ACR Journal DecJan 2019

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019

VOLUME 5 No1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ° Chillventa round-up

2019 ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL3E // LHL3E

° Data centre cooling ° Refrigerant update ° Heat pumps focus

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL5E // LHL5E

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL3E // LHL3E

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL5E // LHL5E

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acrjournal.uk 03/12/2018 15:36

Resounding success and growt

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

Join us for the annual celebration of excellence in the air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump sector. The National ACR & HP Awards 2019 will be held at Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Midland Hotel on Thursday 24th January 2019 and we want as many of you as possible to be part of what is always a special occasion. Last year in Liverpool, some truly outstanding people, projects and products were recognised.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a great way to catch up with old friends and make new contacts.

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For full details of how to enter, or to book your place,

julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk or visit:

www.acrheatpumpawards.uk

05/12/2018 15:46

owth means you’re on the move The prestigious

2019 are off to Manchester! W E L C O M E

T O

THE MIDLAND MANCHESTER

THURSDAY 24TH JANUARY 2019 England football legend Kevin Keegan will be entertaining guests and presenting prizes to the winners at the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards. Kevin Keegan joined Liverpool from Scunthorpe United for a little over £30,000 and went on to become a true superstar of that or any other era, scoring 100 goals for the An�eld club and winning a host of titles at home and in Europe. He went on to be twice named European Footballer of the Year after joining German side Hamburg and also played for Southampton and Newcastle United, where he enjoyed cult status among the supporters after winning promotion to the top �ight and creating an attackhing brand of football still remembered fondly on Tyneside.

He made 63 appearances as a player for England, scoring 21 goals, and later had a short spell as manager of the national team. His managerial career also took in Newcastle (twice), Fulham and Manchester City.

sponsored and supported by

16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS Tel: 0161 236 3333

For more information visit: www.acrheatpumpawards.uk

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E D ITOR /C ON TE N T S

Testing times to start a business

Launching a business is a challenge at the best of times. So what happens you do it at the worst of times? This issue helps to recognise the 10th anniversary of two such enterprises, Logicool and Humidity Solutions, who made their entrance a decade ago at the start of the financial crisis. They are different businesses but the drive, commitment and customer focus in both camps has seen them not only survive but prosper, sometimes against the odds. It was a pleasure for us to join events marking the celebrations of both companies and we wish them every success for the next decade and beyond. There is also a look back at a recordbreaking Chillventa 2018. Speaking to UK-based businesses both in Germany and since returning, the feedback has been entirely positive. It was my first visit so I will leave comparisons to others, but there was a genuine energy surrounding the event and pretty much every stand was busy. Finally, a warm welcome to the new IOR president, Kevin Glass, who covered a wide range of opportunities and challenges in his inaugural address. Kevin also paid tribute to his predecessor, Steve Gill, and we endorse the sentiment. Steve has undoubtedly raised the profile of the institute, and the industry, not least with his dogged determination to create World Refrigeration Day. Expect to see plenty more on that topic before June next year... All that remains is to send seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greetings from the ACR Journal team, along with very best wishes for 2019. Enjoy the magazine. Editor David Todd T 01778 392094 E david.todd@ warnersgroup.co.uk

FEATURES 20

Indoor air quality Time to clear the air

Air conditioning

New Institute of Refrigeration president Kevin Glass, right, is welcomed into the role by outgoing president Steve Gill

Fujitsu cool for school

DATA CENTRE COOLING

AHUs The vertical challenge

Aermec

10th anniversary

Hydratech

Mitsubishi Electric

32 34

Logicool

Humidity Solutions

EC fans

Save with simple upgrades

Refrigeration

HEAT PUMPS 62

The art of restoration

Cubo2 Smart case studies

Peak performance

Winter wonderland

Living the dream

Is cost really king?

Breaking new ground

Refrigerants

Wembley game-changer

Alternative solutions

December | January 2019

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CO NTENTS

REGULARS

Projects, products and people

Mitsubishi Electric Column

Tools Talk

Tuning in to video on site

What every toolbox needs

VOLUME 5 No1

News

The Innovation Zone

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The latest products and launches

° Chillventa round-up

2019 ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

° Data centre cooling ° Refrigerant update ° Heat pumps focus

Changing Faces

Who’s new and who’s moved

Chilly Chatter

!DEDULCN I EG RAHC M IRT

Industry chat and updates

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL3E // LHL3E

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL5E // LHL5E

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL3E // LHL3E

ECOLITE ECOLITE // LHL5E // LHL5E

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03/12/2018 15:36

The seven ECOLITE models of the BITZER condensing unit family feature optimal usability thanks to a simple plug and play concept. Perfect adaptability allows for a wide range of applications in different climate areas and temperature ranges. The ECOLITE condensing units conform to the MEPS 2018 and can be used for all common refrigerants as well as A1 HFO blends. Boost efﬁ ciency by combining the mini-channel condenser with a semi-hermetic BITZER ECOLINE compressor and use BEST SOFTWARE for overall support of all condensing units. The VARISTEP function, which is standard, ensures maximum adaptability of ECOLITE for all kinds of applications. Learn more at www.bitzer.de

Multi Media Sales Representative Jordan Paylor 01778 395029 jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

Editorial Design Ady Braddock

Advertising Design Natalie Reynolds

Production Sue Ward 01778 392405 production@warnersgroup.co.uk

Subscriptions Single copy £3.00; Annual UK subscription £35.00 Overseas £65.00

Publishing Editor Juliet Loiselle CompCIPHE 01778 391067 julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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Aermec adds modular chillers Aermec has increased its chiller offer with the launch of the NRV range of modular air/water chillers that claim the benefits of a single large chiller with the advantages of multiple small chillers. Comprised of independent 108kW modules, the NRV enables up to nine modules to be connected to each other, producing a total of 970kW. Aermec says this has the advantage of delivering more capacity but keeps the overall dimensions and footprint to a minimum. Two models are available in the NRV range, offering either a Standard High Efficiency or a Silenced High Efficiency, with both providing up to 46degC of outdoor air temperature at full load. A free cooling version is also available and ideally suited for those applications where the requirement for chilled water is significant even during the winter months. The greater the difference between the outside air and the requested water temperature, the greater the economical benefits of using free cooling. The NRV features high efficiency scroll compressors, axial fans, aluminium micro-channel coils which ensure high levels of efficiency, uses less refrigerant compared to traditional copper/ aluminium coils and has a plate exchanger on the system side. Units specified with a Desuperheater offer the possibility of providing hot water for free, depending on the application. The option of connecting additional modules and managing them as if they are a single unit allows for maximum return at full load, as well as high efficiency performances at partial load, thanks to the partialisation steps and smart logic that increase when additional modules are connected. This ensures continuous adaptation to the actual system requirements. Performance levels are Eurovent certified. With electrical panels in every module, the management logic enables each unit to be operated in synergy with the others even if one or more module fails, offering component redundancy and increased reliability as a module can be used for critical spares. Customers can adapt their cooling requirements by adding extra modules. Aermec says the NRV is quick and easy to install, with access for servicing from the ends of each unit which allows in-row servicing of modules without interrupting adjacent modules. FREE COOLING BOOST, SEE P56

SLATER LAUNCHES HVAC COMMUNICATIONS Andrew Slater has left LG Electronics and launched a new HVAC business development company. After spending more than seven years with LG, most recently as senior engineering manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordic regions, he will now focus on providing manufacturers with a technical services, PR and marketing support structure through his new business, HVAC Communications. He said: “When companies are looking to promote their products or services, I have seen many examples where the terminology, features and functions have been lost in translation. This can often add to the workload and tie up valuable resources within the business. Hopefully, because of my technical background, I will be able to give manufacturers and industry stakeholders a different level of support. “I decided to launch the business because I believe the service we can offer is unique. By offering a skillset covering public relations, marketing and specialised technical knowledge, we are in a unique position to help get the message across to potential customers, consultants and specifiers.’’

Communications Engineering Business Development engineerthis@hvaccommunications.com www.hvaccommunications.com

ABB EXPANDS ENGINEERING CENTRE ABB has doubled the size of its UK engineering centre to meet growing demand for servicing variable speed drives (VSDs), developing specialist test rigs (STRs) and customer training. Floorspace at the site in Coalville, Leicestershire, is increased from 830 m2 to 1789 m2. The site houses the latest ABB-certified workshop – one of 17 throughout the world - offering repairs and upgrades to low voltage AC and DC drives and medium voltage AC drives. The centre’s load test facilities ensure VSDs are tested under realistic conditions before being returned to a customer. The facility upgrades third party medium voltage drives, as well as those of ABB. Stuart Melling, business unit manager, ABB Drives UK, said: “Many operators across multiple industries are finding that their variable speed drives are no longer supported by the original vendor. ABB can integrate new variable speed drives and control platforms to these systems, ensuring operators can continue to benefit from their substantial investment in equipment.”

December | January 2019

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Dearman air quality win

Toshiba boosts online services Toshiba Air Conditioning has stepped up its online services with a number of recent developments. The company has launched a new website, www.toshibaaircondirect.co.uk, enabling installers and contracting companies to order equipment 24-7 with next day delivery direct to site, depending on when the order is placed. Toshiba makes clear that air conditioning units ordered via the site contain refrigerants covered by the F-Gas Regulations, and that equipment must be installed by competent F-Gas certified personnel. David Dunn, managing director of Toshiba Air Conditioning UK, said: “People are very familiar with and comfortable using online sites for making purchases. We believe it is time to bring the same level of ease and convenience to the air conditioning industry. The new site gives users access to a wide range of high performance Toshiba splits, multi-splits and accessories, without having to go to the trouble of opening an account.” Toshiba has also updated its main website, www.toshiba-aircon.co.uk , promising customers quick access to product support, training and technical resources. Features also include Toshiba’s online commissioning and warranty tool.

COMFORT COOLING FROM COOLAIR Contractor Coolair Equipment has provided comfort cooling for a new hotel and conference suite at the University of Birmingham. The company’s Midlands office in Cannock carried out a £1m contract to install an energy saving and carbon-reducing cooling and heating system for the new 172-bed Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre. Coolair was commissioned by Midlands-based building services specialist Dodd Group and London construction company Galliford Try to fit the latest variable refrigerant volume (VRV) heat recovery system from its manufacturing partner Daikin. The VRV system is designed to use the rejected heat from cooling sun-facing bedrooms to heat non-sun-facing rooms in the hotel simultaneously. Coolair also equipped each hotel room with a low-noise ducted chassis-type air conditioning unit which gives the occupier variable fan speed control. It also installed a precise air conditioning system for the hotel’s server and housekeeping rooms.

Dearman won the Innovation in Air Quality Technology category at the National Air Quality Awards. Dearman received the award jointly with Leeds City Council after both parties worked together to trial a zero emission transport refrigeration unit (TRU) in the city and assess the impact of diesel TRUs on air quality. he trial was backed with a £150,000 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It found that deploying zero-emission transport refrigeration unit would significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted in the Leeds area. Dearman’s TRU is powered by liquid nitrogen. In contrast to the diesel TRUs in thousands of UK urban trailers, it emits no NOx or particulate matter. It has already been used in the fleets of Sainsbury’s, Unilever, and is currently being used by Marks & Spencer.

LOGIC’S NEW F-GAS QUALIFICATION Logic Certification (LCL) has launched a new F-Gas qualification designed in association with the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB). The level 3 Award is designed to give professional Refrigeration, Air Condition and Heat Pump (RACHP) engineers involved in the application of flammable gases, a better understanding of the Health & Safety regulations relating to the planning, installation, commissioning and servicing of RACHP equipment. The short, nationally recognised qualification joins LCL’s existing suite of F-Gas qualifications, all of which have been updated to take into account recent adjustments to F-gas legislation in the lead up to the banning of R0404A refrigerants and the servicing of high GWP equipment in 2020. The qualification covers the relevant legislation and safety standards, such as BE EN 378, BS EN 60335 and manufacturers’ instructions. There’s an overview of the differences between the refrigerant classes used in different RACHP systems and a review of the decommissioning procedures for RACHP systems, which is now more regulated.

December | January 2019

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The future is in your hands Define the future of A/C

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R32 is an industry revolution. Be part of it. Get ahead of the competition. Talk to Daikin about Sky Air today.

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PROPANE MINI CHILLER FROM TECUMSEH Tecumseh has expanded its range of products using propane with the launch of a new plug-and-play air-cooled water chiller for small to medium sized applications. The Infinee uses R290 refrigerant and has a full inverter control for low power consumption. The Infinee is said to offer easy installation and comes fully equipped. The hydraulic module is supplied with isolating valves, strainer, pump and expansion vessels and the manufacturer says little refrigeration work is required because the unit is delivered with its refrigerant charge. Anthony Ornatsky, product manager at Tecumseh Europe, said: “Basically, the unit will have to be placed on a solid ground, connected on the hydraulic, plugged to the electricity and the unit is ready to go. For refrigeration applications, CO2 is complex and is aimed at large installations. Propane is more efficient, even more than R404A the current decaying HFC solution.” To ensure safety when using propane, Tecumseh says it designed Infinee with an air-cooled approach for external locations, open panels for natural elimination, three isolated sections for refrigeration, hydraulic and electronic, and ducted relief valves for fire protection.

ASPEN PUMPS BUYS ADVANCED ENGINEERING

Aspen Pumps Group has acquired ACR chemicals and tools specialist Advanced Engineering. Adrian Thompson, CEO of Aspen Pumps Group, said: “We are delighted to announce that we have formed an even closer relationship with Advanced Engineering. It’s a natural fit; as iconic and very successful UK manufacturing and export businesses, we share the same core values. Both companies have built reputations on quality, excellent customer service and strong wholesaler relationships. Advanced Engineering’s chairman, Barry Lea, has done an outstanding job in shaping the business into a great pan-European brand.” Barry Lea said: “I am absolutely delighted that Advanced Engineering has joined the Aspen family. Advanced Engineering and Aspen Pumps Group share a common heritage of entrepreneurial vision, growth, product innovation and world class customer service.” The move follows Aspen’s acquisition of air conditioning and refrigeration tools specialist JAVAC UK and French distributor Salina last year.

New scroll chillers with R454B Johnson Controls has announced that its new YORK YLAA scroll chiller available with low GWP R454B refrigerant from 190 to 530 kW cooling capacity will be on sale in Europe from early next year. Christian Rudio, director of portfolio management Europe, said: “Johnson Controls continues to take a leadership role in the transition to the next generation of GWP refrigerants. "It is our aim to help the industry to choose the best lowGWP refrigerant for its equipment, so it can meet the European Union F-Gas Regulations. R454B is the lowest GWP replacement for R410A and provides similar properties and operating performance without major modifications to equipment design.”

DERBYSHIRE GROWTH FOR ADCOCK Adcock has moved its Derby branch to larger premises in Ilkeston, with Luke Nixon taking on the role of manager. Service manager Ben Moulson has been supporting customers in the Derbyshire region for a number of years and his efforts led to the opening of the Derby branch two years ago. Clients include local authorities, hospitals, car dealerships and occupiers of commercial property, At the official branch opening, Nigel Claydon, managing director at Adcock, congratulated Luke Nixon on his promotion and said he is looking forward to seeing the team develop under his guidance, continuing to serve the region with firstclass air conditioning, heating and refrigeration solutions. The Derby branch is currently recruiting a service engineer to join the Derbyshire team.

Ben Moulson, left, with Luke Nixon

December | January 2019

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BUILT FOR BET TER As a leading supplier to the building services industry we believe that smoother projects are better projects. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why, whether you visit our website or call us, our dedicated experts will be on hand to help you get the job done. From assisting you with your queries and advising on our comprehensive range of products, to delivering the next day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we help you build, better.

Visit www.brymec.com or call us on 0333 000 5555

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Built for Tomorrow

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PUMPS FOR TRAINING CENTRE Aspen Pumps has supplied Micro-v i4 and Silent+ Mini Lime pumps to the FSW training centre in Southampton. Aspen’s products join other industry brands at the new facility, which provides product training for contractors to ensure they are up to date with the latest air conditioning technologies and systems. Mike Davis, national sales manager for Aspen Pumps, said: “FSW and Aspen Pumps have a long-standing relationship and we are thrilled to have been able to supply some of our products to be used in the new training facility. As a company, as well as working with industry professionals we are keen to support the next generation of HVAC installers and engineers and ensure they have access to the best equipment in the industry as they build their future careers.” Andy Thomas, FSW air conditioning technical manager, said: “We are very grateful to Aspen Pumps for supplying their Silent+ Mini Lime and Micro-v i4 pumps to our training centre. Having industry-leading brands at the facility will allow staff and contractors access to products they are likely to work with on a regular basis.”

HRP ROLLS OUT TOOLHUB The regeneration of HRP through investment from parent company Beijer Ref continues with the roll out of ToolHUB across the network of branches. The traditional style trade counters have been transformed with local branches stocking a comprehensive range of specialist and hand tool required to work on refrigeration and air conditioning systems. “HRP has always been the wholesaler of choice for tools and we wanted to further invest in this important area,” said Howard Noble, innovation director for Beijer Ref UK and Ireland. The range includes top brands such as WERA, who manufacture screwdrivers, spanners, Allen keys, Knipex wrenches and pliers. In addition to this, HRP offers a new range of batteries from GP, both disposable and rechargeable. Other brands include Draper and the Martindale range of electrical isolation kits, an essential product in view of new legislation.

Ecostar serving up energy savings

Stuart Dare, southern sales engineer for FSW, with Vanessa Day, customer relationship manager at Aspen Pumps

New websites for FSW Wholesaler FSW has launched new websites for its customers in the UK and Ireland. The UK site includes a special offer section called Cool-kit, with over 40 products available to buy online or at any of the 24 UK branches all at the same special offer prices. The current Cool-kit promotion is valid until 31 December and new versions will be available every quarter. An interactive pdf version of Cool-kit is available to download from the website allowing on-line customers to view the brochure. Clicking on any Cool-kit product will take customers directly to that products page on the new site, where they can browse more detailed information, download further literature and buy the item/s. FSW also has four new Tool Shops on the new UK site, featuring Bahco, Testo, Value and a specialist A2L Ready Tool Shop that contains all the latest products needed to work with A2Ls. https://www.fsw.uk.com/

A poultry and meat specialist says the efficiency of its food production facility have been transformed following the installation of two BITZER Ecostar condensing units. The LHV7E/4CE-9.F3Y cooling systems, installed by Desiccant DryAir Systems of Morecambe for Westgate Frozen Foods in Lancaster, are equipped with the latest generation mini-channel condensers, high efficiency EC fans and BITZER’s latest Ecoline varispeed compressor. The system replaced two evaporators and condensing units which had been damaged during a flood, and were struggling to cope with the -20deg C demand from the freezer plant during this summer’s heatwave.

December | January 2019

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Nuaire has supplied Boxer Bespoke air handling units (AHU) and XBC heat recovery units to the University Arms Hotel, Cambridge as part of a major redevelopment project. The University Arms first opened its doors in 1834 as the city’s first hotel. It has now reopened after an £80m transformation, which combined a complex heat recovery retrofit with a sympathetic restoration scheme. Retrofitting a full heat recovery system presented a complex range of challenges. Nuaire’s regional sales engineer Andrew Bott said: “Getting ductwork to 192 bedrooms through limited ceiling voids across levels that do not line up laterally, and down risers that did not stack vertically was complicated enough but when considered alongside the VRV refrigerant pipework to 192 fan coil units and the usual water system pipework made the difficult seem impossible.” John Slater and Haward consultant Colin Bowen opted for a central plant solution, and turned to Nuaire for help to design the AHUs. Nuaire delivered two AHUs serving a total of 4.4m3/s of fresh filtered air to the bedrooms which were split west and east. Thermal wheels were used to provide the heat recovery mechanism and purge sectors were applied to prevent cross contamination of exhaust air onto the supply. The design team at Nuaire were able to work in millimetre intervals to squeeze the maximum air volume out of each AHU, the largest of which has a supply and extract rate of 2.9m3/s with a unit height of just 2,222 mm. Nuaire’s XBC units were chosen to serve the other public spaces including the striking library and bar areas, ensuring that energy efficiency was protected throughout the building.

CLIMATE 5000 FROM BOSCH Bosch has introduced a new range of high-efficiency single commercial air conditioners (SCAC). The Climate 5000 SCAC split concealed ceiling mounted range is available in 5kW and 7kW singlephase outputs; 10.5kW single and 3-phase outputs; and 14kW 3-phase outputs. The Climate 5000 SCAC split cassette range is available in 3.5kW, 5.3kW and 7kW single-phase outputs; 10.5kW single and 3-phase outputs; and 14kW 3-phase output.

RNLI/Nicholas Leach

NUAIRE RETROFIT AT HISTORIC HOTEL

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MIKE NANKIVELL TO STEP DOWN AT HPA Mike Nankivell is to stand down as president of the Heat Pump Association (HPA) at the end of year , with vice president Graham Wright, of Daikin UK, taking on the role. Mike said: “It has been a pleasure to have had an active involvement with the Heat Pump Association since its inception in 1995 and a real privilege to serve the association as its president for the past five years. But I think now is the right time to step back and hand over to my vice president, Graham Wright. “The heat pump sector is entering a new period of challenges, with changes in the refrigerants landscape, government policies related to global environmental issues, national technology subsidies, Building Regulations and of course Brexit. Having retired from my ‘day job’ in 2015, while I remain committed to the success of the sector and am happy to continue supporting the association, I believe the HPA needs to move forward with someone at the helm who is still at the sharp end of heat pump technology.’

SAUERMANN LAUNCHES NEW DELTA PACK The Sauermann Group says collaboration with installers helped shape its new Delta Pack (80x60) for wall mounted air conditioning units, which incorporates a universal pump in enhanced trunking and is available exclusively to UK customers. As well as removing the connector piece between the elbow and straight length, features include a convenient quick fit and release corner piece that requires no tools, a high-performance compact pump with a transparent and removable reservoir and a translucent hose that has been extended to 650mm, allowing easier connection to the wall mount drain. The hose allows the installer to track waterflow and identify potential blockages, while the protection film on the elbow and straight duct ensures cleanliness during installation. As with previous Delta Packs, the kit contains the universal replacement Si-10 UNIVERS’L pump, which boasts the latest patented piston-pump technology. The pump has been independently tested to ISO standard to ensure quiet operation, negating the need for anti-vibration accessories. Sauermann says the 20 l/h flow rate allows the installer to have peace of mind to install in any environment.

HVAC maintenance with ECEX ECEX has launched a guide to HVAC system maintenance. HVAC System Maintenance, a guide to effective equipment servicing, explains the steps to maintenance good practice, including how to draw up a maintenance policy, developing a maintenance strategy, details of different forms of maintenance and assessing maintenance needs. It also looks briefly at air handling units and the F-Gas Regulation and how these impact on maintenance. Other sections explain how to keep equipment clean and free from airborne debris, tips on good housekeeping, chiller maintenance and coil servicing. The guide is free to download from www.ecex.co.uk

BITZER TRAINING DATES

BITZER UK has announced its latest training programme, with courses on key compressor technology topics scheduled for 2019. The day-long courses, based at the company’s Milton Keynes headquarters just off the M1, cover reciprocating compressor technology, screw technology, inverter capacity control, plus an overview of the full BITZER range. The courses are free and include refreshments and lunch, with allocated parking available for all delegates. Remaining dates and topics are as follows: 8 Jan: Range overview; 15 Jan: Screw technology; 22 Jan: Reciprocating technology; 29 Jan: Inverter technology; 5 Feb: Range overview; 12 Feb: Screw technology; 19 Feb: Reciprocating technology; 26 Feb: Inverter technology; 5 March: Range overview; 12 March: Screw technology; 26 March: Inverter technology. Marcus Levy, BITZER UK’s head of technical training and business development, said: “The aim is to give installers, service engineers, system designers and hands-on end users a practical insight into the latest compressor technology.” For more details, or to book a place, contact Samantha Buckell on 01908 642966, or email infotech@bitzeruk.com

December | January 2019

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ACP 5 MARKS FIFTH GENERATION OF CONTROL FROM LG LG has launched its fifth-generation central controller, the ACP 5, and says it offers a number of upgrades that respond to user feedback. Sean Yeats, LG’s UK & Ireland technical manager in the air conditioning and energy solutions business, said: “LG is renowned for its cutting-edge solutions that prioritise consumer needs. With unparalleled features enabling sophisticated control and greater compatibility, the ACP 5 delivers the convenience and integration our customers demand. Importantly, achieving operational efficiency is made simpler thanks to a user-friendly interface with easy to monitor energy consumption information.”

A key component of the ACP 5 is said to be its intuitive control setup. Rather than having to be on-site to operate the system, users can control it remotely from a PC, tablet or smartphone. Compatible with HTML5, the user interface (UI) is optimised for a range of devices. Users can monitor and control a variety of functions including operating status, energy usage trends and environmental conditions. As users can visually identify a unit that is working sub-optimally, they can easily adjust energy consumption to minimise inefficiency and lower running costs. The integrated control is said to allow for easier management of up to 256 indoor units and other equipment over a wide area.

FAREWELL TO FORMER SMITH BROTHERS CHAIRMAN Fujitsu’s Nick Wilks, left, with Gary Hall of TQ

Fujitsu looks north with TQ Fujitsu has opened a northern training room at the home of leak detection specialist TQ Environmental in Wakefield. Fujitsu and TQ have worked together to develop leak detection solutions for customers and Martyn Ives, technical service manager at Fujitsu, said: “This open day wasn’t just to announce the opening of the new training centre. It was also about making our customers aware of the latest technologies and solutions in our industry.’’ The day featured R32 CPD presentations and representatives from A-Gas, Advanced Engineering and Javac were also present to offer expert industry advice. Fujitsu is running new courses at its seven training centres across the UK and Ireland. Topics include include installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, software design and selection. For more information visit the Fujitsu website.

John Smith, the former chairman of Smith Brothers (Leicester) Ltd, has died at the age of 86. He was the grandson of company founder Walter Smith and remained closely connected to the business. In a company announcement his son Steven, the managing director of Smith Brothers Stores, said: “It is with extreme sadness that I must inform you that my father John Smith, passed away peacefully on 9 November at his home in Leicester. At the age of 86 he leaves behind his wife, Edna Smith, who he was married to for 61 years, and his four children. “John was until September last year the chairman of Smith Brothers (Leicester) Ltd, the parent company, continuing to help guide SBS down its extremely successful journey. We make no secret of our family heritage and John Smith built on both Walter (founder) and Sydney’s (2nd generation) foundations, leaving the business in the strong position it finds itself in today. Although SBS remains unaffected on an operational level, John’s passing inevitably marks a sad day for Smith Brothers Stores.’’

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03/12/2018 16:47:22 05/12/2018 15:02

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC

When you should watch videos on site

Ben Bartle-Ross looks at the potential benefits of guidance to installers during the working day.

OK, OK, I’m not advocating that you spend time during your working day catching up on the latest Netflix series or see how your favourite celeb is doing on Strictly. That would be plain silly and likely get you into trouble with your boss, wouldn’t it? However, there will have been times on site where you need help and advice on some technical aspect of the install and up until now, that has meant flicking through a databook, scrolling around a manufacturer’s website or calling a helpline to speak to a ‘techy’. Like all good manufacturers should, we have a dedicated team on our technical helpline who deal with hundreds of calls a day to help our customers on site. Queries can be as quick and simple as checking which dipswitch setting to engage, or dealing with an unexpected fault code, to more complex issues such as understanding how to set up and programme an overall system controller. Whilst it is always nice to speak to a real person, the helpful person on the other end of the phone can’t actually see the physical situation you find yourself in, or the set up you are talking about.

than it takes you to ring a helpdesk, speak to someone, explain your issue and get the help you need, you can often find the answer you want. We’ve now got 39 ‘How to’ videos covering many aspects of our air conditioning controllers and another 14 covering our Ecodan heat pump controllers. We are also busy creating more that explain things like how to commission the water side of our Hybrid VRF air conditioning system and have useful FAQ videos that can also help you explain technologies to your customers. So the next time you are on site looking for help, or want to convince a customer that you know what you’re talking about and it is supported by the largest manufacturer in the industry, reach for your phone and you’ll hopefully be amazed and delighted at the support available. We also welcome thoughts from installers on the videos we have yet to create and this is subject I regularly discuss with the engineers coming on our training course.

These helpdesks are designed to help solve your query as quickly as possible but they do need to understand exactly what your issue is to be able to help, and that can take time to explain, and time is often the last thing you have on site, especially at this time of year as the daylight hours get shorter.

And that’s why I am advocating turning to video.

So if you have any ideas on subjects that will help you when you are out on site, let us know, won’t you?

Everyone has a smartphone now on them at all times, and with internet access, it is now possible to access useful videos that show you exactly how to resolve the issue right in front of you, right there, right then. We have created a series of ‘How to’ videos on our range of controllers for example which show you how to do much, much more than just get the system up and running. How would you like access to immediate help that shows you how to set up a weekly schedule, or limit temperatures, set auto-off, or schedule the night setback function? Most of these helpful and explanatory videos are 3 minutes or less, so in less time

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Ben Bartle-Ross is a trainer in air conditioning and heat pump systems at Mitsubishi Electric. This and other articles of relevance to the sector can be found at: http://thehub.mitsubishielectric.co.uk, which also acts as a useful sales tool for installers.

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AD V E RTOR IA L - C H ILLERS

Designed for the future The European Union is implementing the Ecodesign Directive in a bid to improve the energy efficiency of products and eliminate poor performing products from the market. The directive, which applies to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products in the European market, is set to have an enormous impact on the energy saving sector and many manufacturers are already responding positively to it. YORK Amichi series of YMAA / YMPA chillers and heat pumps from Johnson Controls, for example, boast among the highest efficiencies in the market at part load by meeting the stringent demands of Ecodesign 2021 Tier 2 standards today – three years early. YORK Amichi YMAA / YMPA chillers and heat pumps offer efficiency-optimised heating and cooling for five-star performance. A perfect fit for the midcapacity segment, the series comprises nine packaged, scroll, direct current (DC) inverter chillers and nine reversible heat pumps in capacities from 45 to 260kW. All units in the range use R410A refrigerant and marry the price benefit of a scroll chiller with the increased control of a DC inverter, resulting in best-in-class performance. Amichi YMAA / YMPA chillers and heat pumps feature energy efficiency ratings between 2.87 and 3, and seasonal energy efficiency ratios between 4.3 and 4.33. Coefficients of performance (CoP) range from 2.98 to 3.27 and seasonal CoP are 3.28 to 3.39.

The range achieves low ambient without kits and maintains efficiency in a variety of conditions, down to -17.8°C ambient in cooling mode and -15°C ambient in heating mode. The chillers and heat pumps incorporate a high efficiency brazed plate heat exchanger that uses less refrigerant than traditional products and transfer heat from the liquid to refrigerant more efficiently, providing excellent heat transfer performance in a compact size. This also results in a lower waterside pressure drop, allowing the use of smaller pumps and further minimizing building power consumption. The range also features electronically commutated (EC) fans which use more efficient motors and better aerodynamics to improve overall system efficiency

and sound performance, particularly at part load. The combination of variable speed compressor and fans provides a displacement power factor as high as 0.93, lowering electricity costs. The YORK Amichi range can maintain efficiency in a variety of conditions (down to -18°C ambient in cooling mode and -15°C ambient in heating mode) without the need for kits or add-ons, reducing the cost of the installation, and making it faster and simpler. On top of this, the YORK Amichi series uses DC inverter technology proven in over three decades of use. Johnson Controls was one of the first companies to use inverter scroll technology in 1985. This provides variable capacity control and allows Amichi compressors to operate more efficiently across all load and ambient conditions. Inverter technology also boosts the system’s durability, improves reliability and reduces discharge noise. Finally, the YORK Amichi series comes as standard with integrated ‘smart’ equipment to maximize efficiency and maintain tight control. This technology allows the equipment to connect seamlessly to building controls like Johnson Controls’ world-class Verasys system, where smart-enabled equipment can self-identify and interoperate. www.york.com

December | January 2019

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I N D OOR A IR QU A LITY

We need to clear the air

Indoor air quality is moving rapidly up the environmental agenda as the realisation grows that it is crucial to building occupants’ health and wellbeing, says Peter Dyment, technical manager at Camfil. The infamous London smog of December 1952 was the most devastating air pollution tragedy in the UK. Around 12,000 people were killed and a further 100,000 suffered ill-health after inhaling a lethal cocktail of sulphur dioxide, smoke particles, carbon dioxide and hydrochloric acid. This pollution disaster led to the Clean Air Act enacted in 1956, a pioneering law that offered a number of measures to reduce air pollution. However, more than 60 years after the Clean Air Act was introduced, there are still 40,000 fatalities attributable to exposure to outdoor air pollution in the UK each year, with more linked to indoor pollutants. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation estimates that air pollution causes around 6.5 million premature deaths every year and 360,000 premature deaths in the European Union as a result of worsening air pollution. A pioneering study published in 2016 (https://bit.ly/1PUBD09) – Every breath we take: The lifelong impact of air pollution – confirmed that air pollution plays a role in many major health challenges including cancer, asthma, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and changes linked to dementia. The report has impeccable medical backing; it was produced by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. It underlines how air quality affects all of us

– children to adults, people working inside and people working outside. Indeed, there is an intrinsic link between indoor and outdoor air quality; external pollutants don’t stop at our front door. Air pollutants generated outdoors are relevant to indoor air quality (IAQ) and health if they meet three criteria – they penetrate indoors, generate a significant portion of pollutants to indoor air, and harm the health of at least some of the indoor population. Filters form a vital part of the defence against air pollution. As building envelopes have become increasingly airtight over the years because of the requirements of energy efficiency it has become practical

to treat them as safe havens from dirty outside air. Air filtration is integral to this because it can provide impressive air cleaning capabilities. Small particulates – those designated ‘PM1’, meaning particulate matter with a diameter of 1 micrometre (micron) or less – can get through many of the standard filters used in air ventilation systems. Air filters that effectively separate PM1 particles protect people from serious health problems. But they also help sustain the general well-being and productivity of people by preventing bacteria and viruses (which are often PM1 in size) from spreading through the ventilation system. Airborne pollutant particles smaller than PM 10 (10 microns in diameter) are invisible to the naked eye which leads to complacency (if people can’t see it, there is no way to be sure it is there or not) – out of sight, out of mind. Common causes of poor IAQ include chemical emissions from building materials, ‘off-gassing’ from furniture, electronics and office appliances, and cleaning products, air fresheners, combustion particles from heating, carbon monoxide, radon and volatile organic

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INDO O R AIR Q UALIT Y

The Clean Air Act We breathe 25kg of air every day on average so minimising airborne pollution clearly matters. Indeed, the government is coming under increasing pressure to introduce a new Clean Air Act to tackle the UK’s toxic levels of air pollution. The Clean Air Bill was introduced to the House of Lords by Baroness Jenny Jones, a Green Party Peer, in July 2018 (the 62nd anniversary of the first Clean Air Act receiving Royal Assent and the National Health Service’s 70th birthday).

compounds, and microbial contaminants including mould and bacteria. Indoor air pollution sources can have seriously debilitating effects on people, especially those working in offices, who suffer lethargy and reduced concentration as well as health complaints; a worrying trend considering we spend 90% of our time indoors. To deliver good IAQ, the ventilation strategy must be approached as an integral part of the whole building; not as an add-on. Getting the building ventilation rate right is critical for energy efficiency and air quality – too high and it results in bigger heating bills as well as the ingress of outside pollution; too low and it can result in the

build-up of chemicals emitted from the building and internal fixtures, stale air and dampness (which can further add to health problems by encouraging mould growth). Managing IAQ can eliminate these problems. Indeed, IAQ has become a critical battleground in the fight for business in the lucrative tourist industry in China. The newly opened Cordis Hongqiao hotel in the heavily polluted city of Shanghai boasts in-room pollution monitors and filtered air typically 10 times cleaner than that outside. For this hotel, at least, top quality indoor air is a hard-earned differentiator on its many luxury competitors with the hotel’s management hopeful the clean air will ultimately boost room prices by around 10%.

Drafted in collaboration with Clean Air London, the Bill aims to enshrine the right to breathe clean air into UK law. If passed, the Bill – which covers air pollution both out and indoors – will enable people and communities to defend their right to clean air in the courts, forcing councils, corporations and government bodies to take air quality seriously. The author of this article – Peter Dyment – is an advisor to Simon Birkett, founder and director of Clean Air London, who is involved in making comments and adjustments to the proposed Clean Air Act. Mr Birkett said: “Baroness Jones’ Bill would enshrine the right to clean air in UK law across all forms of air pollution: indoor and outdoor; health and the environment; and, for the first time, require joined up thinking on climate change and local air pollution. It proposes a ‘top-down’ approach that would be based on the highest global standards and the best available science.”

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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A IR C ON D IT ION IN G

Fujitsu cool for school Replacement system delivering efficient heating and cooling.

system had totally failed. As a result, the school were using temporary heaters to warm the building – but they were simply not working. Plus, the system was also very noisy. “The school wanted to be able to cool and heat the space, as it goes from one extreme to the another, depending on the season. We opted to use Fujitsu as they are our preferred brand – plus, with an output of around 80kW required, their new big duct product fitted the bill perfectly. Fujitsu are also excellent in terms of back-up and technical support.”

Compatible

Four 19kW three-phase simultaneous multi systems from Fujitsu Air Conditioning (UK) have been installed at Woodhouse Grove School in West Yorkshire. The units were fitted in the Morton Hall – an old swimming pool building complete with glass atrium, that now serves as a multi-use sports hall, exhibition space and examination room. The new system comprises four indoor and four outdoor units, which will be used to heat and cool the hall, which previously suffered from overheating in the summer and a lack of warmth in winter. The project was completed in 2018 by Bradford-based JDR Cooling & Energy. James Craven, director at JDR, said: “The old and very inefficient gas boiler and fan

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It is anticipated the new system will result in the school saving money on its energy bills, due to the inefficiency of the old gas burner and fan system. In fact, the temporary heaters used previously had to be kept on for long periods and struggled to raise the temperature above 16°C. Fujitsu’s AOYG72LRLA units offer cooling and heating capacities of 19kW and 22.4kW (72K BTU) respectively. They measure 1,428mm (H) x 1,080mm (W) x 480mm (D) and operate at 55dB(A). The units are compatible with Fujitsu’s range of cassette, duct and ceiling products, allowing systems to be fitted across a wide range of property types. Configurations are available to suit any space, floor layout or natural lighting conditions, ensuring an ideal and comfortable level of air flow distribution. Plus, the products are fully compatible with Fujitsu’s wired remote controller, which can control up to 16 indoor units across eight systems, for a total maximum capacity of 176kW. www.fujitsu-general.com/uk/

Volume 5 No.1

03/12/2018 16:45

PACAIR TURNS 15 PACAIR was established in November 2003 and is proud to have recently celebrated its 15 year anniversary. In 2013 PACAIR North West opened, headed by Stuart Law, and this branch has grown impressively over the last 5 years. Then, in 2017, PACAIR Midlands opened, headed by Steve Rees, and is gowing progressively in its first year. PACAIR now has a total of 18 staff over the 3 branches. PACAIR has a proven record in providing multi-disciplinary air conditioning solutions, built up over years of excellence in the

design, application and supply of air conditioning systems. As an air conditioning supplier, PACAIR has successfully evolved its range of expertise. Through continual development and improvement the company has kept itself at the forefront of the industry, always striving to maintain knowledge of current regulations, new procurement routes and innovative products. PACAIR wishes to thank its valued customers, and indeed its supply chain, for their support over the last 15 years, and looks forward to continuing to grow with them in the years to come.

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acrjournal.uk PACAIR.indd 23

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A IR H AN D L IN G U N ITS

Meeting the vertical challenge Nick Baldwin of Mansfield Pollard details a recent project to design and manufacture 122 vertical air handling units (air towers) for a high-profile building in central London. The units on the production line at Mansfield Pollard

The units in position

Mansfield Pollard has an industry-leading reputation for developing best in class solutions for the most complex and challenging air management applications as well as delivering exceptional levels of customer service. This project for a high-profile building In London was no exception. The brief was to design and manufacture the vertical air towers to deliver 4m3/s of conditioned air, along with built-in sound attenuation and integrated controls package (by a client nominated supplier). The physical size and footprint of the unit was particularly critical as return air was to be taken from a high-level ceiling void and mixed with a minimum quantity of fresh air (also taken from a similarly high level), to suit the occupancy level. Following conditioning by the various internal AHU components to achieve the required range of air quality levels, the air was then supplied via underfloor ducts to the office floor areas.

Measuring over 3 metres in height, the units were to be situated in extremely space restricted plantrooms around the perimeter of the designated office floors with a footprint of less than 3.5m2 per unit. There were 16 units per floor positioned as handed pairs which would allow for unit redundancy during planned preventative maintenance. As the plant rooms containing the air towers were positioned on the busy office floors, noise breakout was of fundamental importance. Mansfield Pollardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acoustic specialists worked alongside the air handling team to create an integrated attenuation solution. Designed for maximum performance, the attenuator measured 2500mm x 1200mm x 500mm and comprised of a 7-module bank of wedgeshaped splitter elements to reduce air loss without compromising noise reduction capability. Manufactured from high grade, perforated galvanised steel with an inner cavity containing high density glass fibre

slab, the team achieved break out noise reduction levels of 60dB(a) @1m.

Design challenges Vertical units can cause various design challenges, specifically to effectively manage moisture and remove any condensation generated by the cooling process. With the cooling coil being horizontally mounted and dealing with a significant amount of latent energy, the volume of condensate being generated was substantial. A bespoke chevron style drain tray was designed to capture the moisture dropping off the coil and allow smooth air passage. The drain tray captured and removed the condensate without generating significant any pressure drop, which would have affected fan performance and system efficiency. A number of prototypes were trialled before a final design was implemented and during the testing at BSRIA, the condensate capture and removal

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AIR HANDLING UNITS

was successfully verified under design environmental conditions. All units had to be fully serviced in-situ and the unit specification required both preventative and critical maintenance (in the event of component failure), to be undertaken efficiently and effectively. Meticulous planning was carried out during the design phase to ensure the equipment could be easily accessed for service including the vital maintenance of the hot swap fans. Coils had connections positioned so that they could be slid out unhindered. Removal of the fans in case of a breakdown was also a concern and this resulted in Mansfield Pollard’s engineers designing a quick release and removal system. A computer simulation was then produced in 3D to demonstrate to the customer prior to implementation and an instruction video created as part of the operation and maintenance package following project completion.

BSRIA testing Prior to commencement of the full manufacturing process, a complete prototype unit was built and transported to BSRIA for full performance testing covering acoustics, coil flow performance, volumetric and casing leakage pressure testing. A further unit was manufactured and taken to a mock-up facility where a true-to-life replica plant room was built to demonstrate that both performance levels could be achieved, and effective maintenance could be implemented. Once all tests and mock-ups were completed, Mansfield Pollard incorporated any final design changes prior to the initial production run. Business flexibility is one of Mansfield Pollard’s key strengths and to ensure an efficient build process, one

of their mothballed satellite factories was quickly re-commissioned. Adaptive 24hour shifts, lean manufacturing processes and a production line assembly process involving frame building, panelling and component installation areas, ensured all delivery timescales were met. During the project, Mansfield Pollard worked closely with the main contractor’s control engineers. The unit design incorporated a large integrated control

panel and collaborative working ensured access to the production line prior to pre-fitting the controls and sensors. The intuitive controls package was designed to minimise energy usage (by adjusting airflow rates) and maximise unit efficiency via a range of on-board sensors, all linking seamlessly to the buildings BMS. One in ten towers were factory tested for volumetric and casing leakage with all being witnessed by the main contractor at the manufacturer’s premises prior to despatching the units in quantities of six using low loader transport. This was planned strategically, both in time and execution, to avoid London traffic restrictions and to allow crane access to lift the units into place. A combination of a multi-disciplinary and highly experienced engineering workforce, an agile and flexible manufacturing process and market leading customer service, secured project completion within the three-month agreed timescale and further enhanced Mansfield Pollard’s reputation as a solutions provider for any demanding air management project. CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

www.mansfieldpollard.co.uk Testing on the BSRIA rig

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A N N IV E R S A RY

Growing together

Karl Richardson gives a personal view on the 10th anniversary of Logicool Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps.

The first celebration of the anniversary saw more than 80 guests gather at Southwell Racecourse at an event co-funded by Mitsubishi Electric. This was followed by a karting day in association with Panasonic which is covered in more detail on the facing page. Logicool is also hoping to confirm a third event with Hitachi during its anniversary year.

able to understand that environment and embrace the challenges that it presents to us daily. These facts represent the core of what and how we educate our staff. We try to understand our clients and offer the best possible service that they can expect. This isn’t always possible but it is how we deal with things that either reduces or increases our reputation with the Logicool client base.

Every order counts

Lisa Macpherson, customer services supervisor, and Dan Lewis, technical sales engineer, presenting a prize at Southwell, watched by Karl Richardson, right

Formed in 2008, at the height of the recession and with an initial investment of under £5,000, Logicool has grown into a £6.5m turnover business with 15 staff and a growing reputation in an everchallenging market. The last 10 years have seen us witness numerous challenges and experience unforgettable high points that have made us what we are today. The business retains a strong ethos based on values which promote respect, standards and teamwork throughout our involvement in the supply chain. We believe that modern businesses requires realistic thinking. This does not mean “blue-sky” ideas but working together and respecting our responsibilities and expectations. A supplier to the building services sector cannot rely on a culture of digital marketing. It needs to promote real communication and understanding of our

"Every order that Logicool has received from 2008 to 2018 is an achievement that we are proud of" customers requirements. We try to educate new staff with the reality that employees within the air conditioning sector cannot expect to walk into work with a plan. Everything changes by 9am and we, as a supplier to the HVAC market, need to be

We exist in a market which is presenting challenges that we have never faced before. Presently, F-Gas and Kigali do not offer us a clear view of what the marketplace will look like when we celebrate another 10 years. We understand that the air conditioning market may see very little growth over the next decade and therefore we expect Logicool 2028 to look very different. We aim to continue to grow our air conditioning sales by taking more of the market share via our growing profile and commitment to great customer service whilst also focusing on emerging products and technologies. We expect that this will include growing sales in heat exchangers, air to water, chillers, air handling units and IT cooling. What we will not do, however, is lose focus with the clients that have got us to where we are today. Our strategy is to grow together.

Gill Richardson presenting a prize at Southwell

Karl recalls that getting through the first Christmas was touch-and-go after Logicool was hit by a significant bad debt. He said: “The only way we could stay afloat was by selling our CD collection on Amazon. Most went for £3, £4 or £5 but I think I had an album by a relatively unknown Scottish rock band that raised £18, so that must have been a rare one!"

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ANNIVERSARY

10 years ago it gave me a lot of pleasure to receive an order for a 2.5kW wall mounted system. That feeling still exists today and I always correct staff or clients when I hear the words “it’s only a small wall mount” or “I know its only a small order but….”. No order is a small order. Every order that Logicool has received from 2008 to 2018 is an achievement that we are proud of. £50 remote controllers can lead to £100,000 VRF orders. That ethos has been with Logicool from 2008 to 2018 and will remain with Logicool from 2018 to 2028.

"What we will not do is lose focus with the clients that have got us to where we are today. Our strategy is to grow together" Support and backing Looking back to 2008, we recognise that many of our existing clients were with us 10 years ago. Some of these clients remain the same company whilst many others are ex-employees of now non-trading clients, who dealt with Logicool at the time and then took the plunge to start their own businesses. With that in mind, we recognise the fact that many companies who traded with Logicool in 2008 are no longer trading and we need to remain respectful of the economic uncertainty which has followed us for these last 10 years. There is no sign of an impending economic boom. A sign of our success is the people that have remained with Logicool throughout the journey as well as the businesses. We have grown together and aim to continue to do so. Myself and Gill would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff, clients and suppliers who have supported us over the last 10 years. We would not have been able to start this business without the support and backing of Hitachi Air Conditioning, and would not have been able to grow without the additional support of Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic. Those three brands gave us the opportunities, our clients supported us with enquiries and purchase orders and our staff deliver the success. That is how a supply chain works and we thank everyone for their support and look forward to the economic boom!

Guests enjoying the karting day co-hosted by Panasonic

Customers and representatives from Panasonic joined the Logicool team at Daytona Racing in Tamworth to help mark the 10-year milestone. Paul Hetherington, managing director of Intermech, who teamed up with Logicool’s Steve Hardiman to win the endurance challenge, said: “Karl and the team at Logicool have an in-depth understanding of the industry. Coupled with their consistent reliability, this has kept us coming back as a repeat customer over the 10-year business relationship. All the team at Logicool are a real pleasure to do business with.” Second place went to Marc Newbold and Alister Bolstridge of Aircon Services Tamworth (a company which has been purchasing equipment for every one of the last 10 years). Another long-term client, John Lewis of Brookair Danfab,

and karting partner Dan Lewis, of Logicool, were third. Enrique Vilamitjana, managing director of Panasonic Air Conditioning & Heating Europe, later presented the Logicool team with a commemorative wall plaque and birthday cake. He said “Karl Richardson has an exemplary CV which spans over 25 years in the industry. He has led the Logicool team well with a clear vision and determination to keep focused on where the business needs to be. We at Panasonic look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”

From left, Makoto Takahashi, CEO Panasonic Appliances AC Europe, and Enrique Vilamitjana, managing director of Panasonic Air Conditioning & Heating Europe, with Gill and Karl Richardson CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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A N N IV E R S A RY

years of humidity control

Humidity Solutions recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Here, managing director John Barker reflects on a sometimes challenging decade and and looks forward to future innovations. Ten successful years in business is something to celebrate and we at Humidity Solutions were very pleased recently to gather many of the people and businesses that have helped us to succeed over the past decade. Humidity Solutions started trading on 1 October 2008, a day that saw not just the launch of a new and energetic company committed to providing the best possible service, but also the day that Lehmann Brothers collapsed, sparking the biggest financial crisis in history to date. The day the banks went bust - what a day to start a business! It was also the day David Cameron, as leader of the opposition,

announced that he was the man to rebuild broken Britain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what could go wrong? In the buoyant climate of 2008 we started a business and, since then, have had the joy of recession, austerity and now Brexit. So I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair to say that we have had a challenging climate in which to work. However, with the great team we have built at Humidity Solutions, we have managed to not only survive, but to prosper during this time. To celebrate this success, and mark a significant anniversary, we held a media event at Church House, next to Westminster Abbey. This magnificent building, which housed Parliament when

Celebrating the anniversary in the splendour of Westminster Abbey Photograph: Andrew Fleming Photography

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ANNIVERSARY Westminster Palace was bombed during the second world war, is in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, where Humidity Solutions provides humidity control for the abbeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s museum. Twenty journalists attended the event, representing magazines from the many sectors we serve, including HVAC, refrigeration, print, leisure, charcuterie and pharmaceutical, as well as the broader commercial and industrial sectors. They came to hear a little about our past, but mainly about the innovations and plans that we have moving forward. Information presented at the event included case studies for humidifiers and dehumidifiers, announcements of new products - such as the new Neptronic SKE4 resistive humidifier - and other developments, such as Devatecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new state of the art factory in France. Formal presentations were followed by a break out session over lunch, with suppliers from around the world adding their expertise and knowledge in wide-ranging discussions, bringing new angles and life to these stories and making them even more relevant to the magazinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; readers. All of which demonstrated how standard humidity control products can be applied to a range of applications when combined with experience and expertise. For instance, a stable 50% RH is important to enable glue to cure, prevent static, provide dimensional stability for paper or timber and to keep employees comfortable. That same evening, Westminster Abbey was the location for a celebratory dinner,

where those who have been integral in the success of the company enjoyed a private tour of the Abbey, followed by a magnificent banquet in the Cellarium. A truly unique and unforgettable evening.

"In the buoyant climate of 2008 we started a business and, since then, have had the joy of recession, austerity and Brexit. So I think it is far to say we have had a challenging climate in which to work" Looking ahead Humidity Solutions leads the way in humidity control, being the only company that is not owned by a manufacturer and is therefore independently better-placed to select the best products from around the world. Indeed, we are delighted to be magnificently supported by our suppliers from France, Canada, Lithuania, Italy and Denmark. Looking ahead to the next 10 years, I foresee many directions that we as a business can aim for, alongside our suppliers. For example, there are exciting discussions around humidifiers that generate their own moisture supply so that they do not need to be mains or tank fed. The concept of a waterless humidifier using desiccant technology may sound strange,

but this could be a viable solution for small applications where suitable water supplies are not readily available. Another development to watch out for is recyclable steam generating cylinders for electrode boilers to reduce environmental impact. There also needs to be a move towards humidifiers and dehumidifiers that are independent of the grid and can operate from solar or wind power units using battery technology. Even more important are the growing markets for humidity control: where day in, day out repeatable conditions maintain an optimum humidity environment. This applies to a wide range of applications where proper humidity control improves indoor air quality, creates consistent conditions for manufacturing, reduces the risk of dehydration in homes and businesses and suppresses infection risk in healthcare facilities. As domestic properties become more and more airtight, as is already the case in North America, the need for residential humidity control will become essential for maintaining a healthy environment. These are just some of the sectors where appreciation of effective humidity control is increasing. Humidity Solutions is well positioned to continue to provide solutions for old and new challenges, and we look forward to further strengthening our relationships with colleagues, suppliers and customers into the future. www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Humidity Solutions and its suppliers gave an insight into future innovations at Church House

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C ON TR OLS

A change of approach In meeting the need for lower running costs in today’s commercial buildings, it is important to bear in mind the 10 80 10 rule. Jon Belfield, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), highlights how training is integral to achieving this… Everybody wants a building that looks great, in fact the more sophisticated it looks the better. But this can come at a price as more and more, we are seeing commercial buildings that look great on the eye but are costing huge amounts to operate. It is of course possible to have a building that is aesthetically pleasing without costing you the earth. One of the ways this is possible is by taking into account the 10 80 10 rule. For those of you of you not entirely familiar with the 10 80 10 concept; this represents the total lifetime costs of a building, whereby 10% is invested at the construction stage; 80% is spent on operating the building and the remaining 10% is accounted for in dismantling and demolition. I’m sure you will agree that spending 80% on the running and maintenance of a building; on areas such as air-conditioning, is somewhat alarming. With only 10% spent at the design stage of a building – clearly this is something that the industry needs to reconsider in regard to the lifecycle costs of a building and reducing operational expenditure. As I see it, a change of approach is the way forward. There are many things to juggle at the start of a construction project and it can be hard to please everyone in the supply chain due to budgets and time restraints. Often, due to such pressures, or

‘value engineering’, vital sensors and zones are left out of a building which will lead to the building not performing to its optimum. It may seem a ‘win’ to not spend much at the design phase but this will unfortunately bite back later as without a fully functioning control system in place, the building will not operate at peak efficiency and will end up costing a lot more down the line… The case for building controls at the design phase can easily get overlooked, possibly through a lack of understanding of what controls can do for a building over the long term. The majority of a supply chain has their own short term objectives to meet, however by implementing effective building controls from the outset, this will ensure a building is energy efficient and cost effective over the years. Together as an industry, we have the power to raise awareness on the importance of building controls being in place from the start of construction projects. Figures from the BCIA’s Market Information Services (MIS) showed that a new record was set earlier this year of £654.8 million for the total controls and BEMS market in the UK. This highlights a 0.3% increase in comparison to one year ago and outlines the impact that controls systems have in today’s buildings. Therefore, we must capitalise on such excellent statistics. We can do this through

training - engineers who have a full understanding of how and why we need to implement suitable controls systems from the outset, will make a substantial difference in lowering operational costs over the lifecycle of a building which can ultimately span tens of years. Buildings and technologies are continually evolving and it is critical that those involved at all stages of constructing a building are aware of the need to think about the long term potential and benefits of a building for the end user. Trained engineers can share and use their in-depth knowledge and innovative skills to help lower operational costs and make a Return on Investment (ROI) for the building owner. The BCIA has a wide range of training courses available that can help those new or experienced within the sector to get up to date with the fast changing and dynamic world of building controls. So, let’s make the most of available training and think about our long term approach. By bearing in mind 10 80 10 from the design phase, this will help us reach our common goal of lowering operational costs in buildings through the use of innovative and effective building controls. www.bcia.co.uk

December | January 2019

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Volume 5 No.1

03/12/2018 16:49

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B MS

Time to join the smart set Smart buildings are not merely an option for the 21st Century, they are a necessity, says Alpesh Trivedi of YORK.

performance in use to be compared with design criteria and design simulations. This can help identify potential problems in operation or design and can help validate

Intelligent buildings adapt to occupancy needs in real time while also optimising energy usage. They often connect internal systems – HVAC controls, data networks, power management, and so on – with external networks to more efficiently monitor and manage building operations. Of course, smart buildings can’t operate without smart technology. Every smart building has a ‘central nervous system’ powered by the technological equivalent of a brain. The ‘brain’ of a smart building is the building management system (BMS), a microprocessor-based system that controls building services. It works by using intelligent standalone controllers or outstations and sensors to accurately control plant such as boilers, pumps, fans, lights and security systems in response to changing conditions such as time, temperature and light levels. As well as collating data and ensuring ease of control, a BMS can also help visualise data, automatically generate reports and create alarms and alerts when parameters are exceeded, failures occur, or – with prognostic systems – when failures are likely to occur. Most importantly, an intelligent BMS brings together information and controls relating to a number of different systems using a range of software applications and allow them to be controlled from a single interface. This makes monitoring and analysis straightforward and comprehensive, and allows information from one system to influence the controls for another. So the BMS can:

modelling techniques. BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a building, creating a shared knowledge resource for information about it that forms a reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle, from earliest conception to demolition. Building information models might include information about the operation and maintenance of building components and the BMS can provide this. A BMS is also the ideal companion to the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) – the interconnection, via the internet, of computers embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data. °O ffer geater control of systems and conditions. °G ather data gathering and generate reports. ° I ncrease productivity. ° F acilitate better informed response to complaints. A ° llocate operating costs within a business or to tenants. °C reate more targeted use of resources

for replacement and maintenance of equipment. E ° nsure early detection of issues. ° L ower operating costs and carbon emissions. °E xtend equipment life. ° I mprove safety. The ability to and expand a BMS gives it vast capabilities which are restricted only by cost and the user’s commitment to control. User commitment is essential to get the best out of a BMS; without it the system will be underused. A BMS may now be integrated with building information models (BIM) to allow

"An intelligent BMS system brings together information and controls relating to a number of different systems... and allows them to be controlled from a single interface"

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BM S The IoT connects and integrates industrial control systems with enterprise systems, business processes and analytics. In doing so, it can help cut operating costs. The IoT enables systems to connect, share and optimize data across technology silos using a common communications language. And having technology throughout the enterprise helps to deliver the defined business and building outcomes. A large proportion of a building’s lifecycle costs accrue after construction. Intelligently deployed technology such as a BMS with the IoT saves energy, reduces maintenance and aids workflow and worker productivity, cutting operational and utility expenses by 10-15%.

My own company’s YORK branded AMICHI series of YMAA / YMPA chillers and heat pumps, for example, works with the Verasys supervisory controller. This creates a smarter building, ensuring more comfort, greater productivity and better energy efficiency. Verasys provides a simple user experience with configurable controllers (without the need for specialist tools), creating the first plug-and-play experience integrating HVACR equipment’s and controls. It enables contractors to offer a bundled solution of equipment and controls to serve the mid-market. An intelligent system can begin with a single outstation. This can be expanded at any time by adding further outstations and

linking them via a simple communications network. The system can be enhanced by linking the outstations to a PC running appropriate applications software. This will then act as a management tool, enabling all outstations to be monitored and adjusted from a central control point. www.verasyscontrols.com

The benefits of using a BMS In the same way as you would build a physical infrastructure to accommodate a future workforce, it’s also critical to install the intelligent infrastructure and bandwidth that will handle future innovation. That is what a building management system (BMS) is designed to do. A well-specified BMS can: • provide energy cost savings of 1020% compared to standard controls • repay capital investment in 2-5 years • enable comfort conditions to be easily monitored and controlled from a single point • offer additional features, such as security, fire detection/alarm and teaching aids • ensure easy allocation of energy use to specific cost centres • easily be extended to cover future expansion and/or accommodate changing requirements

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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E C T E C H N OL OGY

Delivering energy savings by using simple upgrades Upgrading one component within an HVAC system could reduce the energy consumption of a building by 40%. Tony Wright, divisional director at ebm-papst, explores the core benefits achievable through only upgrading the fan component of a HVAC system to an EC (Electronically Commutated) motor across a range of sectors.

One of the simplest ways to reduce energy consumption in a commercial building is to ensure all HVACR equipment is fitted with the highest efficiency ‘EC technology’ fans. In the refrigeration, air conditioning, and building technology sector, uncontrolled AC motors are still frequently used to drive fans. But they have a serious disadvantage: comparatively low efficiency. This has an effect on energy consumption in practically all applications. It’s possible to boost energy savings, without the hefty pay

out of installing a completely new HVAC system through retrofit. In a retrofit or upgrade, specific components are upgraded to improve the performance of an existing HVAC or refrigeration system. Typically, inefficient fans with AC motors are replaced with highly efficient EC fans. EC motors are brushless DC motors powered by AC mains. They use permanent magnet motors, running on high voltage direct current (DC) electricity, with built in AC to DC conversion, allowing them to run direct

from single phase or three phase mains supplies. The result is high performance, silent speed control and long-life expectancy in a product which is the same size as the old, power hungry AC products it replaces. We know it’s not always financially viable to upgrade entire HVAC systems to reap the benefits of this improved technology. Here are some examples from a range of sectors where only upgrading the ‘fan’ component of a system to EC technology provided the perfect solution:

The installation by Airedale at Croydon Health Services reduced power consumption and increased available airflow

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EC TECHNO LO G Y

CASE IN POINT: Airport check-in When the fan in the air handling unit (AHU) that serves the check-in area failed, Birmingham Airport urgently needed a replacement. The solution was a completely new FanGrid system. A contra-rotating axial fan served the air conditioning system for the check-in area of the Airport. When the motor of the fan broke down the entire air conditioning system shut down. Airport management needed help quickly and contacted service provider and air treatment experts Munters, for support. Instead of replacing the big contra-rotating axial fan, we replaced it with a new FanGrid design with five EC fans. This design prevents whole system failure. If one fan were to fail, the remaining four can increase their speed. They can compensate for the loss and continue to deliver the air volume required. The retrofit reduced Birmingham Airport’s power consumption of 24 kW to 6.6 kW. Its energy consumption is reduced by 72% and the airport saves over €12,000 per year.

CASE IN POINT: Supermarket refrigeration Henderson Group, the family-owned business that owns Spar and Eurospar, achieved an 80% reduction in energy consumption with an EC upgrade. Refrigeration systems account for between 30% - 60% of the total electricity used by supermarkets. In this case, the simplest and most cost-effective way of improving the chiller cabinet’s energy performance was to upgrade the fans from AC to EC fans, incorporating on-board electronics which allow control of the power input to the motor, thus achieving the required fan speed. Utilising EC fan technology in chiller cabinets results in far lower running costs than traditional AC fans, and consequently lower ‘life-time costs’. The company reviewed the energy output of its existing stock of 2000 refrigeration fans, which worked with conventional energy-hungry shaded-pole motors. The business contacted us, and Cross Group, which delivers industrial and commercial refrigeration solutions, to install over 2,000 new fans throughout their 400 stores. The business’ existing 38W AC fridge fans were upgraded to ebm-papst’s EC 8W fans, reducing the kW demand from 91.2kW to 17.60kW. This led to a total power consumption reduction of 644,736kWh, with the new EC fans consuming just 154,176kWh in a year; compared to the 798,912kWh of the old fans.

CASE IN POINT: NHS estate

A completely new FanGrid system was installed at Birmingham Airport

The Croydon Health Services engineering team, along with Carbon Architecture, who manage energy projects for the trust, were keen to explore the possibility of upgrading the tired, old, belt-driven fan in one of its AHUs. The aim was to reduce energy consumption and increase the available airflow capacity. In the height of summer, the existing AHU was not delivering adequate airflow, leading to overheating problems in the hospital. Carbon Architecture had a full validation of the existing AHU carried out and supplied this information to Airedale International Air Conditioning. A detailed site survey was then carried out to confirm the mechanical solution as well as record the unit‘s power consumption. The existing DOL motor was found to be drawing 9kW and delivering approx. 15,000 m3/h.*based on 10p per kWh at matched original performance. We produced a bespoke fan and bulkhead solution that allowed simple installation and connection via pre-wired extended control and mains cables. The technology at the core of the solution is the EC RadiPac centrifugal fan; a direct drive EC external rotor motor, with aerofoil backward curved impeller and onboard control electronics including integral variable speed drive. The onboard electronics allow for alarm outputs/ condition monitoring, simple analogue speed control, closed loop sensor control (demand ventilation) and MODBUS communication/ control, ideal for integration to the hospitals planned BMS upgrade works. A professional installation was carried out by Airedale, with little fuss and minimum downtime over an 8-hour period. After the on-site team carried

out some minor alterations to the electrical panel, which included the addition of its own sub-meter, the unit was back up and running in no time. The installation achieved its two primary objectives; reducing the power consumption of the AHU by 40% (a 3.6 kW reduction at matched duty) and increased the available airflow. It also provided additional benefits of being maintenance free and increased the system resilience, control and monitoring. Conducting an upgrade programme is less disruptive than you might think. EC fans are usually directly interchangeable with their predecessors, meaning the replacement process is quick and simple. Longer term ongoing maintenance is also minimised, as the EC technology means there is less heat flowing through the motors which in turn leads to fewer rotor copper and slip losses. Since the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% (from the 1990 baseline) by 2050. The University of Birmingham warned recently that in this time, the warming climate will cause the demand for cooling appliances to quadruple. Researchers predict energy use for air conditioners and refrigeration to jump 90% compared to 2017 levels. HVAC systems are typically responsible for 60% of a building’s energy consumption, so reducing the energy impact consumption of these units can be very rewarding for building, energy and facility managers.

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www.ebmpapst.co.uk/upgrade

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Our industry... our future Kevin Glass began his term as the new president of the Institute of Refrigeration by highlighting the challenge of harnessing the opportunities presented by the new generation of intelligent plant now available. As he formally took up the position, succeeding Steve Gill, the managing director of BITZER UK also said refrigerants remained at the top of the industry’s unresolved technical issues list. Regarding intelligent plant, he said: "Following the electro-mechanical and then electronic control era, the digital era we are now entering is another revolution in the making. The capabilities it opens up, which we have just begun to glimpse, are breathtaking and I believe will prove to be genuinely revolutionary.'' Mr Glass also stressed that the industry's ability to make the most of these opportunities depended on recruiting the people with the right skills and knowledge. He said: "We have struggled as an industry in the past to recruit and retain the talented people we need. It has been a pressing issue on the industry's agenda for as long as I have been employed in this industry. "There is some great work being done by the IOR in promoting the industry in schools, and I applaud the initiative in taking this vital issue forward.''

Refrigerants On issue of refrigerants, and in the wake of a recent announcement from Honeywell regarding a “breakthrough’’ non-flammable alternative to R410A, Mr Glass said: “Top of the industry’s unresolved technical issues and challenges list remains refrigerants. I am sometimes asked if I believe there is a “silver bullet” yet to be discovered. The simple answer, of course, is no. Everyone wants a return to simplicity and a settled order in relation to refrigerants. However, of necessity we continue to navigate our way through a multiplicity of options. Just when the focus appeared to be narrowing, a new left-field option recently sprang into view and we have a new possibility on the table, and a new validation challenge. “Whenever compounds not previously used in refrigeration and air conditioning

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Kevin Glass.indd 36

Kevin Glass, second left, with past-presidents, from left, John Ellis, Steve Gill and Andy Pearson

are adopted, it inevitably involves a lot of uncertainty around materials compatibility. All that has yet to be worked through and this takes time. However, materials compatibility testing and validation have to be thorough and systematic; there really are no short cuts. Huge potential investments in plant and manufacturing infrastructure depend on it. At this stage, and subject to proper evaluation, the best that can be said is that recent developments and new formulations for refrigerants may turn out to be silver-plated bullets. It could also open the door to other, potential new options in the future. This is a promising area and has generated understandable excitement. However, time will tell if this offers a genuine new way forward.

Brexit Mr Glass said he was “acutely aware’’ of what was at stake with Brexit. He said: “Given our industry’s historic trading relationships and the interdependency between the UK and our European partners, it is vital that frictionless borders are retained, in as far as this is possible, post Brexit. Our ability to maintain the nation’s critical cooling infrastructure depends on the vital flow of equipment, components and services. We should be under no illusion about the potential negative impact of a socalled hard Brexit, and interruption to flows of goods and materials at our borders. The

nation’s food chain, medicine and healthcare, critical industries and our ability to maintain our cities as productive places to live and work, all depend on an efficient and fully functioning “refrigeration economy”. “This in turn depends on the free flow of goods and services between producers, installers and end users across the continent. “We all know the importance of speed in dealing with cooling plant breakdowns. The nation simply cannot afford the cost and disruption to vital services that would ensue if vital replacement plant was routinely quarantined at the docks awaiting processing of paperwork. If workable customs practices for trade post-Brexit can’t be agreed, there is a strong argument for special fast-track arrangements for critical equipment such as refrigeration and air conditioning plant, on grounds of national security and the economic well-being of the nation.’’ Mr Glass said there was uncertainty as to how Brexit would affect F-Gas quotas in the UK. Mr Glass paid tribute to his predecessor, Steve Gill, and in particular his role in helping to develop the Women in RACHP network. ° Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox and Jacinta Caden, business development manager at Integral Refrigeration, have been elected to the IOR board of trustees.

Volume 5 No.1

05/12/2018 16:11

REFRIG ERATIO N

training course at Cool Concerns, our engineers found the actual installation of the packaged units very simple and they were fully supported by Dean & Wood representatives during the commissioning process. “The units we installed are running

The natural choice Installations show versatility of Cubo2 Smart CO2 condensing units CASE STUDY 1 North East refrigeration engineers H.A. Davie have installed four SCM Cubo2 Smart condensing units from Dean & Wood at a new-build Heron Foods store in Stocktonon-Tees. H. A. Davie were approached by Heron Foods to look at alternative,

environmentally friendly refrigerants which would offer a more stable price and availability in the future. Keith Scott, from H.A. Davie, said: "We were very impressed by the Cubo2 Smart for its build quality and design and the comprehensive support offered by SCM and Dean & Wood. After completing the

a 12m run of dairy cabinets, chill room and a freezer room and we have been very impressed by noise levels and running efficiencies. We would definitely recommend the Cubo2 Smart for ease of installation, efficiency and sustainability.” Up to three indoor evaporators can be run on one Cubo2 Smart unit with a combined duty of 8kW. The units are inverter driven and give a 25%-100% capacity modulation. All units are fitted with the Carel HECU Sistema control system. Adelle Munro, sales engineer for Dean & Wood Newcastle, said “The new store was an ideal application for the Cubo2 Smart condensing units. We worked closely with H.A. Davie to ensure that their engineers were confident in installing, commissioning and maintaining the new CO2 technology.”

CASE STUDY 2 A Cornish hotel is leading the way in the smaller commercial sector by using an environmentally friendly natural refrigerant for its food cold storage. The Beach Hotel, near Bude, is well aware of the damaging effects some technologies and plastics can have and, after discussing its plans with contractor KJ Refrigeration, chose to use CO2. Two of KJ Refrigeration’s engineers attended the Cubo2 Smart training course at Cool Concerns, where they became familiar with CO2 and the technology. Dean & Wood selected and supplied the full coldroom package including the Cubo2 Smart condensing unit, LU-VE CO2 evaporator, Carel controls and K65 pipe and fittings. Although the capital equipment was more expensive than traditional HFC/ HFO condensing units, the hotel now has the security of knowing that the investment has given them a future proof, sustainable and environmentally friendly refrigeration system. Kevin Jones, managing director of KJ Refrigeration, said: “The Cubo2 Smart system, although more involved than a traditional one, was straightforward and we will use it again due to its low carbon footprint.’’

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www.dean-wood.co.uk

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Winter wonderland Low charge ammonia chillers transform efficiency and performance for Snozone.

The Snozone Xscape facility in Milton Keynes

A top UK indoor leisure attraction is experiencing significant energy savings and providing better conditions for winter sports enthusiasts following the installation of Star Refrigeration’s latest air-cooled Azanechillers 2.0. Star has helped helped Snozone Milton Keynes to save 56% on its electricity bills and achieve a drop in emissions of 700 tonnes of CO2, in only four months, thanks to the efficiency of the Azanechillers 2.0, which exceeded Europe’s EcoDesign Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements by 80%. The Snozone facility contains 1500 tonnes of snow and ice which has to be maintained at -4˚C air temperature for optimal operation, and the new refrigeration plant uses less energy to produce better skiing conditions. Keeping the environment cool at Snozone is crucial for business, but the building’s previous refrigeration plant was struggling with summer ambient temperatures and a temporary chiller plant was required regularly to support it on a seasonal basis.

Future-proofed

"The plant isn’t necessarily working harder than the previous system, it is just more efficient"

Hulley & Kirkwood, consulting engineers, designed a strategy for improving the cooling plant while maintaining business continuity. An innovative new refrigeration plant installation by Star Refrigeration, which uses ammonia as a refrigerant, has improved efficiency and safeguarded the facility for the future. Kyle Bell, Snozone’s operations director, said: “We have two indoor snow centres, and at our Castleford venue we operate with an ammonia based cooler system. We’ve had a good experience with ammonia in this location and found it extremely reliable, and therefore decided it was time to do the same at Snozone Milton Keynes.” Star Refrigeration and Hulley & Kirkwood worked together to deliver the project, which has achieved significant savings and benefits for Snozone since the 2017 installation. However, there were challenges to overcome – including the setback of the existing plant room being unsuitable for an ammonia

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REFRIG ERATIO N specialist refrigeration consultants Star Technical Solutions carried out an Ammonia Hazard Assessment. The location of two 9.7m long chillers on the paved area outside the plant room required careful surveying to ensure that they did not obstruct any underground services or impact on traffic movement or parking adjacent on the site access road. A louvered perimeter wall was specified to screen the chillers from public access that also allowed adequate air flow onto the air cooled condenser coils. It was also necessary to conduct noise surveys as a new hotel was being built close to the building.

Dramatic savings

plant. The car park was an impractical location so another outdoor location near to the existing plant room was found. Also, in order to identify all safety measures required for installation of the new outdoor packaged ammonia chillers,

The original R404A chillers were replaced with two Star AA415MTE-1 Azanechillers 2.0 rated for 360kW capacity chilling ethylene glycol from -10 to -13C. Vahterus plate and shell evaporators allow a close refrigerant approach while minimising ammonia charge to only 85kg per chiller. Acoustic enclosures around the compressor/motor assembly combined with EC condenser fans present the lowest noise outlay possible for the retrofit installation. With HFC refrigerants such as R404A being phased out and banned by 2020, it is important for businesses to consider the use of natural refrigerants such as ammonia

which have zero global warming potential. The new ammonia installation has been transformational for the Milton Keynes venue. Alan Walkinshaw, sales manager – special projects at Star Refrigeration, said: “The new equipment has been easily able to maintain -13C glycol temperatures in the ski slope even on warmer days, whereas the previous equipment was struggling to achieve -8C at peak times. However, the plant isn’t necessarily working harder than the previous system, it is just more efficient. Energy savings have been dramatic, with a 56% saving on electricity in the first four months of operation – from 1,511,062kWh to 661,255kWh for the same period in 2016.” Thanks to the upgraded system, Snozone has seen its world-class indoor snow activities future-proofed for the next 20 years, great news for ski enthusiasts, snowboarders and families looking for a fun day out. The installation has been shortlisted for Project of the Year in the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards, which will take place at Manchester’s Midland Hotel on 24 January 2019.

www.star-ref.co.uk/ www.snozoneuk.com/ www.hulley.co.uk/

A louvered perimeter wall was specified to screen the chillers

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Is cost really king? Ed Whinyates of Stonegrove Refrigeration details why choosing the right equipment and refrigerant is the best way to ensure value for money.

Inverter drives on compressor motors increase the efficiency of reciprocating compressors

For any capital project, it is never easy for a customer to select the right refrigeration proposal from contractors. Based on the assumption that all the tendering contractors are proposing a system that will ‘do the required job’ a final choice may boil down to price. Certainly price is very important, but the question needs to be asked “what is the client getting for their money?”

Air purgers on industrial applications remove non combustibles, reducing discharge pressure and, in turn, the amount of energy consumed

We would like to think that all refrigeration companies will offer the best possible solution when putting together a proposal – especially if there is not a detailed specification and the full design is part of the tender process. However, as there is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution, each contractor may take a different approach when working out duty calculations and equipment selection. At the very least it would be expected that what is proposed will work, but there are a number of factors that a client ought to consider over and above the total price. These should include energy efficiency, running costs and longevity of plant. In simple terms the following analogy may help to illustrate this. A customer needs to buy a delivery van to take a full load of product from the factory to the wholesaler, so they look at two vans. Both look similar and can carry the same amount of product. Van A costs £15,000.00 and Van B costs £18,000.00. However, Van A will need to be refuelled twice as often and will need to be replaced after 5 years. Van B uses half the amount of fuel and will last 10 years. Admittedly this is a simplistic example, but the choice of a refrigeration system can be very similar to this.

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REFRIG ERATIO N Value for money At a time of great change in refrigeration, particularly with F-Gas regulations and a real need to address our environmental impact, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that energy efficiency, running costs and longevity of plant are addressed when designing and proposing a refrigeration solution. A new installation can be a huge cost to an end client, which impacts on cash flow and offers no direct financial return. Because of these factors there is no doubt that the cost of a project is very important, so the approach should be aimed at value for money, not cheapest price.

How? There are a number of ways to ensure the client gets value for money, with one of these being the equipment selection. Correct equipment selection will help with improved running costs and offer greater longevity. It is estimated that refrigeration uses up to 50% - 75% of a company’s energy consumption so a bespoke design can incorporate a number of features which may benefit the client over and above just keeping an area at a specific temperature. Some good examples include things such as heat recovery which can be used to heat the glycol for the cold store heater mat and help with office heating running costs. For a relatively small capital outlay, free cooling can be incorporated at the time of installation – which is a great energy saver during the colder months of the year. With efficiency comes an improved effect on the environment. This in turn offers the opportunity to apply for grants and funding

Heat recovery (see flow chart below) can be used to heat the glycol for cold store heater mats and help with office heating running costs

(tax relief benefits etc.) which helps offset some of the capital outlay. Some good examples of efficiency include EC fans – which are more efficient (DC technology) and offer variable speed on condensers. Inverter drives on compressor motors increase the efficiency of reciprocating compressors, as it slows down and saves on running costs. It also eliminates the stopping and starting of compressors (cutting out the power spike costs associated with starting up a motor). Air purgers on industrial applications remove non combustibles, thereby reducing discharge pressure and, in turn, the energy consumed. There are also further technologies such as floating head pressure control and suction pressure optimisation. Another way to ensure longevity of a refrigeration system is the refrigerant selection. With the ongoing changes to F-Gas regulations, one of the best ways to ensure value for money is to future-proof an installation. By ensuring an installation has a refrigerant with a low GWP (Global Warming Potential) this will help to negate

the need to rip out a functioning system – which is a problem many companies using R404A are facing. The best examples of these are the natural refrigerants – being ammonia (NH3) and CO2 (R744). There are also a growing number of new refrigerants being released by manufacturers, including pure HFOs and multi-component blends. HFO (HydroFluoroOlefin) refrigerants are the fourth generation of refrigerants to be developed and introduced to the market. They are an alternative refrigerant with low GWP values that reduce environmental impact while offering energy efficiency.

In conclusion Sometimes the cheapest price wins out, but this shouldn’t detract or compromise a system design. Value for money isn’t about being the cheapest price, it is about being focussed on offering the client the best possible solution for the best possible value for money.

To find out how Stonegrove can help with your refrigeration requirements, please contact 01279 408690 ed@stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk www.stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Putting costs on ice Simple devices are available to help businesses improve efficiency, says Shaun Evers, managing director of Stonegate Instruments. It’s fair to say that everyone’s a winner when refrigeration system efficiency is improved. Equipment performing at its peak not only helps to control electricity bills, it can help achieve greater reliability – resulting in fewer breakdowns and less disruption to productivity – in addition to reducing environmental impact. Modern refrigeration systems are generally extremely energy-efficient; however, it is not necessary to regularly invest in new equipment in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Various technologically advanced devices are available that can help operators achieve impressive energy savings without a major capital spend.

Close the door on high energy bills There are various steps that can be taken to minimise the amount spent on electricity, including reducing the heat load. Night blinds can be installed and lights turned off in the cooled area, while in larger systems equipment such as fans can be introduced. Door management is also a key element. Seals should be well fitted and fully intact, while doors should not be left open for longer than is necessary. Accidentally leaving a cold store door open forces a system to work harder to stay cool, in turn using more energy and incurring higher energy costs. One way to prevent this is to install an alarm. These wall-mounted devices use flashing lights and sounders to alert workers to a door being left open, with the more sophisticated offering a pre-set delay of 30 minutes that can be adjusted or disabled.

Gas leaks Perhaps the foremost contributor to energy loss in modern cold stores is a leak of refrigerant gas. Figures from the Carbon Trust show that a leak of 1kg of refrigerant gas has the same environmental impact as a van driving for 10,000 miles. Leaks can occur for a variety of reasons, from improper maintenance work to mechanical damage, and are notoriously difficult to spot as refrigerant gas has no colour or odour. Given that 60% of gas escapes before anyone realises, EU regulations now stipulate that systems with 300kg or more of refrigerants be fitted with a leak detector. Whatever the cause of the emission, it is vital that leaks are identified and repaired at the first opportunity. Employees exposed to such a gas may suffer frostbite, irritation to the eyes, throat and skin, chemical burns and in the most serious cases brain and lung damage. The impact on the refrigeration systems themselves is also severe. When gas escapes, equipment has to work harder to remain at the right temperature, which in turn uses more energy and incurs substantially higher bills. It is estimated that a small leak in a 300kW system, if left unrepaired for three months, could result in an increased energy bill of £1,400. Even this figure pales in comparison with the penalties of up to £200,000 that await companies or individuals who breach EU F-Gas regulations. The latest gas detection systems are designed to alert staff to the release of a wide variety of substances, including CFCs, HCFCs and HGCs, using remote refrigerant sensors linked to audible and visual alarms. Stonegate Instruments’ DL1024, for example, can accommodate up to 24 remote refrigerant sensors, arranged in three zones of eight channels, with four relay outputs for signalling an alarm. LED colours indicate

the presence and status of each sensor and any sensed gas leak, activating an audio/visual alarm to alert employees.

Keep your cool Overcooling a system can also increase energy usage. A temperature of 1° less than is required typically results in a 2% hike in electricity use, therefore only cooling to the required amount will help to curb costs. Installing a thermometer will alert staff to any fluctuation in temperature. Efficient digital thermometers are typically linked to a thermistor probe, which can be wall mounted or hand-held, to provide a constant display of a range of temperatures from plus to minus 50°C. Technology plays a vital role in enhancing equipment efficiency, with the latest devices significantly reducing the amount of energy wasted, bringing obvious benefits for both the industry and the environment. To achieve the maximum benefit, refrigerators should also be well maintained and not be overfilled – the cool air must be able to circulate and grilles remain unobstructed. Stonegate products, such as the DL1024 Gas Leak Detector and Compact Digital Thermometer, are proven in systems for reducing energy, carbon emissions and the associated costs. www.stonegate-instruments.com

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REFRIG ERATIO N

Multi rotary packs a punch

performed extremely well to date across all duty requirements with no alarms generated. Both Carter Synergy and Tesco Maintenance have provided feedback on the unit’s accessibility for maintenance, general layout, quality and finish and this information has been used by Green & Cool to refine the design for full production.

How the new system developed

Carter Synergy has revealed details of what it believes was the world-first installation of a newly developed multi rotary compressor pack using CO2 at a trading store. The pack, at a Tesco Express store in Shaw, near Oldham, combines rotary compressors with Green & Cool control software to ensure reliability and efficiency. Tesco approached Green & Cool at Euroshop 2017 with the opportunity to trial an early production unit at one of their Express stores. Carter Synergy, as the UK distributor of Green & Cool plant and a Tesco installation and maintenance partner, was chosen to deliver the project, and the handover date for the works was August 2017. Brian Frankland, refrigeration & HVAC engineering manager at Tesco, said: “The installation of the new system at our Express store at Shaw was the culmination of a great deal of planning and effort on the part of all concerned. The system has outperformed all expectations for efficiency and we have been delighted with every aspect of the system to date. This installation simply reinforces the view of Tesco Engineering as to the future of natural refrigerant use within the estate, both on convenience and main stores.” As the project was a trial for Tesco, it was benchmarked against a previous traditional HFC-based installation at another Express store in Cinderhill. This uses a three scroll compressor HFC pack. Both projects have integrated fan condensers or gas coolers,

and both have similar meterage of chilled cases to cool within the stores. The trial of the installation of the multi rotary compressor pack has produced initial performance and energy consumption figures better than expected. Although the rotary CO2 units currently have a 10% higher installation cost, there is a reduced payback period as energy consumption is lower. On average, it has been found over the trial period to 1 September 2018 that the Green & Cool multi rotary compressor pack in Shaw is consuming significantly less energy than the HFC scroll pack in Cinderhill.

Simplified installation The installation comprised the Green & Cool multi rotary compressor pack, LT CO2 condensing unit, Carter Retail chilled cabinets with doors, Carter produce cases (open fronted), as well as HT and LT evaporators. Oil system management was considered by Green & Cool to be the biggest challenge in designing the new multi rotary compressor packs. The technical challenges were solved through a combination of technology application and software control. The trial unit is an integrated close coupled pack and gas cooler eliminating any onsite discharge and return pipework simplifying the installation and pressure testing. Carter Synergy, a division of Carter Thermal Industries, says the pack has

Rotary compressors have been used in air conditioning and small scale refrigeration for nearly 100 years. CO2 first entered use as a refrigerant more than 100 years ago. Both the refrigerant and technology fell out of favour with the development of chemical refrigerants – CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs all being engineered to have beneficial characteristics across the required temperature / pressure ranges. A significant challenge of using CO2

is the low critical temperature and the related high pressures inherent in a midtemperature system. The development of new materials and improvement of existing technology has allowed CO2 to be used in large scale low, mid and high temperature applications. Predominantly used in air conditioning systems, the rotary compressor was never fully adopted for refrigeration, with scroll compressors being the standard for smaller HFC systems. A scroll compressor design is difficult to adapt for use at the higher discharge pressures used in CO2 refrigeration systems with only LT low pressure machines having so far been brought to market. The Green & Cool unit uses multiple rotary compressors, each approximately 10kW coupled with individual inverter drives. The gas cooler fans are EC variable speed as standard, further increasing the energy efficiency and reducing noise levels. Carter Synergy and Tesco are continuing to monitor the performance and energy consumption of the new system. A larger capacity mid-temperature Green & Cool multiple rotary compressor unit is currently being developed, as well as an LT version, and these are now likely to be trialled on main store refits. CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

0121 250 1000 sales@cartersynergy.com www.cartersynergy.com

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C OMP R E S S OR S

Why Blade can cut a dash By Steve Lindsey, CEO and founder of Lontra

Compressors in HVAC-R systems The compressor is at the heart of a wide range of heat pump, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Yet despite its central role in the HVAC industry, relatively little has changed in the compressor’s basic design in over 50 years. The single screw was patented by Zimmern back in 1964, the twin screw compressor even earlier in 1935 and many of the vane machines in regular use today are descendants of Ramelli’s pump, which was first documented in the 16th century. This is important as all these compressor types have gradually developed and improved over the years, but as with anything where there has been a lot of optimisation, most of the improvements have already been made. In general, compressors consume the majority of the energy used by HVAC-R systems. Attempts to improve efficiency and

reduce the energy consumed are complicated by the need for reengineering to meet the demands of new refrigerants and the steady development of regulation around this area. At the same time the reliability of the HVAC system is often dependent on the compressor, another area in which new refrigerants can have unexpected effects. This is where Lontra’s Blade Compressor

"The design is distinguished by geometry that gives broad sealing areas, allowing good efficiency at low rotational speed, a factor in its extraordinary reliability"

comes in, the first widely applicable and completely new compressor technology to disrupt industry in over 50 years.

The technology Already revolutionising the wastewater and pneumatic conveying Industries, Lontra’s Blade Compressor has proven to be over 21% more efficient than traditional compressors, which is significant given most companies try to optimise for gains of just 1-2%. Unlike traditional rotary compressors, and unrelated to screw or vane machines, the Blade Compressor’s innovative design is distinguished by its geometry that gives broad sealing areas allowing good efficiency at relatively low rotational speed, a factor in its extraordinary reliability. As the piston or blade rotates, it draws in gas behind it in the same way as the piston dropping down in the cylinder.

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CO MPRESSO R S As it gets back to the starting point, it has drawn in a complete volume of gas behind it. Yet unlike the traditional piston and cylinder that must stop and change direction, the blade passes through a disc and the volume of gas that was trapped behind the blade is now in front. This means that it has an almost continuous cycle of drawing in gas behind and compressing gas in front, a smooth, efficient and reliable cycle. In essence a piston compressor “wrapped around” so that it flows continuously. Lontra’s new machine has resulted in lower maintenance costs, less energy consumption and increased uptime, all factors that will make a positive contribution to businesses’ bottom line. The Blade Compressor has so far been proven in the air compression industry, but given that all refrigeration compressors were air compressors first, there is no reason to expect its energy efficiency credentials won’t translate to the HVAC-R industry. If anything, the properties of air and the temperature rise on compression make air a more challenging gas to work with than most refrigerants.

As well as its efficiency and reliability, the Blade Compressor has a number of features which are of great interest to the air conditioning and refrigeration market. The improved sealing geometry keeps the efficiency high when used with a variable speed drive, giving capacity control with low loss, but this is not the only option. The unique port geometries offer low loss control of capacity and volume ratio at constant speed, with the potential for a wider control range than current machines. This is expected to be of great interest to industry, as noise and energy restrictions become ever more challenging.

Lontra’s Blade Compressor in action The benefits of the technology have already been proven in the wastewater industry where Lontra’s compressors work around the clock to aerate wastewater. One of the first companies in the UK to trial the Lontra Blade Compressor was Severn Trent Water, which has been using the technology since 2012. The technology delivered energy savings verified by Severn Trent Water of 21% with a potential £1.8m reduction in their annual

energy costs for the business. Similar savings are expected in other industries, and the company has received a large grant from the EU to take the technology into the food and pharmaceutical sector. After the success of the Severn Trent Water trial, Lontra’s first licensee Sulzer has installed machines across Europe where the Blade Compressor’s significantly improved reliability has become a major selling point. Sulzer is a global engineering group with 21 manufacturing facilities and sales across 150 countries. In parallel Lontra and partners Shield Group are building a substantial UK manufacturing facility dedicated to Blade Compressor production to serve a wide range of global sectors ranging from food, pharmaceutical and cement production to aggregate transport. Already approached by some of the major players in the HVAC-R sector, businesses can expect to see new products launched over the next few years, incorporating this disruptive technology, to bring new levels of reliability and efficiency. lontra.co.uk

Delivering for automotive giants

When Austrian automotive manufacturer Benteler Automotive opened a new component plant in the Czech Republic. it partnered with cooling systems expert ČEZ Energetické služby and pipe joining specialist Victaulic for the installation of its industrial cooling system. The production line is predominantly focused on hot-forming steel parts, alongside blanking, welding and lasercutting parts for its key customers: Volvo, BMW, Škoda Auto and Daimler. Benteler

contracted ČEZ Energetické služby to install the cooling system, which allows for car bodies to be set in the required form, after being ‘baked’ in hot-forming ovens. Partnering with Victaulic, whose grooved products are designed to enable a fast and reliable installation, enabled the project to meet deadlines and a total of 3,400 Victaulic products were installed, including couplings, valves, mechanical-T outlets and fittings. When looking for opportunities to achieve installation time savings, many contractors

overlook the possibility of prefabricating components off site. Victaulic recommends fabricating parts of the system upfront, with pipes prepared and pre-assembled in the required quantities. At Benteler, for example, one and two-metre long grooved pump drops were delivered ready for installation, helping to speed up the process and avoid uncertainties associated with weather that other pipe joining methods are heavily dependent on. The cooling system at Benteler can be expanded or rerouted if required. The use of grooved solutions means that an entire installed piping system can be disassembled and remodelled, or fittings can be interchanged.

VICTAULIC UK Units B1 and B2, Ind Park SG1 Cockerell Close, Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2NB www.victaulic.com 01438 310690 VicEuro@victaulic.com

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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Bigger and better

With more exhibitors (1,019) from 45 countries and more trade visitors (35,490) from 125 countries, Chillventa 2018 broke records everywhere you looked. Here we take a look at some of the stories to emerge from an always busy and rewarding gathering...

BITZER Ü CO2 is proving to be a key sales driver for compressor manufacturer BITZER, with an increase of 35% in 2018 compared to last year. Sales of scroll compressors are also up 20%, due in part to refrigerant transition and new heat pump models. The figures were revealed by chief sales and marketing officer Gianni Parlanti, and followed an increase in sales turnover to 740 million euros, from 680 million euros in 2016. With regard to products, BITZER says its Expander subcooling unit can increase the energy efficiency of CO2 systems by more than 20%. Working much like traditional external subcoolers, the Expander comprises a control valve and a heat exchanger in addition to the expander-compressor unit at its heart. It relaxes the primary mass flow, whilst the energy generated in the same unit compresses the subcooler mass flow and feeds it back before the gas cooler without the need for additional electrical energy. Thanks to the compact dimensions and simple mounting behind the gas cooler, installation is said to be simple with no need to redesign the refrigeration system. BITZER has been working with retailer Aldi Sud to test the first units in a supermarket setting. The company also highlighted the recent widening of it range of Ecolite condensing units with seven air-cooled models for low and medium temperature applications.

ASPEN PUMPS Ü The Aspen Pumps Group took full advantage of the record footfall by showcasing its key ranges to a wider audience. Highlights in the Aspen portfolio were the new Silent+ Mini Lime pump, as well as the company’s other extensive pump ranges. Big Foot Systems presented Frametech, the online tool that allows the user to select/design a rooftop support system to suit their needs. Storm Chemicals showcased its range of easy to use, space saving powders and JAVAC tools were also a favourite with visitors to the stand, including the premium Edge tools range and Spectroline, JAVAC’s newest line offering high quality fluorescent leak detection products and ultraviolet lamps.

There was a strong focus on digital tools and services, including the BEST electronic service tool and app, the SPOT app to verify the authenticity of products and the 20th edition of BITZER’s Refrigerant Report. Ammonia compressor packs featured on the main stand and, for the first time, the company had a second stand devoted to an expanded range of heat exchangers and pressure vessels.

ADVANCED ENGINEERING Û Advanced Engineering, now part of the Aspen Pumps Group, also presented a number of products to a European audience for the first time, including a sneak preview of its new POE oils, due to be launched next year. Also generating interest was HydroFoam 2.0, the company’s new acid-based condenser cleaner. Uniquely among heavy duty products, it is only an irritant and is non-toxic, biodegradable and will not damage aluminium or copper. Advanced further presented its Frozone walk-in freezer cleaner, which is effective down to -25˚C, eliminating the need to shut equipment down, along with the Ice ‘n’ Clean ice machine cleaner, designed to clear heavy limescale and slime deposits.

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CHILLVENTA 201 8

TECUMSEH Þ

HONEYWELL Þ

Tecumseh expanded its range of products using propane with the launch of a new plug-and-play air-cooled water-chiller for small to medium sized commercial applications. The company says the Infinee is the only water-chiller on the market with 1% inverter and R290 refrigerant. The Infinee is said to offer easy installation and comes fully equipped. The hydraulic module is supplied with isolating valves, strainer, pump and expansion vessels and the manufacturer says little refrigeration work is required because the unit is delivered with its refrigerant charge. To ensure safe use of propane, Tecumseh says it designed Infinee with an air-cooled approach for external locations, open panels for natural elimination, three isolated sections for refrigeration, hydraulic and electronic, and ducted relief valves for fire protection. Tecumseh also added the IntelliSC system controller to its IntelliCOOL platform. IntelliSC is enhanced for use with variable speed compressors and IntelliCI inverters.

Honeywell maintains that its non-flammable alternative to R410A will have a significant impact, despite uncertainty around its long-term chemical stability. Solstice N41 (R466A) was first announced in June and described by Honeywell as a ‘remarkable breakthrough’. It is expected to be available at some time in 2019. BITZER’s Refrigerant Report 20, published during Chillventa, described R466A as a “promising substitute for R410A” but added that there were still uncertainties regarding long-term chemical stability due to the inclusion of CF3l in the blend. Due to that, it said, a final assessment was not yet possible. In response, a Honeywell spokesman said: “Solstice N41 is stable and, as seen with past introduction of new refrigerants, the stability can be addressed with standard measures practiced in the industry. At this stage, Solstice N41 is intended for new equipment only. A retrofit could be possible by changing the outdoor condensing unit.” Speaking at Chillventa, Chris LaPietra, Honeywell’s global business director – stationary refrigerants, fluorine products, said N41 was a “game-changer” and would ease pressure on the VRF/VRV market. “There has been so much interest,’’ he added. Honeywell and Engie Axima also released official data on energy and cost savings achieved from a new cooling system for the Eurocontrol air traffic management organisation, which covers up to 36,000 commercial flights per day in European airspace. The new system is designed to prevent overheating at Eurocontrol’s headquarters and flight management and data centre facilities in Brussels. Two Engie Axima Quantum chillers with a capacity of 5MW are using Honeywell’s ultra low GWP Solstice ze (R1234ze) and, according to the data, this will help achieve annual energy savings up to 1,500 MWh and reduce Eurocontrol’s total annual consumption by more than 12% – the equivalent of up to 150,000 euros per year in energy costs. In other developments at Chilllventa, Honeywell announced that Tecumseh had approved Solstice N40 (R448A) for reciprocating compressors used in its commercial refrigeration systems. This followed the news that Emerson had approved Solstice L40X (R455A) for its Copeland scroll compressors series from 2 to 8HP.

CAREL Û Carel says its new Applica mobile service app has been developed as part of the company’s broader unit digitisation project and can control different devices and different applications, such as bottle coolers, refrigerated cabinets, chillers, and water loop systems. When Applica connects to a controller, it recognises the type of unit and downloads the applications it needs from the cloud. The user interface is therefore not fixed, but rather varies according to the specific unit, and is updated directly at the time of use. It can be used to manage MPXone, the new controller for retail refrigeration units, μCHILLER, the solution for the control of chillers and heat pumps, and Heez, for refrigerated merchandisers. Carel further expanded its app portfolio at Chillventa with the launch of Controlla, a new unit control app dedicated to end users. Carel says Controlla simplifies the operation of efficient and high-performance systems and allows the unit’s owner to have the system remote control in their pocket at all times. CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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48 GEA Ü GEA presented its new semihermetic air-cooled HA44e compressors. Based on the suction gas-cooled technology of the GEA Bock HG44e, HA44e will replace the HA4 series. Together with the already optimised HA22e and HA34e series, the HA44e compressors now complete the new GEA Bock HAe series. The current program now offers 3 model sizes with 10 capacity stages from 11.1 to 57.7 m3/h (50 Hz). Low-temperature applications place greater demands on compressors because the refrigerant mass flow is smaller and is heated up disproportionately by the drive motor, resulting in higher discharge gas and oil temperatures. The oil ages more quickly and the lubrication properties deteriorate. The HA (Hermetic Air-Cooled) solution uses a direct-suction compressor combined with an aircooled drive motor. The suction gas is not heated additionally, but rather fed directly into the cylinders without diversions via the motor. A compact ventilation unit is integrated to cool the motor and provide air flow for the cylinder heads, partially cooling them as well. This solution reduces the discharge temperature, increasing capacity and extending the range of applications.

EMERSON Ý Emerson chose to display fewer individual products on its stand, preferring to focus on applications and complete solutions. Its technologies and tools aim to safeguard food across the cold chain and ensure human comfort in residential and commercial spaces. For integral display cases, Emerson presented a new R290 solution with its horizontal variable speed scroll compressor for single-circuit applications up to 500g refrigerant charge. For centralised refrigeration systems, a Co2 solution integrating a Stream semi-hermetic compressor with on-board compressor electronics, completed by flow controls and electronic controllers, was on show. For de-centralised systems, Emerson offers a Co2 unit with Stream compressor technology as well as the newly launched large outdoor unit for standard and low GWP refrigerants. For smaller formats such as restaurants, cold rooms and catering applications, Emerson has the new ZX unit for medium- and lowtemperature applications. In addition, Emerson launched its line-up of small scroll compressors for A2L refrigerants for small rack and refrigeration unit applications. For the industrial market there was the new Vilter 550 series of reciprocating compressors for Co2 and the Vilter screw compressor for ammonia. To support OEMs facing the F-Gas phase-down, Emerson is offering solutions for residential heating with low GWP refrigerants such as R290, R454B, R452B and R454C. For commercial applications, it has solutions with R513A / R450A (low pressure) and R454C (mid pressure) for process cooling, as well as options for chillers with R32. There was much interest in the sleek new XRT Full Touch controllers, pictured above, made by Dixell, for commercial refrigeration, food service and catering.

PANASONIC Þ

In its centenary year and 60 years since the launch of it first air conditioning product, Panasonic previewed a range of solutions for residential and commercial markets. The Hybrid GHP/VRF, which combines gas driven (GHP) and electric (EHP) technologies within one solution, aims to take heating and cooling in a new energy-saving direction, and is said to be an ideal solution for high demand applications, such as hotels, apartment blocks and offices. Panasonic also showcased its new CO2 condensing units, promising a more sustainable option for small to medium capacity applications within the retail and food service sectors, such as small supermarkets, convenience stores and garage forecourts. The range is also designed to provide refrigeration in the restaurant and hotel sectors. Earlier this year, Panasonic promised a full switch to R32 for its RAC solutions and duly displayed its newly designed range including floor consoles, split, multi-split, cassettes and ducts. In addition, it introduced the full PACi room air conditioning range for commercial use, all compatible with R32.

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DAIKIN Þ Daikin showcased a mini VRV system with R32, which is expected to be available in 2020. The strawberry-themed stand also featured the Altherma 3 heat pump and a range of commercial refrigeration solutions with natural refrigerants. Gunther Gamst, managing director of air conditioning Germany, said: “We are happy that we are able to extend our product range substantially with Daikin Chemical Europe and the new companies in the group, Zanotti and Tewis. This way we can offer a total solution portfolio for cooling, heating, ventilation and refrigeration from one single source.” The company is currently building a refrigerant recycling plant in Germany which will offer additional quota for Daikin and its customers. The Mini ZEAS combined condensing unit, available with a capacity of 5.9 kW or 8.4 kW, aims to fill a gap in the commercial refrigeration market. Small restaurants, bakeries, local grocery stores and convenience shops with light commercial cooling and freezing requirements can benefit from the advantages of Daikin’s VRV technology. The models reach evaporation temperatures from -20 °C to +5 °C at outdoor temperatures of -20 °C to 43 °C. The Daikin Mini ZEAS

INVERTEK DRIVES Ü Invertek Drives says its new Coolvert variable frequency drive (VFD) for Co2 systems is one of the smallest in its class, providing OEMs with the opportunity to reduce panel space and lower machine costs. Invertek made its first appearance at Chillventa as it aims to increase its profile in the HVAC market and the VFD was unveiled alongside a new Co2 condensing unit controller from Danish company Reftronix. Invertek and Reftronix have worked together on the project for 18 months and Coolvert is expected to be in production by early 2019. Mike Carman, international business development manager at Invertek, was delighted with the response on the stand at Chillventa and said: “This is what OEMs have been asking for... a compact drive that saves panel space. We believe it is one of the smallest in its class.’’ Coolvert is designed specifically for OEMs where space is at a premium. It also claims an ambient operating range of between -20c to +60c, making it suitable a wide range of environments. Coolvert is compatible with all motor types, including induction motors, permanent magnet motors, brushless DC motors, synchronous reluctance motors and Line Start PM motors ranging between 1.5kW to 11kW, 2HP to 15HP. It has single and three-phase input of 200V to 480V.

CHEMOURS Ý Chemours used Chillventa to urge the industry to be ready for the next stage of the HFC F-Gas phasedown in 2021 by accelerating both the development of A2L-ready equipment and systems and the adoption of commercially available A2L refrigerants. Chemours acknowledges that momentum is building and says that competent manufacturers are working alongside refrigerant suppliers to test and approve the new A2L blends. But it also points out that A2L-ready equipment and sytems need to be in place by the end of 2020 and that those who have yet to adapt should now be demanding A2L products through their suppliers. Chemours showcased its Opteon XL range as low-GWP solutions specifically developed to enable the European refrigerant market to comply with the ongoing F-Gas Regulation and announced that XL41 (R454B), a low GWP replacement for R410A has been selected by Johnson Controls for their YORK YLAA scroll chiller platform in Europe, with capacity ranging from 190 to 530kW. At a GWP of 466, XL41 reduces CO2 emissions by 78% compared to R410A, and more than a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to R32, another candidate to replace R410A. There was also a focus on the versatility of the Opteon XP10 (R513A) A1 refrigerant, either as a replacement for R134a or in multi-room low temperature systems. It can also be considered as a replacement to R404A, with an 84% lower GWP

SAUERMANN AND GEL-CLEAR Þ Condensate pump specialist Sauermann announced a global partbership with UK-based Gelclear to provide increased biofilm protection for its Si-93 pump. Biofilm is a well-known problem in supermarket refrigerated display cabinets and can cause costly leaking. The combination of Sauermann’s Si-93 membrane pump and Gel-clear’s anti-biofilm tablet is said to provide a solution for store owners and customers that can reduce leak liabilities by almost 100%. In a joint statement at Chillventa, Serge Bohyn, CEO of Sauermann Group, and Paurick Gaughan, managing director of Gel-clear, said: “Sauermann Group and Gel-clear are both very excited to offer patented technologies and a solid solution to our supermarket, agrifoods, commercial and refrigeration sector customers.” CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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50 KELVION Þ Products from Kelvion included the CMX blast freezer, available from 13116kW, claiming an increase of 65% in perfomance on its predecessor, and a new version of the KDC unit cooler for 90bar (g) – specifically developed for highly reliable and safe transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems. New V-Bank condensers with multiple tube and fin patterns were joined by further new condensers, cooling towers, and Kelvion’s updated online product selection tool. The HVAC OEM ranges on display, with tube diameters of 8, 10, and 12 mm, are said to offer lighter, more compact and more cost effective units. The new 8mm coils provide a reduced air side pressure drop and boast a 40% reduced refrigerant charge, compared to 12mm coils. The NP150X gasketed plate heat exchanger for district cooling stations, midsize data center cooling, and high rise building cold supply features a plate with shallower plate gap (1.8mm) and a smaller pitch to ensure the highest heat transfer performance. Kelvion is also introducing a new version of the KDC unit cooler for 90bar (g) – specifically developed for highly reliable and safe transcritical CO2

refrigeration systems. The air cooler is intended for uses in commercial HVACR, cold rooms, and freezer rooms. Its dual air discharge enables uniform distribution of temperature, and two fan speeds allow either high air capacity, or quiet operation. The new 90bar version provides maximum cooling duty of 1.7 to 23 kW.

LU-VE Ý It was impossible to miss the powerful natural message delivered from wrap-around video walls on the LU-VE stand. Among the highlights were the new Armonia range of ammonia unit coolers, featuring an ammonia charge said to be 67% lower than traditional solutions. The versatile Emeritus series of condensers, dry coolers and Co2 gas coolers also attracted

a lot of interest. The range boosts a spray system and adiabatic pre-cooling and can be used across air conditioning, refrigeration, industrial and data centre cooling. Again aimed at protecting the environment and reducing electricity consumption, the Whisper Plus is the second generation of silencer designed for condensers, dry coolers and Co2 gas coolers, promising ultra-low sound levels and a 19% cut in energy usage, can be used in conjunction with another new product from the Italian company, Mini Vee gas cooler featuring low refrigerant volume 5 mm copper tubes and adiabatic options for transcritical applications. LU-VE also presented its Nidea intelligent defrosting system which reduces energy consumption, plus a hot glycol defrost option, as well as the Pro Log controls, complete data centre solutions, glass doors and new coils for a wide range of natural refrigerant applications.

EBM-PAPST Þ ebm-papst says its GreenIntelligence system turns energy-efficient fans and drives into intelligently interconnected complete solutions. The company points to the AxiBlade axial fan as a good example of the way GreenIntelligence works. Condition monitoring permits remote monitoring of the operation of the fans in the condenser and thus early recognition of imbalance caused by dirt, for instance. This makes it possible to avoid bearing damage and so ensure operational reliability. Further advantages offered by condition monitoring include indication of required maintenance work or the automatic de-icing of fans in evaporators by way of heating tapes integrated into the fan housing. Energy-efficient fan operation is guaranteed at all times and there is no risk of the blades freezing to the fan housing. Modular FanGrid solutions are primarily employed in situations where redundancy is employed to ensure maximum fail-safe operation. With an appropriate number of fans, the necessary air flow can always be attained even if one fan is out of operation. The speed of the other, interconnected, fans is then automatically increased to compensate for the missing air quantity.

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A-GAS Û A-Gas unveiled its award-winning Rapid Recovery service to customers in Europe and showcased the latest developments in refrigerant reclamation at Chillventa 2018. The latest low-GWP refrigerants also featured and A-Gas experts were on hand to advise on the best products to manage the F-Gas Regulations’ stepdowns. A-Gas Rapid Recovery, launched in the USA and available in the UK, provides high-speed F-Gas compliant on-site recovery services to a range of markets including refrigeration, HVAC, demolition and marine. A-Gas Managing Director John Ormerod said: “We are proud of the impact A-Gas Rapid Recovery has made on the UK market in only the first year – recovering product from more than 300 units across more than 200 sites nationwide – and helping our customers switch from high GWP refrigerants to low GWP alternatives. “A-Gas Rapid Recovery is revolutionising the way businesses and individuals manage their refrigerant recovery process and we’re delighted to bring our onsite, cutting-edge technology to the wider European market.” With refrigerant reclamation playing such a key role in the F-Gas stepdowns, representatives from A-Gas were on hand at Chillventa to explain how these services add value to the supply chain. Also on show were A-Gas refrigerants for the automotive industry – R1234yf and R134a. Experts from its sister company AFK, based in Hamburg, were there to help and advise on their use.

PUMP HOUSE Þ Pump House presented a range of new and existing products to the international market, and the company’s objective to firm up growth and gain new distributors resulted in almost 100 enquiries in seven new areas. Pump House reported “outstanding” interest in Super Seal, a polymer-free system additive that will find and seal leaks in refrigeration systems. Super Seal is placed directly placed into the system as a mist; as it travels through the system it locates the leak site and creates a permanent seal. This was the first show for June Richardson in her new role as international & UK sales & marketing director. She said: “We can’t wait to sell and market the Pump House brand to the European and international markets. Being part of the DiversiTech group and having regular product growth and new acquisitions to talk about means that Pump House is going through some exciting changes and it’s a pleasure to be part of it. The expertise and teams we have means that we are confident in delivering something quite spectacular for 2019. The Chillventa show was the start of the next journey for Pump House.”

HAWCO Ý Many visitors were drawn to the Hawco stand by a mesmerising performance of EC fans… Technology developed by Kulthorn enables up to 10 EC fan motors to be customised in any combination to suit the customer’s specific requirements. The motors can be individually programmed for three different speeds up to 2400rpm and set for a timed reverse. An improved blade design improves the airflow at lower speeds and reduces noise. The motors have been designed with supermarket display cabinets in mind but can also be used in bottle coolers, chillers and freezers. There was also a great deal of interest in the horizontal scroll compressors from Hitachi, including the new R290 version, and vertical scrolls for larger commercial applications from Embraco, ranging from 1.3-20kW. Chris Hodges, Hawco sales director said: “End user specifiers and OEM case designers are asking their supply chain for new products which will enable them to achieve their energy-efficiency and environmental goals. At Hawco, we are delivering innovative technologies to our customers to keep their energy consumption to a minimum.” CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Maintaining momentum Speakers, from left, Steve Gatenby, Peter Dinnage (both Climalife), Neil Roberts (Chemours), Dave Richards, Allan Harper (both Climalife), Tom Burniston (Bacharach) and Luke Dehon (Dehon Group)

Climalife and partners urging industry to keep moving towards an A2L future. Mildly flammable A2L refrigerants dominated the agenda and the conversation at the third Climalife IDS Refrigeration customer event of the year in Warwickshire. Managing director Allan Harper and the Climalife team welcomed customers, partners and guests to a packed and informative day which also featured presentations from refrigerant manufacturer Chemours and leak detection specialist Bacharach. Allan acknowledged important progress on finding ever lower GWP alternatives but said the industry needs to maintain the momentum. Although the event opened with a ‘Don’t Panic’ backdrop, he stressed: “We need to get moving now.’’ Regarding growing concerns over the trade of illegal refrigerant, he said he was aware of a small amount imported into the UK and said: “The price may be right but don’t do it, and please report it. Every kilo of product that we supply is under quota and of the highest quality. We have got what you need for today and tomorrow.’’ Some contractors felt the recently improved availability (and subsequently lower price) of R404A made it more difficult to persuade end users to make a change, even though the use of virgin R404A is banned in just over 12 months. But Climalife technical director Peter Dinnage, talking about the move to lower GWP, said the transition needs to keep going and increase in preparation for the next big quota

stepdown, 30% at the end of 2020. He said: “We stock 36 refrigerants at Climalife and we thought some of them would have disappeared this year. Once we are familiar and comfortable with A2Ls, they will become a standard. We need to get on and use them. “We have two years to get ready for the next step. I know some people will wait for the cliff to happen again, but they shouldn’t, as it will lead to price increases again. We need to start moving now and not wait as we did the last time.’’

New products At this year’s Chillventa, the major compressor manufacturers launched equipment and components which are A2L ready, with more expected. Climalife stocks a wide range of low GWP refrigerants says it will continue to update the industry on new products coming to market. It also stocks and can advise on a range of low GWP alternatives to R404A, R410A, R407C and R134a. Neil Roberts, technical development manager at Chemours, presented the company’s Opteon range of refrigerants. He accepted that it was difficult to persuade customers to change when R404A was readily available, but said: “Don’t be fooled by the apparent calm at the moment; we need to keep moving forward as the next dropdown will be even tougher. Always use the lowest GWP product that does the job to protect the quota, not the most convenient. If you can,

use A2Ls because that gives us the headroom to supply the industry smoothly.’’ Refrigerant price increases have encouraged the industry to get smarter on leak detection and Tom Burniston discussed Bacharach’s semiconductor and infra-red options, including the new MGS-400 series which was launched at Chillventa and should be available shortly. Climalife’s UK head of sales Dave Richards, meanwhile, focussed on the indirect Matelex solution, which takes measurements every 2-3 seconds and can provide an excellent early warning system and be used to improve and monitor energy efficiency and give a rapid payback. Peter Dinnage looked at the importance of pairing the correct oil with refrigerant type, with options from Mobil and a new Icematic range for low GWP due to be available in the near future. He also examined how the use of secondary heat transfer fluids can reduce the primary refrigerant charge, with the correct choice leading to increased energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. He said the plant-based Greenway Neo is around 40% better on CO2 emissions and energy use than traditional MPG-based fluids and features long-lasting organic corrosion inhibitors. Steve Gatenby presented Carel’s range of electronic expansion valves, electronic valve drivers and other AC and refrigeration controllers, explaining they can already be used with A2L refrigerants. www.climalife.co.uk

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EQ UIPMENT

Made to measure... Compact, rugged and accurate – the JAVAC Edge digital vacuum gauge is what every HVAC engineer needs, says sales director Scott Davies. Small and lightweight, the new JAVAC Edge digital vacuum gauge will fit in your pocket and is a ‘must have’ for any engineer’s tool bag. With instant response to vacuum measurement and with an accuracy of 5% of reading, this clever tool with patented technology enables the highest accuracy possible in a vacuum gauge. Quickly measuring vacuum in Microns, Pascals, Millibar, mmHg and Torr, the gauge enables the engineer to choose their preference for measurement, ensuring accurate evacuation of refrigeration systems. Developed over eight years of innovation, the JAVAC Edge digital vacuum gauge confidently solves all typical thermal conductivity (TC) based vacuum gauge problems, such as vacuum accuracy across operating temperature/ pressure ranges, speed of response, vacuum resolution and many more. Operating for up to 100 hours on just two AAA batteries, the gauge measures 0-25,000 Microns with a 1 Micron resolution and, with a wide operating temperature range, this pocket-sized technology is an essential tool for professional installers. Featuring a hi-visibility backlit display, the handy tool makes life easier for engineers, even in badly lit areas. This clever piece of kit warms up instantly, meaning no time is wasted on site. With an automatic oil sensor, this is the only digital vacuum gauge that will tell the operator if oil or other contamination has entered the sensor. Cleaning is easy with just a few drops of alcohol. Unlike some gauges, no special equipment is required for calibration as this tool features calibration self-test, as well as being field calibratable. In addition, the leak

The gauge comes with everything that an engineer needs for evacuation monitoring, including carrying pouch, coupler and two AAA batteries. A handy power-off function conserves battery power and the built-in hanging hook provides convenient, hands-free usage and the handy adaptor also makes it easy to connect to the vacuum pump. First class and practical to use, the JAVAC Edge digital vacuum gauge measures even the smallest pressures and provides highly precise information on the status of the dehumidification of a system. Its robust construction also helps to protect it from dust and water splashes when on site.

rate indicator and programmable productivity functions save the engineer valuable time, allowing other tasks to be undertaken while evacuation is in progress.

FEATURES

° Precision – reliable detail in vacuum measurement. ° Fast – instant warm-up and response time. ° Innovation – be part of the digital revolution! ° Small and lightweight – fits conveniently into a pocket or tool bag. ° Robust – dust and splash-proof casing.

For more information visit: www.javac.co.uk

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Alternative solutions A-Gas commercial director Enzo D’Alessio on making the right choice when looking to replace high GWP refrigerants. The reaction at Chillventa to the launch of A-Gas Rapid Recovery in Europe highlights how much the industry has changed in the last two years. Customers are looking for more efficient and quicker ways of recovering refrigerant because they understand that every little drop that can be returned to use will make an impact on overall supplies to the market. The price of R404A has levelled out in the UK but Europe still has to do some catching up as some suppliers maybe sitting on stocks of the widely-used legacy gas bought at high prices. This has thrown the spotlight further on recovering refrigerants and the good news is that new practices in recovery techniques have brought wide-ranging benefits. We can now recover refrigerants swiftly and this means that with a typical supermarket job you don’t have to demerchandise refrigeration cabinets. We have seen at first hand with A-Gas Rapid Recovery call-outs in the UK how end-users value this significant benefit.

Removing stock from cabinets can be a costly burden to a store operation and by keeping products in place business can continue as normal. In these circumstances, choosing the right alternative refrigerant has never been more important. The challenge for installers and specifiers is to decide which is the best route to take when switching to low GWP refrigerants. It’s likely to be a choice that will feature the three Rs – reuse, retrofit or replace. When deciding on an alternative refrigerant there are a number of key steps to take before making any decision. The first, and most important, is to get advice from your refrigerant supplier.

Sustainable solutions If you are looking to re-use as a solution, reclaimed product is already on the market and exempt from the F-Gas quota. A-Gas has invested heavily in reclamation facilities and our services in this area

provoked an encouraging reaction from customers at Chillventa as they look for more sustainable solutions. With a retrofit the operational conditions of the existing equipment will be an important factor. The easiest way to make the right choice is to complete the A-Gas refrigerant selection form. This easy to use

Edwin Ernste, head of A-Gas Rapid Recovery sales and operations in Benelux, and John McEvoy, A-Gas Rapid Recovery head of sales and operations in the UK, at Chillventa

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HAZARDOUS WAS HOW TO TICK THE REFRIG ERANTS online tool is a great starting point and will lead you in a direction which will assist you in making the right choice. Our experts analyse the information you supply and run this data through our software to look at how your system is performing currently. From that we will recommend up to four alternative refrigerants – one of which may be the right one for your current equipment. This also allows us to predict where you may have issues and gives you an informed choice to go back to the customer with. All depends on the original gas but if you are looking at R134a in a chiller you could be considering R450A or R513A as alternatives. They still fall within the A1 category so won’t give you a flammability problem and with their low GWPs of just over the 600 mark they are a good alternative. In the air conditioning market there isn’t a retrofit for R410A. R32 is an A2L and can only be used in new equipment. There is much information out there, so I encourage you to do your research or speak to the experts if you are unsure on using an A2L. There are plans to introduce a low GWP A1 product, N41, also known as R466A, but this is still in the development stage. Although this may be available in the middle of next year it is important to note that this is not a retrofit for existing R410A equipment. A2Ls are not suitable for a retrofit and this leads me to replacement alternatives.

"Customers are looking for more efficient and quicker ways of recovering refrigerant because they understand that every little drop that can be returned to use will make an impact on overall supplies to the market" Important decisions When replacing refrigerant in a system it is always prudent to consider an alternative that has the lowest GWP. These alternatives will give you longevity – a key factor when you consider that the stepdowns will continue until 2030 and are likely to stretch beyond this. In some cases, you may be in the realms of single digit GWP figures. For example, R1234ze in a water chiller installation will take you down as low as seven – a great achievement considering where we were a few years ago. On a supermarket installation with the correct pack size you could be seeing gases with a GWP of between 145 and 260 as an option. To go lower and to travel down the naturals route, CO2 and ammonia are

Take time over making the right choice and bear in mind that information is key to ensuring that you come to the right conclusion on an alternative refrigerant. In summary, you must consider if the existing equipment is good enough to retrofit? Also ask yourself, would the end user be able to run the system for another three years on the same sort of gas or is only a full-blown replacement the most cost effective answer to their needs? Finally, never be afraid to ask for help. Your refrigerant supplier is a mine of information and they will be able to assist you in finding the right alternative refrigerant. www.agas.com www.agasrapidrecovery.com

versatile alternatives. They do have their advantages and disadvantages which have been well documented in the trade media. You should not rush these important decisions. Talk to the customer to find out which gas will suit their needs the best.

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D ATA C E N TR E C OOLING

Free cooling chillers save £50K per month for mission critical data centre Aermec chillers on the rooftop of the data centre

The challenge for today’s data centres is how to reduce operating costs and satisfy environmental concerns. But when it comes to the provision of financial services, avoiding downtime is paramount as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) takes a tough stance when it comes to IT failures. Building on its successes in delivering cooling solutions for the financial services sector, Aermec has delivered improved cooling reliabilities, energy savings and reduced emissions for the global data centre of one of the UK’s leading multinational financial powerhouses.

Background Data centres generate significant amounts of heat. Cooling is critical and when it comes to replacing equipment in a live mission critical site, there are a number of regulatory requirements and logistical challenges to overcome. Customer expectations also have to be managed. When the data centre for one of the of the country’s top banking and financial companies decided to replace all its chillers, their key requirements included resilience, energy efficiencies,

reduced emissions and lower PUEs (Power Usage Effectiveness). In line with its own environmental and sustainability policies, the company sought minimal environmental impact. Free cooling chillers offered a smarter approach to cooling as making use of the outside air reduces the use of mechanical cooling throughout the year and this strategy is deployed by many data centres. Behind the security barriers and virtually windowless building of a 30,000sq metre site in west London, a phenomenal one billion financial transactions are carried out every second. Re-designing the cooling and replacing the chillers required careful planning. “This is our global hub. Cooling is critical to our infrastructure. Any disruption with the cooling could impact the UK’s financial services but the ramifications

Aermec UK managing director Paul Lawrence

The Aermec factory in Bevilaqua, near Verona, in Italy

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DATA CENTRE CO O LING could potentially be felt globally,” says the company’s facilities manager. Following extensive evaluation and analysis, and working in close collaboration with RED Engineering Design, the MEP design consultancy, M&E contractors Gratte Brothers and Aermec distributor AEUK Ltd, free cooling chillers designed and manufactured by Aermec were selected. As a global business, the financial corporation’s ethos is to ensure that it minimises its environmental impact and reduces carbon emissions across all its business platforms. By investing in the latest technologies, the company expected to satisfy its stringent criteria and boost its green credentials. But it wanted to be a good neighbour. Noise breakout from the site was minimised by designing extra low noise chillers which satisfied the requirement of the customer and the local council.

Testing Aermec’s advanced manufacturing facilities and test labs near Verona, Italy, showcased build capabilities, and the quality of products. The on-site test facilities, are the largest and most extensive in Europe and confirmed Aermec’s capabilities to perform rigorous testing. The test labs have Eurovent, AHRI, MCS and cUL certifications and they can

simulate operating conditions ranging from -20⁰ to +55°C. In addition to a purpose-built data hall simulator, facilities include testing for heat pumps, chillers, air handling units, indirect evaporative coolers and dry coolers. The labs extend to 2MW cooling capacity per single unit and specific labs within the complex cater for extreme temperature testing, ventilation and heat exchange measurements, noise level verification and vibration testing. “Aermec’s testing capabilities were a big plus, they offered one of the most comprehensive testing facilities in Europe” comments Alex Nock, associate at RED Engineering. Six highly efficient 1.366MW Aermec NSM free cooling chillers with screw compressors, using R134a refrigerant were specified. The free cooling route offered a greener and more eco-responsible solution that would help boost the data centre’s green credentials. The criticality of the site and its exacting requirements required some modifications to the build specifications. These included electronic expansion valves replacing mechanical expansion valves and the microchannel coils replaced with copper/ aluminium coils. The specifications of Aermec’s chillers include twin-headed pumps but these were changed to single run and stand-by pumps for resilience and independent refrigeration circuits were also added to the design specifications for each chiller. “As a manufacturer, we have the flexibility to provide a more customised solution for our customers, who can carry out witness tests to ensure their required performance levels are met,” says Paul Lawrence, managing director at Aermec UK.

Fast re-start Power outages are every data centre’s nightmare. In the event of a power loss, bringing a chiller back online rapidly is essential for mission critical data centre environments. “Each minute of downtime could cost millions of pounds and the data can cook in 20 minutes,” explains the data centre’s facilities manager. “Chillers can take as long as 15 or 20 minutes to re-start. Aermec’s chillers have been designed to achieve re-start in twoand-a-half minutes and can achieve a 5°C temperature differential in less than five minutes,” adds Paul Lawrence.

Noise rating “Because of the location, acoustics were just as important as maximising energy efficiencies and satisfying sustainability criteria. Aermec addressed the customer’s environmental concerns, reliability, performance and resilience, but they also offered the best acoustic performance,” comments Alex Nock of Red Engineering. Each chiller took 12 weeks to design, build and factory test. Each unit measures 13 metres and weighs 11 tonnes. They were delivered and installed in a well-planned phased approach, using temporary chillers for support to ensure no disruption to the live site. Despite the size, each chiller was craned into position as a whole unit. Three chillers are required to run the data centre, but running four is more economical and maximises the benefits of free cooling. The CHW temperature is 13°C/19°C in normal mode and 17°C/23°C in high temperature mode to maximise free cooling.

Savings The chillers have saved £50,000 per month – 1,124,028.90 kWh (data collected from September 2016-January 2017). During the three months of November 2016 – January 2017, 100% free cooling was achieved, with no compressors running. The chillers have contributed to a reduction in the data centre’s PUE, which is down from 1.7 to 1.4. It is anticipated that the data centre’s full year running figures will meet the data centre’s expectations for energy saving and carbon reduction. “Companies claim their kit can do more than it can. In our experience, the chillers more than live up to Aermec’s claims and provide the added benefit of being able to do 10% more,” says the facilities manager. Collaborative working played a key role in achieving the successful outcome. “Our distributor AEUK, played a major part in helping to design the specifications. And by working in close collaboration with all parties, Aermec and AEUK engineered a solution that met the customer’s high expectations,” says Paul Lawrence.

W www.aermec.co.uk E uksales@aermec.co.uk T 0203 008 5940

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DATA C E N TR E C OO LING

Innovative Data Cooling Solutions Cooling is a critical part of a data centre infrastructure. Increasingly powerful applications are putting new demands on data centres. Demand for ever-more efficient Data Centres continues apace, with space at a premium and the cost of build rising. So, any advances in cooling technology, which can improve coefficients of performance and reduce capital expenditure, are definitely worth knowing about. Hydratech, a specialist formulator and manufacturer of heat transfer fluids, is seeing increasing demand for its range of high efficiency cooling fluids, with Coolflow DTX leading the way. Coolflow DTX utilises patented technology, which is proven to reduce energy consumption by >10% when compared with other non-toxic glycol-based coolants. It also allows HVAC designers to reduce the size and power demand of chillers, pumps and heat exchangers. For these reasons many food and beverage processing companies have converted from propylene glycol-based coolants to DTX. These include; Arla, Warburtons, Hovis, Dairygold, Diageo to name just a few. For industrial HVAC applications, where a non-toxic coolant is preferred, Coolflow DTX offers the same efficiency benefits, as corroborated by; Siemens, Aggreko, Mercedes and BMW. To maximise the long-term efficiency of heat transfer fluids, whilst providing internal protection against corrosion, scale and biological fouling, it is very important to formulate coolants with long-life inhibitors. Coolflow products have been in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;circulationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for >20 years and are proven to extend the operating life of multi-metal cooling systems.

To verify cooling fluid and system condition, Hydratech provides a range of Fluid Management Services, including the Fluid Monitoring Program. FMP Reports can be supplied monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on customer preferences and can provide a perpetual means of condition monitoring, not to mention peace of mind!

So, the next time you are looking for an innovative cooling solution, be sure to talk with the experts;

www.hydratech.co.uk info@hydratech.co.uk t. +44 (0)1792 586800

A range of coolants for use in data centre cooling systems.

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DATA CENTRE CO O LIN G

Mitsubishi Electric i-NEXT expands IT cooling range

Launch builds on Mitsubishi Electric’s acquisition of RC Group with a new product line Mitsubishi Electric is making further inroads into the IT cooling market with the launch of its new i-NEXT range. The i-NEXT direct expansion (DX) computer room air conditioning range uses advanced inverter technology designed to maximise energyefficiency and help reduce operating costs. The i-NEXT DX range is the latest addition to the Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems (MEHITS) portfolio. The high precision air conditioners are ideal for applications where high sensible cooling and close control of temperature and humidity are required, as is critical in temperaturesensitive data centre environments. Using inverter-driven technology with Mitsubishi Electric BLDC compressors, users can maximise their sites’ energy efficiency, helping to reduce overall running costs of the IT equipment. With capacities of up to 140kW for down flow, and 105kW for up flow configurations, the i-NEXT DX range is well-equipped to deal with a wide variety of data centre and computer room applications. Following on from Mitsubishi Electric’s 2016 purchase of DeLclima, the parent company of the RC Group, the launch of the i-NEXT DX range establishes a strong

"This and the products to follow show how serious we are about delivering a complete solution"

position for the company’s products within the UK market. Deane Flint, Sales Director for Mitsubishi Electric, said: “With the demands for faster, more powerful IT infrastructure only increasing, cooling equipment has never been more important. A critical commercial requirement for data centre managers is to ensure a low overall operating cost, and a key element of this involves installing cooling plant that is as energy-efficient as possible. “This and the products to follow show how serious we are about delivering a complete solution for any building or sector. Not only can our customers now purchase market-leading air conditioning, heating and ventilation products from us, they are also able to access state-of-theart, dedicated IT cooling.”

Thanks to the i-NEXT’s ultralight composite EC plug fans, both noise and power usage has been reduced. Additionally, integrated control of up to 10 units allows for intelligent redundancy management via LAN, removing the need for third party controls. Automatic restart capabilities ensure that the systems are up and running immediately after a power outage, saving valuable time. Easy front access to the main components also allows for quick inspection and routine maintenance. The i-NEXT range comes with a host of optional extras to allow users to create a system that is ideally suited to their needs. Optional extras include; Modbus RS485 and BACnet TCP/IP connectivity, electrical heaters and steam humidifiers, discharge plenums and floor stands. For more information on the i-NEXT range, visit: library.mitsubishielectric.co.uk Mitsubishi Electric offer a number of other solutions for IT cooling, including door cooling units, perimeter cooling units and rack cooling solutions, all available in both DX and chilled water variants and matched with the optimal MEHITS chiller. For more information on these solutions: Russell Jones, Mitsubishi Electric Russell.Jones@meuk.mee.com

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Air flow (m3/s x 1,000)

Delivering Optimised Indoor Air Quality

Daikin Applied (UK) Ltd designs and manufactures a range of Air Handling Units from standard modular units to more complex bespoke systems, which are designed to

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www.daikinapplied.uk 03/12/2018 16:46:34

R E FR I G E R AT I O N

Low carbon heating and cooling for clean growth

The Sustainable Innovation in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat (SIRACH) network held an event on low carbon heating and cooling for clean growth as part of Green GB Week. The Institute of Refrigeration’s Lisa Waters reports. Featuring government and business stakeholders as well as academics, this event successfully showcased the progress that the UK has made towards reaching the targets set by the Climate Change Act and the task still at hand to implement clean growth. Jon Saltmarsh, from BEIS Science and Innovation Climate and Energy Directorate, presented how the government is delivering on the Act. The UK has made great strides and is now in its third carbon budget with 40% decarbonisation (the target being at least 80% by 2050). The UK has also demonstrated that growth and emission reduction targets can go hand in hand as, while reducing its carbon emission, the country’s GDP has grown by 67%. The UK’s largest source of emissions is currently transport but reaching the 80% target by 2050 will involve decarbonising nearly all heat in buildings and most industrial heat processes via electrification, district heating networks and decarbonising the gas grid. The government will invest over £2.5billion in low carbon innovation by 2021 to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative cheap, clean, and reliable energy technologies by the mid 2020s and 2030s. As part of this plan, £15million will be allocated to renewable sources of energy while £90million will be given to drive energy efficiency in buildings and £70million will go towards looking for new storage options. Current investments have already generated some interesting ideas for the future of low carbon heating technology and building thermal efficiency. These include a hybrid solar thermal/PV/heat pump energy storage system to provide heat and power to properties and smart electric heat. London is making plans for clean growth and Peter North, from the Greater London Authority, advised that not only gas is to become a secondary energy source but also that renewables will supply 30% of the capital’s energy supply. Peter also talked about projects that have already come to

Pictured, from left, Lisa Pogson, Airmaster Air Conditioning, John Armstrong, E.ON, Ben Watts, Engie UK, Martin Fahey, Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK, Brian Churchyard, ASDA Wal-Mart

fruition including the Bunhill Heat Network, which supplies a housing estate with heat collected from Northern Line. Lukas Bergmann, from Delta E&E, discussed the role of market regulations as a contributory factor for the growth of green heat. Whilst market regulations are often necessary and historically been a positive influence, there are some factors to consider when implementing them.

Unsustainable

Market readiness is the first factor - not only does the technology need to be ready and fine-tuned but the workforce needs to understand how to install these systems and they need to be adequately priced for the larger public to be able to afford them. The legislator also needs to be consistent and encourage greener systems at all levels, be open to innovation, and have a simple approach while ensuring that the fundamentals are in place before implementing change. Bob Critoph from Warwick University presented the work of I-STUTE. With 19% of the UK’s electricity used for cooling and 47% used for low temperature heating,

I-STUTE is looking at solutions to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels for heating and cooling. This includes reducing refrigerant leakage in refrigerated vans and investigating potential use of waste heat. The session also included a Q&A discussing the challenges of sustainable heating and cooling. Panellists were John Armstrong from E.ON, Brian Churchyard and Phil Smith from ASDA Wal-Mart, Martin Fahey from Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK, Lisa Pogson from Airmaster Air Conditioning and Ben Watts from Engie UK. Panellists agreed that current heating systems including boilers are unsustainable but that the legislation and training need to play their part to get consumers to access greener heating and cooling. Graeme Maidment, chair of SIRACH, said: “SIRACH meetings provide a fantastic forum for different stakeholders in the RACHP industry to understand each other’s perspectives and work together to develop low carbon heating and cooling solutions.” The event demonstrated that the UK is on track to implement sustainable heating and cooling, even if adjustments are required for this to be rolled out on a larger scale.

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P U MP S

The art of restoration How KSB pumps are helping to modernise cooling and heating while protecting the past at a leading Venice museum.

For art galleries and museums, a priority must be creating and maintaining the perfect environmental conditions to ensure the fabric of their artwork is not compromised. For many buildings of historical and architectural significance in Venice, respecting such a status, whilst managing the humidity, air quality and temperature, is both expensive and a major challenge. It has meant that they have had to modernise their building services infrastructure whilst maintaining an eye to the past. The Palazzo Grassi is one of the most famous Venetian buildings, being described as ‘the last patrician building facing the Grand Canal to be constructed before the fall of the Most Serene Republic of Venice’. Designed by Giorgio Massari, it was constructed between 1748 and 1772, and is characterised by two great façades, one facing the Grand Canal and the other facing Campo San Samuele and is noted for its majesty and whiteness. Today it is the premier contemporary art museum in Venice, having been renovated and rehabilitated for its current purpose in 2006 by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Owned by François Pinault, it is now host to his collection of contemporary art which is reputed to be one of the five largest in the world.

The Palazzo Grassi is characterised by two great façades, one facing the Grand Canal and the other facing Campo San Samuele

The three KSB Etabloc Series pumps for cold water duties are equipped with the advanced control/monitoring unit PumpMeter and are driven by the energy efficient KSB SuPremE motors and the modular, self-cooling frequency inverter PumpDrive.

Culture meets sustainability In 2016, following analysis of past energy consumption, an important and extensive renovation project was implemented. This involved renewing parts of the environmental services infrastructure in order to optimise energy consumption, whilst at the same time delivering the sensitive conditions

required for housing valuable works of art. The essential components needed to achieve energy savings were replacement hot and cold water pumps, valves, strainers and compensators, all of which were sourced from KSB Italia by the project contractors Siram SpA. The main part of the project was to update the hot and cold water systems for the two heating and cooling circuits in the building. “The effectiveness of the heating and cooling infrastructure that maintains the heating and air-conditioning throughout the Palazzo Grassi is largely dependent on the water pumps,” says Matteo Zanus, Siram project manager. “Energy efficiency is very important in Italy and no more so in large, historical buildings such as the Palazzo Grassi. Having provided pump maintenance to the Palazzo Grassi over a number of years, Siram was contracted to undertake a refurbishment of the pumps facilities, a task involving the installation of three cold water pumps and two hot water pumps.” The water used in the system is refreshed by pumping water from the lagoon using two KSB KRT submersible pumps. The salinity and pollution of the

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PUMP S The building services management software at Palazzo Grassi

Etabloc pumps

water, as well as temperatures changes are elements that have to deal with before it can be used in the closed-loop systems. Filters remove the pollution, a small desalination plant removes the saline content and two heat exchangers adjust the water temperature to the building’s operating requirements.

Making pumps pay Modern centrifugal pumps have already achieved a level of efficiency that is hard to further improve. Any pump can only operate as efficiently as its system – including valves, piping, filters or heat exchangers – allows it to. At the Palazzo Grassi, the performance of these products working as one ultimately affects the controlled environment within the building. Designing and installing a completely new pumping infrastructure for airconditioning and ventilation in a historic building does present a challenge, not least because the buildings were never designed for such equipment. In the case of the Palazzo Grassi, the pump room on the lower ground floor is best described as ‘compact’. Therefore, the first consideration had to be finding five suitably sized pumps, two for hot water circuits and three for the cold water circuits that could deliver the water flows and pressures for the system. Then there was the matter of connecting new piping to the existing infrastructure. Finally, there was meeting the customer’s requirement for energy efficiency. Fortunately these three requirements could be satisfied by using KSB’s Etabloc Series pumps, which in their latest incarnation are equipped with the advanced control/ monitoring unit PumpMeter. Three of the pumps are driven by the energy efficient KSB SuPremE motor, which since December 2016 meets class IE5 requirements, and two driven by KSB SuPremE IE4 class motors. All five pumps are fitted with the PumpDrive, a modular, self-cooling frequency inverter.

Manufactured by KSB to specific customer requirements, the Etabloc comes into its own in situations where space is at a premium because the pump, PumpMeter and motor are connected in one compact unit making it an extremely space-saving design. “The attraction of the Etabloc/PumpMeter/ PumpDrive/ SupremE motor combination is that there is no requirement for control panels. This means that we can deliver the complete package to site and simply connect it to the power and water infrastructure,” said Matteo Zanus. However, making use of energy-efficient motors only makes sense if all other savings potential have been exploited. No energy-efficient motor can achieve reasonable levels of energy consumption with a pump that is operating far off its best efficiency point, which is where the PumpDrive and PumpMeter come in to play. Pre-programmed by KSB to meet the customer’s specific operational requirements, PumpMeter continuously analyses the pump operating data, establishing a load profile. This makes the operator aware of energy saving potential that could be leveraged by using a variable speed system, in this case the PumpDrive.

The two KSB Etabloc Series pumps for hot water circulation duties are driven by KSB SuPremE IE4 class motors are equipped with PumpMeters and PumpDrives.

Employing this KSB technology, the building services management team at the Palazzo Grassi can remotely monitor the pumps in real-time as each PumpMeter is accessed through the building services management software.

Efficient motors make all the difference A pump’s power consumption can become expensive over time, so efficiency is one of the many criteria utilised to save money in a pumping system. Less efficient pumps and motors require more power to move the same amount of water because of losses in each. A high efficiency motor would eventually provide a return on the initial capital investment through the cost savings enjoyed from lower power consumption over the pump’s working life. However, if that same high efficiency motor is coupled to a very inefficient pump, then cost savings could be wiped out because the pump would require more power to operate at the same duty. If the power input is not adjusted to demand via some form of system control, valuable energy is wasted. By changing the motor speed and thus the flow rate, the pump input power can be reduced. In the case of closed-circuit systems, this allows energy savings of up to 60% depending on the load profile. To this end, KSB offers the PumpDrive fully assembled variable speed system delivered ready for operation.

Successful energy saving The energy savings resulting from the collaboration between Siram and KSB Italia are already revealing the effectiveness of the pumping installation, with savings of 30% being achieved after just one year. These savings are largely attributable to the selection of the pumps, their advanced control mechanisms and energy-efficient motors. “KSB products were an obvious choice for this project because we have installed these products elsewhere in Venice. Running at 2bar and pumping 79lt/sec., the two KSB KRT submersible water pumps used for drawing water from the lagoon were already installed in the Palazzo Grassi so our customer was familiar with KSB’s pumps,” says Matteo Zanus. As part of the energy efficiency upgrade, KSB Italia rewound the pumps to bring them up to the latest efficiency standards.

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www.ksb.com

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H E AT P U MP S

Peak performance Toshiba says upgraded ESTÍA sets new benchmark. Toshiba has launched the fifth generation of its ESTÍA air-to-water heat pump, designed to deliver energy efficient, low cost heating and cooling for homes and small commercial properties. The ESTÍA range claims best-in-class Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 4.90 at an air temperature of +7°C and 3.01 at -7°C, setting a new benchmark for heat pumps of this type. It is available as a split system from 4 to 16kW and monobloc from 16 to 21kW and has an efficiency rating of A++ for space and combination heating. It can replace or complement conventional gas boilers and will work with all types of heat emitters, delivering hot water temperatures up to 55°C. It is based on Toshiba´s twin-rotary compressor and Intelligent Power Drive Unit (IPDU) inverter technology, which maintains heating and cooling capacity with high energy efficiency at all times, especially at part load use. Toshiba claims high performance even at low ambient temperatures, providing heating at outside temperatures down to

-25°C, and domestic hot water from +40°C to +75°C. Part load efficiency, at up to 163%, exceeds the latest European Commission Key Performance Indicator.

The system comprises an outdoor unit, hydro module and water tank, making installation straightforward with no need for flue or groundworks. The split solution can also work alongside traditional boilers as part of hybrid systems designed to optimise energy use. All types of heating and cooling emitters can be used with ESTÍA, including existing low temperature radiators, underfloor heating systems and fan coil units. For larger installations and those requiring higher water temperatures, the ESTÍA monobloc is rated A+ for space heating, and also has a best-in-class COP of 4.10 at an air temperature of +7°C and 2.51 at -7°C. The system provides direct hot water production up to 60°C down to an outdoor temperature of -10°C, and heating at outdoor temperatures down to -20°C. Part load efficiency is up to 144%.

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HEAT PUMPS

Living the dream

Altherma pumps and Daikin AC chosen for new home project.

Plumber Kevin Watts recently put the finishing touches to his 10,000 square foot dream house near Southampton, with a mixture of high and low temperature heat pumps plus air conditioning units from Daikin UK. Built into a sloping 3.5-acre property, the south-facing contemporary house is extensively glazed. Two floors of living space are visible at the front; the rear elevation includes a lower ground floor with swimming pool, gym, games room, bar and cinema room. Over the past 25 years Kevin Watts has built his business into one of the largest plumbing concerns in the south, with a staff of 150. And from working with major housebuilders, he knows a lot about building – as well as plumbing and heating. No surprise, then, that it boasts the latest technology in all respects. He said: “I’ve always wanted to build the house of my dreams, and this one fits the bill. It’s been two years in the making and it’s designed for how we live as a family.” Three 14kW Daikin Altherma Low Temperature heat pumps fitted in a modular arrangement serve underfloor heating via a 200-litre buffer vessel to all three levels of the house. The underfloor heating also extends to the garage housing a collection of modern classic cars. Two 11kW Daikin Altherma High Temperature heat pumps, each housing a 260-litre unvented hot water cylinder, provide domestic hot water and serve a

Heatstar environmental control unit for the indoor pool area. In addition to controlling condensation, the unit maintains a comfortable environment around the pool and keeps the pool water heated within one degree of the surrounding air temperature. Because of the potential for solar gain through the south facing windows, the house has 12 Daikin Emura air conditioning units in three capacities, serving top floor bedrooms, ground floor living areas and the entertainment areas on the lower ground floor. The units are served by four condensing units of various capacities outdoors. All the Daikin systems at Manor View are controlled – alongside lights, window blinds and other features – through an HDL tablet-based home management system. Kevin said: “I’m a great believer in the potential of heat pumps for home heating and hot water. Although gas boilers are still a first choice for many of the housebuilding groups, the time must come when they all specify heat pumps because they are better for the environment and much more energy efficient. “I’m using them at Manor View because I want the house to be as sustainable as possible and a heat pump efficiently

The property boasts the latest technology, including for heating and cooling

converts energy from the air into usable ‘free’ heat. Our experience of living in the property for the first 9 months confirms this as our fuel bills have been surprisingly low. There’s also an 6kW photovoltaic array facing due south on the roof, so that when the sun is shining I get even cheaper heating and hot water. “The final bonus is that it’s provided a great training opportunity for my staff – and a showcase for their skills.”

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H E AT P U MP S

Breaking new ground The Kensa Group has launched a funding and delivery package for new build developments which it believes paves the way for developers to embrace widespread deployment of ground source heat pumps in new build housing. The cost of providing the underground infrastructure means that, according to BSRIA, only 11% of heat pump installations in 2017 were ground source. Kensa says that its new offer of a zero cost infrastructure to developers means a ground source option is now cheaper than air source and, in many cases, cheaper than a gas boiler system. The UK Government has recognised the value of this 100-year infrastructure investment and have made changes to the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) regulations with regard to deeming and split ownership making Kensa’s funding mechanism for multiples of properties possible.

Reliable and durable Kensa Group managing director, Simon Lomax, said: “This offer should signal the end of air source heat pumps and gas in new build developments. It is widely understood that ground source heat pumps are more efficient, reliable and durable but their issue has always been the cost of the ground array. We have now solved this problem. Kensa can fund, install, own and maintain the ground array which

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Simon Lomax

means this cost is no longer borne by the developer. Very simply, we supply the underground infrastructure at zero cost.” The 2018 RHI regulations included an important refinement; along with clarification regarding split ownership arrangements. For the first time, non-

domestic RHI quarterly payments for residential properties linked to Shared Ground Loop Arrays are now based upon the deemed heat consumption taken from the Energy Performance Certificate, prompting funders to back Kensa's offer of ground arrays at no charge to the housing provider. Dr Matthew Trewhella, contracts director at Kensa Contracting, said: “The changes to the RHI and Kensa’s funded offer eliminate the key barrier to deployment of ground source heat pumps which are widely recognised that, money-aside, are the best heating system available. By removing the expense of the ground array Kensa is mimicking long-standing ‘split ownership’ arrangements in the gas sector with the underground infrastructure owned and maintained separately from the heat pump installed inside the properties. Kensa’s model sees the housing provider fund the heat pump, which is sold with the property and maintained by the purchaser, whilst the ground array is fully funded via the RHI income.” Government ambition for the widespread

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67 electrification of heat is driving policy to deliver lower carbon developments, and with further decarbonisation of the grid electrically delivered heat is widely regarded as the future of heating. For many off-gas developments, air source heat pumps have been a common choice, but Kensa Contracting says it is now offering its Shoebox ground source model could be about to change that. Simon Lomax added: “Air source heat pumps can spoil the appearance of a home, often create noise pollution issues and require planning permission for most new build applications. These problems all disappear with the Kensa solution. Better still, a ground source heat pump delivers lower carbon emissions, which creates a clear opportunity to reduce other build costs whilst still satisfying building regulations; our analysis reveals significant savings are possible. “Anecdotal evidence also suggests higher selling prices are possible for homes benefitting from a ground source heat pump. Best of all, the scale of the RHI payments means Kensa is often able to subsidise the cost of the heat pump, which means the overall cost falls far below any rival heating system, including a gas combi boiler. We expect our solution to appeal as an alternative to a gas boiler, too.

Lowest cost “Ground source heat pumps are a strategic technology for Government if it is to meet its carbon emission reduction targets and the available support reflects the desire to increase deployment in the new build sector. “It is now possible to have the very best heating system at the very lowest cost, a true ‘game-changer’.” To support the offer Kensa has developed a range of ultra-small and ultra-quiet Shoebox heat pumps with a capacity of 3-6kW designed to fit within the majority of new build homes. The pump is partnered with a hot water cylinder in a tiered single footprint arrangement requiring an 800mm x 800mm cupboard. Typical efficiencies exceed 300% which means householders benefit from ultra-low running costs with further savings expected once time-of-use electricity tariffs become common place. The installations can also provide passive cooling during summer. www.kensaheatpumps.com

HEAT PUMPS

£8.5m to tackle inefficient heating

Together Housing and Kensa have completed a successful pilot project in Halifax

An £8.5m investment has seen Kensa Heat Pumps appointed as the preferred ground source heat pump supplier to Together Energy. The investment in renewable heating technology was announced during the first ever Green GB Week – an annual week highlighting UK clean growth and means to tackle climate change. Claire Perry, Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, said: “The UK has led the world in cutting emissions whilst growing our economy - with clean growth driving incredible innovation and creating hundreds of thousands of high quality jobs. Ten years on from the Climate Change Act, the first ever Green GB week is a time to build on our successes and explain the huge opportunities for business and young people of a cleaner economy. I’m delighted to see how many more businesses and organisations, such as Kensa and Together, are seizing this multi-billion pound opportunity to energize their communities to tackle the very serious threat of climate change.” As part of Together Housing Group, Together Energy is dedicated to improving the lives of residents through investment into low carbon energy efficiency programmes. One of the largest landlords in the North of England, Together Housing’s property portfolio has a variety of heating options. Night storage heaters are one example of the systems in place which are considered to be no friend to the planet or their user. They are thought of as impractical, expensive and environmentally unfriendly due to their lack of efficiency.

Together Energy has taken the decision to remove the expensive systems in 709 of its properties in a planned programme of change. This is set to benefit customers through the supply of green energy via shared loop Kensa ground source heat pumps. These systems are up to three times more efficient than the cumbersome storage heaters. Not only will this investment save the residents of Together Housing on average £195 per year on heat and hot water, it provides the organisation with an income through the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Unrivalled experience

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Together Energy managing director Patrick Berry said: “The GSHP investment forms part of a strategic energy plan that seeks to improve affordability of stock for tenants, reduce carbon and take advantage of existing incentives and emerging energy markets”. The investment follows a successful pilot scheme with Kensa in Halifax, featuring the upgrade of two blocks of 60 flats. Simon Lomax, managing director of the Kensa Group, said: “We are delighted to remain involved with Together Housing’s programme and look forward to providing low cost and low carbon heating to many more residents. Kensa has unrivalled experience delivering major programmes and can offer a compelling package which is financially supported via both the Renewable Heat Incentive and Energy Company Obligation.”

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H E AT P U MP S

Wembley game-changer LG says R32 monobloc range sees it perfectly placed for market growth.

LG believes the arrival of the first full range of R32 monobloc air to water units sees it perfectly placed to benefit from a predicted explosion of interest in heat pump technology over the next decade. Wembley Stadium provided the backdrop for the LG renewable heating event that saw the announcement and introduction of the Therma V R32 monobloc range. Andrew Hooper, LG UK & Ireland heating manager in air conditioning and energy solutions, said: “As a package for the installer and the end user, this is a gamechanger in the air to water air source heat pump marketplace. The market for air source heat pumps is set to explode in the UK and this new range puts LG in pole position to take advantage of that increase in popularity. The UK is currently 25th out of 27 countries in Europe when it comes to renewable energy, which is a sad fact but one we need to address. Only 16,000 air source heat pumps were installed in the UK in the past year – compared to more than 1 million in Germany. We will see the global air source heat pump market swell to around £90 billion by 2020 and here in the UK we will see exponential growth of renewable systems over the next 10 years, whatever happens with BREXIT.

Good place “This new range puts us in a very good place, able to provide a high quality solution to the developers and end users in the UK looking for an energy efficient, cost efficient, eco-friendly source of heating and hot water that is ready and able to challenge the stranglehold of the traditional boilers that we have a love affair with here in the UK.” LG has developed its Therma V range over many years and the latest version, operating on low GWP R32, is available in 5kW to 16kW single-phase and 12kW to 16kW three-phase, in a wide operating range of between 10135Hz and water temperatures up to 65°C without an electric backup heater. It comes with an energy label rating of A+++ (ready for September 2019 erp changes). Featuring a plate heat exchanger,

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expansion tank and a Grundfos water pump, the new units have a higher capacity due to the choice of refrigerant. The electric heater can be installed as an optional accessory as this is not always required. The latest units have a 5 to 6dB lower sound power level than previous models and incorporate a number of additional new features including a new revolutionary scroll compressor, designed and manufactured by LG Electronics with ‘wet vapour’ injection. The unit has excellent performance at low ambient temperatures – 100% at -7°C. The new offering comes with what LG describes as a revolutionary new scroll compressor, combining the high efficiency and low noise characteristics of the scroll compressor with the stable compressing structure of a rotary compressor in one unit. The compressor incorporates new technology developed by LG including wet vapour injection. This is to control the high discharge temperature of the compressor efficiently, bringing it down from 160°C to below 110°C, resulting in an expanded heating operation range and enhancing the unit’s performance at low ambient temperatures. The Therma V R32 monobloc series also incorporates LG’s Ocean Black Fin epoxy resin coating on its heat exchangers, designed to perform well in corrosive environments, giving longer lifespan and lower operational costs for the units, contributing to reliability of the overall system.

HEAT PUMPS

0800 Repair LG also launched its new 0800 Repair service in partnership with Pacifica Group, which it believes allows it to compete on a level playing field with the gas boiler industry. Andrew Hooper said: “This is another turning point for us as a business and means we can offer the support and back up service to match the quality of the equipment we offer the industry. As well as offering the most reliable equipment you can specify and buy, we can now offer the peace of mind that customers seek for those occasions when support is required.” LG is stepping up its training provision with additional training courses for installers via GRE Energy Training in Chesterfield. In addition to the training available at its headquarters in Weybridge, LG can now offer an additional two free one day courses a month. This is a new option and more than 60 engineers have already benefitted from training in Chesterfield, receiving theoretical and hands on training working on LG equipment.

LG’s Therma V R32 monobloc range was officially launched at the manufacturer’s renewables event at Wembley Stadium

for installers and will run alongside the RHI scheme with an immediate incentive of £805 and a further £115 a year payable alongside the remaining RHI or up to seven years of a heat pump’s installation. The MMSP will provide extensive supporting information relating to energy generated and consumed to back the drive to install more air source heat pumps in the UK, and gain Government support for doing so. partner.lge.com/uk.

MMSP The event also announced the impending release of its MMSP – its Metering and Monitoring Service Package - developed in conjunction with Regin. This is a tool for servicing and diagnostic procedures

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P R OD U C TS & S E RV ICES

The Innovation Zone

The guide to what’s new for ACR Journal readers, offering vital industry news. To advertise your product in ‘The Innovation Zone’ section please contact jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

MAKITA’S 18V LXT RANGE EXPANDS AGAIN

GEA OFFERS UPGRADE OPTION

New to the 18V LXT range from Makita is the DTW180 Brushless LXT Impact Wrench which will drive home M8 - M16 standard bolts and M6 - M12 high tensile bolts. It will deliver 180Nm of tightening torque and 310Nm of nut busting torque while the 2-stage impact power selection delivers up to 3,600ipm in hard mode, 2,000ipm in soft, with a no load speed of 2,400rpm in hard mode and 1,300rpm in soft mode. The DTW180 is also the first 18V impact wrench in the Makita range to have a 3/8” square driving shank.

GEA says its Omni Retrofit Panel gives customers the ability to upgrade the control of piston and screw compressors, whether they are manufactured bt GEA or another supplier.

Also new is the DCL181FZW 18V Vacuum Cleaner, P-90641 75-piece Combination Set, P-90635 118-piece General Maintenance Tool Kit and the P-70649 125-piece Service Engineers Kit.

www.makitauk.com

Available as an off-the-shelf service product, its hardware is designed to allow the connection of different types of compressor sensors, motor current sensors and solenoid coil voltages. Authorised service staff and service companies can access the control system remotely and the panel can send email and text message notifications. It is preconfigured in more than 25 languages. For connection to other control systems, GEA Omni Retrofit Panels support Modbus TCP/IP protocols for data exchange.

www.gea.com

SILENT+ MINI LIME NEXT GENERATION

TURBOCHILL FROM AIREDALE INTERNATIONAL

Aspen Pumps has launched the next generation of its Silent+ Mini Lime condensate removal pump.

Airedale International’s TurboChill spray evaporator range offers Ecodesign Tier 2 (2021) compliance for both comfort and process based applications.

In addition to a soft start function, Aspen says the pump includes a range of sound dampening technology with built-in sound absorbing materials. Since it only pumps when needed, motor noise is reduced, as well as offering cost and energy saving benefits, in addition to a longer motor life. Suitable for high wall split systems, the Silent+ Mini Lime sits in the trunking elbow and offers installation flexibility thanks to its suitability for a range of trunking systems with left or right install options.

The TurboChill range is said to reduce refrigerant evaporator charge (kg) by up to 70% and overall unit charge by 50%, whilst maintaining a level of efficiency close to a traditionally flooded system of the same capacity. All units incorporate the latest Centrifugal TurboCor compressor technology including the low capacity TG230 compressor which operates using R1234ze with a GWP less than 1. These intelligent, self-optimising compressors enable 30 – 100% variable speed control with respect to maximum capacity for tighter setpoint management and unbeatable efficiencies at part load.

www.aspenpumps.com

www.airedale.com

December | January 2019

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Volume 5 No.1

03/12/2018 18:55

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ° Chillventa round-up

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acrjournal.uk

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03/12/2018 15:36

Call Jordan on 01778 395029 or email jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

Sigma is VRF with flexibility built in With its new Sigma-shaped heat exchanger, the Set Free Sigma VRF range is high efficiency even at low or partial load in cooling mode, achieving SEER up to 8.33 and a marketleading SCOP of up to 5.06. ✔ 5HP to 24HP in a single unit module up to 96HP with combinations ✔ Two pipe heat pump, three pipe heat recovery ✔ Off coil temperature control eliminates cold draughts

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To find out more call Hitachi on 020 3901 0912 @hitachiairconUK hitachi-hvac.com

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C H AN GIN G FACE S ANTHONY COLLIER TECHNICAL OPERATIONS MANAGER, BSRIA NORTH Anthony Collier is the new technical operations manager at BSRIA North He has 14 years of experience mainly in a materials testing environment for the civil engineering highwayssector.

June Davis, business manager, BSRIA North, said: “Anthony brings with him an abundance of experience and we see this appointment in a newly-created role as an essential step in our continued development for the strategic direction BSRIA North is taking for 2018 and beyond. With Anthony’s vast credentials and impressive, technical experience and transferrable skills, this will boost BSRIA North’s reputation as the go-to industry leader in delivering global sustainable building construction, solutions and research.” He said: “I am looking forward to making my mark in this new role that will highlight the value BSRIA represents for the built environment sector at the time of profound change and challenge. I am also keen to switch industries and applying my knowledge into the test, instruments and research fields in the construction and building services sector. I am NEBOSHH qualified and take a serious approach to all H&S matters.’’ www.bsria.co.uk

CRAIG FULLER PROJECT SALES ENGINEER, BGES BG Energy Solutions (BGES) has appointed Craig Fuller as BMS project sales engineer. Craig has spent 21 years in building controls and industrial automation, with a nine-year stint at ABB, where he acted as the UK HVAC channel manager looking after 23 partners around the country. More recently he spent time at SSE Enterprise Solutions and Smart Controls Systems. He will work to maintain and support the level of service to existing clients across the Midlands. and is also charged with developing opportunities for new businesses and delivering specialist BMS expertise to BGES’s largest projects. Managing director Gareth Barber said: “Craig brings with him a wealth of experience in smart controls. He will play a vital role in supporting not only our existing client base in the region but also helping us to identify potential new opportunities and help us deliver our ambitious plans for our next stage of growth across the Midlands.”

www.bges.co.uk

DISA SHEARER SALES REPRESENTATIVE, TQ ENVIRONMENTAL

RYAN HAWKEN CONTRACT MANAGER, ECEX Ryan Hawken has been appointed contracts manager at ECEX. He was previously project manager for AHS (Specialist Services) which builds and supplies air handling plant, where he gained experience interfacing DX systems with AHUs. Before that he was air conditioning contracts manager and chiller and VRF service engineer at Basingstoke-based Servio, specialising in electrical and mechanical maintenance.

Wakefield-based TQ Environmental has welcomed Disa Shearer as a new gas monitoring and refrigerant leak detection sales representative. Disa, who has extensive experience in air conditioning distribution, moved to TQ at the beginning of November. Once fully up to speed with the full TQ product range, which covers refrigeration and marine applications in addition to air conditioning, she will be developing/building business relationships across the UK and assisting with site surveys. She said: “This is an exciting opportunity to learn a new product range and, in some cases, showcase to contacts I have built up over the years. “With leak detection being pushed on more air conditioning projects I envision with the knowledge of air conditioning I have and what I am starting to learn on leak detection I can help bridge the knowledge gap to all parties.”

www.tqplc.com

He said: “I am delighted to be joining ECEX, a progressive and enlightened business that offers plenty of scope to offer a whole host of services. My ambition is to develop the air handling unit (AHU) refurbishment work for the company. I will make fan selections and recommend energy upgrades. I will also go to site, conduct technical surveys, measure up, design a fan system to suit the unit and manage the installation. “Chiller refurbishment often goes hand in hand with managing the maintenance of AHUs so I can also offer my extensive refrigeration and air conditioning experience in this area as well as offering advice and technical support where required.” www.ecex.co.uk

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CHANG ING FACES THIERRY JOMARD CEO, FLÄKT GROUP

JOE HEPBURN AND LINZI SHEARD KIMPTON ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Thierry Jomard, left, is the new CEO of the Fläkt Group, replacing Dr Walter Rohregger, below.

Wirral-based Kimpton Energy Solutions has announced two senior appointments.

He spent 25 years with United Technologies at Carrier and Otis, including a spell as president of Carrier Commercial Refrigeration. Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, Herbert Doleisch said: “We are confident that Thierry will lead Fläkt Group into a phase of profitable growth with innovative products, solutions and services with an obsession to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. We would like to thank Walter for his outstanding commitment and contribution to the significant improvements made in the last two years in bringing together two ventilation companies into Fläkt Group.”

Joe Hepburn joins the team as a senior mechanical estimator. He has worked in and around mechanical services for over 40 years. Joe said: “I can’t wait to get started. I’ve known Kimptons for many years and they have always been on my radar as a place I’d like to join. It’s a tricky market out there at the moment but the focus Kimptons have as a business ensures we know what projects suit our capabilities and where we can add real value.” Linzi Sheard joins as financial controller after relocating from London. She has a background in consultancy businesses and said: “I’m looking forward to the different scale of projects at Kimptons.”

Dr Rohregger was appointed to the role in October 2016 following Fläkt Woods’ acquisition by investment group Triton and merger with DencoHappel.

www.flaktgroup.com

www.kimpton.ltd.uk

NEW NAME AND NEW FACES AT EXYTE HARGREAVES

RESTRUCTURE FOR WILLIAMS SALES TEAM

From left, Pete Williams, Paul Rogers, Julian Dorgan and Aiden Smith

From left, Tony Prince, Kaj Sandom, Steven Grahamslaw and Haydon Hendry

Engineering and ventilation solutions specialist Exyte Hargreaves (formerly M+W Hargreaves) has made four senior appointments at director and management level as it looks to strengthen and grow the business further across a number of sectors. The new appointments include Julian Dorgan, regional director (North) and Pete Williams, labour manager. Both positions have been created to support the company’s strategic objective to grow the business in key target markets. Additional senior appointments include Paul Rogers as quality manager and Aiden Smith as construction manager. Managing director Andy Sneyd said: “We would like to welcome the new appointments, all of whom join at an exciting time in the company’s history. Their expertise and knowledge I’m sure will be invaluable and I look forward to working with them, as we endeavour to examine growth opportunities in both the sectors we are currently involved with and new markets right across the globe.”

Williams Refrigeration has restructured its sales team following a number of promotions and arrivals. The new team includes Garry Allitt, who has been promoted to national sales manager, and Kaj Sandom, who joins Williams as national account manager including responsibility for foodservice consultants. Another new recruit, Tony Prince, is Williams’ new business development manager. Steven Grahamslaw has been appointed as area sales manager for Scotland and Haydon Hendry, who joins from sister company Falcon, is area sales manager for the Midlands and North East. Sales and marketing director Malcom Harling said: “Our new sales structure is designed to help our team work even more closely with our business partner distributors, to help them (and us) maximise the business potential.” CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

www.williams-refrigeration.co.uk

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C H IL LY CH AT T E R

Chilly Chatter sponsored by

Charity winners at IOR dinners More than 400 guests flocked to Glasgow for the biggest IOR Scotland Dinner in 10 years, with £3,381 raised for its 2018 charities, Calum’s Cabin and the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. That figure was up more than £800 on last year, to the delight of Julie Murray, IOR Scotland chair, and Lizzie Dunlop, from the organising committee. Gordon Shanks of Elgin Refrigeration was presented with the Kooltech Award for his contribution to the refrigeration industry in Scotland. Connor Davidson of KB Refrigeration was named Apprentice of the Year, with Joshua Collins of JD Cooling in second place and Gavin Kidd of Star Refrigeration third.

It was Julie Murray’s first annual dinner as IOR Scotland chairperson and she and fellow organiser Lizzie Dunlop were delighted with the evening. Julie said: “What a fantastic night we had at our 39th annual dinner. On behalf of the Scottish committee, I would like to thank everyone for making it so successful and we look forward to seeing them again next year.’’ Another hugely enjoyable evening at the IOR Northern Region Dinner saw a further £1,350 raised for charity. Growing numbers saw the event moved to a new venue this year at the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle and guests were entertained by comedian Daliso Chaponda and The Singing Waiters.

Connor Davidson with IOR Scotland chairperson Julie Murray and IOR president Kevin Glass, above, and, below, Gordon Shanks with Kooltech MD Murray Sharp and Julie Murray

Adelle Munro from the Northern organising committee with outgoing IOR president Steve Gill

OCEANAIR GOLF IN MEMORY OF TONY WOODCOCK

Above, Tony Evanson of Oceanair, left, is pictured presenting Trevor Farmer with the Tony Woodcock Memorial Shield

The fourth annual Oceanair golf day was held at Erewash Valley Golf Club, Ilkeston, in memory of industry stalwart Tony Woodcock, who passed away earlier this year. Contractors and consultants who deal with Oceanair Mansfield and Oceanair Crawley battled it out in the stableford competition, especially on the tricky par 3 holes which had prizes for nearest the pins sponsored by ACR Journal and CCM of Mansfield. Tony Evanson, managing director of Oceanair, and Ian Carroll, COO of Fujitsu, who jointly sponsored the event, presented the winner, Trevor Farmer of ACRC, with the Tony Woodcock Memorial Shield and a Powakaddy FW5S electric trolley. Runner-up John Roche, of Silcock Dawson, received a Garmin S60 Approach watch. Dinner was held at the nearby Novotel Nottingham, where comedian Mike Farrell entertained before prizes were presented to the winners. Around £800 was raised for the LOROS charity.

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CHILLY CHATTER

CLIMALIFE BACKING FOR PORTISHEAD GIRLS

Climalife UK is sponsoring the Portishead Town FC under 13 girls football team. Climalife managing director Allan Harper and marketing co-ordinator Mel Summers presented the team with their new kit before joining the girls for a team photograph. Allan said “We are really proud to be supporting local football and we hope the new kit will give the team added confidence. We wish the girls lots of luck in the matches ahead.”

BEIJER REF BAKE OFF BOOSTS MACMILLAN

SBS celebrates women in industry

Smith Brothers Stores celebrated women in the industry with a two-day gathering of staff, suppliers and customers at the Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa in Wiltshire, The event was organised by Donna Le May, branch manager of SBS Southampton, who said: “It was a pleasure to organise an event to honour the women in our industry. It was a successful networking occasion and I hope to do more in the near future.”

GRAHAM MAKES A SPLASH Graham Plumbers’ Merchant hosted a dragon boat race in aid of Barnardo’s. Six teams competed across the day, raising nearly £9,000 for the charity’s work with some of the UK’s most vulnerable young people. The event, held at Draycote Water Sailing Club in Warwickshire, saw participants from Graham and Saint-Gobain, their families, suppliers, customers and agencies go head to head in the 250-metre races. Out of the six teams that entered, team ‘Perfect Storm’ was the eventual winner - made up of colleagues from the Saint-Gobain public sector sales team.

Beijer Ref UK and Ireland held a bake off competition at its head office in Morley, Leeds and raised £214 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The event was organised by Samia Belgrave and Jessica Harris and marketing co-ordinator Becky Lowe was the proud winner. She is pictured with main judge Greg Cattell, head of purchasing at the company.

FUJITSU SPONSORS SOULSTICE GOLF

A-GAS ‘EMPLOYER OF YEAR’ A-Gas has been named Employer of the Year at the Business Leader Awards 2018. Hosted by Business Leader Magazine, the event attracted more than 600 entrepreneurs and business leaders to celebrate the achievements of organisations in the South West. More than 200 entries were received this year – a record number – and judges reported that the calibre was high.

The inaugural Soulstice Golf Day held at The Shire, London course in Barnet saw 17 teams play for the Andy Weekes Memorial Trophy to raise money for the Saving Soulstice fund and Cherry Lodge Cancer Care. After hearing that thieves had stolen vital charity funds raised earlier this year, Fujitsu-General Air Conditioning and other companies co-sponsored the event to help replace the lost funds. The idea for this event was conceived by Fujitsu’s Giles Pratt and his wife Maggie, who also helped organise the day. Former England football stars Neil “Razor” Ruddock and Des Walker, together with world boxing champion Ben “Duracell” Jones made up a Team Hanning All Stars foursome who narrowly lost out to Team Artell in a final play off.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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