We are often confronted about the "myth" of an air curtain and if it really helps to reduce the energy bill!
As the proof is in the pudding, Airtecnics, Spain and the Polytechnic University of Catalunya put it to the test. Below are the results.
The following advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD diagrams made by the UPC (Polytechnic University of Catalunya) show clearly the efficiency of air curtains. Airtecnics, Spain thankfully provided us these images.
The first half of the image is a room with a door opening without an air curtain and the 2nd image below is the same room when fitted with an air curtain.
Each diagram is divided in two parts at horizontal X = 2; the left side can be considered the inside (or warm) area and the right side simulates the outside (or cold) area.
According to the laws of physics, the warm air on the left of the image goes up by natural convection and escapes to the cooler side while the heavier cold air penetrates from the outside flowing through the floor. As the air tends to equalise temperature and pressure, and the warmth inside is not thermally protected from the outside, the air mixes and we can't see two separate thermal areas. In this situation we waste a lot of energy and the heating is not able to keep the internal area comfortable.
The air jet of the air curtain placed on top clearly divides the warm and the cold area in two thermal zones. The air curtain keeps the internal environment on the left side of the image at a comfortable warm temperature and avoids cold air penetration from the outside. In the second diagram, the air curtain retains up to 80% of the energy produced by the heating system and thus reduces your energy bill, as the heating system can operate at a lower rate due to less losses of heated air.
Important Note:
Poorly designed air curtains, wrongly selected units (less powerful) or an inadequate installation will make us lose part of or even all the advantages and the situation can become worse than an unprotected door!
We are here to assist you in your selection of the right air curtain!
Please feel free to contact our office on PH 03 9587 8233 or send us an email to info@rosenbergaustralia.com.au
