Wetlands Centre Tralee

The Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre is an innovative and sustainable visitor attraction developed to the highest international standards. It is aimed at drawing both overseas and domestic tourists to Tralee and the broader South-West region. The project was conceived and planned by Tralee Town Council and received funding from Fáilte Ireland under the National Development Plan (2007-13). The total cost of the project's development was €4.5 million, and it is expected to attract up to 70,000 visitors annually during peak times.

As part of the project's infrastructure, Nilan VPM560 systems have been installed. The Nilan VPM560 provides mechanical ventilation and heat recovery using heat pump technology. This system operates by extracting heat energy from the air, then using it to heat up the fresh air supplied to the building. The energy required for this process is obtained from the air being extracted from the building.

The system is designed to be energy-efficient, particularly when there is significant activity within the building, including solar gains. In such cases, the VPM560 can harness enough energy to maintain its operations effectively. However, when there is less activity and heat needed, a gas boiler is utilized to boost the air temperature locally at air beams. This is done in conjunction with a thermally well-insulated building and airtight construction, which adds to the overall efficiency of the system.

The Nilan VPM560 system is programmed to start up at 6 am and initially circulate hot water around the air beams for a few hours. As the staff starts arriving in the building, the system is capable of maintaining the internal temperature efficiently using "active heat recovery".

Products installed: Nilan VPM560