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"Natural" heat pump meets complex ventilation requirements in medical laboratory
Sustainable ventilation solution by Systemair Germany and Menerga for hygienically demanding applications in the IMD laboratory in Frankfurt
IMD Laboratory Frankfurt
Significance of ventilation in medical laboratories
Correct ventilation and room temperature are essential for accurate sample results.
High demands on hygiene, performance and temperature maintenance
The three different laboratories with susceptible areas require three separate ventilation systems and maximum performance of the system.
Energy efficiency
The installed ventilation technology has exemplary environmental performance. The ventilation systems are equipped with speed-controlled EC fans, which respond to the required ventilation output.
Sustainability
Environmentally friendly solution, as only the natural refrigerants R290 (propane) and R718 (water) are used.
Successful cooperation
Menerga, based in Mülheim an der Ruhr, implemented the ventilation system in close collaboration with Systemair GmbH, the provider of the heat pump system.
- 2022
- Application
Sustainable ventilation solution for large medical laboratory
- Systemair & Menerga supplied
3 ventilation systems and a heat pump
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Initial situation
The IMD Labor Oderland, a large-scale medical laboratory in Frankfurt, serves as a central contact point for approximately 700 medical practices and healthcare facilities. To accommodate increasing demand, the laboratory expanded from 1,700 m² to 4,000 m² by repurposing a former bank building next door to the original building. This six-storey complex provided the necessary space and allowed for the installation of three ventilation systems designed to meet the hygiene requirements of the various laboratory areas. Menerga realised the specialised ventilation units in close collaboration with Systemair GmbH, which supplied the heat pump system.
The challenges
The requirements of this project were especially critical. Firstly, the requirement for the plant technology to comply with the environmental standards of the EMAS-validated operation proved to be very demanding. Additionally, three fully independent ventilation systems were essential due to the distinct requirements of the laboratory analyses conducted by IMD Labor Oderland. Each laboratory area—infectious serology, microbiology, and molecular biology—required completely segregated ventilation to prevent any cross-contamination. To meet these demands, Menerga installed dedicated ventilation systems for each area.
The molecular biology laboratory, which operates under cleanroom conditions, required an especially rigorous approach. In this case, fresh incoming air needed to remain entirely uncontaminated by exhaust air. Menerga therefore implemented a hermetically sealed ventilation system for this area, making conventional heat recovery through counterflow (as used in the other two systems) impossible.
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Circulating ventilation system
Instead, heat recovery is achieved through separate heat exchangers in the extract and supply air flows, integrated within a closed-loop system. Systemair's SYSAQUA BLUE heat pump is also connected to this system, supplying the additional energy required beyond what is provided by the ventilation system’s heat recovery, ensuring year-round efficiency.
Technical implementation
Silas Jäger, Product Manager for Cooling Systems at Systemair, outlines the closed-loop system as follows:
"A hydraulic module, circulating a glycol mixture with a flow rate of 1,600 l/h, transfers recovered energy from the heat exchangers in the extract/exhaust air stream to the heat exchanger in the outdoor/supply air stream. The amount of recoverable energy, or enthalpy, is measured using temperature and humidity sensors within the extract air flow. If this energy is insufficient to achieve the desired supply air temperature, additional energy from the heat pump circuit is added via a valve. The SYSAQUA BLUE hydraulic circuit operates at a flow rate of 3,400 l/h and includes a 100-litre buffer tank to maintain consistent capacity during the defrosting phase. This configuration ensures immediate and continuous heating or cooling when signaled by the DDC control of the Menerga ventilation system," explains Jäger.
Our ventilation systems are equipped with speed-controlled EC fans which react to the required ventilation performance via the volume flow controllers in the ducts. If the volume flow decreases, the duct pressure increases. The fans automatically regulate the speed down to 10% of their maximum output. In this way, the duct pressure remains constant and energy does not get wasted.
Service engineer from Menerga
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Impressive effects through the use of natural refrigerants
Sustainability
Thomas Herfort, Environmental and Project Manager at IMD Oderland, is particularly pleased that only natural refrigerants were used: "This is not only a valuable contribution to the environment, but also an economic advantage in view of the constant shortage of climate-damaging refrigerants due to the F-Gas Regulation," summarises Herfort.
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Increased efficiency through the use of natural refrigerants
The use of natural refrigerants also has a positive impact on efficiency. In the ventilation systems serving the infectious serology and microbiology laboratories, indirect adiabatic evaporative cooling is employed to cool the incoming outside air. If the capacity of the evaporative cooling is not sufficient, the supply air is further cooled and dehumidified in the combined heating/cooling coil that uses water (R718) as the refrigerant. This water evaporates in a closed-loop cooling circuit under vacuum conditions at temperatures as low as 10 °C.
Systemair’s SYSAQUA BLUE heat pump, connected in a closed-loop to the third ventilation system for the molecular biology laboratory, operates with propane (R290) as its refrigerant. Compared to standard units using R410A, the propane-based unit offers superior efficiency and significantly broader operational limits.
Conclusion
Electric heat pumps for heating and cooling are essential technologies in the transition away from fossil fuels in the building sector. Systemair and Menerga have jointly demonstrated the capabilities of advanced, energy-efficient system technology using natural refrigerants in the ventilation of laboratory facilities at IMD Labor Oderland in Frankfurt.
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