IKEA invests in optimization of air conditioning systems and energy efficiency with the help of INEGI and INESC TEC
23-06-2020
As part of its strategy to gradually decrease its ecological footprint and promote the improvement of occupational thermal comfort conditions for employees at its facilities in Paços de Ferreira, IKEA Industry Portugal is collaborating with INEGI and INESC TEC to develop and implement new solutions to optimize the operation of HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) in industrial facilities.
The answer to the furniture manufacturers challenge is ongoing and involves, “alongside the identification of measures to optimize the air conditioning and ventilation systems, the identification of energy efficiency measures, the integration of renewable energies, and the development of advanced management solutions, including machine learning algorithms” says Ricardo Barbosa, responsible for the project at INEGI.
It is an integrated solution based on a predictive monitoring and control system of the ventilation balance. The technology will make it possible to control the ventilation and temperature of the buildings and spaces that make up the building, which will naturally lead to significant energy savings.
In addition to rationalizing energy consumption and its financial impact, the implementation of the planned measures and the recommended solution will also contribute to environmental sustainability. An important factor for the company, whose Group aims to reduce its total ecological footprint an average of 70% per product, by 2030.
Climatization affects worker welfare and product quality
It was the inefficiencies detected in the ventilation and air conditioning system installed in the industrial unit that motivated IKEA Industry Portugal to resort to INEGIs specialized support, and the diagnosis carried out by the Institutes team confirmed the existence of problems.
“The analysis of the functioning of the HVAC system currently installed, of the current conditions of thermal comfort, as well as the numerical modeling of air flows and thermal loads, revealed fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the factory and offices”, says Géssika Morgado, team member technical assistance from INEGI.
These "had an impact not only on the thermal comfort of more than 1500 workers, but also on the quality of raw materials and products, due to the introduction of outdoor air with significant levels of contaminants." To mitigate the problem, she adds, "the employees opened doors, gates and skylights, which, of course, resulted in enormous waste from an energy point of view ”.
Waste that will soon stop occurring. To ensure that this happens, the INEGI team will monitor the implementation of the action plan, and monitor the results on an ongoing basis.
The answer to the furniture manufacturers challenge is ongoing and involves, “alongside the identification of measures to optimize the air conditioning and ventilation systems, the identification of energy efficiency measures, the integration of renewable energies, and the development of advanced management solutions, including machine learning algorithms” says Ricardo Barbosa, responsible for the project at INEGI.
It is an integrated solution based on a predictive monitoring and control system of the ventilation balance. The technology will make it possible to control the ventilation and temperature of the buildings and spaces that make up the building, which will naturally lead to significant energy savings.
In addition to rationalizing energy consumption and its financial impact, the implementation of the planned measures and the recommended solution will also contribute to environmental sustainability. An important factor for the company, whose Group aims to reduce its total ecological footprint an average of 70% per product, by 2030.
Climatization affects worker welfare and product quality
It was the inefficiencies detected in the ventilation and air conditioning system installed in the industrial unit that motivated IKEA Industry Portugal to resort to INEGIs specialized support, and the diagnosis carried out by the Institutes team confirmed the existence of problems.
“The analysis of the functioning of the HVAC system currently installed, of the current conditions of thermal comfort, as well as the numerical modeling of air flows and thermal loads, revealed fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the factory and offices”, says Géssika Morgado, team member technical assistance from INEGI.
These "had an impact not only on the thermal comfort of more than 1500 workers, but also on the quality of raw materials and products, due to the introduction of outdoor air with significant levels of contaminants." To mitigate the problem, she adds, "the employees opened doors, gates and skylights, which, of course, resulted in enormous waste from an energy point of view ”.
Waste that will soon stop occurring. To ensure that this happens, the INEGI team will monitor the implementation of the action plan, and monitor the results on an ongoing basis.
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