Ambivent Ltd is one of the leading companies in the mechanical
building service sector, providing a high quality engineering design,
installation and maintenance service to the building industry.
A privately owned company which has been at the forefront of the
building services industry for over 18 years, Ambivent is 100 percent
committed to quality and service enhanced by our ISO 9001
accreditation.
We aim to provide energy efficient and cost effective solutions in a
constantly changing environment, recognising the needs of our clients
and working alongside them to meet their business objectives.
Our commitment to customer service underpins every stage of each
project, where individuals are encouraged to take a pro‐active role and
personal responsibilities to achieve the highest possible standards.
Client relationships are enhanced by a partnership approach and a spirit
of co‐operation in which every effort is taken to exceed expectations,
getting the job done on time and within budget.
Our team of highly trained, experienced staff work efficiently via a
dedicated project manager to deliver the project swiftly, efficiently and
to a pre‐agreed budget.
Ventilation
Our ventilation engineers will work with you to design a system
which fits your needs in full accordance with the current
regulations, including:
Treated fresh air ducted supply systems
Foul air extraction
Heat recovery
Humidity control
Filtration
Displacement systems
High velocity systems
Kitchen ventilation
Smoke ventilation
Dust extraction
Attenuation
Air conditioning
We will design and install all types of air-conditioning systems
which will work best for your project, including:
VRV/VRF c/w heat recovery
One to One split heat pumps
Condensers serving DX coils
Chilled water systems
Air Handling Units
Chilled beams
Fan coil units
Plumbing
Our expert team can design, source and install all of your plumbing
needs, including:
Hot and cold water distribution
Above ground soil and waste systems
Sanitaryware
Rainwater including guttering, syphonic and reclamation systems
Grey water systems
Water Treatment
Incoming water mains c/w meters & booster pumps
Heating
Our designers and project managers will advise you on the right
system for your project and we are experienced in installing:
Gas or oil fired LPHW radiant
Under-floor heating
Fan coil unit heating
High level space heating
Electric fan convectors
Electrical
Our subcontract electrical team are trained to fit and install all
electrics including those associated with our services and the
following:
Internal and external decorative lighting installations
Systems for building management and lighting control
Access control systems
Intruder alarms
Fire detection
CCTV and public address systems
Renewables
Our team can provide expert advice on and the installation of:
Air source heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps
Biomass heating systems
Bio-diesel powered heating systems
Solar Thermal power systems
Rainwater harvesting
Combined Heating & Power
Photovoltaic
Air source heat pumps (ASHP) extract heat from the outside air. This is then used to deliver heat to the building via a ducted air (for example) or wet system.
Recognised as a renewable technology, ASHP outdoor units are sited on the roof or ground. Able to work at outside temperatures as low as -20°C, they prove ideal for use in any UK commercial property.
Air to Water
The outdoor unit harvests free renewable heat from the outside air, upgrades it to a useful temperature and then transfers it to the boiler which heats the water that is fed to the radiators or underfloor heating and sanitary hot water. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio 3.71 Heat source temperature Air ‐3ºC Heating capacity delivered 25kW Refrigerant pipe length 40m Renewable heat delivered 73% or 18.3kW
Air to Air
The outdoor unit harvests free renewable heat from the outside air, upgrades it to a useful temperature and then transfers it to the fan coil which heats up air supplied to the building via ductwork and grilles.
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio 3.26 Heat source temperature Air ‐3ºC Heating capacity delivered 25kW Refrigerant pipe length 100m
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) use closed or open loop circuits to extract heat from the ground. This is then used to deliver heat to the building via a ducted air or wet system.
Recognised as a renewable technology, GSHP offer the highest energy efficiency possible. Ideal for any commercial property including schools, universities and hospitals.
Ground to Water
The ground source unit harvests free renewable heat from the ground or a body of water via pipework buried in the ground using pumped water as a means of transferring the energy. This heat energy is upgraded to a useful temperature and then transferred to the boiler which heats the water that is fed to radiators or under floor heating.
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio 5.34 Heat source medium temperature Water 2°C Heating capacity delivered 24kW Refrigerant pipe length 2m Renewable heat delivered 81% or 20.5kW
Ground to Air
The ground source unit harvests free renewable heat from the ground via pipework buried in the ground using pumped water as a means of transferring the energy. The heat is upgraded to a useful temperature and then transferred to a fan coil which heats up air supplied to the building via ductwork and grilles. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio 4.30 Heat source medium temperature Water 2°C Heating capacity delivered 25kW Refrigerant pipe length 100m Renewable heat delievered 78% or 19.2kW
Biomass is the common name for organic materials used as renewable energy sources such as; wood, crops, and waste.
Biomass is not to be confused with Biofuel. Biofuel is a product of the organic material mentioned above in the Biomass definition. Instead, Biomass refers to the organic matter which can be used as a renewable energy source in a number of different ways.
Although Biomass is classed as a renewable energy source, it is by no means good for the environment and the fight against climate change.
In order to produce energy from Biomass, the organic matter must be burnt in some way. This releases carbon dioxide into the air, unlike the use of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
Although the processing of Biomass emits carbon dioxide, it is classed as a carbon neutral fuel. The reason behind this is due to the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle means that while the crop grows it will absorb carbon dioxide, releasing it back into the atmosphere when burnt.
The main drawback to the use of Biofuel is that it can actually contribute to climate change. Although Biofuel is a carbon neutral fuel, other factors can disturb this aspect.
Taking the various drawbacks into account, the use of Biofuel is still much cleaner than the use of fossil fuels to provide energy, however, there are better alternatives. Therefore, it can be useful for commercial heating where it is paramount in achieving CO2 reduction criteria which other technologies cannot match.
Biodiesel is much talked about in the trade press these days. It is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from renewable resources. It can be blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend.
Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable. It helps to reduce harmful emissions into the environments as well as using less carbon dioxide for the same power (approx. 80% less CO2). It is possible to use recycled oil or fat and rapeseed oil, and best of all power outputs are relatively unaffected.
Examples of CO2emissions for common biofuels
Life-Cycle Conversion Factors for biofuels (pure)
Total Direct GHG Fuel used % Blend biofuel with conventional fuels Total units used Units 1 x kg CO2e per unit 2 Biodiesel 100% litres x 0.0268 100% GJ x 0.808 Bioethanol 100% litres x 0.0125 100% GJ x 0.586 Biomethane 100% kg x 0.0050 100% GJ x 0.106
How CHP Works
Combined heat and power (CHP), or cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source. A CHP system recovers the heat normally lost in electricity generation for use in cooling, heating, dehumidification, and other processes. Compared with separate generation of electricity and heat, CHP systems can operate at more than 80% efficiency.
CHP is not a single technology, but an integrated energy system that can be modified depending upon the needs of the energy end user. CHP can use a variety of fuels to provide reliable electricity, mechanical power, or thermal energy for industrial plants, universities, hospitals, or commercial buildings—wherever power is needed.
The diagram below compares the efficiency of a combined heat and power system with that of a conventional power plant. Learn more about how CHP works by visiting ITP's Combined Heat and Power Basics Web site.
Energy efficiency: CHP systems recycle waste
energy and use it for heating and cooling; enhance fuel use efficiency; and increase the benefit to the customer from each cubic foot of natural gas or propane consumed.
Emissions reduction: Efficient CHP technologies
decrease emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. What's more, CHP can use clean, renewable fuels such as biomass or biogas to provide electrical and thermal energy.
Energy reliability and quality: CHP can operate
in parallel with the grid to enhance power reliability and support operations, or supply onsite generating capacity. CHP technologies deliver the high-quality power required by computer systems and sensitive manufacturing processes.
Energy security: CHP systems can operate
independently of the grid to sustain critical services such as health care, communications, shelter, and public safety, after disasters.
Solar thermal technologies utilise the heat from the sun to offset the water heating demand of a building. In general, the solar collector absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it to a working fluid (water or refrigerant), which is transferred to the water in a hot water tank either directly or via a heat exchanger.
Solar thermal is a pre-heat system, due to the intermittency and seasonal dependency of the solar resource, additional heating requirements are supplied by a conventional heating source via a secondary heat exchanger. Generally there are two types of available solar thermal collectors available:
Flat plate collectors
consist of a flat “radiator” absorber, covered by glass and insulated. These systems are cheaper but have a lower efficiency with low ambient temperatures and on cloudy days.Evacuated tube collectors
water is passed through an evacuated tube which contains a black absorber plate. Evacuated tubes are more efficient (up to 90%) and the system allows the water to be heated to high temperatures and remain effective even on cloudy days.Solar thermal panels are suitable in locations where:
•The roof/wall is south-facing or at least within 90o of south •There is sufficient space for a storage tank
•The roof is strong enough to withhold the weight of the panels (10kg/m2) •There are no trees or buildings shading the proposed area
Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar
radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the
photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of
a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material. Materials presently used for
photovoltaics include different types of silicon and Dye Sensitized solar cells DSSC .
Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar
cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years.
As of 2010, solar photovoltaics generates electricity in more than 100 countries and,
while yet comprising a tiny fraction of the 4.8 TW total global power‐generating
capacity from all sources, is the fastest growing power‐generation technology in the
world. Between 2004 and 2009, grid‐connected PV capacity increased at an annual
average rate of 60 percent, to some 21 GW. Such installations may be ground‐mounted
or more commonly built into the roof or walls of buildings, known as Building
Integrated Photovoltaics or BIPV for short. Off‐grid PV accounts for an additional 3–4
GW.
Driven by advances in technology and increases in manufacturing scale and
sophistication, the cost of photovoltaics has declined steadily since the first solar cells
were manufactured. Net metering and financial incentives, such as preferential feed‐in
tariffs for solar‐generated electricity, have supported solar PV installations in many
countries
The need to capture, store, filter and reuse rainfall is becoming
more and more important. As water companies increase their
prices and the population grows, demands on mains water
continue to rise.
Coupled with consumer demand for companies to reduce their
environmental impact, rainwater harvesting is increasingly sought
after by both the general public and commercial organisations.
Rainwater harvesting isn't just about the environment though.
Rainwater harvesting systems help companies save money. By
capturing, storing and reusing rainfall, our clients can save
thousands of pounds each year on water bills.
New extreme sports & youth services facility in Hemel Hempstead incorporating VRF ASHP (air source heat pump) renewable technology for generation of hot water service and heating delivered through a combination of LPHW underfloor heating and high efficiency heat recovery VRF ducted fan coil units which is a major contribution in achieving significantly reduced carbon output for a building of it’s size and layout.
Fresh air ventilation is delivered through a combination of natural ventilation and high efficiency heat recovery (MVHR) ventilation
Sympathetic restoration of a 16th Century Manor House near Milton Keynes incorporates GSHP renewable technology heating plant utilising a thermal Store to deliver hot water service and LPHW heating to a combination of underfloor heating and new Jaga Strada DBE low temperature radiators.
The thermal store works on a layered temperature basis using ‘superheat’ refrigerant
technology from the GSHP to provide simultaneous low temperature 45°C water for
heating and DHWS at 60°C without suplementry heat input.
Rainwater Harvesting is also utilised for toilet flushing purposes.
New football stadium development incorporating ASHP boiler serving underfloor heating together with air to air fan coil units on a common system.
Hot water is generated by solar thermal in conjunction with high efficiency gas fired water heaters
New school at East Ham for the Diocese of Brentwood incorporates gas fired modular boiler plant and GSHP renewable technology to deliver hot water service and LPHW heating to underfloor heating throughout.
New sustainable building on existing campus for Walton School in Milton Keynes.
The LPHW underfloor heating system is served by GSHP installation utilising 14No. 100mtr deep boreholes.
Natural passive ventilation to all areas can be controlled manually and automatically by BMS system via damper and window actuators
New Performing Arts Centre for Walton School which is built on the existing campus along side the Post 16 Building. The Classrooms and peripheral areas are served by a combination of LPHW underfloor heating generated by a Bio Diesel fired Boiler Plant and a heat recovery VRF ASHP system utilising DX ducted fan coil units which also provide cooling.
The ventilation is a combination of natural ventilation and high efficiency heat recovery MVHR ventilation units. All of this renewable and heat recovery technology help to achieve a reduced carbon output of more than 30% over a notional bare L2A(2006) compliant building. This exceeds Milton Keynes
Council’s stringent D4 Policy
A multi building development consisting of Industrial units, Commercial units and high quality Office units. A combination of High efficiency VRF ASHP air to air fan coil systems and split system heat pumps are used throughout in conjunction. Air to water heat pump boiler is also used providing domestic hot water and low level heat to radiators in Reception areas on the smaller Office units.
There are a number of Government incentives available for the domestic and commercial energy user in an effort to increase the rate at which renewable energy products are adopted to help the Government meet the stringent targets that have been set.
The main incentives for domestic and commercial heating, cooling and solar energy systems are available by way of capital grant schemes for qualifying installations and long term payback schemes such as the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) and FITs (Feed-in Tariffs).
Due to the range of information available and as a result of regular review and updates by the Government, adjustments to the schemes occur all too readily. Therefore please visit DECC’s (Department of Energy & Climate Change) website to view the latest information.
Ambivent Ltd 1 Moulton Court Anglia Way Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6JA T: 01604 645788 F: 01604 491178 W: www.ambivent.co.uk
