Active Building Centre Network
Active Building Centre Network
- Country:
- United Kingdon
- City:
- Gloucestershire
- Type of building:
- Office Public Space
- Jaga radiators:
- Strada Hybrid BMS Mini Freestanding Hybrid
- Engineer:
- Sustainable Energy
- Main contractor:
- Gibson Special Technical Services
The Active Building Centre (ABC) is an ambitious, high-profile research project and centre of excellence backed by the UK government to drive sustainable development by transforming how buildings are powered and heated.
Their site in Gloucestershire is home to the ABC’s research centre and demonstrator buildings, plus a network of other office buildings used by local organisations.
The site runs on a heat network powered by a range of energy sources with varying design temperatures. This posed a huge challenge for the consultants in designing one cohesive heating system that could operate efficiently throughout all buildings.
Jaga’s Dynamic Boost Hybrid (DBH) was found to be the only system that could successfully achieve this. The consultant specified a mix of Strada Hybrid wall-mounted convector radiators for office spaces and Mini Freestanding Hybrid convector radiators for highly glazed areas.
Both radiators contain Low-H2O technology for ultra-fast response times, maximum heat emission and low energy consumption. The added DBH fan set enables the units to provide high heat outputs when running at lower flow temperatures.
BACKGROUND
The contractor, Gibson STS, and the consultant, Sustainable Energy, worked collaboratively with the ABC team on this complex project; to design and implement an efficient heat network for the ABC and surrounding buildings using a variety of energy sources.
THE CHALLENGE
The energy sources in the network included: two electric boilers in different configurations, a gas boiler, combined heat and power (CHP), biomass, and three air source heat pumps with different capacities, all running at varying design temperatures and controlled via a building management system (BMS).
The network was purposely set up this way for research and testing purposes, but it posed a major challenge for the emitter selection. Emitters are usually selected and sized based on outputs at particular design conditions. This project, however, needed emitters that could provide the same heat output when running at a flow and return of 50/30°C as they could when running at 70/40°C.
THE SOLUTION
The unique Jaga DBH system was found to be the only product that could effectively meet this brief, working with high and low water temperatures without a reduction in performance.
When the heating system is operating at higher water temperatures provided by the boilers, the emitters function as natural convectors without the DBH fans running. And when the system is operating at lower water temperatures provided by the heat pumps, the DBH fans kick in to boost the heat output of the units, maintaining a comfortable room temperature.
159 Strada Hybrid units and 43 Mini Freestanding Hybrid units were installed across the various buildings on site including offices, meeting rooms, lobbies, corridors, WCs, hospitality suites and the onsite restaurant.
Omied Khakshour from Sustainable Energy said "Jaga provided consistent support throughout the specification and installation process, visiting site when needed and providing guidance to the installers to ensure the project ran smoothly" and Kevin Moulton from Gibson STS said "this project was an exceptional opportunity to be involved with a benchmarking facility for different products used throughout our industry. Jaga gave immense support both in technical help and on site logistics to fit the needs of both the client and building occupiers to ensure the project ran smoothly. I would not hesitate to use Jaga again on future projects."
