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When the Barbican Centre set out to improve humidity control and reduce energy consumption, Gibbons provided an innovative rotary adiabatic humidification solution. The result was improved performance, reduced energy use and lower demand on the Centre’s cooling system.
The Grade II listed Barbican Centre on London’s Silk Street opened in 1982 and is one of the capital’s best-known examples of Brutalist architecture. Welcoming over 1.8 million visitors each year, the Barbican is a world-class arts centre covering a total floor area of over 20 acres. The Centre has been serviced by a Gibbons humidification system since 1998.
Having enjoyed a successful working relationship with the Barbican for many years, Gibbons was the natural choice when facilities management decided to refurbish the Centre’s humidification plant.
The main aim was to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the Barbican’s electrode steam humidification system. In addition, the Centre required tighter control of humidity levels within its auditoriums, galleries and halls.
Gibbons presented its rotary adiabatic humidification system as an alternative. This system comprises atomiser heads, an ultraviolet (UV) steriliser, a water filter, a drain valve and atom series controller.
A major benefit of this system is that it does not require air compressors, water compressors or a large electrical or gas supply. Only treated water at standard mains pressure and a small electrical supply are needed.
This system distributes water as a fine spray and advanced control algorithms allow humidity levels to be maintained within tolerances as tight as +/- 0.1 litres per minute.
A trial installation revealed that the rotary atomiser system was significantly more energy efficient than the existing steam humidification equipment, convincing the Barbican FM team to replace all humidifiers on site with Gibbons’ system.
The atomisers were pre-built off-site in order to simplify the operation at the Barbican. Three Gibbons engineers spent two days on site carrying out installation and commissioning. Minimum disruption was caused to the Barbican’s visitors, and events were able to go ahead as scheduled.
Since this installation, the Barbican’s total energy consumption has decreased by over 3.6 MWh per year, while the new equipment can evaporate water at a rate of 700 kg per hour. In addition, the load on the cooling system has been greatly reduced, helping to extend equipment life and cut maintenance costs.
For more information on Barbican Centre humidification system refurbishment talk to Gibbons Engineering Group Ltd