Favourable climate for top performances at school Bitterfeld Vocational Training Centre is one of the largest low-energy buildings in Germany. A characteristic feature of all low-energy buildings is the drastic reduction in the need for hot water, something which can only be achieved with the aid of an innovative energy concept in the case of buildings as large as that in Bitterfeld. In this respect the modern glass façade is an important element in the newly-built vocational school. It is equipped with rotatable shading slats which regulate the amount of incident sunlight in accordance with the room temperature and time of year, thus allowing for solar energy to be fully utilized in winter. In the summer, in contrast, the sun protection system and the pre-cooled air from underground channels ensure pleasant temperatures – without the need for any air-conditioning systems. The sun protection slats on the west and south façades are rotated using Econom-DMI linear actuators from elero Linearantriebstechnik.
Slat alignment based on room temperature In terms of shading and construction the greatest demands were placed on the south façade. Here horizontal glass slats have been mounted at two-metre intervals. These may be aligned at angles ranging from minus 3° to plus 83°. The fixed slats on the west façade may be rotated by the same angles. Here the material chosen for the slats was aluminium, which is lighter, and thus allows for intervals of four metres.
The south- and west-facing slat fields are infinitely adjustable with the aid of the Econom-DMI push-rod actuators from elero. These position the slats precisely and thus "dose" the solar radiation in accordance with the amounts set down by the building's HVAC management system. As it has a weather-resistant stainless steel housing the Econom-DMI is particularly well suited for use with outdoor façades. Moreover, the actuators also have a self-locking piston. With its slender, purist design it blends in inconspicuously with the sophisticated façade in Bitterfeld.
DMI actuators easy to integrate
Those wishing to implement elaborate sun protection concepts should select flexible and reliable construction materials. Moreover, with modern low-energy buildings a central HVAC management system is indispensable so that all the components may be regulated in dependence on one another. Thus, for instance, the linear actuator Econom-DMI has a bus interface allowing it to be integrated into a higher-level system. In Bitterfeld this central control system records the current values in the classrooms. Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, shading and artificial light are then adapted in line with the desired values. Thus, thanks to state-of-the-art technology Bitterfeld Vocational Training is outstanding in terms of its low energy consumption, maximum comfort for users, and aesthetically pleasing design.
