HVAC&R Nation Summer 2021-22 by AIRAH

Fair go! FairAir’s new calculators for residential AC

Skills

WORKSHOP

Measuring water flow

Pump up the volume When to consider a VRF system Summer 2021 / ISSUE 143

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HVAC&R Nation is published by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (Inc). AIRAH – National Office James Harrison Centre 3/1 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Tel: 03 8623 3000

Fax: 03 9614 8949

www.airah.org.au/nation

Magazine team Communications Manager Matthew Dillon matt.dillon@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3000 Editor Mark Vender mark.vender@airah.org.au Tel: 03 8623 3001 Contributing writers Sean McGowan Willow Aliento

Variable refrigerant flow or VRF systems are on the rise in Australia. Sean McGowan talks to experts in the technology to find out why it has become so popular – and which applications it is best suited to.

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HVAC&R Nation regulars

Glenn Douglas glenn.douglas@airah.org.au Tel: 0411 839 667

The Toolshed

Global Update

WorldSkills Update

John McGrath john.mcgrath@airah.org.au Tel: 0419 556 108

ISSN 1834-9522

HVAC&R Nation is printed on paper sourced from well manned forests and other controlled sources.

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.

Industry news from around the world

Around the Nation

Measuring water flow

Exclusive to this issue

We catch up with WorldSkills gold medal winner Cameron Harrison

Success stories

See what’s new in the ‘Shed

Skills Workshop

The Air Conditioning Podcast has now racked up 50 episodes

Who’s in the news?

Smoko with …

Q&A with Lauren Campbell

Green Wedge

BYO solar farm

Fair go!

AIRAH has just relaunched its FairAir website, designed to help consumers select a suitable air conditioning system. Willow Aliento walks us through the revamped calculators.

Lighter Side

The shonkier side of the nation

11,510 September 2020

PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KEEP IT.

Summer 2021

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Ed’s letter

CATCHING THE WAVE Have you heard of Dornbusch’s Law? It says that things take much longer to happen than you think they will, but then they happen much faster than you could ever have imagined. The concept came from economics, but it applies to many things.

Dornbusch’s Law, and said we are reaching the tipping point. That big wave, that has been building for decades, is about to break.

This issue of HVAC&R Nation has come together against the backdrop of COP26, the big environmental powwow in Glasgow.

Renewables are already cheaper than fossil fuels. Many big companies are setting their own sustainability goals, more ambitious than the targets set by government.

During the two weeks of the COP26 conference, we heard about the steps that were being made to address climate change – sometimes forward, but often sideways. Although everyone agrees on the problem, getting 120 world leaders to agree on a solution is another matter. About a week later, former US Vice President Al Gore spoke at a conference here in Australia. You might know him from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which helped put global warming on the agenda when it came out, 15 years ago. In his speech, Gore expressed some disappointment about COP26, but focused on the positives. Even if there wasn’t as much progress as he’d hoped, countries like Australia made new commitments to net zero because of the conference. He also quoted

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But change is not easy. There are a lot of vested interests in the status quo. One attendee asked with some concern how a resource-exporting country like Australia will cope with the changes ahead. Gore pointed out that Australia may be the world’s third biggest exporter of fossil fuels, but we could also be the world’s biggest generator of solar and wind energy. We have those resources in abundance too. The wave isn’t only coming to sectors like energy and mining. Big changes are sweeping through HVAC&R, too. And so they should – our sector uses a quarter of all electricity in Australia, and generates almost 12 per cent of emissions. By moving to lower‑GWP refrigerants and making equipment more energy efficient – not just through the equipment itself

Summer 2021

but also through good installation and maintenance – we can make a huge difference. On top of that, no matter what we do now, temperatures will continue to climb. The latest report from the UN Environment Programme puts us on track for a 2.7°C rise this century. And that’s a very simplistic way of expressing it. An “average” 2.7°C rise could mean all kinds of things in terms of maximum summer temperatures. One thing’s for sure – HVAC&R is going to be more important than ever. There will be challenges, but also opportunities. The wave is coming. Will we be ready to ride it? ■ @AIRAHnews

Mark Vender Editor mark.vender@airah.org.au

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Toolshed 1

Approval for BOSS

BOSS Fire has released all-new approvals for its BOSS Fire Transit Box in walls, floors and ceiling/floor systems.

Through independent testing, Streamer Technology was shown to largely eliminate pollen, mould and allergens.

“The innovative multi-service pipe and cable transit is revolutionising the passive firestopping methods used for multi-service penetrations in apartments, hotels, aged care and other commercial and industrial buildings,” says the company.

To further improve IAQ, a mould-proof operation mode activates at the end of cooling or drying operation to dry and sterilise the unit before powering off to prevent mould growth on internal components.

“The game-changer, as it’s been dubbed by many builders and contractors due to the extensive labour savings, program and compliance benefits, has an extensive range of fire tests and approvals available.”

Go to www.daikin.com.au ■

Banks of A/C paircoil, lagged/unlagged copper pipes, and various cable bundles can be passed through a single transit box offering a two-hour fire rating (FRL -/120/120). Ratings of one hour and 90 minutes are also available without thermal wraps.

Go to bossfire.com.au ■

Condair has released the DP range of swimming pool dehumidifiers, designed to offer a comprehensive choice for small to large commercial pools. All incorporate condensing technology and heat recovery systems to provide energy-efficient operation. Condair says that ceiling-mounted units can be located above a suspended ceiling system, or left exposed if floor or wall space is not available in the pool or utility area. “Floor-standing systems offer high-performance dehumidification as well as electric heating options that can replace the need for other space heating,” says Condair. “They can also introduce fresh air from outside as well as vent exhaust air. Heat recovery systems maximise energy efficiency and can recover heat from the room or the dehumidification process back to the supply air. Alternatively, it can be used to heat the pool water.”

According to Daikin, Streamer Technology forms part of a three-layer filtration system that continuously removes bacteria, allergens, mould, pollen, odours and indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde. “Daikin split systems are the only split system air conditioners in Australia to have gained approval |

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Jaws of life

Available in sizes from 1/4“–13/8“, the new RLS ACR Press Jaws are the industry’s first jaws approved to press RLS fittings using 32kN (kilonewton) tools. The new Milwaukee jaws are also compatible with a wide range of other 32kN tools on the market, including those from manufacturers such as RIDGID, Klauke, Viega, Dewalt, NovoPress and Rothenberger. Contractors who own any of these tools can use the Milwaukee jaws to install RLS fittings.

X marks the spot for Daikin

HVAC&R Nation

“Asset Aviator was built from the ground up, with the HVAC industry front of mind, and in close consultation with a number of our industry partners. We are excited to help organisations around the country regain control of their assets, improve the safety of their employees, and streamline many of their operations. This software will give businesses the opportunity to grow their market share, and importantly dedicate their resources in other important areas.”

Milwaukee Tool has introduced jaws for its M18 Force Logic press tools that are compatible with the Rapid Locking System (RLS) line of flame-free press-toconnect fittings for HVAC and refrigeration systems.

Daikin has responded to the growing interest in indoor air quality (IAQ) with its new Alira X split system, featuring patented Streamer Technology.

“This is a proud day for Retriever, and the culmination of many hours of dedication and commitment from our team in Sydney,” says Retriever Communications CEO Chris Calamos.

Go to www.condair.com.au ■

Designed and developed in Australia, Asset Aviator has been designed to provide organisations with an integrated asset-management and fieldservice solution. The company says it has been created to offer customers reliable, powerful, cutting-edge technology that removes guesswork and paperwork when managing assets.

Go to www.assetaviator.com ■

“We are delighted to be able to offer such a comprehensive range of dehumidifiers specifically designed to meet the needs of indoor swimming pool environments,” says Condair Managing Director Ian Eitzen.

The Asset Aviator

Retriever Communications has launched Asset Aviator, a cloud-based asset management software platform.

The “pass through” methodology enabled by the FR BrushSeal removes the need to core individual penetrations for each service, or cut foam inserts. Services do not need to be sealed and treated individually after the box is installed, either.

Condair in the swim

In addition, the built-in humidity sensor enables precise control of the unit to effectively remove moisture and dehumidify the space. Said to be “whisper quiet,” the range can be operated remotely.

According to the company, the BOSS Fire Transit Box can save up to 90 per cent of installation labour.

by the National Asthma Council’s Sensitive Choice program as a better choice for people with asthma and allergies,” says the company.

Milwaukee’s RLS-compatible jaws will be sold exclusively through Milwaukee distributors. More information on RLS press fittings and a complete RLS tool and jaw compatibility matrix is available online. Go to www.milwaukeetool.com.au ■

Summer 2021

Toolshed 6

Pure air from Panasonic

Panasonic has released its air-purification solution for the Australian market: the Air-e ceiling‑mounted nanoeX Generator (FV-15CSD1).

Oventrop has released hot water solutions to the Australian market. “It’s the most hygienic, commercially economical potable hot water plants that the HVAC market can easily understand, install and maintain,” the firm says.

“Daily activities in indoor public spaces often generate various odours, which can impact comfort levels,” the firm says. “The pollutants that exist indoors and which infiltrate from outside also have an effect on indoor air quality. Bacteria, viruses, mould, pollen, allergens and smoke all have the potential to harm the average person. “By using OH radicals encapsulated in water to neutralise micro-organisms, Panasonic’s revolutionary nanoeX technology ensures people will be breathing ‘true’ fresh air as nature intended.”

7 Oventrop’s hot new products

“Our Watermarked Regumaq and Regudis station technology provide scalable instantaneous hot water from 2–500 litres per minute via centralised hot water buffer tanks. These buffer tanks are well suited to the technologies of heat pumps that the HVAC industry knows like the back of its hands.

Jack Tey is Panasonic Australia’s Product Marketing Manager, Air Conditioning.

“Should there be any other means of heat generation available to the building, we can easily store it within the buffer tanks as additional heat and draw upon it like a rechargeable battery system.

“We know that Australians demand air solutions that enhance comfort in indoor spaces, especially during summer-time,” Tey says. “What is more important than ever is the quality of the air itself. The Air-e ceiling-mounted nanoeX generator is the perfect device for business operators and consumers who desire a discreet and compact air purification solution that improves indoor health, comfort and overall wellness.”

“Now Oventrop enables you to take your preferred heat pump or gas boiler supplier into the potable hot water industry and provide a simple hotand cold-water connection point for plumbing services. “This leaves everything upstream of the hot water plant to the plumber, who knows their hydraulic pipe and fixture requirements.”

Go to www.panasonic.com/au ■

Email ovassist@oventrop.com.au ■

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

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

Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Global Update

POLAND

SWITZERLAND

GLAMPER VANS

UNDERGROUND HEAT LOVERS

Poland-based Good Spot has started what it is calling the “first mobile hotel chain in Poland.” The company has embraced the concept of adaptive reuse by converting defunct refrigerator semi-trailers into hotel rooms. “The arrival of the pandemic completely changed the perception of my project,” says company founder Roman Sokolowski. ”It was recognised as innovative and timeless.” Sokolowski says the semi-trailer hotel rooms have the retro appearance of a “silver bullet” Airstream trailer. The interior layout takes inspiration from a camper van, but looks more upmarket, thanks to the design by Polish architecture firm Znamy się. And the hotel rooms aren’t just portable, they’re fully mobile. Because the trailers are already insulated, they can withstand below-freezing temperatures. “While semi-trailer manufacturers have developed refrigerated trailers for the sole purpose of transporting goods, we have found a new use for them in the tourism industry,” Sokolowski says. “Thus, changing it from a linear waste-management system to a circular one.” Nightly rates range from AUD$67 to AUD$202, depending on location. ■

A Swiss renewable energy company has developed a technology that could use heat from underground parks to warm the buildings above them. A cleantech spin-off of the Swiss Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL), Enerdrape creates renewable energy sources that can be used in new and existing buildings. The company is trialling tech that uses geothermal wall panels to recover heat from the soil in an underground carpark. The panels function as a heat exchanger to capture both heat located in the soil and ambient energy. A heat pump then circulates the energy to the building above. The test is being conducted at a carpark in Lausanne’s Sébeillon district. It’s thought that in the test environment about 60 apartments will be supplied with one third of their energy needs. If the technology is successful, the team aims to expand it to other underground buildings such as train stations and tunnels. About one third of Switzerland’s energy use every year is consumed by heating. ■

USA

ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Johnson Controls, Trane Technologies and engineering consultancy Stantec are among 45 global companies to have been awarded the inaugural Terra Carta Seal, a sustainability initiative launched by HRH the Prince of Wales.

Engineers from Duke University have developed smart window-like technology that can shift between harvesting heat from sunlight and allowing an object to cool. The technology has the potential to cut energy use by 20 per cent in the US alone.

“The Terra Carta Seal recognises those organisations which have made a serious commitment to a future that is much more sustainable, and puts nature, people and the planet at the heart of the economy,” the Prince of Wales says.

The tech has been described as electrochromic, meaning a material capable of changing colour or opacity when electricity is applied.

It is being awarded to companies whose ambitions are aligned with those of the Terra Carta, a recovery plan for nature, people and planet, launched in January 2021. “It is both an honour and a privilege to receive this recognition from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for our decades-long commitment to sustainability,” says Johnson Controls chair and CEO George Oliver. Johnson Controls has reduced its emissions intensity by more than 70 per cent since 2002. The company also claims to have helped its customers save more than 30.6 million tonnes of CO2 globally. ■ 8

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Summer 2021

“We have demonstrated the very first electrochromic device that can switch between solar heating and radiative cooling,” says Po-Chun Hsu, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke. “Our electrochromic tuning method does not have any moving parts and is continuously tunable.” Because the mirror is never transparent to visible light, the device would not replace windows in homes or offices, but it might be used on other building surfaces. “It’s very difficult to create materials that can function in both of these regimes,” Hsu says. “Our device has one of the largest tuning ranges in thermal radiation ever demonstrated.” ■

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HVAC&R Nation

Feature

FAIR GO! A revamped version of FairAir helps customers calculate the right buy for their homes, as Willow Aliento reports. Gleeson says that extensive lockdowns, with Australians spending far more time at home, and rising energy prices, have placed more attention on our homes.

In a world awash with clever marketing and high‑pressure sales tactics, it can be hard for the average consumer to choose the most suitable cooling and heating solution for their home. AIRAH’s recently updated and re-launched FairAir website aims to help, with independent and substantial information, and advice for both consumers and professionals.

“More than ever, we’re looking for our homes to provide comfort, health, and productivity,” he says. “HVAC&R clearly has a role to play here. We hope FairAir can form part of a suite of tools home dwellers can use to better inform their air conditioning purchasing decisions.”

“Navigating the abundance of residential air conditioning equipment on the market can be intimidating for those who aren’t very well informed about HVAC, and even those who are,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH.

GETTING INSIDE CUSTOMERS’ MINDS

FairAir features calculators to help determine the cooling and heating loads in a home, as well as maximum allowable noise level for each installation, and the likely energy costs for different units. The site also includes helpful tips on reducing a room’s cooling load, and on the energy efficiency, installation and maintenance of equipment. 10

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Chris Barnes is Product Category Manager Household at CHOICE and says CHOICE recently undertook research into what consumers most want to know about air conditioning. “Efficiency” was not a word that was top of mind, he explains. Consumers are more likely to think about running costs, as well as the price to purchase an air conditioning system and have it installed. Summer 2021

Only some are keen to understand whether a particular unit will be the right size and capacity for the rooms they want to cool. Barnes says this should, however, be the first thing a consumer considers. “It is a message we are always pushing – choose the right sized unit,” says Barnes. “That’s why we are so pleased the calculators are back at the FairAir website.” Barnes says calculators at manufacturer websites can be “lacking in detail” and often tend to overestimate the capacity people need. This is equally the case with some installers, he adds.

RIGHT SIZE, DON’T UPSELL Bigger is definitely not always better, according to Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH. “Bigger machines cost more to purchase and operate, occupy more space and put more electrical load

iQC & NiQ – energy saving motors a new look to efficiency.

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Benefits reliable and durable. Designed to achieve high performance in a wide range of tough environments, the iQC and NiQ are able to handle wet and dusty applications. The high efficiency of the motor means that less waste heat is generated, resulting in improved refrigeration performance and longer service life than typical shaded pole equivalents in cold side applications.

Benefits of upgrading. As with all ebm-papst motors in the iQ range, the iQC and NiQ are a direct one-to-one replacement for existing Q and shaded pole motors. With huge cost savings when compared to outdated AC technology and ease of replacement, the iQC and NiQ are the smart choice for retrofitting existing applications.

Benefits cost effective. Higher operating efficiency means reduced power input, resulting in lower operating costs and longer life time. As both the iQC and NiQ motor replace a range of shaded pole motors, this means having the right product for the application on hand when you need.

Find out more at www.ebmpapst.com.au

Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Feature Noise from air conditioning units is a major issue for householders.

NOISY NEIGHBOURS If you’ve ever tossed and turned because there’s an aggravating mechanical noise coming from next-door, you’ll know first-hand why FairAir also considers location of units and how to minimise noise issues. “It is amazing how many calls AIRAH receives from residents complaining about noisy air conditioners – usually a unit that has been installed by a neighbour and is too loud,” Gleeson says. “Although we do not get directly involved in these situations, it does suggest a knowledge gap around noise and how to mitigate it. “Different state, territory and even local governments also have their own rules, so it is important for technicians to be aware and talk this through with the customer.” ■

on the network,” he says. “Right sizing is the key, and the best way to ensure right sizing is to engage an HVAC professional.” He flags the importance of designing and sizing so the indoor temperature will not exceed comfort levels for a specified period of time over the year (the “exceedance”), not for the handful of potential “hottest ever” days. “An air conditioning system is often designed using an exceedance of 95 per cent,” Aherne says. “Or for more critical applications or to protect vulnerable populations a higher exceedance value (e.g., 99 per cent) might be used. FairAir estimators are based on comfort temperatures in AIRAH’s DA09 – Air Conditioning Load Estimation, not DA09’s critical temperatures.

LEGENDS AND LEMONS

“During hotter-than-design periods the system will still work and provide cooling, but it may not be able to maintain the design indoor comfort temperature all of the time.” Barnes says the main priority for most buyers is they want something that will cool a room down very quickly – they don’t want to wait half an hour to feel comfortable. “They just want the box on the wall to make the house nice and cool.”

CLIMATE ZONE MATTERS We all know that Australia is blessed with wildly varying climates – which also influences what size and model of air conditioning will be most cost-effective. As Gleeson explains, local climate conditions determine the heat content of the air, both outdoors and inside. They also directly affect the load on an air conditioner by influencing the transmission of heat across the exterior structure and the difference in heat content between the outdoor and the inside air. In 2020 the federal government introduced zoned energy labels, which break the country into three zones – hot, average and cold – and provide star ratings for each zone. FairAir takes this a step further, with the option to choose from 19 different locations. “For a long time, it was hard for consumers to choose a suitable system for their climate based on the energy labels,” Gleeson says. “But it’s also worth noting that 12

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According to Product Category Manager Household at CHOICE Chris Barnes, cooling-only units are just a fraction of the market now, with reverse-cycle split systems having the majority of buyers. Testing has shown the cooling-only units also tend to not be among the very best performers, something Barnes believes is due to their relatively small sales figures compared to reverse-cycle splits.

unit using R32 as if it were a bonus. He says that although R32 does offer some gains over older refrigerants, it is no longer a new innovation or a big difference from most other brands on the market.

Barnes notes that while split systems can also be the most cost-effective way to heat a home in cold weather, most people still tend to think of it only for cooling, and still believe they need to buy heating for winter.

“It is often indicated with a green sticker, as if it were an environmental plus,” Gleeson says. “R32 has a lower global warming potential than the R410A refrigerant it is mostly replacing – 675 compared to 2,088 – but it is still what you would consider a mid-range GWP refrigerant. It’s also a flammable, synthetic refrigerant, so labelling it as a ‘green’ product could be considered somewhat confusing.”

“It’s surprising how often people don’t get that message [about heating],” he says. CHOICE has carried out independent tests on units to verify their performance and operating costs. Barnes says the Minimum Energy Performance System (MEPS) has ensured there are no very poor performers. Even the most basic units are adequate.

Gleeson adds that R32 is the refrigerant used in around 90 per cent of all new split‑system air conditioners in Australia today.

One real lemon that CHOICE says “turns up like a bad penny” every so often is the so-called “solar cooling” units that come with an attached thermal panel that allegedly uses ambient air temperature to pre-condition air and improve efficiency.

Another positive of the star system is it means buyers can see what performance is possible compared to whatever they are thinking of buying.

Barnes says the CHOICE testing showed the panels actually make the performance worse, and the units perform better with it removed.

Barnes says, however, that manufacturer claims can get a bit questionable when they promote a

“They took a very ordinary air conditioner and managed to make it worse,” he muses. ■

Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

Feature Price and fast cooling are two of the highest priorities for consumers.

COOL SCIENCE “FairAir is designed for consumer (nonexpert) use and is a simplified and necessarily conservative estimator for cooling and heating loads,” explains Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH, who helped develop the calculators. To build the FairAir cooling load estimator, AIRAH used base data from the DA09 application manual and other legacy material from the AIRAH Technical Handbook. This provided the required temperature and solar load data and the basis for many of the default values that are used in the estimator. “Think of a room as a box,” Aherne says.

design conditions only a few kilometres inland may be quite different from coastal locations. “For example, conditions for the Homebush to Paramatta region are different to the Windsor/ Richmond/Penrith region, and both are quite different from Sydney conditions. For this reason, we always recommend that consumers consult an experienced air conditioning contractor or designer.” Aherne also notes that not all air conditioners on the market are created equally. The Energy Star labelling scheme provides a good tool for comparing efficiency between models, but there are a range of functionality issues that HVAC consultants and technicians can advise on.

CHOICE also recommends that, before completing a purchase, consumers consider what can be done to improve their home’s general thermal performance. Thermally effective window treatments, shading on sun-exposed windows, and insulation in the roof can all reduce the amount of cooling and heating needed. “You might be able to get away with a smaller system than you thought,” Barnes says. “People do care about wasting money – so get the house right.

QUALIFIED TRADIES A MUST

“We need a holistic approach to energy efficiency and also to tackle global warming. It’s not just a case of putting a five-star air conditioner in, we’ve got to change how houses are engineered, and that feels like a slow process.”

CHOICE strongly urges consumers to get a properly licensed installer.

Aherne also says improving the energy efficiency of the space to be air conditioned is the first and best thing someone can do.

“We are trying to steer people away from using Joe Blow,” says Barnes. “They might be competent, but if they are not properly licensed it can cause problems with insurance and warranties.”

“Equipment location is very important for both the outdoor and indoor units,” he says. “Outdoor units need good access to ventilation/airflow, should avoid heat islands/suntraps and heavily vegetated areas, and should be located to mitigate any environmental noise impacts. Indoor units should be located to provide the best supply airflow coverage and a clear return air path.”

“We’ve included tips on reducing the cooling load of a room, such as shading windows, insulating, sealing gaps and holes, ventilating right, installing good controls, and maintaining equipment properly.

A unit will not perform as expected if it is not properly installed, Gleeson adds. www.airah.org.au/nation

“Windows and solar loads are an added complication, and an estimate of how much heat enters the room via direct and indirect sunlight is made based on a basic window with specified orientation and shading. In addition, allowances are included for ventilation, occupants, activities, lights and equipment.” Aherne says it is not a replacement for a more accurate cooling load calculation. “A licensed HVAC installer should have access to load calculation software and can provide a much more accurate and bespoke cooling and heating load calculation,” he says. “Engaging a licensed HVAC installer will ensure that inputs such as orientation, infiltration and thermal performance are selected correctly and representative of the room/space to be air conditioned.” ■

Gleeson says that AIRAH hopes FairAir will prompt people to think about the factors like shading and building envelope that have a big impact on the cooling and heating loads of a space as they go through the calculations.

“Air conditioners are highly efficient and very reliable machines, but they are also a complex and nuanced technology that are not plug‑and‑play but do benefit from expert installation and instruction,” Aherne says.

“Area can be easily calculated, but there is skill and some art required in selecting the correct U value and the appropriate indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Having a highly energy-efficient air conditioner installed for cooling energy-optimised rooms also makes having systems operating off-grid from solar PV and battery storage more feasible, Aherne adds.

These topics are covered at the FairAir website, and within the calculators.

HVAC&R Nation

“The basic heat flow calculation for all surfaces of the room is U (heat flow characteristic) multiplied by A (area), multiplied by DT (temperature difference between inside and outside).

“Generally, Australian houses have been built to a very low energy-efficiency standard,” he notes. “Improving things like wall, floor and ceiling/roof thermal insulation, sealing the building, shading windows and glazing, controlling ventilation are all low-hanging fruit for many Australian homes. Once these issues have been addressed it is much easier and cheaper to heat and cool a room, regardless of the technology used.”

Aherne also observes that HVAC consultants and technicians are able to achieve optimum installation conditions so that the system is tailored to a particular situation.

“It’s also a problem for our industry – because a poor installation produces a poor result, which gives the consumer a poor impression of the whole industry.”

GETTING HOMES RIGHT

These include system size and type, load diversity, outdoor air ventilation methods, filtration options, heat-up/cool-down times, controls and diagnostics, energy-efficiency features, and correct operation and maintenance procedures.

“This would mean that the star rating on the label is not what the consumer will get,” he explains. “In extreme cases, poor installation may void the warranty, and now that most new air conditioners use flammable refrigerants, it poses a safety risk.

“More broadly, AIRAH advocates for low-emissions |

Summer 2021

GIVE IT A GO Check out the revamped version of FairAir at fairair.com.au ■

MODULE

143

MEASURING

WATER FLOW

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

DA24 Skills summary ■ What?

A guide to different measurement techniques used when conducting testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of hydronic HVAC systems.

■ Who?

Relevant for those involved in the process of testing, adjusting and balancing hydronic systems within the HVAC&R industry.

There are a number of ways that the flow rate of water through a system can be measured. The majority of the methods rely on the measurement of differential pressure across a device with a known flow rate-to-resistance ratio, commonly known as a Kv factor. This Skills Workshop discusses the main ways water flow is measured during testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of hydronic systems.

Use of circulating pumps for flow measurement

It is not unusual to conduct a closed head test on a pump, where the discharge valve is closed and suction and discharge pressures are measured, followed by an open or operational head test.

Although the pump is not a meter, it can be used to give an indication of the flow rate for comparison with other system measuring devices.

Note: For large pumps, manufacturer’s guidance should be sought prior to performing a closed head test.

The differential pressure reading across a pump can be used in conjunction with the pump curve to establish the flow rate provided the following is known:

Pump closed head test

• The accuracy of the instrumentation being used • The shape of the pump curve • The pump performance without cavitation, air‑free operation and velocity pressure correction.

Pump flow rate Several methods are used to determine liquid flow rate from a pump. 1. Delivery into a tank of known capacity, noting time to fill

The test is typically carried out as follows (check manufacturer’s guidance): 1. Connect a suitable pressure gauge across the pump suction and discharge pressure test points 2. Start the pump and slowly close the discharge valve 3. Determine the shut-off pressure differential (between suction and pressure), then re-open the discharge valve 4. Measure the full-flow pressure differential (between suction and pressure), with the valve fully open

6. The use of a magflow meter or temporarily installed ultra‑sonic flowmeter

5. Check the measured data against the manufacturer’s data for zero flow. When the closed head test result coincides with the manufacturer’s data for zero flow, the actual flow can be determined from the manufacturer’s data or performance graph as supplied. When the closed head test result does not coincide with the manufacturer’s zero flow data, the manufacturer’s pump performance curve should be modified by drawing a line parallel to it, but starting at the tested closed head pressure. The actual water flows can then be read directly off the modified pump curve.

7. Adding up the sum of the volumetric flow rates through the field terminals.

6. Final pump flows should always be confirmed by using another independent flow verification method.

2. Weighing the volume of water discharge in a given time 3. Inserting a venturi meter in the discharge line 4. Fitting a known, calibrated orifice plate in the discharge line and measuring the pressure differential across it 5. Measuring pump suction and discharge pressure, then plotting on the pump manufacturer’s pump performance curve

The selection of the flow measurement technique will depend on the pump size and the accuracy of reading required. AS 2417 should be consulted when making these decisions.

Closed head testing Closed head testing relates to the discharge valve being fully closed and the actual discharge pressure and suction pressure being measured and applied. This is done by subtracting the suction pressure from the discharge pressure to obtain the actual system operating point and applying this to the pump curve to obtain the actual water flow rate, and comparing to the actual field reading as a cross-verification.

As well as establishing the measured pressures, it is also necessary to verify the pump rotational speed in order to be able to accurately plot the actual pump performance curve relative to the published nominal performance curve.

Measurement of pump speed A number of methods may be used for speed measurement: 1. Tachometer 2. Stroboscope 3. Revolution counter. Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

HVAC&R Skills Workshop The revolution counter has the disadvantage of not indicating fluctuations in speed. Readings should be taken over a significant period of time to give a representative average. Where VSDs are installed, the pump speed and power consumption can be obtained from the drive.

Measurement of pump power The power input to the pump for a three-phase motor is given by:

√3 × V × A ×P.F. Pi = 1000

Where a pressure drop is measured, and the flow rate calculated by the normal process from a graph supplied by the valve manufacturer, the following step should be performed to correct the reading:

( )

√δw Actual flow rate = x flow δf Flow-measurement and regulating devices Every circuit to be commissioned must be provided with a device that is capable of regulating the flow rate and isolating the flow to the circuit.

Pi = power input (kW) V = voltage

A = current

The names of some of these devices can vary, and the typical nomenclature is outlined in Table 1.

P.F. = power factor.

Correct sizing of the regulating device is essential to ensure effective balancing without causing excessive (and energy-wasting) restrictions or excessive noise through high valve-face velocities.

Where:

Note: The power factor of an AC electrical power system is defined as the ratio of the real power absorbed by the load to the apparent power flowing into the circuit.

Use of manufacturer’s data for flow measurement Most manufacturers of components (e.g., terminal units, chillers, boilers, heat exchangers, valves) provide nominal flow-pressure drop information for their products. In some cases, this may extend to recording on the equipment nameplate specific information from an actual test performed at the factory. If the information is certified, this may be used to determine flow through the device because, as the pump laws state (see 8.10), the flow rate will vary in accordance to the square root of the system pressure drop. Example: A chiller manufacturer has a catalogued flow-pressure drop relationship of 6.31L/s at 74.89kPa. An actual field measurement of 89.87kPa is recorded.

Flow measurement devices to be installed must be selected according to the accuracy of the flow measurement required.

Using flow‑measurement devices There are a range of devices available for flow measurement, including fixed and variable orifices and nozzles, annular flow devices and flow meters (see Figure 1). In addition to flow-measurement devices, there are also flow meters that are based on a range of technologies: • • • • •

Venturi nozzles/fixed-orifice devices Variable-orifice devices Annular flow device Magflow meter/electromagnetic flow meter Ultra-sonic flow meter.

What is the actual flow?

Orifice Plate

Restriction Orifice

Using the pump laws: L/s2 = L/s1 x √(ΔP2 / ΔP1). New Flow rate = √(89.87/74.89) x 6.31 = 6.91L/s.

Measuring pressure differential – by gauge

Gauges or manometers may be used for the purpose of measuring pressure differential. Gauges are used for higher-pressure differentials, mercury manometers for intermediate pressure differentials, and fluorocarbon manometers for the smallest differentials. Using two gauges will greatly reduce the accuracy of the reading (should the gauges not be calibrated) compared to using one calibrated gauge for both readings. The accuracy of the device should be based on the full-scale deflection of the gauge. The commonly used unit for pressure in hydronic system balancing is kPa. (Note that at 15°C, 1.0 metre of water = 9.8kPa.) It should be noted that the differential gauge reading is normally expressed in kPa, which can be converted to units of metres head of fluid if required. Provided this is done (the conversion to metres head), no further correction is required to the Kv relationship to determine the actual flow rate through the flow device, subject only to the manufacturer having correctly stated the flow/fluid pressure relationship. If glycol solutions are used, it is important that a density correction be made to all gauge readings (see 4.5) when these differential pressures are used for the estimation of pump performance and flow rate from the pump curves. Due to the shape of the pump curve, incorrect pressure difference estimation caused by using an uncorrected gauge reading will produce an error in the estimated pump-flow rate.

Effect of water/glycol mixtures The use of anti-freeze agents in chilled water systems affect the derivation of flow from the differential pressure actually read by the instrument, due to an increase in specific gravity of the fluid compared to water. 16

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Venturi

Summer 2021

FI Variable Area Flowmeter (Rotameter)

Pitot Tube Annubar

Figure 1 Various flow-measurement instrumentation

Device name Other names

Device type

Venturi nozzle

• Venturi tube • Venturi meter • Venturi device

Venturi

Orifice plate

• Fixed-orifice flowmeasurement device • Fixed-orifice device • Metering station

Orifice plate

Fixed-orifice doubleregulating valve

• FODRV • Commissioning set/station • Venturi commissioning valve

Globe, needle, ball or butterfly valve, close‑coupled to a fixed orifice or venturi device

• VODRV • Pressure-tapped regulating valve • Variable-orifice valve

Globe valve with pressure tappings across seat of valve

Variableorifice doubleregulating valve

Table 1 Flow-measurement instrumentation – nomenclature

HVAC&R Skills Workshop Venturi nozzles/fixed‑orifice devices

Magflow meter

For measurement of flow at pumps, chillers, boilers etc., the installation of venturi nozzles or fixed-orifice plates is recommended.

An electromagnetic flow meter or magflow meter is a transducer that will measure the fluid flow by measuring the voltage induced across the liquid by its flow through a magnetic field.

The venturi tube or orifice plate is a specific, fixed-area reduction in the path of the fluid flow. The differential pressure generated by the device is related to the velocity of the fluid; the pressure drop is equated to the flow rate in L/s, but the pressure drop is not equal to the velocity pressure drop. Because of the entry and leaving conditions of the device, the venturi tube produces a lower permanent pressure loss than an orifice plate at the same flow rate.

The magnetic field is applied to the metering tube, which results in a potential difference proportional to the flow velocity, perpendicular to the flux lines. The principle applied to the use of magnetic flow meters is “Faraday’s law”.

Faraday’s law

A full venturi tube can be extremely accurate, with no appreciable system pressure loss, but to achieve this it must be extremely long.

Faraday’s law states that the voltage induced across any conductor as it moves at right-angles through a magnetic field is proportional to the velocity of that conductor.

A modified version is available with a shortened entry and recovery cones that still provide an acceptable accuracy and system pressure loss (less than the orifice plate for the same accuracy).

Faraday’s formula states that:

E is proportional to V × B × D

A fixed-orifice double-regulating valve uses the pressure drop across a closecoupled venturi tube or orifice plate as the means of determining flow rate.

Where: E = the voltage generated in a conductor

V = the velocity of the conductor

Variable-orifice devices

B = the magnetic field strength

D = the length of the conductor.

Flow-measurement orifice devices can be fixed or variable. For measurement of flow at terminal units and branches or sub-branches, a fixed- or variable-orifice valve can be used.

As the magnetic sensor is very sensitive to air bubbles at the electrodes, the sensor must be mounted at a 45 to 135-degree angle in the pipe work.

A simple in-line orifice (see Figure 2(a)) is the most elementary method for controlling flow.

Ultrasonic flow meter

An orifice can be a drilled hole in a fitting, in which case it is fixed; or it may be a calibrated needle valve, in which case it functions as a variable orifice (see Figure 2(b)). Both are non-compensated flow-control devices. A variable-orifice double-regulating valve uses the pressure drop across its plug as the means of determining flow rate, using pressure tappings across seat of valve. The valve also has a regulating ability and can be locked in its set position, with a valve setting indicator to enable the setting to be recorded.

Ultrasonic technology offers the advantage of no moving parts, giving these meters an increased life-span and more accurate and reliable degree of measurement. Ultrasonic flow meters can provide data on many parameters, such as heat and cold consumption, total energy spent on heating and cooling, temperatures, and current energy consumption. They are also compact and can be mounted horizontally or vertically, offering a great degree of flexibility. Ultrasonic flow meters use sound waves to determine the velocity of the fluid flowing within the piping system. When the fluid is stationary, the frequencies of the ultrasonic wave are transmitted into the pipe and the reflections from the fluid return unchanged; when the fluid is in motion, the frequency of the reflections will increase linearly. There are two types of ultrasonic flow meters available that will measure either the Doppler effect or transit time:

(a)

Variable Orifice (b)

Figure 2 Fixed and variable orifices

Annular flow device An annular flow device is a flow-sensing device that operates on an adaptation of the principle of the Pitot tube. They are differential pressure‑flow meters that were developed to overcome the problem of dirt build-up in front of the orifice plate in liquid streams. With the upstream and downstream tube pressures sensing a velocity pressure equal to total pressure minus static pressure at this point, this pressure is transmitted to a gauge. The pressure differential when referred to the appropriate calibration/manufacturer’s data will indicate the flow rate in L/s. To obtain the correct flow-rate reading, the manufacturer’s recommendation for the correct method of installation must be strictly adhered to. A 3°C change in the vertical plane or a greater than 3°C change in the horizontal plane will render the annular flow device inaccurate for measuring flow. Care must also be taken to ensure that air entrainment does not affect the accuracy of the readings. This can be achieved by ensuring that the device is always mounted below the centreline of the piping being analysed. The biggest difference between an annular flow device and a Pitot tube is that an annular flow device takes multiple samples across a section of a pipe simultaneously (rather than requiring a traverse). In this way, the annular flow device automatically averages the differential pressures and accounts for variations in flow across the section. A Pitot tube will give a similar reading to an annular flow device if the tip is located at a point in the pipe cross-section where the flowing velocity is close to the average velocity.

1. The ultrasonic transducer measures the average fluid velocity along the path of the emitted beam of ultrasound by averaging the difference in measured transit time between the pulses of ultrasound propagating into and against the direction of the flow, or by the measuring of the frequency shift from the Doppler effect 2. A Doppler flow meter is a volumetric flow meter that requires particulates or bubbles in the flow. Both meter types use ultrasound to make measurements and are non‑evasive, but both measure flow by very different methods. Ultrasonic flow meters are ideal for wastewater applications or any dirty liquid that is conductive or water-based.

Installation of flow‑measurement devices When installing a flow-measurement device, a location in which the fluid has a laminar flow profile and is not affected by any disturbances should be selected. This may require a minimum of 10 pipe diameters of straight piping upstream and five diameters of straight piping downstream. In some situations the required pipe diameters upstream may be 20 diameters or more. Manufacturer’s installation and calibration instructions should be followed. ■

Next issue: R32 refrigerant information guide

This month’s skills workshop has been taken from DA24 Hydronic System Balancing – in HVAC. For more information go to www.airah.org.au/da_manuals

Summer 2021

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DA04 DA24

ESSENTIAL TOOLS IN HVAC COMMISSIONING

AIR SYSTEM BALANCING

HYDRONIC SYSTEM BALANCING

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF REFRIGERATION, AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING

DA04

DA24

AIR SYSTEM BALANCING – IN HVAC

HYDRONIC SYSTEM BALANCING – IN HVAC

DESIGN APPLICATION MANUAL

This new DA manual discusses the testing, adjusting and balancing of air distribution systems in HVAC&R applications. DA04 promotes best practice for the balancing of air distribution systems in the industry. It has been prepared to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge.

DA24 is a complete revision of the previous version, titled DA24 Water Systems Balancing. This manual promotes best practice for the balancing of hydronic systems in HVAC&R, recognising acceptable industry-standard techniques. It also highlights the importance and complexity of hydronic balancing.

Designed for engineers, architects, contractors, equipment owners, operators, and specifiers. Anyone involved in air/water balancing or in HVAC&R system commissioning or recommissioning should keep copies of these manuals handy.

Access the electronic versions or order hard copies at

airah.org.au/DA_Manuals 18

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Summer 2021

WorldSkills update

GOLD RUSH! Despite COVID-19 restrictions and a surprise call-up to the competition, Cameron Harrison brought home another gold medal for Queensland in the WorldSkills Australia National Championships. Some people make their own way into WorldSkills, others have WorldSkills thrust upon them. For Cameron Harrison, it was the latter. He was halfway through his final block of TAFE in his Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration when lead lecturer Carl Balke, Affil.AIRAH, tapped him on the shoulder. The Brisbane competitor for the WorldSkills Nationals in refrigeration and air conditioning could no longer compete – would Cameron step in? Balke has an eye for WorldSkills talent, having worked with many winning students over the years, including Patrick Brennan, who won bronze in the WorldSkills international tournament in 2019. Harrison accepted the challenge, and started training.

FIRE UP THE OXY TORCH! “Every Friday leading up to the competition I would go in for half a day to a day, and do training with Carl and practise the skills that he thought were necessary,” says Harrison. His employer, Specialized Refrigeration Services, supported the effort by giving him the Fridays off. At the same time, he was preparing for his capstone. “Carl wanted me to get the capstone done first,” says Harrison. “The way he sees it is the capstone prepares you for WorldSkills, because it’s similar pressure, but in WorldSkills you’ve got a lot more to do.” Despite all the preparation, the prospect of competing was still daunting.

“I was pretty nervous,” Harrison admits. “I didn’t really know what to expect. I had competed in regional WorldSkills for my Cert II in Electrotechnology, but I hadn’t competed in WorldSkills otherwise.” On top of this, the competition was running in a modified format due to COVID-19 restrictions, with different contenders working and being judged remotely. It was new territory for everyone. For Harrison, the biggest challenge was the major project – bending up the name of the sponsor, Kirby, out of a single piece of pipe, commissioning and setting the superheat and subcooling within the time limit. The fault-finding, on the other hand, he describes as “fun”.

‘Congratulations, you won gold,’ and I had no idea what they were talking about!” He was on call, so couldn’t have a drink to celebrate. But since then, he has had a chance to toast the victory, and ponder his WorldSkills future – potentially the next competition in Shanghai. “Due to COVID-19 and everything that’s happening around the world, they’re not too sure what’s going to happen with the selection process and whether Shanghai will go ahead or not,” says Harrison. “I’m still a bit unsure because it all came as a shock – I wasn’t expecting to get gold, so I’m still taking it in. But it’s something I’m pretty keen to do.” ■

TOP TRADES IN REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING

“That was probably my favourite part,” says Harrison, and adds that it’s one of his favourite parts of the job. “I find it rewarding,” he says. “You get to site not knowing what the fault is, and you’ve just got to figure it out based on what the customer tells you and what you can see the system is doing.”

Gold – Cameron Harrison Queensland – Brisbane Silver – Ryan Hanns Australian Capital Territory – Canberra

AND THE WINNER IS … In some ways, finding the faults went more smoothly than finding out he had actually won the gold medal. Winners were announced on a Wednesday night – but Harrison was expecting the results on the Thursday.

Bronze – Tom Clancy Western Australia – Perth South Certificate of Excellence – Jared Tesch Queensland – North Queensland

“I was actually out for dinner with my girlfriend, and I got a text from Carl and one of the other guys I competed with,” Cameron says. “All of sudden I started getting all these texts from people saying, Summer 2021

For more information about WorldSkills go to www.worldskills.org.au

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Cover Feature

PUMP UP THE VOLUME Variable refrigerant volume air conditioning systems – or variable refrigerant flow, as it is more widely known – have grown in popularity since they were first introduced in the early 1980s. As Sean McGowan reports, there are a few reasons why VRF is on the rise. DON’T BE FOOLED

IN THE BEGINNING

VRV (variable refrigerant volume) and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) are not two different systems. They are one and the same, and have been around a lot longer than you might have expected, too.

Before the development of Daikin’s VRV technology in 1982, achieving individual zone control for air conditioning in commercial buildings was considered a challenge. But the arrival of VRV changed that concept.

The world’s first VRV system was introduced by Daikin in 1982. The company promptly trademarked the term. This meant that when other manufacturers later developed the technology it was described as VRF rather than the proprietary term.

Why? Because VRV/VRF varies the refrigerant volume in a system to match the building’s requirements. It does this by allowing the outdoor unit (compressor) to supply varying amounts of refrigerant to multiple indoor units (fan coils) located throughout the building.

Eventually, VRF became the industry-standard term, with the exception of Daikin, which continues to use VRV today. Although 40 years have since passed, VRF air conditioning systems are still considered to be relatively sophisticated. They have benefited from continuous development over the decades, with improvements including increased capacity load and the incorporation of heat-recovery technologies. 20

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Each indoor unit has a valve to control the volume flow rate of refrigerant Summer 2021

As each indoor unit experiences different heat loads in the space it serves, the outdoor unit is able to supply the appropriate amount of refrigerant to those indoor units. “Refrigerant is pumped from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit,” says Daikin Australia Engineering Support Manager Blake Mortimer, M.AIRAH. “Each indoor unit has a valve to control the volume flow rate of refrigerant to ensure the precise amount of refrigerant is fed to the indoor heat exchanger.” Heat pump VRF systems will only allow all indoor units to operate in either heating or cooling mode. Heat recovery VRF systems allow each unit to operate in either mode. The addition of a branch selector box allows the indoor unit to switch between these modes. At the heart of VRF technology is control logic at the outdoor unit that allows the indoor units to communicate with it.

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That’s how you know it’s for HVAC/R.

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Cover Feature Common applications for VRF systems include small and medium commercial, and high-rise residential.

REFRIGERANT CHANGES Like other systems, the most commonly found refrigerant in VRF technology is R410A, but that’s sure to change as HFCs are phased down under the Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Amendment. Already, OEMs are testing some markets with R32 for smaller capacity VRF systems. “We have also seen some hybrid technologies such as Hybrid VRF (HVRF) – which offer reduced gas charge as standard – become popular as we go through HFC phase‑down,” says Mitsubishi Electric National Product Manager Atesh Mani. Mitsubishi Electric’s Hybrid VRF (HVRF) is a simultaneous heating and cooling twopipe system that uses refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the hybrid branch controller (HBS), and water between the HBC and the indoor units. ■

“The logic will always look at the temperature difference of the set-point and space temperature of the indoor unit(s) that are in operation, while checking the ambient conditions,” explains Mitsubishi Electric national product manager Atesh Mani.

variable speed compressors and inverter-driven variable speed condenser fans – have made VRF technology even more adaptable and efficient. Now only the minimum amount of energy is required for a system to maintain set temperatures.

“Based on these inputs, it will vary the speed of the compressor, condenser fan and utilise the condenser coil as full or in sections. As demand for cooling or heating increases, it will ramp up operation to meet the demand – and vice versa.” Controls are typically pre-installed, and while proprietary for each manufacturer, can be integrated into building management systems (BMS) as required. The introduction of heat recovery – as well as

Over the decades, VRF systems have evolved into a mass-produced technology by major OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

operation, VRF offers the advantage of being

“Because of this approach to manufacturing, the supply chain of components is robust and offers increased reliability due to modern manufacturing methods,” he says.

highly adaptable This, Mortimer says, is because the technology is thought to be more cost-effective and efficient than alternative solutions.

“Mass production accompanied by comprehensive quality control ensures a consistent and better build quality. A reliable product and strong supply chain results in minimal downtime in the case of failure – a benefit for installers as well as their customers.” ■

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Smaller, mini‑VRF systems are even finding their way into residential homes.

As well as energy-efficient

According to Mitsubishi Electric National Product Manager Atesh Mani, this has resulted in a “just-in-time” approach to ordering and delivery.

Talk to manufacturers like Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric, and they’ll tell you the flexibility afforded by VRF systems makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, from small and medium commercial buildings to multi-residential including apartments and aged care.

“We are seeing them used more in residential and apartments to allow temperature control of each space,” says Mortimer, “but the typical office space under 2,000–3,000m² is still one of the main uses of VRV systems.”

JUST IN TIME

APPLICATIONS

As well as energy-efficient operation, VRF offers the advantage of being highly adaptable, with indoor units available in different types and sizes to make them suitable for most applications. This includes ducted, wall mounted, cassette and under ceiling (suspended) indoor units. |

Summer 2021

Outdoor units are also available in a variety of types, including heat pump or heat recovery, air-cooled or water-cooled, and top or side discharge design. “VRF systems are scalable and modular, allowing more capacity to be added at any stage as the demand increases,” says Mani. “Typically, they require no installed redundancy, so there is a saving on the capital cost. VRF systems also offer limited impact in the event of a module failure. If one unit breaks down, it affects only a small part of the occupied space, not the whole building.” And because of the lightweight nature of the system components, modules can be more easily installed onto rooftops than traditional chillers that require large crane lifts. They also take up less space. But Mortimer says the choice between VRF and alternatives – such as a central plant – should come down to the type of building and its use. “A conference centre, for example, might have large and small meeting spaces, office areas and others,” he says. “And having a large central plant may be problematic when operating just one small meeting room. “On the other hand, a very large office tower is more suited to central plant.”

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS Like any technology, VRF systems are not without their limitations. These usually relate to the refrigerant pipework runs – including vertical runs – and overall pipework length between the outdoor unit and indoor units. Each manufacturer places their own limitations on overall pipe length, vertical pipe runs and the maximum refrigerant charge per system, but Mani says there is flexibility when it comes to designing with VRF systems.

Cover Feature “For example, in some cases the vertical limit can be increased to up to 90m [but] there are some conditions that must be met to avail that vertical distance,” he says. “Similarly, when using other features such as maximising distances from the branch box or first joint to the farther fan coil, certain conditions must be met.” Other factors include issues around total refrigerant charge. “When dealing with small rooms, you do have to consider the refrigerant charge of the entire system to make sure you don’t exceed the allowances for refrigerant concentration as outlined in AS/NZS 5149,” adds Mortimer.

TO VRF, OR NOT VRF Froster Engineering team leader Jeff Froster, M.AIRAH, says VRF can be suitable in any application. Yet he says consideration must be given to refrigerant leak detection, access for maintenance and flexibility in the event of a building’s change of use. “There are limitations with regard to refrigerant leakdetection compliance with AS/NZS 5149, and flexibility of the system is limited once it is piped and charged,” Froster says. “Great effort may be required to modify an existing VRF system.” It’s why he says VRF systems should be carefully designed by qualified mechanical engineers. This design should ensure the piping length is within the system’s limits, and spaces served by a common heat pump-type VRF system have similar cooling and heating characteristics. Other considerations when selecting VRF over alternative systems include the application, building thermal characteristics, type of outdoor and indoor units to suit the building profile, indoor air quality, plant area and risers. “Careful consideration and a psychrometric review need to be taken up when completing a system design,” says Froster. “Pre-conditioner systems in high wet-bulb, tropical regions are likely required.”

While Froster expects VRF to continue to be used in light commercial and residential applications, others are less convinced about their application in apartment complexes.

VRF COMPONENTS

According to Full Circle Design Services Director Graham Agar, M.AIRAH, VRF may not be the best option for apartment buildings unless they are very large or very tall.

There are several components in modern VRF systems, but generally they can be described as having the following:

“Sharing condensers between [apartment] owners is not a good idea, in my opinion, noting that there are a few projects that have done just that,” says Agar. “Houses are a possibility, but again you need a big house to take advantage of the system’s benefits and absorb the additional costs.” Agar says because of issues related to cost for smaller projects, lack of control for complex projects and energy efficiency in large projects, VRF sits in between chilled water and split systems.

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Outdoor unit (condenser)

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Indoor units (fan coils)

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Refrigerant pipework

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Branch controller for heat recovery units

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Communications wiring

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Controls.

“When it comes to condenser selection, you can choose from air-cooled or water-cooled condensers,” he says. “Air-cooled condensers usually come in two different line ups – standard efficiency or high efficiency.”

To this end, Agar looks to use VRF for buildings that fit a particular profile. He says VRF is best suited to loads between 50kW and 500kW, low complexity building use, where there is limited benefit from economy cycle, and where building users have limited technical expertise and simple controls requirements. “It is best suited in applications with moderate outside air requirements – although education is a reasonable application – and where there are lots of small, independent spaces,” he says.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE Other considerations designers should make at an early stage include whether the application is suited to a heat pump or heat recovery-type VRF system. According to Mani, the former are more suitable for open-plan spaces while the latter are designed to allow each indoor unit supply heat or cooling simultaneously to multiple, separate spaces.

A VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FUTURE As you would expect from an established technology, manufacturers are constantly seeking improvements in VRF systems. These include fourth- and fifth-generation systems (see sidebars), with manufacturers eyeing opportunities to adapt the technology to suit refrigeration, data centres and medical facility applications among others. Closer to home, there are also opportunities for these systems to provide domestic hot water and heating – including underfloor heating – in residential applications. “As it becomes more accessible to the larger residential market, we’ll see more of it in everyday homes,” says Mani. If the past is any indicator of the future, expect VRF technology to be around for a long time yet. ■

GENERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Considered the fourth generation of VRF/VRV technology, variable refrigerant temperature (VRT) was launched by Daikin in 2014. This technology allows the refrigerant temperature to be adjusted as the system nears the required set-point to achieve greater efficiency while minimising the thermostat cycling of the indoor unit. Daikin Australia Engineering Support Manager Blake Mortimer, M.AIRAH, says the launch of fifth-generation VRV technology allows the indoor fan speed of the individual indoor units to reduce as the indoor unit nears its set temperature.

VRF systems allow the flexibility of incorporating a variety of indoor units, including wall-mounted, cassette and suspended.

“This allows for better temperature control,” he says, “and even greater efficiencies compared to previous generations of VRV.” ■

Summer 2021

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Success stories

AIR TIME The Rawson brothers, Shane and Brad, recently racked up their 50th episode of the Air Conditioning Podcast. HVAC&R Nation editor Mark Vender spoke with Shane about the art of conversation, the industry, and hanging up the headphones. Mark Vender: How does it feel to reach the big five-oh of podcasts? Shane Rawson: To be honest, we never expected to get to 10 episodes! Brad and I thought that we would be just entertaining ourselves, sitting in our makeshift studio talking into a microphone, and wondering why anyone would want to listen to two blokes having a couple of beers and talking HVAC! We were absolutely staggered when we saw the downloads starting to come through, and the support that we received in response was so encouraging and supportive, it truly blew us away.

Through their podcast, Brad (left) and Shane Rawson have helped build Australia’s HVAC&R community.

MV: It’s pretty amazing that you have done this on top of your usual business, personal commitments, and through COVID-19. How did you do it!? SR: It has been difficult at times, I’m not going to lie. Anyone who has dipped their toe into podcasting, maintained a website, social media and so on, will vouch for the fact that there is a fair bit of work, time and expense that goes into putting it together.

it truly blew us away

Not only is there editing, but show notes, updating the website, sending out invites, putting relatable questions together, social media promotion. etc. And of course, there are also costs associated with putting it together in terms of media hosts, website hosting, domains, blah, blah, blah ...

MV: What were you hoping to get out of this project when you first started it, and did you achieve your goals? SR: The reason we decided to jump into podcasting, wasn’t because we like the sound of our own voice by any stretch. In fact, like most, we cringe at the sound of hearing your voice played back! It was simply HVAC&R Nation

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because when I first started listening to podcasts, about seven years ago, I was curious to see if there was much relating to the HVAC industry. And at that time, there wasn’t much around, particularly in Australia. We decided it would be a great idea to start a conversation and invite guests onto the show that we could potentially learn from and share the information with our listeners – if there were to be any! We confessed right from the beginning that we were not the gurus of the industry, but wanted to speak to the experts so they could impart their experiences and knowledge onto us, and our audience. We also made the conscious decision to not mention our own business, Morphett Air (shameless plug), because we knew that would be the nail in the coffin. We would have come across as being cheesy and salesy, and that’s not the reason we got into it in the first place. We have always tried to be as impartial as possible, and I believe we earned the respect of our listeners because of it.

Having said all of that, the satisfaction of finally getting it uploaded and live, and receiving positive feedback is euphoric.

received in response was so encouraging and supportive,

The biggest challenge of course, is during the peak seasons when there’s never enough arms and legs – as our listeners will attest to. It’s 40°C-plus in the shade, you’re absolutely cooked, and you finally get to head home, your mouth drooling over your steering wheel at the thought of an icy cold beer in hand. Feet up when you hit the couch, and the last thing you feel like doing sometimes is editing an episode.

The support that we

MV: What are some of the important things you learned along the way? SR: We honestly learned from every single guest on the show – from those who are smashing it globally

Summer 2021

with their corporation-style businesses, to the single fridgie getting about in their van, making a living and giving it a crack at running their own business. The biggest take-away for us though, has been to not underestimate or undersell what we do in this industry. You will always find someone who will do it cheaper, and to avoid the “race to the bottom”, we should be selling our acquired skills, our knowledge and the years of experience without having to discount what we do. I believe that discounting our pricing to simply win jobs only really devalues our own self-worth. I remember hearing a story of an old barber who has been working in the same shop on the same street for decades selling men’s haircuts for $30. Out of the blue, another young fella decides to open up a barber shop right next door, with a huge sign that smugly reads, “Men’s haircuts, $15”. The original barber was at first dismayed by what he had seen, but thought deeply about how he would respond. The old barber finally decided to change his own sign out the front of his shop to read, “We fix $15 haircuts!” Love it. We’ve also learned that a solid and growing business is built on the foundation of having processes and procedures in place for every single role in the business. We have spoken to many highly successful people from Australia and the US about where they started and how they grew their businesses successfully, and the underlying theme was the processes and procedures that they implemented dramatically changed their businesses. We have taken this advice with our own business, and, working with business mentors, are slowly implementing processes and procedures ourselves. It’s not as easy as you would first think, but the results I’m sure, will be everlasting.

Success stories MV: How would you describe the Australian HVAC&R community?

MV: Any favourite episodes, moments or guests? SR: There have certainly been some memorable moments and guests for us. In fact, all guests have been memorable for one reason or another, and we hope that this has been the case for our listeners too. So, it’s difficult to single out, to be honest. What I will say though, is that throughout the episodes, when Brad and I have our little mindnumbing chats at the beginning of each episode, we often briefly discussed the rising numbers relating to COVID. And now looking back at those episodes, it is incomprehensible to see where we were back in Episode 12 (May 2020). The numbers at that stage were 4.9 million cases worldwide, and a mere 7,081 cases in the whole of Australia, which at the time was extremely alarming. Fast-forward to today, and tragically, we’ve had as many deaths globally, as we had worldwide cases back then. The vaccination merely seemed like a figment of someone’s imagination and a lifetime away. We certainly didn’t expect to see it approved and rolled out as soon as it was. Some of our memorable guests on the show have included Tommy Mello (author of Homeservice Millionaire), Al Levi (The 7-Power Contractor), Ellen Rohr (a business makeover expert), Gil Cavey (HVAC Uncensored podcast), and Michael Steckler (CEO of Tradify). And we were truly fortunate to have been invited onto his podcast Behind the Tools, as well as a stack of others.

The only feedback and comments that we received were encouraging and supportive One of the stand-out connections that we made, though, was with Andy and Angela Smith from Lifestyle Tradie. We enjoyed their infectious enthusiasm, thirst for success and their values so much that we joined as members, for our own business. Andy and Angela – and their unbelievable team – are absolutely dedicated in helping trade businesses to systemise their businesses to run more smoothly, more profitably, and with the end goal of freeing up more of our valuable time to spend with family and mates. At the end of each episode, we would finish off with some light-hearted fun “get to know your personality”-type questions in a segment we called “Keepin’ it Cool in the Hot Seat”. This is where we would fire short, quirky questions at our guests to get their shortest possible answer, with a set time on the clock. It was always a segment to look forward to because our guests could relax, and their answers often had us in absolute stitches! It really brought out a side to them that we otherwise wouldn’t have seen during the interview.

SR: My first response would be “supportive”. Well, that’s what we experienced, anyway. Out of the nearly 50 episodes now, I can honestly say that we have not received any negativity, negative comments or negative feedback from the very beginning. I’m sure it’s out there somewhere, but we never saw it. The only feedback and comments that we received were encouraging and supportive, and we couldn’t be more grateful to our loyal listeners. They are a bunch of absolute bloody legends. MV: If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would be your first command? SR: Sharpen up the licensing for our industry, keep the voice of reason burning for its people, reassess the protection of the trade, and let’s look at a fairer system and options when it comes to fridgies acquiring electrical licences. And finally, make every weekend a long weekend … and I’m spent. (Mic drop). ■

POD PEOPLE To find out more about the Air Conditioning Podcast and to listen to episodes, go to www.airconditioningpodcast.com ■

There’s a whole other world of HVAC&R to discover in Ecolibrium magazine.

Get a taste of AIRAH’s official journal at www.airah.org.au/ecolibrium To advertise in ECOLIBRIUM contact — Glenn Douglas 0411 839 667 or John McGrath 0419 556 108

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Around the Nation 1

Image: Tony Phillips, courtesy of Queensland Training Awards

1 GUIDE TO GOOD HOMES

in Queensland and went on to become their first female apprentice,” says Farmer. “As a fully qualified tradesperson with the company, Lauren is recognised as a future industry leader, who has already promoted careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to other young women.”

The federal government has published the sixth edition of Your Home, an independent guide to environmentally sustainable homes. Your Home provides advice on designs, materials and appliances that can make homes more comfortable and sustainable when building, buying or renovating. Written by more than 50 experts in building design and construction, it contains the latest details on emerging energy efficiency technologies, sustainable design practices, and construction systems for the residential building sector. The information is relevant across all states and territories, and includes references to Australian Standards and the National Construction Code.

As the state’s top apprentice, Campbell is among the team of Queensland individuals and organisations that will now progress to the Australian Training Awards in November. Campbell features in our “Smoko with” section this month, on page 28. For more information about the Queensland Training Awards, go to www.qta.qld.gov.au ■

The latest edition includes new and updated content on technological advances in building and design including batteries, solar PV, roof and wall insulation, cladding systems, lighting and appliances.

3 NEW PURCHASE FOR BEIJER REF

Other new information covers building in bushfireprone areas, how to achieve Passive House standards, building using hemp masonry, and the latest information on renewable materials and energy systems. There is also updated guidance on condensation and airtightness, energy efficiency in apartments and common-area upgrades, as well as building homes that are resilient to a changing climate. Go to yourhome.gov.au ■

2 TOP HONOURS FOR RAC APPRENTICE

Campbell, from Manly West in Brisbane, was named as the winner of the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year at a virtual awards ceremony. She was congratulated by Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer. “Lauren’s interest in refrigeration started in Year 12 when she secured work experience with A. G. Coombs |

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Airstream is a manufacturer and distributor of air conditioning ducting and associated fittings. The company was established in 2011 and boasts personnel of 14 employees. The majority of Airstream’s sales are made locally in Perth. Airstream has been operating as part of the iZone business, forming a part of the company’s home solutions offering. Annual sales amount to about AUD$6 million. Beijer Ref says the acquisition will strengthen its overall presence in Western Australia. Airstream will be integrated into Beijer Ref’s subsidiary, ACD Trade, and the acquisition will have a minor impact on the Beijer Ref Group’s result and position.

Refrigeration and air conditioning tradesperson Lauren Campbell has taken out the top state award for Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 Queensland Training Awards, which this year celebrated 60 years of excellence in training.

Global refrigeration wholesaler Beijer Ref has signed an agreement to acquire all the shares in the Australian distribution company Airstream.

“Australia is an important market for Beijer Ref, and it is pleasing that we have found an opportunity to grow even further in this region,” says Beijer Ref CEO Christopher Norbye. “Airstream, which is a well-managed and fastgrowing company with a good profitability, will add value to our group. They offer several new products, such as patented zoning and connection systems.” Go to www.beijerref.com.au ■

Summer 2021

4 PIRATES IN THE PLANT ROOM! In November, AIRAH’s South Australian division, in conjunction with CIBSE, organised a site visit to Pirate Life Brewery in Port Adelaide. Pirate Life was founded by Jack Cameron, Jared “Red” Proudfoot and Michael “MC” Cameron in late 2014. Drawing on their international brewing experience, the duo turned a 1,000m2 plot in Hindmarsh, Adelaide, into a fully functioning brewery in just 12 weeks. The site visit was hosted by Pirate Life and Cold Logic, and included a detailed look at Pirate Life’s production facility. It included a tour of the site, as well as a run through a selection of beers. The tours were conducted by Sam Graydon (brand ambassador), Matty O’Callaghan (brand ambassador), Lewis Maschmedt (head brewer), Jared Proudfoot (co-founder), and Michael Riese, M.AIRAH (Cold Logic, refrigeration system provider). ■

5 TECH-DRIVEN PLAN FOR NET ZERO The federal government has released Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan, which it says will achieve net zero by 2050. A joint media release from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor says that Australia will act in a “practical, responsible way” to deliver net zero emissions by 2050 while preserving jobs and generating new opportunities for industries and regional areas. In line with previous policy statements, the government has centred the plan on investment in technology, with an emphasis on clean hydrogen, carbon capture, and energy storage. The media release also highlighted the potential of ultra-low-cost solar. But despite residential and commercial buildings accounting for more than 50 per cent of electricity use in Australia and almost a quarter of our emissions, there is little focus on improving energy efficiency in these areas, which could be

Around the Nation 6

achieved through already available technologies, including HVAC&R. Minister Taylor has emphasised that the plan “will not shut down coal or gas production”. “Our plan is built on a set of key principles; the most important being technology, not taxes,” says Taylor. “We won’t introduce a carbon tax that drives Australian jobs overseas and punishes the most vulnerable in our community through higher prices for electricity and other essentials.” ■

6 NEW ADVICE FROM SAFE WORK Safe Work Australia has updated its guidance on improving ventilation in indoor workspaces to minimise the risks of COVID-19, including a special resource on HVAC systems. For workplaces that use mechanical ventilation, Safe Work Australia recommends steps such increasing outdoor air intake and eliminating recirculation, increasing total airflow to occupied spaces, turning off demand-controlled ventilation, and running the fan continuously, even when heating or cooling is not required. There is advice on improving filtration, using and maintaining window, restroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and using air purifiers or cleaners with HEPA filters. There is information on the risks of restarting HVAC systems that have been shut down, including Legionella. The advice is based on materials from the US and UK, the measures may not apply to some Australian settings. Nor does the advice refer directly to Australian Standard AS/NZS 1668 and its requirements – the reference point for appropriate ventilation in Australia.

7 BUZZ GROWS ON ELECTRIC HOMES My Efficient Electric Home (MEEH) is a rapidly growing Australian online community where members volunteer their time to help each other improve their homes – often in relation to heating and cooling. It recently passed the milestone of 35,000 members. Group founder Tim Forcey describes MEEH as “possibly Australia’s largest continuously updated database of home improvement information”. “It has been fun to watch the group grow to 35,000,” says Forcey, “with hundreds of new members joining every week. And when the weather gets bad (cold or hot) and people are reminded how uncomfortable their homes are, that is when we see many new members flood in!” Thermal comfort is one of the main concerns discussed in the group, with people sharing information about draught-proofing, insulation, and window coverings. “My number one message both at the group and in my home comfort and energy consulting business is to heat with your aircon – find your heat button!” says Forcey. “People are becoming more aware of heating living spaces and water with heat pumps, including reverse-cycle air conditioners.

says the group. “By working together with the right knowledge, skills, motivation, products and services we can make creating light, airy, healthy, comfortable places to live (and work) that don’t cost the Earth the new normal.” The network allows professionals to get involved in projects, make business connections with others who want to drive demand for more sustainable housing in Australia, and showcase products, services, and initiatives. “This is not meant to be a passive network,” says Task Force Z. “It is about designing, building and selling sustainable homes at scale. So make sure you get involved, join a conversation, or share your knowledge.” Go to www.taskforcez.com.au ■

9 STAND TALL, PAUL! AIRAH has named Paul Bannister, F.AIRAH, as the 2021 winner of the James Harrison Medal for notable achievements in the Australian HVAC&R industry. Over his career, Bannister has focused on improving energy efficiency in buildings, especially energy related to HVAC. Bannister was heavily involved in the development of the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating System, which grew to become NABERS. He was also the driving force behind the 2019 update of Section J (Energy Efficiency) of the National Construction Code.

Go to www.facebook.com/groups/ MyEfficientElectricHome ■

8 MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU Task Force Z is looking for people to join its network of change-makers driving sustainable and zero energy homes at scale.

HVAC&R practitioners may also need to highlight to clients the energy use impacts of many of the recommendations around operation or modification of HVAC systems, as this is not mentioned in the Safe Work Australia advice. Finally, there could be maintenance impacts too.

The networking initiative has spun off from work funded by the NSW government and the National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP), which has been delivered as industry-facing projects through the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining since 2019.

Go to covid19.swa.gov.au/doc/improving-ventilationindoor-workplaces-covid-19 ■

“Task Force Z is about action and reimagining how we design, build and sell our homes,”

“I am incredibly lucky that I have been able to make a career out of something I feel passionate about: making the world a better place,” says Bannister. “This passion has kept me going through thick and thin and continues to be the thing that keeps me coming back for more.” The James Harrison Medal is the highest honour AIRAH can bestow upon an individual. Bannister will accept the medal at the AIRAH Awards 2021 ceremony, scheduled for February 17, 2022, in Sydney. Go to www.airah.org.au/awards ■

Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

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Summer 2021

Smoko with . . .

Name: Lauren Campbell ensland Company: A.G. Coombs Que and Occupation: Refrigeration cian hni tec ng oni diti air con ut working What’s the best thing abo nues ave s iou var The in HVAC&R? ng. alo you e tak can it and pathways d in How long have you worke years, five er und the industry? Just ticeship. ren app ar r-ye inclusive of my fou about the job What has surprised you ge the industry lar since you started? How t air conditioning tha act actually is, and the imp ldings, etc. and refrigeration has on bui you If someone wanted to find look for the uld on a worksite, they sho rganising and lly o ma person who is … Nor up or wasting g blin dou n’t making sure we are the job completely. time by not understanding

ever received: Best on-the-job advice you one way to complete n tha re That there’s always mo something isn’t working the job, so don’t give up if exactly how you thought. nt has been with your What’s the happiest a clie happiest when you make work? Clients are always bly out of your way their life easier, or you go visi the happiest a client to help with the problem. So ething quite simple, has been with my work is som analogue time clock. which is reprograming an old G G63, Dream car: Mercedes-AM r interior. the lea matte black with red Dream holiday: Greece.

Chicken and rice, Favourite smoko snack: is a or a cheeky churro if there nd. rou ez a Guzman y Gom the way What did you listen to on llen. Wa n rga to work today? Mo

r – just the Favourite tool: Multimete safety factor. the versatility, and of course

… When I’m not working I’m beach. the or gym the at lly ma Nor

Green Wedge

FOLLOW THE SUN A Polish firm has come up with an innovative way of transporting solar farms – no onsite assembly required. It seems there is no end to uses for shipping containers. They can be converted into self‑contained apartments, offices, cafés or sheds, or even used as pop-up shops. Now an innovative firm in Poland, MOVEit.tech, is using shipping containers to house fully transportable solar farms. With set-up completely automated, no onsite assembly is required. This, MOVEit.tech says, ensures maximum safety and reliability. “Mobile Solar is based on a standard sea container, hence you can ship it anywhere in the world,” the firm says. “Because of the folding system, the container can be ready within 15 minutes.” The unit is available is two sizes – 70m2 and 140m2.

Coming to a music festival near you!

“As a result, it is constantly aligning solar panels to ensure the highest energy yield possible.”

Because of the folding system, the container can be ready within 15 minutes Only one person is required for assembly. Hey, someone has to push the button. “One of the key functions of Mobile Solar is the ability to track the sun,” the firm says.

The unit is designed to be fully self-sufficient, even in remote locations. “You don’t need any external power to operate it,” the company says. “As a result, it’s a great alternative to standard diesel generators.” Shipping globally to 33 countries, it’s imagined Mobile Solar will have applications for desert camps, armed forces, irrigation, construction sites, and humanitarian aid. ■

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HVAC&R Nation

The Lighter Side This month’s Lighter Side brought to you by:

1 WINNER

AFTER

BEFORE

4 2

3 FANCY DUCTING To be fair, it takes quite a bit of effort to run ductwork through a beam. Thanks to Bruno for the photo. Graham says: Some ceiling spaces get tight! Often systems are sold without looking at what is involved in installing equipment in the ceiling. The choice often comes down to can we remove the timber without damaging the structural integrity of the roof (potentially dangerous). The right thing to do would be to go back to the drawing board; however, in our subcontract system with low margins there is no time to go back and explain that the proposal won’t work. Sadly, it becomes a case of “take the money and run”.

1 SCARY CEILING

This nightmare was found by Darren. 4 “The return air was left in the ceiling space,” he says, “The unit was sitting on two concrete slabs. The drain was done in electrical conduit and plumbing PVC. Nothing Theo was replacing this unit due to faulty electrical components was glued. They started drilling a hole out the wall for the drain and stopped halfway!” and didn’t realise the extent of the rust until the compressor dropped out. Darren wins the prize for the photo of the original – and for the one of his repairs. “Had to flip the unit over to get it back to the ute in one piece,” he says. “I still pulled out the full refrigerant charge, strangely enough.” Graham says: Unbelievable! I am lost for words.

RUST BUCKET

2 BUILDERS COULDN’T WAIT Brendan came across this when quoting a job in Warrnambool, Victoria. “The builders carefully laid back the indoor unit that was still connected,” he says. “Luckily it had been electrically isolated.” Graham says: It comes down to who was coordinating the job, who did the quote, and did anyone allow for moving the air conditioner? If it was already isolated, maybe the builders just got there before the AC technician arrived to move the unit. It costs money to sit around waiting.

Graham says: Corrosion is not unusual especially in humid climates. Many domestic splits never get looked at after installation, which means they are operating inefficiently for years with blocked condensers and evaporators until they finally give up. It’s when the compressor itself rusts out that you lose the charge.

5 PIGGYBACK POWER Michael from Queensland found one outdoor unit hard-wired to another, with no isolator. Graham says: Downright dangerous.

Additional comments and observations provided by Graham Boyle, F.AIRAH, portfolio manager, heavy automotive and refrigeration at South Metropolitan TAFE. Please note that the comments are provided on the basis of the photos only and should be read with this in mind – not all issues or solutions are apparent from a 2D image.

HAVE YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING SCARY, UGLY OR JUST PLAIN FUNNY? If your entry is deemed the monthly winner, a 700ml bottle of Jim Beam will be on its way to your door. Please include a postal address with your entry. Entrants must be 18 or over. Send your hi-res (>500KB) photos to Editor, Mark Vender at mark.vender@airah.org.au

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Summer 2021

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HVAC&R Nation

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HUMIDITY SENSOR Monitors humidity to accurately control supply air temperature for comfortable and effective dehumidification of the room during Program Dry Function operation.

STREAMER TECHNOLOGY CLASH Discharges highDecomposes speed electrons harmful substances trapped by generating powerful oxidative the High Efficiency Particulate Filter. decomposition that continuously removes odours, bacteria and indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde.

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HVAC&R Nation Summer 2021-22

Articles inside

HVAC&R Nation regulars

Success stories

Lighter Side

Around the Nation

The Toolshed

WorldSkills Update