Biddle BV, a division of Biddle Air Systems, has been keeping the cold out to keep shoppers and diners in at railway stations across the Netherlands with its CA range of air curtains.
Major Dutch railway operator NS Stations commissioned Biddle to supply air curtains for new stations in key Dutch cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Unlike the utilitarian Dutch rail stations of old, the new facilities have a strong commercial focus, with shopping and dining outlets to attract travellers waiting for trains.
To increase footfall at the stations’ retail and dining outlets, it is important to maintain a comfortable environment. Air curtains have an important role to play in controlling internal climates. Without an air curtain, heat will naturally escape from an open door, with warm air spilling out of the top and being replaced by cold air coming in at the bottom. Air curtains minimise the amount of cold air entering a property, while keeping the warm air inside – improving comfort levels for customers and staff, and also reducing energy use.
Having been disappointed in the quality of other manufacturer’s air curtains, consultants working on the stations were advised to speak to the experts at Biddle. Sales manager for Biddle BV Aize Broersma explains: “We were approached because of our expertise in air curtain installations, our ability to configure bespoke solutions and the five-year warranty we offer. We worked closely with them to configure a high-performance, energy efficient solution. Stations are notoriously difficult to heat, and many air curtain installations from other suppliers had proven ineffective, largely as a result of poor product selection.”
Biddle’s Invisidor CA2 model was selected. It incorporates a unique automatic intelligent control function that provides energy savings of up to 75 per cent when compared to manual controls. Invisidor CA2 can be automatically controlled through the unique, self-regulating and intelligent CHIPS (Corrective Heating and Impulse Prediction System) technology. CHIPS continually monitors and adjusts air volume, air velocity, discharge temperature and heat output independently, and ensures the most appropriate settings are always selected – delivering optimum performance, the highest efficiencies and maximum comfort.
Outdoors, return air and discharge temperature sensors determine the amount of heat and strength required for optimal climate separation and comfort, so the indoor climate will never be affected. The technology also negates any need for end users to manually adjust fan speeds and heating levels.
Dutch passengers are already benefiting from effective heat retention at two Amsterdam based stations. Biddle’s products are compatible with existing heat pumps, and as such, are able to offer an even more efficient solution. At one of the stations the Biddle air curtain is also paired with a Daikin Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) heat pump, which draws heat from the outside air and supplies it to the air curtain. The pump minimises the need for electricity and can yield energy savings of over 70 per cent.
Although only recently installed, Aize Broersma says Biddle’s air curtains are already exceeding expectations. He said: “Our air curtains have enabled temperatures within the mall areas to be very carefully maintained and in doing so, have supported our client’s strategic objective of maximising revenues through customer-friendly retail environments. As a result, Biddle air curtains are soon to be installed into the Utrecht station.”
Biddle’s Invisidor air curtains are ideal for any frequently used entrance, including those in retail, commercial and industrial applications. The Invisidor CA2 air curtain features an intuitive touch screen for ease of use and is available with either a white or silver aluminium casing, though other colours can be provided on request. Installations can be free-hanging, cassette or recessed.