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| Siemens innovations make buildings more efficient  The energy consumption in a building is determined by its users. This is no different in highly insulated buildings with energy efficient systems. To help reduce consumption, the Siemens Building Technologies division is introducing a room controller with Green Leaf display which indicates the current efficiency status. At ISH 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Siemens will also present a wide range of demand-based automation solutions as well as a new generation of actuators which ensure maximum building efficiency over the long term. Many building operators come to realize after several years that the calculated energy savings targets cannot be sustained in real-life operations. Often the underlying cause is a lack of transparency for users who simply don't know how the setpoint changes they make impact energy consumption. This is particularly true for air-conditioned rooms which are also equipped with lighting and sun protection controls. Against this background, Siemens has developed an innovative Green Leaf display for series QMX3 room controllers which gives users an active role in the energy management of a room: A green leaf on the display confirms that the room systems are used in a energy-efficient manner; a red leaf indicates unnecessary energy consumption. A simple press of the display switches the room control to energy-efficient operation. The Green Leaf display is part of Desigo Total Room Automation (TRA), a line of freely programmable room automation components for the Desigo building automation system, version 5.0 or higher. The PXC3 room controller generation provides an integrated solution for HVAC, lighting and blinds and allows the room controller to be embedded right at the PX automation level. This makes it possible to directly control primary systems, i.e. heating generators, HVAC main units and cooling generators, by means of demand signals from the individual rooms. As a consequence of this type of direct communication via BACnet/IP, heating and cooling generators and HVAC systems as well as their control groups operate only at the output level necessary to meet the actual demand from the rooms. This feature alone generates energy savings of up to 25% without any loss of comfort. Another advantage of the TRA solution is that the traditional separation between the HVAC installation and electrical wiring disciplines is easily bridged at the room level. 50% energy savings for air-conditioning systemsAnother innovation offered by the Desigo building automation system is the AirOptiControl strategy for HVAC systems, developed by Siemens in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Society's Workgroup for Supply Chain Services (SCS). Without reducing the quality of the room climate, AirOptiControl consistently aligns HVAC output with actual demand, thus yielding energy savings of up to 50% compared to conventional control concepts. At the same time, this leads to better control performance and to less wear on the actuators. The modular design allows for multiple configurations for the control of air handling units and variable volumetric flow controllers as well as for fan optimization. As an integral part of the Desigo building automation system, the Desigo Insight user interface can be used to display the various AirOptiControl applications graphically, to record trend lines and to document setpoints and actual values. These additional features provide efficient control and optimization of energy consumption and energy costs. The control module thus meets the requirements of the highest energy performance class set forth in EN15232, "Energy Performance of Buildings—Impact of Building Automation, Controls and Building Management". Siemens will also present new developments for the OEM segment. These solutions use buffer storage to link boiler, heat pump and heating controllers more intelligently with solar hot-water generation and solar heating systems. Of particular interest is the RVC controller for the next generation of micro CHP devices with Stirling engines. The electronic controller not only handles traditional heating functions and hot water generation, it also monitors the return of electricity into the public power grid. Fast and easy installation of HVAC systemsControl valves and their handling are just as important as high-precision controllers. Siemens has completely revamped its Acvatix line to ensure that it meets the installation, startup and maintenance requirements of today. One new feature is the ergonomic handwheel which allows tool-free manual actuator operation irrespective of the installation position, especially during an emergency and for servicing. An integrated LED indicating the operating status is visible from a distance, and the actuator's position indicator is easy to see from many different angles, which facilitates startup. In the new valve actuators, the connection between valves and actuators is designed in such a way that assembly errors are virtually impossible. The new actuators are equipped with state-of-the-art EC motors and can be used to upgrade existing HVAC installations since they are compatible with all Acvatix products made in the last 30 years. With numerous innovations in all market segments, Building Technologies underscores its role as a market leader when it comes to implementing current trends in device and building engineering. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |