Chilled beams

For comfort applications, chilled beams are one of the best solution to date, designed to simultaneously ventilate, cool and/or heat buildings. The main advantages of a chilled beam system is the great thermal comfort level, silent operation, low operating cost, and the outstanding energy efficiency level, specially if equipped with our third generation CA-CB controller. Airvent chilled beams – correctly designed - are able to provide an optimal indoor climate, contributing to the well-being of us all.

Operating principle

Active chilled beams are waterborne induction units, primarily designed to ventilate, cool and/or heat buildings, where a comfortable indoor climate and individual room control is needed. Chilled beams provide sensible cooling or heating through the closed loop water-based piping network, while the supply of the humidity-controlled, fresh ventilation air is provided by the central air handling unit. This dual-function approach results in approximately 70% of room conditioning being achieved through water, while the remaining 30% is handled by the primary air, optimizing both energy efficiency and the indoor environment. When evaluating the broader environmental impact, active chilled beams emerge as one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions available today. Their versatile design allows for either integrated installation within suspended ceilings or exposed installation beneath the ceiling, supporting diverse architectural and aesthetic preferences.

R&D

R&D plays a vital role in our development process, especially for refining our chilled beams — from the design of the heat exchanger to the optimal placement of nozzles and diffuser profiles for enhanced airflow. We invest substantial efforts to guarantee the optimal performance of each chilled beam, which includes comprehensive tests in our lab located in Malmö, Sweden. These evaluations examine a range of factors, including air velocity, acoustic levels, capacities for cooling and heating, as well as the efficiency of air distribution. Airvent chilled beams are designed with a focus on providing a reliable, functional, and energy-efficient solution for indoor climate control, maintaining simplicity while prioritizing performance.

CA-CB – DCV solution for chilled beams

The CA-CB system is designed to automatically regulate the ventilation, cooling, and heating modes in chilled beams, complimented by advanced sensors for energy-efficient, demand-controlled operation. The onboard controller ensures precise indoor climate control by maintaining room temperature through the sensors and water control valves. Features include a plastic housing for flexible installation, preventive condensation protection, Modbus RTU connectivity for seamless integration with building management systems, and additional regulation components for optimal comfort and efficiency. Pre-configured factory wiring and minimal on-site setup highlight the user-friendly, cost-effective installation, eliminating the need for extensive on-site configuration and reducing overall setup costs.

Benefits of chilled beams

Chilled beam systems offer great thermal comfort through efficient ventilation, cooling and heating, paired with low operational and maintenance costs. Coupled with demand-controlled control solutions, chilled beam systems may achieve significant energy and cost savings, while ensuring a comfortable, draft-free indoor environment.

Advantages

Chilled beams typically operate at higher water temperatures compared to traditional air conditioning systems, which may lead to a higher efficiency of energy usage. By utilizing water as the main cooling medium instead of air, chilled beams can achieve effective cooling with lower energy consumption. This not only ensures a more efficient system, but also contributes to a better indoor climate and space savings through the reduced dimensions of the utilized air ducts and air handling units. The induction principle guarantees an even and comfortable mix of air, eliminating draft, thus preserving a pleasant indoor space.

Space saving configurations

Chilled beams are relatively compact compared to other traditional ventilation solutions, making them suitable for spaces with limited ceiling height or where architectural considerations require minimal intrusion into the room's aesthetic design. Airvent offers a comprehensive selection of active and passive chilled beam configurations with low product heights, designed to meet diverse application needs while ensuring flexibility, quality, and performance.

Unique solutions

Known for our innovative product solutions, we have designed several nozzle configurations to enhance the induction, as well as the optionally available adjustability of the airflow on site, aimed at optimizing system performance and improve user comfort. To distribute the air evenly within the conditioned space, specially shaped frame profiles and individually adjustable air deflectors can be utilized, to optimize air distribution and eliminate draft, ensuring a uniformly comfortable environment.

Energy Control - CA-CB

The ControlAir CA-L3 local controller, integral to our chilled beam systems, is designed to precisely maintain room temperature through sophisticated control of room sensors and water valves. This third-generation unit compliments the demand-controlled operation of chilled beams, offering a smart and simple approach to complex indoor climate management.

Maintenance and installation

Chilled beams are designed for low maintenance, thanks to the absence of moving parts, condensation trays or filters. Our installation solutions, whether for concealed or exposed setups, emphasize ease and efficiency, significantly reducing installation times.

Function

The function is based on the well-known induction principle. The primary air from the air handling unit is injected into the plenum box within the active chilled beam, and distributed through the specially shaped nozzles. As the air is discharged through the nozzles, the high velocity air jets above the coil create a low-pressure zone. This low-pressure zone draws ambient room air through the coil, and as it passes the coil fins it is conditioned (cooled or heated), according to the water temperature flowing through the coil. The conditioned air then mixes with the air jets before it is discharged back into the occupied space. The strategic position and form of the nozzles have a major impact on the performance of the chilled beam and the sound emissions. Extensive research through CFD modeling and full-scale lab testing is invested in each Airvent chilled beam model, for an optimal performance rating.

AirFlex - adjustable air deflectors

Airvent chilled beams come standard with AirFlex air deflectors, which offer manual adjustability on either side for precise control of air direction and distance. This feature, along with adjustable nozzles, facilitates the creation of a customizable, comfortable, and draft-free environment, enhancing the indoor climate flexibility.

ControlAir - automatic control

ControlAir is an energy saving digital control system, specifically designed to compliment our system products, such as chilled beams. All internal electrical wiring is factory connected and pre-configured before shipment. Due to its high integrity ControlAir requires minimum on-site installation work. After the power supply and signal lines have been connected, the system can be started immediately. The control system is factory pre-configured according to the customers’ requests. No on-site configuration is required, thus significantly reducing installation and commissioning costs.

Adjustable nozzles

Airvent chilled beams can also be supplied with adjustable nozzles, a unique, elegant and flexible feature for changing the nozzle positions on each side of the plenum box, in order to set the required airflow, without modifying the primary air pressure. With the use of a simple Allen wrench the airflow can be adjusted in multiple steps on each side of the chilled beam. Our solution features clever engineering, and was designed to stand the test of time. The requested airflow can be selected in our selection software, and is factory pre-set, but can also easily be changed on-site.

SUM - Supreme management

Airvent products achieve a high energy efficiency through smart engineering, which can further be enhanced with an automatic, coherent and precise demand-controlled operation. The basic objective to achieve maximum efficiency is the continuous analysis of the constantly changing indoor and outdoor conditions. With the use of SUM the operator is able to fine-tune the settings for each room, zone or floor plan in the building. The online software logs all operation parameters of the system, and automatically controls the indoor climate accordingly. SUM also provides instant visual feedback for each individual part of the building.

Selection software

Our online chilled beam configuration web application offers an easy-to-use, intuitive, fast and high-quality software, that was specifically designed to simplify and accelerate the work of the users. The selection tool can be accessed from common web browsers, and provides accurate values, quick visual feedback and detailed technical data.

For more information:
Airvent chilled beam selection software

In-house heat exchanger

We produce our own heat exchangers and also select from trusted high-quality suppliers to ensure our products meet our standards. Our portfolio includes a variety of standard cooling and heating coils, each developed for optimal performance in our chilled beams, reflecting our commitment to quality and efficiency in indoor climate solutions.

Aluminum Coanda frame

The aluminum frame constitutes an important functional aspect of an integrated chilled beam. Through an optimally formed discharge slot the Coanda effect is maximized, providing a homogenous air distribution and a high level of thermal comfort. Our engineering team decided to develop a curved aluminum extrusion profile for the frame, which complements the exiting airflow, so the stream can smoothly be carried along the ceiling. The rounded shape of the frames not only provide an aesthetically pleasing view from beneath the product, it also helps reducing the overall weight, and increases the structural rigidity.

Design and quality

One of the main objectives of Airvent has always been to produce well built products, with high level of technical qualities, design and finish. This ambition has grown to become a natural part of our DNA. The refined details in our chilled beams testifies to this approach.

Airvent chilled beams

OptimAir - Two-way active chilled beam designed to be integrated in suspended ceilings

Features Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant, integrated exterior design. Requires minimum installation space. High flexibility with adjustable nozzles and AirFlex air deflectors. Silent operation

OptimAir ML2 example: Lengths: 1200-3000 mm; Pressure 100 Pa; Airflow 16–72 l/s; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 637–2078; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 182–821; Total capacity (W) 819–2899

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PremiAir - Four-way active chilled beam designed to be integrated in suspended ceilings

Features Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant, integrated exterior design. Requires minimum installation space. High flexibility with adjustable nozzles and AirFlex air deflectors. Silent operation.

PremiAir HC: Lengths: 600-1800 mm; Airflow 12-89 l/s; Pressure 100 Pa; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 387-1919; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 137-1017; Total capacity (W) 515-2934

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FreeAir - Two-way active chilled beam designed for exposed installation

Features Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant, integrated exterior design. Requires minimum installation space. High flexibility with AirFlex air deflectors. Silent operation,

FreeAir: Lengths 1500-3000 mm; Airflow 14-48 l/s; Pressure 100 Pa; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 627-1817; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 160-547; Total capacity (W) 787-2364

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CornerAir - One-way active chilled beam designed for exposed installation

Features Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant exterior design. Low product height. High flexibility with AirFlex air deflectors. Silent operation.

CornerAir: Length 1500-3000 mm; Airflow 10-35 l/s; Pressure 100 Pa; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 357-970; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 114-399; Total capacity (W) 471-1369

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HotelAir - One-way active chilled beam designed to be integrated in suspended ceilings

Features Specifically developed for applications in hotel rooms. Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant, integrated exterior design. Aluminum supply air grille. Perforated return grille. Silent operation.

HotelAir: Lengths 600-1200 mm; Airflow 9-41 l/s; Pressure 100 Pa; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 386-1038; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 103-467; Total capacity (W) 489-1505

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WallAir - One-way active chilled beam designed for wall installations

Features Specifically developed for wall installations. Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant, integrated exterior design. Aluminum front grille. Silent operation.

WallAir: Lengths 600-1200 mm; Airflow 9-41 l/s; Pressure 100 Pa; Water capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 288-829; Air capacity (W) ΔT: 10K 103-467; Total capacity (W) 391-1296

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PassiveAir - Passive chilled beam designed for exposed free-hanging installation

Features Energy efficient high performance operation. Elegant exterior design. Suspended installation. Silent operation..

Lenght 1200-3600 mm; Capacity (W/m) ΔT: 10K 50-455

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Installation and maintenance

Suspension and installation

The length and width of our chilled beams are designed to fit in most T-grid ceiling grids. The units are delivered with factory mounted suspension elements, which are adjustable, if required. Upon request, optional seismic brackets are available to meet local seismic building codes.

Maintenance

The perforated front plate of the active chilled beam can swing down allowing easy access to the coil for a periodic inspection of dust accumulation. The plenum box and the heat exchanger can easily be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner with a longhaired brush. The front panels and parts that are out of reach for the vacuum cleaner can be wiped off with a soft cloth. If required, a mild neutral cleaning detergent can be used. The electrical parts have to be maintained in accordance with the relevant prescriptions. The points of connection/shock protection and the functional ability of the components must be checked. The maintenance interval may vary depending on how well and regularly the building is cleaned. Initially, an inspection every 6 months is recommended. The intervals can be extended should the coils show little or no dust accumulations.

Fields of application

OptimAir for conference applications; PremiAir for restaurant locations; CornerAir for office applications; PremiAir for public locations; OptimAir for office applications; HotelAir for hotel applications.

References

Emporia Shopping Center

Emporia, scandinavias largest shopping center in Malmö, Sweden, inaugurated in 2012 stategically near the acclaimed bridge connecting Sweden with Denmark. Airvent supplied over 2000 active chilled beams of PremiAir and OptimAir type, manufactured at our production plant in Kecskemét, Hungary.

Airrail Center Frankfurt

In 2010 we supplied 590 units of a specially designed passive chilled beam, the PassiveAir to the 660 m long Frankfurt Airrail Center, also known as "Squaire", housing both the train station, a shopping center and office complex.