = A * qpn
A is a characteristic constant
n is an exponent
Example Results
Example Results
Example Results
 Pw (const qp)
1000
900 y = 77.233x1.0598
800
Water side duty (W)

R² = 1
700
600
500
400 Pw (const qp)
300 Power (Pw (const qp))
200
100
0
0 5 10 15
Mean Temperature Difference (K)

Pw (var qp)
1000
900
y = 182677x-1.394
Water side duty ( W)
800 R² = 0.9777
700
600
500
400 Pw (var qp)
300 Power (Pw (var qp))
200
100
0
0 20 40 60 80
Primary airflow rate (qp) (l.s-1)
 Example graph of Capacity against
temperature difference for three water
flowrates
Same as previous showing passing through
zero
Different beam same graph shape
Airflow vs. flowrate of air
Water side pressure drop vs. flowrate
 Performance Testing
 Performance follows the form of
Pk = Pw / ΔΘm

Pk = A * qpn

 Report the nominal cooling capacity PN (at ΔΘn = 8K)

 Optionally, cooling capacity as fn(globeT- Θw) or
fn(roomT - Θw)

 Selection guides and tables will include throw, noise

figures, water and air side pressure drops as well as
nozzle selections, heating coil options, etc..
 Ball Park Numbers 1200-1500mm

 Waterside Cooling
– 0.02 to 0.10 l/s
– 14-16°C supply with 1-3K rise

 Waterside Heating (100-300 W/m)

– 0.01 to 0.04 l/s
– 35-45°C inlet with drop of 5 to 15K

 Airside Cooling/Induction
– 10-60 l/s primary air at 18°C for roomT 24°C
Back to Agenda
System performance testing
 Physical modelling

 Predicting and measuring real life

situations Water supply (from chiller)

 Achieving the correct results first Conditioned air

AHU
Ceiling void

time Client’s
Glass window


ventilation system
Prove beforehand that the Viewing chamber

systems and products will meet

the necessary specifications Floor tiles/carpet
Floor void
Chamber wall

Adjacent chamber Insulated floor

( 400 mm)
Control room
Adjustable walls
 Physical modelling

 Constructing a full size

representation of the proposed
design for a specific part of a
building interior.

– Full simulation of external

conditions
– Internal loads
– Comprising lighting
– Small power and people
– Room furnishing and office
equipment layout
– Fully working HVAC system.
 Validation process

Gas tracer
Room air tests Salt tests
movement
Supply
Chamber Ceiling

Ceiling void

Fans/Air conditioning
system
Ceiling tiles

Smoke tests CFD

Wall Adjacent
chamber

Floor tiles

Floor extract

Extract
Back passage

Floor void Control room

Design
Airtightness Mock-up
construction
Full size mock-ups

 Mock-ups of any ventilation system;

chilled beam configuration, offices,
hospital rooms, cold cabinet testing
 Thermal comfort analysis
 Temperature and humidity readings
 Airtightness tests
 Heat load simulation (Small load,
occupancy, solar load)
 Anemometry readings ( air speed
and temperatures)
 Gas tracer tests
 Special components commissioning
(pressure stabilisers, ventilation
grilles, floor grilles)
 Thermal imaging
 Smoke tests
 Offices Data centres Libraries

Chilled beams Cold cabinets Hospitals

Real site vs mock-up
Job A
Job A
Job A
Animation

Animation not available in pdf. format

Smoke test

Video not available in pdf. format

Job B
Example of discharge profile
Job C
Example of ductwork and ceiling
 Example of Pressure test

Full pressure test - Beam 1 type 2 (16 Sep 05)

50.00 2.50

45.00

40.00 2.00
y = 0.0366x + 1.0705
R2 = 0.8431
35.00
Calc Induced Flow (l/s)

30.00 y = 2.2863x - 9.3206 1.50

R2 = 0.9933
25.00

20.00 1.00

15.00

10.00 0.50

5.00

0.00 0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
Primary Flow (l/s)

Calc Ind Flow Ratio Linear (Calc Ind Flow) Linear (Ratio)
Example of average parameters A
AVERAGE
REQUESTED DURING TEST
PARAMETER
VALUE SUPPLIED
VALUE
Water supply temperature (C) 14.0 13.9
Water return temperature (C) To be recorded 15.9
Water flow rate (l.s-1 per beam) 0.039 0.039
Water flow rate (l.s-1all beams) N/A 0.353
Cooling duty (10 beams) (W) N/A 2958
Fresh air supply temperature –
at point of entry to the test rig 18.0 18.1
(C)
Extract temperature (C) To be recorded 23.5
Air flow rate (l.s-1) 90 97
Fresh air cooling duty (W) N/A 583
Total cooling (W) N/A 3541
Electrical load (W) Start End
Solar load – simulated with 15
1416 1418 1440
wall mounted heated mats
Occupancy (6 DIN Men
675 685 698
simulating 7.5 people)
Small power gain 844 830 835
Lighting gain 405 419 419
Total electrical load 3340 3352 3392
Total electrical load (Average) 3340 3372
Imbalance (W) 169
 Example of parameters
PARAMETER VALUE
Fresh air supply volume 60 l.s-1
Fresh air supply temperature 19.0 °C
Beam chilled water supply 0.226 l.s-1
volume for perimeter test
Beam chilled water supply 0.274 l.s-1
volume for core test
Chilled water supply 14.0 °C
temperature
Illuminance As produced by integral
lighting system
Example of average parameters B

PARAMETER AVERAGE REQUESTED

SUPPLIED VALUE
VALUE
Fresh air flowrate 64.1 l.s-1 60 l.s-1
Extract flowrate 62.6 l.s-1 60 l.s-1
Fresh air supply temperature 19.0 °C 19.0 °C
Extract temperature 23.4 °C N/A
Altrium roof load emitted into room 510 W 525 W
(simulated with 3 wall mounted heat
mats)
Core people gain (simulated with 6 600 W 600 W
standard DIN men)
Core small power gain (simulated with 1.69 kW 1.821 kW
4 standard PCs and 7 floor heat mats)
Lighting gain 905 W As produced by
integral lighting
system
Total heating gain (perimeter, core and 3.705 kW 2.946 kW plus
lighting) lighting gain
Chilled beam water flow temperature 13.9 °C 14 °C
Chilled beam water return 16.4 °C N/A
temperature
Chilled beam water flowrate 0.28 l.s-1 0.274 l.s-1
 Parameter Average cooling during Test
3 (kW)
Chilled beam cooling effect 2.93

Air cooling effect 0.34

TOTAL COOLING 3.27 kW

Back to Agenda
Ugly Duckling…

or Hidden Swan?
 Chilled Beams - Advantages

 Cheap to Buy and Maintain

 Simple principals
 Simple Controls
 Give a well conditioned space
 Very adaptable
 Quiet
 Energy Efficient
 Chilled Beams - Disadvantages

 Not always popular

 Lack of application knowledge can
restrict use
 Low noise may be an issue
 Integration into environment may not be
as simple as it seems - Can be hard to
get right
Questions and answers
 Q&A Session

 Adaptive temperature theory

 Turbulent water flow

 Uneven load distribution

 Load location fighting the beam

 Windows impinging on active beam lengths

 Control strategy
Back to Agenda