Chilled beam
A chilled beam is a type of radiation/convection HVAC system designed to heat and cool large buildings. Pipes of water are passed through a "beam" either integrated into standard suspended ceiling systems or suspended a short distance from the ceiling of a room. As the beam chills the air around it, the air becomes denser and falls to the floor. It is replaced by warmer air moving up from below, causing a constant passive air movement called convection, which cools the room. Heating works in much the same fashion, similar to a steam radiator. There are two types of chilled beams. Some passive types rely solely on convection, while there is a "radiant"/convective passive type that cools through a combination of radiant exchange and convection. The passive approach can provide higher thermal comfort levels, while the active type uses the momentum of ventilation air entering at relatively high velocity to induce the circulation of room air through the unit. A chilled beam is similar in appearance to a VRF unit.
The chilled beam is distinguishable from the chilled ceiling. The chilled ceiling uses water flowing through pipes like a chilled beam does; however, the pipes in a chilled ceiling lie behind metal ceiling plates, and the heated/cooled plates are the cause of radiation/convection and not the pipe unit itself. Chilled beams are about 85 percent more effective at convection than chilled ceilings. The chilled ceiling must cover a relatively large ceiling area both because it is less efficient, and because it provides heating mainly by radiant means. Radiant heating capacity is proportional to surface area.
Physics
Water can carry significantly more energy than air. Although of air has a capacity to hold heat of 37 joules per kelvin, the same volume of water has a heat capacity of 20,050 JK−1. A metal pipe of water just in diameter can carry as much energy as an metal duct of air. This means that chilled beam HVAC systems require much less energy to provide the same heating and cooling effect as a traditional air HVAC system.Chilled beam cooling systems require water to be treated by heating and cooling systems. Generally, water in a passive chilled beam system is cooled to about. In active chilled beam heating systems, water temperature is usually. There are effectiveness and cost differences between the two systems. Passive chilled beam systems can supply about 5.6 to 6.5 watts per foot of cooling capacity. Active chilled beam systems are about twice as effective. In both cases, convection is so efficient that the ratio of incoming air to heated/cooled air can be as high as 6:1. However, studies of the energy cost-savings of active versus passive chilled beam systems remained inconclusive as of 2007, and appear to be highly dependent on the specific building.
The active chilled beam system employs fins to help heat and cool. Active chilled beam systems are effective to the point where outdoor air can be mixed with the indoor air without any traditional air conditioning, thus enabling a building to meet its "minimum outdoor air" air quality requirement.
Advantages and disadvantages
The primary advantage of the chilled beam system is its lower operating cost. For example, because the temperature of cooled water is higher than the temperature of cooled air, but it delivers the same cooling ability, the costs of the cooled water system are lower. Because cooling and heating of air are no longer linked to the delivery of air, buildings also save money by being able to run fewer air circulation fans and at lower speeds. One estimate places the amount of air handled at 25 to 50 percent less using chilled beam systems. By being able to target the delivery of clean outdoor air where it is needed, there is a reduced need to treat large amounts of outdoor air. In one case, the Genomic Science Building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lowered its HVAC costs by 20 percent with an active chilled beam system. This is a typical energy cost savings. Chilled beam systems also have some advantages in that they are almost noiseless, require little maintenance, and are highly efficient. Traditional fan-driven HVAC systems create somewhat higher air velocities, which some people find uncomfortable. Chilled beam HVAC systems also require less ceiling space than forced-air HVAC systems, which can lead to lower building heights and higher ceilings. Since they do not require high forced air flows, chilled beam systems also require reduced air distribution duct networks.Chilled beam systems are not a panacea. Additional ductwork may be needed to meet minimum outdoor air requirements. Both types of chilled beam systems are less effective at heating than cooling, and supplementary heating systems are often needed. Chilled beam systems cannot be used alone in buildings where the ceilings are higher than, because the air will not properly circulate. A forced-air circulation system must be employed in such cases. If the water temperature is too low or humidity is high, condensation on the beam can occur—leading to a problem known as "internal rain." Chilled beam systems are not recommended for areas with high humidity. Because they are less effective at cooling, passive chilled beam systems are generally ill-suited for semi-tropical and tropical climates. Hospitals generally cannot use chilled beam systems because of restrictions on using recirculated air. Chilled beam systems are also known to cause noticeable air circulation which can make some people uncomfortable. Some designers have found that enlarging the ducts around active chilled beam systems to increase air circulation causes echoes in working areas and amplifies the sound of water moving through the pipes to noticeable levels.
Installation and adoption
Active chilled beams are mounted in a suspended ceiling and then anchored to the overhead structure, because T-bar ceilings cannot support the typical operating weight of a chilled beam. They are generally wide, and require less than of overhead space. A typical wide chilled beam system generally weighs about per length of the beam. Chilled beams are generally installed so that the center of each beam is no more than from the center of the next beam. Some architects and end-users dislike the beams because they do not cover the entire ceiling so ducts, wiring, and other infrastructure can be seen. Some designers have installed one chilled beam system around the building perimeter and another in the interior of the building, to better control temperature throughout the structure. Higher system performance may be obtained by increasing the static pressure of the air in the building. The systems generally need little cleaning.As of 2007, chilled beam HVAC systems were used more widely in Australia and Europe than in the United States. In Australia, the system was first used in 30 The Bond, Sydney which was the first building in Australia to achieve the rating of 5 stars ABGR. Chilled beam HVAC systems have been used at London Heathrow Terminal 5 and Constitution Center. The system has also received prominent use at Harvard Business School, Wellesley College, and the American headquarters of the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
The multiservice chilled beam is a relatively new form of the chilled beam. Developed in 1996, it incorporates computer and electrical wiring, lighting, motion-detection sensors, and sprinklers into the chilled beam unit. The multiservice chilled beam was first installed at the Barclaycard building in Northampton, England, but has since been used at the headquarters of Lloyd's Register, Airbus UK, and the Greater London Authority; Riverside House ; Empress State Building ; 55 Baker Street and 101 New Cavendish Street.