13.0 EER System
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Metallic Fan and Blower Powder-coat painted louvered steel cabinet protects the coil from damage Scroll compressor with internal high temperature protection and durable insulation on motor winding Drawn, basepan for extra rigidity
Thermostatic expansion valve for each model
Energy efficient BLDC fan motor
TECHN LOGY that saves more money
13.0
COUNTRY REPORT: ChiNa Unfazed by competition
May 2017
Perspectives
NEWS
The Price of Compromising on IAQ
CIBSE UAE makes inroads
David O’Riley, Britannia international
Kahramaa issues new DC regulations
Condensing the Solution to a Nutshell Farhan Juratli, Nakheel
Towards Greater Food eQuality INTERVIEWS
‘We strongly believe in the Middle East’ Poul De Jensen, Henning Sandage, Kim Jensen of Grundfos
Information on the Go Dilip Sinha of Honeywell
Natural refrigerantsa clean calculation Dr Rob Lamb of Star Refrigeration
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May 2017
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VOL. 12 NO. 5
MAY 2017
On the Cover
pa g e
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towards greater food equality With the launch of the UAE Food Bank, the country has set a new regional benchmark to curb food wastage.
Photo highlights from the recently held 8th Middle East Cold Chain Food Safety Conference.
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May 2017
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Beyond an IoTa of doubt… W
B Surendar Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
COUNTRY REPORT: CHINA Unfazed by competition
May 2017
Perspectives
NEWS
The Price of Compromising on IAQ
CIBSE UAE makes inroads
David O’Riley, Britannia International
Kahramaa issues new DC regulations
Condensing the Solution to a Nutshell Farhan Juratli, Nakheel
Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early!
Towards Greater Food eQuality INTERVIEWS
‘We strongly believe in the Middle East’ Poul De Jensen, Henning Sandage, Kim Jensen of Grundfos
Information on the Go Dilip Sinha of Honeywell
Natural refrigerantsa clean calculation Dr Rob Lamb of Star Refrigeration
PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
US$15
Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at
e have heard all about how it is futile to talk of the potential of BMS, when instances abound of how the technology is often not installed, commissioned or operated as per set procedures. And only recently, an industry insider pointed out to how actuators in a District Cooling scheme were not even connected. Under such circumstances, he said, he did not see the point in endlessly talking about strategies to combat the Low Delta T Syndrome. In recent times, the talk is of smart cities, and how they can contribute to evolving a happier society. Smart cities involve harnessing the potential of automation. More precisely, they encompass the need for automation devices that are IoT-enabled, which, in an HVAC context, would help make buildings efficient and healthy, which in turn, would translate to happiness. It is generally agreed that automation, in sync with IoT, can raise the bar on energy efficiency and thermal comfort, among other attributes. Web Services Technology, which is a part of the IoT ecosystem, helps in getting a handle on optimum air flow changes and temperature control, which promote livability… and happiness. It is believed that IoT, with its attendant sensors, can help consultants to design tighter specs, thanks to its ability to provide more real-time data that were not available, earlier. Traditionally, consultants have relied on historical data, or theoretical data. The availability of real-time data changes everything. With realtime data, there is acute awareness that the cost of electricity per unit depends on external environmental conditions. So the act of capturing real-time data, using sensors in IoT, can empower designers to design electrical systems in a more costeffective way. The technology is available, as have been BMS and actuators. To take the full benefit of IoT, though, the HVACR industry needs to invest in ramping up the understanding of the vast potential of the new frontier. The onus is now on every member of the stakeholder community.
Managing Director & Associate Publisher Frédéric paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Associate Editor pratibha Umashankar | prati@cpi-industry.com Online Writer Nayantara N | nayantara@cpi-industry.com Design Manuelito Quisay | maq@cpi-industry.com Events & Marketing Manager Ruqiya Shariff | ruqiyah@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com
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Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015)
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Published by
find inside VOL. 12 NO. 5
MAY 2017
Q&A
32 Information on the Go Dilip Sinha of Honeywell, talks about the initiatives taken by the company towards enhancing the technology of building systems.
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Natural refrigerants – a clean calculation
‘We strongly believe in the Middle East’
Dr Rob Lamb of Star Refrigeration highlights the important factors that surround the economics of natural refrigerants.
Poul Due Jensen, Henning Sandager and Kim Jensen of Grundfos share details on the company’s commitment towards innovation and sustainability.
08 pOST EvENT REpORT VRF technology comes of age A detailed look at the proceedings of the 5th Edition of the Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference held on March 27 in Dubai, UAE.
pERSpEcTIvES
40
Leo Radford of Envida Technical Services offers solutions for efficient HVAC duct cleaning.
Case-in Point
36
HVAC engineers & contractors enter campus arena to accept challenge
58
72 cOuNTRy REpORT
Condensing the solution to a nutshell Farhan Juratli of Nakheel, offers an analysis on selection and maintenance of HVAC systems in the context of dehumidification and condensation.
Baird Hampton & Brown (consulting firm), discusses how it overcame challenges while installing a brand new HVAC system in a 140,000-square-foot basketball facility in Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth, Texas.
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The pros & cons of HVAC duct cleaning
The price of compromising on IAQ David O’Riley of Britannia International discusses the importance of continuous monitoring of IAQ conditions in a building.
An analysis on how China’s HVAC sector is positioning itself as a global market leader.
REGULARS
62
MARkET FEATuRE Towards redefining the compressors segment Industry influencers discuss innovations leading to energy efficiency in the compressor sector.
52
LIcENcE TO chILL As good as new Dan Mizesko of US Chiller Services discusses how to optimise older chillers to current efficiency standards.
06 EDITOR'S NOTE Beyond an IoTa of doubt…
NEwS 78 Regional 85 Global 89 Associations & Societies
May 2017
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5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference
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May 2017
The 5th edition of the Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference held on March 27 in Dubai, UAE, showcased the strides the system has made and the foothold it has now gained throughout the region, with stakeholders looking to capitalise on the momentum to unleash the system’s potential in various applications in a wide array of projects. We bring you a detailed report‌ By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
May 2017
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n a departure from the past, consultants speaking at the 5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference expressed their approval of the technology and spoke of how it has turned a corner in terms of its versatility and the value it offers. Held on March 27 at Roda Al Murooj Downtown, Dubai, and produced by CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Middle East, the event was an acknowledgement that VRF systems continue to break stereotypes. Kandasamy Anbalagan, Managing Partner at Proleed Engineering Consultants, commended the system’s progress in the market, gleaning insights from his many years as an industry expert, and in the context of challenges that had been posed earlier. “In the past, we used the VRF system as an addition to an existing tool,� he said. “Being part of this conference for the past four years, the approach towards VRF is that it is no longer seen as just an alternative
You will have different load profiles and you will have different weightages. The technology is there; you just have to adapt it to the climate in that area
option. We have been using it in residential projects. In the past, there was some major resistance. Now, it’s been accepted, and there are more options for VRF systems, and that’s how we are looking at it.� Other consultants spoke of specific features of VRF systems that they found particularly beneficial to their projects. Juma Yousef Juma, CEO of GETCO, described how
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the system’s precise controls translated into precise comfort. He spoke of how VRF systems had become synonymous with “cooling the right way and distributing the right way�. He also highlighted the spacesaving feature of the technology, which offered benefits to the end-user. Raef Hammoudeh, Director (MEP Engineering) at KEO International Consultants, echoed Juma’s words. Based on his experience with VRF systems in his projects, he said: “Personally, I’ve used it; my team has used it. We have used it for villas in most cases, as well as for community mosques and other buildings. VRF systems have worked diligently over the past few years, with regard to the technology, scope, and adaptability. As a mechanical engineer, my first interest is how to use technology and controls to provide an ideal environment. The technology – with the inverter, expansion valve, temperature control and BMS – is quite suitable with all the control we want to provide. It does help; it does solve a problem when you don’t have District Cooling or chillers.� Scott Coombes, Director at AESG, however, expressed a note of caution, while sharing insights from a strategic study his company had conducted. He said, “The key finding [of the study] is that there is still a lot of room for the uptake of VRF systems.�
EFFICIENCY A KEY FACTOR
It was not only consultants who endorsed the technology but also developers. Abdelraheem Sallam, Manager of Engineering Services,
L-R: Raef Hammoudeh, Scott Coombes, Kandasamy Anbalagan, Sagar Kulkarni and Juma Yousef Juma
Real Estate Operations, at Dubai Properties (DP), was one of them. Sallam attended the event with the purpose of looking into new technologies and innovations, and to echo the concerns of many developers, whose main objective is to maximise efficiency. “Power consumption is a major challenge, owing to operational cost,” he said. In light of DP owning and managing approximately
25,000 retail, commercial and residential units, divided according to District Cooling and chilled water systems, Sallam said that approximately 35% of power consumption was allotted for air conditioning, if not greater. “Any percentage we can [therefore] save could be millions on the power bill,” he said. “So, a little change means a lot.” Bharat Asarpota, Maintenance Engineer
(Facilities Outsource) at Emarat, was another representative of an asset-owning company, who spoke on the VRF technology. Saying that he was personally convinced of it, he revealed how Emarat was in the process of upgrading its filling stations to new systems. To add more grist to the mill, Nakheel, traditionally with a leaning (Continued on page 14)
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5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference
We bring you a range of opinions expressed and issues raised and addressed during the conference…
“VRV systems are getting more and more integrated with the smart home controls. Daikin introduced a new central control tablet that accommodates not just the VRV AC function but also other devices such as lighting. Commissioning is no longer done with dip switches; it is done from the comfort of the technicians’ laptops. VRF has detailed diagnostic feedback features that help the service and repair man pinpoint the problems quickly, reducing guesswork and downtime.”
Nabil Shahin, Director of Product Marketing, Daikin
“No one is going the extra mile; they do it because it is a product suitable for application and their purpose. It is flexible in terms of usage comfort and because of the efficiency standards it meets. No one does anyone any favours. It makes sense for the building’s case. That’s why it is more acceptable.”
Syed Jafar Imam, Regional Director, AHI Carrier
“Wherever we have a District Cooling plant available, we don’t have the power to accommodate VRF; it’s not a product bias.”
Sagar Kulkarni, Managing Director, Consistent Engineering Consultants
“I think the UAE has been at the forefront in terms of specifying projects. If you look at any major development in the past two years, all had VRF.”
Syed Jafar Imam, Regional Director, AHI Carrier
“Some GCC [region’s] customers are somewhat nervous about this relatively new HVAC product category. It is mostly due to lack of familiarity with VRF [technology]. Some tend to believe that it is rigged with electronics and complicated, but at the same time, they understand or hear about VRF's benefits regarding energy saving, installation and comfort. So customers tend to go with trusted manufacturers to ease their fear." Nabil Shahin, Director of Product Marketing, Daikin
“If you want to go with VRF and derive the maximum advantage from it, do it in the design stage. Admittedly, everyone can’t be that structured and that planned right away. Even so, the system can still accommodate your needs. But the first option is better in order to get maximum flexibility. You can get 150 % benefit instead of only 130%.”
Syed Jafar Imam, Regional Director, AHI Carrier
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“If there is a way to support the consultant in the implementation of technology in their projects, I think it [VRF] would gain traction.”
Scott Coombes, Director, AESG
“In China, VRF is also moving from a B2B business to B2C business, with individuals being given the option and choosing to install VRF over splits due to its space-saving feature and the nature of apartment buildings there.”
Dick Shi, Regional Director, Middle East Africa, Hisense/Hitachi
“I have been here the last 15 years. I have seen VRF grow. I don’t believe it would grow at such a rapid pace-that is a very high goal for VRF. Today, VRF has 60 to 65 % of our sales. So this growth is more constant.”
Dharmesh Sawant, Senior Manager, HVAC Engineering 1 Team, LG
“In China and Japan, a lot of successful projects in high-rise buildings are using VRF…. In the beginning, when we began to promote this product, we spent a lot of time to educate and communicate with consultants and institutes, to tell them we can use this in high-rise buildings – it takes time, but it can be used. We have a lot of successful projects, and we always take the consultant to our reference projects.”
Zhang Wenqiang, Senior Vice President, Qingdao Hisense/Hitachi Airconditioning Systems
“Now it depends from project-to-project and from application-to-application. In most of the projects we have seen, such as villas, there are multiple outdoor modules and multiple compressors. If one module fails, there is another module that can cater to cooling. There are applications; there is no standby. The area that will be impacted is small compared to chilled water system. If chilled water systems fail, a bigger area will be impacted.” Dharmesh Sawant, Senior Manager, HVAC Engineering 1 Team, LG
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5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference
L-R: Dr P R Jagannathan, Carlos Amaya and Erick Melquiond
(Continued from page 11)
towards chilled water systems, have installed VRF systems in over 40 villas. Nakheel was present at the conference through a representative, as was a representative from Al Qudra Holding, signalling greater acceptance of the technology.
BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM
It was felt that in order to maintain the momentum the VRF industry has gained, it is important to have greater clarity on regulation. In a major boost to the industry, regulators and councils were present at the conference, and were able to help in this regard, offering their insights and recommendations to facilitate greater cooperation and ensure that all relevant stakeholders can move forward together. Among them was Carlos Amaya, Senior Specialist, Conformity Scheme Services –
As AD QCC, we are happy to facilitate a working group with ESMA and Eurovent to setup a roadmap to come up with a seasonal apprach
Product Conformity, at Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council, who said, “The outlook for VRF is very positive in Abu Dhabi, especially in the residential sector.” Amaya also revealed that Abu Dhabi was developing a roadmap through working closely with HVAC companies to meet particular goals. There was high expectation from VRF manufacturers in order to understand how Europe has been using SEER for the evaluation of VRF equipment. Two of the presenters from Europe gave clarity on this. Erick Melquiond, President of Eurovent Certita Certification, said: “The work for VRF manufacturers in this country is that you have to define weighted load profile based on your climate. You will have different load profiles and you will have different weightages. The technology is there; you just have to adapt it to the climate in that area.” Melquiond underlined the importance of making sure building designs were equally as efficient in reality as on paper. Thus, in line with the efforts to increase efficiency and lower consumption, he said that the SEER seasonal weighted average takes into account the reality of changing temperatures. Andrea Voigt, Director General of EPEE – The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment, while providing a comprehensive overview of the SEER method, said that it aims to set new standards towards energy savings and to further cultivate technological innovation. Responding to Melquiond and Voigt, Amaya said: “I agree with the European approach, and that it would be much better for the region. As AD QCC, we are happy to facilitate a working group with ESMA and Eurovent to set up a roadmap to come up with a seasonal approach.” (Continued on page 20
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5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference
‘It is widely accepted’ In a panel discussion, consultants exchanged their views about the evolution of VRF technology over the past few years in the region, and if the system has gained traction. We bring you the highlights… Compiled by Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
Moderator:
Sougata Nandi, CEO and Founder, 3e Advisory
Panellists:
Kandasamy Anbalagan, Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Scott Coombes, Operations Director, AESG Raef Hammoudeh, Director – MEP Engineering, KEO International Consultants Juma Yousef Juma, CEO, GETCO Sagar Kulkarni, CEO, Consistent Engineering Consultants
SOUGATA NANDI: WHERE DOES VRF STAND IN YOUR SCHEME OF THINGS, AS CONSULTANTS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PUSH VRF AS A DEFAULT SOLUTION? Juma Yousef Juma: We are a third-party counsel. As a solution, in certain locations, we need VRF to save energy and to enhance the cooling. Sagar Kulkarni: We don’t push only one product. We do LCA. If 200 TR, we go with splits. If 200-400, we go with VRF, and if 2,000 TR and above, centrifugal. With the introduction of VRFs and the diversity we get, we have certain projects of three-storeyed tower with VRF, wherein we do [VRF]. Capacity of 3,000 TR we could achieve with VRF. Based on the size of the project and the application, we do VRF. Kandasamy Anbalagan: I started doing VRF 10 years back, where we could not have more than two outdoor units because of space. Then, subsequently, we have introduced VRFs in schools as an addition to existing school [cooling systems]. And now, VRF has been accepted as an alternative to DX and also chillers. So we have been using in residential projects and, in recent cases, we have been using it in F&B and retail. So, it is like a combination; it is widely accepted.
NANDI: AESG IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND OBVIOUSLY, A SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ACHIEVING
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY. WHERE DOES VRF COME IN? Scott Coombes: The uptake of VRFs is still quite slow. We did a study for RSB last year, and when we look at GFA basis, when we look at 120,000 buildings, the VRF is four per cent and air-cooled chillers 40%. So, the uptake is still slow. When you talk of sustainability point of view, it is very project-specific, and we see VRF systems bridge the gap between a packaged or ducted split and a chiller, but that’s really down to the building size. And in Masdar, with different sustainability aspirations and price, most logical was VRF for them. And savings were a lot higher.
NANDI: IN THOSE DAYS, ENERGYMODELLING SOFTWARE WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VRF. NOW, VRF IS NOT JUST AN ENERGYEFFICIENCY STRATEGY, BUT IT IS ALSO SOLVING OTHER PROBLEMS. Raef Hammoudeh: VRF has been tethering around the edges for the past 10 years, and it is horses for courses. We have used [it] in
villas and community malls and any building that can lend itself to that kind of system. Now, where does VRF stand? I see VRF as an industry as having worked hard and has improved itself…. But the value of VRV is that most equipment is using R-410A, which has some GWP effect but zero ODP; and it is so much safer, as it is not flammable. And if it gets phased out in 2028, it is still far away. It is not an issue. There are guidelines on what quantity is used and the leak protection. It is up to us now as owners, commissioning agents, and manufactures to keep the building safe. So it is a system that can be used.
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Juma Yousef Juma: I’d like to add to what Hammoudeh was saying. The real selling feature of VRF is when it comes to load and continuous cooling, controlling more for humidity. That is a real selling point. Add to that the space-saving feature. You can enjoy sitting under the nice weather on the roof, with one unit on the side, or outside….
NANDI: I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO SCOTT. [WHAT ABOUT] THE RSB STUDY? Coombes: The study was based on building cooling demand. And what we did was based on public buildings and low-rise government-operated buildings and villas and multi-storeyed commercial and residential buildings. And the idea of the study was how to get a grasp of how to effectively use energy in buildings and reduce demand. So the study sort of was based on a sampling methodology based on different types of buildings… on how long they had been in operation. And we had reasonable breakdown of outlay of different air conditioning systems in the emirate. One of the key findings is that it is where the product can be best used, and there is still room for uptake of VRF in buildings, and events like this can encourage building owners to take up VRFs.
NANDI: VRF AS A SURE-FIRE USE? Anbalagan: Villas segment, VRFs can be used without much hassles, where you can’t go for chillers, owing to space. The other one is the residential segment – large residential buildings in which water-cooled chiller option has been removed, and we are going for VRF. And even [in] cluster of buildings, VRFs are being considered. Even in high-rise [buildings] people are talking with long piping. One challenge is, what’s the output capacity you can bring? If you remember fresh air load, 4HP machine, which is 3 TR. Studios are 600 square feet, and one bedroom is 900 square feet. We don’t want hybrid of DX and VRF in the same building.
NANDI: RAEF AND SCOTT, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT 2020, AND IT HAS DEFINED SUSTAINABILITY GOALS…. AND DOES [EXPO] 2020 IMPACT VRF INDUSTRY, OR IS IT ALL ABOUT DISTRICT COOLING?
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Hammoudeh: Funnily enough, it is District Cooling, because it is available. There is high sustainability value for the project, and District Cooling was available when evolving the project, and in a study, [it was] District Cooling against air-cooled system. But as VRF, we had not thought about it. If you have availability and space to provide ETS (energy transfer station) rooms, then District Cooling is a no-brainer. Despite the fact that VRF has reasonable performance, it was not considered. But now we know the capability of VRF. So in the future, 12-13 floors, we can consider VRF. Coombes: District Cooling makes a lot of sense, in paper and practices. Residents connected to District Cooling have frustration that they are paying a high price but don’t see the benefits. When you have District Cooling system that can be easily commissioned and maintained, then [it is] significant. So in terms of Expo, naturally, as part of master-planning development, makes sense for District Cooling. Sustainability is one of the three key things for Expo. It is not just about energy efficiency, when we talk about sustainability.
NANDI: ONE OF THE BEST DEPLOYMENTS OF VRF IS THE SUSTAINABLE CITY, SINCE DISTRICT COOLING WAS LAUNCHED IN 2006, THERE WAS A MANDATE THAT ALL BUILDINGS HAVE TO GO WITH DISTRICT COOLING. BUT COULD YOU SAY THOSE ZONES ARE NO-GO ZONES FOR VRF? Kulkarni: District Cooling investment has always been done there. So the authority
drive is that where you have infrastructure, you don’t get additional power to operate any other system. When you talk of District Cooling, it is about occupancy. If occupancy is enough, then [go for] District Cooling. But if occupancy is not there, then [it is a] burden, because the plant has its operational cost. In such cases, diversity can work. But occupancy is a factor. So, [it is] difficult to generalise any project…. In the last five years, things have been changing. Converting from ammonia to R-22 was a task. So it is a matter of time when technology will adopt. As a developer, consultant, manufacturer, everything has to go hand in hand.
NANDI: I AM GLAD YOU ARE SAYING THIS. Juma: If you go to Emicool area, a lot of factories have their own systems. So there is room always for somebody to convince and have his own systems. But we don’t have healthy competition….
NANDI: WHAT IS THE ONE WIDELY IMPORTANT THING YOU WOULD DO AS A MANUFACTURER TO PROMOTE VRF? Hammoudeh: There is cost difference between DX and VRF. [One would] try to reduce the gap, try to reduce cost, do more to educate small contractors and offer incentives. It is not just manufacturers…. If you overcome the regulators to work 100% behind the use of VRF into the housing market, then good. Something needs to be done to increase the use of VRF. Coombes: If talking specifically, some sort of regulation [is needed]. The most logical thing is, if a consultant has a catalogue and database of information available and still it is a copy-paste approach to design, and so if support [is given to] consultants on implementation, then VRF can get better traction. If healthier budgets are allocated to design, then VRF could score. Lifecycle-wise also, VRF can be beneficial.
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5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference
L-R: Syed Jafar Imam, Dharmesh Sawant, Dick Shi, Faizan Ahmad and Fady Nassar
(Continued from page 14)
Giving a broad perspective, Dr PR Jagannathan, Manager, Sustainability, at Trakhees, affirmed the value of a customised approach, saying that it was needed for the region in order to know the current state of affairs, and, thus, provide the best solutions. “Buildings are not performing not because they’re not properly designed or constructed,� he said. “Even the best design could have poor to low performance if the end-owner doesn’t understand Green features. If they continue to operate the building like business-as-usual, the building wouldn’t provide the benefits that it promised.�
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE
Despite the vote of approval from consultants and developers, many agreed there was still scope for improvement for the VRF technology to gain further acceptance. Some of the issues that came to the fore during a panel discussion involved manufacturers of VRF technology. While they addressed them in a forthright manner, they were, at the same time, eager to break commonly held misconceptions in an effort to dispel all possible concerns that could act as barriers in the drive towards greater penetration of the technology in the market. A common concern among consultants and developers was a shortfall in installation practices. A few of them spoke of a need for greater support from manufacturers in installing the technology. Syed Jafar Imam, Regional Director of AHI Carrier, spoke of how his company had faced similar concerns regarding the installation of split systems during the early days of the technology in the market. Today, however, he said, there is greater clarity among consultants and
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constructors on how to install split systems. In the same way, he said, greater clarity would emerge in the case of installing VRF systems. Proactively, a few of the manufacturers have set up training academies for the purpose of taking consultants and contractors through the paces. LG, AHI Carrier and NIA are among those that have taken the training route through dedicated training centres. LG and NIA also participated in the panel discussion along with Imam of AHI Carrier. Yet another participant was Dick Shi, Regional Director, Middle East Africa, at Hisense/Hitachi and Fady Nassar, Director of Unitary Business of SKM, completed the roster of panellists. Giving a China perspective, Shi spoke of how Hisense was working closely with installers to ensure they were properly certified. He revealed that Hisense was strategically integrating smart features within the company’s VRF systems to help with not only the initial installation but also with maintenance and after-sales service. The varied voices from consultants, contractors and regulators, among others, was proof of the wide arc the conference covered, and the spectrum of issues and concerns raised and addressed.
Furnaces have filters too! Replace them once a month to keep your heating system operating efficiently. #HVAC #tips
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Sierra Mechanical @SierraMechanica
May 2017
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8th Middle East Cold Chain Food Safety Conference
2017 The 8th Middle East Cold Chain Food Safety Conference, on April 5, 2017, at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai, UAE, focused on vital aspects needed to ensure the integrity of food -- transport refrigeration and cold storage. The event drew the participation of key players and decision-makers from across the GCC region, all of whom provided a comprehensive perspective on the current state of legislation within the cold chain. We bring you the conference in pictures‌ (Detailed report to follow in June)
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May 2017
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OVER STORY
UAE Food Bank
UAE Food BAnk
-towArds grEAtEr Food EqUAlity
The launch of the UAE Food Bank signals the country’s conscious and conscientious move to ensure food security and food egalitarianism. The excitement surrounding the programme is palpable, but its success remains largely dependent on how it can effectively be implemented, while ensuring food quality and the necessary infrastructure. By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
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OVER STORY
UAE Food Bank
W
ith a global population of seven billion, how is it that only six billion are fed when we produce food for 10 billion? How do we justify the fact that on any given day, one in nine people go hungry? How do we justify the massive global food waste?
could greatly benefit from, also highlights the significance of the campaign.
MISSING PIECES OF THE PUZZLE Abdulla Abdulrazaq Al Tamimi
INCONVENIENT TRUTHS Apart from this inhumane disparity that food waste engenders, it has more farreaching environmental consequence. The production and transportation of food results in 3.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon every year. Today, the irrigated water in producing food that ends up in landfills is greater than the irrigated water used by any other country. Closer to the region, in the UAE alone, AED 13 billion worth of food is wasted.
A WELCOME INITIATIVE With this in mind, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the creation of the UAE Food Bank in January 2017, as part of the Year of Giving and the 11th anniversary of his ascension. The UAE Food Bank will focus on reducing food wastage and giving food to the needy within the country, and elsewhere. Abdulla Abdulrazaq Al Tamimi, Head of Public Health, Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman, reveals that his municipality is working closely with the initiative in order to address issues pertaining to food safety and food equality, and says: “This [the UAE Food Bank] is important to make people believe in the importance of food. It is a very precious item, and you don’t need to consume more than you need. Food is important; we see this in the war time and in peace time. Food security is a major aspect we are looking for.” Brent Melvin, COO of Almajdouie, affirms that the Food Bank initiative reflects the ethos of the Arab culture, wherein, he says, “abundance is important, but waste, equally, shouldn’t happen”. Simon Clarke, Industrial Refrigeration Consultant, lamenting on how much food is wasted that is still good, even at the manufacturing level, which the needy
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Brent Melvin
Simon Clarke
While many have voiced their support for the programme and the positive and significant social and environmental impact it will have, the success of the UAE Food Bank needs to be underpinned by proper food safety and quality assurance (FSQA) infrastructure. In turn, FSQA is heavily dependent on strong refrigeration infrastructure and cold chain practices. The UAE has made a beginning in its goal towards achieving food security and reducing food wastage by laying the foundation for a strong FSQA infrastructure. Case in point, in Dubai, the municipality is working towards launching the 'Food Watch' programme. The Food Watch Program will implement a data-driven approach in order to further advance food safety management processes across all points in a highly integrated software operating in real-time. Bobby Krishna, Food Studies and Planning Specialist, Food Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, says: “The application
thE UAE Food BAnk The UAE Food Bank was launched on January 3, 2017, as a non-profit charitable organisation, under the auspices of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). The Food Bank aims to eliminate food waste by collaborating with local authorities as well as local and international charities to create an ecosystem to efficiently store, package and distribute excess fresh food from hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Its eventual aim is to reduce food wastage to zero. To date, many of the UAE’s key players in the food distribution, retail and hospitality industries have already joined the Food Bank programme in Dubai; the participation profile is expected to extend throughout the UAE. Participating organisations arrange for the collection of foodstuffs (a combination of excess inventory, goods nearing their 'sell by’ date and imperfect product) and shipment to the UAE Food Bank. The Food Bank team, supported by experts from Dubai Municipality, are specialised in fast-turnaround handling, logistics and food safety management as well as warehousing and storage. Cold chain management is ensured from pick up to drop off, thanks to a lean operating process. (As told to Climate Control Middle East by Khalid Mohammed Sharif, Assistant Director General for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector, Dubai Municipality.)
May 2017
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OVER STORY
UAE Food Bank
is not an inventory management tool to connect with the industry, the driver, the donor and the recipient. It’s more efficient, so you don’t have a human point. And it will keep tracking all the way, or else, it would be subject to human error. Trials have been going on for the past three weeks.”
ElsEwhErE in thE rEgion… “It’s interesting to see it here as a formal
In turn, the success of the cold chain requires proper legislation. The UAE remains committed in its move towards establishing strong legislation, and the public sector remains dedicated towards working in earnest to establish strong legislation. A good example of this is the recent introduction of Dubai Municipality’s food-tracking process, which will include DNA sequencing to ensure food quality and preventing fraudulent practices from entering the market, particularly in the fresh and frozen food sector.
structure. Actually, we already do it in Almajdouie in Saudi Krishna stresses that it is primarily about reducing waste. “We help the businesses know what they’re sending to food banks," he says, "so they know how much they’re wasting. And it can have impact on how transportation works, because we know waste on different levels.” The success of the country’s FSQA programme and, as an extension, Dubai’s Food Watch programme depends on the cold chain. This is echoed by Clarke, who says, “Food banks are a great idea, but the temperature has to be controlled. We need to accelerate the quality of food production and quality products’ temperature and air quality control.”
Arabia. We support a similar concept, where we take unused, untouched food, but it’s food that’s also ready for waste, and we redistribute it to charities around Saudi Arabia. But that’s
So it’s now up to us as an industry, with government and various stakeholders to build a solid base. But to do that, we have to work together to come up with appropriate stakeholders
our CSR initiative. It wouldn’t be on the scale of what Dubai is talking about with Food Bank, which I think is brilliant. We do it as an organisation, not as a country.” Brent Melvin, COO, Almajdouie Logistics, Saudi Arabia
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The crucial piece of the puzzle now lies in ensuring that the government and the stakeholders in the initiative work together to adopt a comprehensive approach in providing a country-wide legislation. In this regard, Melvin says: “I think the more we visit these kind of problems, and with more involvement from legislative perspective as well as private sector, the more we are going to get to the root cause of where the industry is today. It’s a big industry, with big obligations to make sure food safety is first. The fragmentation [of regulation] is an unfortunate situation, where it is more legacy than it is desire, so it’s now up to us as an industry, with government and various stakeholders to build a solid base. But to do that, we have to work together to come up with appropriate stakeholders.”
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OVER STORY
UAE Food Bank
THE WAY AHEAD All said, there is already a strong political will to make things happen, and engage stakeholders from the public and the private sector. This view is supported by Rodrigue Nacouzi, CEO of Transcorp, who relates his interaction with the Prime Minister's office, which has expressed deep interest in technological solutions that help meet the Food Bank’s objective: “During one particular discussion with the municipality, they were impressed with the technology and with the compliance with the kind of internal culture and regulations and processes. So they told us they were working on food bank, and they invited me to the private office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for a discussion. I had the chance to do a presentation, where I showed them our technology and our standards. They really liked it. We made sure to also give them a competitive pricing, because this is something we believe in as a company. We were not only after the commercial part but also as an initiative part.�
Cold ChAin is thE kEy The success of the UAE Food Bank programme is dependent on the implementation of a strong FSQA infrastructure and cold chain. Cold chain plays a crucial role in ensuring the overall safety and integrity of food. In the June issue of Climate Control Middle East, we will be looking at cold storage and transport refrigeration practices in greater detail.
Rodrigue Nacouzi
Noura Abdulla Al Shamsi
The UAE Food Bank is eager to move from its initial launch. Already the authorities concerned are looking closely at international case studies as a model for improvement. Noura Abdulla Al Shamsi, Head of Permits and Applied Nutrition Section at the Food Safety Department, revealing the recent developments, said: “We are at the stage of coordinating with the food establishment and the charity. The foresight is ready and the software is ready for the fruit donation and fruit collection. We are on the right track; we are trying to see the best practices around the world.�
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The success of the cold chain requires proper legislation
Al Shamsi also shared Dubai Municipality’s move to explore other areas. “We are also looking to see other sources of food rather than only hotels, manufacturers and hypermarkets,� she said. “We are looking to work on the containers from outside the UAE, and somehow, they are left at the port for some reason. We are coordinating for that also. The work is going good, as I told you, but there are some issues we are working to improve. This trial phase will help us see whatever gaps we have, so we can find a way to overcome these gaps.� Still in the early days, the UAE Food Bank has already gained support from both public and private stakeholders, all of whom agree that the project has immense social and environmental significance and far-reaching implications.
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Rizwan Shaikhani, Managing Director of Rubber World Industries
THE VISION Capitalizing on the opportunities in the HVAC Industry in 1993, it served as RWI defining moment. As a pioneer UAE national enterprise, RWI aimed to be the global parameter for quality, innovation and perfect cost-value balance. With the leadership of Mr. Rizwan Shaikhani, RWI has attained desirable heights and now supplying to more than 90 countries worldwide. “From our humble beginnings, we have reached to the top rank by hard work. With the customer in mind we create solutions that meet their needs,” Mr. Shaikhani said. RWI makes sure to live up to its PCS Value which is to protect, conserve and sustain. “While we produce products that protect insulation systems, we also sustain resources and set standards for the world to follow,” Mr. Shaikhani added. RWI invested in research and development for further innovation and development of products and services. It envelops not only optimizing production process and evolving the products to another level but also producing zero waste materials. RWI goal is to achieve zero waste manufacturing as an answer to the growing concern of environmental problems.
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Dilip Sinha, Honeywell
Informat on the
Dilip Sinha, General Manager (Middle East, Turkey and Africa), Honeywell-Environmental and Energy Solutions, talks to Benwen Lopez of Climate Control Middle East on the company’s initiatives related to intelligent building systems. Excerpts from the interview‌
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Ion
W
HAT ARE THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF ENERGY VISION? HOW DIFFERENT IS IT FROM OTHER BMS TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MARKET? Energy Vision is a new software platform that has been created to monitor the total energy usage of a building. Details, like how energy is being used, how much of it is being used and where it is being used, get recorded. Other data, like peak time and offpeak time uses of energy, are also recorded. The difference between Energy Vision and other platforms is that the user can control the system. So, if temperatures are turned down or shut down due to human negligence or ignorance, one can control it and rectify the changes, thus allowing better control and better management of energy usage. The most important feature of this product is that it provides the user with accurate information on a real-time basis, as the performance is taking place. Facility managers or building owners, who are managing a building, can analyse the trends of how the energy is being used in different parts of the building and implement measures to control it in a more efficient manner. The software can also be customised to the user's specific needs. It is available in different versions appropriate to the size of the site and the number of metered values to be collected. Energy Vision incorporates all of the essential functions for monitoring the energy efficiency of buildings and installations. This user-friendly tool for energy benchmarking and analysis is completely integrated with a web and graphics technology, and with clear graphics and diagrams; the information is more easily understood. And with the consolidation, evaluation and visualisation of the building energy data, one will be able to realise reductions in energy costs substantially. The major benefit of this platform is that it allows the user to identify waste of energy and implement measures to
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Dilip Sinha, Honeywell
avoid the waste, thus optimising its usage. One is also able to compare buildings and estates effectively.
HOW CRITICAL IS IT FOR BUILDING OWNERS TO INVEST IN A BMS? Higher usage of energy results in higher costs, and the wear and tear of equipment is much more. Hence, building owners need to be more conscious towards investing in a BMS. However, one must also understand that apart from energy usage, a building owner or manager must also be conscious towards the comfort and convenience of the building occupants. Therefore, while trying to achieve energy efficiency, one also must pay attention to these two factors; and a BMS plays a critical role to enhance them, along with reducing the carbon footprint. The seriousness of an investment in a BMS is usually in commercial towers, buildings, hotels, malls and airports, owing to its direct link to the return of investment. And in newer buildings, there is a constant demand for high-end systems and software solutions for better energy management than before.
HOW DIFFERENT IS ENERGY VISION FROM A CONVENTIONAL BMS? A typical BMS is pre-programed to respond to certain conditions. But in the case of large buildings and different parts of the facility, one cannot predict what the conditions are and the situations that may arise. However, with a product like Energy Vision, one can monitor and view the process in real-time and make changes concurrently. And depending on what type of control one wants to achieve, one can alter the sequence of operation – that is, either shut it down or slow it down, thus enabling you to monitor the systems in a more efficient and real-time way.
RETROFITS ARE GAINING MOMENTUM IN THE UAE. CAN ENERGY VISION BE USED TO RETROFIT EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE REGION? Although ideally the product is meant for a new facility, even in a retrofit scenario one can install Energy Vision, since it is compatible with most systems that exist.
The seriousness of an investment in a BMS is usually in commercial towers, buildings, hotels, malls and airports
ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS THAT A BMS IS NOT INSTALLED, COMMISSIONED OR MAINTAINED AS PER STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. WHAT IS THE STRATEGY TO COUNTER THIS ISSUE? The problems that you just stated generally come from the inexperience of the people, engineers or the companies who are carrying out the commissioning, engineering, initial design or the programming work. At Honeywell, we partner with both direct and indirect channel partners and businesses. We also have a regional training centre, where we regularly train our partners, and we also monitor the projects, monitor the feedback and stay in touch with the end-users and consultants. Based on the feedback and evaluations, we continually upgrade the skills sets of our partners to ensure that they can deliver the correct value to the customer.
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Understanding the range and depth of HVAC strategies and solutions at our disposal towards ensuring a reliable fire safety regime Theme: The sum of all parts... effective strategies and framework for multiple stakeholder engagement
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May 2017
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ASE-IN POINT
HVAC
Texas Christian University wanted HVAC systems installed as part of its basketball arena’s renovation project. However, there were several constraints. We bring you the case study on how they were overcome and the objectives achieved.
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â–ś Photo courtesy TCU Atlethics/GoFrogs.com
engineers And ContrACtors enter CAmpus ArenA to ACCept CHAllenge
T
he conversion of the 55-year-old, 70,000-square-foot Daniel-Meyer Coliseum – a basketball facility – at Texas Christian University’s (TCU) into the new Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena presented many HVAC engineering challenges for Baird Hampton & Brown (BHB). The Fort Worth, Texasbased consulting engineer/architecture firm spearheaded the HVAC portion of the USD72 million renovation, which included new locker rooms, expanded common areas and 140,000 square feet of building additions.
CASE-IN POINT Challenges: A few of the BHB design and mechanical contractors’ installation challenges were: A^b^iZY ^cYddg VgZVh lZgZ VkV^aVWaZ [dg the new air handlers, because design committee members discouraged roof placement on the renovation’s new onestorey build-outs for aesthetic reasons. =Vc\^c\ cZl he^gVa bZiVa V^g Y^hig^Wji^dc duct from a bowl-shaped roof, not originally intended for supporting the estimated 1,500 tonnes would require costly roof structural upgrades. >chiVaa^c\ idccZh d[ +%"^cX]"Y^VbZigZ metal ductwork 47 feet high would be a jobsite safety concern for HVAC contractors.
Fabric duct, which is 90% lighter than metal duct, was BHB’s solution to both the project’s roof load-bearing limitations and a value-engineering alternative to metal
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ASE-IN POINT
Hig^Xi nZVg"gdjcY ]jb^Y^in VcY temperature tolerances were required to maintain the new wood basketball floor.
SOLUTIONS: Fabric duct, which is 90% lighter than metal duct, was BHB’s solution to both the project’s roof load-bearing limitations and a value-engineering alternative to metal. However, the architecture committee was concerned with the deflated appearance associated with older-style fabric duct during idle air-handler periods. Recent industry developments of in-duct tensioning systems convinced the committee to use the FTS (Fabric Tensioning System) Jumbo Series from the SkeleCore product line manufactured by DuctSox, in Peosta, Iowa. SkeleCore is an in-duct, cylindrical metal framework tensioning system that is field-adjustable with a wrench for taut, wrinkle-free inflated appearance for aesthetics, regardless of airhandler operation. The lightweight internal framework also has a minimal friction loss of only 0.04-inches w.g./100 feet.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR COMFORT:
SPACE RESTRICTIONS FOR HVAC UNITS: The renovation included build-out areas for concessions and the circular corridor’s widening. With no ground space available, and the existing build-out structurally incapable of HVAC unit loads, the new build-out’s roofs were the only solution for the placement of three 50,000-cfm air handlers manufactured by York, based in York, Pennsylvania. While BHB would have preferred three symmetrical supply points at three, seven, and 11 o’clock into the
▶ Photo courtesy magazine.tcu.edu
The arena’s previous HVAC was provided by 26 indoor air handlers supplied with chilled water from an offsite central plant and hot water from onsite boilers in a basement pump room. Air handlers were evenly positioned inside the encircling mezzanine level corridor outside the seating area. The air handlers’ plenum-supplied wall registers were positioned every 25 feet around the circular-shaped seating area’s back wall. The design was considered to be of a high quality in 1961. However, drafts near air discharge diffusers and inadequate return air
No downtime was experienced from unexpected obstructions or hydronic connection incompatibilities by the project’s mechanical contractor
draw through courtside grilles 100 feet away sometimes created an uncomfortable air environment. Thus, purge fire/safety exhaust fans were used to pull more air through the arena during heavily attended events. Unlike the original back wall air distribution positions, BHB’s fabric duct ring was made to hang approximately 40 feet out from the back wall, and dispersed air more evenly throughout the seating and court areas. Air is now dispersed through a linear array of laser vents that throw at three velocities of 150-fpm at three o’clock; 100fpm at four o’clock and nine o’clock; and 50-fpm at eight o’clock. “The laser vents are capable of velocities that reach centre court without the need of high-velocity nozzles,” said Josh Schmidt, PE, Mechanical Engineer and a member of BHB’s design team that included Principal Ian Bost, PE, LEED AP and Ken Randall, PE, Electrical Engineer. “One major project challenge was keeping the existing pumps and boilers on line during the renovation to maintain services to the arena complex’s many connected buildings, depending on the original facilities hydronics,” added Schmidt.
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circular fabric supply duct for even airflow and low velocities, the build-out roofs’ unsymmetrical positions around the arena permitted only air-handler supply radius entry points of 10, eight and four o’clock in the circular duct design. Therefore, airflow was designed to flow right or left but not in both directions, once entering the fabric duct ring via metal duct tee connections from the air handlers. DuctSox’s manufacturer’s representative, Bartos Industries, Fort Worth, assisted BHB in engineering the fabric duct’s airflow, velocities and the calculations of the 10-degree transitions between every 16-foot/10-inch-long section to complete a 550-linear-foot circle of 60-inch-diametre duct. All fabric duct and metal duct connections were installed by McCorvey Sheet Metal Works, in Houston, Texas. The York packaged systems also included coils for preheating outdoor air, reheating during the dehumidification cycle, cooling and electric humidifiers for maintaining strict wintertime relative humidity levels required by the basketball court flooring manufacturer. The strict environmental tolerances were monitored and controlled by the campus-wide Metasys building automation system (BAS), manufactured by Johnson Controls, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Other equipment BHB specified were exhaust fans, manufactured by Loren Cook, in Springfield, Missouri, and specialty area fan-coil units manufactured by Enviro-Tec, in Largo, Florida. Other equipment BHB specified was an additional six-MBH condensing boiler, manufactured by Aerco International, in Blauvelt, New York, to accommodate the building’s added space requirements, and to supplement three existing two-MBH condensing boilers. All pumps were replaced because of age. BHB incorporated a new hydronic strategy of redundancy with two 50-hp chilled water pumps and two 25-hp hot water pumps and two 10-hp general water pumps. Thanks to an ample-sized mechanical room and BHB’s first use of Autodesk’s Navisworks construction modelling software, the hydronic changeouts were seamless. No downtime was experienced from unexpected obstructions or hydronic connection incompatibilities by the project’s mechanical contractor, SkiHi Enterprises, in Fort Worth, Texas.
old athletic complex serves as a role model of indoor air comfort and energy efficiency for future arena renovations.
OTHER POSITIVE OUTCOMES The lowering of the playing court four feet for better stadium seating views, plus adding locker rooms and other sublevel spaces, also allowed BHB to design more courtside return air, which feeds an existing concrete return
air shaft. The shaft feeds a plenum above the encircling concourse that supplies the York units, which mix it with outdoor air as per data from the arena’s CO2 sensors and the BAS. CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
CONCLUSION BHB might have been dealt a tough hand, but their HVAC retrofit design of a 55-yearDM90 - MR40 ad 185x130.indd 1
27/04/17 10:34
May 2017
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ERSPECTIVE
Leo Radford is Managing Director, Envida Technical Services. He can be contacted at leo@envida.ae / sales@envida.ae.
W THE pros and corners of HVAC duct cleaning
Bringing his professional experience to bear upon the issues involved in duct cleaning, Leo Radford offers pointers to get the job done efficiently and hygienically.
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e live in a world where innovation is king. Everybody wants the latest technology and everybody wants ease. The duct cleaning industry is no different. There have been many innovations within the industry over the years. The techniques used originally were negative air pressure cleaning – commonly known as “the traditional method” and direct or manual cleaning. Now, innovations have been ushered in through cleaning with mechanical agitation equipment and robotic cleaning.
SELECTING A METHOD When selecting the method of cleaning, there are two key questions to ask: 1. What is the size of the duct? 2. Can we access the ductwork?
The installation of access is critical, as the more access we have, the cleaner we can get the ducting
In a rooftop, where there is usually a lot of access and the duct is large, manual cleaning is commonly used. With horizontal ducting, when it is large enough, manual cleaning could be undertaken and, as it narrows, mechanical/traditional and robotic cleaning could be undertaken.
FACTORING IN ACCESS In my 12-year ambit of experience with duct cleaning projects in the UAE, I have observed many differences within the projects from the size and scale to the use of the buildings. However, one thing remains as a constant – there is never enough access. When HVAC systems are planned,
designed and constructed the only access that is installed is usually at the fire damper, and if you are lucky, the riser. The installation of access is critical, as the more access we have, the cleaner we can get the ducting.
DUCT CLEANING – LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING AHEAD Before 1989, duct cleaning was very haphazard. Companies that were hired to clean, typically hand-swept the duct clean with a damp rag and moved on. This caused all kinds of issues from dirty surfaces to polluting the air with dust and, potentially, mould. It led contractors to ask if there was a better way to clean the ducts. The answer was direct source/contaminant removal. The term direct source contamination simply means that any contaminants found within ducting should be directly removed using vacuum equipment. This vacuum equipment should be capable of containing all collected debris and be HEPA rated. The inadequacy of this method ultimately led to the formation of The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). The newest innovations have been seen within the robotic cleaning sector. There are various manufacturers in the United States and Europe that are leading the way in this technology. However, when we use robots for cleaning, the result is inconsistent and their range is limited, as it is difficult for robots to navigate dampers and turning vanes. As a result, contaminants are left in the corners of the duct. Consequently, the technology has quite a way to go to match the cleaning quality of the agitation method or, better yet, the manual/direct cleaning approach. Therefore, currently, there is no better cleaner than a person. The best way to clean a duct in a restricted environment is to simply clean at the right time. Many projects either never clean or clean at the wrong time. Having a NADCA-certified company work with your construction team ensures the creation of enough access for cleaning as well as cleaning to an internationally certified standard. CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
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www.pcmproducts.net May 2017
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Dr Rob Lamb, E U R A M M o n
Natural refrigerants – a cleaN calculatioN
From the CFC ban and the Kyoto protocol to the EU regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases, increasingly, national and international laws are limiting the use of harmful refrigerants. Against this background, operators are confronted with the question of the ecological and economical characteristics of refrigeration methods. With an ODP of 0 and a GWP between 0 and 3, natural refrigerants are environment-friendly and safe to use. Dr Rob Lamb, Marketing Director at Star Refrigeration, and eurammon member, speaks to Climate Control Middle East about the important factors that go into an economic calculation.
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T
O COMPARE THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL COSTS. WHAT ARE THE RELEVANT FACTORS FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE SO-CALLED LIFECYCLE COSTS?
When comparing different cooling solutions, it is important to look at the overall costs. Cooling systems operate at design conditions for only a few hours per year. Understand the cooling load profile and ambient temperature profile for a project to enable calculations to be carried out to show differences in performance between two or more systems. Modern ammonia systems typically incorporate energy-enhancing features, such as variable speed compressor motors and fans. They also have heat exchangers with close temperature approaches and control systems that enable the evaporating and condensing temperatures to vary with load and ambient conditions.
It is common to find that synthetic solutions need replacing after 10 years, and this should be built into any lifecycle comparison
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Dr Rob Lamb, E U R A M M o n
The combination of these energy enhancements typically shows energy benefits over alternative solutions using synthetic refrigerants. Plant-life expectancy should also be built into lifecycle calculations. Ammonia systems are designed for an operating life of 20+ years due to the quality of materials and components used, and the methods of construction. Solutions using synthetic refrigerants are typically built to a price and with a shorter operating life. It is common to find that synthetic solutions need replacing after 10 years, and this should be built into any lifecycle comparison. There is also the uncertainty of HFC refrigerants to consider, and it may mean that refrigerant replacement needs to be considered sometime in the future.
THE RELATIVELY HIGH INITIAL INVESTMENT COSTS FOR SYSTEMS USING NATURAL REFRIGERANTS ARE COUNTERBALANCED BY LOWER OPERATING COSTS AND A LONGER LIFECYCLE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE AMORTISATION TIME? Investment in natural refrigerant systems should be seen as a long-term investment, particularly when using ammonia. It is typical to find a return on the additional investment requirement of 3-5 years. After this point, the natural refrigerant systems will continue to deliver reduced operating costs over the lifetime of the plant.
NATURAL REFRIGERANTS ARE VERY COST-EFFICIENT. HOW DO CONTENTS AND LEAKING AFFECT THE OPERATING COSTS?
The toxicity and/or flammability of natural refrigerant systems (with the exception of carbon dioxide, which is neither toxic nor flammable) mean that mitigating the risk of leakage at the design and manufacturing stages is of key importance. Historically, leakage rates from ammonia systems have been negligible, and topping up of refrigerant has typically been the result of service work, where it has been necessary to remove some of the refrigerant before carrying out work. The cost of any replacement of natural refrigerant is typically less than 10% of HFC gases, and this gap is set to widen with the introduction of more expensive HFO and HFC/HFO blends.
IN SPITE OF THEIR HIGHER INITIAL INVESTMENT COSTS, AMMONIA-BASED SYSTEMS FOR LARGESCALE INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. NATURAL REFRIGERANTS ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO MORE AND MORE SECTORS OF THE AIR CONDITIONING INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, SMALLER APPLICATIONS WITH UP TO 200 KW. WHAT DO YOU
looking for rEfrigErATion producTs?
www.refrigbuyers guide.com TO LIST YOUR COMpaNY FOR FRee, VISIT: www.refrigbuyersguide.com/register FOR aDVeRTISINg OppORTUNITIeS, eMaIL: advertising@cpi-industry.com
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THINK ARE THE REASONS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND WHERE IS THIS TREND LEADING THE INDUSTRY?
Uncertainty over the future of synthetic refrigerants is a key driver behind the growing interest in natural refrigerants for smaller applications. End-users don’t want to invest in equipment that may need replacing or retrofitting in the next 5-10 years. Natural refrigerant solutions provide certainty in terms of not being subject to any future phasedown or restriction on uses.
Historically, leakage rates from ammonia systems have been negligible. Historically, leakage rates from ammonia systems have been negligible
SNIPPET
New silver catalyst for air-cleaning devices
A
ccording to news in phys.org, sourced from Tomsk State University (TSU), Russia, chemists at the university are creating a new silver catalyst to purify the air, which is capable of decomposing toxic carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other harmful volatile substances into harmless components. This nanostructure catalyst, the news story said, may be effective even at room temperature, and could be used as a filter for ventilation. Gregory Mamontov, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Catalytic Research, said: “It is assumed that the catalyst obtained in the form of powder or granules can be put into air-cleaning devices in homes, offices or production halls.�
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Developments in natural refrigerant technology have also helped to grow interest, as it has meant that natural refrigerant components and equipment have become more affordable. Particularly, carbon dioxide systems are price-attractive and have, therefore, resulted in growing numbers-for example, in retail and commercial applications. Natural refrigerants are a viable alternative to synthetic solutions also for small capacity systems.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH TOPICS REQUIRE THE MOST INFORMATION ON THE MARKET TO CONVINCE THE DECISION-MAKERS OF THE LONGTERM PROFITABILITY OF NATURAL REFRIGERANTS?
Demonstrating a reasonable return on investment with natural refrigerant systems, and also the uncertainty over synthetic refrigerants are to two key drivers in convincing customers to move to natural refrigerants. Whilst initial cost may be higher, when all aspects of the lifecycle cost are considered, including efficiency, longevity and long-term availability, natural refrigerants make sense.
HAVE YOUR SAY! 8F XFMDPNF ZPVS WJFXT PO UIF BSUJDMF 8SJUF UP editor@cpi-industry.com
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Poul Due Jensen (GH AG), Henning Sandager (GGD) & Kim Jensen (EMEA), Grundfos
WE
STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE
Poul Due Jensen, Group Executive Vice President for Group Sales, Marketing and Service, Grundfos Holding AG, speaks alongside Henning Sandager, Area Managing Director (Middle East and Turkey), Grundfos Gulf Distribution, and Kim Jensen, Regional Managing Director (EMEA), Sales Region Handel, on how the company has leveraged its long-standing reputation and commitment towards innovation and sustainability. Excerpts from the interview with Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East‌
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â–ś Kuwait cityscape
MIDDLE EAST
H
OW IS GRUNDFOS’ MGE MOTOR MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE LEGISLATIVE DEMANDS IN THE GULF IN GENERAL, AND THE UAE IN PARTICULAR? IS THE COMPANY INTRODUCING IE5 CLASSIFIED MOTORS TO THE COUNTRY AND THE REGION FOR THE FIRST TIME? COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH OUR READERS WHAT AN IE5 CLASSIFICATION ENTAILS, PARTICULARLY WITH REFERENCE TO IE4CLASSIFIED PRODUCTS? POUL DUE JENSEN: We have a long and proud tradition when it comes to motors. In the early days, we were focused on pumps and on wet-ins, the hydraulic part of the pump and its development. Later on, in the 1980s, my father had this vision that Grundfos should also focus on motors. I think from those early days, which was classical for us, we don’t just make motors; we also want to differentiate ourselves in that part of the world. We are part of setting new standards and new trends, when it comes to motors. We have also been the ones driving this move. Specifically, IE3, IE4 and now IE5, in particular – we are the first ones to launch this across the world and be the market leader, which is important for us. We know others have the capability, and it is fine in the sense that we are the first ones to come out with it. It actually drives the sustainability agenda. Overall, that is very important, especially in this part of the world, where energy efficiency is high on the agenda. Particularly, Dubai has a sustainability goal, so I think an IE5 motor, and the next generation of that is going to help set the standards and help achieve some of these goals. HENNING SANDAGER: In Dubai, UAE, and the GCC countries, all are more and more driven towards using technology with high efficiency. Within pump applications, you need to be able to adapt and adjust the performance of the pumping equipment to the actual needs in the applications. When it comes to waste water, water supply and climate control, etc., technology can
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Poul Due Jensen (GH AG), Henning Sandager (GGD) & Kim Jensen (EMEA), Grundfos
help you to adapt to the actual situation of the application and, thereby, reduce energy consumption. With the latest IE5 motor technology and optimised pump hydraulic, combined with controllers and sensors, you can optimise energy consumption a lot more, in most applications. That’s why we are focusing on much more than just pump hydraulics, and the IE5 motor technology is a good example. If you take the IE5 motor technology, it raises the efficiency level a bit more by applying the latest permanentmagnet synchronous motor (PMSM) technology. That combined with a built-in frequency drive and sensor technology into one unit, forms a unique drive and controller for most pump applications. When we make integrated R&D by combining technologies into ‘one unit’, we are able to raise the bar on energy efficiency solutions. By taking the lead in the use of and further developing technologies, we set new standards and the new IE5 efficiency level for motor technology is a great example. We are working together with standardisation bodies in Europe and elsewhere to set new standards, simply by sharing what is possible with today’s technologies, and we have been quite successful in doing that. KIM JENSEN: There was (IE) one, two, three and four. Now came the technology that enabled them to set IE5. POUL DUE JENSEN: In terms of overall numbers, it’s fair to state that 10% of energy consumption in the world is taken up by the space of pumps and motors. So, if you use the new
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and latest technology here, you can reduce that by half. SANDAGER: Just to add, pumps, driven by the motor, consume 10% of the world’s electrical energy. But if you look closely, motors are driving a lot of things – conveyers, pumps, fans. Motors make up about 30% of the world’s energy consumption. So, by applying the latest IE4 and IE5 technology, you can reduce the global energy consumption much more than just half of what they consume.
HOW HAS GRUNDFOS FACED THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH OPERATING IN THE GULF REGION AMIDST ERRATIC OIL PRICES? IT APPEARS THAT WITH THESE NEW PRODUCTS, THE COMPANY HAS EXPANDED INSTEAD OF DOWNSIZED. WHERE HAS THE COMPANY RECORDED MOST PENETRATION ACROSS THE GULF? POUL DUE JENSEN: Let me try to give an overall picture. We’re not newcomers; we have been here for 60 years. My grandfather was here and my father was here. My grandfather founded the company in 1945, and we have always had strong interests here. Today, we have strong partnerships across the Gulf. We have partners, who have been with us from the beginning, and who are still with us. We have an extremely solid foundation to build on even further. Grundfos, will never be here for the short-term gain. It’s got to be something for the long-run, we are working closely with our partners to penetrate [the Gulf markets] even faster. We have a few product lines we have assembled, and whenever there is a new critical mass and new opportunity, we are willing to do that expansion to penetrate the market even further. Yes, we have the product line, but it’s also about geographical expansion – so moving into new countries and putting more feet on the street. The footprint part, Henning could probably expand on that.
SANDAGER: We have been here for many years. Yes, there will be bumps in the road. From a financial point of view, there is a small drop, but we take the long-term view. We strongly believe in the Middle East. Of course, we hit the brake a little bit, but we are not massively going out and panicking. This is why for the past year, we are investing in more people in the Middle East. We have had, in the last couple of days, a strategy workshop where we take in the big picture of the Middle East, and we have decided to move ahead and fuel it with more – more feet on the street, more front-end resources, greater expansion of background support for our customers and more physical locations. So, yes, there are bumps in the road. there always will be. But we take a long-term view, and we strongly believe in the Middle East.
The Middle East came strong at the second half, as well as markets in Europe
POUL DUE JENSEN: It was a very important part of the trip to have a workshop with the local guys here to see what we can do and where the opportunities lie. We have done a fantastic mapping of it. Now we look forward to a bright future. And also, it’s a good start of the year. We will do what we can to take our gain and share the new developments. KIM JENSEN: The outlook right now is very positive in the UAE, Saudi [Arabia], Egypt, Iran and Pakistan.
▶ Dubai downtown, UAE
GRUNDFOS HAS RELEASED ITS 2016 FINANCIAL STATEMENT DETAILING ITS BUSINESS GROWTH ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST. COULD YOU PLEASE HIGHLIGHT THE TRENDS THAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED IN THE PERIOD, AS WELL AS AREAS FOR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT? HOW HAS THIS INFORMATION INFLUENCED YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY FOR THE COMING YEAR? POUL DUE JENSEN: Yes, we did publish it; it is also on our website. It was a difficult but satisfactory year. It started out a little bit slower in some parts of the world. But the second half of the year was extremely strong and solid almost across the globe, especially in Asia, China and Russia. The Middle East came strong at the second half, as well as markets in Europe. Overall, we believe we have taken market share in the total pump market in the globe, and that is part of the goal. That is who we are. We have also managed to improve our bottom line. This is important to us; this is not just for the shareholders. One of the philosophies of Grundfos is that all the money is reinvested into the company, so there
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Poul Due Jensen (GH AG), Henning Sandager (GGD) & Kim Jensen (EMEA), Grundfos
is the R&D, technology, setting new trends in the market and the whole fact around digitalisation, which we have a new focus on. Overall, we are pleased with the year and our performance, especially in the last couple of months. Things are positive. A lot of the good initiatives, energy and strategy we have had over the last few months, we are gaining from that. That also goes here. We have to remember when things are well, then you have to do things better. So, when things are good, we fuel even more of our products and have a change of agenda. KIM JENSEN: Essentially, we optimise.
THE CRN FACILITY IN THE UAE WAS AVOWEDLY BUILT FOLLOWING A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR PUMPS TO BE ASSEMBLED HERE, INSTEAD OF KEEPING STOCK UNITS. COULD YOU PLEASE ELABORATE ON THE PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES OF FACILITATING THE ASSEMBLY IN THE UAE? HOW IS THIS BENEFICIAL
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We are able to build smart devices into our equipment where you can detect and remotely get data even from installation, which you can use in an intelligent way for your building or factory
TO YOUR CLIENTS? WHAT DID YOUR FEASIBILITY STUDY COME UP WITH THAT ENCOURAGED THE COMPANY TO PURSUE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE IN THE GCC REGION? SANDAGER: We actually have assembly production of two product lines supporting mainly the construction and the building industry. We also have water treatment. Across the Middle East, you have to treat a lot of water for drinking purposes and industrial water. There’s a lot of people that do water treatment with equipment. So, in order to serve them better, we decided we’d do local assembly here to serve them faster and be more flexible. We did the feasibility study last year, and we opened it before New Year. Already now, we can actually see the impact. We are getting fantastic feedback from our client base, and we will probably take more steps to do more. But it has to be based on proper feasibility studies. POUL DUE JENSEN: We are willing to
invest in sound business decisions. Here, as in any part of the world, Grundfos’ philosophy centres on closeness to the market and the customers, through a human perspective. You get to see what you are actually buying and you get a feel of who we are as a company and the quality we stand for, because that’s our image and brand. KIM JENSEN: We are actually going to north western India to open a small factory and service that corner of India. That’s a good example of the proximity we seek.
SAME, OR WILL IT REQUIRE A TRAINING SESSION FOR ITS APPLICATIONS FOR DEALERS, ENGINEERS, INSTALLATIONS AND CONSUMERS? SANDAGER: For any more advanced type of technology, you will require people with different backgrounds. There are some applications and training to be done, not just for the guys doing maintenance. This
also comes with pumps and pumps systems. All competences are required. Also, for our clients and customers, we need to make sure they are trained, as well.
HAVE YOUR SAY! 8F XFMDPNF ZPVS WJFXT PO UIF BSUJDMF 8SJUF UP editor@cpi-industry.com
WHAT ARE THE BEST HVACRELATED APPLICATIONS FOR SMART DIGITAL XL DDA AND DDE PUMPS? WHAT PARTICULAR ISSUES DO THESE TWO PRODUCTS ADDRESS THAT THE OTHERS IN THE RANGE DO NOT? WHY SHOULD THIS BE A PREFERRED OPTION FOR THE UAE/GULF CONTRACTORS? SANDAGER: Poul was mentioning a little bit of how the world is becoming more and more digitalised, and so are we. So, when it comes to certain applications, I think Dubai is a good example with the smart cities. Every building needs water. And we need water in a smart way in terms of knowing how we can monitor what’s happening – the energy consumption, the comfort and where there could be leakage. We can also monitor water quality. All those are things we are working on, which is mainly linked to monitoring, and you can get data on your dashboard. Being the operator for these pieces of equipment, you can get alarm signals on water and energy consumption. This is what can be done today. Information can be picked up from different locations via pumps and motors. That’s what we are working on. Whether it's applications, like in this building, where you need water, waste water or cooling, we are able to build smart devices into our equipment where you can detect and remotely get data even from installation, which you can use in an intelligent way for your building or factory.
04 8208900
04 8847999
WILL THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BE THE
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Dan Mizesko is the Managing Partner of Al Shirawi US Chiller Services. He can be contacted at dan@uschillerservices.com.
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As good As new! In a scenario where a substantial number of water-cooled chillers in the region have started to reach maturity, Dan Mizesko offers two retrofit solutions that meet existing levels of efficiency as well as convert to refrigerants compliant with today’s needs.
I
ndependent chiller specialist companies have developed two retrofit solutions for the industry that will allow you to keep the existing chillers and avoid replacing them with expensive new ones, while modernising them. These are not factory-retrofit solutions that generally lead to a loss of capacity of up to 40% of chiller-rated tonnage. These new solutions will allow the end-users to have no loss in chiller capacity, while helping them move away from currently phasedout refrigerants. It needs to be stressed, of course, that each case will require a full site analysis and testing of the existing chiller’s tubes and shells as well as other data analysis. The first retrofit solution is a multiple oil-less magnetic bearing compressor replacement of the single or dual existing centrifugal compressors. The second solution is a multiple VFD screw compressor replacement of the existing compressor. I shall now proceed to explain the two solutions.
THE FIRST RETROFIT SOLUTION No centrifugal chiller offered today (even with a VFD installed on the compressor) can operate as efficiently as an oil-less magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller. It offers superior reliability and performance for chiller operation. A retrofit of an existing large tonnage single compressor chiller to multiple oil-less magnetic bearing compressor will help operate even more efficiently than the single oil-less magnetic chiller offered today. I recommend installing multiple smaller compressors, which allow substantial savings due to part-load staging of the compressors, as well as larger heat exchanger on the condenser, when operating under lighter loads. This offers large opportunities for additional savings beyond the efficiencies of a single compressor oil-less magnetic chiller. Chillers using the variable speed oilfree multiple centrifugal compressors with magnetic bearings offer a rated efficiency in the range of 0.33 to 0.37 KW/tonne (integrated part-load value/IPLV).
HISTORY OF OIL-LESS MAGNETIC COMPRESSOR R&D on new oil-less compressors started in 1993. The design goals for developing a small centrifugal compressor included lubricant-free operation and a direct
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LICENCE TO
drive system. The result of these efforts is a compressor that has a capacity of 60-90 tonnes, uses refrigerant R-134a, with magnetic bearings (no oil) and a direct drive system (no gears). Additional benefits include a lightweight design (80% less than traditional compressors) and reduced noise and vibration. By 2001, beta test sites proved that the compressor design was viable for market introduction.
The oil-less design eliminates typical operating problems associated with oil-flooded compressors
OPERATION
and the motor, electronics, and VFDs are refrigerant cooled. The compressor is designed to handle a power outage. The motor becomes a generator. After the compressor comes to a complete stop, the rotor de-levitates, normally on to touchdown bearings. Should the computer fail, the compressor is designed to handle eight “crashes”. The oil-less design eliminates typical operating problems associated with oil-flooded compressors. Water-cooled units often use flooded evaporators, and any oil in the evaporator tubes will cause a decrease in heat transfer. ASHRAE Research Study 601 determined that the vast majority of installed chillers have an excess amount of oil in the cooling system. The systems in the study had between 2.9 and 22.9% of oil in the cooling system. For the purpose of lifecycle cost, it is assumed that 3.5% oil concentration occurs after two years of operation for flooded evaporator systems, and 3.5% of oil in the refrigerant charge reduces system efficiencies by eight per cent.
▶ The chart below demonstrates the ill-effects of oil in the cooling system:
The compressor’s rotor shaft and impellers levitate during compression and float on a magnetic cushion. Two radial and one axial magnetic bearings are employed. The compressor has an integrated variable frequency drive (VFD). VFDs provide the best part-load efficiency and operate most effectively with centrifugal compression. The speed of the compressor adjusts to changes in load and/or condenser water temperature. The minimum load on the compressor is 15%. The auto balance feature repositions the magnetic bearing 100,000 times a minute to maintain centered rotation at all times. It uses 1.6 amps to start up (elevate the shaft) and operates at 16,000-40,000 RPMs. The motor is a permanent magnet brushless DC motor,
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The magnetic bearings and sensors keep the shaft properly centred and positioned at all times. The rotor shaft is held in position with 10 separately controlled electromagnetic cushions, which continually change in strength to keep the shaft centrally positioned. The shaft’s position is monitored with 10 sensor coils, whose signal is fed back to a digital controller. Movements of less than .00002” are sensed and adjustments are made accordingly. Backup carbon or roller bearings are fitted to catch the shaft and prevent damage, should a control or bearing failure occur. The shaft is monitored and positioned 100,000/sec. The compressor’s speed adjusts automatically to match the load and current operating conditions so that optimum efficiency is gained. Primary capacity control is done using the on-board VFD, and only uses the inlet guide vanes to supplement VFD controls. IGVs prevent surge conditions at low turndown. IGVs normally operate at 110% position. The slower the compressors, the greater the efficiency; as speed is reduced, energy consumption is reduced. Chillers with oil-less magnetic technology have viturally no vibration, and the sound is substantially less than any other chiller on the market today. A chiller with five compressors operating at full speed only produces 75 DB of sound at 10 feet – about the sound level of your television. In addition, having five or six compressors allows for much better capacity control and gives the chiller redundency in the unlikely event of a compressor not being operational.
A chiller with five compressors operating at full speed only produces 75 DB of sound at 10 feet – about the sound level of your television
An oil-less magnetic chiller will allow up to six compressors in one circuit, and provides the ability to use the entire heat transfer surface even when using few compressors, thereby ensuring very close approach temperatures and improved efficency. The following is a brief list of benefits of oil-less magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers: Cd d^a ^c i]Z gZ[g^\ZgVci hnhiZb Cd d^a ^c i]Z ejbe Cd d^a ^c i]Z ]ZViZg Cd d^a ^c i]Z hjbe Cd ^hhjZh d[ Y^hedh^c\ lVhiZ d^a (considered a hazardous material) Cd d^a ^c i]Z hidgV\Z gZfj^gZbZcih Cd d^a ^c i]Z [^aiZgh Cd d^a VcY [^aiZg Xdhi Cd d^a VcVanh^h gZfj^gZY Cd WZVg^c\ lZVg$WZVg^c\ replacements Cd k^WgVi^dc Cd k^WgVi^dc iZhi^c\ gZfj^gZY <gZVian gZYjXZY hdjcY :medcZci^Vaan ^begdkZY Z[[^X^ZcXn GZYjXZY bV^ciZcVcXZ Xdhih HbVaaZg VcY a^\]iZg X]^aaZg 8dbegZhhdg gZYjcYVcXn LViZg"XddaZY XZcig^[j\Va X]^aaZg l^i] range of 85-1,200 tonnes, so it is suitable for any chilled water plant, from the smallest to the largest. If consideration is given to this retrofit solution, I suggest that Eddy Current Testing and inspection is performed on the chiller’s condensers and evaporators, and any defective or rejected tubes be replaced. Also, follow this regimen: Recover the existing refrigerant charge, remove existing compressor and controls, clean the interior shells, and remove any oil and contaminants. Install new control system and oil-less magnetic compressors with all required interconnecting piping, sensors, valves, etc. Evacuate and dehydrate the system and charge virgin refrigerant. Put chillers into beneficial operation and benchmark tonnage and KW per tonne operation. No loss of capacity and increased efficiency will be realised.
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LICENCE TO
THE SECOND RETROFIT SOLUTION The second solution is a multiple VFD screw compressor replacement of the existing compressor. I am proposing a compressor screw refrigerant retrofit, with today’s new screw compressors with enhanced component tolerances, less oil in circulation, the elimination of metal-to-metal sealing surfaces and balancing component radial forces that contribute to a superior design that maximises compression efficiency, while reducing mechanical vibration and noise, leading to improved performance and reliability. These efficient new screw compressors, combined with the two additions below would result in a very successful chiller retrofit/modernisation. 1. Variable Frequency Drives: Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) have long been credited with helping reduce the cost of operating pumps, fans and centrifugal chillers. With a screw compressor chiller, VFDs help match the required refrigeration capacity to the compressor output, allowing reductions in motor speed that take advantage of an accompanying reduction in motor horsepower. One advantage of the screw compressor (positive displacement) is that it can deliver high torque (lift) at very low speeds – a factor that creates complications for centrifugal chillers (dynamic compression), resulting in instability or surge. 2. Refrigerant economisers: Refrigerant economisers have been used on centrifugal chillers for a very long time, and are now available for use on the new screw chillers. Through the addition of a brazed plate heat exchanger and Electronic Expansion Valve (EXV) on each refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant is both sub-cooled for additional capacity and diverted to the inter-stage of the screw compressor for increased efficiency. This retrofit solution will also allow conversion of refrigerants without any loss of capacity and offers improved efficiency. I suggest that Eddy Current Testing and inspection is performed on the condensers and evaporators, and any defective or rejected tubes are replaced. I recommend that this regimen be followed: Recover the existing refrigerant charge, remove existing compressor and controls, install new control system, VFDs, screw compressors, economisers and oil separators, with all the
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â–ś The image above is of a Carrier 19XR centrifugal chiller on the left, converted to dual screw chiller. The chiller on the right has not yet been retrofitted.
One advantage of the screw compressor is that it can deliver high torque at very low speeds
required interconnecting piping, sensors and valves. Evacuate and dehydrate the system and charge virgin refrigerant. Put chillers into beneficial operation and benchmark tonnage and KW per tonne operation. There will be no loss of capacity, and increased efficiency will be realised. In closing, I must reiterate that additional testing and data analysis need to be performed. However, I am confident that one of the above solutions can successfully be implemented, and will allow the retrofit to perform a refrigerant conversion on almost any existing chiller without any capacity loss and offer increased efficiency performance. CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
Remember to get your #air #conditioner inspected at least twice a year to help make it last! #HVAC #Tips http://bit.ly/2dmOkG1
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Farhan Juratli is LEED AP and Certified Energy Manager (CEM) with over 23 years of experience in the design, commissioning, retro-commissioning, evaluation and optimisation of HVAC systems for commercial and residential buildings. He was a lecturer in Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer at American University of Sharjah in 1999 and Sr Technical Engineer at Carrier Corporation, prior to joining Nakheel as Project Manager - District Cooling. He can be contacted at Farhan.Juratli@nakheel.com
Condensing the solution to a nutshell Highlighting that condensate from air conditioning systems is potential recoverable water, Farhan Juratli, in Part I of the two-part in-depth analysis on selection and maintenance of HVAC systems, dehumidification and condensate water recovery, focuses on design and selection of cooling coils.
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ondensate from air conditioning systems should no longer be viewed as a waste product to be sent down sanitary sewer lines. Condensate recovery is especially applicable in facilities like shopping centres, where there is a high degree of air exchange. Bryant and Ahmed presented in 2008 a simplified model based on empirical data from a case study in Qatar, predicting condensate generation for a “normal� commercial air conditioning system to be eight gallons of condensate per tonne of cooling (8.6 L per KW of cooling) for each day, with a dew point (DP) temperature in excess of 60 degrees F (15.5 degrees C)[1].
Since cooling systems dehumidify the air only when the compressor is running (in DX and package units), it is very important to avoid oversizing equipment more than 20% to avoid excessive humidity at partial cooling load
ERSPECTIVE
called latent heat. Air motion affects both the evaporation rate and the heat dissipated by air motion (convection) and contributes to an individual’s sense of comfort. Moisture in the form of perspiration is given off through the pores of our skin. As this moisture evaporates, it turns into invisible water vapour. Evaporation is an important means for keeping us cool. The more humid the air, the slower the evaporation will progress. The less humid the air, more rapidly evaporation will progress. The perceived air temperatures increase dramatically with increasing RH. For instance, an actual temperature of 34 degrees C feels like 48 degrees C at 70% RH, and feels like 57 degrees C at 85% RH! Ref [4]. 2. Design for DP control instead of RH control: Keep the indoor temperature above 23 degrees C and below 26 degrees C, while also keeping the indoor DP below 12.0 degrees C. Keeping the DP low helps avoid the need to overcool the space, providing comfort for a wider variety of occupants. DP is a measure of the absolute amount of moisture in the air, regardless of temperature. It is called dew point because the value actually predicts at what temperature moisture will condense on a surface. It is an excellent method of controlling humidity because, unlike RH that varies with temperature, DP provides an indication of moisture or the latent energy content in the air, and will remain constant, regardless of temperature. The ability to accurately measure moisture levels is important for reasons of the occupant’s health, the building’s structural integrity and building energy use. When the indoor DP is kept below 12.0 degrees C, the cooling coil will cool the return air more quickly than if it had to first condense large amounts of moisture out of that air. So the time needed to cool the building down to the thermostat set point is reduced. The system responds more quickly to increased sensible heat loads, and more quickly to changes in the thermostat’s set point. Earlier, it was difficult and expensive to use the DP to control the dehumidification components. Now, however, there is a wide variety of instruments and controls, which measure, display and control based on the DP. Owing to the evolution of more powerful microprocessor technology, it is possible to accurately calculate the DP on board a wall or duct-mounted sensor with increased accuracy. This capability is available for just a small additional cost over a standard
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It has been determined that if an air conditioner runs for 15 minutes or less, moisture will condense on the coil but will not get to the point where it drains off
temperature and humidity sensor. This type of sensor is ideal for providing feedback for better moisture control inside buildings. In fact, any building automation system can easily convert the signals of air temperature and RH to a DP value, which can then be used to control the dehumidification equipment. In most buildings, there is really no need to control the system based on RH, especially since there are so many benefits to controlling the system based on the air’s DP. First among the benefits is that the DP is an indicator of current risk to the building. When you know the air’s DP, you also know what surface temperature will condense moisture from that air. So you will quickly realise, for example, that when the DP is 18.3 degrees C and the supply air is 13.0 degrees C, the outside of a steel duct which carries the cold air will sweat (condense large amounts of moisture). Condensation and moisture absorption lead to mould growth and corrosion, which cause damage to buildings. The RH of the air does not give you that same useful information. The RH at the sensor is not the same as the RH at the cool surfaces of ducts, pipes and walls washed by cold air. The DP tends to be nearly the same throughout the building. We all know that temperature-controlled air conditioning systems are running less and saving lots of energy. However, while the sensible load has been reduced, moisture sources primarily related to people breathing/activities and outside air infiltration that can introduce humid air, have basically remained the same. This has created a problem, where air conditioning is running long enough to control temperature, but in many cases, it does not run long enough anymore to remove moisture from the air. In a research study sponsored by ASHRAE, it has been determined that if an air conditioner runs for 15 minutes or less, moisture will condense on the coil but will not get to the point where it drains off. When the air conditioner turns off, but air is
still blowing through the coil, the moisture evaporates back into the space. This could happen regularly if the system is oversized or if it is operating under part-load conditions. There are plenty of control strategies and equipment that can remove moisture from the air, but accurate measurement of DP levels is the only effective way to control the amount of moisture in the air. Recent breakthroughs in affordable DP measurement mean, we have a better tool for controlling all aspects of building operation, from cooling to economiser
control to dehumidification control. 3. It is important to note for Dubai’s design conditions that the enthalpy (heat content or total heat) at peak dehumidification load DBT/WBT = 35/30.3 is 31% higher compared to the enthalpy at design peak cooling condition DBT/WBT = 42.9/23.6. The total heat at the peak dehumidification load above is even a bit higher than the total heat corresponding to noncoincident DBT/WBT = 46/30.3, as illustrated in the table below:
DBT
WBT
Enthalpy h
Moisture content ɯ
DP
RH
˚C
˚C
kJ/kg
kgw/kgDA
˚C
%
35
30.3
101.04
0.02567
29
71.4
42.9
23.6
69.91
0.01038
14.6
19.3
46
30.3
100.51
0.02099
25.7
32.8
The table, below, reflects that peak dehumidification loads occur when the outdoor DP is at its highest point for the year, not when the outdoor dry bulb temperature is at its peak.
References: 1. Bryant, J.A., T. Ahmed. 2008. “Condensate water collection for an institutional building in Doha, Qatar: an opportunity for water sustainability.” Proceedings of the Sixteenth Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates. 2. 2013 ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals 3. http://daytonashrae.org/psychrometrics_si.html 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_index
CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
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Compressors
Towards redefining the compressors segment By embracing digitalisation, compressor technology is accelerating to new levels of innovation and driving towards energy-efficiency goals. Benwen Lopez reports‌
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ith depleting energy resources and the constant challenge of global warming, manufacturers are channelling towards producing compressors that are not only meeting industry standards but also contributing to environmental sustainability. The driving force behind the compressor segment is the improvement of technology and innovation, leading to energy efficiency. From producing oil-free centrifugal compressors to incorporating smart technology for better monitoring and tracking, manufacturers are transforming this sector of the HVACR industry.
TOWARDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY Confirming this, Ashutosh Ojha, Regional Sales Driver of Danfoss Commercial Compressors, Turkey, Middle East & Africa, says, “Our strategy is to support system transformation for higher sustainability with minimal redesign cost or reduced costs of ownership.” Highlighting the features of this strategy, Ojha adds: “We are enhancing our product portfolio with high energy-efficient solutions, reduction of refrigerant charge and GWP values, with a focus on reliability, durability and cost competitiveness. We now have a real holistic approach from the system standpoint to reduce the development time and increase system overall lifecycle cost of the original equipment manufacturer.” Agreeing that compressors can contribute to environmental sustainability, other key industry players reveal that research and development are being carried out to achieve the target. For example, Paolo Molenti, General Manager (Italy and Middle East) of Kriwan Italia, says, “We are working towards energy efficiency goals by studying and developing compressors that consume lower energy.” Ojha adds that as an organisation, Danfoss has set its internal climate strategy goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% before 2030. He elaborates: “The new benchmarks have been set to gradually reduce our own energy usage from 24 MWh per 1m DKK to 12 MWh per 1m DKK before 2030. The CO2 emissions, too, will be reduced from 320kg CO2 per 1 MWH to 160 kh CO2 per 1 MWh.”
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Compressors
ADAPTING TO NEW TECHNOLOGY Adding to the digital technology spectrum, Molenti says, “To facilitate the exchange of data between the compressor and the user, we developed the INTspector app, which facilitates sharing of data from the compressors to the user.” He also highlights that the INTspector app promotes preventive maintenance, and increases the process reliability of the unit.
BUILDING ON INNOVATION With the rollercoaster ride of oil prices in the GCC region, innovation is playing a crucial role towards business sustainability. Speaking on such innovations in the compressor segment, Ojha says, “We have had a successful track record with our oil-free centrifugal
Ashutosh Ojha
Paolo Molenti #HVaC Tip: Systems that are too big can waste energy, boost utility bills, create uneven temperatures & are poor at controlling humidity.
compressors, specifically designed for the HVACR industry.” Speaking on the benefits of the compressor, he adds: “Operating costs of the entire systems have now been redefined because of this particular compressor, and its capabilities in energy efficiency have been expanded.”
CHALLENGES Michael Rosone @mcrosone
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Like every sector of the HVACR industry, the compressor sector, too, is faced with a variety of challenges, ranging from energy
Increasing population, higher levels of comfort and greater penetration of IT technologies are putting a heavy pressure on the electric grids and driving up the overall energy consumption and utility peak loads
SUMMING UP While key industry players are rightly using technology and innovation to achieve sustainability, ultimately, it is the end-user, who has to embrace energyefficient equipment, not blindly but with an understanding of the bigger picture to know why manufacturers are putting such systems out in the market.
HAVE YOUR SAY! 8F XFMDPNF ZPVS WJFXT PO UIF BSUJDMF 8SJUF UP editor@cpi-industry.com
SNIPPET
Five-star air conditioners not up to the mark?
F efficiency to market turbulences, and to technical and technological challenges. One of the key issues manufacturers encounter is faulty installation, which affects their ratings. An industry expert points out that in the GCC region, it is incredibly easy to become a contractor, unlike in Europe, where contractors are required to have professional qualifications and certifications. Voicing similar concerns, another source from the industry shares the view that in certain cases, it is observed that big contractors, sub-contract projects to smaller contractors, who, in most cases, are not qualified enough to conduct an installation and can mess up the entire project. While installation is one of the issues, the other issue faced is poor flushing of dirt, sand, dust and oxidation that gets accumulated at the point of welding. Other problems occur because of wrong wiring, thus causing malfunctioning, in which case,
manufacturers are called upon to replace equipment. Responding to the challenges related to installation and wiring, Ojha says, “On a periodical basis, we do organise technical seminars and workshops, where we conduct extensive training for them on installations and introduce them to the new technological developments in the industry.� Speaking on other market constraints, Ojha points out that increasing population, higher levels of comfort and greater penetration of IT technologies are putting a heavy pressure on the electric grids and driving up the overall energy consumption and utility peak loads. This, in his view, leads to other consequences. “The awareness is now of the building functioning,� he says, “which most of the time is operating at part-load operations, pushing OEM manufacturers to take into consideration the part-load efficiency.�
ive-star split air conditioners may not be as energy-efficient as one might think, reports The Times of India. According to the news release, a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that five-star air conditioners perform like two-star ones when the outside temperature crosses 40 degrees C, resulting in higher power consumption. The energy efficiency reportedly drops further when the temperature is set below 27 degrees C. According to CSE, it commissioned the study on models rated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) of three most popular brands covering nearly 50% of the market share. An independent laboratory tested the models on three parameters: Effect of high outdoor temperature, lower room temperature and high outside humidity on energy performance. A five-star air conditioner is supposed to save 20-22% of power cost as compared to a single-star one, but the results did not reflect this.
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David O’Riley is Managing Partner, Britannia International. He can be contacted at david@britimc.com.
T
the
price
of compromising on IAQ
Highlighting that uncontrolled movement of air within a building not only compromises the design intent of the HVAC system but also increases pollutants in a building that affect our mental and physical well-being, David O’Riley makes a case for continuous monitoring to obtain real-time data to enable remedial action.
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he World Health Organization (WHO) describes the effect of indoor air pollutants on health as Sick Building Syndrome, which gives rise to eye, nose and throat irritation, dry mucous membrane and dry skin, erythema (skin redness), mental fatigue, headaches, a high frequency of airway infections and coughs, hoarseness and wheezing, itching and non-specific skin hypersensitivity, and nausea and dizziness. Common symptoms characterised by nasal dryness or congestion, such as a stuffy blocked nose or a runny nose, and also mental effects, such as difficulty in concentrating, can arise. Just because you may be suffering from some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that the environment in which you live and/or work has Sick Building Syndrome. However, one thing is for certain – the climatic conditions across the GCC region, coupled with indifferent construction and poor quality maintenance, does make it highly probable. As Professor DJ Clements-Croome of the School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom, has observed: “Temperature, relative humidity and air quality all affect the sensory system via thermo-receptors in the skin and the olfactory system (nasal passage). Air quality is mainly defined by the contaminants in the air. However, the most persistent memory of any space is often its odour. Strong, emotional, and past experiences are awakened by the olfactory sense. Odours can also influence cognitive processes that affect creative task performance, as well as personal memories and moods. Besides nitrogen and oxygen, the air contains particles and many chemicals that affect the efficiency of the oxygenation process in the blood, and ultimately, the air breathed affects thinking and concentration.” With people in the Middle East typically spending more than 90% of their time in an air conditioned environment, the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) is a matter of concern for governments, which is why regulatory requirements were put in place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai several years ago, although for some reason, enforcement has not yet been activated.
COMPROMISES TO IAQ The pollutants in the air in a room will typically come from two main sources: Infiltrations into the building from outside, such as dust and other particulate matter, gases and fumes, (including volatile organic compounds), electrical particles, such as negatively and positively charged ions, biological agents and water vapour Those generated from within the building, such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from building and furnishing materials, flakes of skin, carbon dioxide (CO2) and a variety of other gases, particulates arising from poorly maintained electrical equipment, including HVAC systems and biological agents from mould growth It is clear that with so many sources of pollution able to adversely affect the well-being of occupants, a building’s HVAC system needs to be not only of good design but also carefully installed, commissioned and supported by quality maintenance, if the occupants are to be adequately protected. Unfortunately, even if this were true, there is still the issue of poorly constructed buildings to contend with. During the building design process, an HVAC engineer is required to make a number of assumptions about a building, one of which is that it is actually built to, or close to the consultant’s specification/drawings. Sadly however, we all know that this rarely happens in this part of the world, with the inevitable consequence that the HVAC system design is compromised even before it is installed.
The effecT of co₂ CO2 is produced when people breathe. Each exhaled breath by an average adult contains 35,000-50,000 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 – 100 times higher than the average outdoor concentration. In recent years, scientists and researchers have become ever-more aware of the growing significance of CO2 with respect to its effect upon the occupants of a building. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, health effects can become acute at higher exposure levels. For example, concentration levels of 7.5% lead to headaches, dizziness, restlessness, the feeling of an inability to breathe, sweating, malaise, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and visual distortion. Studies being carried out by the University of Reading in primary schools have shown that the CO2 levels vary from
Addressing the problem of high levels of CO2 in a building in itself does not provide a solution to the wider issues of poor IAQ, but it is an important factor, particularly with respect to occupants' mental and cognitive functions
800 ppm to almost 5,000 ppm. This finding is of particular concern, because primary schoolchildren spend several hours a day in the same room and, hence, the build-up of CO2 is most notable in the morning and in the afternoon. So far, the tests show that there is a relationship between CO2 levels and the effectiveness of some learning tasks. Other relevant recent studies on schools include the work of Godwin & Batterman on IAQ in 64 Michigan primary and secondary schools, and Kim on respiratory symptoms, asthma, and allergen levels in Korean and Swedish schools. A detailed study by Pawel Wargocki from the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, shows that improving IAQ improves the performance of office work by adults and the performance of schoolwork by children. By measuring the performance of individual tasks under controlled conditions, a relationship was established between the performance of schoolwork and classroom ventilation. The relationship suggests that doubling the fresh air supply rate to reduce the CO2 level improves the performance of schoolwork in terms of speed by about eight per cent, and under certain circumstances, up to 14% was observed. The results of these experiments indicate that improving IAQ in classrooms by increasing the fresh air supply rate can substantially improve the performance
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ERSPECTIVE
of a wide range of tasks characteristic of schoolwork, from rule-based logical and mathematical tasks requiring concentration and logical thinking to language-based tasks requiring concentration and comprehension. The experiments also revealed that the magnitude of the effects on performance of schoolwork is greater than for the performance of office work by adults, probably because children are more susceptible to environmental conditions and also because schoolwork is not quantified in monetary terms. Even so, the economic benefits from improved productivity of office workers resulting from improved IAQ considerably exceed the costs involved. Another conclusion was that the risk of developing Sick Building Syndrome is reduced and perceived air quality is improved, when the ventilation rates are about 20l/s per person. The work also indicated that CO2 concentrations below 800 ppm are preferable. It has been found that Dubai regulations specify a maximum indoor CO2 concentration of 800 ppm.
THE CHALLENGES Addressing the problem of high levels of CO2 in a building in itself does not provide a solution to the wider issues of poor IAQ, but it is an important factor, particularly with respect to occupants’ mental and cognitive functions. From a comfort perspective, issues such as temperature and humidity are, for most people, the most important factors. If you feel comfortable, your body will be more relaxed, which will enable you to perform better. And if CO2 levels are correct, that performance will be even better still. High levels of humidity, condensation and the subsequent presence of mould are an ever-present problem. Apart from the unsightly appearance of mould, the real danger to health is from mould spores, and, in particular, mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are produced when two or more mould species are present in close proximity. They are the mould’s defence mechanism, designed to kill other mould species. These are extremely dangerous to human health, often causing severe allergic reactions and having a lasting effect in the body’s immune system. Some mycotoxins are known to be carcinogenic.
Trying to effect a solution by merely addressing shortcomings with the HVAC system is simply throwing good money after bad. What is required is a holistic approach to the problem
kidney and the central nervous system are known health risks when exposed to unacceptable levels. EVgi^XjaViZh/ ^c i]^h gZ\^dc! i]Z bdhi prevalent particulates are sand particles. The most common measurement is for particulates of less than 10 microns in size, but by far the most dangerous are those particles that are less than 2.5 microns in size. These particles are raised into the atmosphere from the desert by strong winds, and are known to cause irreversible damage to the lungs. They can also find their way into the blood stream. To effectively mitigate all of these health risks, a multi-pronged approach is necessary, as there is no single action that can fix them all. Current regulations in the UAE and elsewhere call for IAQ measurement to be taken once or twice a year. However, the reality is that this is wholly inadequate if the intent is to mitigate the health risks. What is required is continuous monitoring, so that there is a constant stream of real-time data available to enable timely remedial action. Even before continuous monitoring can be effective, however, there is the challenge of fixing the building. The low level of tradesmen skills, coupled with minimal quality oversight are two major factors that contribute to a building not being constructed in accordance with the consultant’s specifications, the other being the pursuit of profit above all other considerations. Trying to effect a solution by merely addressing shortcomings with the HVAC system is simply throwing good money after bad. What is required is a holistic approach to the problem.
TYPE OF SAMPLES Formaldehyde Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) Particulates (<10 microns) Ozone Carbon Dioxide
Other pollutants to be considered are: VOCs: These are ever-present, typically leaching into the building’s atmosphere from paints, adhesives, cleaning products, soft and hard furnishings, clothing and electronic equipment. Damage to liver,
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May 2017
Carbon Monoxide
▶ Current Dubai IAQ Maximums
Bacteria Fungi
reducing the energy consumption of its air conditioning system. Wargocki posits the view that savings of between five per cent and 27% have been observed in commercial buildings, where an approach similar to the one mentioned above has been adopted. To counter the effects of high levels of VOCs, special paints are available that, once applied to walls, will neutralise VOCs. Highly effective filter systems will remove dangerous particulates, and non-chemical decontamination systems will remove biological agents before the conditioned air enters the ductwork. Finally, a mould remediation plan should be adopted, firstly to neutralise any existing mould, secondly to remove affected material from the building and thirdly to protect against further recurrence.
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS The first step is to commission a survey of the building and the HVAC system. The focus must be on identifying factors that impact IAQ. The resultant report should provide a route map that enables the client to take a structured approach to achieving an IAQ standard that ideally will exceed what is required by the local regulations. The uncontrolled movement of air within a building not only compromises the design intent of the HVAC system, but it also wastes energy and adds significantly to the level of pollutants in the building. Fixing this must be the first priority. Once this has been achieved, the installation of a continuous IAQ monitoring system becomes a viable proposition. Ideally, such a system will be linked directly to the HVAC system, thereby effecting control without human interference. The only problem with this is that a typical BMS installation is unlikely to be able to interpret the range of information being generated, and even less likely to have the sophisticated control algorithms necessary to achieve the right outcome. What is needed is a control system that employs a number of complementary control elements to automatically modulate the volume of incoming air, accurately control the moisture removal process and subsequent re-heating of distributed air, control the re-circulation of exhausted air and manage energy recovery. The installation of this type of control system in a building also has the added benefit of
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE ACCEPTABLE < 0.08 ppm < 0.08 ppm < 300 micrograms/ < 300 micrograms/ m3 m3 < 150 micrograms/ < 150 micrograms/ m3 m3 0.06 ppm0.06 (120ppm micrograms/ (120 micrograms/ m3) m3) 800 ppm 800 (1440 ppm microgram/ (1440 microgram/ m3) m3) 9 ppm (109 micrograms/ ppm (10 micrograms/ m3) m3) 500 CFU/500 m3 CFU/ (Algarm3 plate) (Algar plate) 500 CFU/500 m3 CFU/ (Algarm3 plate) (Algar plate)
CONCLUSIONS
The olfactory sense is very important, psychologically as well as physiologically
<ddY >6F ^h V k^iVa [VXidg ^c bV^ciV^c^c\ the health and well-being of occupants in buildings. The olfactory sense is very important, psychologically as well as physiologically. The air we breathe ultimately affects the efficiency and effectiveness of our thinking and day-today functions. ;gdb V XdbbZgX^Va eZgheZXi^kZ! jc]ZVai]n buildings result in a loss of productivity, with every work-hour lost typically costing as much as a kilowatt hour of energy. Hence, the occupants’ well-being in monetary terms can be even more important than energy use. I]Z ZYjXVi^dc d[ djg X]^aYgZc ^h important. So why compromise it by allowing poor IAQ to adversely affect their learning ability? I]Z egdXZhh d[ VX]^Zk^c\ \ddY >6F ^h V continual one, throughout the design, construction, commissioning, facilities management and renovation stages of a building’s life. The latest building regulations will help to ensure that new buildings offer better IAQ, but it is the Existing Building stock that really requires our undivided attention. CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
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China
‘Chinese
manufacturers are not afraid of competition ’ As China’s HVAC industry continues to pursue an international expansion strategy, many companies are now heavily investing in R&D to reinforce their position as leaders in the global market. Hannah Jo Uy has the story…
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â–¶ Hong Kong City
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China
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daptation is essential to evolution, and no market has embodied this idea better than China’s HVAC sector, which continues to showcase an aggressive move towards innovation and efficiency.
A SHIFT IN DEMAND At the moment, China’s cooling sector is moving towards new and unexpected directions. Peck Zhao, Senior Specialist of Marketing at Midea, says that the main trends within the industry include, “extending the business, expanding the market and identifying opportunities for mergers and acquisitions”.
Even though the products we develop are for a global market, different regions have different habits, and the government has different regulations
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For the most part, VRF technology has found a solid footing in China, and has experienced a spike in demand. Zhao puts the spotlight on the technology’s growing popularity in contrast to splits, saying that in the previous year, the Chinese AC market dropped by approximately 10% by local currency RMB and VRF increased by 10%, mainly as a result of the mini VRFs sold through retail channels. Zhao adds that the market is particularly in favour of mini VRFs with many people viewing the compact version of the technology a preferred option to address residential needs. Dick Shi, Regional Director, Middle East Africa at Hisense/Hitachi, believes that the space-saving feature of VRF technology is the reason for its growth in the market. “In
▶ Apartment buildings in Kowloon, Hong Kong 74
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Peck Zhao
Dick Shi
Zhang Wenqiang
Beijing, apartment space is very important,” he says. “It’s USD 10,000 per square metre, and if you design multiple outdoor units, it can consume multiple square metres. If you save one square metre you save USD 10,000.” Shi adds that within the VRF industry, there has also been a shift with regard to the type of consumers. “In China, there is a new situation: VRF is moving from B2B business to B2C business," he says,"and individuals purchase VRFs instead of splits. In China, unlike the GCC [region], you have the option to install splits or VRF technology.” The technology’s versatility is also driving its increase in demand, as it has been found to be successful in a wide-range of projects. Zhang Wenqiang, Senior Vice President of Qingdao Hisense/Hitachi, elaborates that in China, “a lot of successful projects in highrise buildings use VRF, such as government buildings, schools, hotels, hospitals and offices”. Chillers, too, are also trying to capture the market, especially for high residential buildings. It has also proven to be the preferred solution for infrastructure projects. One such example is the recent project of Midea, where they provided 24 chillers with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, four of which are Variable Frequency Direct Drive (VFDD) centrifugal chillers. Another factor that is shaping the business strategy of manufacturers is compliance with energy-efficiency regulations set by the government. Zhao says: “The standards that cover VRF products are getting higher every year. It’s challenging, but we are not afraid. Chinese manufacturers are not afraid of competition. It is because of competition that we grow faster.”
GOING GLOBAL Leading Chinese manufacturers are confirming their commitment to expanding their businesses beyond their country’s borders, leveraging their creativity and flexibility in order to capture international markets. Zhao provides his insight on the matter: “China is still the largest air conditioning market. So, we still largely rely on the Chinese market. But now, because the Chinese market is going down, manufacturers are looking to extend their businesses in rising markets, such as the UAE, India and Indonesia. This is especially relevant to the GCC region, where air conditioning is a basic requirement.”
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â–ś Night skyline of Shanghai
COUNTRY REPORT
The global move comes with its own set of challenges, as manufacturers have to wrap their heads around a new set of regulations and a new customer base. In this regard, Wenqiang says: “Even though the products we develop are for a global market, different regions have different habits, and the government has different regulations. It takes more resources to adjust the products to suit individual needs and market requirements.�
INVESTING IN R&D In a constantly shifting scenario, many companies have aggressively invested in R&D in order to keep up with long-term growth strategies. Hisense/Hitachi is one such company. As it tries to further penetrate the Middle East market, Wenqiang affirms the company’s move to launch products that can address the ambient temperatures and conditions in the Middle East. He adds that they have dispatched R&D engineers to various countries across the region to do the necessary research. The focus on R&D among manufacturers is not only driven by their desire to create products that will address the needs of new markets they are trying to enter, but it also largely stems from their efforts to use the insight they have gained to bring about a change in international public perception. Homegrown companies continue to battle with the wariness some people have towards China-made products. However, this appears to spur companies to come up with more efficient and innovative technologies. Zhao cites the recent launch of Midea’s new V6 VRF as an example of the company’s
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It's very difficult to make a revolution. We hope to keep investing in R&D and looking for new ideas. More opportunities can come with more imagination
commitment towards utilising R&D to not only create new products but also to improve existing technologies. He says: “We want to lead in the market, not follow. We want to set the standard. It’s very difficult to make a revolution. We hope to keep investing in R&D and looking for new ideas. More opportunities can come with more imagination.� This desire to improve upon existing models and upgrade traditional products is reflected in China’s business strategy, as the market aligns itself with companies that showcase competencies that can complement their own capabilities. Zhao narrates the company’s strategic alliance with Clivet, an Italian HVAC company specialising in chillers and heat pumps. “We want to combine both of our strengths,� he says. “Our strength is volume production; their strength is in high-quality products and being ‘made in Europe’.� Zhao highlights that the move signals the international shift of the company’s production bases, which already include India, Egypt and, now, Europe. Indeed, Chinese companies remain resilient in the face of challenges, and the spirit of innovation and adventure continues to drive brands to aim to be global leaders in the industry, in an attempt to redefine the meaning of ‘Made in China’.
HAVE YOUR SAY! 8F XFMDPNF ZPVS WJFXT PO UIF BSUJDMF 8SJUF UP editor@cpi-industry.com
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800 PUMPS – ‘It has been a bumpy journey’ Business model more geared towards large pumps sector, says CEO of Faisal Jassim Trading Company
Hx: Ring in the old Customers want maintenance, not new acquisitions, says industry insider By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
n 2012, Faisal Jassim Trading Company launched 800 PUMPS, a dedicated service facility initiative for the maintenance of pumps. The 800 PUMPS business model has been received with a mixed reaction by the targeted Raphael Khlat segments, revealed Raphael Khlat, CEO of Faisal Jassim Trading Company. Speaking of its progress, Khlat said: “The model is more geared towards the large pumps sector used by the hotel industry and bigger buildings, than the smaller pumps sector used by villas and smaller buildings. Although we have our own customer base, we have not yet experienced the desired success. Hence, it has been a bumpy journey.” He elaborated that hotels and large buildings usually have their own maintenance teams and, therefore, the company gets requests from this segment only when there is a big problem or when an old pump requires retrofitting. About the villa segment, Khlat said: “Villa owners also do not usually call us until the pump has completely broken down. But even then, if the pump requires a spare part, they usually purchase it directly from the market. However, the challenge is that the spare can be a counterfeit, which may resolve the issue temporarily or cause additional problems. Although we do have the expertise to repair old pumps, but in most cases, it is usually replaced with new ones.” The general attitude of villa owners, in Khlat’s view, is that they will not service pumps periodically, but call in for repairs only when a major problem occurs. “And, this attitude,” said Khlat, “has to change.”
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mood of pragmatism is discernible in the market, as projects and developments are being undertaken rather carefully. With regard to heat exchangers, the downturn in District Cooling projects, which account for the bulk of demand for the segment, has forced manufacturers to turn their attention to potentially new avenues of growth, observed Sukumar Perumal, Sales Manager at Dolphin Radiators and Cooling System, which is tied with Cipriani. He revealed that on the part of manufacturers, there is a definite move towards exploring other industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry, in an effort to diversify their market. In Perumal’s view, customers are apprehensive about spending on new models and opting, instead, to get existing ones repaired. “Now we get a lot of maintenance jobs for the plate exchangers; the new ones are expensive,” he said, and added that customers are getting replacements of old parts, as everyone is becoming more practical.
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Why not wastewater for District Cooling? Industry expert outlines how DC can help achieve long-term sustainability goals By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
any Gulf countries are now looking to meet their long-term sustainable goals through innovative measures, said Mohannad Khader, Director, Business Development Department at Qatar Cool, and outlined how the latest District Cooling systems can play a vital role in helping countries achieve their strategic environmental objectives. “Sustainable energy is about using energy wisely and using energy generated from clean sources and clean technologies,” Khader said, and added, “District Cooling is significantly more sustainable than conventional cooling, with 70% less electricity consumption. District cooling reduces
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energy consumption by almost half, as electricity consumption by air conditioning systems is estimated to peak up to 75% of the overall electricity consumption during summer months.” Khader elaborated that District Cooling systems are now equipped to receive Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), thus saving valuable potable water. “The cooling plants,” he said, “circulate the water through the system several times before being discarded, eliminating a ‘one-time use’ of the water.” He explained that the underground pipe distribution network to the customers is leakproof and has a closed-circuit system, which ensures that the water is put back into the environment safely.
Daikin:UAE market responding positively to R-32 systems Steady but making inroads, says Project Manager for Daikin in Dubai By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
lthough a fairly new technology in the UAE market, the growth of the high-ambient inverter air conditioning system with R-32 refrigerant is steady, claimed Ameer Yousef Abedalaziz, Project Manager for Daikin in Dubai. Speaking on current installations, Abedalaziz said, “In Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), we have installed 8,000 units more than a year ago, and, so far, we have got satisfactory results. We are also installing 3,000 units in the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment.” Throwing light on the technological aspects of the product, Abedalaziz said that it is a combination of inverter technology and R-32 refrigerant that has a lower impact on global warming, and is ozone-friendly. He elaborated, “The tropical compressor also has the capacity to operate even when the temperature goes up to 52 degrees C.” As for the challenges, Abedalaziz said, “Consultants are sceptical about the product, because it is new in the market. Although the product is slightly inflammable, there have been no reports of any incidents.”
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Hospitality industry transitioning to smart lighting solutions Energy-efficient lighting helps ease cooling system load and cut costs in region’s hotels ighting solution for the hospitality industry is a critical factor owing to its impact on the load of cooling equipment, believe industry experts. In this context, speaking on the reduction of the cooling load, G Ramamurthy Thevar, Group Director of Engineering at Abjar Hotels International, said: “Higher wattage results in higher heat emissions; LED bulbs are low wattage and high lumens. Although the LED drivers do emit heat, in comparison to normal lamps, they would emit around 65% lower heat. Hence when computed for cooling loads, LED lamps giving out lesser heat means lower cooling BTU machines designed and installed.” On the potential for energy savings, Thevar said, “It is, indeed, very significant, because air conditioning load constitutes anywhere from 40 to 70% of the total energy loads, and reduction by 15-20% makes a big difference.” Other hotels in the region, too, are exploring ways to reduce the cooling load. Revealing his hotel’s strategy, Abdullah Abu Gallioun, MEP Manager for Design and Construction at IFA Hotels and Resorts, said, “In our effort to reduce the cooling load, we controlled the heat emissions from the light fittings by installing LED bulbs with proper control systems, which consume less energy, thus resulting in immense energy savings.” Elaborating on the energy-saving programme, Gallioun said, “In order to optimise lighting designs, we have established a joint-collaboration team of energy engineers, lead consultant, lighting consultant, LEED consultant, ID designers, Room Management System (RMS) experts, and Building Management Systems (BMS) experts, to decrease the total connected power of the lighting system by optimising the quantities of LED lighting fixtures, based on detailed LUX level calculations and the required light scenes.” On the results of the collaboration and efforts of the joint team, he said, “Our initial demand for power was 1.9 W/ft², and now it has reduced to 1.1 W/ft², which is close to the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 standard 1.0 W/ft².” Of other measures adopted, he said: “As part of the smart control of the lighting system, an intelligent RMS and BMS has been installed to optimise the energy consumption and decrease the cooling load of the fan-coil units (FCUs) and lights, by automatically switching off all the lights and FCUs during unoccupied or off-peak hours. I have currently implemented the use of LED bulbs in all the internal areas of our new project – TH8 in Palm Jumeirah.” Giving a broader perspective, Gallioun highlighted that the entire industry is transitioning towards the use of LED bulbs because of the low use of power, heating emissions and energy savings involved. Needless to say, this implies lower energy bills.
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Going beyond low-VOC paints They also need to contain thermal coating and anti-reflective properties By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
hile the use of low-VOC paints is of vital importance in making exteriors and interiors ‘greener’ and safer, other factors, too, contribute towards indoor air quality (IAQ), in the opinion of industry insiders. “Low-VOC is only one aspect of the paint, but the paint should also be free from other hazardous elements, such as formaldehyde, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), mercury and lead, which negatively impact IAQ,” said Hafeez Sidhique, Concept Manager, Technical Sales Support and Decorative Segment of Jotun Paints. He elaborated that paints should also contain thermal coating and anti-reflective properties, which result in energy savings. On the performance factor of low-VOC paints, Sidhique pointed out that the market has accepted the product owing to its odourless properties and durability. This obviates the problem of frequent repainting, compared to conventional paints, thus saving on transportation and use of raw materials needed in manufacturing paints.
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Is free cooling feasible in the GCC region? Industry expert speaks of higher expectations in the market on what is comfortably cool Whether you are an engineering firm, contractor, supplier, manufacturer, consumer, service provider, private or public sector...
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By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
ree cooling offers a host of benefits, but where does the concept end and effective application begin? Answering this, Mark Wilson, Associate Director Transport & Infrastructure Division at WS Atkins & Partners Overseas, said: “A lot of people, unfortunately, oversell the possibility in the region. The reality is, with the climatic conditions plus air quality, there has to be mixed ventilation requirement.” The most feasible variation of this solution, in Wilson’s view, can only be reduced energy cooling. Wilson observed that though Emirati and Khaleeji heritage and architecture have always integrated natural ventilation within their design development, this is only applicable when air movement is considered the key objective, not temperature control. But when it comes to ensuring the comfort of habitable places, he pointed out, “People’s expectations to what is considered to be an acceptable cool temperature has simply increased.” He added that proper design orientation and materials used in a building are, perhaps, the most important factors that can aid free cooling, and play a vital role in ensuring efficiency of the overall energy consumption.
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KAHRAMAA issues new District Cooling regulations Potential impact still under assessment By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
Robert Miller
Hessam Seifi
Legionella in cooling towers: What’s being done? Industry expert calls for regular maintenance By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
egionella in cooling towers has become a serious concern, as it is potentially fatal, particularly to people over the age of 50. Legionella infection reportedly occurs when people breathe in miniscule droplets of infected water. In light of this, industry experts are calling for vigilance with regard to maintenance of cooling towers, highlighting the importance of integrating certain features to ensure the safety and well-being of the community at large, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Area Sales Manager at Kelvion Thermal Solutions FZCO, said that Legionella typically grows in stagnant water, which has made cooling tower manufacturers put an air inlet louvre, as “it will avoid direct sunlight getting in the basin and formation of the bacteria”. Apart from integrating an air inlet louvre as a preventive measure, Krishnamurthy emphasised the need for regular maintenance. He said, “They have to clean the cooling tower base regularly.”
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Solar Reflectance Index paints beneficial for GCC region Prevents heat penetration and reduces load on cooling
he Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) has recently issued new District Cooling regulations. In the wake of this, decision-makers in the market are in the process of assessing potential impact the regulations will have on current and future projects. “I’m just reviewing them now,” said Robert Miller, Technical Specialist, District Cooling at Marafeq. Highlighting the mood of uncertainty, he admitted that this has been a worrisome factor. He said the District Cooling sector is asking, “What are these regulations going to look like, and how will it affect our plans?” Hessam Seifi, Mechanical Design Manager at DC PRO Engineering, on his part, said that as the regulations are very recent, the sector has not had a chance to carefully scrutinise the details. He, however, added that his company was confident regarding the critical aspects of its major projects, which, he claimed, have always showcased stringent compliance with existing standards.
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By Benwen Lopez | Assistant Editor
sing high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) value paints is beneficial for the GCC region, considering the temperatures, observed Hafeez Sidhique, Concept Manager, Technical Sales Support and Decorative Segment of Jotun Paints. Elaborating on this, Sidhique said, “If you have a higher SRI value, the volume of reflection is high, and heat penetration reduces, thus reducing the load on cooling. While SRI value paints are generally being used for roofs of buildings, it also makes
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sense to use them on the vertical walls, in order to increase the prevention of heat penetration.” On the market challenges, Sidhique pointed out, “If you limit to high SRI value paint, the choice of colours is restricted, because it is limited only to light colours, but it offers better efficiency.” Speaking on the regulations, Siddhique said, “Although we do have the Dubai Green Building Regulations in place, we are yet to see a more developed module of regulations and enforcement in the GCC region.”
SNIPPET
Cooking oil illuminates Japan
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iodiesel fuel from used cooking oil is being used to illuminate Tokyo’s streets, reports Bloomberg. The cooking oil is obtained from residents and restaurants to power more than 4,20,000 LED lights, in what is regarded as the first-of-its-kind trial in Japan.
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GRESB in GCC region initiative Rahul Duragkar receiving the award from Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chairman, Enterprise Asia
Duragkar of Emitech wins Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award Company’s Managing Director wins honour in the ‘Construction Industry’ category
ahul Duragkar, Managing Director, Emitech Group won the prestigious Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2017 UAE in the ‘Construction Industry’ category, during a gala dinner ceremony on March 30 in Dubai, Emitech said through a Press communiqué. Emitech specialises in the field of HVAC and is an authorised dealer for Daikin AC, in addition to claiming expertise on VRV systems in the region. The award recognises Duragkar’s outstanding efforts, perseverance and ethos of continuous innovation and sustainable growth in the business, Emitech said through the communiqué. The Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards recognises and honours business leaders who have shown exceptional performance and tenacity in developing successful businesses within the region. The Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards, or APEA, is a regional recognition programme organised by Enterprise Asia, a regional association and think-tank for entrepreneurship. The Awards are presented to a handful of entrepreneurs across Asia Pacific each year, with award ceremonies held in over 12 countries every year. Speaking on the occasion, Duragkar said, “I’m delighted and honoured to receive this international award from Enterprise Asia that will foster entrepreneurship spirit and fuel the passion to establish sustainable business in the region through innovative and pragmatic approach.”
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Portfolio-assessment company, with USD 8 trillion in investments, drills down on performance of real estate for developers to improve their showing, and to communicate their sustainable development goals to investors
By B Surendar | Editor
RESB, which provides portfolio-wide assessment services for real estate companies, funds and REITS, worldwide, is explorinng opportunities for offering its model in the GCC Region. The company, which invests in real estate on behalf of investors, holds 66,000 assets. In monetary terms, it has USD 8 trillion in investments. “We provide an assessment framework on how each of the investment opportunities perform sustainably, on how they perform environmentally and socially,” Ruben Langbroek, Head of Asia Pacific, GRESB, said, while speaking to Climate Control Middle East in end-April. “We also assess how their peers are doing and what they can learn from their peers.” GRESB is a global standard. It provides a framework that is applicable to global real estate. At the same time, it provides local benchmarks and incorporates them in the scoring process, Langbroek said. It also includes peer groups to compare them in the portfolio in a particular region. It creates a platform for a level playing field, Langbroek said. GRESB is industry-specific, in that it focuses only on real estate and drills down on performance of real estate. It is a business tool for developers to improve performance and on how they can communicate their sustainable goals to investors. GRESB has 42 main indicators in its role as an assessor. Some of the indicators are on environmental performance. It tracks energy consumption, energy intensity, water consumption, carbon emissions and waste management. “We can check environmental outcomes,” Langbroek said. “It could be a great system, but the commissioning could be very bad, which means there is no improvement in energy consumption.” In addition to energy efficiency, GRESB tracks health and wellbeing, where it incorporates some aspects of indoor air quality (IAQ). It ascertains how developers incorporate health and wellbeing in their portfolio and towards their tenants, in terms of air quality, thermal comfort and acoustical comfort. GRESB does not publish information in the public domain. Its concern is to keep its investors informed and also to open up opportunities. “Accessing capital and loans are challenging, and banks are looking for these [performance indicators],” Langbroek said. “All the good work we do in buildings – that’s how you show the value of a portfolio. The system will give developers an easier sell."
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District Cooling is entrenched in Bahrain’s National Plan
Regulator speaks of move to make District Cooling a routine first choice in urban areas By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
he mission is to make District Cooling a fully integrated member of the rest of physical infrastructure supporting the social and economic development of Bahrain. We have
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put District Cooling in our national plan.” So said Dominic McPolin, Chief, Central Planning Office, Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning, Bahrain. McPolin was speaking exclusively to Climate Control Middle East during the District Cooling Stakeholders Summit on April 18 and 19 in Dubai, when he made the comments.
RSA Logistics inaugurates new cold chain facility in Dubai South Phase 1 of the facility, featuring ammonia-based chiller systems, houses 11,000 pallet positions; phase 2 will take the pallet positions to 21,000 By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
SA Logistics asserted its initiative to enter the cold chain market through inaugurating RSA Cold Chain on April 26 in Dubai South. Phase 1 of the facility boasts of 11,000 pallet positions and eight independent chambers, featuring ammonia-based chiller systems that can accommodate frozen and packaged food products in temperatures as low as -25 degrees C. The facility showcases the company’s move to penetrate the cold chain industry. Phase 2, which will come up later, will see the pallet positions go up to 21,000. During the inauguration ceremony, Abhishek Shah, Co-founder and CEO of RSA Logistics, and Ajay Shah, Co-founder and Chairman of RSA Logistics, shared their commitment to address the growing needs of the market with the new facility. H.E. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Ahmed Al Ansari, Acting CEO, Dubai South,
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In addition to his position in the Ministry, McPolin is Chairman of the District Cooling Committee, tasked with meeting District Cooling-related goals, as part of Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Plans, supported by the Bahrain Cabinet. The committee is in the process of rolling out new regulations, reaching out to industry leaders to consult on key matters to ensure the new regulations will address issues that may serve as barriers to District Cooling’s penetration in the country. “We can make District Cooling a routine first choice in our urban areas, and it will be done through clean, clear and
L-R: Abhishek Ajay Shah, H.E. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Ajay I Shah and Ahmed Al Ansari
also attended the inauguration, emphasising the massive support Dubai South is giving to such projects. RSA’s presentation during the event noted the expected increase in food consumption in the region as a result of the projected influx of tourists for the World Expo 2020 in Dubai and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Based on the growth projections, this will drive a need for one million pallet positions in the cold chain industry by 2021, Abhishek Shah said. He added that he foresaw food manufacturers as having to face a number of challenges in dealing with common
issues plaguing the industry, such as lack of capacity to ensure food integrity, resulting in an increase in food waste and noncompliance with government regulation. In line with this, RSA Cold Chain asserted its commitment to meet the demand of the growing food industry in terms of storage and transportation. “We will provide flexibility among small- and large-scale food manufacturers,” Abhishek Shah said, “visibility to ensure temperature integrity, compliance and adherence to all standards, scalability and sustainable solutions powered by leading technology to reduce waste.”
transparent regulations,” McPolin said. In the course of speaking to the magazine, McPolin said the country aims to provide clear and secure long-term concessions agreement for the provision of District Cooling in new development areas and as retrofit of existing urban areas. He highlighted the demand for District Cooling, with cities such as
Seef requiring the equivalent of an additional 60 new 66KV substations. The government, he said, continues to reinforce its support for District Cooling with talks of making District Cooling compulsory through the building permit system in high-density areas, with an opt-out procedure.
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CIBSE UAE Region reveals keenness to spread technical awareness Regional body gets ready to unfold a line-up of technical programmes By B Surendar | Editor
he CIBSE UAE Region, which came into being in March 2016, is on the threshold of announcing a slew of free-to-attend technical programmes, said Raef Hammoudeh, the Chairman of CIBSE UAE Region. Hammoudeh is also the Director of MEP at KEO. CIBSE UAE’s main objective is to highlight the importance of building services engineering and good engineering practices. In line with that, the body in February conducted a joint seminar on the importance of commissioning, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In the coming weeks and months, the body will be conducting more Raef Hammoudeh seminars, in association with industryrecognised organisations, as part of a continuous professional development (CPD) programme, which would include awarding CPD points to those that attend. CIBSE UAE in Q1 2017 launched a CIBSE Abu Dhabi Chapter
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and the Society of Public Health Engineers (SoPHE). The body intends to launch the CIBSE Energy Performance Group UAE in the next few months. Hammoudeh spoke of how CIBSE UAE is engaged with regulatory bodies and sustainability councils in the UAE. “We would like to talk to authorities and regulators to help them provide standards to improve design and commissioning practices, as part of the entire construction cycle,” Hammoudeh said. “We would like to talk to bodies like ASHRAE, EGBC, UPC and Eurovent, as well.” In addition to industry associations, CIBSE UAE is keen on talking more to universities with the aim of sharing knowledge with students on building services engineering. “CIBSE has interest in building services, be they related to lighting, power, mechanical engineering, IEQ (indoor environmental quality) or commissioning,” Hammoudeh said. “Everything is covered. And we have 100s and 100s of publications that we would like to offer to further the industry’s knowledge. We would like people to join CIBSE as members and take the benefits the body has to offer. We have to maintain a way forward to improve the energy efficiency of our systems.”
Empower awards AED 62 mn new contracts in Q1 2017 Bin Shafar calls Q1 performance “another important milestone in reinforcing our presence and progress” AE-headquartered Empower has announced that it has awarded contracts valued at AED 62 million in the first quarter of the year. According to Empower, the main reason behind the increase in the number as well as the value of contracts is the customers’ growing trust in the District Cooling service, in terms of its efficiency compared to conventional cooling services. The company recently announced that the number of its customers has increased to reach 65,000 at the end of 2016. Empower underscored that the number of its customers and contracts has only seen an increase in 2017. “We are very delighted to have closed
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the first quarter on a grand note,” said H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower. “This is another important milestone in reinforcing our presence and progress. These contracts will further support our commitment to increase environmental efficiency. We will continue to maintain strong focus on our delivery and set new standards for District Cooling in the country, which will not only spell success for us but the country as a whole. “Empower is committed to boost UAE’s efforts to become the country with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050. As District Cooling requires specialist knowledge, Empower is well equipped to provide best-in-class services with our advanced knowledge and a team of highly qualified professionals.
H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar
The growing adoption of technology to reduce carbon emissions, rise in District Cooling installation and industrial activities have boosted the Middle East District Cooling market. A report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), a global market intelligence company, indicated that the global District Cooling market, which was valued at $11.2 billion in 2015, is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% to reach $17.3 billion in 2024.
moRE ExCLUSIvE nEWS StoRIES GLoBAL tREnDS In tHE CooLInG SECtoR
Eurovent Middle East welcomes 30th member
VRF shifting from B2B to B2C business
Association reaffirms strategic push to increase Gulf footprint
CAn EnERGy EffICIEnCy BE IntEGRAtED WItH AffoRDABLE CooLInG?
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
Decisions need to be taken at the design stage, says expert
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urovent Middle East in April welcomed its 30th member and revealed its commitment to ramp up strategic activities across the Middle
East. Markus Lattner, Director of Eurovent Middle East, spoke on the association’s upcoming undertakings and shared that it will be contributing to the European Union – GCC Clean Energy Network workshop on energy efficiency, to be held in May in Doha, Qatar, as well as to crucial meetings in Kuwait, signalling the association’s more intensive work in the following months. “I think the authorities here have realised there is a big need to focus on energy efficiency,” Markus said, “We do see more regulations in place to achieve that. We want
to support the authorities in this fight for lower emissions and energy consumption, and we are ready to talk to everybody and offer our advice, because at the end of the day, the technology is already in place. It’s not like we have to go for anything new; it just needs a sensible approach in terms of looking for areas where regulations are not yet in place.” The issue group shared that it remains dedicated towards cultivating stronger communication channels as part of its efforts to support the long-term goals of the United Arab Emirates and its campaigns, such as the recently launched UAE Food Bank initiative. “We definitely hope that we will have an impact [on the Food Bank],” Lattner said. “We have already established a relationship and
AmmonIA: CAn It BE USED In DEnSELy popULAtED AREAS? Laws and standards prevent its use in residential areas because of safety issues Visit www.climatecontrolme.com to read the stories
communication. They have been receptive and inviting; also, of course, they appreciate having the opinion of the industry, presented to them by a big group. We just started our activities in the Middle East in the beginning of the year. We have already established good leads in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The next step is Kuwait, where we had meetings with the authorities.”
NEWS GLOBAL
Trane takes XStream measures
New high-capacity RTHF units enhance the capacity of the XStream range of water-cooled screw chillers to up to 3.2MW, company says rane has enhanced its XStream range of water-cooled screw chillers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with new, high-capacity RTHF units, according to a Press communiqué it issued in end-April. The new units address the needs of building owners who are looking for a cost-effective alternative to centrifugal chillers for their critical, large-capacity cooling installations, Trane claimed through the communiqué. The RTHF chiller enhances the capacity of the XStream range to up to 3.2 megawatts (MW), unmatched by any other screw chiller available on the market today. The XStream RHTF offers reliable, high-efficiency performance with up to 6.3 Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) and up to 9.3 European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ESEER) with variable speed. This makes it an appropriate solution for critical applications and buildings such as data centres, hospitals, process cooling, large office buildings and District Cooling. “With the new XStream RTHF chiller, Trane provides its customers with a unique, advantageous solution offering cooling capacities that, until now, were only reachable with centrifugal technology,” said Erik van Oossanen, Portfolio Manager at Trane. “As of now, customers have an alternative in this segment, and the
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enhanced Trane XStream RTHF offers them a more cost-effective option that will contribute to an improved bottom line and lower total cost of ownership without comproming on energy efficiency, performance or reliability.” According to Trane, the design and control features of the new XStream RTHF screw chillers allow for stable operation in extreme conditions, and versatility of operations in comfort or industrial process cooling applications in conditions as low as -12 degrees Celsius on the evaporator side. They also allow for dual-circuit configuration, introducing dual-circuit chillers to the market segment that could only use single-circuit centrifugal chillers, Trane claimed. A dual-circuit configuration reduces refrigerant content per circuit and further increases reliability. Further, they allow for full compatibility with the use of variable flow for reduced power use and enhanced system efficiency, Trane further claimed. Trane Adaptive Control, with patented algorithms and multiple diagnostic capabilities, allows facility managers to take actions and prevent shutdown, in case of abnormal operating conditions, Trane said. This proactive option, Trane added, translates into the reliability needed in critical applications and is complemented by the company’s experience in screw compressor technology.
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NEWS GLOBAL
ABB, IBM partner in industrial artificial intelligence solutions One of the solutions involves predicting supply patterns in electricity generation and demand from historical and weather data, to help utilities optimise the O&M of today’s smart grids BB and IBM have entered into a strategic collaboration that brings together ABB’s digital offering, ABB Ability, with IBM Watson Internet of Things’ cognitive capabilities to unlock new value for customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure, the two companies said through a joint Press communiqué. Customers will benefit from ABB’s deep domain knowledge and extensive portfolio of digital solutions, combined with IBM’s expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as different industry verticals, the communiqué said. The first two joint industry solutions powered by ABB Ability and Watson will bring realtime cognitive insights to the factory floor and smart grids, the two companies claimed through the communiqué. “This powerful combination marks truly the next level of industrial technology, moving beyond current connected systems that simply gather data, to industrial operations and machines that use data to sense, analyse, optimise and take actions that drive greater uptime,
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speed and yield for industrial customers,” said Ulrich Spiesshofer, the CEO of ABB. “With an installed base of 70 million connected devices, 70,000 digital control systems and 6,000 enterprise software solutions, ABB is a trusted leader in the industrial space, and has a four-decade-long history of creating digital solutions for customers. IBM is a leader in artificial intelligence and cognitive computing. Together, IBM and ABB will create powerful solutions for customers to benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” The new suite of breakthrough solutions developed by ABB and IBM will help companies address in a completely new way some of their biggest industrial challenges, such as improving quality control, reducing downtime and increasing speed and yield of industrial processes, the communiqué said. These solutions will move beyond current connected systems that simply gather data, to cognitive industrial machines that use data to understand, sense, reason and take actions supporting industrial workers to help eliminate inefficient processes and redundant tasks, the communiqué added. “This important collaboration with ABB will take Watson even deeper into industrial applications – from manufacturing, to utilities, to transportation and more,” said Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President and CEO of IBM. “The data generated from industrial companies' products, facilities and systems holds the promise of exponential advances in innovation, efficiency and safety. Only with Watson's broad cognitive capabilities and our platform’s unique support for industries can this vast new resource be turned into value, with trust. We are eager to work in partnership with ABB on this new industrial era.” ABB and IBM will apply Watson’s capabilities to predict supply patterns in electricity generation and demand from historical and weather data, to help utilities optimise the operation and maintenance of today’s smart grids, which are facing the increased complexity created by the new balance of conventional as well as renewable power sources, the communiqué said. Forecasts of temperature, sunshine and wind speed, the communiqué added, will be used to predict consumption demand, which will help utilities determine optimal load management as well as real-time pricing.
Regular maintenance of your #HVaC system is the most important thing you can do to ensure long system life and top operational efficiency!
adams aC @Adams_AC_
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Standalone products expected to post largest growth in 2017: BSRIA BSRIA study pins global Smart Home/Light Commercial market at USD 15.8 bn in 2017 he total value of the global Smart Home/Light Commercial market is forecast to be USD 15.8 billion in 2017, according to a BSRIA study, produced in Q1 2017. The US market remains the largest single market, forecast at 29% of the total market value, BSRIA said. Despite the maturity of the US market, the growth forecast is expected to be in line with the global increase in value of 20%, with standalone products being the segment showing the largest growth at 27%, BSRIA added. The study is also forecasting rapid growth in sales of both products and system integration, but due to the infancy of the market, a lower level of sales for service and maintenance. BSRIA said the largest individual vertical sector is luxury villas, accounting for 25% of the market value; the second and third largest segments, offices and hotels respectively, represent a combined total of 23% of the market. The study provides an outlook until 2021, when it is forecast that the total global market will be worth $29.8 billion. In terms of communication protocols, whereas the market in North America is dominated by proprietary protocols, the study shows a significant increase in the penetration of KNX in Europe and China. The typical KNX wired solution has traditionally limited its deployment to new-built installations: the launch of the KNX RF (wireless) version in 2010 has enabled it to gain a significant market share, placing it in third place behind proprietary communication protocols and Wi-Fi, but with the advantage that it can be integrated with KNX wired products, BSRIA said, quoting the study. In Germany, the whole home solutions market is heavily dominated by KNX (with a share of 56%), which was developed largely under the auspices of major German and European smart building suppliers, BSRIA said. While proprietary protocols still have a significant share, none of the other protocols have yet gained critical mass, BSRIA added. The whole home solutions market in the UK is not dominated by any one communication protocol, BSRIA said. All protocols have their own strengths and weaknesses, and many installations will incorporate more than one protocol, BSRIA added. The BSRIA study found that KNX has a 27% market share in the UK’s whole home smart systems segment. KNX remains the most popular of the non-proprietary protocols in France with 32% of the market, BSRIA said, quoting the study. It is a long-established communication protocol in this country, but it should be pointed out that proprietary protocols are also very strong in France, BSRIA said. Proprietary protocols may have the advantage of not adding additional costs to the devices and give the biggest freedom to the manufacturer; however, they seriously complicate the integration with other systems, BSRIA said. The industry has not found a consensus on the open standard yet, and the convergence issue is still a threat to the progression of the smart market, BSRIA added. Since EDF, as the leading energy supplier in France, took the decision to offer, among others, the possibility to transport metering data via a KNX interface in its Linky smart meters, the importance of KNX is expected to increase in France, BSRIA said. Proprietary protocols (15%) are well represented in the
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Netherlands, but KNX has a market share of 34% in whole-home smart home systems, thus becoming the standard for home and building control in the Netherlands, BSRIA said. Wired systems account for the vast majority of the overall market in China for whole-home smart systems, BSRIA said. Of the total wholehome smart home market, nearly 38% uses proprietary protocols and about 42% was accounted for by KNX systems, BSRIA said. The KNX protocol constitutes a “European standard for smart home installation” in China, which has become the only approved Chinese standard (GB/ T20965) for Home and Building Control in 2013, BSRIA further said. A large number of protocols are used in wireless products in China, however, mostly for stand-alone smart products/subsystems, including Wi-Fi, BSRIA added. However, Wi-Fi’s disadvantage, BSRIA said, is that it consumes more energy, and devices working through Wi-Fi can slow down internet connectivity at home.
SNIPPET
Honeywell makes phones cooler
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oneywell has announced the availability of a Thermal Interface Materials (TIM) solution to help smartphone manufacturers and designers prevent phones from overheating. The company’s TIM technology is based on phase change materials (PCMs) that transfers thermal energy from phone chips to a heat sink or spreader, where it is dissipated into the surrounding environment, thus keeping the chips cool. This, according to the company, ensures that the phone can perform reliably even during the most data-intense processes or during heat spikes. The solution, which is available worldwide, is reportedly already being used by some of the largest smartphone makers to upgrade the thermal designs of their latest phone models.
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NEWS GLOBAL
Stephen Gill Associates wins Gold Stevie Award
RACHP industry mentoring scheme wins honour in the ‘Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources’ category tephen Gill Associates has been named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the ‘Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources’ category in the fourth annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards today with the Thermentor.Org – Cool Mentoring scheme. The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards programme to recognise innovation in the workplace in all 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programmes such as The International Business Awards for !5 years. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala banquet on June 2 in Tokyo, Japan. More than 700 nominations from organisations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered this year in categories such as ‘Award for Excellence in Innovation in Products & Services’, ‘Award for Innovative Management’ and ‘Award for Innovation in Corporate Websites’, among many others. Thermentor.Org - Cool Mentoring is an innovative scheme to help match mentors to mentees across the global refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump (RACHP) industry. It is a ‘not for profit’ scheme started and run by volunteers with a genuine desire to help their industry, and on a personal level to ‘pay it forward’ as a thank you to the many ‘good souls’ that helped them in their own careers. Unlike conventional mentoring, which is typically in-house and face-to-face, in this scheme the mentor and mentee don’t meet. The whole mentoring process is carried out by hybrid e-mentoring, employing an intelligent use of technologies available, such as email, SMS and video-conferencing. The aim of the scheme is to supply the international RACHP industry with short-term periods of quality mentoring at a distance. Since its initial pilot scheme in 2015, a total of 110 pairs from 12 countries (including two mentors from Dubai) across four continents have taken part in the scheme. Stephen Gill, founder of Thermentor.org, said: “Everyone needs a mentor. The Cool Mentoring programme has provided considerable benefits for the mentees, the mentors and the RACHP industry. It is a case of ‘everyone wins! Mentees reported improved self-confidence, receipt of career advice, extensive networking opportunities, and increased technical knowledge. Mentors also gained from the mentoring relationship. Benefits have included improved job and personal satisfaction, a greater insight into their own level of knowledge, and increased interest in international aspects of the industry. The RACHP industry benefits from a raising of skills and retention of knowledge within the industry.”
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Systemair acquires Austrian AHU manufacturer
Company says it sees great opportunities with Frivent’s niche solutions ystemair has acquired the Austrian company, Frivent Luft & Wärmetechnik, which it described as a high-quality manufacturer of air-handling units (AHUs). Frivent is located in St Johann, in Tirol, Austria, and achieves a turnover of around seven million euros by selling to commercial and industrial applications in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia, Systemair revealed through a Press communiqué. The
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company, Systemair added, produces AHUs, heat-recovery systems and unique roof units for several niche applications. "We see great opportunities with the company's unique knowledge within niche applications and their current market presence,” said Roland Kasper, President and CEO of Systemair. “This acquisition gives us a strengthened position in the region and a possibility to coordinate our activities in Austria.”
ASSOCIATIONS & SOCIETIES
ICC enters into partnership with ASHRAE, AIA, USGBC and IES Tie-up means higher performing buildings will be easier to achieve, ASHRAE says unified green building code that could become the foundation for LEED certification was created in 2011, thanks to a partnership among ASHRAE, the International Code Council (ICC), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the US Green Building Council (USGBC). That effort got a boost in August 2014, when ICC and ASHRAE agreed to align the technical requirements of ASHRAE's Standard 189.1 for High Performance Green Buildings (189.1) with ICC's International Green Construction Code (IgCC) into one single model code. With that agreement, and with the subsequent definition of each organisation's roles, the ASHRAE Standard 189.1 committee continued revising the standard so it could provide technical content for the IgCC, with the ICC responsible for the administrative sections and publication. This integrated document, coined the "IgCC powered by 189.1," will become the 2018 version of the IgCC (2018-IgCC), due to be published in the summer of 2018. "The 2018-IgCC will provide the design and construction industry with the single, most effective way to deliver sustainable, resilient, high-performance buildings," said International Code Council Board President, M Dwayne Garriss, Georgia State Fire Marshal. "The 'IgCC-poweredby-189.1' joint initiative framed the essential sustainable construction building blocks on which future resilient initiatives can develop and expand. We appreciate the dedication and efforts of our partners, ICC Members and all who contributed to the development of the IgCC powered by 189.1." By collaborating on developing the 2018-IgCC, the organisations envision a new era of building design and construction that includes environmental
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health and safety as code minimums. The goal of the 2018-IgCC is to provide fundamental criteria for energy efficiency, resource conservation, water safety, land use, site development, indoor environmental quality and building performance that can be adopted broadly.
THE INTEGRATION OF ASHRAE STANDARD 189.1 & IGCC As a standing project committee, the ASHRAE 189.1 committee has updated the technical aspects of Standard 189.1-2014 using ASHRAE's continuous maintenance procedures. To publish the updated version of the standard in 2017, the committee has deadlines for the many revisions being proposed so they can be included in the 2018-IgCC publication. ASHRAE's ANSI-approved process for these proposed changes to the standard will be wrapping up this summer, with final addenda undergoing public review now. Later this year, the final set of changes for the 2017 version of Standard 189.1 will be delivered to ICC. At that time, ICC will develop the administrative procedures for the technical content and codify the document into the 2018-IgCC. In anticipation of this timeline, ICC did not retain the IgCC committee in 2015. Members of the ICC Sustainability, Energy & High Performance Building Code Action Committee (SEHPCAC) have, however, contributed to the 189.1 process, providing recommendations and proposals within the 189.1 process that seek to carry over provisions from the 2015 IgCC into 189.1. These proposals, and those from other stakeholders, have resulted in several dozen changes to the 2017 version of Standard 189.1, and in these efforts, the integration of these two documents has begun to take shape. The further integration of green building strategies will continue since Standard 189.1 is on continuous maintenance, meaning the revision process
is ongoing, but those further revisions will not affect the 2018-IgCC content.
USGBC ALIGNMENT WITH GREEN CODES AND LEED Since the initial announcement of the "IgCC powered by 189.1" in 2015, the USGBC has made progress on recognising the important role of green building codes for voluntary rating systems and LEED certification. In the summer of 2015, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced a package of measures required by California's statewide Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) that can now be streamlined when a project seeks LEED certification. More streamlining is anticipated in California and, importantly, this breakthrough in aligning code requirements with LEED pioneered an approach that the USGBC can leverage for aligning with forthcoming versions of the IgCC. Once the technical content of the 2018IgCC are known (following the handoff from ASHRAE to ICC later this year), the USGBC will undertake an analysis of the measures from the model green code and compare them to LEED requirements. This process will begin while the 2018-IgCC is being codified. The USGBC and GBCI anticipate being able to communicate further progress on alignment at Greenbuild this year.
PROMOTING THE IGCC IN 2018 While the publication of the 2018-IgCC in a little over a year will be a milestone achievement, it is only the beginning. In forming the historic agreement among ASHRAE, ICC, AIA, IES and USGBC, these organisations, ASHRAE said, envision a new era of design andFourSeasonsFurnace construction where green @4SeasonsFurnace codes become widespread.
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