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Ability Fan Coil Units Selected for Prestigious Abu Dhabi Masdar Institute Project
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Ability Projects Ltd has secured the order for almost 600 Matrix EC fan coil units for the initial phase of the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi. The 2 pipe cooling only units, which are for installation in laboratories and accommodation blocks, have capacities uo to 7kW. The institute is part of Masdar City, a prestigious six square kilometre development designed by Foster and Partners, which seeks to use 100% renewable energy, generate zero waste and be carbon neutral.
The unique feature of a Matrix EC fan coil unit is its capability to independently adjust the air volume delivered by each duct on the same unit. This gave Masdar designers the option of using a single unit to condition two spaces, where in the past two units might have been required. This feature, combined with the energy savings afforded by EC motors, made Matrix the natural choice for such an energy conscious project.
Matrix units at Masdar employ both demand and occupancy dependent fan speed control — developments first marketed by Ability in 2005. Demand dependant fan speed allows the fan speed and therefore the air volume, to vary commensurate with thermal demand. The upper limit is what would (in the past) have been the design fan speed and the lower limit is a percentage reduction determined by the designer.
Occupancy dependent control is a feature whereby the fan coil set points are allowed to move apart and adopt a holding strategy while the space remains unoccupied. With both features operating in tandem, the fan coil is activated only when personnel enter the room, at which point the fan speed imperceptibly modulates to deal with the current cooling load and no more. On the Masdar project specifically, many units will also receive control signals from window switches, enthalpy sensors, time clocks and key cards.
Peter Lowther, managing director of Ability Projects states, ”I am absolutely delighted that all the hard work we have put into advancing EC fan coil technology has been recognised as worthy for use on such an internationally ground breaking project. Our products have been used on many Breeam Excellent projects in the UK but this project takes both Ability and Matrix onto the worldwide stage.”
Whist Masdar City exploits the best of modern technologies, surpassing all the highest standards currently demanded by internationally recognised organisations, its design also incorporates many traditional design techniques to help reduce energy consumption still further. Shaded walkways and narrow streets reduce glare and solar gain while the diagonal orientation of the urban layout makes the best use of cooling night breezes and lessens the effects of hot daytime winds. Other traditional features such as wind towers and solar shades help further improve comfort levels.
The Masdar Institute will soon offer Master’s and Doctoral level degree programs focusing on the science and engineering of advanced energy and sustainable technologies. It has set its sights on being the centre of high calibre renewable energy and sustainability research, capable of attracting researchers and scientists from around the world.
Peter Lowther concludes – “the fact that Matrix will help condition the space in which some of the world’s greatest thinkers will assemble to research energy security, sustainability and climate change, underlines its unique operational flexibility and remarkable energy conservation characteristics. This project opens up an exciting opportunity for the advanced technological concepts inherent in Matrix and already widely recognised among leading UK building services designers, to be illuminated under an even brighter international spotlight.”
