Biddle’s Invisidor air curtains are ideal for any frequently used entrance, including those in retail, commercial and industrial applications.  By combining rectifier technology, air velocity and temperature control they provide a comfortable environment within a building and reduce the amount of heating required – leading to lower energy bills and carbon emissions.
 
For an air curtain to work effectively and save energy, the flow and temperature of the air stream must always be set correctly, in accordance with environmental conditions.  Understanding that indoor and outdoor conditions constantly change, and that manual controls are rarely adjusted, Biddle has developed Invisidor CA2.  
 
Invisidor CA2 can be automatically controlled through self-regulating and intelligent CHIPS (Corrective Heating and Impulse Prediction System).  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.  Outdoor, return air and discharge temperature sensors determine the amount of heat and strength required for optimal climate separation and comfort. 
 
Research carried out by Biddle and BSRIA has proven that Invisidor CA2 air curtains will deliver the optimum air flow and temperature at the right time, reducing energy losses.  CHIPS technology can achieve energy savings of up to 75 per cent, and negates any need for end users to manually adjust fan speeds and heating levels.
 
Invisidor CA2 is the only commercially available air curtain of its kind to offer a unique damper mechanism, which – by controlling the outlet velocity – improves efficiency.
 
For ease of use, Invisidor CA2 features a new b-touch control panel that enables installers and end users to intuitively navigate the menus and set the control to either energy saving automatic CHIPS or, if desired, manual.  The control panel regulates air volume, air velocity, discharge width and temperature. 
 
Andrew Saxon, marketing manager at Biddle, said: “Many businesses have doors that are constantly open, or that are frequently opened and closed.  In many cases this accessibility is important, especially in retail environments, but such ‘open door’ trading presents the issue of cold draughts and high energy costs. 
 
“In recent years air curtains have been used to increase comfort and energy efficiency by reducing the amount of warm air leaving a building and conditioning the incoming air.  However, for an air curtain to work to optimum performance and save energy, the flow and temperature of the air stream must be set correctly all of the time, and must match internal and external conditions, which of course are constantly changing.
 
“Although end users can manually control an air curtain’s settings, in our experience it’s unlikely this happens.  At the time of installation an air curtain is typically set to mid-speed and is rarely adjusted – so it will only be right some of the time, and wrong a lot of the time, wasting energy and money.  The automatic CHIPS control ensures our new Invisidor CA2 delivers the right air flow and temperature at the right time.  Users can still choose to manually control Invisidor CA2, but we would stress that CHIPS can lead to energy savings of up to 75 per cent.”
 
Invisidor CA2 also incorporates a newly designed heating coil, developed in line with the increased use of 60/40°C condensing boilers.  Traditionally, LPHW (low pressure hot water) at 82/71°C has been used as the heat source for air curtains.  However, to help reduce energy consumption, condensing boilers are being used to provide LPHW at temperatures of 60/40°C.  Biddle’s new coil ensures that the heat output is maintained despite the lower water temperatures provided by condensing boilers. 
 
Invisidor CA2 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.  For further information call 024 7638 4233 or visit www.biddle-air.co.uk