Objectives

The E2VENT system that developed is an external thermal refurbishment solution with external cladding and air cavity. The distinctive feature of this system is the Smart Modular Heat Recovery Unit allowing us to recover energy from the extracted air while performing the air renewal using a double flux heat exchanger in the air cavity. This way the E2VENT system enhances the energetic performance of the building and fresh air renewal does not decrease it. The aim was to provide a heat storage system for the reduction of the peak of electricity consumption and/or for cooling in summer, a Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage based on phase change materials properties may be implemented if needed.

The main target of E2VENT system was the market associated with the retrofitting of multistorey residential buildings built in the ’60s ’70s. Those buildings are found in all of Europe and can be characterized by their insulation weakness, bad air quality due to the lack of air renewal system and low architectural interest.

E2VENT Project video

Demonstrations

The building in Gdansk (Poland), needed to be renovated because of its low energy performance and low air quality inside the flats that was con­firmed by monitoring. E2VENT solutions were demonstrated on two ‑flats. The elements composing the design were two SMHRU (Smart Heat Recovery Unit) allowing air renewal to ensure better indoor air quality while limiting thermal losses thanks to the double ‑flux heat exchanger, two BEM (Building Energy Management) systems, that allow the smart piloting of the HVAC, the ventilated façade (40 m²) of Etalbond panels, ­fixed on vertical T-pro­les on VARIO brackets, and ETICS façade (120 m2). The SMHRU and ventilated façades were manufactured in Greece in ELVAL while the BEM system was manufactured and calibrated by CARTIF in Spain. Then all the components were sent directly to Gdansk to FASADA premise.

The renovation of the fi­rst pilot site in Burgos, Spain. The building is in the University of Burgos (Spain), partner of the project. It is composed of two rooms (computer lab and classroom) with high internal heat loads which imply a need of air renewal and cooling. The renovation design corresponds to the installation of 3 SMHRU units and 2 LHTES units for a total ventilated façade to be installed of 250 m².

The fi­rst step of the renovation consisted of the installation of the HVAC systems on the façade and of the commissioning regarding their correct functioning. This phase started on the 30th of October and lasted 3 days. The fi­rst day corresponded to the fi­xation to the wall, the second one to the settings and functioning tests especially regarding piloting, and the third one to commissioning when airflow and noise levels were measured. All partners of the E2VENT consortium joined to participate and assist in the installation of the systems. Their attendance allowed not only to see the ­finalization of 3 years of development but also to consider some potential points to improve for the last design.

Partners