Fan coil units play a crucial role in optimizing comfort and energy efficiency in modern building designs. For elderly care facilities, where maintaining stable temperatures year-round is essential, finding a balance between comfort and minimizing energy costs is a key priority. In a recent project in Hebei Province, a 15,000㎡ facility incorporated ultra-low temperature air source heat pumps alongside fan coil units. This solution not only met the facility’s heating and cooling needs but also enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability.
This elderly care facility includes several areas: independent living, non-independent living, apartments, dining areas, and a hospital. Each space requires independent temperature control. To meet these varied needs, the project used ultra-low temperature air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, paired with fan coil systems for precise temperature regulation.
The system uses clean energy, converting electricity into high-grade heat by extracting low-grade heat from the air. This method provides both heating and cooling, ensuring comfort throughout the year.
The air source heat pump system absorbs ambient heat from the air, compresses it, and transfers it to water, which circulates through the fan coil units. These units are installed in each area, providing individual temperature control. This flexible design ensures that each space maintains optimal conditions without affecting others.
With a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 2.7 to 4.3, the system generates 2.7 to 4.3 times the energy it consumes, ensuring high energy efficiency. This results in lower operating costs and reduced environmental impact.
Energy Efficiency
Paired with air source heat pumps, the horizontal concealed fan coil units help reduce energy consumption by utilizing ambient air for heating and cooling. This approach consumes much less electricity compared to traditional heating methods, significantly lowering operating costs. The calculated cooling demand for the project was 966kW, while heating demand was 920kW—both efficiently met by the system.
Environmental Friendliness
The air source heat pump offers a clean energy solution with zero harmful emissions. It aligns with national energy-saving and emission-reduction policies, making it an environmentally sustainable option for this facility. The system helps reduce the building's carbon footprint while meeting its heating and cooling needs.
Independent Temperature Control
Each area of the facility, whether it’s an apartment or dining room, can be controlled independently. This flexibility ensures that rooms are heated or cooled based on actual usage, preventing unnecessary energy waste.
High Reliability and Safety
Designed to operate efficiently even in extreme temperatures as low as -25°C, the air source heat pump system ensures continuous comfort. The fan coil systems use water-based heat transfer and avoid harmful emissions or electrical risks, providing a safe environment for elderly residents.
Data from this project shows a significant reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional gas and electric heating systems. Operating costs have decreased by approximately 30%. Additionally, the system requires minimal manual intervention, further reducing labor costs.
Given its long lifespan and low maintenance needs, this system is projected to save the facility over 3 million RMB in operational costs over the next 10 years, demonstrating its economic and operational advantages.
Fan coil units remain an excellent solution for buildings requiring flexible, energy-efficient temperature control. In elderly care facilities, this technology provides comfort for residents while significantly lowering operational costs. As demand for green building solutions grows, fan coil systems paired with air source heat pumps will continue to play a critical role in the future of energy-efficient buildings.
