Sustainable Savings Applied to Operating Room Ventilation at Hospitals Located in Different Climatic Zones, through Control and Regulation Strategies

A. Castellanos-Antolín, F. J. Rey-Martínez, L. J. San José-Gallego, Y. Arroyo-Gómez, J. M. Rey-Hernández and J. F. San José-Alonso ()
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A. Castellanos-Antolín: Building Energy Efficiency Unit, C.I.E.M.A.T. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
F. J. Rey-Martínez: GIRTER Research Unit (UIC 053), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
L. J. San José-Gallego: Solar Energy Institute, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Street Nikola Tesla, 28031 Madrid, Spain
Y. Arroyo-Gómez: GIRTER Research Unit (UIC 053), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
J. M. Rey-Hernández: GIRTER Research Unit (UIC 053), 47011 Valladolid, Spain
J. F. San José-Alonso: GIRTER Research Unit (UIC 053), 47011 Valladolid, Spain

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: In hospitals, operating rooms are energy-intensive spaces, due to the high flow of outside air required to achieve the necessary indoor air quality. Operating rooms demand ventilation continuously, despite periods of low daily surgical activity. However, by controlling ventilation during inactive periods in the operating room, significant energy savings can be achieved, avoiding penalties on IAQ levels. This paper evaluates the energy savings achieved by introducing ventilation flow control and regulation systems in operating rooms of hospitals located in different climatic zones within Spain. In addition, emissions and economic savings have also been evaluated. Two control and regulation strategies of the air flow to be supplied and extracted in the operating rooms, during periods of inactivity, are studied and include regulation by schedule and regulation by occupancy. Data from a 900-bed university hospital center are used as a reference to evaluate the average occupancy of the operating rooms, and the energy consumption, thus validating the model for calculating the demand of a typical operating room. The energy savings for the regulation by occupancy are 37.5%, and the regulation by schedule are 40% of the annual demand, with respect to an operating room working permanently.

Keywords: operating room; ventilation; regulation and control; energy savings; heat recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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