Case studies

10/9/2003

Intelligent Living In Belgravia

21st century heating and air conditioning control is one of the innovative, high-tech features of a new luxury apartment located in the heart of London's most exclusive residential district, Belgravia.

Representing the epitome of modern living, this impressively refurbished three-bedroom apartment in Upper Belgrave Street is on the market for a cool £3M and is comprehensively equipped with the very latest in home automation technology. smartkontrols worked closely with Kent-based custom installation company, Seismic InterAudio to provide an efficient and accessible heating and cooling control solution which integrates seamlessly with the apartment's other automation networks.

The control system provides advanced control of the high efficiency Keston boiler which serves the underfloor heating in the basement and bathroom areas, as well as the cast-iron radiators in other parts of the apartment. The system also controls the split-system heat pump air conditioning units which provide warm or cool air into the drawing room, dining room and master bedroom suite, as required.

Energy efficiency in different zones

Overall, this exclusive property is divided up into nine fully independent heating and cooling zones. The control system allows temperatures and occupancy times to be individually set up and adjusted, offering complete flexibility for each room, as desired. Thimble-size temperature sensors are discreetly located in each controlled area. Connected to the system's zone controllers, they provide accurate temperature readings for each zone in the apartment, allowing the control system to determine when heating or cooling should be activated. Optimum energy efficiency is maintained at all times, with the boiler only running when a zone requires it to run.

The intelligent smartkontrols system also incorporates a unique fabric protection feature. When the apartment is unoccupied, this will automatically bring on the heating if the zone temperatures fall below 10oC, eliminating problems with dampness and humidity and preventing damage to the building structure and contents.

The hot water system and towel rails also feature an automatic compensation adjustment facility which takes ambient conditions into account when deciding the appropriate water temperature.

smartkontrols intelligent actuators are used for local control of the apartment's radiator circuit. Located on the head of each radiator valve, they open or close in response to temperature changes, providing far more accurate and responsive heating control than is possible with ordinary TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves). These unique, easy-to-install, intelligent products are connected to the control network through a two-wire bus that carries both data and power to the actuator.

Touchscreen control

The smartkontrols system has been seamlessly integrated with a Crestron home automation network which provides end-users with easy, accessible control of the lighting system, multiroom AV, access control systems and automated curtains and blinds.

Each room in the property benefits from its own Crestron touchscreen interface panel, allowing the HVAC system to be accessed and temperature setpoints and other variables adjusted. A portable panel is provided, offering the homeowner total flexibility and independent control as standard, whilst the addition of a smartkontrols unique smartserver would also make it possible to access the system via the Internet from anywhere in the world, if desired.

Control from the portable panel

All SeaChange plant control modules and zone controllers in the system are hidden from view within a compact smartbox panel, avoiding banks of unsightly switches and any 'wall acne' problems in the luxury interior. A cellular phone-based modem link provides dial-in access to the control system, negating the need for a telephone line, allowing Seismic InterAudio and smartkontrols to monitor the performance of the system and diagnose any faults or heating system problems from a remote location. smartkontrols provides intelligent home heating and air conditioning control. http://www.smartkontrols.co.uk.

www.smartkontrols.co.uk