Monodraught has reinforced its position as a leading innovator in the building services industry with the recent presentation of two technical presentations to CIBSE and Brunel University's IEA Annex 62 conference on Ventilative Cooling.
First, Monodraught's Commercial Product Engineer Sam Whitfield presented an illustrated talk on 'How is technology transforming the way we, as engineers, work? which looked at the use of 3D printing in building services manufacturing. This was presented to the CIBSE Young Engineers' Network, chaired by Angela Malynn, senior mechanical engineer at Arup and former CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year.
Says Sam: "Having used 3D printing extensively in the development of our Cool-phase system we wanted to give our audience an insight into the opportunities of the highly-digital approach to today's specified projects and working practices."
The presentation featured a series of short 'burst' presentations covering leading-edge technologies that are transforming the way the modern building services engineer works and included 3D printing; the growing sophistication of computer aided design; IT networks that allow engineers to work from anywhere in the world; etc. The full presentation will be reported in the CIBSE Journal and other leading industry journals.
The second presentation, by Monodraught's Senior Research Engineer, Dr Zsolt Bako-Biro, covered the 'Analytical and experimental modelling of energy storage in phase change material for natural cooling of buildings' in the context of Monodraught's innovative development of the second generation of its Cool-phase low-energy ventilation and cooling system.
Two installations were discussed in the presentation. One is the evaluation of the innovative phase change material (PCM) technology that was achieved by installing Cool-phase systems in two 'control' areas in Anglia Ruskin University. The second was for a Science Lecture Room at Bournemouth University, which was fitted with two new Cool-phase systems to provide natural cooling. The Monodraught design team carried out full dynamic thermal modelling to predict that the systems would fully dissipate heat gains within all areas of the building where the Cool-phase was to be installed.
Commenting for Monodraught, technical director Nick Hopper says the company's application of innovative green tech solutions are pioneering energy savings within the built environment. These presentations demonstrate Monodraught's continued development of sustainable solutions since the launch of its original Sunpipes and Windcatchers more than 40 years ago.
Monodraught's innovative Cool-phase low energy ventilation and cooling system is now further enhanced thanks to its high-performance phase change material (PCM) being awarded a RAL Certificate following extensive testing. The two-year test programme, which involves heating and cooling the material to capacity during 10,000 cycles, measures the material's performance levels and working life. The actual figures achieved by the PCM during the 10,000 cycles is equivalent to 28 years of life in service, which well exceeds the 5-year Cool-phase guarantee and the 25 year design life estimated by Monodraught during its own Cool-phase product development programme.
Commenting for Monodraught, technical director Nick Hopper says this level of accredited performance, furthers the long term acceptance of the technology within the built environment.
RAL Certification provides an audited test for long term performance of Phase Change Material. Successful certification puts the Cool-phase system in a class of its own as a low energy cooling, ventilation and heat recovery system that reduces the running costs of buildings while creating a fresh and healthy indoor environment without compressors or hazardous coolants. The system uses intelligently controlled phase change material to actively ventilate and cool buildings, maintaining temperatures within the comfort zone, while radically reducing energy consumption by up to 90% compared to conventional cooling systems.
