The Problem

The £210 million Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, needed to install an air handling system to deal with critical and non-critical areas. This included installation into operating theatres where clean air conditions are critical.

Sentridge’s Solution

The operating theatres now operate a filtered airflow with a maintained air volume. As static pressure builds up over the air filters, the VSDs compensate for the reduction in flow rate maintaining the air volume. Five of the operating theatres are dedicated to orthopaedics. Bone operations need a particularly clean environment, with more frequent changes of air.

The VSDs need to maintain a flow rate of 1.65m3/s with the air filtered through special ultra-clean hoods containing extra filters. Other areas such as safety cabinets and fume cupboards also have air-handling units powered by ABB VSDs, maintaining a sterile environment

The Full Story

The UK’s largest acute teaching hospital is installing ABB VSDs, to maintain a clean air supply in its operating theatres. The building will use over 100 VSDs, of varying sizes, from ABB’s VSD range throughout the hospital for its air handling applications.

All of the 20 operating theatres are classed as critical applications and each will have three to four ABB VSDs. The building management system (BMS) monitors the system for any reduction in performance. The BMS then signals the VSD to increase the airflow accordingly. The theatres are not in constant use, therefore the VSDs are often employed in a standby mode, maintaining a reduced airflow in order to save energy.

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