Hybrid ventilation
The best of two worlds – a mix of natural and mechanical ventilation.
With increasing energy costs and growing concern for the environment, it is no surprise that people are looking for new ways to cool, heat and ventilate buildings.
One such way is the increasingly popular hybrid ventilation. A relatively modern concept, hybrid ventilation takes advantage of both natural and mechanical systems.
The result is an effective, affordable and energy-efficient solution that ventilates while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures and air quality.
What is Natural Ventilation?
Natural ventilation is undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly form of ventilation, as natural ventilation systems rely on natural forces such as wind and thermal buoyancy.
These systems are incredibly low cost, however they depend entirely on natural forces, making them less predictable in certain climatic circumstances.
How does hybrid ventilation work?
Hybrid ventilation combines the strengths of natural and mechanical ventilation in the best possible way.
- Natural ventilation is used during the summer months securing a minimum use of energy.
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is used during the winter securing a low usage of heat.
- The indoor climate is ensured all year round with hybrid ventilation.
Hybrid ventilation solutions will use a mixture of both natural and mechanical ventilation, but should utilise the natural ventilation as much as possible, as this is based on the principle of providing healthy indoor climates and comfort, delivered with minimal energy consumption and therefore at minimal cost.
Hybrid ventilation, also known as mixed mode ventilation, utilises natural ventilation during favourable conditions, and then should use mechanical, low-powered motors/fans to distribute the fresh air when the natural ventilation proves less effective.
For example, in periods of low wind, mechanical ventilation systems will take over in order to maintain the internal thermal temperatures and to ventilate the spaces.
Hybrid ventilation is normally operated automatically and this control can be quite complex, using sensors to identify when a natural ventilation system needs extra assistance. The system will then switch to a mechanical system, and back again when wind and other natural forces pick back up.
About hybrid ventilation
Hybrid ventilation combines the strengths of natural and mechanical ventilation in the best possible way:
- Natural ventilation is used during the summer months securing a minimum use of energy
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is used during the winter securing a low usage of heat
- The indoor climate is ensured all year round
Hybrid ventilation optimizes the energy consumption and indoor climate
By using hybrid ventilation is it ensured that energy and indoor climate is optimized despite of the outdoor and indoor climatic conditions - also during spring and autumn.
The system chooses the optimal operating condition - unless the user makes a subjective choice. Heating control can be integrated in the system and the heating can be closed when the windows opens.
Hybrid ventilation is often cheaper than mechanical ventilation
For projects where the analysis shows that the dimensioning summer air exchange is higher than winter air change can a hybrid ventilation solution often cheaper than, for example mechanical ventilation. The reason is that the investments for the mechanical ventilation increases with increasing summer air change while natural ventilation remain mostly unchanged price. In projects where summer air exchange is 2-3 times the winter air change will hybrid ventilation typically be cheaper than mechanical ventilation.
