Partner with Nature ductile iron pipe system for eahx
Comprehensive pipe systems
ELIXAIR earth-air heat exchange offer by PAM A comprehensive solution, from dimensional specification to onsite delivery.
Key benefits of the ELIXAIR solution
An earth-air heat exchanger (EAHX) is a surface geothermic solution for buildings, made by a buried pipe system circulating fresh air. Each case is specific and calls for a It aims at warming up fresh air in buildings in winter dimensional specification, always and cooling it down in summer. Based on thermal air- necessary to get the best out of the ground exchanges, it is a passive solution. EAHX application.
ELIXAIR by PAM is a comprehensive offer, designed to build earth-air heat exchangers combining safety and efficiency.
Where installed, the earth-air heat exchanger takes an active part in the thermal comfort within the building. Depending on the assigned goals in the preliminary design, it is designed and installed to reach the targeted performances.
The dimensional specification for an ELIXAIR EAHX construction takes into account air content required, climatic data and nature of the soil which will all determine thermal exchange quality. After completion of the study, SAINT-GOBAIN PAM recommends construction proposals, length of the pipework, pipe diameters, and depth of burial. These design parameters can be optimized by adjusting the goals or to meet site constraints.
temperature (°C)
The given file will enclose: - the simulation of the energy contributions - adjusted seasonal forecasts of the temperatures at exit of the ELIXAIR EAHX, as well as a schedule. 18
January
16
February, March
14
April May
12
June
10
July
8
August
6
September
- Software-assisted service to size as close as possible to the site constraints and optimize the pipework. - Lay-out and schedule including all the required PAM pipe components. - Order picking and onsite delivery.
Project follow-up
From dimensional specification, lay-out to onsite delivery.
Pipework optimisation
Savings as a result of ductile iron performance.
Ductile iron pipe system reliability
Products selected to respect indoor air quality.
A modular, watertight and durable pipe system.
October
4
November
2
December
0 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
ground depth (m)
Environment friendly solution
Long lasting and 100% recyclable products.
Pipe laying conditions respectful of environment.
Legitimacy of ductile iron for EAHX application PAM ELIXAIR ductile iron pipe system protects indoor air quality and health SAINT-GOBAIN PAM sets itself as a minimum pre-condition that the quality of the air drawn through the system does not deteriorate. The careful selection of inner linings was made accordingly. To validate safety for all the ELIXAIR components, a number of different analysis was carried out on operating pipeworks. Air samples were taken to compare air quality when entering and departing the pipe system. Several months after the commissioning of the pipeworks, the concentration of the air samples out of the pipe system were dramatically lower than the value allowed and far lower than these found before entering the pipe system. This demonstrated: • The products were perfectly fit for the application requirements • The necessity to have efficient filters and keep them maintained. * threshold values of the C class, set for commercial premises from the bacteriological classification of ASPEC (Association for contamination prevention and study).
Ductile iron the safest and toughest material shows obvious advantages for EAHX application. Recognised outstanding mechanical and technical properties Ductile iron mechanical properties - tensile strength, high elongation at break, high elastic limit and surface hardness - are essential for buried pipe systems.
Resistance to ground loads
PAM ELIXAIR pipe system can be buried under circulated areas around the building and parking lots without damage.
Conductivity, wall thickness and nominal diameter
Ductile iron is a metallic material with conductivity being an average 150 times higher than that of plastics. This, added to the lower thickness of the pipe walls, enables ductile iron pipes to provide much better exchange with the ground.
EXPRESS or STANDARD junctions used for ELIXAIR systems work under compression. They are airtight and watertight and won’t allow anything into the pipe system. Pipe laying under the water table level, which enhances exchange performance, is then possible. For this same reason, there is no risk that radon can enter the ELIXAIR ductile iron pipe systems as well.
Ductile iron allows higher depths of cover without ring deflection which help EAHX benefiting from higher thermal inertia.
Resistance to traffic loads
Air tightness
Ductile iron mechanical properties are stable over time. The safety it offers in operation ensures the air quality is protected and your investment is sustained.
Even if both thermal resistance and potential energy comes from the ground, the ELIXAIR EAHX works under transient states and benefits from ductile iron thermal capacity. The nominal diameter of PAM ELIXAIR pipes is also 5% higher than that of plastic pipes and gives higher air flow for the same comparable pipe length. Comparison efficiency tests carried out at the PAM Research Centre showed significant advantages to using the ductile iron pipe systems.
Long-lasting and Natural system
PAM ELIXAIR pipe systems withstand rustic laying conditions which allow substantial savings in bedding and backfilling. Backfilling with the extracted soils limits the use of blending materials and favours thermal exchange. As for all buried pipe systems, toughness and durability are keys to avoid any premature failures and replacement. Long lasting and Natural, ductile iron is the perfect solution for this ecological application.
FOCUS on SAINT-GOBAIN Multi-comfort House Beaucouzé, center of France This low-consumption, positive-energy house reflects the Group’s strategic commitment to asserting its position as the global benchmark for sustainable Habitat. The house was designed to be a place for a pleasant and comfortable life and meets the owners’ demands for comfort, aesthetics, environmental and health quality. A high energy performance house: the house manages to generate more energy than it consumes thanks to extremely efficient insulation, a bioclimatic architectural design and a combination of technical equipment using renewable energy (earth-air heat exchanger to deliver cool fresh air, thermal solar panels to produce hot water, and photovoltaic panels to generate electricity).
Laure Levanneur, architecte
Construction of a private house with positive energy matching the “sustainable” with the enjoyable.
Summer operation (center of France)
Winter operation (center of France)
Air exit +19°C
Temperature of the ground 2 m deep
Air intake +32°C
SUMMER +18°C
Air intake -6°C
Air exit +14°C
Temperature of the ground 2 m deep WINTER +15°C
ELIXAIR results in the Beaucouzé Project At the beginning of October, 2 m deep, the temperature of the ground is at its annual maximum. (approximately 18 °C).
4
Outdoor measurements Outdoor measurements
/2 13
/2 12
12 / 10 2 /2
13 / 11 2 /2
/2 9/ 2
11
1/ 2 30 /1
/1 31
10
30 /1
4/
4/
10 3/ 10
-6
3/ 10
-4
-6 32/ 10
-4
2/ 10
12 10 21/ 10
12 10
1/ 10
-2
8/ 2
0
-2
10 /2
0
2
9/ 2 7/ 2
2
8/ 2 6/ 2
16
ELIXAIR exit measurements
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2 5/ 2
ELIXAIR exit measurements
4
8
14
0
14
18
6
10
7/
16
20
8
6/ 2 4/ 2
18
22
10
2 3/ 2
20
24
12
Average temperature (°C)
22
12
26
Average temperature (°C)
24
16
ELIXAIR exit 14 measurements ELIXAIR exit measurements
2
28
26
14
2
28
Outdoor measurements Outdoor measurements
5/
30
4/
30
18
2/
32
(cold week) EAHX Beaucouzé House EAHX Beaucouzé House (cold week)
3/ 2 1/ 2
32
16
Average temperature (°C)
18
1/ 1
Average temperature (°C)
(warm week) EAHX Beaucouzé House EAHX Beaucouzé House (warm week) 34
34
2/ 2 31 /1
It can be noted that the EAHX exit temperature recorded does not vary during the day in spite of an important day/ night amplitude.
Similarly, during the cold wave, at the beginning of February 2012, the exit temperature showed very close to the ground temperature and not dependent on the The high thermal conductivity of ductile iron outside temperature. combined with the low thickness of the ELIXAIR pipe walls ensure a very good level of exchange In winter, wherever in France, the contribution with the ground. This explains the outstanding of preheated air brought by the ELIXAIR system prevents the equipments might freeze. results obtained on the project.
SAINT-GOBAIN PAM Head Office 91, avenue de la Libération 54000 Nancy CEDEX FRANCE ELIXAIR Department Maison de la mécanique 41, rue Louis Blanc 92038 PARIS LA DEFENSE CEDEX FRANCE Tel: +33 (0)1 47 17 14 23 Fax: +33 (0)1 47 17 60 00
• BAT- TRI - 44 A - 2 000 ex – April 2012 – Front page illustration from a Maxime Busato’s project, Architect.
www.pamelixair.fr