Client: Middlesbrough College
Partner: Quartz Electrical and Mechanical Services
Product: Vortice RXH/Hi Integrated Refrigerant Circuit Heat Recovery Unit
Executive Summary
Middlesbrough College required a sophisticated climate control and ventilation solution for its new state-of-the-art digital IT centre. To ensure optimal indoor air quality and high energy efficiency, Vortice partnered with Quartz Electrical and Mechanical Services to install an advanced RXH/Hi integrated refrigerant circuit heat recovery unit. This powerful system provides controlled-temperature fresh air, significantly reducing the building’s energy costs and CO2 footprint while creating a perfect environment for learning and technology.
The Challenge
Creating a new, state-of-the-art digital IT centre presented several environmental challenges for Middlesbrough College. The space would house a high concentration of heat-generating computer equipment and a significant number of students and staff. The college needed a solution that could:
- Maintain a stable and comfortable indoor temperature year-round.
- Provide excellent indoor air quality, which is crucial for concentration and wellbeing.
- Operate with maximum energy efficiency to minimise running costs and support the college’s sustainability goals.
- Integrate seamlessly into a new building extension without requiring multiple, complex systems for heating, cooling, and ventilation.
The Solution: The Vortice RXH/Hi Air Handling Unit
After collaborating with Quartz Electrical and Mechanical Services, Vortice specified the RXH/Hi integrated refrigerant circuit heat recovery unit as the ideal all-in-one solution. This industrial-grade air handling unit is designed for buildings that require precise environmental control.
Unlike standard systems, the RXH/Hi combines ventilation, heat recovery, and an active refrigeration circuit. This allows it to do more than just exchange air; it actively heats or cools the incoming fresh air to a controlled temperature.
Key features of the RXH/Hi unit include:
- Integrated Refrigerant Circuit: This allows the unit to function as a complete air conditioning system, delivering primary air at a specific temperature without relying on separate heating or cooling plants.
- High-Efficiency Heat Recovery: The system recovers thermal energy from the extracted stale air, using it to pre-treat the incoming fresh air, which dramatically reduces energy consumption.
- Reduced System Complexity: By providing ventilation and climate control in one package, the RXH/Hi can reduce the required size of a building’s main air conditioning system, or even make it unnecessary for treating primary air.
- Year-Round Performance: The unit intelligently adjusts its operation for summer or winter conditions, ensuring it always runs at maximum efficiency and maintains a comfortable internal environment.
The Benefits of Integrated Heat Recovery in Education
For a modern educational facility like Middlesbrough College, installing an advanced air handling unit like the RXH/Hi offers significant advantages:
- Reduced Energy Costs and CO2 Footprint: By recovering heat and actively controlling the temperature of incoming air, the system minimises the energy needed for heating and cooling, leading to lower utility bills and a smaller environmental impact.
- Optimal Learning Environment: A constant supply of fresh, filtered air at a comfortable temperature improves student and staff concentration, alertness, and overall wellbeing.
- Simplified Building Infrastructure: An all-in-one unit reduces the need for extensive plant equipment, saving space and lowering initial capital expenditure.
Results and Conclusion
The installation at Middlesbrough College’s new digital IT centre was a complete success. The Vortice RXH/Hi unit provides a consistently comfortable and healthy indoor environment, effectively managing the demands of a busy, technology-rich space. The college is extremely happy with the performance of the system, which delivers superior air quality while helping to control operational costs.
This project showcases the capability of Vortice’s industrial ventilation solutions to meet the complex demands of modern commercial and educational buildings, providing a competitive, efficient, and highly effective climate control solution.
Partner Quote
“We enjoyed working with Quartz and Middlesbrough College to ensure the best and most competitive solution for their requirements. They are extremely happy with the result and we are looking forward to helping them further with additional ventilation systems.”
– Paul Gunner, Sales Director, Vortice
