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Consideration of diversity factors

Fume hood control with LABCONTROL optimizes air consumption


Economic optimized operating of laboratories

For reasons of economy, diversity factors are often taken into account when maintaining a volume flow balance in large laboratory buildings.

This enables full utilisation of the benefits of variable flow volume control. The method is based on the assumption that only a small number of fume hoods are open at the same time. Most of the fume hoods are kept closed. The advantage of this method is that the air ducts and fans can be smaller in design.

Technical explanation of diversity functionality

The LABCONTROL system can be configured for monitoring and controlling the diversity factor in such a way that the calculated air conditions are maintained in all areas.

The controllers recognize when the air balance has been exceeded by an unacceptable amount and correct the situation if required by lowering the volume flows at the open fume hoods. By issuing an alarm at the operating unit, these fume hoods make the user aware that the diversity factor has been exceeded. In addition, the central building control system can be notified of this situation in the form of an alarm message.


Example:
Room with 5 fume hoods, each with the following volume flow: Vmin = 100 m³/h Vmax = 500 m³/h
Thus: Vmax for all fume hoods = 2500 m³/h
When the room was equipped, it was assumed that only three fume hoods would be fully open at the same time. This corresponds to: Vmax fume hoods = 1700 m³/h. The controllers were configured accordingly.

If, as shown in the example, the fourth cupboard is opened as well, the controllers reduce the total volume flow Vtotal to the specified 1700 m³/h. This corresponds to 400 m³/h for each of the open fume hoods plus 100 m³/h Vmin for the remaining closed fume hood.
The four open fume hoods issue the diversity alarm. For safe operation, one fume hood must be closed again.

Air management systems

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The LABCONTROL Air management systems - An introduction into system characteristics, components and typical application areas

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the air management system LABCONTROL

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