Unique home-grown ventilation unit

With SkyFlow, Ned Air introduces an adaptive and demand-controlled ventilation unit for stacked housing construction, which combines high comfort, good moisture regulation and exactly the right amount of clean and fresh air with compact design and easy maintenance. The unique ventilation unit was developed entirely in-house. Chris Waterlander, Manager of Integral Development and responsible for product management at Ned Air, takes us through the development process, which has led to interesting features for residents as well as installers.

Due to the scarcity of available building land in our cities, more and more property developers, investors and developing builders are choosing to go up rather than down. Ned Air has been responding to this for years with the EveryLine and RotorLine air handling units, which are used very widely in the market. From office towers to residential towers and including the transformation of obsolete office buildings into homes. "In order for the systems in apartment buildings in particular to function optimally, we were looking for a ventilation unit with an adjustable damper section," says Waterlander. "However, there was no system available in the market that fully met what the market demanded and needed. So we started developing our own, which means that installers and clients now benefit from one address, one supplier and one guarantee party for the complete ventilation concept."

The development of SkyFlow started with a steel unit in which two valves were mounted, Waterlander says. "Including corresponding control. This solution proved promising, but in Dutch apartment buildings we have to deal with mirrored houses and with 1-zone and 2-zone systems. This meant that we had to develop four units. That had to be simpler! In addition, we wanted to keep the ventilation unit as light as possible, so the idea soon arose for a plastic housing. However, in this case you have to deal with molds, which involve high costs. By making one valve section in plastic and combining it separately, these investment challenges are cleverly overcome and we can still meet the market demand of mirrored, 1-zone or 2-zone."

Adaptive control on pressure

In order to save on energy costs in addition to production costs, Ned Air has designed a ventilation unit that allows demand-driven ventilation. For example, based on clock times, relative humidity, temperature or CO2, so that never more is ventilated than necessary. "In addition, we have closely coordinated the control of the SkyFlow ventilation unit in the apartments and the control of the EveryLine and Rotorline air handling units," said Waterlander. "As a result, we know exactly what valve positions the ventilation units are in and can vary air volumes (pressures)." In most cases, there is a constant-pressure system. "The closer a valve is, the more pressure it takes," he points out. "Instead, we actually control the damper to open a little further, while reducing the pressure. In terms of occupant comfort, this makes no difference at all, while energy consumption goes down significantly. This technique in particular makes SkyFlow unique in the market."

Complete system

SkyFlow can be combined with new and existing air handling units from Ned Air and other suppliers. From indoor units to outdoor units, says Waterlander. "When choosing the Ned Air EveryLine or RotorLine, a complete ventilation system is created, which can be easily accessed and monitored online and remotely. Moreover, installers can adjust the system remotely. In the unlikely event of a malfunction, they can easily log into the system and initiate the appropriate actions."

No maintenance behind the front door

In today's apartment buildings, 100 to 500 homes are no longer an exception. "As a result, maintenance parties have to deal with hundreds of residents, with whom separate maintenance agreements generally have to be made," Waterlander said. "Ned Air SkyFlow overcomes this complex task. In fact, the system in the homes is basically maintenance-free. For example, we have placed the air filters not in the valve modules themselves, but in the central air handling unit. This cleverly overcomes the replacement of filters behind the front door."

Ample fresh air

At the apartment level, installers and clients have a choice of a 1-zone or a 2-zone system. "The system includes respectively two or three valve modules including a volume control, which can easily be placed between the ventilation supply and exhaust," says Waterlander. "Thanks to the addition of temperature, CO2 and relative humidity sensors, demand-controlled ventilation can then be provided per zone." The valve module of the SkyFlow system has a connection diameter of 160 mm. "The system can refresh over 400 m3/h, which is more than sufficient for most Dutch apartments. With the absence of a fan and filter, the system operates silently." SkyFlow's compact design and light weight allow installers to easily mount the system, with a choice of wall or ceiling mounting. This keeps the floor free of obstacles and does not interfere with residents' apartment design.

The introduction of SkyFlow will take place during VSK+E in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht. You will find Ned Air in hall 10, booth A021.