Technical details and advantages

TECHNICAL DETAILS AND ADVANTAGES

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Advantages of heating-cooling system with capillary mats (PP)

Advantages compared to traditional technical solutions:

OPERATION: more efficient,
INTEGRATION: easier,
OPERATIONAL SAFETY: perfect,
COSTS: lower,
POLLUTION LEVEL: low.

Optimal Comfort

The heating-cooling system with capillary mats works without power and without noise. Because of this, it is often referred to as the "silent cooling system". The exchange of energy through radiation corresponds to natural conditions and provides a feeling of comfort. In addition, the radiant surfaces have a very uniform temperature profile - a homogeneous, low-temperature radiant heat field - without major fluctuations due to the small gaps between the capillary tubes. As a result, every user benefits from identical comfort conditions, and the "traditional" discussion about workplaces with better or worse thermal comfort becomes a thing of the past.

No negative health effects

Unlike capillary systems, which work with water heaters, conventional air conditioning systems use cooled air, which creates discomfort and illness. In conventional systems, large amounts of air are introduced into rooms at temperatures well below comfort levels. This not only reduces the comfort of people in rooms, but is very often associated with health risks. Apart from the related risk and associated noise, a very common problem is the poor hygiene of air conditioning systems (as a result of air filters not being changed on time, mold appearing in high humidity areas, dust deposited on blades and filters, bacteria spreading on the surface of filters, etc.).

Individual control with particularly short reaction time

Each zone can be controlled individually and easily by the room temperature controllers. Adjusting the indoor temperature reference values, results in an appreciable change in room conditions within minutes. Capillary systems have the shortest reaction time. Smart buildings can be made with the use of various intelligent, state-of-the-art automations. We have many references of smart, automated buildings with internet applications.

Invisible/hidden technical elements

The heating-cooling system with capillary mats has a particularly low construction height and can therefore be fully integrated into room boundary structures (floors, ceilings and walls). In the capillary system - capillary mats are permanently invisible, even when they are covered only with a thin layer of plaster. The change in colour of the plaster surface, the so-called copper shadows (which frequently occur when metal pipes are installed in walls), do not occur with capillary tubes made of polypropylene.

Maximum flexibility

The capillary system is available in almost any size and type of carpet. Capillary mats have such a high degree of flexibility that they can be easily adapted even to curved surfaces (vaults) or special types of ceilings. It is possible to integrate gaps in carpets for easy installation of lighting fixtures, air ducts, ventilation grilles, sensors, cables, etc. The capillary tube system offers architects and designers virtually unlimited freedom of design and layout.

Minimum requirements

Not only capillary mats, but the entire capillary system requires considerably less space than conventional systems. This becomes obvious when comparisons are made with conventional ventilation and air conditioning systems. To carry a power of 10 KW, an air conditioning unit requires an air duct with dimensions of 530×400 mm (with dT 8 K at 5 m/s). Since water is much more suitable for transporting energy, capillary systems require only a DN 50 (dext = 63 mm) PP pipe for identical power.

Renovations

The low construction height and low weight of the capillary mats (with water the max. weight is 900 g/m²) do not require special support structures and allow quick and trouble-free installation in existing ceiling elements. Even when conditions don't permit the installation of a suspended ceiling, you don't have to give up a cooled or heated ceiling if you use capillary mats. In such cases, capillary mats are plastered directly onto the bare concrete ceiling. As a result, the loss in room height is only 10-15 mm.

Ensuring exceptional quality

The capillary mat heating-cooling system is made of special high-quality polypropylene. Each carpet undergoes quality control in the factory; each carpet is pressure tested with compressed air at 20 bar and then rigorously checked in a water bath to exclude any leakage. This test pressure is approximately ten times the operating pressure. After installation, the installed mats are tested again at a pressure of 10 bar. The pressure test shall be carried out with compressed air and water in accordance with the method specified by the manufacturer.

Automatic de-isolation

Due to the small diameter and surface tension of the water, the capillary mats automatically de-energise. Even with flows in a vertical and oblique direction, water pushes air bubbles in front of the flow, both during filling and during operation. Because of this, it is not necessary to consider the angle of inclination when installing carpets in ceilings.

Easy to fix

In the event of damage to a capillary mat, for example, if you hammer a nail, the water would leak until the system loses pressure. This volume of leaked water depends on the pressure in the expansion vessel, the loss is normally only a few litres of water. As a rule, damaged capillary carpet can be easily uncovered, repaired with a mini welding machine and then plastered. The need to replace complete surface elements -as in the case of classical systems- is excluded in capillary systems.

Perfect operational reliability

In the case of the capillary system, the primary circuit is always separated from the secondary circuit by a stainless steel plate heat exchanger. Only corrosion-resistant materials such as plastic, red brass, bronze and stainless steel are used in the secondary circuit. Unlike other systems available on the market, with capillary systems, the formation of deposits in pipes (as a result of corrosion) is technically impossible, even with oxygen diffusion through the walls of polypropylene tubes. Biofilm formed by micro-organisms does not occur either, due to the lack of phosphorus and nitrogen combinations. De asemenea, la temperaturi de funcționare între 16 și 40 °C depunerile de calcar sunt fizic excluse. Therefore, with capillary systems, we can be sure that the water remains completely free of solid deposits even after decades of operation.

Economic

As a rule, investment costs are not substantially higher than for conventional air conditioning systems. If the capillary system can also be used for ceiling heating, for example in well-insulated office buildings, the investment costs are even more favourable. In the case of cooling, consumption and operating costs are up to 40% lower compared to conventional air conditioning units. A key factor is the cost of transporting energy for cooling by air (expensive) or water (very economical). Capillary systems have almost no maintenance costs and have only 1/5 to 1/7 of the pressure loss compared to conventional systems. Compared to other cooling ceilings, which are based on metal cooling elements, capillary systems offer considerable cost advantages, as the user does not experience operating losses.

Space saving

The building owner gains up to 15% more effective (efficient) usable floor space compared to conventional air conditioning installations in buildings of similar size. The reason for this is that the ceiling only needs to occupy a height of 10 to 15 mm (a possible reduction in floor height) and the technical rooms will be significantly smaller. This is a considerable advantage, especially for new construction projects.

Long life span

Long-term tightness tests and material tests have shown that capillary systems can be expected to have a long-term strength of more than 50 years. Customers receive a full 10-year warranty for each capillary mat, in accordance with the terms and conditions of insurance, covering not only the replacement of the damaged product, but also the installation and dismantling, as well as the recovery of any resulting damage. This guarantee applies virtually worldwide and is covered by a reputable insurance company. In this way, all risks are avoided for both the installer and the building owner.

Environmental protection

Temperature control of surfaces with capillary mats is much more efficient compared to conventional systems due to the small space between the capillary tubes (10-15 mm) and the large surface area. This leads to optimal energy transfer in the room. Consequently, a small difference between water temperature and room temperature is required. Further energy savings result from the fact that the room temperature perceived by the user with radiant cooling/heating is approximately 2 to 3 °C lower/higher than the actual room air temperature. Significant energy savings in capillary systems are also evident.