Chillventa 2018: impressive vibration protection for HVAC systems

Buers (Austria), Nuremberg (Germany). Getzner will showcase its extensive range of vibration protection products, which reduce the vibrations of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, at this year’s Chillventa. Getzner has decided to unveil decisive measurement results to prove just how effective its in-house developed Isotop® products are.

Chillventa is the exhibition home of refrigeration, AC & ventilation and heat pumps. Getzner will be in attendance from 16 to 18 October, shedding some light on these key focus areas from the perspective of vibration protection. As elastic decoupling using rubber-metal elements is often inexpensive but usually only effective to a limited extent (particularly in the long term), Getzner has developed an extensive range of products. What’s special about them is the fact that they also contain unique combinations of materials for decoupling vibrations: the vibration-isolating Isotop® products combine the advantages of the in-house developed PU elastomers Sylomer®, Sylodyn® and Sylodamp® with those of steel springs and/or metal elements. These Getzner anti-vibration products are being used successfully, for example, in ventilation and air-conditioning systems at the Mercedes Museum and Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

Effectiveness measurements as part of private and industrial projects
The latest measurement results for Getzner’s products are truly impressive: Getzner’s own measurement of the vibration decoupling of an air-to-water heat pump, which had been installed on the garage roof of a private home and was distributing noise throughout the entire house, showed an improvement of approx. 15 dB compared to the inadequate rubber feet previously used. According to an external testing institute, the elastic decoupling of an industrial heat pump using Getzner products even resulted in an improvement of approx. 18 dB (with Isotop® DSD) compared to the rubber mat previously used. The measurement report also shows successful decoupling in the high frequency range of 300 Hz thanks to the vibration-isolating footplates Isotop® FP/K.

Heat pumps with vibration protection
“Leading heat pump manufacturers are already using Getzner’s solutions to provide protection from vibrations and reduce noise. The beating heart of heat pumps, i.e. compressors and condensers, are mounted on a steel plate, for example, and effectively decoupled with Isotop® products in the low frequency range”, explains Thomas Marte, Getzner Product Manager. In practice, according to third-party measurements, the elastic bearings reduce the disturbing frequency by up to 96%. As such, manufacturers can offer their customers a greater level of comfort when operating heat pumps – a decisive competitive advantage. Installers can even choose and install a suitable bearing for heat pumps which are supplied without any integrated vibration decoupling. The most appropriate product is usually fixed underneath the heat pump, thus preventing vibrations being transferred to the building.

Vibration protection for different contexts
Strong vibrations, which are transferred to the surrounding environment and connecting pipes as structure-borne noise, are produced when heat pumps and refrigeration, air-conditioning and ventilation systems are operated, for example on account of the compressors and fans used. In a building, such vibrations can have a negative impact on other sensitive units and people’s quality of life. Elastic decoupling with rubber-metal elements is often inexpensive but usually only effective to a limited extent. However, Getzner’s Isotop® products and its Sylomer®, Sylodyn® and Sylodamp® materials are designed to be extremely effective and long-lasting. “Our vibration protection elements increase the precision of the technical building services and can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively”, says Thomas Marte, who continues: “Getzner’s experts are able to advise customers if they are unsure as to whether it would better to decouple an entire system or just individual components. They are well versed in all the many different ways that the elastic bearings can be best utilised.”

Applications where noise and vibration are an issue
Getzner’s vibration protection solutions can be used for an extremely wide range of applications relating to technical building services: for decoupling ventilation and air-conditioning systems and/or air-handling units, as vibration protection for refrigeration units, cooling towers and combined heat and power (CHP) units, but also for protecting against vibrations and structure-borne noise produced by fans, heat pumps, lift systems, pipes, compressors, pumps and transformers. Getzner has been developing solutions to minimise vibrations and structure-borne noise for over 50 years now. Its products are not only used to combat vibrations from building services equipment, but also in the general building, construction and railway industries at large. “Our wide range of products and our in-house developed materials enable us to find the best possible solution for our customers in various different situations”, concludes Thomas Marte.