Efficient soundproofing: how STS Isolamenti optimizes HVAC system performance with Fonois SH Pod Advanced Chiller
Advanced soundproofing for chillers and heat pumps: less noise without sacrificing efficiency and performance.
Increasing the capacity of an HVAC unit almost always means dealing with increased noise emissions. This is a well-known phenomenon among designers and installers: greater performance requires greater acoustic control, and this often translates into bulky solutions that impede airflow and negatively impact the system's overall efficiency.
In this scenario, a fragile balance easily arises. Traditional soundproofing, if not designed with advanced technology, can become a compromise: it reduces noise, but introduces pressure drops, increases fuel consumption, and limits the machine's performance.
It is precisely on this point that STS Isolamenti has developed a different approach, aimed at overcoming the concept of compromise between silence and efficiency.
STS Isolamenti's answer: soundproofing without compromising performance
With Fonois SH Pod Advanced Chiller, STS Isolamenti offers a soundproofed shell designed for large-sized chillers, heat pumps and multipurpose units , capable of intervening on noise without altering the behavior of the system.
The key point is airflow management: the structure is designed to maintain up to 100% free surface area, avoiding the typical restrictions of traditional solutions and thus guaranteeing unchanged performance.
This is accompanied by precise work on the internal fluid dynamics which allows for maintaining an extremely low pressure drop, equal to approximately 10.3 Pa , a value which has a negligible impact on the operation of the machine.
The result is concrete: the units can operate under the conditions intended by the manufacturer, without increasing consumption or reducing performance, while still benefiting from significant noise reduction.
High acoustic performance and efficiency-oriented design
The effectiveness of the acoustic intervention is supported by clear performance data. The system achieves a sound insulation rating of Rw equal to 19 dB(A), with the possibility of increasing this level in the enhanced versions.
At the same time, the use of highly absorbent materials allows for an αw coefficient of up to 0.95 to be achieved, contributing to the effective management of sound propagation.
But the contribution to efficiency isn't limited to fluid dynamics. The shell also acts as a shield from solar radiation, reducing overheating of the outdoor units and helping to reduce energy consumption during the summer months.
At the design level, this means being able to intervene on multiple fronts simultaneously: acoustic comfort, performance stability, and energy optimization.
A system designed to integrate into real contexts
The Fonois SH Pod Advanced Chiller is not just a technical solution, but a flexible design tool . It can be applied in a wide variety of contexts, from data centers to office buildings, industrial plants, and the healthcare sector, where noise control is often a must.
The structure allows for easy routine and extraordinary maintenance, thanks to accessible panels and dedicated opening systems. At the same time, the option of aesthetic customization with RAL finishes allows the system to be integrated even in architecturally sensitive contexts.
Energy efficiency and acoustic comfort: a new design logic
STS Isolamenti's work with the Fonois SH Pod Advanced Chiller demonstrates how today it is possible to approach the issue of soundproofing in a more advanced way, overcoming the logic of compromise.
Reducing noise no longer means sacrificing efficiency. On the contrary, when acoustic design and fluid dynamics work together, the result is higher-performance, more sustainable systems that are easier to integrate into urban and industrial contexts.
STS Isolamenti Srl
FAQ
Il sistema SH-POD Advanced Chiller è indicato per impianti HVAC con gruppi frigoriferi installati in contesti sensibili al rumore, come hotel, ospedali, edifici residenziali di pregio e contesti urbani ad alta densità. È particolarmente efficace quando le unità devono essere installate in copertura o in prossimità di ambienti occupati.
È necessario quando i livelli sonori dei gruppi frigoriferi superano i limiti normativi o progettuali, oppure quando si vogliono prevenire problematiche di disturbo acustico verso ambienti interni o confinanti. La soluzione diventa strategica anche in fase di riqualificazione, dove gli impianti esistenti devono essere adeguati senza sostituire le macchine.
Il sistema è progettato per garantire elevate prestazioni di abbattimento acustico mantenendo al contempo adeguati flussi d’aria per il corretto funzionamento del chiller. Rispetto a barriere acustiche standard o interventi parziali, offre un approccio integrato che combina isolamento, ventilazione e accessibilità manutentiva, evitando surriscaldamenti e perdite di efficienza.
A differenza delle soluzioni generiche, SH-POD è progettato specificamente per gruppi frigoriferi, con configurazioni che tengono conto delle portate d’aria, delle perdite di carico e della dissipazione termica. Questo consente di ridurre il rumore senza compromettere le prestazioni energetiche del sistema, aspetto critico negli impianti HVAC ad alta efficienza.
È fondamentale valutare correttamente i flussi d’aria in ingresso e uscita, evitare ricircoli e garantire spazi adeguati per la manutenzione. Inoltre, il sistema deve essere integrato con il layout impiantistico esistente, considerando vibrazioni, supporti strutturali e accessibilità ai componenti del chiller.
SH-POD Advanced Chiller risolve criticità legate al superamento dei limiti acustici, al disagio per gli occupanti e alle difficoltà di adeguamento degli impianti esistenti. Consente di mantenere in esercizio i gruppi frigoriferi migliorando il comfort acustico e garantendo continuità operativa senza interventi invasivi sulle macchine.
