July 2009


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Industrial High Capacity Air Curtains

Posted on July 30, 2009 at 3:36 pm in
In the retail environment, research has shown that an open door increases trade by up to 40% as it is an invitation to come in and shop yet retail stores and supermarket air-conditioning systems are ‘energy-hungry’ so it would therefore seem logical to save as much of the cold air as possible, considering the cost to make it    cold in the first place. Public buildings, like airports and convention centres, which have high demand air-conditioning systems need to have open doors to allow access and, while some facilities have motion detector-activated sliding doors, usually of glass, this solution is costly, thermally not very efficient and generally just a way of reducing draughts.

Air curtains are widely accepted across North America and Europe as a standard fitment in public buildings, retail stores and industrial applications such as coolers, freezers and cold storage facilities. Air curtains are generally associated with retaining heat energy in cold climates, and the energy savings are substantial.

The idea of having an invisible barrier across the doorway to enable unimpeded access yet effectively prevent temperature flow, dust, odours and insects to cross, is appealing in itself but add to this the cost-saving in reducing energy use and the idea becomes more compelling, especially as air curtains are relatively inexpensive items. 

   

  Appropriate for industrial applications 

  Keeping warm air out of insulated cold stores or refrigerated facilities is the Number 1 objective yet a mockery is made of this premise when freezer of chiller doors are left wide open and, in some cases, chocked open to facilitate the movement or storage of perishables.

Properly installed air curtains cut cold air loss and reduce humidity, thus reducing the load on refrigeration or air-conditioning plant and thereby saving energy by reducing compressor running time, maintenance, gas and recharging intervals. These units are an alternative to fast-acting roller doors    and PVC slat curtains, and can be situated above or to the side of industrial doorways to create a powerful seal across the opening, keeping cold air in while providing complete visibility and access. This means that forklift drivers don’t have to get out of their cabs to open and close doors so that moving from one area to another is a lot easier and productive. Unlike plastic slat curtains, which quickly become opaque with use, an air curtain provides 100% visibility at all times. Units have been installed in loading bays, factories, hangars and production facilities, such as food processing and pharmaceuticals, where differential temperatures are encountered overseas. 

   

  Insect an pest control a benefit 

  An air curtain supplying a high-velocity sheet of air across a door opening will prevent flies and other flying insects from entering a building. This is particularly important in restaurants and bars, and any premises where food is manufactured or served – where strict environmental health regulations apply. It is an extremely beneficial side effect as an air curtain is primarily employed for climate control yet units are also installed overseas for insect control alone.

The most effective air curtain design for insect control has a nozzle that can angle the air stream away from the area to be protected. An angle of about 20 from the vertical is usually optimal. The unit should meet or exceed UK Department of Agriculture and US Federal Drug Administration standards, which call for an air stream of 50 mm to 120 mm wide at the nozzle, capable of producing a minimum velocity of 8 m/s of air 1 m above the floor and across the entire door opening to ensure there are no gaps for the insects to enter.

Apart from flying insects, air-curtain manufacturers say rodents are also discouraged from entering a building. They claim that rats, mice and other furry intruders do not like the sensations of an air curtain on their fur and will avoid it! 

   

  Design and installation 

  The construction an design of the equipment that generates an air curtain is quite simple – a cross flow or axial fan, driven by a constant or variable speed electric motor contained in a simple enclosure with an air inlet and outlet, sized to produce a rate of flow to suit the opening and the velocity required to prevent heat transfer.

Off-the-shelf models are available from a number of suppliers and units are also custom made but, where wide entrances are involved that exceed the capacity of one fan unit, tow or more are stacked side by side (or on top of one another in the case of side mounting of very tall openings) and operated simultaneously, meaning that there is probably no limit to the size of the opening that can be accommodated.

By directing a jet of air either from top to bottom or horizontally across a doorway, this invisible ‘barrier’ reduces the rate of heat and moisture flow through the opening and, according to independent research conducted by the US-based Refrigerated Research Foundation and the University of Illinois, this can be as much as 60% to 80% in refrigerated facilities such as cold storage buildings, cold rooms and freezers.

These simple devices can be retrofitted or specified as part of the initial refrigeration or climate control design, reducing compressor running time or using a smaller capacity unit to achieve the same performance.

A variety of installation options are available to cater for building and architectural features such as suspended ceilings but the most common is simply bolting the unit to the wall above the doorway and connecting a single phase supply and switch to the unit.

Power consumption is negligible for a normal sized doorway opening – about 300 W. Some units can even be specified with a heating element to warm an enclosed area. 

   

  Air curtains block the flow 

  An air curtain simply creates a block in the air flow through an opening. The air velocity of the curtain must then be great enough to direct the resulting velocity downward and ensure    that a small part of the air stream goes out while the main air flow comes back into the room.

For additional information please refer to http://www.olegsystems.com.

Oleg Chetchel

Industrial Systems Designer

Oleg Systems Co.

http://www.olegsystems.com/industrialventilation/Index.html

http://www.olegsystems.com/aircurtain/Index.html

By: Oleg Chechel

About the Author:

Oleg Chechel
Ventilation Equipment Designer
Canada Blower
http://www.canadablower.com/index.html
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Reasons That One Should Have in Mind When Choosing Thermal Drapes Over Regular Ones

Posted on July 27, 2009 at 10:35 am in
Often known as insulated curtains, thermal drapes are a great ally during winter, as they prevent cold air currents to get inside your home. Besides the energy saving considerations, there are several other reasons that should have in mind to choose thermal drapes over regular ones. For instance, if you have small kids, such curtains would definitely keep draft and humidity away from their room. How do thermal drapes actually work for you? First of all, we need to point out to the special materials most such curtains are made of: the texture is a lot firmer and thicker than that of regular drape models and they are usually lined.

The cold air is caught between the curtain and the wall and it falls at floor level, whereas warmer air rises and gets into the room. The only risk you run with this kind of thermal drapes is that of condensation, but that could also be avoided if you buy some quality curtains. For the window-oriented side of the thermal drapes, manufacturers usually use some form of waterproof material or protection that is unlikely to suffer from moisture and mold formation. The wood and wall painting need to be of good quality too in order to prevent deterioration.

Thermal drapes are suitable for all sorts of interior designs, as their functionality doesn’t prevent them from being really good looking too. A professional interior designer could surely help you in making the right choices without your having to fear the creation of too loaded a room. The biggest objection most people raise against thermal drapes is that they seem bulky, but this has definitely got to do with personal perception than with the ability to combine furniture and decorations so as to preserve the sense of roominess.

In case you have very large windows to dress with the help of thermal drapes, you may consider using some form of motorized device to ease the opening and closing at will. Motorized curtains are ideal for thermal drapes that may seem too heavy to operate otherwise; they can be installed in less than half an hour and the prices are really affordable given the amount of discomfort they save you. In a nutshell: you can have both comfort, warmth and energy saving, as well as nice, easy to close and open curtains on the one condition that you install motorized thermal drapes.

By: Muna wa Wanjiru

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Drapes for Years. For More Information on thermal drapes, Visit His Site at THERMAL DRAPES

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Which Came First – Curtains or Drapes?

Posted on July 23, 2009 at 1:00 am in
A curtain or drape is fabric that hangs over windows and doors to control indoor temperatures, cut out light, maintain privacy and are decorative.

In old time England a curtain maker was a man that draped fabric over windows. A draper was someone who sold the fabric. Drapers were retail stores where fabric and sewing materials were sold. Today the terms curtain and drapes have interchangeable meanings. The modern tendency is to think of curtains as unlined and they come in a variety of lengths. Draperies are those that draw completely closing off the window.  

With the increase of the single family homes, the curtain and drapery industry has experienced high growth. They usually have their own section in a department store, while some shops are specifically dedicated to selling curtains and drapes.

There are a variety of options for home owners to choose from for any window treatment in their home.  They come in many designs, styles, fabrics, patterns and colors. Some of the fabrics available are silk, cotton, satin, nets, chintz, lace, linen, polyester and thermal insulated materials.  

As utility bills rise consumers are becoming more aware of the advantages of curtains and drapes for their functionality. They can provide a cost savings at an environmental measure. Some drapes also dampen or reduce sound from the outside. Another drape has a cloth lining that gives superior insulation. If you are not a sound sleeper, they have black out drapes to darken the room. These were often used in time of war.

Curtains and drapes can be made with a varying degree of thickness and a different degree of light absorption and heat insulating qualities. They can also stimulate your attitudes and moods. For a casual relaxed atmosphere choose shorter lengths of material. For a more formal dressy look, generally the longer curtains look more dignified. All of these choices will inspire your family and friends when they look in or out of your windows.

What most consumers want are high quality well designed fabrics at affordable prices that results in a furnished complete look. It is more cost effective to purchase ready made panels or standard curtains then custom made. Also make certain you figure into your budget the accessories needed to hang the curtains. Then you will have a good idea of what expenses you will be expecting.

For an inexpensive distinguished effect there are swags. They serve no function but earn their keep by looking dramatic. There is a do it yourself scarf swag that you sew the pleats together on an angle and drape it over the pole. Quite a statement can be made with this design.

Curtain rods hold the curtains from the window top and let the curtain fall to its full length. You can coordinate the color of the rods with the curtain or the wall.  The rods and curtains can be simple to intricate, but they will give new life to your surroundings.

Decorative accessories can add the ingredients you may be longing for. There are tiebacks, tassels, trimmings and headings. Some types of headings are standard, pencil pleat, French pleat, cartridge pleat, slot pleat and puff ball headings.

The standard heading is the most common. It comprises of one inch tape that is gathered up into a narrow heading. The pencil pleat is without a valance and it gives a pleasant finish at the curtains header. The French pleat is often used with extra stiffener in the fabric to produce full regular folds. The cartridge pleat forms a goblet shape in the top of each pleat. By stuffing polyester into the top of the pole it helps maintain the curtains shape. The slot pleat is simply a pleat formed by cutting slots in a cased header and fed through a pole. The puff ball heading is most impressive and easily accomplished. You employ the same method as the slot pleat, but leave twelve inches of fabric above the slot. The excess above the header is balled up into a puffball shape.

Not all windows look beautiful and having draperies or curtains can hide many flaws. So do yourself a favor and start doing your research and let your true personality come alive. 

Author Bio: Barbara Tobiasz resides with her husband (Joe Tobiasz, Owner/Webmaster: http://www.Wall-Decor-Concepts.com) in the Chicago area, studied at the Art Institute and taught for the Chicago Public Schools. She has volunteered her services for many organizations with her creative expressions in the interior design field. Her hobbies include reading, taking long walks with her dog and working her magic turning ordinary rooms into creative works of art.

By: Barbara Tobiasz

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Thermal Spray Industry and Government

Posted on July 22, 2009 at 6:40 pm in
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Everyone knows that governmental policies and regulations in every country can affect the businesses that operate there. Beginning with textiles, agriculture, manufactured goods and trading companies to high technology firms get affected in one way or the other by what the ruling bodies do. The thermal spray coatings industry is no different. After all, the thermal spray industry is a service oriented function, whereby parts that go into various applications like power generation, transportation, machine building and infrastructure maintenance get coated with various materials in order to either extend the life or simply perform efficiently. One might wonder as to how the posture of the governmental organizations affect such a service oriented industry.

The biggest manner in which the government of any country can affect the thermal spray industry is by altering the environmental regulations. As one may already know, particulate emissions from thermal spray coating companies have long been a subject of widespread discussions. Beginning with basic blower driven paint spray booths some companies have switched to water wash spray booths, where there is a water curtain that traps the exhaust particulate matter. These water wash booths have been used for a while by a lot of companies. The best way is by cartridge filtering and several state of the art cartridge filter spray booths are available, but they come at a significant price. If the government were to mandate the use of these cartridge systems, many of the thermal spray shops may simply not be able to afford the upgrade and may close up shop. This is not a good scene for the smaller thermal spray operators but in turn that means more work will get funneled to the larger thermal spray companies. As fewer players remain in the marketplace, the price that the end customer pays for the coating service will definitely go up. Hence by simply altering the standards for the emission requirements, governments of all countries will definitely affect the thermal spray coatings businesses that operate there.

By: Raj Krishnaswamy

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Passive Solar Energy – Is It Right For Your Home?

Posted on July 14, 2009 at 10:25 am in
Every exposed part of a structure’s walls, floors, windows, roofs’ absorbs and stores or reflects away the heat radiated by the sun. Passive solar systems do this without any mechanical means (pumps or fans); they rely purely on design and positioning to work, which may include shutters or Thermal Curtains , dampers and vents, or other simple mechanisms.

While passive solar setups are rarely used as bulk collection units, the concepts behind passive solar have changed the way many architects and engineers approach designs. They are beginning to make profitable use of the sun’s free energy by using to their advantage one or more of these principles: conduction (heat flows from molecule to molecule in solids; this explains why the handle of your tea cup will eventually be warmed by the hot tea in the bowl), convection (heat also flows through liquids and gases; this explains why you might swelter in the attic and shiver in the basement heat rises), radiation (warm objects radiate heat away to cooler objects, which absorb it, reflect it, or transmit it along), and capacitance (this is a measure of how much heat a material will retain over time, and is a function of thermal mass).

Passive solar systems are used for space heating more often than active systems (see below). The most heat gains (in the northern hemisphere) come from windows oriented due south, but any window within 30 degrees of that will show significant gains. The challenge, of course, it to avoid overheating a space, a problem that can easily occur in rooms with substantial glass surface area facing south. The contained heat can be redistributed relatively easily with ceiling or other fans, or by making use of the blower and duct systems (with the heating elements off) of a standard furnace. Installing flooring with high thermal mass such as stone or tile can also absorb and store the heat to be radiated later when the ambient temperature becomes cooler than the floor. A well-constructed, well-insulated building with high-performance, airtight windows can generally meet up to a quarter of its own heating needs using passive solar strategies. That, along with its next-to-nothing operating cost, clean operation, and simple maintenance makes it a natural for any structure.

Passive solar power cooling

This is more about reducing heat build-up than about taking it away. The obvious technology involved has been used for thousands of years: shading. You can do this with shutters, awnings, special smart windows(discussed later), curtains, and landscaping. Cross-ventilation will distribute the heat more evenly.

Building considerations

Even minor application of these basic principles can make a big difference in the overall climate control of a structure. Imagine that you have a room with large windows facing south. If you are in the northern hemisphere, that would mean that sunlight would shine into it all day. The windows are old clear glass, single-pane windows, which allow 80 to 90 percent of the heat to pass directly into the room. Now imagine that the sun coming in strikes a dark floor; this absorbs 40 to 95 percent of the heat. Obviously, that room will become extremely hot during the day. Depending on its intended use, this may be a good thing. The heat will flow from there, slowly but surely, into adjacent cooler spaces a process that can be accelerated, of course, with fan systems. Remember, though, that since the heat does travel to cooler areas, at night it may leak back out those same inefficient windows to the outside unless you block the windows with some sort of thermal barrier.

Windows today are far different from those drafty single-pane versions in our grandparents houses. Most new windows are constructed with two or even three panes (that is, they are double- or tripled-glazed), with insulating spacers and or inert gases between the panes, and have low-e (low-emittance) coatings of metal or metallic oxides that that reflect back much of the sun’s heat without significantly reducing the light allowed in.

Additionally, there are also so-called smart windows, which use varying technologies (electrochromic, suspended particles, liquid crystal) to alter a window’s transmissive properties. Since these are operated electronically, one could debate whether they are active or passive, but that’s just semantics; the point is, they exist, and they work.

In addition to optimal window placement, another way engineers, architects and even homeowners can use passive solar to greater advantage is through window pitch. Most windows are installed so that their surfaces and exactly vertical. It is possible, however, to calculate a different angle that will allow a more desirable amount of heat and light to penetrate; since this calculation concerns the position of the sun throughout various times of the day and year, the angle would of course be specific to particular locations.

The siting of a building plays a large role in its passive solar properties; builders generally take the sunlight into consideration when determining the size and orientation of a given facade, using the angle of a building to enhance or reduce the amount of sunlight that penetrates. The structure’s overall shape, as well as how it fits into the landscape substantial portions of a structure may be fully or partially below ground, for example’ also makes a difference in how passive solar can be used to advantage. Architects and builders have been aided in recent years by the development of new materials designed to absorb or reflect varying amounts of radiated heat.

By: Kevin Rockwell

About the Author:

Alternative Energy is a crucial link in our energy future if we are to cut the oil cord. We present thoughts, ideas, info and news about alternative energy at Alternative Energy HQ – http://alternativeenergyhq.com

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How Thermal Drapery Can Keep More Than Light Out of Your Room

Posted on July 12, 2009 at 10:24 pm in
One of the main reasons why people use heavy draperies instead of lighter curtains for their windows, particularly those windows that are found in a person’s bedroom, is to help keep sunlight out when the person wants to sleep longer during the day or wants to darken the room during the day.

With the introduction of thermal drapery into the list of drapery choices you have, you are now presented with drapes that not only keep the light out of your room when you need them to, they also help keep your room warm and insulated during colder days and cool during summer. These thermal drapes can also help save on energy costs since they keep your rooms warmer when needed or cooler when you want them to be cooler.

There are a number of thermal drapery designs you can choose from and these include the usual pinch pleated designs that people love and the simple yet elegant panel designs that are easy to install and maintain. Some of these thermal drapes even come with decorative additions like valances, swags and jabots that give you the kind of elegance you may want to have for your room.

They may also come in a number of layers with a thin lace curtain liner for when you want to open your drapes up to let some light shine in without exposing yourself to the world outside.

The fabrics that you can find being used for thermal drapery include silk, jacquard, polyester and satin. These fabrics are then lined with cotton-flocked acrylic foam that not only helps keep the light out when you need it to but also helps keep heat or coolness within the room when you need it.

These kinds of draperies often serve to lower energy bill costs since they help keep the coolness of your air-conditioning in or keep the heat of your heater within the room or the house. Aside from giving you what you need in terms of keeping light out and insulating your rooms, these thermal drapes also come in a variety of designs and cloth patterns that can give you that lovely design element you may want for your room.

By: John Warner

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Learning to make fabric window shades is fun and easy. Discover this and more at DrapesCurtainsBlinds.com

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Need Curtains For You Indianapolis in Real Estate?

Posted on July 5, 2009 at 3:38 am in
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Nowadays, having more homes available for sale has turned Indianapolis real estate into a buyer’s market. It is very evident in the city of Indianapolis. There has been an increase of jobs here and an increase of new homes available with construction from local builders. The home market in Central Indiana continues to expand. If you want to make your home more attractive to the current real estate market, then a simple task such as window dressing can help to add value.

You will need to measure your windows in your home. With Indianapolis real estate, there is a varied size window. You need to ensure that you are purchasing something that is the correct size. It can’t be too small or too large for it to hang from your curtains. There should be a few inches past the total area of the window size in order for this to fit properly.

You will need to make room for the curtain rods. As you’re looking at Indianapolis real estate, you might see that the new homes have windows that are close to the ceiling. This helps to bring in plenty of light. If you are looking from the outside, that’s fine. However, if you need to hang a curtain, it’s a different story. You need to have at least 6 inches between the ceiling and the window in order for the curtain rods to be installed properly. Even though they may look like they fit, you will still need to use a tool in order to make room.

The weight of the material is important when you are doing this. Since there is a variance with choices of Indianapolis real estate, you may have a home that has different colors and materials. The curtains should blend in with the walls in color and texture. Make sure that the carpets match the walls and check the material of your carpets prior to choosing your curtains.

You will need to find out what type of curtain rod that will be installed. There are different types such as wood, plastic or metal. The rod type is important when factoring in how large or small your curtains are and how much they weight. Will there be pets playing near your curtains and will your curtains be securely connected to the wall? Your Indianapolis real estate purchase will benefit from having curtains, however, they should not drag or have an excess on the floor.

You may want to take a look at Thermal Curtains . Even though thin curtains or ones that are made of silk look nice, they do not insulate your home well. If you have curtains like that, you can install thermal curtains underneath them. This will help to bring out the beauty of your Indianapolis real estate property without wasting heat.

Do what you think is right with your home and windows. Even the smallest tasks can make or break a home. There are a lot of choices with the Indianapolis real estate market. While you may not see it now, whatever you decide to install can mean the different between a yes or no on signing day.

By: Joseph Feross

About the Author:

This article was brought to you by Joseph FeRoss and the Indianapolis IN real estate team. For information regarding Indianapolis Homes visit http://www.indymetrohomes.com

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Save with Thermal Window Treatments

Posted on July 3, 2009 at 12:33 pm in
With the rising cost of energy, now would be a great time to invest in some thermal window treatments. Thermal window treatments help to prevent cold air from getting inside your home in the winter and help keep the sun out of your home during the summer months. This will help cut energy cost year round. It is important to know the makeup of thermal window treatments before you make a purchase. We will discuss a few important factors that should help you make your decision.

Thermal drapes, sometimes called insulated curtains, stand out considerably from a regular panel. While thermal panels can be made of any fabric, one of the main differences is the heavier weight of the thermal panel.  Thermals should be lined with a thick rubbery lining. This lining should be waterproof which will protect the panels from the condensation that will occur from the cold air on the windows. It will also prevent the sun from coming through in the summer months. It should also have a thick “bump” interlining in between the lining and the fabric. The results will be thick weather repellant draperies.  

Another option with thermal window treatments are insulated roman shades. These are a great option if you want to keep the look of sleek draperies and still get the benefits of thermal window treatments. Thermal roman shades are constructed in a similar manner. They will also contain the rubber backed lining. Some may also be available with a flannel interlining. For a perfect snug fit, consider custom roman shades.  By getting the roman shades custom made to your window size, you will ensure no cold air leaking through the sides of the shades.   

Now more than ever, there are more thermal window treatment options available. Although thermal window treatments can be somewhat heavy, they are becoming available in many stylish fabrics such as silk, colorful cottons, heavy weight linen, contemporary jacquards, and classic chenille prints. The great savings on energy is just one of the great benefits from investing in these treatments.

By: Andrea Julien

About the Author:

Andrea R. Julien is the owner of Dreá Custom Designs. To view more design tips visit us at Dreá Custom Designs

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