Izmir, Turkey, 22 July 2018: The possible implications that Additive Manufacturing (AM), more commonly referred to as 3D printing, will have on the built-environment remains open to debate. Speaking on its possible impact for the HVACR sector, in particular, Dr Z. Haktan Karadeniz, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, said that he believes heat exchangers will be the parts that will benefit the most from AM. “I must also mention the duct-line would be a candidate for the top affected components,” he said. “Actually, an integration of both into the façade of a building, into the structural or architectural elements would be the easiest and most efficient way to use Additive Manufacturing in the HVACR industry. Therefore HRVUs are the best candidates to be the pioneering units.”

Dr Karadeniz said that while fans can be manufactured by 3D printers, simultaneous on-site production during construction will only be possible by using a separated production line “because the precision needed for a fan will always be higher”. He explained: “An independent 3D printer, from the one that will be used for ‘additive construction’ of the building, duct-line, and heat exchanger, simultaneously, will be needed for manufacturing fans. The challenge will be the integration of the 3D printed sensor network, electronic cards, and electrical motors because of the scale of the fabrication.” On the other hand, he said, appropriate design for the local needs and possibility of fluidics applications may result in better passive control, which may reduce the need for electronic control equipment.

Hannah Jo Uy is Assistant Editor at Climate Control Middle East magazine. She may be contacted at hannah@cpi-industry.com