Within the framework of “Thermal loss minimization and energy efficiency improvement for secondary educational institutions” project initiated by the Kyiv City State Administration VENTS supplied modern energy-efficient ventilation systems for installation in “Naukova Zmina” lyceum (Darnitsky District of Kyiv) by 1 September. This marked the first adaptation of TwinFresh room ventilators in a large-scale state project aimed at reducing waste and inefficiency in central heating systems. In acknowledgement of this success the company was selected as equipment supplier for another heat lost minimization project to target Kyiv kindergartens.

“Naukova Zmina” lyceum which trains about 900 students a year was ranked among the top most prestigious educational institutions of Kyiv according to the rating published in “Focus” magazine. The lyceum is well-known for its up-to-date facilities which are regularly improved and upgraded. There are 4 computer classes and an electronic library providing access to a vast array of multimedia technology.

Comfortable environment for efficient learning

Proper air exchange plays a crucial role in creating occupant comfort in educational institutions where children and the youth spend most of their day. It is known for a fact that a prolonged stay in a closed space lacking an efficient ventilation system causes physical effects of oxygen deficiency such as tiredness and decline of strength while the occupants demonstrate a significant drop of learning capacity and digesting new information.

While working on the ventilation engineering project for the lyceum the VENTS experts considered all the crucial aspects to create an ideal climatic environment. In particular, the equipment installed included the following units: 167 TwinFresh Comfo RA1-50 room ventilators; 2 MPA 5000 W LCD air handling units; and 5 VKM fans. These state-of-the-art EU-compliant products by VENTS were used to create an integrated ventilation system which supplies, filters and warms up the fresh air as well extracts the stale air. In particular, the air handling system based on TwinFresh room ventilators not only supplies purified fresh air free from any hazardous admixtures, but also enables savings while heating up supply air in the winter and cooling it in the summer. TwinFresh can run 24/7 taking a mere 5 W. That being said, the room ventilator recycles up to 90% of the heat otherwise lost due to an integral ceramic heat exchanger.

TwinFresh Comfo RA1-50 aces the test

To check the functional capability of TwinFresh Comfo RA1-50 energy efficient ventilators at low temperatures joint tests were held with the equipment acquirer at the VENTS in-house climatic laboratory.

The climatic laboratory comprises four basic structural elements among which the climatic chamber plays the key part. The climatic chamber is a completely sealed-off space with 150 mm thick insulation equipped with specialized equipment to simulate the environmental temperature parameters. The chamber can be used to simulate any climatic conditions with temperatures ranging from -30°C to +35°C and humidity levels from 40 to 90%. The test subject is positioned in a special space connected to the climatic chamber. The space is equipped with an air heater and air humidifier to simulate the actual service conditions. All the testing parameters are captured automatically and monitored by the test supervisor in real time. This approach helps identify and eliminate any potential weaknesses in the equipment operation early at the testing phase. The test results were used as input data for calculating the operating parameters of the ventilation units supplied for the “Naukova Zmina” lyceum upgrade project.

It should be noted that all the climatic equipment was installed and commissioned under direct supervision of the VENTS experts to further ensure long-lasting and reliable operation of the ventilation equipment. In particular, our engineers consulted the ventilation system installers regarding the peculiar features of the ventilator design for best mounting and installation options as well as provided valuable input for setting up operation algorithms for the units serving the classrooms. In addition to that the VENTS maintenance service engineers provided immediate assistance to the installation contractor staff during the commissioning phase.

The VENTS ventilation solution is expected to significantly cut the lyceum heating costs, but that is only part of the gain.   Even more importantly the students will now benefit from a balanced environment to make learning both enjoyable and productive.