Previously, we talked about the production of ACS, in a case study dedicated to it. This time we will focus on air conditioning.
Background
The Hotel Amare Marbella has installed a New air conditioner to meet the needs of the reception hall. It is an enclosure of 592 m2 , with large windows and located on the ground floor of the building. The installation presented technical difficulties of a constructive nature.
- The only possible location was the covered plant, so the air conditioner is more than 40 meters from the area to be air-conditioned.
- The drive and return ducts do not allow their expansion.
- The air diffusion installation has been maintained.
Faced with these conditions, proposing air conditioning through conventional techniques penalizes energy consumption in a significant way, with what this means in relation to environmental impact and sustainability. The design, installation and maintenance was carried out and carried out we resolve.
requirements of the new installation
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In the design of the new installation it was necessary to take into account:
- adaptation to constructive conditions.
- demanding health.
- maximum comfort.
- minimum energy consumption.
For this it has been necessary:
- Investigate the most recommended techniques to obtain at all times the required hydrothermal conditions with the minimum cost.
- Design of a UTA meeting all the requirements of the RITE (Thermal Installation Regulations).
- Flexibility to adapt to different operating conditions.
- Implementation and integration of new elements.
- Smart management.
Brief description
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An air conditioner or UTA is an air treatment unit that is designed based on the conditions required by the enclosure. It is not a standard unit, so each enclosure requires specific conditions. A UTA of some importance, like the one installed, is basically made up of:

- outdoor air intake.
- Exterior air mixing section and return.
- Pre-filter and filter sections.
- Cooling battery section.
- heating battery section.
- Drive section to the enclosure by fan.
- Return section of the enclosure by fan.
- Expulsion of stale air.
This basic configuration can be implemented:
- Recovery Section: Energy is exchanged between the expelled air and the air supplied. In this case, it was not necessary based on the planned occupation.
- Free Outdoor Air Cooling Section: (Free-couling) Uses outside air energy to cool. In this case it was not necessary, but it is implemented by Health and energy saving.
It is regulated by a controller that receives information from probes and acts on servomotors, they are treated according to:
- If only temperature is controlled, an internal temperature probe will be applied.
- If you also control the humidity, an internal moisture probe. (in this case it was not necessary)
- If you have other sections such as recovery, free-cooling, or air quality, specific probes of the implemented function. Although they were not mandatory, this specific installation has been applied:
- outside temperature probe.
- Air quality outdoor probe2</sub.
- Air quality indoor probe2</sub.
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) indoor air quality probe.
- outside temperature probe.
- If you also control the humidity, an internal moisture probe. (in this case it was not necessary)
Regulatory, environmental and economic aspects
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has mentioned (9/3/22) to the Reduction of energy consumption in terms of air conditioning, referring to Russia, which is the main energy supplier of Europe.
Energy consumption and more at this time, have a double conditioning factor. On the one hand, the environmental impact and on the other, the political conflict that has an impact on prices.
- Lower 1°C heating, represents a saving of 7%.
- Lower 1°C cooling, represents a saving of 8%.
the rite establishes in Royal Decree 238/2013, of April 5, section I.T. 3.8.2. The limit values of the air temperature in habitable enclosures, whenever it is necessary to obtain it with energy contribution. These temperatures are:
Heating: 21°C Cooling: 26°C tolerance: +-1°C
These values are the ones that it is recommended to modify by the High Representative of the European Union. With current legislation, if in a room the temperature is in a strip between 22°C and 25°C. Using energy, the RITE is being broken. Not all air conditioners are prepared to have a double operating setpoint.
The reception hall air conditioner has been designed and programmed both to maintain a fixed temperature at any time of the year (which would go against the RITE if there is energy consumption), and to regulate, independently, the desired cooling and heating temperatures, ensuring at all times a clean air without odors. And all this with the minimum energy cost.
Innovative aspects of the reception hall air conditioning
The reception hall air conditioning Develop a new concept of Air conditioning.
Existing conditions have been investigated, techniques have been developed that in their smallest concepts favor the conditions of Salubrity and Comfort And elements and equipment governed by a controller with total flexibility have been integrated into their design that allows them to adapt to any demand.
It is, therefore, a facility in which R&D&I (research, development, innovation) has been present and can serve as a reference for others in which it is intended to combine health, comfort and energy saving.
Differential aspects include:
- Fans equipped with high-efficiency motors manufactured with ECBLUE technology.
- Full use of outdoor air energy.
- Total flexibility:
- Designed to keep the interior temperature unchanged.
- designed to establish the differentials required by current regulations.
- It allows its adaptation to any regulations that are subsequently implemented.
- Maximum comfort:
- Total guarantee of clean air with minimum energy consumption.
- It totally eliminates annoying odors.
- Maximum health at minimum cost:
- The exterior air entering through the doors is fully used.
- regulation of the CO₂ parameters, at the desired values
- Total renewal of air when the interior temperature is equal to the outside.
- Provide the necessary air when the CO₂ concentration exceeds the set limit.
- Provide the necessary air when there are odors in the enclosure.
- Prioritize the air supply in case there are large concentrations. With the limits set for Covid ventilation, it could guarantee an air supply for more than 250 people.
- The operating sequences are focused on reducing energy consumption, maintaining complete comfort.
- Initially, we act by reducing the amount of air provided to combat sensitive loads. In a conventional air conditioner it is not possible, but in the Hall of Amare Marbella it is; since it manages the contribution of outside air in a different way.
- Subsequently, the three-way valves are acted on to obtain the setpoint temperatures. In a conventional air conditioner it is the only way; But in the air conditioning of the hotel hall, it is only done after the air flow contributed has been reduced.
- Significant energy savings in the flow and return flows:
- In a conventional air conditioner it is not possible. But in the air conditioning of the hotel hall, yes; because in its design it has been taken into account to achieve the setpoint temperatures by transporting the minimum possible air at all times. This reduces energy consumption significantly.
- Air conditioning stop:
- In a conventional air conditioner it is not possible. It has to work continuously while the enclosure is in service.
- In the hall air conditioner only works: if the temperature is outside the established setpoints; if the number of occupants increases and, therefore, the CO₂ rises; If smells appear.
Conclusions
The Hotel Amare Hall air conditioning represents a new concept of Air conditioning, since it uses Technological news and raise the maximum Optimization of energy consumption. In addition, it fully guarantees the Salubrity and the Comfort, even with high concentration of people. Finally, it is argued that the executed installation reaches the highest parameters of Sustainability.
- Practical guide to energy
Practical guide to energy pdf - Energy guide for efficient behavior of public employees in their workplaces.
https://www.agencyandaluzadelaenergia.es/en/node/114 - rite (Regulation of Thermal Installations) Royal Decree 1027/2007, of July 20 and subsequent modifications
https://www.boe.es/buscar/pdf/2007/boe-a-2007-15820-consolidado.pdf
11/05/2022
José Arroyo Martín
Ingeniero Tecnico Industrial en Electricidad y Mecánica


