Page 48 - CIJ May 2023 Digital Edition

Facility ManageMent

Maximising HVAC efficiency in

pharma production units

The stringent indoor air quality requirements of the pharma industry
necessitate the operation of an HVAC system at high performance

levels. This can be a significant drain on the operational budget
because of expenditure on energy, but it needn’t be so. Nitin Naik,
Managing Partner, Dew Point explains what pharma plants heads

should do to get their HVAC systems to perform better.

Improving energy Regular maintenance Cleaning for
efficiency Regular maintenance of HVAC efficiency

Pharmaceutical manufacturing systems is important to ensure that Cleaning or lack of cleaning
they operate at peak efficiency.
facilities consume a significant This includes changing filters, of HVAC systems can have a
amount of energy. It is widely cleaning coils, and ensuring that significant impact on their energy
estimated that the HVAC system all components are functioning efficiency. Over time, HVAC
consumes as much as 60% of the properly. Poorly maintained HVAC systems can accumulate dirt, dust,
total energy. systems can lead to higher energy and other debris, which can reduce
Here are some practical ways consumption and reduced system their efficiency and increase energy
in which pharma manufacturing performance. consumption. Here are some
facilities can improve the energy It is often noticed that control ways in which cleaning or lack of
efficiency of their HVAC systems: systems are bypassed. Such cleaning can affect HVAC energy
efficiency:
instances can be avoided with
Upgrade to high- periodic maintenance checks and Flow restriction
efficiency equipment adequate training of the operating
staff. Accumulated dirt and debris can
This is more relevant to facilities restrict flow through the HVAC
that have been in operation for a Employee training system, reducing its efficiency and
considerable amount of time. This increasing energy consumption.
includes high-efficiency chillers, This is important to ensure that HVAC ducts and water pipes are
pumping systems and air-handling the HVAC system is operated and typical examples that over a period
units that consume less energy to maintained properly. This includes of time can impact energy efficiency.
perform the same tasks as their less providing training on system
efficient counterparts. controls, maintenance procedures
and energy-efficient practices. Increased friction
Dirt buildup on fan blades, belts,
Optimise system controls Energy management and other components can increase
The HVAC system controls friction, requiring the HVAC
should be optimised to ensure that systems system to work harder to maintain
the system operates at the minimum “What gets measured gets the required flow/static.
energy necessary to maintain the managed”. Implementing energy
required conditions. This includes management systems that monitor Reduced heat transfer
using variable frequency drives energy usage and provide real-time Dirt and debris buildup on
(VFDs) to regulate the speed of feedback to the operating team, heat exchangers and coils can
fans, pumps and optimising the helps to identify energy-saving reduce heat transfer, reducing the
setpoints for temperature and opportunities and improve the efficiency of the HVAC system and
humidity. overall system efficiency. increasing energy consumption.

MAY 2023•Clean India Journal
48 www.cleanindiajournal.com