HVAC&R Nation August 2016 by AIRAH

FEATURE Skills WORKSHOP

Solar AC in action

HT UG O

TO YOU

SIN

GIVIN

CE 1920

Developing a gas measurement and monitoring plan

THE I ND

SILENT

KILLER UNDERSTANDING THE DANGERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

PRINT POST APPROVAL NUMBER PP 727272/60606

August 2016 / ISSUE 094 / FREE

The Industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First & Only Technology

Less Waste & Easy Installation

In comparison to a central air conditioning system with 4-pipe heat recovery.

For more information on our products please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au

Phone:1300 280 625

2 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

Ideal Comfort

Providing more stable and mild air conditioning using water.

Energy Saving

2-pipe heat recovery system is available with refrigerant and water circuit.

ISSUE 094

HVAC&R Nation is published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (Inc).

August 2016

3/1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Tel: 03 8623 3000

Silent and deadly

Fax: 03 9614 8949

www.hvacrnation.com.au

Magazine team Editor Boon Mark Souphanh boon@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3011 Contributing writer Sean McGowan

Advertising sales Glenn Douglas glenn@airah.org.au Ph: 03 8623 3018 John McGrath john@airah.org.au Ph: 03 8623 3007 Professionals working in the HVAC, plumbing and electrical trades should be aware of the dangers posed by carbon monoxide poisoning following a spate of recent accidents around the country. ISSN 1834-9522 HVAC&R Nation is printed on paper sourced from well managed forests and other controlled sources.

Design: Artifishal Studios 140 Johnston Street,Fitzory Victoria 3065 Tel: 03 9417 7420 Printing: Southern Colour 2 Southpark Close, Keysborough Vic 3173 Tel: 03 8796 7007

HVAC&R Nation regulars 6

The Toolshed

Skills Workshop 15

Gas measurement and monitoring

see what’s new in the ‘Shed

8 Global Update

August exclusive

industry news from around the world Disclaimer HVAC&R Nation is an official publication of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. Statements expressed in HVAC&R Nation do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of AIRAH or its members. No responsibility is accepted by AIRAH, the Editor or HVAC&R Nation’s supply partners for the accuracy of information or for errors or omissions. HVAC&R Nation is distributed without charge to all financial members of AIRAH. The publisher reserves the right to alter or omit any article or advertisement submitted and requires indemnity from advertisers and contributors against damages or liabilities that may arise from material published. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the Publisher.

13,979

TRAINING LIFT-OUT

Green Wedge fuel your enviro cred

Fly Guy accessories to keep you fly

24 Around the Nation who’s in the news?

AIRAH and industry classifieds

free listings from around the nation

Lighter Side the shonkier side of the nation

The new gold rush A trial project in the Victorian goldfields town of Ballarat is demonstrating the ability of rooftop-mounted solar thermal collectors and CSIRO-developed solar air conditioning technology to provide cooling and heating, as well as domestic hot water heating.

Please consider the environment and recycle this magazine if you are not going to keep it.

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 3

➲ Editorial

WE CAN BE HVAC&R HEROES I’m sure all of you have experienced it before, those bewildered looks when you try to explain what the HVAC&R industry is about to your friends and family. Sure, you obviously understand how important the industry is to daily life, but explaining that to someone else – good luck. Admittedly, I was probably one of those puzzled plebs a few years ago myself. Shock horror.

It eventually dawned on me – HVAC&R really is everywhere and an integral part of modern life. And, there’s plenty of people out there contributing to its constant growth. The star of this month’s cover feature Damien De Vincentis (page 10) is one of those guys. Founder of Carbon Monoxide Testing Australia,

he works to create awareness and prevent the potentially fatal occurrences of carbon monoxide poisoning – an issue that continues to rear its ugly head following the death of a man in Victoria earlier this year. Damien is just one of the many unsung heroes working within the industry. And while his work may go unnoticed to most, AIRAH and HVAC&R Nation are here to give these supermen and women the pat on the back they deserve. After all, we have to look after our own.

Coming into the industry, I had the impression that those involved were in their own exclusive bubble – a close-knit bunch who held song-filled gatherings, much like the Stonecutters from The Simpsons. For those not familiar with this secretive guild, it’s an all-male club of which Homer and Moe are members, and whose activities consist mainly of drinking beer, singing songs and playing table tennis. The initiation rites involve pranks and being spanked with paddles.

Boon Mark Souphanh Editor

HVAC&R isn’t the secretive, underground clique many people think it is.

OK, so maybe the HVAC&R community is not that exclusive, but you get my drift. Soon after beginning work at AIRAH I came to realise that the HVAC&R “bubble” really isn’t small at all. I found myself bumping into friends and acquaintances who were all involved in the industry in some shape or form. High school buddies, extended family members, even training partners from my local martial arts school began to reveal themselves as HVAC&R techs, engineers, marketing gurus and the like – it was a case of “small-world syndrome” every time.

Become a member >> Member benefits: ■ An exclusive copy of the industry’s foremost technical reference — the AIRAH member’s handbook ■ Monthly copies of Ecolibrium and HVAC&R Nation magazines ■ Regular state and national email updates with industry news and events ■ Discounts on training, technical seminars and conference registrations

Apply online today www.airah.org.au/join

4 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

Clean Air Home & Office™ HVAC & Duct System Protectant, Cleaner / Freshener Clean Air Home & Office™ is a simple and economical way to clean and freshen HVAC systems and ductwork from large central systems to small wall units. A full treatment takes only minutes, requires no tools and has immediate and long lasting results. Clean Air Home & Office™ cleans away the residue in evaporators and drain pans which is the cause of odours and the growth of bacteria, algae, fungi and moulds. The Clean Air Home & Office™ freshens the entire system leaving behind a durable, invisible, protective coating which is leach-resistant and non-migrating. It protects from broad spectrum biostatic activity on many surfaces and lasts approximately three months in HVAC systems. Heat transfer loss is not compromised due to the microscopic coating. In fact, it can increase efficiency as it breaks down surface tension of condensate water, allowing it to drain out of coils. Clean Air Home & Office™ has little degradation up to 170° C and contains no phenols, tin, heavy metals, lead or formaldehyde. It is non-toxic, water based and provides long term protection. One 250gm can of Clean Air Home & Office™ can treat a five to six tonne unit (approximately 5,000 sq ft of building area), or two to four typical wall units (15,000BTU). For ducted systems, locate the return air grille and remove the filter, with the system ON spray the contents of the can into the duct, the product will then be pulled into your system where it goes to work. You will immediately smell a light fragrance coming from the air vents in every room as the product travels through the entire system. The fragrance should disappear within 24 hours leaving the coating behind to continue its work.

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 5

➲ Toolshed 01

Performing under pressure

Sky Refrigeration has launched its new DPX series digital pressure controls.

The Air CO-200 CO (carbon monoxide) detector from Air Quality Sensors is designed to be low-cost, yet highly accurate.

These controls are available in four models – compressor rack controller or condenser fan controller with three steps; a HP/LP control with one condenser fan step; and a HP/LP/ oil pressure with one condenser fan step. They feature a digital pressure or saturated temperature readout with scrolling and programming buttons on the front face. These controls are designed to enable the technician to customise accurate set points, time delays and pressure differentials.

The company says the main applications for the Air CO-200 are car parks, garages and tunnel HVAC installations, and monitoring of indoor air quality (IAQ). 01

“Our sensors have either voltage or 4 to 20mA outputs and are suitable for any HVAC installation and controllers,” says the company. “We can connect to your BMS or we can connect to our preferred BMS Controller, the V-TCX2-4086.” It is available with or without a LCD display screen.

Built on a stable platform with built-in pressure transmitters, connection is via ¼ male flare that can utilise flexible or hard copper lines. They are supplied with a mounting bracket and screws.

For more information, go to www.airqualitysensors.com.au n 02

For more information, contact Sky Refrigeration on (03) 9735 2313. n

The air-source hot water heat-pump systems are designed to harvest natural energy to reduce electricity consumption, lower hot water energy bills, and reduce environmental impact. 03

“It is an exciting time at Stiebel Eltron Australia as we celebrate the company's 40th year of developing renewable energy products in Europe,” says Stiebel Eltron sales director Glenn Day. “We have been selling the heat pumps developed from this research for nearly 10 years in Australia.”

BioZone Scientific’s technology is designed to destroy the cell membrane and DNA of microorganisms for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mould.

According to the company, energy consumption for heating water can be reduced by more than 70 per cent by using a WWK 222 (H) or WWK 302 (H). The units are therefore eligible for government rebates, which help to achieve Australia’s Renewable Energy Target by 2020.

According to the company, the purifying plasma can reach places no other cleaning technology can. This allows for continuous sterilisation. The AirCare is HACCP approved and chemical free. 04

For more information, go to www.biozonescientific.com.au n

Pumping out savings

Stiebel Eltron has unveiled an all-new range of heat pump models to the Australian market – the WWK 222 (H) and WWK 302 (H).

Zoning out odour

BioZone Scientific’s new AirCare product aims to provide a solution to eliminate odours, bacteria and mould in applications such as coldrooms, food manufacturing, washrooms, and refuse rooms.

Savvy sensor

For more information, go to www.stiebel.com.au n

Smart control for ACs

Pint-sized performer

AirPatrol is a wireless controller designed to help homeowners save money and energy by enabling them to manage their mini-split type air conditioners or heat pumps from a smartphone.

Viega has launched the new Pressgun Picco onto the Australian market. The German-made Pressgun Picco is a slim-line tool weighing just 2.5kg, making it more suitable for pressing pipe connections where space is tight, such as under the ceiling, in pre-wall construction, or in shafts.

AirPatrol produces wireless control solutions that can be used with air conditioners and heat pumps from all major manufacturers.

It is designed with ergonomics in mind and a 180° rotating press head aims to enhance its ability to comfortably access any position.

“When people have more control over their AC, they are able to improve home energy use — and family budgets,” says the company. “AirPatrol enables smart, controlled energy use with the help of its multi-functional application. This is easy home automation for the smartphone era.”

“The Picco has undergone a design update and it’s designed to be one of the most practical pressing tools available,” says Viega technical manager Robert Hardgrove.

The new Pressgun Picco has a high-performance lithium-ion battery with an improved cold-start function. It can also be operated with a mains adapter. It’s suitable for metal connectors between DN15 and DN32.

Setting up AirPatrol controllers is done by installing the AirPatrol app on their iOS or Android device. Then, the palm-sized controller is paired with the home AC, using home WiFi.

The major design improvements include an integrated LED lamp, enhanced shark grill, blow-moulded carry case, and improved start trigger.

The app aims to provide control over home energy use, allowing customers to adjust room temperature, fan speed, and other settings on the go. Secondly, it provides information about what’s going on at home. AirPatrol controller notifies homeowners of extreme temperatures, humidity levels, and reminds them when an AC unit needs servicing. For more information, go to www.ecohvac.com.au n 6 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

“Pressing points are frequently poorly lit in pre-wall, ceiling and floor constructions,” says Hardgrove. “So the LED lamp lights the pressing point, enabling safe pressing.”

The company also claims that the Picco only needs servicing after 30,000 pressings, and it deactivates automatically after 32,000 pressings. For more information, go to www.viega.com.au n

Toolshed 07

Trusty trio

Maxed-out air movement

The Santa Fe range of dehumidifiers have been designed to suit a range of different applications.

Maxtemp Pty Ltd now stocks the Fantech trade range of air movement products.

The Santa Fe Compact2 Dehumidifier is intended for use in tight spaces. Its compact size fits into low-crawl spaces and small basements, without sacrificing power and performance. According to the company, the Compact2 removes up to 33 litres of water per day and provides multiple installation options for greater flexibility.

Featured is the RILK125 In-line duct-mounted fan kit from the residential category. The three models – the RILK100, RILK125 and the RILK150HP – make up the range, with 150HP model including an externally mounted 2-speed switch. Also available are a range of run-on-timers and speed controllers.

The larger Advance2 Dehumidifier removes up to 42 litres of water per day, and features a horizontal configuration. It has more water removing capability, but still retains a size small enough to be used to in tight spaces. The most powerful of the range, the Max Dry Dual XT Dehumidifier has a horizontal configuration and dual outlet design. It removes up to 73 litres of water per day and it is the largest capacity unit in the Santa Fe family.

According to the company, the units are BCA-compliant for ventilation and energy efficiency, when using an optional backdraft damper. The flexible duct is fire rated to AS/NZS4254-Ductwork for air-handling systems in buildings. The fan motors are 220-240V, single phase, 50Hz, and feature internal thermal motor cut-out protection. 08

For more information, go to www.maxtemp.com.au n

It has an insulated cabinet, which aims to create quieter operation and enable performance in all larger basement and crawlspace applications. For more information, go to www.restorationexpress.com.au n

DO YOU HAVE A NEW PRODUCT TO GO IN THE TOOLSHED?

Email boon@airah.org.au All submissions received will be considered, though publication cannot be guaranteed.

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 7

➲ Global Update ITALY

FRANCE

UAE

WORK LIFE IN A BUBBLE

“ATTRACTIVE” NEW TECH

CHILLED-WATER SPORTS CITY

Italian architectural firm Carlo Ratti Associati has created a personalised heating, cooling, and lighting system that follows workers around. The “Office 3.0” system uses sensors to monitor data such as occupancy levels, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, and the status of meeting rooms.

A leading magnetic refrigeration company has launched what it claims to be the first commercial magnetic cooling system. The system is based on the magnetocaloric effect – the changing of the temperature of a material when it is exposed to a magnetic field.

Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) has been awarded a contract to build and operate a US$32.6 million (AU$ 44 million) mega project network to extend chilled water to new developments within Dubai Sports City.

Workers set their personal preferences via a smartphone app and the building system responds in real time, adjusting lighting, climate and room booking. An optimised “thermal bubble” follows each person around.

Cooltech Applications is applying the technology in its magnetic refrigeration system (MRS) product line. With cooling capacities between 200W and 700W, the company intends for the product to be used mainly for commercial refrigeration, including medical refrigerators, display cabinets, beverage dispensers, store plugins, and wine cellars,

“By synchronising energy usage and human occupancy within buildings we can create a more sustainable and responsive architecture – theoretically slashing energy consumption by up to 40 per cent” says founder Carlo Ratti. The first installation of Office 3.0 is scheduled to be completed in early-mid 2017. n

French refrigerated display cabinets manufacturer OFC is expected to be one of the first companies to adopt the new technology. n

PREPPING FOR THE BIG CHILL Scheduled for October 11–13, the fifth Chillventa exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, is expected to draw over 1000 exhibitors, making it the biggest ever. As Europe’s largest HVAC&R convention, the show will be preceded by a major international conference “the Chillventa Congress” on 10 October. This year’s Congress will have a focus on heat pump technology. “Despite rising energy prices, the heat pump has established itself as a practical and attractive alternative to fossil heat generators,” says event organiser Dr Ing Rainer Jakobs. “Chillventa is acknowledging this development with its special presentations on heat pumps in commercial and industrial use.” This year’s event expansion will see Chillventa add new halls and reorganise the layout to enable the refrigeration and AC sectors to be organised more thematically for the future. n

CANADA

The new network is set to increase the production capacity to 77,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR), which will cater to the surging demand of the Dubai Sports City development. The expansion of the new district cooling network will result in an annual reduction of 173 gigawatt/hour power consumption in Dubai Sports City and also reduce 120,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. "The new district cooling network from Emicool will connect complexes, stadiums and buildings in Dubai Sports City,” says CEO Adib Moubadder.” The project is expected to be completed by July 2018. n

USA

FIGHTING THE HEAT

AGENTS OF SHIELD

A father who attended a UFC event in Ottawa, Canada says he’ll “never” go back to TD Place Stadium after his son suffered heat stroke, reportedly due to insufficient air conditioning.

The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has announced AU$41.7 million in initial funding for 14 projects as part of the new Single-Pane Highly Insulating Efficient Lucid Design (SHIELD).

“[The heat] was unbearable, to say the least,” says Rami Ahmed, who drove five hours to attend the UFC Fight Night. In a brief statement, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) revealed that the venue did have air conditioning, but it wasn't operating at full capacity on the night of the event. "For the first time in the 40-year history of the arena, TD Place had air conditioning,” says event spokesperson Graeme Ivory. “It was 60 per cent operational for UFC and will be up to 100 per cent in the coming weeks as the project is completed." The fans weren’t shy in expressing their discomfort during the fights, chanting “We want AC!” at various points throughout the night. n

8 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

SHIELD project teams are developing innovative window coatings and window panes to significantly improve the energy efficiency of existing single-pane windows in commercial and residential buildings. The SHIELD program has a goal to accelerate the development of materials that could cut in half the amount of heat lost through single-pane windows without replacing the full window. Among the projects, a team out of the University of Colorado is producing a flexible, transparent thermal barrier using low-cost cellulose nanorods synthesised from food industry waste. n

BREAK THE MOULD,

OR LET IT BREAK YOU!

DA20 HUMID TROPICAL AIR CONDITIONING

STRA THE AU

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HEATI G AND

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ID TROPICA

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Building d e and system sign selection 3.1 Secti 3

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Climate zone

AIR CON

DITIONING,

COOLING

s base

Western Aust have been exclu ralia. Zone s and temperate ded are known as desert, grass which zones (see land the whole of New Sout Figure 2.1) which inclu h Wales, Sout ACT and Tasm de h Australia, The tropical ania and large parts Victoria, of regions of Australia whic Western Australia. zones and warm hum h inclu de id hot humid portion of the total area zones add up to a signi ficant of the cont inent. A climate analy sis and zone and heat pum p devices carrimapping for air cond New Zeala itioners ed out for nd for air cond governments proposed the Australian and itioning; HotMixed (Coo humid (pred a three zone map ling heating) refer and heating) and Coldominantly cooling) to Figure 2.3. (predomin antly Australia and New Zeal and cold and hotregions with humid mixed demand betw een

Figure 2.3:

Three zone

ID TROPICA

0 2 DA

L CLIMATE

This section

Note: The data conto urs are not conditions as high as , being only summer desig average 3pm month and n data year. and time perio Figures showing other for a particular months ds are availa ble from the BoM. Vapour Pressure, 22 24 hPa 26 28 30 32 34 Dew36 Point Temp, °C 19.0 20.4 21.7 23.0 24.1 25.2 26.2 27.2

36 hPa 34 hPa 32 hPa 30 hPa 28 hPa 26 hPa 24 hPa 22 hPa 20 hPa 18 hPa 16 hPa 14 hPa 12 hPa 10 hPa 8 hPa 6 hPa 4 hPa 2 hPa

3pm Vapo ur pressure (hPa) January 2013

“Hot Humid “areas whe re the sum Tropics” coul mer outdoor temperatu d re exceeds design dew be; the -point temperatu re”. Dew-poin indoor design dry-b ulb t temperatu res are a critic al

discu

on introdu

ction

•

Ceiling fans are a low cost, option and low energy should be cooling cons They can be highly effec idered where possible. tive during the drier mon Quality ceilin ths. g insulation heat flows. reduces dow nward • Low-e glazing redu ces inter Tropical locat ions can expe nal radiant heat. rience high • All exte diffuse radia rnal and inter tion. nal should be lightly colo solar exposed surfaces ured. • Eaves on the northern and reduce wall and window southern walls heat gains. • Externall y shad oriented walls ed windows on the east and west reduce heat load. • Shade trees to the east and west reduce heat • Low mass load. cons time but may truction will cool quic ker at nigh heat quic ker during t bridging shou the is used then ld be eliminated. If high day. Thermal internal insul Passive desig thermal mass particularly n if the build ation may be considere of buildings can improve the inter ing is to be Solar expo nal that are not air condition d, sed significantly air condition conditions ed. with summer high thermal masses reduce the ed and can should be shading. cooling load that are to provided be air cond s of buildings itioned. • Cooling breezes Well insulated elements such can be encouraged roofs, optim by design eaves both al solar orien to face bree as wing walls. Avoid nort orienting build zes. on both east h and south, external tation, overhanging ings and west, shad wind • Reflective ventilated e trees, and ow shades spac insulation should be allowing free es large openable wind for naturally insulation used materials to air moveme ows with decrease the with other louvres desirable. Ligh nt and cross absorption -ventilation • Sealing capacity and t weight construction of heat. are the building to reduces therm therefore cool ensure a cont vapour barri al s quickly after er encompa inuo us sunset. The following especially if the build sses the building, are all impo ing is to be strategies air condition for buildings rtant passive building If the build ed. in tropical of these strat ing is to be climates. The design air egies redu sealed and application ces cooling comfort in insulated and conditioned it should the building: loads and be well high perfo provided with improves rman well positione • Solar orien incorporating ce glazing. Outdoor d air ventilatio tation with heat reco very should occupanc y n long (i.e. the long spaces. be provided systems er walls shou axis aligned east/west in and south) high ld be oriented to redu Infiltration the north and windows. ces the thermal load can on such as shop be hard to minimise and solar hot This also provides optim external walls in building ping centres, type water orien (particularly al photovol shop s s, resta tations. taic foye of doors. Posit rs) and the like, with urants, hotels frequent open ive pressuris (see 3.5.4) ation is esse ing or air curta ntial and ins (see 3.5.5 ) can be utilis air locks ed. sses the cons and HVAC&R iderations designers that build mus and systems for applicatio t give to designing building Information n in tropical ing and advice climates. is provided on • Passive design strat egies; • Low ener gy design strategies; • Effects and design implications of tropical climate char acteristics; • Building moisture migr ation desig • Design n strategie strategies s; for minimisin the infiltratio g and cont n of outdoor rolling air. This section also comfort syste provides guidance on appropria m selection evaporative te including; Ventilative air cooling, spot cooling cooling, refrigerative air and hybrid applications. conditioning,

•

3.2 Passi ve de strategies sign

DITIONING

AL AIR CON IC P O R T ID M HU

••• 33

heating/co

oling regio ns map. 2.2.3 Dew-p oint temper atures in tropical regions One definition for the

HOT HUM

HVAC

system zone ■ Hot-humid s (air conditioni ■ Cold (heat ng) ■ Mixed (heat ing required) ing and coolin

•••

FORT IN

consideration humid trop when designing com ical fort systems summer dew climates. The use of for hot suita -point cont the likeliness ours are usefu ble maps showing of condensa l tion and air when assessing moisture cont Figure 2.4 ent. show pressure whic s the average 3pm January vapo h relat es directly to using the table ur dew the BoM clima . These maps reflect -point temperature the informati te zone and above but on in climate class quantifies ificat ion figures the moisture and also show cont inland from s the drop in moisture ent in the air the and east coas northern coastline content moving and down ts of Australia. the west

d on temp ■ Hot humi erature and d summer humidity ■ Warm summ ■ Hot dry er, cold winte summ ■ Hot dry r ■ Warm humi er, mid winter summer, cold d summer winter ■ Mild/warm summer, cold winter Figure 2.2: Six Australian Climate Zone Northern Terri s. tory and

Residential

AND COM

Figure 2.4:

Average 3pm

Janua

ry vapour pressures. 2.2.4 Eva porative in tropical cooling regions Evaporative air coolers

MANU T IO N PPLI C A

are not suita cooling in hot ble for com fort Zone 1. Evap humid tropical clima tes, see Figu orative air cool coastal area re and most of ers are suitable in the 2.5 see Zones the inland 2 and 3. areas of Aust southern ralia,

AIRAH’s bestselling technical application manual, DA20, is available as a hard copy. n Simple user-friendly format n Covers the application, selection, design installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of AC and other comfort systems in hot humid tropical climates n Standardises and promotes best-practice design, installation, and management n Outlines principles and processes applicable to any building type or size in hot humid conditions. n A must-have design resource.

Order you copy online at www.airah.org.au/DAmanuals

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 9

➲ Cover feature

SILENT AND DEADLY

A faulty heater can leave you with far worse than just cold feet.

Professionals working in th e HVAC, plu should be a mbing and ware of the electrical tra d a ngers posed des poisoning fo by carbon m llowing a sp o noxide ate of recen t accidents a ro und the cou Sean McGo ntry. wan report s. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless gas – the by-product of hydrocarbon combustion. When hydrocarbons such as natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are burnt, the carbon and hydrogen react with the oxygen in the air to form carbon monoxide and water. However, when this combustion is incomplete, large quantities of carbon monoxide can be produced. This can occur in gas appliances we all use every day, such as ducted heating units, space heaters, hot-water units, and decorative gas fireplaces if they have been left unserviced or in faulty condition.

family’s rented home in Mooroopna resulted in fatal carbon monoxide poisoning as they slept in their beds in 2010. Their mother Vanessa survived, but sustained long-term health problems from the leak. This tragedy resulted in increased action from state and federal government bodies, and the creation of the Chase and Tyler Foundation, which aims to create awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. But six years on, accidents continue to occur around the country as a result of carbon monoxide leaks.

Common faults that can result in carbon monoxide leaks can include an obstruction of the flame, incorrect gas operating pressures, poor air-to-gas ratios, bad burners, or cracks in the heat exchanger.

This year alone, there have been 25 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning reported in South Australia that have resulted in hospitalisation.

And when such leaks take place in, or spread to, enclosed spaces such as closed bedrooms, toilets, or bathrooms with no ventilation, dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up.

And just last month in the Victorian town of Churchill, one person died and another was hospitalised due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in their home. The use of barbecues indoors without adequate ventilation has also resulted in two serious cases of poisoning in Western Australia recently.

In the case of brothers Tyler and Chase Robinson, aged eight and six, a faulty gas heater in a bedroom of their

Although carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal or cause chronic illness, it can be difficult to diagnose.

10 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

Cover feature

NIP IT IN THE BUD 1 Visually inspect the heater before

turning it on in winter and each month after. Is there any visible damage to the heater, the gas control knobs or buttons? If the answer is yes, shut it down and have it serviced by a licensed professional.

2 Check the appearance of radiant gas

heaters in operation. If there is a flame visible beyond the top surface of the tile, it could mean the heater is faulty. Again, shut it down and have it serviced by a licensed professional.

3 Visually check the flames of your

gas appliances. Pilot lights and main burners should produce a blue flame. If the flame is yellow or red, shut it down and have it serviced by a professional.

4 Does something not smell right?

If you smell a different or unusual odour coming from the appliance, shut it down, vacate the room and have it serviced.

5 Ensure that air vents in the room are not

blocked. Ventilation is critical in reducing any risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Source: Carbon Monoxide Testing Australia www.carbonmonoxidetestingaustralia.com.au

“The signs and symptoms of CO poisoning are non-specific,” says Barbara Robertson in a 2014 article on the topic that featured in the Medical Journal of Australia.

SIGNS OF A FAULTY HEATER

“Headaches, malaise, nausea, and dizziness are common, and gradual cognitive deterioration and reduction in functional capacity have been reported in low-grade chronic exposure.” Extreme poisoning can lead to confusion, loss of consciousness, and ultimately death. Where carbon monoxide levels are extreme, loss of consciousness can occur quickly. At highest risk are the elderly, people with heart disease or anaemia, the young, pregnant women, and their unborn babies.

TAKE A LOOK

•

Soot or discolouration around the gas appliance

•

Yellow flames (unless created for decorative effect, such as gas log fires)

•

The heater going out for no apparent reason

•

Debris falling down the flue pipe

•

A missing or damaged cowl on top of the flue pipe. Source: Energy Safe Victoria

According to Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), which this winter launched its annual “Silent Killer” campaign, the only way to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty gas appliances is to ensure regular servicing. “Energy Safe Victoria and the Victorian Building Authority recommend getting your gas heater serviced at least every two years by a licensed gasfitter with the appropriate equipment to test f or carbon monoxide spillage,” says ESV. The body has published a number of gas information sheets on the subject of carbon monoxide. These are freely available from the ESV website. This includes an information sheet that details the use of carbon monoxide detection equipment to check gas appliances for spillage. Flued appliances, open-flued indoor gas appliances, open-flued decorative effect appliances, room-sealed space heaters, and central heating units are covered.

CARBON MONOXIDE TESTING When in the UK on a working holiday, Victorian plumber Damien De Vincentis and his wife Dani were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide being released from a faulty gas heater in the home in which they were staying. De Vincentis says that despite feeling the symptoms of tiredness, lethargy, and headaches commonly related to carbon monoxide poisoning, he was unaware of the risk. The symptoms he attributed down to acclimatisation to the UK’s short days. “At work I would be fine, but when I returned at night I would become fatigued and lethargic,” he says.

Damien De Vincentis has experienced the ill-effects of carbon monoxide poisoning first-hand.

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 11

➲ Cover feature

CENTRAL HEATING UNITS Discharge of spillage from central heating units located outside the building, in the roof, or under floor, may in many cases go unnoticed. What may be found is CO being drawn into the building where the heat exchanger has cracked or seals within the combustion chamber have been damaged. a) If the appliance is an open-flued appliance, and installed indoors, then follow the testing procedures for open-flued gas appliances first. b) For all central heater appliances, note the background CO level. Operate the heater, and place the detection equipment sampling probe in the airstream of a duct outlet (floor register or ceiling register). Monitor for CO for a further 10 minutes. If the CO level exceeds the background level, then the appliance is leaking or spilling COS and must be isolated.

It was not until the heater stopped working that De Vincentis called a plumber to investigate. “Luckily for us, the law in the UK requires that any work carried out to gas appliances requires testing for carbon monoxide,” he says. “We were shocked when the plumber told us that dangerous levels were present that would have killed us in our sleep if left unabated for a few more days.” Returning to Australia, and reading about the tragedy that struck the Robinson family in Mooroopna in 2010, De Vincentis was alarmed to find that mandatory carbon monoxide testing was not required in Australia. Soon after, he established Carbon Monoxide Testing Australia, which provides professional testing to homes in Melbourne.

TRUE FLUE Correctly operating flues are critical in avoiding the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is reduced if the products of combustion from a gas appliance installed inside a building are dispersed to the outside atmosphere. They should be via a suitable and sound flue. However, the danger exists where large quantities of carbon monoxide are being produced during combustion and the flue is not dispersing it to the outside atmosphere. This may occur where: •

The flue does not terminate outside the building

•

The appliance heat exchanger is split or cracked

•

The flue terminal of an open-flued appliance is blocked

•

The flue is broken or blocked.

If any cracks or openings within the heat exchanger of the central heater are evident, combustion products that contain CO may be dispersed throughout the building. Note: As the heat exchanger heats up, and cracks and openings expand, more combustion products may enter the supply air stream and flow into the building. Source: Energy Safe Victoria – www.esv.vic.gov.au

Master Plumbers, in partnership with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), conduct regular and free carbon monoxide courses for Victorian plumbers. These courses aim to provide you with the skills and knowledge to use carbon monoxide testing equipment, and test appliances for carbon monoxide leaks.

Alarmingly, testing by his company this winter has revealed a number of faulty gas heaters leaking carbon monoxide in Melbourne homes – some of which have been new or near-new appliances. “We identified two ducted gas heaters in new homes in Doreen that had cracked heat exchangers and were emitting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into the roof space,” says De Vincentis. “Had these continued to operate undetected, we could have seen a tragedy occur to two families. It just goes to show that your old-fashioned wall-space heater isn’t the only risk – both old and new appliances can be faulty and emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.” As well as having appliances serviced every two years, De Vincentis recommends homeowners install a carbon monoxide detector, of which there are a number available in the marketplace. He says that just as smoke alarms have become mandatory in homes, so too should carbon monoxide detectors to keep families safe. In fact former Federal MP for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone, introduced a bill to parliament in 2011 that called for carbon monoxide detectors to become compulsory in all homes. However, issues around their reliability have resulted in such laws not yet coming to pass.

Flexible flue.

12 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | March 2016

De Vincentis says there are significant differences between how smoke and carbon monoxide act. The reliance on such alarms is therefore imperative. “You can smell, see, and taste smoke, and it has an immediate physical effect on you,” he says. “So if the smoke alarm fails, there may still be opportunity for you to stay safe, as smoke has an immediate effect on you. “But carbon monoxide is odourless, invisible to the eye, tasteless, and its effect on the body is less obvious. So carbon monoxide detectors should be just one part of the solution – the others being regular appliance servicing and testing.”

THE RIGHT STUFF With campaigns around Australia calling on homeowners to have their gas heating appliances serviced every two years, service technicians need to be sure they are using the correct equipment to carry out effective servicing and testing for carbon monoxide. This includes a carbon monoxide detector or analyser, calibrated correctly and within the required timeframe, to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. “Carbon monoxide detectors indicate the presence of CO in parts per million (ppm),” according to the ESV’s Carbon Monoxide Measuring Equipment information sheet. “They are smaller than gas analysers and their only function is to measure CO.” It says the carbon monoxide detector operates with only one electrochemical cell, which has a shelf life of around two years. “The plumber or gasfitter who installs or services gas appliances will find this device cheaper to buy than a gas analyser, but should appreciate it is limited to the measurement of CO.” Carbon monoxide detectors should feature the ability to measure low levels of carbon monoxide in increments of 1ppm or smaller; to measure carbon monoxide with a precision of ±5% of the reading; and a low battery indicator. Manual zeroing functions and an audible and visual alarm are also helpful features. ESV says carbon monoxide detectors should be calibrated on a minimum yearly basis using test gases that are NATA traceable or equivalent. Gas analysers whether using infrared or electrochemical cell, may also be used to measure carbon monoxide. For more information on the correct equipment to be used to accurately test for carbon monoxide, visit the ESV website at www.esv.vic.gov.au n

Green wedge

HARNESSING THE POWER OF POO A huge amount of energy is used for sewage treatment – in fact, some cities use up to 20 per cent of their total electricity consumption on the procedure. In search of a solution, researchers have perhaps found a way to dramatically reduce the waste from waste. With the help of Queensland Urban Utilities, a University of Queensland researcher believes he has figured out how to convert biogas from sewage waste into electricity. Continually working to refine the technology, Dr Shihu Hu from the UQ Advanced Water Management Centre has been researching at Queensland’s largest wastewater treatment facility. “The site gives me unlimited access to free samples, with about 60 Olympic swimming pools of waste

arriving every day,” says Hu. “The organic material in that waste can be broken down to produce biogas rich in methane. Wastewater contains concentrated amounts of nitrogen that can lead toxic algae blooms and oxygen depletion or dead zones if it enters natural waterways. Most wastewater treatment facilities use ethanol for nitrogen removal, costing millions of dollars each year.”

“We expect this technology will be rapidly adopted,” says Hu. “It means the energy-intensive water treatment industry can go from big energy consumers to being energy neutral. It would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for large facilities and it is more sustainable for the planet.” n

According to Hu, this expensive process used up almost half the organic matter in the waste, meaning less was available for conversion to methane. “The new technology we are developing can recover more methane without requiring ethanol to be used to remove nitrogen,” he says. “This also means we can recover almost all of the organic matter in the wastewater to produce even more biogas.” Continued research into the technology is set to be expanded to many more wastewater facilities, with the help of a $300,000 Advance Queensland Research Fellowship grant.

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14 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

HVAC&R

MODULE

Skills Workshop PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

DEVELOPING A GAS MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING PLAN PART ONE

PULLOUT

Gas is an important energy source and significant cost for many organisations throughout Australia. The diversity of uses and equipment involved can make gas consumption difficult and expensive to measure and monitor. However, by having a clear set of goals and understanding gas use, you can develop a targeted and cost-effective plan to manage it. In this two-part series, Skills Workshop will guide you through the methodologies to prepare and implement a gas measurement and monitoring plan.

Step 1 Specify a goal and map what you know

DEVELOPING A GAS MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING PLAN

A Sankey diagram helps to visualise the energy flows and communicate them to other site personnel. An example is shown in Figure 8.

Step 1 Step 2 Prioritise what to measure

Specify the goal and what you know

Identify all existing meters

Set a primary goal Step 3 Investigate and select energy management software and a long-term data storage solution

A primary goal encapsulates what you want to achieve and becomes the main driver for your project. Examples might be: • accurately measure and monitor 80% of gas energy used at the sub-process level • accurately allocate costs to major process areas • better allocate costs to tenants in a building • measure the energy savings from a planned energy conservation measure.

Step 4 Specify and select suitable meters and their communication system

Step 5 Develop a budget and implementation plan

meters. Estimate gas usage as accurately as possible (recognising that you are not likely yet to have all relevant gas measurement and monitoring equipment to do this).

Being specific will help determine the success and cost effectiveness of the project. Achievement of the goal may require short and long-term targets, involve several aspects of the business, cover only a part of the site or include specific actions for inclusion in a wide range of engineering projects.

Specify what is known Once the main goal and the extent of the project are defined, list all existing gas-using equipment (including equipment that uses secondary services such as steam or hot water) and all existing

Use the diagram to identify the location of all existing meters (flow, pressure and temperature) on the gas network and other relevant flows. For each existing meter, refer to Appendix B and ask: • What is the meter type (e.g. a flowmeter could be vortex, variable area, ultrasonic transit time or electromagnetic)? • What is being measured (e.g. services, product flows)? • Where is the meter physically located? • Is there any record of its last verification or calibration? Is there a way to cross-check its operation (e.g. temperature gun, manual temperature or pressure gauges, engineering calculations)? • Can the data from the meter also be used for process control, safety or other purposes? • Is the meter connected to a SCADA system? • Is the meter in an appropriate location (distances and pipe orientations vary according to the technology, e.g. for a flowmeter, minimum lengths of straight pipe are required upstream and downstream from the meter)?

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 15

➲ HVAC&R Skills Worskhop for instance, using operations manuals for major equipment, directly observing equipment operation, estimating energy use from process conditions and valve positions, or through engineering calculations.

Heat losses

Production Line 1

Review the goal and information required Production Line 2

When prioritising areas of gas use, involve site personnel that use or are affected by this equipment, process, building or area. They may be a valuable source of information when selecting and designing the most suitable metering system, and they may suggest additional benefits that improve other aspects of site operations.

Gas input Steam boiler Production Line n

Questions for site personnel: Other uses Gas Steam Heat losses Industrial site

Figure 8: Sankey diagram identifying all gas users on an industrial site.

Step 2

Prioritise what to measure Build an energy balance Taking into account your primary goal, determine where your money would be best spent on gas measurement and monitoring. Begin by building a preliminary energy balance based on what you already know. Use the results of your investigations into how much gas goes into the site (from gas bill information and identification of main areas of gas usage). Calculate or estimate how much gas is consumed by each area, process or major piece of equipment. Using this method, you should be able to quantify at least 80% of the total energy consumption to a suitable level of accuracy. See the example at the end of this section for a sample high-level energy balance that will help you set priorities for metering.

at high pressures, a clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter can be installed on the pipe. Table 1 presents some common methods for estimating gas use when no meter is available.

Select equipment to measure and monitor No organisation has an unlimited budget, so it is important to prioritise the equipment you want to measure and monitor. Determine priorities by comparing the amount of gas usage to the potential for that end-use equipment process to generate savings (which may be energy or production- related costs). Even with an incomplete energy balance, you can estimate the main equipment and areas of gas use by, Computer from which an operator can access the information

If feasible, first build a coherent, reasonably accurate energy balance without the use of permanent metering. Rather than installing new meters, focus on analysis and monitoring of existing data.

• Do you have a recurring issue that could be solved with additional meters? • If you had better information on energy use in your area of responsibility, how would you use it? • With additional metering, you will know how much energy is used in your area. How could you use energy performance indicators (e.g. GJ per tonne of product, or GJ per m3) to improve what you are doing?

Step 3

Investigate and select energy management software and a long-term data storage solution Ideally any new meter should be integrated into a SCADA system or BMS. A robust data collection and management system is essential for maximising the value of your meter and should form part of your gas measurement and monitoring plan. Such systems cover a wide range of hardware systems and software services with one example shown in Figure 9.

Data acquisition server receives data from sensors and meters and sends commands to field equipment

Computer or data centre stores data for long-term record

The SCADA sytem reads the measured flow and level, and sends the setpoints to the PLCs

If the existing data sets are not sufficient, state clearly what information is missing, then investigate how you can collect this information. Is a meter required or can you find out by another means (e.g. you may be able to establish a connection to the gas utility meter, or use hourly data from your gas retailer for the investigation)? Is a permanent meter needed that might require the plant to shut, or would a temporary meter suffice at this stage? Temporary meters and data loggers can be a cheaper way to collect data and prioritise capital expenditure before installing a permanent meter. They also have another advantage: they don’t disrupt production. For temperature, small data loggers can be installed easily along pipework or in tight spaces. For flow of liquids and gases

Communication and control system includes all the equipment between the sensors, meters or equipment and the data acquisition server. It can include cables, modems, PLC, RTU… Field equipment includes sensors, meters which create information and other devices which receive commands from controllers

PLC1 compares the measured flow to the setpoint, controls the pump speed as required to match flow to setpoint.

16 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

PLC2 compares the measured level to the setpoint, controls the flow through the valve to match level to setpoint.

Figure 9: Example of a process SCADA system.

HVAC&R Skills Worskhop Table 1: Common methods for estimating gas use at a site without existing meters.

Typical energy stream

Equipment/flow indicators

Example of engineering method to calculate an energy stream

Air

Surface measurement, infrared thermometers, SCADA/BMS data

• Differential pressure method using pitot tubes in ducts • Equipment cycle times and operating manuals • Fan curves and duct pressures Utility bill analysis

Energy carried by air can be measured when the mass flow is known at two different temperatures. The mass flow can be estimated using engineering calculations based on fan curves, along with motor power, and system characteristics such as pressure differentials and/or damper positions. Temperatures loggers can be installed along pipework.

Steam

Surface measurement, infrared thermometers, SCADA/BMS data

• Temporary ultrasonic flowmeter • Control valve positions and valve flow characteristics • Heat exchanger characteristics • Equipment cycle times and operating manuals • Empirical theoretical calculations of heat required by processes • Utility bill analysis

One approach is to look at all end-user equipment manuals to estimate the energy flow of the steam. Another is to align end-use equipment times with the firing rate of the boiler. Another is to look at steam control valve positions, using the pipe diameter, valve characteristics, and system pressures to estimate a steam balance across the system.

• Temporary ultrasonic flowmeter • Control valve positions and valve flow characteristics • Heat exchanger characteristics • Pump curves and system pressures • Pump motor current and system pressures • Pipe sizes • Equipment cycle times and operating manuals • Empirical theoretical calculations of heat required by processes • Utility bill analysis

Energy carried by water can be measured when knowing the water mass flow and two different temperatures. The flow can be measured with a temporary ultrasonic clamp- on flowmeter, or estimated using pump curves and pump power measurements. Temperatures loggers can be installed along pipework.

Water

PULLOUT

Temperature indicators

Surface measurement, infrared thermometers, SCADA/BMS data

devices include interpretation and communication capabilities to send data in a format directly readable by the SCADA system.

Guidance on how to design a SCADA system or BMS is beyond the scope of this guide. However, some suggestions are provided below regarding: • communication technologies in metering devices • long-term data storage • energy management software.

Different communication technologies are used between metering devices and SCADA/BMS systems with the most common being: • dedicated wire connection • microwave/VHF/UHF radio • ethernet, Modbus, Wi-Fi • cellular network 3G/4G.

Communication technologies in metering devices

When selecting a communication technology for a new meter, the cheapest option is usually to select one that is consistent with the existing data acquisition system. However, wireless technologies can significantly reduce installation costs related to wiring.

Typically a meter is connected to a data logger or programmable logic controller (PLC), which interprets the meter output and sends the value to the data acquisition server. Increasingly, metering

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There are several commercial and technical possibilities for long-term data storage. The three main technical options are: • storage on site – data and hardware are located within the facility (the data centre may be managed by the data owner or a third party) • storage off site in a dedicated facility (co-location for instance) – a space is leased in a facility specially designed to accommodate hardware for data storage (the data centre can be managed by the data owner or a third party) • cloud computing – everything is outsourced to a third party data centre provider (the actual data centre can be virtually anywhere). Appendix I provides a checklist to help with the process of selecting a data management solution.

Energy management software Data needs to be analysed and preferably used via energy management software (software). The main benefit of software is reporting capability, and it also offers the possibility of tracking comparative performance over time of plant, buildings, process and facilities. Amongst other features, software can have alerting capabilities (via SMS or email), which can help in the early detection of energy waste. Choosing software can be difficult due to the wide range of products and commercial offerings available. These include software-only, hardwareonly, and hybrid software and hardware products. Software can be local or cloud-based. Pricing and business models differ and include outright purchase, payments based on shared savings, or blended models. Therefore, a clear definition of the need for energy management software is essential before you commit.

However, there are situations (for safety reasons for instance) where it is beneficial to keep the energy monitoring separate from process control systems.

Metering devices measure a parameter and generate an output. This output needs to be interpreted into a value that can be recorded by the BMS or SCADA system.

data covering several years are a valuable source of information. As such, the database is a critical part of a SCADA and overall energy management system. This database (software) is stored in a computer or data centre (hardware).

The main steps in selecting software are: 1. Define and prioritise the needs of the different services required from software. 2. Assess the existing tools and software used within the site. 3. Define needs related to real-time data and time-criticality. 4. Evaluate available technical and commercial software offerings. n

MORE INFORMATION This month’s Skills Workshop was adapted from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s Gas Measurement and Monitoring Guide.

Long-term data storage Over time metering devices generate a significant amount of data that needs to be collected and stored into a database. For energy management,

For more information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Next month: Gas measurement and monitoring guide part II

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 17

THE NEXT

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Find out more today. Visit commercial.daikin.com.au or call us on 1300 368 300

18 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

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Fly Guy

TALKIN’ TOUGH Samsung’s flagship smartphone gets a rugged rethink. In this day and age, smartphones make up an integral part of many a tradie’s “toolbox”. However, with their glass-heavy construction and fragile designs, it’s safe to say most of today’s top models aren’t made for the worksite. Samsung is here to change that.

A phone tough enough for the toolbox?

One of most anticipated smartphones of the year, the release of the Samsung Galaxy S7 had tech geeks worldwide hyped on the upgrades over its predecessor, the Galaxy S6. And now, tradies can enjoy all the features of Samsung’s flagship device knowing that it’s not one drop away from a cracked screen or a dented exterior.

Most of the phone's other specs are the same as the standard S7. The key features include a 5.1-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440) display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage with microSD, 12 MP rear camera, and IP68 water and dust resistance. And no, you don’t have to be Bear Grylls or MacGyver to enjoy its added benefits. With so many investing in expensive (and often ugly) rubber cases to house their smartphones, the S7 Active essentially eliminates the need with its military-grade casing as standard.

The Galaxy S7 Active is rugged variant of the latest Galaxy model. Enclosed in a beefier, stronger “military-grade" casing, the S7 Active is 5 per cent taller, 7 per cent wider and a whopping 25 per cent thicker than the standard model. Samsung claims the screen is "shatterproof”. Another added bonus is the 33 per cent increased battery life, making it one of best performers on the market in this field.

Perhaps tradies can finally have a smartphone that feels like a tool, not a toy. For more information, visit www.samsung.com/au/home n

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August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 19 HVAC HP Be Impressed 220X150 NoBleed v1.indd 1

19/10/2015 12:23 pm

➲ Feature

THE NEW GOLD RUSH This innovative shopping centre system uses concentrating solar-thermal technology to produce heat energy, which powers the air conditioning. Source: Ian Wilson/CSIRO

A trial projec t in the Victo rian goldfield is demonstra s town of Ba ting the abil llarat it y o f ro o ftop-mounte collectors an d solar therm d CSIRO-dev al eloped solar technology air condition to provide su ing mmer coolin g, winter hea and domesti ting, c hot water heating. You’ve heard it before. Australia’s commercial office buildings are among the nation’s biggest energy users, with HVAC in these buildings representing 50 to 60 per cent of that energy use. Nowhere is this more the case than in shopping centres. Although their sprawling nature requires high levels of energy-intensive cooling during summer (and in some locations, heating during winter), their expansive, flat rooftops also offer great opportunity to make use of solar technology. This opportunity has resulted in a CSIRO-led research project demonstrating the technical viability

of a high-temperature, solar heat-driven two-stage desiccant air conditioning system on the roof of a shopping centre in regional Victoria. Developed by the CSIRO using solar technology by NEP Solar, the demonstration system is being hosted at Stockland Group’s Wendouree shopping centre in Ballarat, a regional centre 100km west-north-west of Melbourne. The technology has been specifically developed by the CSIRO at its Newcastle facility in New South Wales to operate during high temperatures to enable high-efficiency operation.

20 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

THE WENDOUREE SYSTEM A solar collector field using parabolic trough collectors and a thermal storage system supplies heat to a closed-loop system. This uses two desiccant wheels to remove moisture from the air. A hightemperature wheel uses solar heat for regeneration, while a low-temperature wheel functions without external heat to deliver greater efficiency on the commercial scale. Despite the small size of the prototype, CSIRO energy director Dr Peter Mayfield says the early results are extremely pleasing. “CSIRO’s energy research is driving down costs of renewable technologies, accelerating the transition to a lower-emissions future,” Dr Mayfield says. “We are pioneering new technologies, and this project is a world-first demonstration of a desiccant air conditioning system using roof-mounted concentrating solar thermal collectors.” The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided $520,000 to support the $1.2 million project, which is jointly managed by the CSIRO with the Stockland Group and NEP Solar.

Feature Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre in Ballarat, Victoria.

HOW IT WORKS The prototype unit has been sized to deliver 1100m³/hr airflow, capable of providing 10kW of cooling at rated conditions.

The two-stage desiccant air conditioning system functions either in the desiccant cooling mode, or in IEC cooling mode based on ambient humidity (>40% RH) and storage tank temperature (>140°C at the top of the tank) set points.

The system consists of two desiccant wheels to provide maximum dehumidification of the process air. A closed-loop solar-heat-driven high-temperature airstream is used for regeneration of the low-temperature wheel. Heat for the low-temperature regeneration is provided firstly through a heat-recovery wheel in the process air stream, and secondly via heat recovered from the closed loop.

EFFICIENT COOLING

To simplify the design, moist air has been used rather than superheated steam as the regeneration medium in the closed high-temperature loop.

The desiccant air conditioning system has delivered between 10 and 12kW of cooling when operating in the desiccant cooling mode, and 5 to 6kW of cooling when operating in IEC mode.

Sensible cooling of the process air is achieved when air goes through an indirect evaporative cooler (IEC). Due to the closed-loop regeneration and heat-cascading design, the unit is expected to provide a high thermal coefficient of performance (COP) – the ratio of cooling provided per unit of heat input – compared to a conventional single-stage desiccant air conditioning system. Solar heat is achieved from concentrating trough collectors installed on the centre’s rooftop, capable of providing 70kW of heat at rated conditions. This heat is stored in a 2000L thermal oil tank. Both systems were installed and integrated with the site’s space-heating system to allow the solar heat to be utilised throughout the year.

Operational data has shown the system to effectively produce air conditioning and heating to the shopping centre, with the installed solar collectors delivering over 1MWh of solar heat per month. During winter months, more than 50 per cent of heat delivered from the collectors has been used for space heating.

Typical desiccant mode operational data shows the performance of the two-stage desiccant system is as expected. It has a mean thermal COP of 0.66, and an electrical COP of 7 in desiccant mode and 10 in IEC mode. According to the CSIRO, the IEC component of the unit has been functioning consistently. It has provided the expected cooling to the building, with wet-bulb efficiencies of 80 to 100 per cent. The high-temperature heat delivered to the closed regeneration loop has been successfully used for drying the high-temperature wheel. The low-temperature wheel has been regenerated using a regeneration air stream delivering 50–60°C heat without an external heat source.

By cascading heat from the high-temperature side to perform the low-temperature wheel regeneration, a higher thermal COP has been achieved. CSIRO says that with further development, the thermal COP of the system could potentially be increased to 1. Though the unit installed at Stockland Wendouree is a “proof of concept” demonstration with a rated cooling capacity of 10kW, the design can be scaled to higher capacities. It is envisaged that once commercialised, systems will target capacities in the range of 50–100kW of cooling capacity, making them suitable for large-scale commercial buildings.

Key project facts Host site

Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre, Ballarat

Project partners

CSIRO, Stockland Group and NEP Solar

Cost

$1.2 million ($520,000 funded by ARENA)

Cooling capacity

10–12kW in desiccant mode, 5–6kW in IEC mode

Thermal COP

0.66

Solar thermal collectors

70kW heat at rated capacity (1MWh per month)

Solar temperatures

150°C to 200°C

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 21

➲ Feature Rooftop concentrating solar-thermal collectors. Source: Ian Wilson/CSIRO

According to ARENA chief executive officer Ivor Frischknecht, the lessons from this project will help power Australian renewable energy innovation well into the future. “It has the potential to further improve the efficiency of solar-thermal energy systems and storage to provide clean and reliable heating and cooling in commercial buildings,” Frischknecht says.

TAKING LESSONS The CSIRO will continue to assess and monitor the technology installed at Stockland Wendouree for the next 12 months to establish the long-term commercial viability of the system. However, it has already identified a number of lessons that will benefit the wider HVAC&R industry.

This lack of local expertise resulted in CSIRO engineers from Newcastle spending more time on site than planned.

We are pioneering new technologies, and this project is a world-first demonstration of a desiccant air conditioning system using roof-mounted concentrating solar thermal collectors.

It says the potentially significant costs involved with integrating solar systems onto an existing building rooftop are easily underestimated. This includes the potential cost of additional super-structures required to be installed to support the installation of trough collectors and the solar air conditioning unit. The super-structures also distribute the load onto the existing building structure. Due to the intermittent nature of the availability of sunshine on the solar collectors, the CSIRO says careful consideration of the solar heat delivery system is important. The use of thermal storage to provide a reliable heat source is also key. The project also highlighted the knowledge gaps that exist in establishing the suitability of a roof for structurally supporting solar thermal systems

in the feasibility stages of a project. It also identified gaps in the availability of standardised mounting accessories for solar collectors with high loads (including wind loads) based on existing building rooftop types. It also found a reduction in the overall weight and size of the temperature-desiccant air conditioning system prototype would benefit its wider adoption. From a skills and knowledge perspective, this project also revealed a lack of expertise among HVAC tradespeople in emerging technologies such as desiccant systems and indirect-evaporative coolers.

22 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | March 2016

The CSIRO believes HVAC contractor training in emerging technologies such as these may enable more efficient project delivery.

BEFORE THE GOLD RUSH The CSIRO-developed, solar-powered air conditioning system at Stockland Wendouree shopping centre will continue to be monitored by CSIRO and its partners for a year. This will determine its long-term operation and performance across all seasons. Commercialising the technology will then require the engineering of an optimal design. Collection of long-term performance and life-cycle assessment data in a relevant environment will also be completed. To this end, the CSIRO is seeking commercialisation investment to carry out these investigations and further optimise the design to realise a thermal COP of 1. So while no one is crying “Eureka!” just yet, they soon could be. n

Source: Hybrid concentrating solar thermal systems for large scale applications by the CSIRO. Published by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), April 2016 www.arena.gov.au

Where’s the AIRAH Trade Night?

August 23

Cairns

QLD

September 22

Canberra

ACT

August 25

Townsville

QLD

October 13

Bendigo

VIC

September 1

Newcastle

NSW

October 27

Adelaide

September 15

Geelong

VIC

Free entry – Doors open at 4pm • Exhibitors with the latest HVAC&R products and innovations. Drinks, food and more.

➲ Around the nation 2

4 6

ELECTRIC EVENING

Mitsubishi Electric Australia recognised the performance of its specialist dealers at a gala awards night at Regent Theatre in Melbourne. The event was hosted by comedian and TV personality Charlie Pickering. Attended by 300 guests, the awards were presented by managing director Jeremy Needham and general managers Zane Barron and Raja Gounder. Celebrating the accomplishments of the company’s dealers across the country. A highlight of the awards was the general manager’s “Achievement Awards” recognising outstanding performance across three product groups – room air conditioners, city multi VRF, and Mr SLIM/commercial package. The night was finished off with a performance from legendary Australian rock band Hoodoo Gurus. n

OOMIAK’S BIG 10

Refrigeration stalwart Oomiak has celebrated 10 years in the industry. Founded by Cate McGuire, Affil. AIRAH, and Mark Holden in South Australia in 2006, the company now turns over $20 million a year and employs 45 staff in customer service centres across the country. “Starting the business 10 years ago was definitely a leap of faith, but we were also confident that with the right staff, the right systems and plenty of hard work, that we could turn Oomiak into a successful national business,” says co-founder and chief executive McGuire. “So it’s certainly rewarding to have grown into a significant player in the market in a relatively short time. It’s also been great to have had the opportunity to work on some fantastic high-profile projects and develop innovative world-class systems that have delivered excellent results for our clients.”

Oomiak is also currently working on several other major projects, including a $4 million distribution centre for Newcold in Victoria, and a $3.5 million plant room for Richmond Dairies in New South Wales. n

WOMEN STILL SEGREGATED

Professor and director of Gender Work and Organisation Karen Ness has raised the issue of gender-segregation in the construction industry, saying that the conventional view on women’s abilities still holds, even though most jobs in the construction industry can be done by women. “I had insider knowledge of construction site practices and culture,” says Ness. “The industry has very small proportions of women. Heavy work shifting the inanimate stuff of building construction; bricks, blocks, and lengths of timber, is seen as ‘man’s work’. However, most jobs in the construction industry can be done by women. Why is it that lifting and carrying sick human beings, small children, and all the domestic tasks of the household are generally understood as ‘woman’s work’?” While the number of working women increased has from 800,000 to 3.6 million over past 50 years, only 13 per cent of women work within the Australian construction and mining sectors, according to a study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. n

NEW CEO BRINGS WEALTH OF SKILLS

clients to deliver more than 250 events including major international sporting events, live theatre, concerts, community activities, education programs, exhibitions and conferences such as the Good Food & Wine Show, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. “I feel honoured to be able to lead such a meaningful organisation,” says Judd. "I believe that WorldSkills Australia has the capacity to influence future generations in terms of skilled workforces, and I hope that it can be regarded as a reliable and positive influence in those people’s lives." n

EXPLOSION HIGHLIGHTS BOILER DANGERS

A 43-year-old man had to be airlifted to hospital after he sustained serious burns when a boiler exploded in Nebo, Queensland. The man sustained serious burns to his face and arm when the boiler he was trying to light with diesel fuel exploded. The rescue helicopter was tasked about 11pm to fly 90 nautical miles to retrieve the patient from Nebo airfield. n

ARC MAKES LICENCE CHANGES

The board of directors of WorldSkills Australia has announced the appointment of Brett Judd as its new CEO, taking over from interim CEO Brigitte Collins.

Following talks with the industry, the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has confirmed that changes to restricted handling licences will go ahead. The changes aim to protect refrigeration and air conditioning technicians.

Judd brings over 20 years of executive sales and marketing, operational, technology and general management experience to the role. He has worked with a number of government and non-government

The ARC says the modification applies to the refrigerant handling licence cards provided to technicians that hold restricted licences. According to an ARC statement, the modification will be around

24 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | March 2016

Around the nation 7 8

highlighting the word “Restrictions Apply” in red font and will apply to participants in abbreviated Certificate II courses.

40m² room. A gas room heater came in at $250, while the cheap and ubiquitous plug-in electric oil heater was more than three times as much at $825.

“This is being done to emphasise that the licence holder is qualified to provide specific services under that licence,” says ARC. “The entitlements of the licence will continue to be listed on the card.”

Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan says there’s a number of simple ways to help reduce heating costs.

In the case of the Restricted Split Systems Installation and Decommissioning licence, this would be: RESTRICTED SPLIT SYSTEMS (1): Install/decommission Split Systems, Hot Water & Swimming Pool Heat Pumps up to 18KW (Must not repair). “This modification will provide an added level of transparency for consumers, and clarity for licensed technicians around what they can and can’t do as holders of a specific ARCTick licence,” says ARC. n

HEATING EFFICIENCY BATTLE HEATS UP

Sustainability Victoria has published a new report suggesting that gas boilers circulating hot water through radiator panels are the cheapest and most energy efficient form of home heating. The report provided a direct comparison between gas and electric heating systems for heating a house or just one room. Based on an average five months at six hours a day, the data suggested that heating a house up to about 170m² via gas-fired hydronics costs $915 per year. Next best was gas-ducted heating, which costs $970. Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning was the best of two electric options at $1120 per year. Least cost-effective options were heated slabs, estimated to cost $1400 per year. However, electricity rated strongly in single-room heating, with a reverse cycle air conditioner costing $230 per year to heat a

“Some simple and quick tips to save on energy include closing doors to areas of your home that you are not using, wearing warmer clothing, using the thermostat correctly and turning off your heater overnight,” says Krpan. “A small fan heater may be cheap to purchase but will end up costing you in the long run. When purchasing a new heater, check the energy rating labels. The more stars, the more efficient the unit and the lower its running costs will be. Super-efficient models can have a rating of 7 to 10 stars.” n

HOT ACs RECALLED

Several leading Australian retailers have been forced to recall a number of Dimplex portable air conditioners after overheating concerns were discovered. The models in question are the GDC18RWA and GDC18RBA, manufactured in 2009. The units were sold throughout Australia by 16 retailers including Harvey Norman, Good Guys, Betta Electrical, Bi Rite, Retravision, Radio Rentals, Clive Peeters, Clive Anthonys, Domayne, Joyce Mayne, Kambos, Porters, Rick Hart, AGL and Origin Energy. The affected serial numbers are 93800001-93801000, 94000001-94001068, 94600001-94601750 and 95000001-95001068. If used for an extended duration there is the potential for motor capacitors in the units to overheat, with the potential to ignite and cause fire damage.

If you own or know of anyone that uses the unit, contact Glen Dimplex Australia on 1300 556 816 to arrange collection and replacement. n

SOUND ADVICE FROM AUDIOLOGIST

Construction workers regularly experience noiselevels up to six-times the legal exposure limit and up to 75 per cent are developing tinnitus or permanent hearing loss as a result of their job, according leading audiologist Dr Ross Dineen. Dineen has extensively studied hearing loss and tinnitus in the construction industry, and analysed the way personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective approaches are used. “Dosimeters measured the real-time exposure to noise and worker behaviour was monitored. Their total dose [of sound] over the working day averaged over six times the legal exposure limit,” says Dineen. “Over 75 per cent of construction workers were experiencing hearing and communication problems.” Reluctance to wearing PPE is a major cause of hearing loss in construction, according to Dineen, who says that hearing damage was compounding because as damage increases, so too does reluctance to wearing hearing protection. “If you have a pre-existing hearing injury then conventional hearing protection reduces the ability to hear speech and warning sounds and it means many workers are not inclined to wear hearing protection at all,” says Dineen. “We conducted some focus groups asking why people were engaging in these behaviours and their immediate concern was being well enough to go home that night. They regularly see people around them injured or killed.” n

August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 25

➲ AIRAH News

Greg Hunt MP finds time to tour Box Hill Institute’s Integrated Technology Hub during his announcement schedule.

THUMBS-UP TO HFC PHASE-DOWN AIRAH applauds the government announcement of the impending phase-down of HFC refrigerants, which are known for their high global warming potential (GWP). Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt paid a visit to the Box Hill Institute’s Integrated Technology Hub in Melbourne to announce a domestic phase-down schedule of an 85 per cent reduction of HFC emissions by 2036. This will be done via a statutory phase-down of HFC imports over a 20-year timeline.

“Not only is such a measure pivotal to national and international efforts to reduce CO2-equivalent emissions in the face of climate change, it provides some certainty to those in the HVAC&R industry, who can now plan for and invest in new technology that will be required.

Enabling provisions for future bans on the import of new equipment containing high-GWP HFCs will be included as part of new legislation. Equipment such as domestic and automotive air conditioners containing high-GWP refrigerants will be considered in the future. The government says this decision will be based on an assessment of the Australian market, and particularly on the availability of alternative equipment.

“In taking this path Australia will be a world leader in reducing HFC emissions, joining the US, the European Union and Japan in adopting early action to reduce HFC emissions. And AIRAH has been a key part of this process. Indeed, we have been a major supporter of the phase-down and its environmental benefits.”

“AIRAH applauds the announcement of an HFC phase-down,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, Affil.AIRAH.

During his announcement, he praised the collaborative nature of Australia’s HVAC&R industry, and its critical role in leading the world to a low-emissions future.

26 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, Affil.AIRAH.

“Those engaged in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration – this is the stuff of life,” Hunt says. “Yours is an industry that has been proactive in helping to reduce emissions and global warming potential. It’s truly a case of local actions having global implications.” The government will introduce legislative amendments to implement new measures as soon as possible, with all initiatives to begin by January 2018. Some measures can be implemented more quickly through regulation amendments, such as changes to the low-volume import exemptions, and business and technician licences. n

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August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 27

HE TO T I A UIDE AL R G T E S U TIV IN A FINI Y E R D US T THE IND C&R H VA

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One directory

to rule them all Visit AIRAHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s redesigned and revamped Online Industry Directory, a free online guide to HVAC&R companies, products and services, and brands. With more than 280 companies, and more than 400 product and services categories, the new website is now easier to navigate and features additional HVAC&R resources.

Visit www.airahindustrydirectory.com.au 28 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

AIRAH and industry classifieds EVENTS Humidity Issues in Australian Climates Workshop 2016

Join AIRAH for the Humidity Issues in Australian Climates Workshop 2016 on August 3 in Sydney. Date: Wednesday, August 3 Time: 8.30am to 4.00pm Venue: The Mint, 10 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000 Cost: Members $295, non-members $395, student members $195, student non-members $295

Cairns Trade Night AIRAH Trade Nights are a great opportunity to broaden your networks and see the HVAC&R industry's latest innovations. Date: Tuesday, August 23 Time: 4.00pm to 7.00pm Venue: Pullman Resort Casino, 35–41 Wharf Street, Cairns

FREE Classified Ads

Townsville Trade Night AIRAH Trade Nights are a great opportunity to broaden your networks and see the HVAC&R industry's latest innovations. Date: Thursday, August 25 Time: 4.00pm to 7.00pm Venue: Pullman Resort Casino, 35–41 Wharf Street, Cairns

Newcastle Trade Night AIRAH Trade Nights are a great opportunity to broaden your networks and see the HVAC&R industry's latest innovations. Date: Thursday, September 1 Time: 4.00pm to 7.00pm Venue: Wests City Club, Cnr King St and Union Streets, Newcastle West

The Future of HVAC 2016 Conference Join AIRAH as we gaze into our industry's future, and contemplate the challenges, technology and bright new ideas that await. Date: Wednesday, September 7 Venue: Room Three Sixty, Level 10, Y Block Science and Engineering Centre, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Gardens Point campus, Brisbane Cost: Please refer to www.airah.org.au/ TheFutureofHVAC

TRAINING Is your dust combustible? – WA It is not widely known that many industrial processes generate small particulates, which can pose an increased risk of combustion and explosion. Date: Wednesday, August 17 Time: 4pm registration, for a prompt 4.15pm start followed by light refreshments Venue: State Library of WA, 25 Francis Street, Northbridge Cost: Free for members, $55 for non-members

Whether you are looking, selling, trading or tendering – HVAC&R Nation classifieds is the best way to spread the word! HVAC&R Nation is offering a free industry classified service! Send in your submissions, text only – no images or logos. Send your submissions to: boon@airah.org.au or c/o AIRAH, Level 3, 1 Elizabeth St, Melbourne 3000.

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August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 29

➲ The Lighter Side 1 WINNER

Brought to you by

AIRAH

4 5

PAPER PAINS Most people joke about making something out of cardboard to cut corners – it wasn’t a joke in this case! A return-air box and return-air plenum made of cardboard, spotted on a service call by Paul from NSW. n

“With plenty of other mounting options, some people don't use their brain it seems,” he says. n

COOL ROOMMATE

Wade from South Australia was called out to check out a faulty AC and came across this. “They wanted to know if I could replace it,” he says. Luckily, he was able to sell them a new split system. n

Rod from Victoria was investigating a cool room that was tripping HP. When he pulled the cover off the condenser fan, he found a furry friend. n

KNEE KNOCKER Blake from Queensland found this unit installed in a Sunshine Coast hotel lobby.

KEEPIN’ IT OLD-SCHOOL

BRACKET BLUES Probably wouldn’t want to stand under this on a windy day. Spotted by Rob from Victoria. n

HAVE YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING SCARY, UGLY OR JUST PLAIN FUNNY? If your entry is deemed the monthly winner, a bottle of Jim Beam bourbon 750ml will be on its way to your door. Please include a postal address with your entry. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over. Send your submissions to editor, Boon Mark Souphanh boon@airah.org.au

30 | HVAC&R Nation | www.hvacrnation.com.au | August 2016

ACTROL THE HOME OF TECUMSEH

actrol.com.au August 2016 | www.hvacrnation.com.au | HVAC&R Nation | 31

WHY IS GREEN SO EFFICIENT?

CH I LLVENTA October 11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13, 2016 Hall 7, Booth 330

Because GREEN is BITZER! Your innovative partner for high efficiency and intelligent cooling solutions. We are at your side, all over the world, always. You can count on us and our products! Visit us at CHILLVENTA and learn more about BITZER at www.bitzer.de

A.I.1604_BRAND_II_EN_220x310.indd 1

28.04.16 09:18