Acrjunejuly18 web

VOLUME 4 No4 ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

JUNE/JULY 2018

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CON TE NTS

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

Reasons to be cheerful after encouraging start It’s hard to believe that by the time this issue is delivered, we’ll be very nearly halfway through 2018.

So before anyone gets carried away with counting the shopping days left to Christmas or something equally distressing, let’s take a moment to reflect on an encouraging start to the year. New products, new projects and new faces seem to be everywhere... not least in the pages that follow. Hopefully that’s an indication of growing confidence and long may it continue. Amongst the issues explored are the growing re-emergence of CO2, the arrival of the UK’s first R32 hybrid VRF system and news that Bosch is launching a residential air conditioning range as Daikin introduces a gas boiler (yes, we have got those the right way round!) Elsewhere, there is a focus on compressors and refrigerants and we look at a new funding framework for air source and ground source heat pumps which should give contractors a major boost in the social housing sector. Here’s to the next six months...

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Enjoy the magazine.

David Editor

David Todd 01778 392094 david.todd@warnersgroup.co.uk

R E G U L A R S

06 News

Projects, products and people

17 Mitsubishi Electric Column Who’s for hybrid VRF?

29 Tools Talk Tools for CO2

54 Women in ACR

Kate Bowers of Mansﬁeld Pollard

62 Changing Faces

Who’s new and who’s moved

DOWNLOAD THE ACR JOURNAL APP FOR YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET PC GET THE LATEST NEWS, FEATURES, UPDATES AND OFFERS

64 Chilly Chatter

Industry chat and updates

66 What’s New?

The latest products and launches

JUNE/JULY 2018

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C O N T E N T S

VOLUME 4 No4 ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

JUNE/JULY 2018

The wait is nearly over... acrjournal.uk JUNJUL18_Cover.indd 1

14/05/2018 16:19

Multi Media Sales Representative

Jordan Paylor 01778 395029 jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

Editorial Design

Development Design

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

F E AT U R E S Air Conditioning

18 Meaningful innovation 24 Avoid the oversizing trap 28 No alternative to R32

Compressors & Refrigerants

42 CO : the simple truth

32 BITZER 34 Climalife 36 REFCOM 38 ThermaGroup 40 A-Gas

Refrigeration

Heat Pumps

Training 2

44 Condensers compared 46 End of an era at J&E Hall 50 It’s never been safer to clean

56 Unlocking the RHI 58 The heat is on 60 Marine source milestone

Publishing Editor

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

Published by:

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111

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E V E NTS

COUNTDOWN TO

AWARD

Four key categories will again be contested, with the winners announced in Nuremberg in October.

ime is running out for UK businesses to enter the 2018 Chillventa AWARD, with the four category winners announced at what the trade fair organisers are predicting will be another recordbreaking event in Nuremberg in October.

The awards were contested for the ﬁrst time in 2016 and return to recognise unique projects in the commercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sectors. Organisers say that Chillventa, which takes place 16-18 October, is where projects are initiated, trends are set and innovative products are introduced to the market. More than 32,000 trade visitors from 118 countries attended Chillventa in 2016, 5% more than the previous event, and the fair attacted 981 exhibitors. Exhibition Director Chillventa at NürnbergMesse Daniela Henkel said: “Everything is suggesting that Chillventa 2018 will see renewed growth. We are very conﬁdent of at least repeating, if not surpassing, our already excellent results for display area and exhibitors.” The Chillventa AWARD is presented by NürnbergMesse in collaboration with publishing house Bauverlag. Christoph Brauneis, editor-in-chief of trade journals KKA and tab, and a member of the judging panel, said: “There are very few sectors that are as innovative

and inventive as the refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pump community. The presentation of the Chillventa AWARD in 2016 was further proof of this. “The success of the ﬁrst award and the excellent feedback from the industry were reason enough for us to decide to host the competition again in 2018. We are looking forward to the submissions from which we will choose the best, most exciting and most innovative projects in four categories to receive the Chillventa AWARD.” The Chillventa AWARD recognises the achievements of expert teams (designers/planners, system engineers, clients/operators) that have realised a highly impressive project in respect of functionality, energy consumption and technical innovation as a result of exemplary collaboration that exceeds technical standards. In its evaluation the jury – in keeping with the Chillventa motto “Connecting Experts” – will consider in particular how project stakeholders work together from conceptual formulation, planning and system engineering to operation of the system. In any project submitted for an award, the quality achieved through partnership-driven design must be transparent and documented. The jury will also considers factors like adherence to budget and schedule, environmental aspects and certiﬁcations

THERE ARE VERY FEW SECTORS THAT ARE AS INNOVATIVE AND INVENTIVE AS THE REFRIGERATION, AIR CONDITIONING, VENTILATION AND HEAT PUMP COMMUNITY”

etc. Any form of refrigeration, AC or heat pump system (new or rebuild) in Europe is eligible. Any project for which the entrants are directly responsible and which has been completed by the submission date for the AWARD may be considered. The completion of the project must not be more than two years before the closing date.

Who can apply?

Clients/operators, designers/planners and system engineers, as individuals or in consortia, with an ofﬁce located in a European country, are eligible to participate, whereby any partners involved must be explicitly named. Manufacturers of components and systems from industrial or commercial enterprises are not eligible. However, eligible entrants may receive support with their submission from industrial and commercial enterprises.

The jury

º Christoph Brauneis, senior editor, KKA and tab magazines Professor Michael Deichsel, Georg º Simon Ohm Technical University º Rolf Harig, Harig GmbH º Information Centre for Heat Pumps and Refrigeration Professor Dr.-Ing. Ulrich º Pfeiffenberger, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, FGK Association for Air Conditioning and Ventilation in Buildings Bertold Brackemeier, Senior Manager º Public Relations, NürnbergMesse Application forms are available from the Chillventa website and the closing date for entries is 29 June. www.chillventa.de

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SMART QUICK STRONG

An innovative press system suitable for air-conditioning and refrigeration applications up to 48 bar.

Join the Press Revolution Benefitting from over 100 years’ experience in fittings manufacture and over two decades in press system design, award-winning >B< MaxiPro is set to revolutionise pipe jointing in air-conditioning and refrigeration applications. >B< MaxiPro is a flame-free, robust press system which is quick and simple to use, providing a secure and permanent joint designed to reduce installation time and enhance working flexibility. Specially designed in collaboration with Conex Bänninger, the Rothenberger ROMAX Compact TT press machine and >B< MaxiPro jaws are the recommended tools to fit >B< MaxiPro to a professional standard.

DURABLE For further information visit www.conexbanninger.com/bmaxipro or email salesuk@ibpgroup.com

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RAISING THE BAR The IOR’s Women in RACHP network is hosting a career development day to celebrate the 2018 Women in Engineering Day.

Held at Fujitsu’s HQ in Elstree on 22 June, the Raising the Bar event is open to anyone working in, or with an interest in, the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector. It is sponsored by Fujitsu, Daikin, Airmaster, Kelvion and Star Refrigeration. The morning consists of a practical session and the afternoon includes a workshop aimed at gaining focus and staying motivated. Registration opens at 8.45 and the event is scheduled to ﬁnish at 4.15pm. The day costs £75 and places are limited. Delegates will receive a CPD certiﬁcate on completing the course. For more information or to book your place, visit www.ior.org.uk/events. Women in ACR, P54

FSW LAUNCHES NEW CO2 UNITS AT UK ROADSHOW Wholesaler FSW will launch a new range of CO2 packaged condensing units at their UK roadshow later this month.

The QuietCO2OL units will be intruduced by Profroid’s Remy Prunac at the events in Newcastle (June 18), Birmingham (June 20) and Southampton (June 21). Peter Dinnage of Climalife will discuss the latest developments in low GWP refrigerants discuss new alternatives to high GWP HFC refrigerants and Robin Green of FSW will offer practical advice on the move to R32 and look at the latest tools available. For more information or to register for any of the events, contact karenl@fsw.uk.com or your local FSW branch. Meanwhile, FSW has been approved by REFCOM to carry out calibration checks on digital refrigerant scales across its 24-branch network. The service is free and open to any company, with or without an FSW account.

New compact single-fan VRF outdoor units from Toshiba Toshiba has unveiled two new compact models of single-fan inverter-based VRF outdoor condensing units in 4HP and 5HP versions for restricted spaces.

A-GAS BUYS GERMAN REFRIGERANT COMPANY

A-Gas has increased it presence in mainland Europe with the purchase of Hamburg-based refrigerant business Arthur Friedrichs Kaeltemittel.

The company has supplied refrigerants for more than 60 years and the acquisition gives A-Gas a foothold in the European automotive market. A-Gas also plans to further invest in the company by building a refrigerant reclamation facility. F-Gas quota: use it or lose it, P40

The height of the units is reduced by 26% compared with the company’s previous condensing unit, while weight is reduced by 16kg. Powered by single-phase electrical supply, applications include ofﬁces, restaurants, apartments and smaller hotels. They are based on Toshiba’s highly regarded twinrotary direct current compressor. The units feature a new large diameter fan propeller, designed to move large volumes of air with low sound levels (see left). The fan includes innovative antieddy projections to minimise turbulence and further improve efﬁciency. No alternative to R32: See P28

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Partner

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17/05/2018 08:50:52

N E WS

CARRIER ADDS TO AQUAFORCE LINE-UP

Carrier has launched its new AquaForce 30XB and 30XBP chillers. The new range of ﬁxedspeed screw air-cooled chillers, covering cooling capacities from 250 kW up to 1700 kW, is available in three levels of efﬁciency to meet the new European Ecodesign regulation requirements.

The 30 XB range features Carrier’s 06T twin screw compressor and Novation aluminium microchannel heat exchangers with Super Enviroshield coatings. It also includes the sixth generation Flying Bird fans, ﬂooded shell-and-tube evaporator with new copper tube design for low pressure drops and Touch Pilot colour touch-screen control. The 30XB premium version includes Greenspeed EC fans and additional heat exchange surface in order to deliver signiﬁcant performance improvements at both full load and part load (SEER12/7 up to 4.5 and an SEPR12/7 up to 6.3). The AquaForce 30XB with PUREtec, designed exclusively for HFO R1234ze, will be available later this year.

Fujitsu helping to keep HMS Belfast shipshape

HMS Belfast is part of the Imperial War Museum

Fujitsu is helping to keep HMS Belfast shipshape following an upgrade of the air conditioning system.

Three 4-way compact cassettes and a wall-mount have been installed by Gravesend-based NBC (Air Conditioning) onto the existing Airstage J-IIS two-pipe heat pump VRF system, also from Fujitsu, in the lower deck sleeping quarters. The equipment proved to be so successful that a second J-IIS system was recently installed adjacent to the ﬁrst.

Moored on the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast is part of the Imperial War Museum. The lower deck sleeping quarters are particularly popular, as they are frequently used by students and schoolchildren during educational visits, as well as overnight stays (as part of the ‘Kip in a Ship’ experience). Up to 52 children can stay in this area overnight, where they can immerse themselves in the ship’s history by sleeping in real sailors’ bunks.

DEARMAN WORKS WITH M&S TO CUT EMISSIONS

AIRCELL SARMA JOY AT SAMMIES AWARD Adande Refrigeration’s Aircell Sarma open front integral refrigerated Grab & Go cabinet won the Packaging & Equipment category at the British Sandwich Association’s Sammies Awards. It follows the success of Adande’s Aircell cabinet at the Food & Hotel Asia SCI Equipment Awards in Singapore and the FCSI UK & Ireland Sustainable Catering Equipment Awards 2017.

Dearman is working with Marks & Spencer as the retailer seeks to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its chilled deliveries. The venture sees M&S lease a dual compartment Dearman Hubbard TRU, on a refrigerated semi-trailer, to be operated out of its Hemel Hempstead depot.

Dearman’s liquid nitrogen-powered engine is zero emission. The technology will replace diesel-powered secondary engines used to power transport refrigeration units (TRUs), which are used to keep food cold on the road.

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Stylish Where innovation meets creativity

Function and style for any space Daikin’s award-winning Stylish air conditioning unit brings together excellent design and technology to deliver a total climate solution for any interior. Winner of the Red Dot and Good Design Awards, Stylish is one of the slimmest (189mm deep) wall mounted units on the market and achieves the best in comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and control. The Stylish unit comes in three colours (white, silver and blackwood) with curved corners, for a discreet and space-saving design. So Daikin harmonises aesthetics and performance to create an innovative product that suits any contemporary interior. The Coanda effect: optimises the airflow for a comfortable climate Fresh, pure air: provides the best indoor air quality using Daikin’s deodorising filter Quiet operation: with a new fan design delivering higher energy efficiency at low sound levels Smart control: of the unit, from your smartphone, with Daikin’s Online Controller

Find out more at www.daikin.co.uk

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TF Solutions opens Leeds branch TF Solutions has opened its fourth branch, in Leeds, and says more will follow.

Subramaniam Chandrasekaran, President ISHRAE, Miriam Rodway, CEO of the IOR, Vishal Kapur, Immediate Past President of ISHRAE and IOR President Steve Gill

The 16,500 sq ft unit at City Park Industrial Estate follows the model used at exisiting branches in Stockport, Burton on Trent and Dunstable, and the company says it will hold in stock its widest range of both air conditioning and refrigeration products to date. The Leeds operation is headed up by Phil Houghton, who brings over 20 years of experience and product knowledge to the company.

IOR IN INDIA PARTNERSHIP The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) have agreed a framework to share technical information.

ISHRAE members will have access to some of the IOR’s library of on-line refrigeration technical information, while ISHRAE has offered the IOR the opportunity to give a talk at the REFCOLD exhibition and conference in Gandhinagar, India, in November. The IOR has welcomed the following new committee members: º Membership: Hayley Billson, Stuart Hayes, Damian Wiszniewski º Service Engineers Section: Andrew Reed, Bob Wright º Technical: Neil Roberts, James Bailey º Papers: Jason Whitwell, Ross Finlayson The IOR also has two vacancies on its Board of Trustees. Nominations need to be supported by two other members and the deadline is 1 August, with elections opening in October and results announced at the AGM in November.

Jet on course for 50% growth Temperature and humidity control company Jet Environmental is predicting 50% growth from last year, based on latest ﬁgures.

NATURAL VENTILATION COOLS BAE ACADEMY Blackpool-based Gilberts has provided a natural ventilation solution for the new £15.6m BAE Systems training academy in Lancashire.

The 7400m2 Academy for Skills and Knowledge (ASK) is said to be the UK’s biggest single investment in aerospace skills. To help achieve the BREEAM target of ‘very good’ for the scheme, main contractor ISG asked Gilberts to supply the natural ventilation in key areas of classrooms, meeting and conference facilities, and the aircraft hangar. A combination of 180 Mistrale 75 units, each 0.6m x 2.3m, and a further six Mistrale 75 units of 1.8m x 11.0m have been incorporated into the building façade. Gilberts’ engineered each unit with its high performance WPZ glazed in weather louvres externally; the large units, integrated into the hangar, also feature K40 internal grilles, in which the louvres have been angled at 40°pitch to optimise fresh air ﬂow into the vast internal space.

Jet Environmental’s list of clients includes the NHS, Boots, Jaguar Land Rover, Alloga, Great Bear, DHL, Tesco and Sainsbury’s and Ferrero Rocher, Thorntons, Lindt and Cadbury’s in the confectionary sector. The organisation has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Wozair Limited since July 2016. JUNE/JULY 2018

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Come on in, the water’s ﬁne Hybrid VRF – the world’s first R32 VRF solution More and more customers are choosing to install Hybrid VRF and with free training and free 3-day commissioning on your ﬁrst system, we are here to help you capitalise on this growing opportunity. With the familiarity of a VRF system and the water-based performance of a chiller, our latest Hybrid VRF models use low GWP refrigerant R32.

• Easy to install and already used in a variety of UK buildings over the past 5 years

• Fully packaged solution with lower refrigerant costs • Simpliﬁed 2-pipe design and installation For more information on R32 Hybrid VRF please visit: hybridvrf.co.uk

IltimNate W he u

d flyboarnce experire f.co.uk v

hybrid

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Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK

youtube.com/mitsubishielectric2

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New AHUs from Weatherite Weatherite Weatherite has responded to industry requirements with the launch of its new WispAir range of air handling units.

Sales Director Steve Cartledge said: “Lead times are getting shorter and there will always be increasing pressure on costs. The challenge for us was to design, build and deliver, quality, energy efficient, fully compliant AHUs that meet the clients’ exact requirements-within the shortest possible time, and at the right price.’’ The WispAir range covers typical air flow rates from 0.3m3/s to 35m3/s and Weatherite can deliver AHUs in any specific size/configuration.

WASTE WATER SCHEME MAKES A A swimming pool is at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution which creates heat from waste water.

Big Foot support for hospital chiller

In the first project to be delivered by a new joint venture between Scottish Water Horizons and East Midlands-based SHARC Energy Systems and one of the first of its kind in the UK, Campbeltown’s Aqualibrium leisure centre will be heated by the use of ground-breaking technology . The centre and swimming pool is operated by Argyll & Bute Council and the £1 million project will meet 95% of the facility’s heating needs and use just 25% of the energy it currently takes to heat it with gas. The installation will intercept waste water from Scottish Water’s adjacent Kinloch Park Pumping Station. The technology will extract the naturally occurring residual heat, amplify it and transfer it to the clean water network to provide heating to the leisure centre.

Big Foot Systems has supplied a custom plant deck to support a chiller on the roof of Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Big Foot Technical worked with the contractors to design a solution that allowed the chiller to sit above existing pipework whilst allowing it to remain accessible for maintenance. The deck sits approximately 1 metre above the asphalt roof level to allow for pipe runs and comes complete with a custom platform around the perimeter of the chiller. Big Foot also provided steps either side of the chiller, to enable access from both sides of the pipework, which saved the need for any step overs in another location. Big Foot Technical used foot pressure calculations, UDL (roof load) figures and a wind summary to ensure that the design was fit for purpose and in line with project requirements. JUNE/JULY 2018

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N E W S

FAN MOTOR MOVED FOR KITCHEN AHUs

Temperature and humidity control company Jet A centrifugal fan with EC motor outside the airﬂow has been developed by emb-papst for air handling units in commercial kitchens.

Fans for this application need to be easily accessible and easy to clean. At the same time, they have to regulate the humidity and temperature in the rooms. The company has modiﬁed its RadiPac series of EC centrifugal fans, removing the motor and control electronics from the air ﬂow, effectively preventing the build-up of greasy or oily deposits. The under-pressure prevailing around the fan’s intake causes cool outside air to be drawn in through a hose to cool the EC motor so that the fan and the control unit can reach their full output. .

HVRF AT TOOLS FIRM

Building services specialist Closewood has ﬁtted a new hybrid variable refrigerant ﬂow (HVRF) system for a leading manufacturer of painting and decorating tools.

Closewood, based in Havant, Hampshire, was contracted to decommission Ciret’s old system and ﬁt the Mitsubishi Electric City Multi HVRF. It has previously installed a similar system at its own ofﬁces.

The system is a simultaneous heating and cooling twopipe system that uses refrigerant between the outdoor units and the Hybrid Branch Controller (HBC) and water between the HBC and indoor units. As a hybrid system using water and lower amounts of refrigerant, there was no need for leak detection measures. Come on in, the water’s lovely: See P17

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New General Manager for LG

More appointments: P62

LG Electronics has appointed Hugo Lambourn as General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions for the UK, Eire and Nordic region. He will be based at LG’s headquarters at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey.

With more than 30 years in the HVAC and construction industry, Lambourn has extensive knowledge and experience of many air conditioning and heating brands. Recent positions include Branch Director at Daikin Air Conditioning in Bristol before moving on to be Managing Director of Trox in Thetford. He said: “LG offers a great brand, a high-quality product portfolio and a huge opportunity in today’s marketplace and it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to in the months and years ahead as we also strive to further enhance service quality.”

ABB SEALS AWARDS DOUBLE

ABB was named Manufacturer of the Year at the Motion Control Industry (MCI) awards for the second year running.

ABB is one of the few companies that manufacture both variable speed drives and electric motors. It also recently launched a suite of digital remote services including remote assistance, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance as part of the company’s ABB Ability digital platform. Using drive data in the cloud, the manual and labour intensive information gathering of traditional maintenance assessments is removed. The award win is the second this year for ABB in the UK, which was also named Supplier of the Year in the 2018 Pump Industry Awards to repeat last year’s success. It is the sixth time the company has taken this award. www.abb.com

Andy Preston of ABB accepts the MCI Manufacturer of the Year award from Helen Fospero, host, and Ryan Fuller of category sponsor Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine

SMART SOLUTION TO DRAUGHT PROBLEMS

SAV Systems says its AirMaster Smart Ventilation Units (SVUs) incorporate key design features to tackle the common problem of draughts from ventilation systems in classrooms, ofﬁces and many other workplaces.

The company says the units provide simultaneous control of air velocity and incoming air temperature, factors known to create uncomfortable draughts, whilst ensuring effective management of indoor air quality and efficient demand-controlled ventilation. Smart control of inlet temperature by AirMaster SVUs is achieved automatically by using fan differential speed. If the inlet temperature is below the set-point temperature for the space, the inlet fan slows while the exhaust fan speeds up. This results in a lower flow of cold air being warmed by an increased volume flow of warm air, thus producing an increase of inlet temperature.

POINTS TO PONDER AT FETA LUNCH More than 600 guests at the annual FETA Lunch heard Chairman John Smith address issues including Brexit, the F-Gas regulations, indoor air quality and training in his keynote speech.

Highlighting the work FETA is undertaking to support the F-Gas regulations, he said: “In order to meet phase-down requirements of the F-Gas regulations, the use of refrigerants with signiﬁcantly lower global warming potential is an inevitable requirement, and it’s clear that low ﬂammability refrigerants will play a major part here. “Our A2L refrigerants working group has released guidance, offering an overview of the new refrigerants, as well as practical advice on their safe use. It seeks to signpost the fact that these refrigerants will play an increasing role in the market over the coming years; particularly with regard to air conditioning.” Guest speaker Steph McGovern shared anecdotes from her broadcasting career and the former winner of the Young Engineer for Britain award also highlighted the importance of attracting young people into industry, drawing applause when she said: “We don’t value vocational training enough. Someone with an apprenticeship should be valued in the same way as someone with a degree.”

Steph McGovern with ACR Journal’s Juliet Loiselle

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C R E AT I N G T H E P E R F E C T C L I M AT E

www.lg.com/uk/business

A I R CO N D I T I O N I N G & E N E R G Y S O L U T IO N S

R32 SPLIT AND MULTI SPLIT RANGE Supreme energy efficiency, high operation reliability, a comfortable environment, a number of new convenient functions and the use of R32 refrigerant. The new LG R32 line up (4kW ~ 18.7kW) with dual inverter technology and ocean black fin epoxy coating, includes indoor units such as the award winning ARTCOOL Mirror, the Deluxe and Standard Plus wall mounts with embedded wi fi.

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17/05/2018 09:00:36

A IR

COND IT I O N I N G

HPAC HITS THE SPOT How Andrews’ high capacity range came to the rescue for Primark.

efore a new product is brought to market, it is essential that a detailed evaluation is carried out to ensure sufﬁcient demand exists.

For Andrews Air Conditioning, the popularity of an existing range was proof enough that extending an already successful line of cooling equipment could be achieved with minimal risk. Its range of high capacity HPAC air conditioners has been developed to provide users with high volume cooling in larger areas. The HPAC series offers solutions to a multitude of climate control issues and was designed with industrial processes, warehouses and production-related applications in mind. The earliest two models in the Andrews range – the HPAC45 and the HPAC90 – offer both heating and cooling via heat pump technology. Variable speed fans enable accurate air flow control, while the units’ unique specifications will produce an instant supply of cool air combined with economical power consumption. The success of the original HPAC units prompted the introduction of a smaller 30kW version which now features in the company’s hire fleet. Andrews says all units within the

The Andrews HPAC units outside the Primark store in Norwich

range offer clients a flexible, easy-touse and dependable cooling source specifically designed for deployment in temperature-sensitive environments. Efficient in operation and able to run unattended for extended periods, all HPAC units are capable of recirculating air. This characteristic helps to conserve energy by reusing returned air instead of outside air.

Urgent

Andrews’ HPAC range was recently called into action by clothing giant Primark. A chiller breakdown at its Norwich store required urgent action as high temperatures made conditions uncomfortable for both employees and customers. Engineers estimated that the faulty chiller would be out of commission for approximately two months, with a temporary cooling replacement required. The location of the store meant that all temporary equipment HPAC90

HPAC45

used to restore cooling would have to be sited outside the building. This led to Andrews engineers advocating the use of three HPAC units which were positioned externally. A ducting arrangement was then set up to help distribute approximately 180kW of cooling throughout the application, which was calculated to be the necessary capacity. Carl Webb, UK HVAC and Specialist Hire Director at Andrews Air Conditioning, said: “We were contacted by Primark following a malfunction of their chiller system and tasked with providing substitute units to help bring temperatures down on the shop ﬂoor. “The urgent nature of the enquiry meant that equipment had to be delivered and installed quickly. Costeffective with high performance capabilities, the units in our HPAC range are also very simple to install and can be fully operational within minutes of reaching a customer site. “Their use in this instance played a critical role in restoring a more comfortable shopping environment by reducing temperatures by more than 5°C. “Our three HPAC units remained in place for eight weeks during a busy period and were only withdrawn once the customer’s chillers had been repaired.”

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M I T SUB I SH I

E L E C T R I C

IS IT TIME TO DIP YOUR TOE IN THE WATER?

As Mitsubishi Electric adds an R32 version to its hybrid VRF range, Ben Bartle-Ross asks if AC engineers should re-examine their approach to water.

’m getting more and more engineers asking me about the water side of buildings and this is hardly surprising when you see how things are progressing in the world of air conditioning.

Firstly, there is the opportunity to expand your offering by including a heat pump in a quote as, at its core, an air source heat pump is so similar to an AC unit that I’m surprised more engineers haven’t already capitalised on this area for growth. As I say to the people on my training courses, all of the buildings you install aircon into also need hot water, so adding an air source heat pump is an easy way to extend your sale AND show your client that you have more to offer than just the fridge side. And that’s before you even start to consider the growing interest in renewable systems – who thought we’d now be seeing mainstream TV ads for heat pumps even a year ago? The second reason I’m being asked is more directly to do with air conditioning and it concerns our unique hybrid VRF system, which uses water instead of refrigerant for the majority of the installation.

Better comfort levels

Hybrid VRF solves several issues facing the industry at the moment. First, it signiﬁcantly reduces the amount of refrigerant needed for a VRF install, because the gas is limited to the connection between the outdoor condenser and the branch controller box. This cuts down the cost of the gas signiﬁcantly and, with the escalating price of R410A, it will make a real difference to the costs for engineers. And the launch of the R32 version makes it an even more attractive proposition. Secondly, hybrid VRF does away with any need for leak detection in occupied spaces as water is used to transfer heat and cooling around the building. That means it complies with BS EN378 and can seriously reduce both the installation and annual recalibration costs associated with leak detection equipment. Finally, hybrid VRF delivers better off-coil temperatures so the comfort levels are better and it comes with advanced, energy-saving performance and the latest controls. So as a manufacturer, you would expect us to be excited about this ‘move towards water’, but actually it is more than that because I think both examples point to a healthy and

sustainable future for air conditioning engineers – if they are ready to embrace the opportunities it presents. The alternative is continuing to work with equipment where the actual price of R410A refrigerant is changing week on week and therefore increasingly difﬁcult to quote for. F-Gas will also continue having an impact on the air conditioning market so further changes are coming and it is best to be prepared by increasing your skill set and the value you can offer your customers.

So, what can you do?

Well, if you don’t have the water-side skills then you will know a company that does, so can easily sub out this element. At present, while there are strict rules around vented and unvented systems for domestic hot water there isn’t a recognised qualiﬁcation for the water side of an aircon system. We would therefore urge everyone to adopt industry best practice but there are also plenty of courses, such as City & Guilds, that it might be worth taking a few days out to qualify for. Whatever you decide, come on in – the water’s lovely!

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

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WINDS OF CHANGE

Perry Jackson explains why he expects Wind-Free technology to ultimately become the standard offering from Samsung.

hen Perry Jackson became Head of Air Conditioning at Samsung last summer, he was quick to praise the innovative nature of the company. At the launch of two new products at Samsung’s London showroom in the Building Centre, that quality was again high on the agenda. Samsung has expanded its range featuring its Wind-Free technology, and launched a new 3 pipe mini VRF. And Jackson believes the performance of the Wind-Free cassettes is such that it will ultimately become Samsung’s standard offering. He said: “When we do comparisons between our standard units and the Wind-Free we definitely notice a difference. We took a step backwards and looked at the problem differently and we got there ahead of anyone else. “Eventually, I believe the Wind-Free will become our standard offering. It will be interesting to see what the market decides. Time will tell but the price difference is negligible in the context of a large project.’’ The technology is now featured on 4-way and 1-way cassettes. After reaching the desired temperature in normal cooling mode, the cassettes

Perry Jackson of Samsung

then maintain the ideal temperature without any direct air flow by gently dispersing cool and still air through thousands of micro air holes. The technology works by delivering air at under 0.15m/s, defined by ASHRAE as “still air”. Jackson added: “We’ve started from a customer pain point and taken away what would be justifiable gripes. This is innovation with a meaningful solution. “Samsung is firmly positioning itself as the industry leader in heating and cooling innovation. We’re expecting 2018 to be an exciting year for the company and expect to make our mark on the industry with our acclaimed Wind-Free technology.” The 4-way cassettes are available as split systems and VRF indoor units, in both mini (600mm x 600mm) and standard size cassette styles, in variable capacities. The standard

size features 15,700 micro holes to disperse the air, with 9,000 on the mini. The 1-way cassette is seen as an alternative unit for hotels and has already been specified by Travelodge. Also launched is a new smallcapacity 3 pipe mini VRF. The DVM S Eco HR can simultaneously operate cooling and heating in homes or small commercial offices. It is 54% smaller than the equivalent 8HP model and at 98kg weighs less than half. At launch the systems are available in 11.2, 14 & 15.5kW capacities for use on both 1phase and 3phase power supplies. Again, Jackson sees the mini VRF as the answer to customer need. He said: “There is a lot of interest in the mini VRF. It’s modular, lightweight with a smaller footprint. It has a lot of things that I would say are unique in the market. There are other packages out there but I don’t think they can offer what we can. “The mini VRF works with every indoor unit and allows increased flexibility on projects, especially for single multi-dwelling properties and high-end residential. “Along with the Wind-Free products, we see it as a powerful combination.’’ www.samsung.com/climate

Samsung says there has been keen interest in its DVM S Eco HR mini VRF

Wind-Free technology is now available in Samsung’s 4-way and 1-way cassettes

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BOSCH ‘EXCITED’ BY RESIDENTIAL RANGE

osch Commercial and Industrial has launched a range of residential air conditioning solutions.

The Bosch Climate RAC units, aimed at new installations in domestic and small commercial properties, come with a five-year parts and labour warranty, a contact centre open 364 days a year, and Bosch-trained engineers providing national coverage. The new range, which uses A410A refrigerant, can also be used in conjunction with larger commercial air conditioning systems, such as the Bosch Climate 5000 VRF, to support temperature-critical areas. Shaun Mansbridge, Business Development Director at Bosch Commercial and Industrial, said: “We are really excited to launch a new range of Split air conditioning

systems. Improving efficiency and reducIng energy costs, while ensuring a comfortable environment for occupants, is a key challenge for any building and these new units offer an effortless solution. With the ability to supply both cool air and heat, the Bosch Climate RAC range is suitable for a whole host of applications. The innovative systems are also compact, quiet, and stylish, helping them to fit seamlessly into any building.” Included in the series are the Bosch Climate 5000 RAC standard Split and the 8000 RAC premium Split units, which are both available in outputs of 2.6kW, 3.5kW, 5.3kW and 7kW. The systems feature five operating modes, which can be adjusted to application and comfort requirements in order to offer greatly improved performance and efficiency.

Bosch launches series of high efficiency air conditioning solutions

Using 3D DC inverter technology, the units claim 40% lower energy usage compared to conventional systems. A compressor and fan speed electronic drive allow units to produce hot and cold air to meet the requirements of the property, while the brushless 3D DC inverter interior and exterior fan motors are both quieter and more energy efficient than traditional units. Bosch says an in-built purifying filter also eliminates up to 95% of dust particles, smoke, and pollen, in order to provide cleaner air flow and maintain air quality. www.bosch-industrial.co.uk

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HOW DO YOU HEAT AND C

PLAN COMMERCIAL SPACE F Colin Goode, Product Manager at Fujitsu, examines some of the options available.

s is often the case, there is more than one way to solve a problem. For the retail and light commercial sector, the majority of projects will require the most costeffective cooling and heating solutions available to make them viable.

Larger open plan spaces in offices, retail shops, car showrooms or similar applications generally require the whole space to be maintained at the same temperature. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consider a general open plan office space of around 170m2 (17m x 10m). Typically, a space of this size would require a system with a cooling/ heating capacity of around 21.0kW. So what options are available? Fujitsu Product Manager Colin Goode

1. A single large capacity Ducted split system could be an option, with sheet metal ductwork above the ceiling to ceiling grilles or perhaps a fabric sock system below the ceiling. This would be a good option but not always the most cost effective due to the additional materials and installation time and labour required. 2. 2 off 10 or 12kW 1:1 Cassette split systems group controlled to operate as a single system. A good option, especially if the space might be partitioned in the future meaning two zones of control might be needed. 3. A VRF system with multiple indoor units is another option. A valid choice if other areas of the building are to be included as well, but not the cheapest solution for a single space. 4. A Twin split system consisting of 2 x 10kW or 12kW ceiling cassettes on a single 22kW outdoor unit and a single room controller. A Triple or Quad indoor unit arrangement might also be an option for more irregular shaped rooms.

From the choices listed here, by far the most popular and most cost-effective option is number 4, the Twin, Triple, Quad, or what we call the Simultaneous Multi system. Multi system because it uses multiple indoor units and Simultaneous because all the indoor units operate together as one from a single controller and single outdoor unit. An efficient, relatively simple and easy to install solution.

Compatibleâ&#x20AC;&#x192;

Individual control of each indoor unit is not possible with Simultaneous Multi systems, nor is it needed for most open plan spaces. The capacity of the outdoor unit is shared equally across the two, three or four indoor units in a master/slave arrangement. By far the most common variant of this system is the Twin Cassette, since this

uses the fewest number of indoor units and costs the least to install. Cassettes are compatible with suspended ceiling depths found in most commercial buildings and, when positioned correctly, deliver airflow equally to all areas of a rectangular space. In fact, indoor units are often used in buildings without ceilings where fully exposed cassettes are suspended on long drop rods from roof rafters. The larger side discharge fan 19kW and 22kW outdoor units can be installed in ventilated plantrooms and ducted externally. A maximum of 30Pa duct resistance is possible. This is an extremely useful feature in built-up urban environments where outside space is limited or location of outdoor equipment is restricted. Fujitsu now offers an extended range of Simultaneous Multi systems with capacities from 10 to 22kW that

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D COOL A LARGER OPEN

E FOR THE LOWEST COST? are compatible with compact/full size cassettes, floor/ceiling and ducted indoor units.

Cost-effective

Simultaneous Multi or Twin/Triple/ Quad systems are hugely popular in the light commercial sector because they are the most cost-effective solution and are scalable for spaces that require capacities of 10kW and larger. For example, up to 16 indoor units can be connected to 8 x 22kW outdoor units (as twins) and can be controlled from a single wired remote controller for a total space capacity of 176kW. This would be enough capacity

The larger side discharge fan 19 and 22kW outdoor units can be installed in ventilated plantrooms and ducted externally

Larger open plan spaces generally require the whole area to be maintained at the same temperature

The systems can be ordered using Fujitsuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free Design Simulator software

for a space with a floor area approaching 1,500m2 and, if required, could provide future partitioning flexibility for up to eight separate control zones by simply adding seven extra controllers and some minor control wiring changes. As with all systems there are limitations that apply to pipe lengths. These systems, like all other Fujitsu models, can be selected with our free-to-download Design Simulator software. The software can model the proposed pipe lengths, the refrigerant charge can be checked, indoor unit capacities calculated automatically, specifications, pipe-work and wiring schematics generated. For the larger 19 & 22kWsystems the maximum pipe length is 100m and 75m for the 1014kW models. So, next time you have a larger open plan office or retail space, consider using a Simultaneous MultiÂ system.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Up to 16 indoor units can be connected to 8 outdoor units and simultaneously controlled from a single wired controller

www.fujitsu-general.com/uk

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Sizing the system correctly can help to achieve optimum performance and efﬁciency

AVOIDING THE

OVERSIZING TRAP Oversizing is an easy trap to fall into when designing climate control but can be avoided if engineers choose systems ﬂexible enough to match building demands now and in the future, says Daikin UK’s Martin Passingham.

t goes without saying that an air conditioning system must be designed to meet the requirements of the building’s occupants. Having insufﬁcient capacity could lead to complaints and, in the worst case scenario, result in claims against the designer. However, during design it is not always clear how the building is going to be used, particularly for commercial premises where there is likely to be multiple tenants. For this reason, sizeable margins of safety are commonly included in heating and cooling load calculations. Unfortunately, many systems are signiﬁcantly oversized. Monitoring of Daikin VRV systems installed in the UK has shown that, on average, the buildings had a maximum demand of just 45% of the condenser capacity in cooling, with condensers operating at 20% capacity most of

Choosing a system that allows some ﬂexibility allows changes to be made later if necessary

the time. In heating, the maximum load was 70% of the nominal heating capacity. Oversized systems are often less efficient than they could be. While inverter-driven compressors are more efficient at part load, the peak is between 40-60% of capacity. Below this, compressor efficiency drops until the minimum inverter speed is reached, when it effectively becomes an on/off compressor. As such oversizing can lead to a system running below the most efficient operating point for most of the time.

A good start

Oversizing can be avoided if climate control is designed and specified so it meets the proposed demand and is flexible in daily operation. Choosing a system that can also be reconfigured in the future, should building demands alter dramatically, is also a good start. Heat loss and gains within a space yet to be built or occupied can be

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predicted using various load calculation methods that range in accuracy from ‘rules of thumb’ through to dynamic simulation modelling software. However, there is always margin for error, as even the most advanced methods rely on the accuracy of source data. For example, much of the available climate data in the UK comes from weather stations on airfields and is therefore unlikely to be fully representative of a building’s local climate, especially in built-up areas. Many systems are designed primarily on cooling loads. This is not necessarily the best approach, as it assumes heating load will be satisfied; in older buildings, and poorly insulated ones, heating demand can be much higher. And, if proposed building use changes, demand may well change: a server room will have different cooling requirements than an open plan office. Seeking advice from manufacturers can help test design assumptions and system choice. Manufacturers should challenge the design and will suggest refinements that can help reduce the risk of oversizing, while being mindful of the commercial and legal pressures the designer is under. It is worth noting that even a small improvement in the degree of oversizing can improve efficiency and comfort. If systems are designed to have a peak operating capacity slightly above the maximum design load, the part load performance will be improved.

C O N D I T I O N I N G

(with support from the manufacturer) should have the chance to input into the process to reduce the risk of poor performance. One way to mitigate this risk is to choose a system that offers some flexibility. For example, a VRV system is modular, so equipment can be tailored to suit a building’s needs, allowing designs to be altered and the impact of changes to be calculated and addressed more easily.

Installing as designed

The system designer should also supervise installation and commissioning to minimise any deviation from the original design as this can affect performance and efficiency. Furthermore, systems should only be installed by a manufacturer-approved contractor, which should also have experience of similar installations. Retaining the company to carry out maintenance is also advisable: its intimate knowledge of the system and the building will enable it to deal with issues far quicker and easier, minimising performance issues. Some manufacturers offer remote monitoring, fault identification and diagnosis services for their climate control systems. This will not only give early warning of any problems but also provide invaluable information to help

improve building energy performance. The monitoring can show actual demand within the building on anything from an hourly to seasonal basis.

Rectifying oversizing

There are a number of ways to deal with oversizing of an already-installed system. One is to reduce system capacity, to better match building load with its most efficient performance point. This can be achieved by downsizing or taking units out of use. The modularity of VRV systems is a big benefit, as it makes either approach feasible and should be easier, more cost effective and less disruptive than making changes to other systems. Increasing the evaporating temperature will also make the system more efficient as it will reduce capacity and allow the system to work closer to compressor’s optimum efficiency. Evaporating temperatures can usually be raised based on in-use performance via a ‘high sensible’ setting. Furthermore, selecting a system that can vary the evaporating temperatures automatically in response to the load, required capacity and weather conditions will provide greater levels of efficiency. For example, Daikin’s Variable Refrigerant Temperature (VRT) technology can improve seasonal efficiency significantly, in some cases by up to 28%.

Challenging changes

A major issue is what happens once the climate control system design has been ‘finalised’. Changes to the design and equipment selection can often be made as a result of value engineering exercises and assumptions made by other project team members based on previous experience. While this may not directly lead to oversizing, it can have a detrimental effect on performance and efficiency. It is in a client’s best interest, therefore, to involve the system designer throughout the project. Ideally the design will remain unaltered but, if it does change, the designer

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

The modular design of Dakin’s VRV systems make reconfiguration easier

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WELLBEING THROUGH CONTROL AND INNOVATION

Andrew Slater, Senior Engineering Manager, LG Electronics, UK & Nordic, outlines the technical advances and wider beneﬁts of the new R32 range.

ith the recent introduction of its R32 product range, LG’s commitment to technological innovation continues apace, from the introduction of new and exciting mechanical components to function and feature, delivering the environmental and efﬁciency factors that are expected of an industry leading brand. Traditional system control and regulation is based around sensing changes in the environment by using temperature sensing. When specifying equipment, we use two design temperature dynamics, both measured in different ways: dry bulb and wet bulb. We have introduced the industry’s ﬁrst Dual Sensing control system, offering the ability to sense humidity along with temperature. Both sensible and latent loads can be monitored and reacted upon, moving from design considerations to real time adjustment for dry and wet bulb temperatures.

By utilising ‘smart cooling’ – an automatic refrigerant temperature control logic along with dual sensing capabilities – not only energy savings of up to 15% can be achieved compared to traditional control methods, but the comfort levels within a space can be maintained at optimum conditions. During periods of low humidity, raised evaporative temperature reduces moisture removal rates, but meet load conditions, and during high latent loads, the high humidity levels resultant load can be met, whilst removing moisture and self adjusting accordingly, to create a more comfortable environment.

. . . THIS IS A DIRECTION THAT LG IS PROUD TO BE WORKINGTOWARDS”

Real differences

Combining energy savings, comfort and wellbeing, LG’s new cassette accessory – the Human Detection Sensor – will switch an air conditioning product on or off in relation to human presence. Energy features allow periodic staged set back control to regulate, depending on occupancy, selectable to a range of between 5 and 60 minutes after no movement is detected, raising the set point temperature whilst in cooling mode and lowering it in heating mode. That’s where the real differences in LG’s new R32 motion technologies become apparent. Instead of a traditional PIR based detector, that just senses occupancy, a motion tracker can detect exactly where the occupants are in the room, providing the user with the choice of directing air towards them, or away from, removing the possibility of draughts and improving the occupants thermal experience.

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To achieve the market’s high expectations, two different styles of compressor have been developed to span the R32 range of both residential and commercial products, each lending themselves specifically to different capacity ranges. With a discharge pipe redesign to reduce oil egress, the twin rotary compressor of a 2.5 to 7kW model includes an upper and lower rotor, offset to stabilise any imbalance that a single rotor would cause during shaft rotation. Vibration is reduced by up to 80% and noise levels reduce by up to 50% compared to single rotor models. This increases reliability, efficiency and control at high speed, with a maximum load torque reducing by 45% in comparison. With a redesign of a concentrated winding motor, the resultant increase in stator cavity allows increased oil and refrigerant flow paths, regulating motor temperature at increased speeds, to a maximum of 130C.

Increased performance

Being able to operate with a compressor turn down to 15Hz, allows more efﬁcient operation during low load conditions, whilst providing oil circulation reliability, because of differential pressure ﬂow, rather than being ‘shaft rotational speed’ related. Applied to larger capacity commercial models of 7kW and above, the new

C O N D I T I O N I N G

Andrew Slater says it is important to focus on the local issues as well as the wider environment

R Scroll compressor provides a complete redesign to a traditional scroll compressor layout and includes features such as the LG high-sided shell compressor design that has been applied to VRF models. This new design moves away from a traditional operating structure and uses high pressure, high temperature refrigerant to regulate a concentrated motor, instead of the traditional low pressure. Oil viscosity is kept low and reliability is increased. Amongst the modiﬁcations that have been applied are the repositioning of the scroll below the compressor motor with the shaft passing through the orbiting scroll rather than just supporting from underneath. As a

result, efficiency has improved by 5% through a 54% reduction in orbiting scroll movement, leading to a 34% reduction in friction force. The reduced movement of the orbiting scroll and its lower position within the compressor body, has allowed for a shell dimensional reduction, removing the lower supporting trusses and in turn, creating a lighter weight shell with a reduction of 4.5Kg in comparison to equivalent previous rotary compressors. With the transition to scroll compressors within models of R32 products, increased cooling and heating performances are provided due to a 50Hz upper operational compressor range, realising a 20% increase in SEER due to efficiency increases at low load, providing improved comfort options. Using LG’s engineering approach maximises the benefits of an enforced environmental change to R32. With the industry focus on R32 product ranges being on the wider environmental issues, LG has expanded that vision into the local environment, concentrating on design with wellbeing in mind. Thermal experience, noise, environment and control opportunities all play an important role in an occupant’s wellbeing. The combination of local and wider spread concerns in product innovation, is a direction LG is proud to be working towards.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Dual Sensing is one of a number of key innovations in LG’s recently launched R32 product range

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NO ALTERNATIVE Toshiba moves to R32 for all systems except VRF

oshiba is switching its full residential and light commercial air conditioning ranges for the UK to R32 refrigerant.

David Dunn, Managing Director of Toshiba Air Conditioning in the UK, announced an extended and reengineered line-up of single and multi split systems for residential and Digital Inverter and Super Digital Inverter light commercial products using the A2L refrigerant. Other than VRF equipment, Toshiba says it will not be shipping any further R410A units where there is an R32 alternative to replace existing UK stock. The announcement comes against the backdrop of rapidly rising prices and supply issues surrounding R410A. Lower GWP R32 is seen by an increasing number of manufacturers as the only current viable alternative for split systems. There is no similar alternative for the larger VRF systems and, with Toshiba saying that VRF accounts for almost 50% of its sales in the UK, the move is also designed to ease the demand for R410A. Dunn said: “R32 is still classed as a transitional refrigerant but the fact is there is no real alternative available. We always listen to our customers and they are now telling us they want R32.’’ The 4-way cassettes are aimed at light commercial applications

WE ALWAYS LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND THEY ARE NOW TELLING US THEY WANT R32” Training

That represents a significant change within 12 months. At a Toshiba customer event last spring, just 13% said they wanted R32 systems to be made available. A recent survey of around 800 customers showed that figure now above 70%, with cost the main driver. Toshiba is investing in making training more accessible and affordable to customers for the ‘mildly flammable’ refrigerant. It is working with a number of training companies to offer subsidised courses which could effectively be free of charge if used in conjunction with Toshiba’s rewards scheme. Dunn said he was committed to ensuring that customers were fully aware of the implications of using R32 and had all the relevant information, adding: “We want to make sure we’re 2020 vision for VRF

David Dunn says Toshiba will offer subsidised training courses to ensure customers are fully aware of the implications of using R32

doing it right. If people are aware of the risks and know the correct procedures, they can make sure they do it right.” Toshiba says a number of key improvements have been made to the re-engineered systems, including cooling for the required steel circuit board enclosure, leak detection and energy monitoring. In terms of its residential offer, Toshiba claims it is one of the widest R32 multi split ranges available. Two low-noise outdoor units cover heating and cooling capacities from 3.310kW and feature a DC twin rotary compressor and vector-controlled inverter technology. Indoor units include the Mirai in five sizes, the Shorai in seven sizes and the Daiseikai 9, which incorporates plasma air filtration, optimised energy consumption and noise reduction. They are joined by floor standing console and ducted units and Toshiba’s 4-way Smart Cassettes. All new indoor units are compatible with Toshiba’s R410A multi split outdoor units. The mid-range Shorai is suitable for frequently used rooms

Toshiba is working to develop new VRF technology that can operate without high GWP refrigerant. David Dunn said: “There are two options. Either a new refrigerant that is safer or a completely new technology. One of those two has to happen and to happen quite quickly. “From the information we have from Japan, there are two potential ways forward that they are working on. Once they’ve built and tested them, then we’ll decide which is the way forward and we will be launching a new VRF, probably 2020 into 2021.”

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E Q UI P M E N T

TOOLS FOR CO2

Dave Kingston, Aspen Pumps Group Training Ofﬁcer, looks at the equipment needed to work with a refrigerant that is growing in popularity.

O2 (R447) offers the lowest practical GWP (global warming potential) of all the common refrigerants and as such is rapidly growing in popularity, given the GWP quota reductions the industry is tasked with implementing.

The tools required for installation and maintenance need to be heavy duty, due to the pressures associated with this refrigerant. JAVAC supplies a full range of manifolds, charging equipment and leak detection specifically designed for the application. The R447 filling rig comes with two cylinder connections for both vapour and liquid filling and care should be taken to identify which piece is applicable to which cylinder. The vapour filling rig (subcritical) is a cylinder regulator which must not be used on a CO2 liquid fill cylinder, otherwise it will cause internal damage to the internals. This rig also has a separate valve after the regulator for fine flow adjustment and this will help slow the liquid flow and stop the pressure dropping too quickly and freezing the cylinder to the ground. The liquid filling rig (trans-critical) is less complex and is an adaptor with a relief valve that connects the HP antiwhip hose to the system. Of course

Trans-critical manifold

it must be remembered that when charging trans-critical systems a vapour charge of around 7bar must be applied to the system first, in order to avoid dry ice forming inside the system as the pressure drops through the charge valve. Manifold sets for both commissioning and servicing are higher spec than usual, given the higher pressures R447 operates at. For subcritical systems a two or four valve manifold is available, utilising class1. glycerine filled flutterless gauges. The hoses are rated to a suitable working pressure and a higher bust pressure than normal. In order to achieve the optimum efficiencies in CO2 systems a higher accuracy is required and greater care needed when connecting tools and equipment. Digital manifolds such as the Refco DIGIMON and wireless TAP are pre-

loaded with the R447 scale, which is easily selected from the 55 refrigerants scale menu. For trans-critical systems a two valve manifold is supplied, featuring heavy duty valves and hoses with a working pressure of 210 bar and a burst pressure of 840 bar. The class1. Gauge scales display LP 0-80bar and HP 0-160 bar, respectively. Evacuation is standard and a suitable pump from the JAVAC CC range is ﬁne. It’s critical that extensive evacuation is undertaken to ensure the system is as dry as possible and an OFN triple evacuation is mandatory and for this the OFN RS750 Rig is a great option. Leak detection needs some care and the JAVAC D-TEK Select CO2 infra-red leak detector is the best option and operates between 3-6 gr/an; bubble spray is not suitable for R447 leak detection. As CO2 is a background gas it takes a little more time to allow the instrument to calibrate. In a plant room the leak detector should be turned on. It takes around 30 seconds to calibrate to the background gasses and establish an intermittent beep; this happens every 7-10 seconds. From here it can be slowly moved towards a suspected leak. When it alarms again, wait until it automatically recalibrates and proceed further. If it’s too D-Tek Select infra-red sensitive due to a leak detector large leak, the low sensitivity button will reduce this by 8 fold and make it easier to proceed towards the leak. Always re-select high sensitivity as soon as the leak is identiﬁed.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

For more information on JAVAC tools and equipment, visit www.javac.co.uk

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17/05/2018 10:02

CON TR OL S

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS IN TIMES OF CHANGE Jon Belﬁeld, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), explores how training is playing a pivotal role in not only improving energy efﬁciency in commercial buildings but in meeting government legislation.

he recent introduction of the Minimum Energy Efﬁciency Standard (MEES) which came into force on 1 April has highlighted both the opportunities and challenges within the building controls and BEMS sector. With the new regulations in place, it is more important than ever for building managers and landlords to ensure that all of their commercial leases are achieving an Energy Performance Certiﬁcate (EPC) rating of “E” or above before the property can be let to new occupiers.

Current statistics call for concern as almost 20% of commercial properties are not meeting the mandatory criteria, according to recent simulations undertaken by energy data firm Arbnco. Large financial penalties can be issued for non-compliance, ranging from £4,000 to a hefty £150,000. Building controls are complex yet vital in meeting the challenge of MEES. Controls enable buildings to be sustainable, energy efficient and cost-effective throughout their entire lifetime. It is therefore a must that building professionals are fully

up to speed with the ever-evolving technology in this sector, to be able to precisely set-up and programme suitable controls. The only way we can ensure this is achieved is through investment in training. Buildings of today and tomorrow should not just meet required energy efﬁciency targets, they should be exceeding them. Architects, clients and other

BUILDING CONTROLS ARE COMPLEX YET VITAL IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF MEES” engineering disciplines must appreciate the true value of building controls and look towards the long-term vision of increasing energy efﬁciency and delivering a return on investment to the client. Everyone in the chain needs to have a full understanding of how to achieve long-lasting performance in a building and what the ultimate objective is for the end user. Our shared training challenge is therefore two-fold; ﬁrstly, increasing training opportunities for more engineers to enter our sector to meet demand and secondly, ensuring that continuous ‘upskilling’ training is available to keep engineers up to speed with

changes in technology. This strategy will keep buildings efficient and significantly help in meeting the MEES targets. As I see it, the key ingredients to continued success in the BEMS sector are a solid foundation of training, continued learning and professional development. This will enable our engineers to adapt to upcoming changes and help our sector to stay competitive going forwards... Training will be critical in futureproofing buildings, and the BCIA courses play a pivotal role in this, by developing the strengths and confidence of our existing building professionals and those who are relatively new in the controls industry. In 2017 alone, over 200 engineers successfully completed our wide range of building controls courses. This allowed them to gain invaluable knowledge and experience in an industry which is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. In a world where advances in technology continue at pace, the need for skilled engineers has never been greater to deliver these technologies effectively. Therefore, investing in training to drive our industry forward should be a shared vision for everyone in the building controls sector, not just to meet the new legislation but to exceed the expectations in times of change while achieving maximum efficiency in current and future buildings. www.bcia.co.uk

JUNE/JULY 2018

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17/05/2018 10:04

COMPRESSORS REFRIGERANTS C

ompressors and refrigerants form the beating heart of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Because they are designed to go about their business quietly and efﬁciently, it is all too easy to undervalue the importance of the compressor in modern systems. Particularly when you consider that improvements to the technology invariably have a signiﬁcant impact on performance. Refrigerants, meanwhile, have

rarely had a higher proﬁle than today. Increased pressure on high GWP products has resulted in supply issues and soaring prices. Deciding the way ahead for your business can be a daunting prospect, but don't worry... help is at hand. Find out more about the latest developments from BITZER and ThermaGroup and take advantage of the most up-to-date advice on refrigerants from the experts at Climalife, REFCOM and A-Gas on the following pages... CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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32 Compressors

BITZER UNVEILS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES ACROSS THE RANGE AT MOSTRA BITZER used the recent Mostra exhibition as a global launch-pad for several new technology developments that extend its range in terms of refrigerants, energy efficiency and intelligent control.

In pride of place on its stand was the award-winning Ecoline+ transcritical carbon dioxide-based compressor, which was crowned Refrigeration Product of the Year 2018 earlier this year in the UK, and has since been honoured with technology innovation awards in China and India. Ecoline+ is a milestone in the application of this environmentally friendly refrigerant, and has been particularly designed for use in supermarkets. It provides a highly efficient and proven mainstream solution to retailers’ requirements for a reliable transcritical workhorse for use at the heart of supermarket refrigeration systems. For the first time, BITZER developed an Ecoline+ fourcylinder reciprocating compressor, which – like the rest of the series – offers optimal efficiency at both full- and part-load operation, with seamless integration into refrigeration systems. The compressors are equipped with new line start permanent magnet motors (LSPM), which deliver significant efficiency benefits. They now also have mechanical capacity control for use in transcritical CO2 systems, widening the operating envelope and extending application.

BITZER’s latest ORBIT+ compressor

An example from BITZER’s award-winning Ecoline+ range of carbon dioxide compressors

This enables systems to operate at full- and part-load with equal efficiency to those equipped with frequency inverters. To enable end-users to fully exploit the potential of this technology, BITZER has developed a new control platform based on intelligent (IQ) modules. The theme of alternative refrigerants was also reflected in the introduction of BITZER’s new ORBIT+, a new scroll compressor series offering outstanding energy efficiency to meet and exceed Ecodesign Directive requirements. A new line start permanent magnet motor improves seasonal performance (SEER/IPLV) by up to 8 per cent while increasing cooling capacity by up to 5 per cent. All ORBIT models are designed to operate with R410A as well as the most recently introduced low-GWP A2L refrigerants, such as R454B and R452B. ORBIT+ compressors can replace or be combined with standard ORBIT models without significant system redesign. Tandem and trio combinations can be used to achieve specific system capacity and efficiency targets, as required. Enhanced capacity control can be achieved by adding a frequency inverter, such as BITZER’s own high performance VARIPACK. ORBIT scroll compressors were developed particularly for use in air conditioning and heat pump applications. Easy to install, and offering high energy efficiency at full and partial load, they have the lowest sound emissions in their capacity class. The new ORBIT FIT, equipped with economiser technology, was also shown for the first time. It is designed to increase system efficiency and capacity in both heat pump and air conditioning applications. The unit is able to operate with a frequency inverter at between 35 to 75 Hz, while performing with a low sound level and industry-leading low oil carry-over rate. All ORBIT series are interchangeable, allowing system designers to simplify development work by using existing frameworks, footprints, piping layouts and manufacturing processes. This results in reduced complexity and operating cost as well as a quicker time to market for new systems.

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Compressors 33

BITZER’s new CSH compressor

On the screw compressor front, BITZER rolled out the latest generation of its proven CSH series. CSH.6 units are designed for use in highly efficient air-cooled liquid chillers, and suitable for operation with R134a or the HFO/ HFC blends R513A and R450A, as well as HFO refrigerants R1234yf and R1234z(E). Based on the trusted CSH.5 model, the CSH.6 series is optimised for the ambient temperature profile specified by the Ecodesign Directive for liquid chillers. It offers exceptional cooling performance and seasonal energy efficiency ratios (SEER), enabling OEMs to comply with the new legal requirements. With an application limit tailored to air-cooled liquid chillers for comfort air-conditioning, the CSH.6 series is characterised by adjusted oil management, economiser operation in fullload and specially adapted Vi in part-load operation. Advances in reciprocating compressor technology were also strongly in evidence, with a spotlight on the CKH2 series of CO2 compressors, particularly suitable for use in supermarket refrigeration. A star exhibit in the range was the two-cylinder reciprocating CKH2 compressor for transcritical CO2 applications. As for all models in the BITZER’s CKH2 Varipack units

series, it can be controlled to run at speeds between 30 and 70 Hz, and, thanks to an innovative cylinder head design, the entire series works with very low pressure pulsation. CKH2 compressors can be combined with BITZER’s VARIPACK external frequency inverter for even greater energy efficiency and control. As CO2 has a very low Global Warming Potential of just 1, which is comfortably under the strict requirements of current and future anticipated legislation, use of systems that run on the refrigerant effectively future-proof end users’ businesses. Kevin Glass, Managing Director BITZER UK, said: “In all key areas of compressor technology, BITZER has been working hard to develop solutions that meet both customer requirements and achieve or exceed standards set by current and future legislation. “In the face of considerable uncertainty about future change, customers can be confident that BITZER has a full range of options to cover all eventualities, whether that is for natural refrigerants or the new low GWP synthetic refrigerants now coming on-stream to replace high GWP HFC fluids.”

Kevin Glass

For more details, visit: www.bitzer.de/gb/en/contacting-bitzer/ 01908 642966 or sales@bitzeruk.com

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34 Refrigerants

CLIMALIFE REFRIGERANT &

Cleaning

Cleaning plays an important part in the efficient operation and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The regular cleaning of an installation improves its performance, energy efficiency, can prevent contamination, remove offensive odours and increase longevity. Climalife stock a range of cleaning products that come as concentrated or ready to use formats; in foams and sprays, and all for a wide range of uses.

Lubricants

Choosing the right oil is essential for good performance and the longevity of a refrigeration installation. Lubrication is one of the most important factors in whether or not a refrigeration installation works correctly. Regular oil changes should form part of a good maintenance plan to ensure that all the moving parts of a compressor are lubricated to their optimum level. Climalife offer lubricants compatible with all types of refrigerants. Our range includes: POE, MO, PAO, AB and PAG oils.

EXISTING EQUIPMENT Refrigerant

Trade Name

R-404A

R-407A

R-422D R-134a

Climalife offer a wide range of synergy products, such as cleaning, lubricants, heat transfer fluids or secondary refrigerants, leak detection equipment and controls that complements the refrigerant range – available now to supplement your maintenance toolkit.

LOWER GWP REFRIGERANT OPTIONS F

REPLACEMENTS

Climalife stock more than just a wide range of refrigerants and firmly believes that regular maintenance can prolong the lifespan of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It can also help to improve energy and cost efficiencies whilst reducing carbon footprint.

GWP

Ashrae Classification

(IPCC4)

(IPCC5)

2107

1923

R-442A

RS50

1888

1754

R-407F

Performax® LT

1825

1674

R-452A

Opteon™ XP44

2140

1945

R-449A

Opteon™ XP40

1397

1282

R-448A

Soltice® N40

1387

1273

R-450A

Soltice® N13

605

547

R-513A

Opteon™ XP10

631

573

R438A

Freon™ MO99

2265

2059

R453A

RS70

1765

1636

There are currently no retrofit options for R-410A Note: Prior to retrofitting, check conversion guidelines and satisfy yourself that the replacement is suitable for your application.

Speak to us about which low GWP refrigerants may be best for your application.

Call now on 0117 980 2520 Valves & Controls

Climalife are a distributor of a wide range of Carel electronic controls. The range includes sensors, programmable controllers, infrared universal controllers, electronic valve drivers and electronic expansion valves. These products offer precision and stability and Climalife can offer sound advice on which products are right for your installation.

Heat Transfer Fluids

Heat Transfer Fluids, (also known as secondary refrigerants), perform the function of transferring thermal energy, hot or cold, from one location to another. Used in a range of applications, from large industrial applications to water chillers and heat pumps, across a wide range of industries. Available in 25L cans, 210L drums, 1000L IBCs and bulk. Climalife has produced and distributed a wide range of high quality heat transfer fluids for more

JUNE/JULY 2018

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NT & PRODUCT GUIDE

YOUR HANDY PULL-OUT GUIDE

ONS FOR NEW & EXISTING EQUIPMENT NEW EQUIPMENT Check compressor approvals and recommended applications, also refer to EN378 for charge size limitations for application

Refrigerant

Trade Name

Ashrae Classiﬁcation

(IPCC4)

(IPCC5)

R-452A

XP44

2140

1945

Transport refrigeration and small hermetics

2107

1923

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-407A

GWP

Application

A2L

675

677

Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps

A2L

698

676

Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps

Leak Detection

1825

1674

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-449A

Opteon™ XP40

1397

1282

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-448A

Solstice® N40

1387

1273

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-513A

Opteon™ XP10

631

573

HT and MT Refrigeration, chillers, heat pumps

R-450A

Solstice® N13

605

547

HT and MT Refrigeration, chillers, heat pumps

R-1233zd

Solstice® zd

Low Pressure chillers

R-32 R-452B

XL55 L41y

R-454B

Opteon™ XL41

A2L

466

467

Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps

R-454A

Opteon™ XL40

A2L

239

238

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-454C

Opteon™ XL20

A2L

148

146

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-455A

Solstice® L40X

A2L

148

146

MT and LT Refrigeration

R-1234ze

Solstice® ze

R-1234yf

Reclamation

Supermarket and Industrial New equipment only

Performax®LT

CO2

than 30 years and works closely with customers to understand their needs and offer the right solutions. A regular annual check is recommended to make sure the ﬂuid hasn’t deteriorated and will continue to give the necessary freezing and corrosion protection.

Reclaimed refrigerant plays an important part of F-Gas Quota management. Climalife is able to reclaim refrigerants back to virgin speciﬁcation to ensure quality is not compromised. All refrigerants are dealt with in accordance with legislation, including the completion of hazardous waste paperwork. Refrigerant reclamation allows the continued use of reclaimed and recycled refrigerants with a GWP over 2500 for a further 10 years after the service ban on the use of virgin product on 1 January 2020.

R-407F

R-744

Refrigerants 35

A2L

Chillers and heat pumps

A2L

Car AC, Chillers

R-290

Propane

Small hermetics MT & LT, air conditioning and chillers

R-600a

Iso-butane

Domestic refrigeration and small MT hermetics

R-1270

Propylene

Small hermetics, MT and LT Refrigeration

R-717

Ammonia

B2L

Industrial Refrigeration

Early identiﬁcation of leaks, the cost of refrigerant and legislation are three good reasons for installing leak detection equipment, as well as safety, the ability to reduce operating costs and the environment. Climalife work in partnership with Bacharach to stock a wide range of options. Climalife can provide tailored guidance on the location of equipment, type and number of sensors to use.

Note: The information provided above is given as reference only. It is provided in all good faith, and should not be taken to constitute a guarantee on our part or an assumption of responsibility. Always refer to ofﬁcial manufacturers’ data sheets for speciﬁc applications.

See our product range at www.climalife.co.uk

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36 Refrigerants

F GAS REGISTRATION:

LEGAL REQUIREMENT OR BUSINESS INVESTMENT? For REFCOM members it is deﬁnitely both REFCOM is the UK’s original and largest F gas register, offering companies of all sizes much more than simply providing proof of F gas registration.

Over the years, the RACHP sector has grown signiﬁcantly along with the volume of refrigerant in the market. As the market changes and legislation tightens, REFCOM recognises the evolving needs and demands of members. With over 20 years’ experience, REFCOM and its in-house team of technical experts offer members a growing number of beneﬁts and solutions to help them meet their ongoing obligations as

simply and efﬁciently as possible, freeing up more time to focus on growing their business. REFCOM members save £000s each year from the single payment made for 3 years F gas certiﬁcation. Whether you are new to the industry or an established company or sole trader, invest in REFCOM membership and make F gas registration work for you. For further information visit www.refcom.org.uk

Investing in their company, the industry and the environment. REFCOM member benefits include:

REGISTRATION ON THE UK’S LARGEST AND ORIGINAL F GAS REGISTER

USE OF THE INDUSTRY RESPECTED REFCOM LOGO

FREE REFCOM VAN STICKERS

FREE F GAS SOFTWARE USER LICENSE WORTH OVER £1,000

DISCOUNTED PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE OFFERING WITH TOOL COVER

ACCESS TO OUR FREE TECHNICAL HELPLINE AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

FREE LOG BOOK & TEMPLATES INCLUDING SERVICES & COMMISSIONING SHEETS

ACCESS TO A FREE WEIGHING SCALE CALIBRATION CHECKING SERVICES

CASE STUDY 1: FREE F GAS SOFTWARE

CASE STUDY 2: DISCOUNTED INSURANCE

The REFCOM powered by Joblogic service management software is saving members money and driving RAC contractors into REFCOM membership.

Discounted insurance offered exclusively for REFCOM registered companies is saving members £000s on their renewal quotes.

Every company registered with REFCOM is entitled to a free user licence for life to software developed by REFCOM in conjunction with creators Joblogic. That is an immediate saving of £360 a year, one of the many factors persuading companies to join REFCOM, the UK’s largest F gas Register. Will Overton, Director at Vectis Refrigeration Ltd, said “With our company F gas certification being up for renewal later in the year I was made aware of the extra information and documentation available if I joined REFCOM. They also have a service management software package available FREE to members. It’s something I had been looking for in order to streamline the business; needless to say we are now REFCOM F gas registered.” The REFCOM powered by Joblogic package is the only service management system available that ticks ALL of the F gas compliance boxes as well as providing full refrigerant bottle tracking and stock control at the touch of a button and now on the go with the new mobile app. A service company can track which engineer has which bottle and how much refrigerant is in

each bottle, as well as getting alerts when a bottle needs returned to the supplier, avoiding unnecessary rental charges. Companies can also extend the benefits onto their customers on service contracts, offering a log in to their asset registers so that full access to the F gas logbook is always available, removing the need to hunt a site for elusive logbooks. “I use the REFCOM Joblogic software for all my client asset registers and F gas obligations” Will Overton added, “The ROI speaks for itself, as we continue to gain new contracts by offering our clients a standout service. They can access their documents in their own portal and my engineers can add to it. We have access to real time information of jobs, saving us time and making us money. It’s a winner all round!”. To claim your free user licence visit: www.refcom.org.uk/software

REFCOM has partnered with insurance specialist Arthur J Gallagher to offer a dedicated insurance product to REFCOM members at highly competitive rates. The simple single insurance product covers members for employers and public liability, contract works and professional indemnity. The cover is wide ranging and includes £5m public liability as standard and apart from “airside” there are no restrictions on contract sites. Rick Jones, Technical Director at EDPAC UK realised significant savings and would recommend to all REFCOM members, “If you’re a REFCOM member make sure you take advantage of the insurance offer with Arthur J Gallagher. It saved us around £3,000 on our insurance costs this year. We now have better cover than previously and all our engineers have up to £1,000 cover for their own hand tools etc. as part of the package.” To find out more about our discounted insurance offer visit: www.refcom.org.uk/insurance

JUNE/JULY 2018

REFCOM FP.indd 36

17/05/2018 10:17

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT YOU

COVERED

We Do It All! Anything from Refrigerants and Service Gases, to Cylinder Tracking and On-Site Refrigerant Recovery.

www.agas.com

p37_acrjune18.indd 1

17/05/2018 09:09:25

38 Compressors

CHILLER SUPPORT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE INTERNET AGE Water chillers serving larger building air conditioning systems are generally automatic machines situated in a bit of space left over by the architect as unsellable space. As such, they are often overlooked and neglected... that is until the sun starts to shine each spring.

Chiller availability is crucial for many building users

The majority of chillers still will hold more than 50 CO2 tonnes equivalent of refrigerant, requiring them to be inspected every six months for leakage. Unfortunately a good deal of them do not receive even this level of scant attention. Many sites operate on a reactive basis to chiller problems, and even more ignore advice given the previous season and wait until the sun is shining before acting to resolve established problems. For many building users chiller availability is crucial, not just for comfort cooling, but increasingly so for data storage, process and production plant, etc. However, short-term spending constraints often mean the budgets for planned maintenance are cut back, or the money spent is less effective where insufficiently knowledgeable service staff are assigned or available. At the heart of any chiller will be at least one and often several compressors, with an increasing trend to fix at failure.

Low Cost Production Chiller 400 kW ESEER ~ 4.0 Price new Years life

Life span cost Energy p.a.

£85,000

ESEER ~4.0

Premium Chiller 400 kW ESEER ~ 5.0

Cost p.a. Price new Years life £8,500

£98,000

Cost p.a. £5,444

£29,600

ESEER 5.0

£23,680

£1,935

including RODEM

£1,935

£5,000 / 5 years

£1,000

£5,000 / 5 years

£1,000

Low cost p.a.

£41,035

Premium p.a.

£32,059

Annual PPM Long term PPM

This leads to many chillers operating inefficiently long before failure, as fix at failure often means service at failure too. Fortunately for modern chillers the technology generally applied will provide many years of reliable service with minimal attention. Broadly speaking, most chillers in service will have either scroll compressors or screw compressors, with a similar and almost equal split of refrigerant grade – for scrolls R410A and for screws R134a, with older models of both variants still using R407C. All three of these gases now face a difficult issue if a leak arises due to the severe reduction of availability. Taking these one at a time, R410A has a significant problem because not only is there no viable ‘direct replacement’, a vast number of new chillers and other systems are still being installed using this refrigerant from a rapidly decreasing pool. R134a is similarly affected, but this does have the key advantage that lower GWP refrigerants are increasingly available, with certain grades offering a compromise of lower GWP and nonflammability. As for R407C, it remains available, at a price, but no further retrofit for a gas originally intended to replace R22 operational characteristics is likely to be developed. So these chillers are now on borrowed time. Longevity of equipment is a subject generally avoided when assessing cost. Upfront cost is generally the key driver, yet a cheap chiller will generally be low efficiency chiller. These cheap chillers will have an effective reliable service life of up to 10 years, and will use non-serviceable scroll compressors and plate evaporators. Condensers will be extruded aluminium, again promoted for cheapness as a tradeoff for longevity. A typical standard efficiency chiller will often be labelled HE, as a comparator against the last century’s very inefficient piston compressors, but achieving a seasonal efficiency (SEER) around 3.8-4.0 is hardly an outstanding performance, whereas a chiller built with longevity in mind will also exploit longer term energy efficiency as part of its base design. Here the norm should be an SEER of 4.8-5.0.

Life cost considerations

This table sets out typical life costs for a chiller of pproximately 400 kW The table is based upon a specific project, where options for cheap up-front and long-term cost were both offered. In the table, price new assumes a 50:50 split between supply and installation. The per annum running cost over the chillers’ lifetime is stark. The key reasons for the difference is the energy difference and write down cost per annum for the initial installation.

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Compressors 39

15 minutes. Once we are logged in the vast majority of faults can be resolved remotely by adjustment, or perhaps a call to the client to review the external (i.e. BMS) control. It is surprising how many chillers that are not set to run overnight actually do – we know, we can see them running. Since its inception in 2014, where we expected RODEM would assist us with some periodic checks, we have now improved energy optimisation, call-out reduction of 85%, and increased reliability where faults are spotted and resolved promptly and at minimal cost to the clients. The three factors – other than price – that any chiller speciﬁer should be considering are…

Chillers using the RODEM system can be monitored remotely

RODEM – remote support

The ability to effectively support a chiller is critical and direct external support requires special techniques, but brings many advantages. In the summer, the wait for availability of a service engineer who is familiar with a speciﬁc chiller could be several days or longer. With RODEM it is just a few minutes. Chillers utilising our RODEM system can be monitored remotely and at intervals typically of around one month. This allows us to assess not only the operational status as far as any alarms or faults are concerned, but also apply seasonal adjustments to optimise efﬁciency.

Continuous optimisation

An off-the-shelf chiller will be designed to operate across a typical ambient temperature range of around -5°C to 30°C. It will not be optimised for any particular ambient condition, but instead tuned to offer reliable service as a compromise for operational cost efﬁciency. Looking at a chiller each month and in particular at the winter and summer extremes allows us to adjust the settings to improve energy efﬁciency. Defect trending is also possible. We can observe when things start to slip – e.g. a condenser fan is not working properly, or a gas charge has started to reduce, suggesting early that a leak may exist.

Virtual call-out

Then if a trip does arise RODEM comes into its own. The latest version of RODEM will send us an email advising us a chiller is in alarm. We set this up with a separate alert if the fault clears automatically, so we can tell immediately if the alarm is critical or less urgent. Generally we can log in to check an alarm within

LONGEVITY

EFFICIENCY

RELIABILITY

...each with an equal status as far as importance is concerned. For ThermaGroup (ThermOzone Ltd and ThermaCom Ltd) with our ReChill refurbishment and NuChill new chiller options, these are our watchwords .

ThermaGroup

ThermaCom ThermOzone ThermaGroup can be found on line at: www.thermagroup.com www.thermacom.com www.thermozone.co.uk sales@thermagroup.com or simply call 0118 9181400

Faults can be rectiﬁed quickly

acrjournal.uk THERMOCOM.indd 39

17/05/2018 10:20

REF R IG E R AN T S

F-GAS QUOTA: USE IT OR LOSE IT

A-Gas Managing Director John Ormerod explains why the F-Gas quota is increasing in importance and how businesses can work together to protect and grow our industry.

n the complexity of the detail that lies behind the F-Gas Regulations, it is easy to be caught out by the small print. You can ﬁnd yourself losing all or part of your refrigerant quota if you do not submit a full report on usage to the European Commission portal. This happened to a number of businesses in the industry last year. F-Gas ofﬁcials want to know of the quantity of gases you imported, exported, recycled, reclaimed and sold over the past 12 months and how much you hold in stock. They also want to know if you authorised a non-EU manufacturer to pre-charge high GWP HFCs into equipment imported into the EU. If you are a quota holder it is important you understand your options to ensure that you do not lose your quota if all of it is not used. You could as

It is important to understand your options to ensure that you do not lose your quota if all of it is not used

a business sell your left-over quota and in doing so contribute to ensuring supply to our industry. However, how you sell your quota is dependent on what type of quota you hold – incumbent quota or new entrant reserve. If you were importing refrigerant into Europe during the years of 2009 to 2012 you are an incumbent quota holder. The good news for you is that you can buy and sell the refrigerant or simply sell the quota. Selling the quota really couldn’t be easier; with a click of a button on the F-Gas portal you can transfer the CO2 equivalent tonnage to another F-Gas registered company within seconds. The other group of quota holders are new entrant reserves. More than 1100

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businesses have been issued with new entrant reserve quota in 2018. These small parcels cannot be sold as quota. The quota holder has to physically trade the refrigerant. For those without supply chain links or experience of buying and selling refrigerant – and no logistical support for shipping refrigerant – trading new entrant reserve quota can appear on the face of it to be fraught with difﬁculty. Rather than wash your hands of the matter, and in doing so risk losing your F-Gas quota, why not look for help? A-Gas has launched a use it or lose it service for customers to help them get the most from their refrigerant quotas. The number of new entrants has grown considerably in the last three

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years. In tandem with this expansion, each allocation of new entrant reserve has become smaller over the years. Nowadays each new entrant is probably left with less than half a tank of a high GWP refrigerant to trade with. With such small quantities logistically it is now even more difﬁcult for businesses to go it alone in the market. For A-Gas this has created an opportunity to provide a trouble-free and reliable service that provides quota holders with the opportunity to sell unwanted quota to those that have experience of trading in refrigerants. We have an existing, dedicated supply chain in China with a state of the art custom-built laboratory, an incumbent quota of our own and support ofﬁces worldwide. We have the expertise to handle this line of work which allows us to pool smaller parcels of quota and transfer it into larger quantities of

Understand your options to ensure that you do not lose your quota.

Incumbent quota holders can buy and sell refrigerants or trade their quotas.

New entrant quota holders can only physically trade refrigerant.

Pooling smaller quantities of quota together has greater benefits for the supply chain.

IN THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF REFRIGERANT SUPPLIES WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANY QUOTA AT ALL” refrigerant for supply into the market. In the overall context of the availability of refrigerant supplies we cannot afford to lose any quota at all. This is important as we need to use as much of it as is physically possible to ease any pain for the rest of the industry during the transition to low GWP HFCs. To borrow a phrase, every little counts. Bear in the mind that every three years the European Commission recalculates the quota levels. They

have tough targets set out to reduce the levels of high GWP HFCs in use by 79% in the years between 2015 and 2030. So F-Gas ofﬁcials will look at the information sent from businesses in front of them and adjust quota levels to suit. The onus is on refrigerant users to make sure they don’t miss out. If the European Commission sees the quota is not used, they will assume it is not needed. So don’t lose it – use it. www.agas.com

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TRA IN IN G

CO2: THE SIMPLE TRUTH Stephen Benton of Cool Concerns says it is time to set aside the myths surrounding R744 systems.

ow many of us ever considered we were previously working on sub critical refrigeration systems or that R22 booster technology would transform and become part of the whole new genre of the transcritical booster system? Words that have lain dormant for decades have made a comeback and quite a few new ones have entered the day-to-day language of refrigeration technicians. Who would have ever considered we would be using refrigerant that can quite simply go lumpy! Set aside the myths and misconceptions and the desire of a few to scare others with stories of high pressure and danger, and the operation of transcritical R744 systems becomes more straightforward. Couple this with the desire of control and equipment manufacturers to market and sell understandable, easy to install, simple to commission, simple to operate technology, and you end up with… the CUBO2 Smart condensing unit with Carel controls.

I have commissioned hundreds of systems with electronic controls, spent hours pondering what the software engineer and technical author meant, or even if they had ever conversed with each other. Is the CUBO2 Smart any different? Well, in a word, YES! The last decade has advanced controls and components for R744 to a stage where we now have an almost plug & play condensing unit. I hate the words plug & play as it is certainly the case that you must have a reasonable degree

of product awareness and basic CO2 handling skills before installing your first CUBO. But after that, it is certainly not far from it.

What do you have to do then?

Install the system pretty much like any other condensing unit system – liquid and suction pipework, evaporator, electronic expansion valve.

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All the components, including K65 120 bar copper pipe, are now readily available. Wiring is simple, like a typical coldroom installation with the addition of a RS 485 network cable between the condensing unit and the evaporator controller. There are some differences when strength and tightness testing, evacuating and charging with CO2 but once those are dealt with you are ready to commission. The condensing unit, with all the wizardry of high pressure valve and ﬂash gas bypass valve control together with inverter compressor control, is truly taken care of, pre-set and ready to run. All you must do is tell the outdoor unit about the existence of the evaporator controllers and their respective capacities. The evaporator controllers themselves are derived from standard HFC controllers, so nothing new other than to follow the wizard and enter a handful of parameters. Serial communication (RS 485 ModBus) allows the condensing unit and the evaporator controllers to talk. Now you are ready to run, switch on and the magic happens.

What happens next?

Well the unit runs, invariably sub critically so no different from an HFC unit albeit at higher pressures; the condensing unit simply manages itself. There are advanced features including floating suction setpoint and smooth lines – effectively dynamic superheat to manage the evaporator and achieve an air off temperature as close to the set point as possible without the need to cycle off and pump down the condensing unit. The floating suction setpoint also adapts to the evaporator load to increase the suction setpoint as high as possible whilst maintaining the air off set point temperature (again without pumping down the condensing unit). A Carel E2V stepper expansion valve is an essential part of the control and for those of you old enough to remember when stepper valves didn’t work, evolution has moved us on… considerably. If you don’t want to use fully integrated controls the condensing unit will run standalone, albeit the suction setpoint will be fixed.

WHOLESALERS WORKING TO SPREAD WORD

Dean & Wood and HRP have launched a CO2 initiative entitled Control Our 2morrow.

Conclusions

If you want to understand the detail of the transcritical cycle then you can. Conversely, if you want to install a transcritical CO2 condensing unit understanding only the basics and essential safety aspects then you can do that also. The pressures are higher, so training is essential. An understanding of what the system is trying to achieve and how it is controlled is a great help, but you don’t have to have a degree in thermodynamics or advanced knowledge of control algorithms to work with CO2. We sometimes approach something new thinking that we must understand every single detail without realising that we often understand little about a lot of everyday technology – we just simply accept that it works. The training course we provide tackles what you need to know to install and operate the CUBO2 Smart system safely and provides additional knowledge to cover what you might like to know over and above that. What about transcritical operation then? Well the UK weather will only really cause the CUBO2 Smart to operate transcritical when we have ambient temperatures above 28C. In reality, then, not too often unfortunately! For more information on the CO2 training offered by Cool Concerns contact steve@coolconcerns.co.uk

The aim is to educate customers on how refrigerant legislation has changed, what this means in terms of environmental impact and the role of alternative refrigerants today. Dean & Wood and HRP recently introduced a new range of packaged CO2 condensing units from SCM Frigo. The CUBO2 Smart inverter driven units range from 0.6-8kW in medium temperature and 0.7-7kW in low temperature. As part of the Control Our 2morrow initiative, the wholesalers have teamed up with Cool Concerns to provide a bespoke CO2 training course. Beijer Ref UK & Ireland Product Manager Hayley Billson said: “We recognise that the change in refrigerants and technology can be a daunting thought for our customers. Those who commit to purchase a CUBO2 Smart unit form us will receive one free training place at Cool Concerns.’’ Customers will also be provided with a bespoke presentation, which they can then in turn use to help end users make an informed choice about which refrigerant best meets their needs. Hayley added: “We are always trying to keep the industry aware of changes. The presentation also looks at the wider global warming issue and some of the science involved. “Further information is available from your local Dean & Wood or HRP team.’’

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REF R IG E R AT I O N

WATER VS AIR Ed Whinyates of Stonegrove Refrigeration looks at some of the things to consider when it comes to choosing a condenser.

refrigeration system needs a condenser in some form or another. Traditionally, the application of an air cooled condenser was preferred for small to medium installations, with evaporative condensers the preferred choice for medium to large installations. However, as technology has developed, this is now not always the case.

Evaporative condensers and air cooled condensers have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages so, when selecting the best option for a refrigeration project, a number of factors need to be considered. These include (but are not limited to) size of project, available space, cost, energy efﬁciency and on-going maintenance. It is not possible to offer a deﬁnitive answer to which option is best, as there are many different aspects to consider in terms of performance and choice.

Water cooled evaporative condensers are often applied in larger industrial installations

Evaporative condensers

The application of water cooled systems has been used for many years and is notably prevalent on larger industrial installations. There are a number of advantages to selecting a evaporative condenser. It has been argued that they have better energy efﬁciency compared to air cooled condensers. This is due to the more efﬁcient transfer of heat, leading to savings on energy costs

and consumption. In addition to this, there are fewer exposed parts with evaporative condensers which makes them less vulnerable – making the case for their longer lifespan and the less frequent need for replacement. Evaporative condensers are also praised for their operational performance in higher temperature environments. When installing refrigeration equipment, the footprint of the pad, plant room or enclosure will impose on

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a client’s available space. Evaporative condensers don’t have the need for plenty of fresh air to operate correctly, with only one side needing air, and can be sited (within reason) anywhere. From an external environment perspective there is the advantage of having a quieter operation. Evaporative condensers don’t have the ducts and vents of an air cooled condenser so there is not the same concern over noise pollution. Nonetheless there are some potential disadvantages to evaporative condensers. One of these is cost. It is argued that because of the greater number of mechanical parts needed, such as cooling towers and pumps, it is a more expensive installation option. There is also the requirement for more intense on-going maintenance and regular water treatment which add to the continued costs. There is also the high cost and quality of water along with the requirement for a water supply. However, the case can be made that the longer lifespan and energy savings associated with evaporative condensers make them cost effective longer term. Another disadvantage is the high water usage which, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.

Air cooled condensers

There are a number of specific advantages to the use of air cooled condensers. Typically air cooled condensers are a more cost-effective option to install and maintain compared to evaporative condensers in their standard smaller configurations. When looking at smaller installations, the choice of an air cooled condenser tends to be favoured offering a wider application for their use. They also provide more options for refrigeration systems at the design phase of a project. A good example of this is the increased use of packaged chillers on many industrial refrigeration applications. The knock-on effect for this kind of system is the benefit to both installation programme reduction and commissioning time on site. Air cooled condensers don’t rely on water to cool and so are not restricted

Air cooled condensers can be more cost-effective in their standard smaller conﬁgurations

by water availability. Also, due to the need for fewer parts, the risk of breakdown is reduced which means less on-going maintenance costs. This in turn leads to less downtime and greater reliability of the plant. Maintenance plays an extremely important part of any refrigeration system so this cannot be overlooked when making an important capital decision. Environmental impact has become far more relevant with refrigeration systems, with the ever-changing face of HFCs and the move towards a greater use of natural refrigerants. Air cooled condensers also play a positive role in this as there is no requirement for water, so no water wastage or the need for chemical dosing. Like evaporative condensers, the use of air cooled condensers has some disadvantages. The footprint required to take the condenser can be larger and, with the need for no obstruction to airﬂow around the entire unit, can take up valuable space. They tend to be noisier to run so this could be a problem in built-up areas. Although it is claimed that some air

cooled condensers are now offering much better energy efﬁciency, it is still argued that they tend to be less energy efﬁcient, so cost more to run.

In summary

Both systems have their merits so it is impossible to say that one is better than the other. Each has its advantages and both can offer the ideal solution when reviewing modes of operation, size of the refrigeration plant, available space, cost and efﬁciency. There is also the less scientiﬁc approach of previous experience and individual preference. The design engineers at Stonegrove Refrigeration will always view the individual elements of each project and select the best option for the client.

Find out more

For more information about how Stonegrove can help with your requirements, please contact us on 01279 408690 or ed@stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

You can also visit our website

www.stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk and our LinkedIn company page.

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REF R IG E R AT I O N

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I EX

BUT WHENEVER AN OPPORTUNITY OR A C Mark Roberts, left, is succeeded as Managing Director at J & E Hall by Andrew Bowden

Retiring MD reï¬&#x201A;ects on some of the changes he has witnessed in more than four decades with the same company and says refrigeration remains a great career for young people.

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D I EXPECT TO REACH THE TOP.

A CHALLENGE CAME MY WAY, I TOOK IT"

Mark said: “I left school at 16 and I knew I didn’t want to go to university. I wanted something hands-on. My father was at J & E Hall and it seemed a natural thing to do. I knew I wanted to work in engineering.” He served a four-year apprenticeship at J & E Hall, beginning work at Botley, Southampton. His first refrigeration job was at Warners Holiday Camp, Hayling Island, where he was sent to repair a fridge in the kitchen. After serving his apprenticeship, he worked in various roles at the company including project sales, service management and managing operations for its freezer business, Jackstone. Mark was appointed Managing Director in 2000 and he says that ‘flexibility’ has been the key to his career progression. He is a great believer in apprenticeships. J & E Hall is one of the leading advocates of training for young people in the refrigeration industry and runs flourishing apprentice and graduate training schemes. “It’s a great career for young people,” he said. “There’s so much diversity. At J & E Hall we work in many industrial sectors – brewing, food production, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and the marine side to name but a few. There is a huge issue with skill shortages and we need young blood in the industry. “Never in a million years did I expect to reach the top. But whenever an opportunity or a challenge came my way I took it on. I’ve moved around a lot with the company and if you want to progress your career you’ve got to be willing to put yourself out.” J & E Hall has been based in Dartford since 1785. It is famous for

its innovation and its worldwide reach, but it is an organisation that retains a paternalistic approach. “Those who enjoy working for J & E Hall stay for a very long time,” added Mark. “We have two employees who have completed 55 years’ service. It’s still a business with a family feel where employees are the key to success and this ﬁts well with the people-centred management philosophy of the Daikin Group, which J & E Hall joined in 2006.” Mark has travelled the world with J & E Hall and has seen many changes in the refrigeration industry. “The market has altered tremendously,” he said. “When I started my career every town in the UK seemed to have a brewery, dairy or slaughterhouse but now it’s no longer the case.’’

MARK IS A TRUE LEADER WHO IS WELL RESPECTED THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY" “There’s been much consolidation in the market with the national players but there’s also been a proliferation of many smaller companies which is good for competition. Types of refrigerants have changed greatly and the technology is different but it is interesting to see that some of the older technology is returning. CO2 is back in fashion and so is ammonia. We’ve been working with both for a long time.” Energy efﬁciency and legislation are driving the industry towards more efﬁcient systems and low GWP refrigerants, which will lead the way to innovative technologies. As an example of this, J & E Hall has developed a low-charge ammonia

chiller. Mark said: “There’s also a big opportunity for refrigeration companies to make a difference in helping to feed populations through improved food production, storage and reduction in food waste in the developing world where refrigeration is still in its infancy.” Mark has been living away from his home in Lincolnshire for 24 years and now it is time for change and less travelling. He and his wife Sharron have two grown-up children and two grandchildren. In retirement, he will try his hand at woodworking, photography and maybe golf. “It’s time for some new ideas at the top of J & E Hall,” he concluded. Mark will not sever his ties with J & E Hall and Daikin entirely and will continue to work as senior advisor. Mark’s successor is Andrew Bowden, formerly Director of Human Resources and General Affairs. He said: “Peers and colleagues who know Mark admire him for his energy, enthusiasm and passion for J & E Hall. Employees at all levels of the organisational hierarchy have benefited from his valued leadership. He is a true leader who is well respected throughout our industry.’’ Yoshihiro Mineno, Senior Executive Officer, Daikin Industries, said: ‘’Congratulations on your retirement and assignment as the advisor at J & E Hall. Time flies, I cannot believe that it has been more than 10 years since we first met. Thank you for all your efforts in leading the J & E Hall business for such a long period. I am glad I had you in my team. I am sure that you had a tremendously positive impact on your people at J & E Hall with your gentle and hardworking personality.’’

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Meeting the Low GWP challenge

P48-49

ark Roberts stepped down as Managing Director of J & E Hall after 42 years with the business and urged more young people to consider the industry he joined as a teenager.

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THE LOW GWP

CHALLENGE Graham McDermott, J & E Hall Director of Process Systems and Marine, says the choice of low GWP (Global Warming Potential) alternatives for large refrigeration systems needs to widen.

here has been a wealth of advice in refrigeration on the need to make the switch to low GWP refrigerants to meet the F-Gas phasedowns. With refrigeration playing such a key role in the food processing industry, some producers and suppliers have taken the message on board but some have been left with big decisions to make.

It’s not easy to be sure you are making the right refrigerant choice for your system. This year’s 37% cut in

THE NEW BLENDED LOW GWP REFRIGERANTS OFFER NO REAL ALTERNATIVE FOR MEDIUM AND LOW TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE"

Ammonia is a good choice for large, low temperature refrigeration systems, says Graham McDermott

the quota for the production of virgin refrigerants is having a major effect on supplies. So far most of the research into alternatives with a low GWP has centred on gases more suited to smaller refrigeration systems. This has focused on blended refrigerants – those with glidepoints, used with direct expansion evaporators. They work well if you are maintaining or fitting systems in convenience stores, restaurants and installations of a similar scale.

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But if you are working with large, low temperature systems like those found in food processing, there are no easy answers. Flooded evaporators are more likely to be employed in larger systems where in the past single component gases like the now-banned R12 and R22 were used. They were relatively easy to install and maintain. R134A for high temperature applications, and R507 for medium and low temperature jobs, offered a way forward but their high GWP means that these HFC blends have a short shelf life. In this respect the new blended low GWP refrigerants offer no real alternative for medium and low temperature applications because they can be difficult to manage. There is the risk of the refrigerant distilling and its components splitting into their original form. But there has been little or no research to produce blended gases which can rise above this for systems where flooded evaporators are in use. Zeotropic refrigerants with a mixture of different boiling points may provide a solution in the long term but at present

MUCH MORE DISCUSSION IS NEEDED... BUT AMMONIA IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS ALREADY WITH US AND ONE WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD" there are no low GWP HFC alternatives for low temperature applications in the industrial sector where flooded evaporators are in use. Hydrocarbons like propane and propylene have in some circumstances provided cooling solutions, however they are more expensive to install, with flameproof equipment needed, and you have the added responsibilities of the ATEX regulations to consider.

Natural refrigerant

The new class of low GWP HFO refrigerants like R1234ZE and R1234YF are still in the early stages of development. More work is needed here if they are to be considered. This brings me to ammonia – a good choice for large systems operating on an industrial scale. It is a versatile, effective and efficient natural refrigerant which does not deplete the ozone layer and has excellent

thermodynamic qualities, providing a wide temperature range. This natural refrigerant has a fine safety record and is used in many applications in the meat, poultry and dairy industries. Improvements in technologies involving heat exchangers, compressor controls and low-pressure receivers have allowed the charge size to be reduced and this lowers the risk of leaks. Ammonia – even in small quantities – has a recognisable odour which can be viewed as its greatest single safety asset. Much more discussion is needed on how we are going to meet the refrigerant challenge facing big systems but ammonia is an alternative that is already with us and one with a proven track record. We need to educate system designers, installers and endusers about the benefits of this green alternative. It could make everyone’s life a lot easier in the long run.

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IT’S NEVER BEEN SAFER TO CLEAN

Dirt and microbial build-up create significant issues for companies involved in the business of handling food… for obvious reasons. Andy Harvey, Marketing Manager at Advanced Engineering, explains why this problem is about much more than hygiene, and offers advice on how to eliminate it on site.

orrying about whether your cleaning is up to the job is usually a task all on its own, but the stakes are even higher when you are working in the food industry…

Here, proper cleaning is not just desirable – it is absolutely essential. However, it has not been as straightforward as it could be for those charged with delivering it. In recent months, we have been carefully reviewing the real-world value of our range of products for these very challenging environments and it has resulted in new developments which are easier, quicker and more effective for our customers to use… which means their customers benefit, too!

Cold stores can present particular cleaning challenges

A hotspot for health and hygiene issues

Inadequately and infrequently cleaned storage areas, such as walkin refrigerators and chillers, can be a hotspot for health and hygiene issues. When micro-organisms, mould and mildew contaminate produce, there are potentially serious implications for health and safety. Failing to identify, or overlooking this situation can quickly place a business’ bottom line at risk with wasted stock, fines and much more. Then there is the impact of this on the equipment itself. A walk-in chiller unit consumes a significant amount of energy. So much so that even a small

Slime build-up can be cleared but may return again and again

dip in efficiency can spike energy usage and associated costs. When dirt and debris accumulate on external heat transfers, it can increase a unit’s condensing temperature or reduce its evaporating temperature by as much as several degrees – increasing your energy consumption by 10% or more. Is cleaning the answer? Yes… but it’s also part of the problem. Take the cold store, for example. There have been wall and floor cleaners on the market for years, but these freeze at 0°C. When you are faced with cleaning a cold store that operates at a sub-zero temperature, a complete shutdown –

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including time waiting for temperatures to rise and fall – is the only option. Clearly, this situation isn’t benefitting anyone. That is why we sought to create a solution that puts a stop to this unnecessary downtime.

FroZone

Earlier this year, we launched FroZone. It is a highly effective cleaner – specially formulated to cut through grease and grime at temperatures as low as -25°C. – for minimal downtime and disruption. It makes easy work of freezer walls and floors and is NSF registered – ensuring it is safe for use in food handling areas. FroZone is non-corrosive to metals including chrome, copper, brass, aluminium and stainless-steel surfaces, which means you can use it to clean freezer heat exchanger surfaces, too, without risk of damage.

A perfect breeding ground for bacteria, algae and mould

Without sufficient management, condensate drains in refrigerated units offer a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, algae and mould. And, for operators, this can create blockages and significantly reduce energy efficiency. These blockages are time-consuming and costly to fix, with engineer callouts, stock wastage and lost productivity (due to stripping down, stocking and restocking) to consider. It is easy to remove all slime from the condensate drain with a wet/ dry vacuum… but it has a rather embarrassing way of returning over and over again. Although we all recognise the importance of thoroughly cleaning and killing these organisms, many cleaning practices overlook the very real need to protect against and prevent new growth. By working with our customers closely, we developed the Safe Range, an easy-to-follow, cost-efficient, threestep process, which has been specially designed to safeguard our customers (and theirs) from this costly (and often embarrassing) problem.

Safe Range

Our Safe Range, which was developed specifically for refrigerated units, gives contractors a simple, three-step solution which stops slime proliferation for up to 12 months. It is incredibly easy to remember and even easier to follow: 1. Unblock the condensate drain After removing all slime from the condensate drain, apply a drain unblocker, such as DrainSafe. It is safe to use around food and has been specially formulated to dissolve any remaining exopolysaccharide or jelly further down the drain via hydrolysis.

DrainSafe

2. Clean and kill on the evaporator coil It’s important to ensure your cooling coil – and the surrounding casework – is thoroughly cleaned using a good-quality coil cleaner, like CoolSafe. This removes any contaminants on the coils and kills any microbes it contacts.

CoolSafe

3. Protect against new microbial growth in the condensate tray While those first two steps are very effective, keeping regrowth from occurring requires an effective and long-lasting product – featuring the right surfactants and biocides – to keep microbes at bay.

Jally Strip

The Jally Strip is a revolutionary condensate tray treatment which incorporates active agents (QUATS) that cause cellular and membrane disruptions of microorganisms. The result? Up to 12 months’ protection against regrowth. The process’ preventative powers are so effective that no fewer than three of the leading supermarkets rely on the Safe Range to keep their equipment slime-free.

Jally Strip condensate tray treatment

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INS TA L L ATI O N

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER PIPE DREAM Taking the long view when it comes to specifying pipework systems can pay real dividends to contractors in terms of higher proﬁts and lower overheads, says Michaela Holmes of Brymec.

host of useful business tools are at the disposal of modern-day air conditioning and refrigeration contractors to help them optimize pipework systems, revolutionize working practices and maximize proﬁts.

Looking at pipework in terms of its whole life cost (WLC), for example, is increasingly shaping how money is being saved on site. WLC has a number of definitions. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy describes it as 'an investment appraisal and management tool which assesses the total cost of an asset over its whole life. It takes account of the initial capital cost, as well as operational, maintenance, repair, upgrade and eventual disposal costs'. However, perhaps the best definition of WLC for our purposes is ‘the systematic consideration of all relevant costs associated with the acquisition and installation of an asset’. Relevant costs can include a range of criteria other than simply the initial purchase price, including speed of installation, service, warranty, support and reliability. Indeed, these criteria can, according to some estimates, account for up to 85% of the total cost of a pipework system with just 15% going on the capital cost of the pipework itself. Two factors, however, make the ‘good value for money’ calculation more complex than it might, at first, appear – cost stability and installation costs. First, cost stability must be taken into account when specifying air conditioning and refrigeration pipework

because copper and steel prices can fluctuate hugely between specification and purchase. Unpredictable prices of copper (the traditional ‘go-to’ material for general pipework), or steel (typically used in heavier ACR applications), might make it worth considering a switch to, say, plastic (assuming, of course, that this is a suitable material for the application being considered). Plastic pipes are cheaper and lighter than metal pipes, and plastic has insulation qualities that prevent condensation from forming on pipes carrying cold water. They are also easy to cut, have push-fit joints and offer excellent flexibility and handling qualities. Your best course of action, if you have any doubts about which material

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I N STA L L AT I O N

to select, is to talk to a supplier like Brymec. We have experts on hand to advise on the right course of action to suit your particular circumstances. The second factor is the ﬁnancial implications of installation. This can be considerable and pipework can have a disproportionate impact on a project. Piping can, for example, cost as little as 5% of total installed costs on a project, but can consume as much as 30% of the man hours.

Connecting copper and steel pipework typically requires soldering on site which, in turn, demands a ‘hot work’ permit. However, there are alternatives. One is press fitting – a relatively simple cold process that creates reliable, tamper-proof pipe connections from the single action of a special compression tool. Flame-free installation avoids the need for a hot work permit and the risk of fire on site. It also means there is no need to waste a working day waiting for the installation to cool down. And no brazing or oxygen-free nitrogen purging are required, which accelerates installation and enables installers to be more productive. Indeed, press fitting cuts time on site by up to a third, according to some estimates. Again an enlightened and progressive supplier will have the knowledge and expertise to advise you on the best alternative for your needs.

VALUE ENGINEERING An important element in the whole life cost equation is the need to take full advantage of value for money, from inception to completion, and this is where value engineering can help. Value engineering is more than a mere pennypinching exercise; indeed, cost-cutting is just a small part of it. Rather, it is a means of removing any element that adds cost without contributing to function or performance. Value engineering is used to solve problems and identify and eliminate unwanted costs, while, at the same time, improving function and quality. Two factors, in particular, are driving the growth in value engineering. First, with the rising popularity of design and build contracts, contractors have more freedom to look for efficiencies between building systems instead of ‘squeezing’ each individual system to the detriment of the whole. Secondly, the process of value engineering now has access to sophisticated software that can carry out important calculations like the rather clumsily labelled ‘triple bottom line cost benefit analysis’ (TBLCBA) in real time. TBLCBA is an evidencebased economic method that combines cost benefit analysis and life cycle cost analysis across social, environmental and financial factors to weigh costs and benefits to project stakeholders. A whole range of courses are available to learn value engineering techniques and they are certainly worth investigating.

To do great work, you need a great supplier. Over 40 years’ experience Over 14,000 products in stock Next morning delivery as standard Industry leading online experience Dedicated account managers

Open an account online today CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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K A T E

I N

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B O W E R S

In this issue, we meet Kate Bowers, Air Handling Manager at air management expert Mansfield Pollard. What attracted you to the industry?

I love the technical side of this role as it allows me to use some of the knowledge that I gained during my degree. The work is varied and challenging, and it is a huge bonus that I get to manage a team, which is another passion of mine.

What excites/interests you about the industry?

The industry is constantly evolving and improving. Our bespoke products are delivered to a wide range of UK and international customers working in sectors as diverse as healthcare, pharmaceutical production, leisure, retail and education. It can be exciting as you never know what kind of project you can be working on!

How do you see your career developing?

Where did you study? Bradford University

What was your first job?

My first job after graduating was working for Precision Castparts Corporation on their management development programme. This consisted of a two-year graduate scheme where I undertook two placements at different manufacturing sites in the UK (Leeds and Hereford).

What does your current role involve?

Managing the day-to-day running of the air handling team including allocating enquires, assisting with projects, securing new business, and ultimately making the team more effective and efficient.

I would hope that we can grow the AHU department to be one of the strongest departments within the company – firstly improving our hit rate but also making our service more efficient with a quicker turnaround on quotes. I want Air Handling to be the best department in the company. Once we have the correct process and team in place and orders increase, we can look to expand the team. I hope to be managing a larger team in the medium term, and long term I strive one day to become a director.

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The IOR’s Women in RACHP network, established with the support of the ACR Journal in 2016, now has more than 600 members. It is open to anyone (male or female) working in an RACHP-related role. You do not have to be an IOR member. You can get involved through the Women in RACHP LinkedIn group.

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?

Some of the most challenging aspects of life are the ones that become the most rewarding.

What are the challenges of the industry?

The new ErP directive is challenging in terms of meeting the required efﬁciencies for a system. This means that the industry must be dynamic and proactive to ensure we meet design requirements

What are the beneﬁts of being in your role?

MP Air Handling Units are at the beginning of a new era. We have some new software to implement, which means we can quote jobs more efﬁciently and fast. It also will allow us to get from the design stage to manufacture more quickly meaning we can be more competitive across the board. Coupled with this we have a clear vision for growth in the next three years… so watch this space!

What industry associations are you involved with, and what are the beneﬁts?

I am very new to the industry but am a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This allows me to keep in touch with a variety of engineers across multiple disciplines, as well as giving me the opportunity to attend seminars and workshops to ensure that I can keep my ﬁnger on the pulse of new innovations.

What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the ACR industry?

Be conﬁdent, be bold, and be dynamic. The industry has opportunities everywhere you look. It’s exciting and ever-changing, and it needs a greater female representation. www.Mansﬁeldpollard.co.uk

Kate Bowers wants to grow the AHU department to become one of the strongest in the company

Do you know someone who could be a candidate for our Women in ACR feature? Please contact David Todd, david.todd@warnersgroup.co.uk, 01778 392094

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PU MP S

UNLOCKING THE RHI A new funding framework is aiming to open up opportunities across the heat pump supply chain.

renewables funding framework unveiled by PTS and City Plumbing Supplies aims to provide a surge in work for contractors from social housing providers. In an industry-first move, the HeatRHIght scheme gives social housing providers an upfront lump sum, which contributes to the capital cost of retrofitting air and ground source heat pumps – making it easier for them to start new projects, and opening up opportunities for installers.

Can you give us an example of the scheme working in practice?

We spoke to Jacqueline Rose, Category Manager for Renewables & Energy Efficiency (Plumbing & Heating Division, Travis Perkins) about the logistics of the new framework, the success of the first installation and the benefits.

What is HeatRHIght?

“HeatRHIght is a unique scheme that enables social landlords to obtain a contribution of between 40% and 100% towards installation costs. It works by trading seven years of governmentfunded Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments for an upfront payment. The landlord owns the system in full and there is no lease or licence over the property.

Jaqueline Rose of Travis Perkins

“The scheme can be used to fit both air source and ground source heat pumps, including those using shared ground loops (i.e. low and highrise blocks of flats). And because it removes financial barriers, the scheme means that heat pumps can be more affordable than gas boilers.”

“Yes – social housing provider Thirteen has recently used the new framework and associated support service to fund, design, commission and install air source heat pumps – resulting in the installation of new heating and hot water systems at 16 properties in Whitby. “HeatRHIght enabled Thirteen to access 80% of the capital required to commission and install air source heat pumps. Working closely with PTS, heat pump manufacturer Daikin and specialist plumbing, heating and mechanical services contractor R Bland, Thirteen was able to provide residents with efficient heating systems – thus maximising the benefit to tenants, at a minimal cost. “Thirteen has gone on to install a further 13 heat pumps under the new framework, and more schemes are in the pipeline. HeatRHIght has enabled Thirteen to provide tenants with easilycontrolled heating, with one bill and a heat pump system that is four times more efficient than a traditional gas heating system. For a social housing provider with a strong focus on social investment and sustainability, this has been a key benefit – which creates revenue opportunities for installers.”

You mentioned an associated support service, can you tell us more?

North Star Solar’s connected home

“The HeatRHIght funding framework is supported by a specialist inhouse technical team, who can advise landlords and installers on project suitability, as well as design experts, who provide indemnified renewable heating designs and lowcost solutions for outsourcing RHI compliance management. When it comes to delivery, our supply chain and national distribution hub ensures

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that heat pumps from industry leading manufacturers are distributed quickly and on time. In short, everything is designed to make the project easy for installers and clients.”

Looking at the whole heat pump supply chain, who benefits from this new scheme?

“In a word: everyone! To be more specific: “Installers & contractors are set to benefit as a result of HeatRHIght removing the financial barrier to social housing providers. More properties can be improved, more pumps installed – and more schemes are likely to be available for tender. “Manufacturers are expected to benefit, with the anticipated increase in demand allowing for more investment in reducing costs and investing in research and development. “Social landlords can use the funding to improve properties for which they may not originally have had funding, improve more properties than they originally had planned, or simply to install any planned heat pumps more quickly. This enables landlords to improve tenants’ living conditions, help keep fuel bills low, reduce CO2 emissions and, potentially by replacing gas systems, avoid access and cost issues arising from annual gas inspections. HeatRHIght can also be combined with other funding schemes such as ECO & the Warm Home Discount Scheme, unlocking even more upfront cash. “Tenants benefit from retrofit heat pump technology. It creates a warm, comfortable living environment, is easily controlled and is highly energy efficient – therefore reducing utility bills compared to traditional heating methods. “And ultimately, the environment benefits, as every high carbon heating system that is replaced by an energy efficient heating system – such as heat pumps – helps reduce CO2 levels.”

So what’s next?

Social housing provider Thirteen has installed air source heat pumps at 16 properties in Whitby

P UM P S

private housing complemented by the installation of rooftop solar PV, battery storage and smart energy management systems. “North Star Solar has created a connected home, with the installation of solar PV, energy storage and fabric sensor packages that can assist social housing landlords in tackling fuel poverty. Travis Perkins Plumbing and Heating Division is supporting North Star as its procurement provider and also through compliance management and monitoring via Toriga (part of Travis Perkins). “The solar PV generates electricity during the day (powering a heat pump for example), reducing energy bills. When this is combined with a battery storage system, the occupant is able to store the energy and use it in the evenings when they most need it”. “All this means we’re creating huge opportunities for skilled contractors to win more work. Plus, they will benefit from framework agreements with schedules of fair survey, design and installation rates.”

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“The next evolution will see heat pump installations across social and

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The D2CND gas condensing boiler will be sold direct to installers

THE HEAT IS

Daikin unveils boiler at launch of new Altherma and aims to grow installer network.

aikin has introduced a gas condensing boiler alongside its latest heat pump range as it attempts to strengthen its position in the heating sector. Rather than taking on the major boiler manufacturers, however, Daikin says it sees the arrival of the D2CND as a platform for building its network by attracting potential installers with a range of heating options, rather than renewables alone. Iain Bevan, Commercial Director for Heating and Renewables at Daikin UK, said: “This is not our core product but we are very excited. We hope it will help us to increase our installer network and act as a gateway to renewables. It will also raise brand awareness in the heating market’’ The double launch saw Daikin unveil the UK’s ﬁrst air to water heat pump powered by the lower GWP refrigerant R32. The Altherma 3 range is A+++ rated, with a heating efﬁciency of 5.4 COP at 7-35ºC. Daikin says that means reliable operation with temperatures of up to

Iain Bevan of Daikin UK

AS THE FIRST HEAT PUMP TO USE R32, ALTHERMA 3 REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF THIS MARKET”

65ºC at high efficiency, regardless of outside temperatures. Bevan said: “The Altherma 3 is the result of extensive development work and really sets a whole new standard for domestic air to water heat pumps. As the first heat pump to use R32, Altherma 3 represents the future of this market and provides a system that will ensure lower environmental impact and greater maintenance reliability throughout the F-Gas phase down.” The range, featuring Bluevolution technology, is aimed at new build, refurbishment and low energy houses, and can be used with both underfloor heating and radiators, The split wall mounted unit includes an optional connection to deliver domestic hot water. Available in 4, 6 and 8kW versions, it can be combined with a separate domestic hot water tank of up to 500 litres, with or without solar support. Daikin says the Altherma 3 is delivered ready to work with all key hydraulic elements factory mounted, with no third party components required.

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Inside the Daikin Altherma 3

The outdoor unit is supplied tested and charged with R32 refrigerant

The outdoor unit is tested and charged with refrigerant, reducing installation time further. The PCB board and hydraulic components are located to the front for easy access and all piping can be accessed at the top of the unit, designed to make it suitable for tight sapces. The system can be commissioned remotely using the Controller Configuration Wizard, so settings can be uploaded to the unit post-installation. Its weather-dependent set-point controls and inverter compressors maximise the system’s efficiency and the smart comfort controller gives the end user the option to control the system from their smart device. Using the Daikin heating app, the homeowner can view, monitor and adjust various settings. The D2CND boiler, available in 24, 28 and 35kW form, will be sold direct to Daikin installers, rather than via merchants. It features an integral magnetic filter and components including an EBM Papst fan, SWEP plate heat exchanger, Grundfos pump and hydroblock and Kromschröder gas valve. Bevan said: “We’ve worked hard to develop a highly efficient boiler that’s one of the most compact in the market, offers smart control and has contemporary styling to suit modern homes. “End users will enjoy low operating costs due to its high efficiency whilst our installers are assured of a plug-and-play replacement with easy connections for simple installation – we believe it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Daikin’s Altherma 3 heat pump can be used with both under ﬂoor heating and radiators

A training company has installed its own Daikin Altherma Monobloc area to provide onsite experience for its growing number of apprentices. Set up in 2012, Oakhampton-based Moor Training offers plumbing and heating installers City & Guild standard training and NVQ qualiﬁcations. Providing expert in-house tuition, Moor Training is Barkwell Heating’s sister company. One of the south west’s largest plumbing companies, Barkwell Heating provides fully-accredited heat pump installations to large developers and housing associations based throughout Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset. Andy Pollard, who heads up business development for the Barkwell Group said: “Over the past several years, we have seen an increase in heat pump speciﬁcations within new-build properties, largely in the social housing sector. “To aid our sister company’s growth and offer a local training facility for those looking to enter the heating and plumbing sector, Moor Training has invested in its own onsite Daikin Altherma Monobloc training area.”

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www.daikin.co.uk

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MARINE SOURCE MEANS

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HISTORIC COUNTRY HOUSE Four years after Kimpton Energy Solutions installed a pioneering marine source heat pump for the National Trust in Wales, the Wirrall-based company provides an update on the project. Plas Newydd

Plas Newydd is a country house on the north bank of the Menai Strait, in Llanddaniel Fab, near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. The roots of the current building stretch back as far as 1470, and over the years it has grown, spread and been developed to become the ﬁnest property in Anglesey. But properties of this size also come with their own issues, including energy consumption. With a 43-year-old oil-ﬁred boiler and the heaviest oil usage of any property within the National Trust estate, it was an issue that had to be addressed. The other challenge faced was that, unlike a domestic heating system, the fuel was being used as much to protect the contents and chattels of the building from cold, condensation and humidity as to keeping the people who visit it warm and cosy.

Plas Newydd as seen from the Menai Strait

The location presents both problems and opportunities. Being so close to the Menai Strait means that the air around is both cold and damp and with the salt water in the air, highly corrosive. However, the proximity to relatively warm and fast ﬂowing water gave Kimpton the opportunity to tap in and harness some of the latent heat to create the UK’s ﬁrst marine source heat pump.

Preparation

The secret to any successful renewable energy project is to get energy usage under control ﬁrst and this was the approach that the National Trust team took. Over a period of almost ﬁve years, they methodically worked through the building and the grounds, making changes to lower energy lighting, better insulation and even reducing water temperature in the hand wash areas and kitchens.

This has the direct beneﬁt of ensuring that the energy requirement itself is greatly reduced so that the system to provide the energy can be smaller and more efﬁcient. In this case it meant that a 300kW system would be big enough. Without these earlier savings, the requirement would have been nearer to 500kW.

Kimpton’s challenge

Working closely with the National Trust team and partners from Stiebel Eltron, Kimpton Energy Solutions designed the system to deliver the 300kW requirement. One of the key measures of any system of this type is the ratio of energy ‘in’ and heat ‘out’. Any renewable energy system has to give you a Co-efﬁciency of Performance (CoP) of 2.9 to qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive. The target set for this project was 3.4 CoP. Again, quite a challenge for a technology that hadn’t been deployed before in the UK. The design for the system had to leave it almost invisible - certainly from the house - and very low key, even from the foreshore. The pipes that run down into the Menai Strait to pull the water

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Exterior and interior of the completed pump house, which is out of view on the foreshore

in and pump it back out again were designed to reach down to a level where the feed would still be submerged - even on a 100-year low tide event.

Installation

This was surprisingly smooth and despite laying a track to get the lifting gear required to deliver the hosing and components into place, recovery was relatively quick. Even the pump house was out of view and almost camouﬂaged on the foreshore. Whilst people are happy to introduce renewable and alternative technologies, they have to think twice if there is likely to be a secondary and negative visual impact. So, for example, whilst wind power may have been just as viable, it would not have been popular and came with the secondary issue of being inconsistent in its power delivery.

Did it work?

Paul Southall of the National Trust said: “After the installation in May 2014, the ﬁrst 18 months or so were pretty much perfect. “However, the ﬁrst issues arose on the foreshore side of the system where some of

the supplied components were not as marine tolerant as their speciﬁcation said they should have been and there was some unexpected corrosion. “But the big issue was in not locking down and password protecting the BMS (Building management System) as this left it open for ‘fettling’. When a system is set up like this, it should only be accessed and adjusted by fully trained staff. It’s not like a domestic system and changing one setting WILL have an adverse effect elsewhere. “Eventually we got around it by almost having to go back to square one and commission the system again to set it up from scratch again. A little frustrating, but it is a pilot project and we have all learned from the way it has gone.“

And now?

Paul Southall said: “It has now been running perfectly again for around nine months and we have some definite figures to allow us to run the maths. It’s running at around 3.0 - 3.2 CoP which is pretty much bang on what it was designed to do. “In the recent cold spell we did have to use some gas, but that was always the plan as the system was designed to cover 96% of the year, which it is doing. “But, perhaps even more importantly, it is hitting all of the relative humidity targets and we are staying well within our target of 40% to 65% Relative Humidity. “It was one of the catalyst projects that allowed the Trust to see the impact renewables could have both financially and with our environmental impact. It

started us on a course of investing over £30 million in renewable energy projects.’’

National Trust verdict

Paul Southall said: “We now have a sustainable conservation heating system which allows greater control and protection of our buildings and contents. It’s a whole new chapter in the story of this special property and its maritime history. “When it comes to the bottom line, in the months when we were resolving the teething issues it was far less efﬁcient and we burnt LPG. But now it has settled down it’s delivering a saving of around £30,000 per year over the cost of oil, which is now being allocated directly to conservation instead of simply paying the heating bill.”

The Kimpton verdict

Group Managing Director Richard Kimpton said: “We’ve always been happy to take on a challenge and we do have a huge amount of experience with heating and ventilation systems of every kind, so whilst there were elements of the Plas Newydd system that were unique and UK ﬁrsts, much of the technology that drives it is what we deliver on a daily basis. “Our whole team lives and breathes this sort of work. Plas Newydd was a different type of installation and very much in a challenging location, but it’s a fantastic piece of work to have in our portfolio and we’re incredibly proud of it.”

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www.kimpton.ltd.uk

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CH A NG IN G

FAC E S

IAN CARROLL

NEIL HOPKINSON

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, FUJITSU

SALES MANAGER, LG ELECTRONICS

Fujitsu General Air Conditioning (UK) has appointed Ian Carroll as Chief Operating Officer. Previously Sales and Marketing Director, he promotion sees him take full control of all aspects of the UK business. Ian joined Fujitsu in April 2014 and has made a significant contribution to the company’s growth and UK market share – something he is determined to continue in his new role. He says this will be achieved by continuing to build relationships with distributors, installers and consulting engineers. He said: “I am immensely proud to have been appointed Chief Operating Officer. Since joining Fujitsu, I have seen the company go from strength to strength. We have already made great strides in growing our position in the UK market and I am looking forward to the next few years, as we work towards achieving further success.” For more information visit: www.fujitsu-general.com/uk/

Neil Hopkinson has joined LG Electronics in the role of Sales Manager, Heating Solutions, for the north and Scotland. Neil has worked in the domestic heating and renewables sectors for the past 20 years with companies including Jackson BC, Travis Perkins, Baxi, Vaillant Group, Mitsubishi Electric and the QRL Radiator group in area, regional and Key Account Manager roles. He will primarily be responsible for introducing the popular LG Therma V air source heat pump range to contractors, installers, builders, developers, specifiers and distribution channels within his territory, as well as working with other suppliers and training centres.

TOM DICKSON AND MICKY SIMPSON CONEX BÄNNINGER

Conex Bänninger has welcomed two new Technical Sales Managers. Tom Dickson (Scotland and Northern Ireland) and Micky Simpson (London and the South East) have extensive experience in the heating and plumbing sector. Tom, above left, has been in the industry for 15 years and said: “Conex Bänninger is a well-respected global plumbing fittings brand and I look forward to working closely with the merchants, local authorities, consultants and contractors.” Micky said: “Having worked extensively within the pipe and fittings market I fully understand the customers’ needs both in the M & E and domestic sectors. I always look after customers the same way I would want to be treated. If you promise something, make sure you deliver it.” For more information visit:

www.conexbanninger.com

For more information visit:

www.lg.com/uk/business

ANDY MUDIE

MARKETING & BUSINESS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, NUAIRE Ventilation manufacturer Nuaire has appointed Andy Mudie to the new post of Marketing & Business Operations Director. He joined the company in 2008 as Marketing Manager and has worked at both Marketing and Business Development Director levels since 2014. The amalgamation of these the two roles will see him focus on all aspects of customer facing services. Andy has responsibility for the main sales office and marketing for both Nuaire and sister company Domus Ventilation. He said: “Product is one part of what we do. Clearly it’s fundamental, but I’m tasked with looking at the wider proposition and seeing where we can add genuine value to the business.” For more information visit:

www.nuaire.co.uk

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DISTECH

FAC E S

MIKE - BSRIA

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Call us now on 01474 338705/338725 www.ashburyassociates.co.uk Email: info@ashburyassociates.co.uk

SERVICE SALES ENGINEER

SALES ENGINEER

CHILLER ENGINEERS

London & Home Counties to £48k + Bonus + car This leading manufacturer of air conditioning equipment is looking for an experienced Service Sales Engineer. You will be responsible for selling maintenance contracts, retro fits and spares to end users. Results driven individual with Technical sales experience is essential. Ref: T3438

Hampshire/Surrey to £40k + bens + Car This refrigeration and air conditioning contractor is looking for an additional sales engineer. You will be responsible for calling on end users to generate enquiries for Refrigeration and air conditioning projects. A proven track record in technical sales Is essential. Ref:T3435

London & Home Counties to £46k+ o/t + veh This major manufacturer of air conditioning chillers is looking to appointment an engineer based in the South East. You will be responsible for the service, maintenance and commissioning of a wide range of chillers including recip, and screw. Ref: T3386

PROJECT MANAGER Hampshire to £40k +bens+ car This refrigeration and air conditioning contractor is looking for a Project Manager. You will be responsible for the design, costing and project management of air conditioning and refrigeration projects. The ideal applicant should have design/project management experience. Ref:T3434

REFRIGERATION DESIGN ENGINEER North West to £50k + package This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic specialist manufacturer who are looking to further strengthen their team You will be responsible for the design of a range of low temperature refrigeration systems. HNC/degree qualified with at least 5 years refrigeration design experience. Ref:T3430

CONFIDENTIAL CAREER ADVICE We are always happy to discuss specific positions with you or to have an informal chat about your career. All candidates receive a friendly, professional and confidential service and as part of this we are available to advise you on what potential career options are available to you. We take into account your current skill set and qualifications and the steps you need to take in order to achieve your ultimate goal.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

SALES/DESIGN ENGINEER

Scotland to £45k + com + bens + car This well established refrigeration contractor is looking to further strengthen its team with the appointment of a BDM’s to cover South East and Scotland. You will be responsible for calling on end users in the food and beverage process sectors. Generating enquiries and securing orders for refrigeration equipment and systems. Ref: T3420

South East to £50k+car+benefits Our client is looking to appoint an experienced industrial refrigeration sales/design engineer with NH3 experience. You will be responsible for liaising with clients and designing systems for the food industry, with some project management involvement. Ref:T3423

p63_acrjune18.indd 1

INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION ENGINEERS M25 & Scotland to £36k+van+o/t+t/t Industrial refrigeration contractor requires an additional engineer to be responsible for the service and maintenance of a wide range of industrial refrigeration systems within food process applications. Industrial refrigeration including ammonia experience required. Ref:T3436/7

SITE BASED REFRIGERATION ENG. East Anglia Negotiable Package This end user operating in the food sector is looking to strengthen its in house team. You will be responsible for the service and maintenance of a wide range of industrial refrigeration equipment. The ideal applicant will have and strong industrial background and have worked on Ammonia systems. Ref: T3426

For Forfurther furtherdetails detailsplease contactcontact either TERRYWHITE WHITEororROGER ROGERPRICE PRICEat TERRY Ashbury The Old Rectory, Springhead Road, AshburyAssociates, House, Associates Ltd., Crown Home Gardens, Northfleet, 8HN Dartford, Kent DA11 DA1 1DZ t 01474 338705/338725 f 01474 338749 t 01322 424636 f 01322 424637 ee info@ashburyassociates.co.uk info@ashburyassociates.co.uk

17/05/2018 09:16:39

C H I L LY

CH AT T E R

Chilly Chatter sponsored by

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AIRTEC KEEPS KIT UNDER WRAPS BEFO

Robin Clark

Richard Parvin

Katie Tyrrell

Nigel Palmer

PACAIR MILESTONES

Dewsbury-based Airtec Services came up with the perfect solution for a job in Yorkshire.

Airtec was called in last year to carry out maintenance, and the family also asked owner Ian Whitaker to replace some cassettes and condensing units which had failed. Ian said: “I went and had a look and could see that there were two problems. First, the units were underpowered and second external condensing units had been installed indoors with insufficient air flows. “I explained that the units needed to be outside but the owners were adamant that they didn’t want any units visible on the roof. They even made enquiries about having something custom-made, but it would have been incredibly expensive. “I remembered seeing something somewhere about wraps; I knew they did it on cars so why not air conditioning units? “We took photographs of the wall and a printing company called Signs Express from York produced and fitted the wraps. “The family were over the moon with the way it turned out.’’ Airtec fitted two Daikin under ceiling cassettes and 10kW smart inverter single phase units supplied by Oceanair.

AFTE

The outdoor units before and after the wraps were applied

Air conditioning systems designer and supplier PACAIR celebrates its 15th birthday at the end of the year and staff members are also clocking up some impressive milestones.

Sales Director Robin Clark celebrated his 10th anniversary with the company last year and Technical Manager Richard Parvin and Ofﬁce Manager Katie Tyrrell both mark a decade with PACAIR in 2018. PACAIR, founded by Nigel Palmer, continues to grow and now has ofﬁces in Wigan and Birmingham, as well as its HQ in Hemel Hempstead. The company distributes Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba and LG air conditioning equipment. PACAIR would like to thank all of their clients for their support over the years and look forward to many more.

Advanced Engineering golf day raises £5,170

Advanced Engineering’s 24th annual golf day raised £5,170 for Prostate Cancer UK.

Former world light-heavyweight boxing champion John Conteh joined around 70 guests at Sherﬁeld Oaks in Hampshire, and Nick Wilks of Fujitsu won the event with a score of 46. Advanced Engineering Chairman Barry Lea said: “We are incredibly fortunate to work with so many good people in our industry. Days like today give us the chance to express our thanks to our customers, distributors and suppliers for their support. But, more than that, they also let us support our wider community.’’ Nick Wilks of Fujitsu and Barry Lea of Advanced Engineering

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