At the upcoming edition of the VSK fair, from Feb. 6 to 9, 2024, a good portion of the exhibition floor will be devoted to electrical engineering. How do Ruben Boekel of Alklima /Mitsubishi Electric and Erik van Dongen of Zehnder look at the interplay between e and w?
'Virtually all the suppliers who used to be at the VSK trade fair in 'the boiler hall' have switched to heat pumps in recent years,' says Ruben Boekel, housing construction consultant at Alklima / Mitsubishi Electric. 'A good development because the heat pump plays an important role in the energy transition. Heat pumps are able to apply a piece of renewable energy in the heating or cooling of homes and in the preparation of tap water. Because heat pumps require electricity to do this, we see that this technology contributes to a problem that already exists. Grid congestion is a current issue, something that everyone is facing. Huge investments are needed to make more capacity available for the energy transition to succeed. Making smarter use of energy is more important than ever for this reason. Many people do not know that all-electric heat pumps can actually contribute to the solution. Smartgrid-Ready heat pumps are able to switch off at peak times to relieve the electricity grid or switch on when needed. Flexibility is key.'
Increasingly complex
Erik van Dongen is responsible for marketing and product management at Zehnder. 'Zehnder is a supplier of solutions for a healthy and comfortable indoor climate that are mostly installed by w-installers,' he says. 'The total solutions are becoming more complicated in terms of technology. E- and W-solutions increasingly have to work together, take an all-electric heat pump and a wtw unit. Besides the fact that the capacity and operation of both units must be well matched, the control is also increasingly combined through a smart control to relieve the resident. So in the selection process towards the product, it is already important to know about both e and w what is needed. The physical installation also requires more knowledge. It is no longer a matter of hanging up a ventilation box and plugging it in. Correctly adjusting the total system has become even more essential, and in addition, connectivity is becoming the standard. Sometimes a link to a BMS (building management system) is required; it's really complicated.'
Thermal battery
Boekel advises and guides housing corporations, contractors, installers and other parties in the construction column on all-electric climate systems. 'Where possible, All-Electric Heat Pumps are obvious with a boiler tank for hot tap water. In the summer there is no heating demand, but there is a need for hot tap water. When necessary, it is possible to use the self-generated solar energy to thermally charge the boiler tank. In other words, a thermal battery. Thus, these heat pumps can contribute in capping the peak moments which can save enormously on the energy grid. For this, smart switching and digitalization between installation components such as solar panels, heat pumps and CHP systems are essential.'
Knowledge transfer
'I think we have a common vision/mission as an industry,' says Van Dongen, 'and the core of that is sustainability. Digitization makes that possible and that's where e and w come together. Working together across the board, in addition to an optimal indoor climate, has the added benefits of reducing failure costs, and staff can be deployed more efficiently. In the utility sector, e and w have been working together for some time; now we are seeing more and more of this in residential construction as well. The market demands it: consumers want to operate systems via the Internet, installation companies want to resolve malfunctions remotely, etc. Suppliers are adapting their products accordingly. More and more companies are casting themselves as system integrators to make that connection between e and w. This is where the two installation disciplines - because people are still thinking in e and w - have a common task: knowledge transfer.'
Platform for cooperation
The combination of mechanical and electrical engineering at the upcoming VSK fair, Boekel calls a good step. 'Especially the fact that installations have to become smarter requires integration. So it's important to show the installation sector in its breadth and provide a platform for cooperation.'
Also in climate solutions that Alklima shows at VSK, w and e come together. Boekel: 'We are going to show our entire range for the built environment. We will highlight our smart heat pump and ventilation solution for utility and residential construction.'
At VSK, Zehnder will mainly present solutions for a healthy, comfortable and sustainable indoor climate. The focus here is on ventilation, heating, cooling and filtration. Both Boekel and Van Dongen are looking forward to the fair.
You can find Alklima B.V./Mitsubishi Electric Living Environment Systems in hall 12, booth C060, D060 and C070 |. Meet Now
You will find Zehnder Group Nederland B.V. in hall 12, booth C008 |. Meet Now
