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 1990s
Now used world wide
Device of choice for some Clients

How many?

ACB UK Market Data

Provided by BSRIAs 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/FETAs 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
Active Chilled Beams
Fan Coils
Variable Air Volume

2010
9.7
26.6
2.3

2011
9.9
27.1
6.7

2012
8.0
23.7
5.3

Volume ( Units)

Active Chilled Beams

Fan Coils
Variable Air Volume

34,500
51,500
5,500

33,400
54,000
13,300

27,000
46,800
13,500

Unit price

Active Chilled Beams

Fan Coils
Variable Air Volume

281
517
418

298
502
504

296
506
393

Market (M)

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA

2012 Market Data*

2012 Market Share (units)

2012 Market Share (M)

Variable Air
Volume, 5.3

Variable Air
Volume,
13,500

Active Chilled
Beams, 8.0

Active Chilled
Beams, 27,000

Fan Coils,
46,800

Fan Coils, 23.7

2012 Unit Price

Variable Air
Volume, 393

Active Chilled
Beams, 296

Fan Coils, 506

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA

FCU Market Players (Ranked By Value)

70% Market

2012

Ability Projects
Diffusion
Dunham Bush
TEV limited
Trox

* Data provided
by WMI, BSRIA

ACB Market Players (Ranked By Value)

80% Market

Trox
Frenger Systems (Lindab)
Halton
SAS international
Krantz

20% Market

2012

Swegon
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. (FCUs
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
= r w
r = reference air temperature
w = mean cooling water temperature

qp = primary air flow rate

3 steady state conditions at = 6, 8 and 10K with constant qp
Repeat at = 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 * m
Where
Pw is waterside cooling capacity
Pk is specific cooling capacity
m is an exponent

Alternatively, Pk = Pw / m
Also, Pk = A * qpn
A is a characteristic constant
n is an exponent

Example Results

Example Results

Example Results

1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

y = 77.233x1.0598
R = 1

Pw (const qp)
Power (Pw (const qp))

10

15

Mean Temperature Difference (K)

Pw (var qp)
Water side duty ( W)

Water side duty (W)

Pw (const qp)

1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

y = 182677x-1.394
R = 0.9777

Pw (var qp)
Power (Pw (var qp))

20

40

60

Primary airflow rate (qp)

(l.s-1)

80

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 / m

Pk = A * qpn

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

Optionally, cooling capacity as fn(globeT- w) or
fn(roomT - w)
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
14-16C supply with 1-3K rise

Waterside Heating (100-300 W/m)

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

Airside Cooling/Induction
10-60 l/s primary air at 18C for roomT 24C

Back to Agenda

System performance testing

Physical modelling

Predicting and measuring real life

situations
Achieving the correct results first
time
Prove beforehand that the
systems and products will meet
the necessary specifications

Water supply (from chiller)

AHU
Ceiling void

Conditioned air

Glass window

Clients
ventilation system

Viewing chamber

Floor tiles/carpet
Floor void
Chamber wall
Adjacent chamber
Adjustable walls

Control room

Insulated floor
( 400 mm)

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
Room air
movement

Gas tracer
tests

Salt tests

Supply
Chamber Ceiling
Ceiling void

Fans/Air conditioning
system

Ceiling tiles

Smoke tests

Wall

Adjacent
chamber

CFD

Floor tiles
Floor extract
Back passage

Extract
Floor void

Airtightness

Control room

Mock-up
construction

Design

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

Calc Induced Flow (l/s)

35.00
30.00

y = 2.2863x - 9.3206
R2 = 0.9933

1.50

25.00
20.00

1.00

15.00
10.00

0.50

5.00
0.00
0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

Primary Flow (l/s)

Calc Ind Flow

Ratio

Linear (Calc Ind Flow)

Linear (Ratio)

25.00

0.00
30.00

Example of average parameters A

PARAMETER
Water supply temperature (C)
Water return temperature (C)
Water flow rate (l.s-1 per beam)
Water flow rate (l.s-1all beams)
Cooling duty (10 beams) (W)
Fresh air supply temperature
at point of entry to the test rig
(C)
Extract temperature (C)
Air flow rate (l.s-1)
Fresh air cooling duty (W)
Total cooling (W)
Electrical load (W)
Solar load simulated with 15
wall mounted heated mats
Occupancy (6 DIN Men
simulating 7.5 people)
Small power gain
Lighting gain
Total electrical load
Total electrical load (Average)
Imbalance (W)

14.0
To be recorded
0.039
N/A
N/A

AVERAGE
DURING TEST
SUPPLIED
VALUE
13.9
15.9
0.039
0.353
2958

18.0

18.1

To be recorded
90
N/A
N/A

23.5
97
583
3541
Start
End

REQUESTED
VALUE

1416

1418

1440

675

685

698

844
405
3340
3340

830
835
419
419
3352
3392
3372
169

Example of parameters
PARAMETER
Fresh air supply volume
Fresh air supply temperature
Beam chilled water supply
volume for perimeter test
Beam chilled water supply
volume for core test
Chilled water supply
temperature
Illuminance

VALUE
60 l.s-1
19.0 C
0.226 l.s-1
0.274 l.s-1
14.0 C
As produced by integral
lighting system

Example of average parameters B

PARAMETER

Fresh air flowrate

Extract flowrate
Fresh air supply temperature
Extract temperature
Altrium roof load emitted into room
(simulated with 3 wall mounted heat
mats)
Core people gain (simulated with 6
standard DIN men)
Core small power gain (simulated with
4 standard PCs and 7 floor heat mats)
Lighting gain

Total heating gain (perimeter, core and

lighting)
Chilled beam water flow temperature
Chilled beam water return
temperature
Chilled beam water flowrate

AVERAGE
SUPPLIED
VALUE
64.1 l.s-1
62.6 l.s-1
19.0 C
23.4 C
510 W

REQUESTED
VALUE

600 W

600 W

1.69 kW

1.821 kW

905 W

3.705 kW

13.9 C
16.4 C
0.28 l.s-1

60 l.s-1
60 l.s-1
19.0 C
N/A
525 W

As produced by
integral lighting
system
2.946 kW plus
lighting gain
14 C
N/A
0.274 l.s-1

Parameter
Chilled beam cooling effect
Air cooling effect
TOTAL COOLING

Average cooling during Test

3 (kW)
2.93
0.34
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