HVACR News June-July 2023

What

Going full circle

We deal with HVAC&R equipment every day, but how much thought do we give to where it came from, or where it will go when it reaches end of life? Louise Bellfield speaks to experts about the

our

Based in the Clare Valley in South Australia, Jim Barry Wines

SLOW NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

I was watching a TED Talk recently featuring Kevin Kelly, the founding editor of Wired magazine, explaining why we should be optimistic going into the future. It’s a tough corner to argue, but he piqued my interest when he said that modern day media gives us a negative view of the world.

“When we are compressing our news cycle to the last five minutes and the next five minutes, all the things that have happened in the last five minutes are kind of bad stuff,” he says. “If we were to make newspapers and websites be updated every 100 years, we’d have a very different set of headlines.”

It’s a valid point. You will not get a Google alert about someone whose life was saved by a standard medical procedure. Nor will the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper have a picture of someone who wasn’t mugged on the way home from work. The old saying: if it bleeds it leads. In general, bad news attracts more attention than good. That goes double for the fast moving world of digital media. In Johann Hari’s book Stolen Focus, he writes about negativity bias, the phenomenon by which people tend to stare at something negative and outrageous for a lot longer than they will stare at something

positive and calm. The result? The algorithms that manage our online feeds prioritise items that push our emotional buttons.

“On YouTube, what are the words that you should put into the title of your video, if you want to get picked up by the algorithm?” Hari writes. “They are –according to the best site monitoring YouTube trends – words such as ‘hates, obliterates, slams, destroys’.”

It’s interesting to note, especially in a world where we increasingly accept that videos are the best way of transmitting information to young learners.

In fact, numerous studies are now showing the existence of “screen inferiority” – people retain less information if they read it on a screen, compared to a printed page. According to Hari, this gap in understanding between books and screens is big enough that in elementary school children, it’s the equivalent of two thirds of a year’s growth in reading comprehension.

I’m not here to rubbish online media. I spend my fair share of time on socials and other websites. But I do want to take a moment to appreciate the article that you are now reading as an example of something calmer, something slower, hopefully something that will stay with you a little longer.

Here, away from the braying alerts and social media sirens, you’ll find a couple of positive feature stories – one about a refrigeration system helping a third generation family business go boldly into the future (p. 10), and another on our increasing awareness of the full life cycle in building and construction (p. 20).

I invite you to pause, ignore the messages and alerts with their calamitous headlines, and enjoy browsing through these pages for some good news from the world of HVAC&R.

Mark Vender Editor

Photo by Melissa Keizer on Unsplash

The APAC Advantage

Commercial Ducted Air Conditioning Solutions for Australian Conditions

APAC is Australia’s supplier of choice for industrial and commercial air conditioning, due to our innovative approach to heating and cooling. Our extensive industry experience means we can develop a solution for any sized commercial or industrial application, from high rise building and warehouse applications to retail and shopping centre heating and cooling. With many years of design and manufacture under our belt, we understand the harsh operating environments and unique conditions our customers need to service. APAC not only manufactures products to suit these difficult specifications, but create the equipment with long lasting robustness and high quality design from the bottom up. What’s more, our extensive range offers many benefits that puts APAC ahead of the pack:

• Flexible

Unmatched list of factory fitted options to make the product suitable for almost all applications.

• Low installation cost

A perfect match to pre-existing APAC product footprints without costly modifications.

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Best in class efficiency throughout the product range for lower power bills.

• Low noise

Speed controlled fans that slow down during lower ambient temperatures for less noise.

Smooth operator

Hitachi has recently released its SmoothDrive 2.0 technology as part of its updated Hitachi Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air365 Max Pro.

The company says this technology contributes to the very high levels of energy efficiency defining the Hitachi VRF HVAC solutions, under part load operation.

“The SmoothDrive 2.0 further improves efficiency, particularly at 10 to 35 per cent part load thanks to its 0.1°C temperature monitoring sensitivity,” Hitachi says. “The SmoothDrive 2.0 helps the scroll compressor to run continuously and smoothly, even under part load conditions.”

Hitachi says the integration of inverter technology into SmoothDrive 2.0 is key for greater accuracy of the overall refrigerant flow.

“Hitachi SmoothDrive 2.0 continuously tracks the indoor temperature in each zone and identifies gaps with the set temperatures,” the firm says. “Combining real‑time indoor monitoring and the VRF system datapoint, SmoothDrive 2.0 constantly calculates the right amount of refrigerant needed to maintain seamless indoor comfort.”

Hitachi says SmoothDrive 2.0 contributes to 39 per cent less energy consumption at 33 per cent part load operation.

“In addition, the all new Sigma shaped heat exchanger and gas injection scroll compressor extend the compressor operating range and increase heating or cooling capacity, leading to a wider outdoor unit operating temperature range and better efficiency,” Hitachi says. “As a result, the air365 Max Pro attains unparalleled efficiency performance.” Go to www.hitachiaircon.com/au/ ■

2 Dwyer releases IDPT transmitter

Dwyer has released its industrial differential pressure transmitter, the Series IDPT.

“These transmitters feature a rugged housing and highly stable accuracy for a long service life in most industrial applications, including semiconductor, pharmaceutical, laboratories, fume hoods, HVAC pressure, critical measurement, and high purity,” Dwyer says.

“The Series IDPT Industrial Differential Pressure Transmitter features a rugged, water resistant housing and highly stable accuracy for a long service life in most industrial applications,” Dwyer continues. “This pressure transmitter utilises a capacitive pressure sensor on ranges 0 to 0.25 in w.c. to 0 to 1 in w.c. and a piezo sensor on ranges 0 to 2.5 in w.c. to 0 to 10 in w.c., both of which offer accuracy options of 0.25 per cent or 0.5 per cent full scale.”

Dwyer says the cap cell allows the IDPT to maintain critical processes in industrial applications. The series offers a 4–20mA 2 wire version for a loop powered current output as well as a 0–5V/0–10V selectable voltage output version.

Go to www.dwyer inst.com.au ■

3

Hi-Flo upgraded

Camfil has upgraded its Hi Flo brand of bag filters for ePM1 60 per cent and ePM10 60 per cent efficiencies.

“With customers facing dramatic increases in energy costs as well as societal demands for all companies to act more sustainably,”  says the company, “the new Hi‑Flo upgrade has been designed to support both of these key aspects for building owners.”

According to Camfil, the Hi Flo bag filter has been used for more than 50 years in a full range of buildings

– from pharmaceutical production and hospitals to office buildings and commercial centres – to help protect people, processes and the environment. The product has been manufactured with a focus on energy saving properties, as well as stable and reliable performance.

“With this product upgrade, current Hi Flo users will be able to reduce energy consumption without changing anything,” says Camfil. “By converting non‑Hi‑Flo users or choosing a higher performing filtration class, this figure can be more than twice as big.”

Camfil says the upgraded filters also reduce energy consumption, which will reduce emissions, and provide savings for end users.

Go to www.camfil.com/en au/ ■

4 Fujitsu’s high times

Fujitsu General has introduced a new high static R32 ducted air conditioning range that it says delivers an innovative blend of sustainability, compatibility, useability and high performance. The new range includes single phase R32, single phase R32 high performance (HP), and three phase R32 models.

Fujitsu says the indoor units all feature the same lightweight and compact chassis design, meaning the range is able to fit in tighter spaces and is easier to manoeuvre, providing greater compatibility and convenience for installers. Similarly, the outdoor unit is also smaller to enable more flexibility to install in narrower spaces, with 500mm of clearance required at the front of both the single and double fan outdoor units.

Fujitsu General Head of Product ANZ Kyle Rafter says the models have a 67 per cent lower global warming potential factor than R410a, while still maintaining performance.

“The High Static R32 ducted range is part of Fujitsu General’s ongoing commitment to lowering the global warming potential of its products, while providing an enhanced product experience for both installers and consumers,” Rafter says.

The High Static R32 range features automatic static pressure adjustment and custom auto mode. These allow the cooling and heating modes to maintain different set points, enabling the unit to automatically switch between heating and cooling modes to maintain a desired room temperature between two temperature set points, the company says.

“All models have a maximum guaranteed ambient operating temperature range of up to 50°C in cooling mode, have demand response, and are zone system compatible,” says Rafter. Go to www.fujitsugeneral.com.au ■

5 Twice as nice from CSR

Building products company CSR has launched two new online tools: the CSR System Selector and CSR Thermal Calculator. From selecting the optimum system for a project to understanding the thermal qualities of walls, roofs and floors, each platform is designed to offer comprehensive design information and complete system solutions, which are constantly updated with the latest innovations in technology and product developments.

“We have worked hard to deliver comprehensive and easy‑to use platforms that respond to our customers’ needs,” says Gary May, EGM CSR Customer Solutions.

The CSR System Selector helps choose the right building systems for projects. The selector is backed by CSR to ensure that each system will satisfy design and building code requirements.

The CSR Thermal Calculator generates thermal performance calculations for wall, roof and floor systems.

“CSR has one of Australia’s largest portfolios of building materials manufacturers for construction of homes and commercial buildings,” says May. “The new digital tools will be of considerable benefit to experts in the industry looking to secure the best possible outcomes for their customers by providing solutions backed by CSR’s trusted name.”

Go to apps.csr.com.au ■

6 Ductmate goes Pro

PROflex is a flexible duct connector designed to isolate equipment noise and vibration from ductwork. It consists of a fabric secured to sheet metal on both sides. Typically, the connector is inserted between the equipment and the ductwork. PROflex is available in various lengths: 305m, 229m and 152m. Custom sizes and lengths are available to meet specific production needs.

Ductmate says that PROflex master rolls, when used with any automated flexible duct connector machinery, will significantly reduce labour time and machine downtime, resulting in savings. A PROflex 305m roll will also significantly reduce the scrap produced compared to the standard 30m roll, according to Ductmate.

“With the unsurpassed high quality of Ductmate’s PROflex, why waste any of the product,” the company says. “The more you use, the more you save.”

“An automated flexible duct connector machine used with PROflex master rolls will also allow you to take the guesswork and the possibility of user error out of the cutting process.”

Go to ductmate.com ■

7 HEVAC’s CO carpark controller

HEVAC, an Australian company specialising in control systems for the commercial air conditioning industry, has a new offering in its range of carpark CO control systems.

The new SACO is a standalone wall mount sensor/ controller that complies fully to Standards Australia AS 1668.2‑2012 for CO management, fan fault monitoring and minimum timed ventilation requirements, says HEVAC. According to the company, the Australian designed and manufactured SACO is suited for small, enclosed motor vehicle garages and lockups with poor or no natural ventilation not exceeding 25m sensing from the monitor.

The SACO is capable of direct control of on/ off fans up to 5 amps or variable speed control of VSD or EC controlled fans, the company says.

For larger area systems, HEVAC recommends its HCP7 CO controller with the required number of remote wall‑mounted HGSU CO sensors to suit the size of the carpark.

Go to hevac.com.au ■

SINGAPORE

GIVE ‘EM A SPRAY

Data centres in Singapore account for 7 per cent of the nation’s total electricity consumption. With demand for cloud computing increasing, a sustainable solution is needed to reduce the country’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Now, researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore say they have developed a more sustainable method for cooling down servers in data centres, potentially reducing both energy costs and carbon footprint by up to 26 per cent.

The new method uses a special spray of non conductive fluids to cool the CPU directly, without a heatsink. A closed loop system is designed to collect the fluids and cool them in tropical ambient air temperature without the need of a chiller or air conditioning.

“This will also allow CPUs to run faster and perform better than today’s speeds, which are limited by air cooling, since faster speeds currently lead to higher temperatures,” the researchers say.

“As spray cooling has a higher heat rejection capability, it is estimated it will also require 30 per cent less space than a conventional air cooled data centre.” ■

SWEDEN

COOLING WITH COCONUTS

Researchers in Stockholm, Sweden have used coconuts, lemons, and modified wood to create a “wood composite thermal battery”.

According to the research study, when used in housing construction, the material can capture both heat and cold. Given an ambient temperature of 24°C, the team estimated that 100kg of the material could save about 2.5kWh per day in heating or cooling.

The process begins with removing lignin from wood, which opens pores in the material and makes the wood transparent. The gaps are then filled with citrus (limonene acrylate) and coconut based molecules.

When heated, limonene acrylate molecules transform into a bio based polymer, restoring the wood’s strength and allowing light to permeate. As a result, the coconut molecules can become trapped inside the material, facilitating energy storage and release.

Study author Céline Montanari says that the coconut molecules can transition from a solid to liquid, which absorbs energy; or from liquid to solid, which releases energy, in much the same way that water freezes and melts. This transition method can heat or cool the immediate surroundings as needed. ■

GERMANY

AN ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITION

A magnetic cooling startup company in Darmstadt, Germany, has attracted the equivalent of more than AUD$10 million in funding to begin mass production of its beverage refrigerators, which are cooled by a temperature active metal. Rather than using conventional refrigerants, the magnetic cooling technology exploits the magnetocaloric effect in iron based rare earth alloys. These heat up when magnetised and cool down when demagnetised. Using a circulating heat exchange fluid, the heat and cold is captured from the material into water x heat exchangers. They are also adaptable to operating temperatures between 100°C and +80°C, with temperature spans up to 50K. And because of low operating pressures of 2–3bar, the company says maintenance is safe and easy.

The company, MagnoTherm Solutions, was established in 2019.

“Our magnetic cooling is not only up to 40 per cent more efficient than conventional solutions, but also produces no direct greenhouse gases,” says MagnoTherm co CEO Timur Sirman.

“With ‘Polaris’, we have developed the first magnetic beverage cooler, making us the world’s first commercial supplier of this technology at room temperature.” ■

ISRAEL

WORLD’S FIRST GIGAFACTORY?

Israel based thermal energy storage firm Brenmiller Energy has inaugurated a factory targeting 4GWh of annual production capacity by the end of 2023, the first such gigafactory anywhere, it claims.

The company announced the opening of its thermal energy storage gigafactory in Dimona, Israel, saying it will be its primary manufacturing hub. Production lines are expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year and will be able to produce 4GWh of Brenmiller’s bGen modules annually.

Its bGen solution charges by heating rocks using electrical power, then stores that power at a temperature of 750°C, and discharges by releasing the accumulated heat into pressurised water, generating steam for electricity or for industrial heating.

“The need for energy independence throughout the EU is indisputable,” says the European Investment Bank’s Thomas Östros. “Renewables alone, however, will not solve our energy or climate crisis. Long duration energy storage is critical to back up renewable intermittency, decarbonise our electric grids and industrial factories, and ensure a secure energy supply.” ■

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VINTAGE ADVANTAGE

Along with its world-renowned reds, South Australia is known for producing high- quality cool- climate wine varieties such as riesling. In an often warm climate, energy-efficient refrigeration is a critical part of the winemaking process, as Sean McGowan reports.

Image: Matt Turner.

The Barry name has been synonymous with South Australia’s Clare Valley since Jim Barry became the first qualified winemaker in the region when he graduated from the famous Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947.

Helping shape the Clare Valley wine region –a little over an hour north of Adelaide – Jim Barry worked for 22 years as a winemaker at the Clarevale Co‑operative. During this time, he became a pioneer of Australian table wine before forming Jim Barry Wines with wife Nancy. Soon after, sons Peter, Mark and John became involved in the company’s rise, with Peter becoming managing director in 1985. Today, Jim Barry Wines remains proudly family owned and operated.

Peter’s children Tom, Sam and Olivia work as General Manager, Commercial Manager and Brand Ambassador respectively, and three generations of the family are now Roseworthy graduates.

As well as producing award winning reds such as shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, Jim Barry Wines is known for its cool climate rieslings, made predominantly with grapes from two special vineyards nearby.

The 32 hectare Florita Vineyard, located 15km south of the Clare township, features gently rolling hills and shallow loamy soils. It is dominated by 50 year old riesling vines that have produced famed Watervale rieslings since the 1960s.

The 133 hectare Lodge Hill Vineyard, to Clare’s east, has seen riesling vines grown on its southern slopes since they were first planted in 1979. The morning

REMARKABLE RIESLINGS

2015 THE FLORITA RIESLING CELLAR RELEASE

Spanish for “little flower”, the Florita riesling was first released in 2004 by Jim Barry Wines. This micro batch riesling is made from grapes hand selected from individual rows. Its best fruit comes from vines planted in shallow loamy soils. The vineyard also has good air drainage, which alleviates the risk of frost.

2022 SINGLE VINEYARD Mc KAY’S RIESLING

Each year, Jim Barry Wines identifies distinctive parcels of fruit that reflect the vineyard in which they are grown. This small‑batch project allows it to create unique, vintage specific wines that highlight the best fruit from vineyards owned by the Barry family.

sun and alkaline siltstone below loamy topsoil combine to create an ideal environment for growing intensely flavoured, finely structured rieslings. These vineyards have produced numerous award‑winning vintages, including the 2022 Florita and Lodge Hill Riesling vintages. The family’s dedication to the development and promotion of the variety also led to it being

This riesling was sourced from the McKay’s Vineyard at Watervale and picked slightly later than usual to deliver a more generous and opulent style. A small parcel underwent cool fermentation in aged French barrels to enhance the texture of the wine.

2022 WATERVALE RIESLING

Located 15km south of the Clare township, the tiny village of Watervale is nestled in South Australia’s Clare Valley and is internationally renowned for the quality of its rieslings.

A consistently awarded wine since its first release in 1974, the Watervale riesling is picked from select parcels of vines that achieve ripeness with naturally high acid levels. ■

Source: www.jimbarry.com

recognised with the Wolf Blass AM BVK Award at the 21st Canberra International Riesling Challenge in 2022.

“Making riesling in the Clare Valley is an incredible privilege,” says third generation winemaker and general manager Tom Barry.

“I am grateful to my parents and grandparents for their hard work and foresight, which has afforded us the opportunity to make this wonderful variety.”

NATURAL GROWTH

As well as the soil in which the variety is grown, temperature control is a critical parameter in quality wine production. This is especially so for South Australian wineries, where the climate varies from cool to hot, depending on the season.

Refrigeration addresses some of these challenges, but creates a set of others. Refrigeration is typically the largest consumer of electricity in Australian wineries –accounting for 50 to 70 per cent of total electricity use.

So when it foresaw a rise in the demand of its famed riesling, Jim Barry Wines sought a holistic solution to the upgrade of its refrigeration plant that recognised the importance of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

This led to Jim Barry Wines approaching refrigeration specialist Cold Logic.

The South Australian based company has serviced some of the biggest names in the Australian wine industry for nearly 40 years. Cold Logic says its installations have chilled 13.5 million tonnes of crushed grapes – the equivalent of 870 million cases of wine.

“Cold Logic is passionate about helping our clients improve their efficiencies and environmental impact,” says Cold Logic partner Eddie Lane.

“We aspire to minimise the impact of refrigeration on the environment through actively promoting national refrigerants and minimising the electrical energy consumed by the system.”

After a careful assessment that considered the existing unreliable and ageing refrigeration plant, and the future goals and growth of Jim Barry Wines, Cold Logic determined that an ammonia (NH3) refrigeration plant would best suit the long term aspirations of the winemaker.

A cost comparison analysis against alternatives followed, which considered the use of synthetic refrigerants and whole of life cost.

Ammonia emerged as the most appropriate option.

“Ammonia refrigeration is the most efficient refrigerant in industrial applications, with a very high COP (coefficient of performance) efficiency factor,” says Lane.

“Ammonia is a natural refrigerant, is 100 per cent environmentally friendly with zero global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depleting potential (ODP). In short, it represented Jim Barry Wines with both the most energy efficient system and environmentally friendly option.”

THE PLANT

The brief from Jim Barry Wines called for a refrigeration system designed to meet the capacities of 4,000 tonnes of crushed grapes, and whole bunch pressing of 15 tonnes of riesling per day during vintage – when grapes are harvested from the vineyards and prepared to be made into wine.

The system would also need to provide for chilling of 200 tonnes of must (raw crushed grapes) and 500kL cold stabilisation from 20˚C to 2˚C.

This equated to a total capacity demand of approximately 450kWr.

“Experience in wineries and knowledge of these processes was pivotal in getting the right total heat loads and allowing for future growth targets to be achieved,” says Lane.

The ammonia refrigeration plant was designed and assembled at Cold Logic’s Port Adelaide factory. Meanwhile, minor earth moving works were carried out at the Clare winery to accommodate the evaporative condenser.

With the COVID 19 pandemic creating a number of supply chain challenges, including longer than‑normal lead times, strong project management by the Cold Logic team was critical.

Once pre assembled, the refrigeration system was transported via road from Port Adelaide to Clare. A large pull down on the existing glycol tank was also completed to allow for a thermal buffer to cater for a week long shutdown.

The existing chiller was then removed to allow for positioning of the new ammonia package

and condenser, while the existing brine pumps were reconfigured so that the new refrigeration plant could handle the large “lumps” in load during vintage.

The existing hot and cold glycol tanks were also retained.

This changeover, including site installation and commissioning, was completed in just one week and well before vintage.

Standard ammonia safety systems were installed, including breathing apparatus, wind socks and regulatory signage.

Lane explains that the plant at Jim Barry Wines is controlled via a proprietary control system that works on the glycol tank temperature.

Jim Barry Wines General Manager Tom Barry (left) and Cold Logic partner Eddie Lane raise a toast to the new plant.

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NEW VINTAGE

The new ammonia refrigeration system at Jim Barry Wines has been in operation since reaching completion in 2021. Since then, it has delivered an energy cost reduction of 30 per cent compared to previous annualised costs associated with the former air cooled chiller.

“Jim Barry Wines is very concerned about climate change and we feel a responsibility to act immediately,” says Barry.

“The new ammonia refrigeration plant will help guarantee the long term supply of high quality riesling, will offer significant environmental benefits and substantial energy savings.”

To this end, Barry hopes that sharing the energy savings from the refrigeration upgrade will provide fellow viticulturists and wineries with the confidence and encouragement to consider ammonia based refrigeration.

Internally, the adoption of a natural refrigerant with zero GWP has been well received by the winemaker’s employees, who have acknowledged the positive contribution the company is making to the environment.

The new refrigeration plant represents a significant step on the winemaker’s journey to becoming a carbon neutral company.

“For most companies, having a sustainability plan is no longer a differentiator but an expectation from customers and employees,” says Lane.

“Cold Logic is buoyed to be playing an important role in making net zero carbon emissions a reality, and we love being a part of the most innovative winemaking industry in the world.” ■

PROJECT AT A GLANCE

THE PERSONNEL

▲ Client: Jim Barry Wines

▲ Controls: Sabroe (proprietary)

▲ Refrigeration design: Cold Logic

▲ Refrigeration contractor: Cold Logic

THE EQUIPMENT

▲ Chillers: Johnson Controls/Sabroe

▲ Compressors: Johnson Controls/Sabroe

▲ Condensers: Bao Feng

▲ Controls: Johnson Controls/UNISAB

▲ Pumps: Grundfos

▲ Sensors: ifm

▲ Valves: Danfoss

▲ VSDs: Danfoss

For most companies, having a sustainability plan is no longer a differentiator but an expectation

The Lodge Hill vineyard was first planted with riesling in 1979.

Image: Don Brice.

The famous Florita vineyard was planted with palomino grapes in 1946 for making fino sherry and replanted to riesling in 1962.

Image: Don Brice.

Skills summary

■ What?

A guide to the fundamentals of water flow in HVAC systems.

■ Who?

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

Pressure

Definition and units

Pressure (p) is a measure of the effect of a force, expressed by dividing the force by the area it is acting on:

p = Force/Area = F/A

Pressure (p) is defined in Newton per square metre (N/m²). The SI unit ‘Pascal’ was created to take the place of Newton/m².

1 Pascal (Pa) is the pressure (or stress) exerted by a force of 1 Newton acting on an area of 1m², 1 Pa = 1 N/m². Therefore:

p = h × ρ × g (Pa)

Other units have been used to express pressure as follows:

Bar (bar) 1 barometric pressure = 101.3kPa ~ 100,000Pa

Millibar (mbar) 1000mbar = 1 bar

Pound per square inch (psi) Imperial measure (lb/in² or psi), 1psi = 6.9kPa

Feet head of water Imperial equivalent to metres head

Inches Water Gauge ("WG) Same as feet head of water, but expressed in inches

Inches or mm of Mercury. Similar to a water column, but using mercury

FUNDAMENTALS OF WATER FLOW

This Skills Workshop provides an overview of the theory and fundamentals of the science water flow as it relates to fluid flow in a hydronic distribution system. To solve any flow problem, a basic knowledge of the physical properties of the fluid is required.

The objective of most HVAC&R pumping applications is to either circulate liquid around a piping system (e.g., chilled or heated water coils) or to transfer a liquid from a source to a final destination (e.g., header tank).

Pressure is required to overcome the system losses and make the liquid flow. Losses can be due to friction of pipe, fittings and components or static pressure differences due to differences in height between the source and the destination, or to overcome the existing pressure in a vessel into which a liquid is being pumped.

The following factors enable conversion between the various metric units and from imperial to kPa:

Static or velocity pressure

Pressure within a pumped system is split into static pressure and velocity pressure.

Static pressure ( ps) is the pressure developed by the difference in height of the liquid source and destination, or is the pressure of the vessel into which the liquid is being discharged. In closed loop systems that are not open to atmosphere, the static pressure is often zero, unless a header tank or pressurisation unit is included in the system, where the static pressure will then be set by the make up pressure.

Velocity pressure ( pv) is the pressure needed to overcome the frictional resistance of the system, including pipes, fittings and components.

Total pressure

The sum of the system static pressure and velocity pressure is called the total pressure ( pt ):

pt = ps + pv

Where:

pt = Total pressure (Pa)

ps = Static pressure (Pa)

Gauge or absolute pressure

Pressure is usually expressed in “gauge pressure”, which is the pressure above or below atmospheric pressure. Sometimes, pressure is expressed as “absolute pressure”, which is relative to a perfect vacuum.

Absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure

Note that the atmospheric pressure exerted by air at sea level will generate 101.325kPa; this is reduced to only 89.9kPa at an altitude of 1,000m. Canberra, for example, has an elevation of 243.84m (800 feet), equivalent to 98.44kPa.

pv = Velocity pressure (Pa).

Velocity pressure can be transformed to static pressure and static pressure can be transformed to velocity pressure. Static pressure is measured with a pressure gauge, and must always be measured in a static liquid or through a pressure tap mounted perpendicular to the flow direction.

Total pressure can be measured through a pressure tap with the opening facing the flow direction. The velocity pressure can be found by measuring the pressure difference between total pressure and static pressure. Such a combined pressure measurement can be performed using an annular flow device.

Annular flow device tubes measure ps and pt and can be used to calculate pv (see Figure 1).

Velocity pressure ( pv) is a function of the liquid velocity. The velocity pressure can be calculated with the following equation, where the velocity (V ) is measured and the liquid density ( ρ) is known:

pv = ½ρ V²

Where:

pv = Velocity pressure (Pa)

ρ = Density of liquid being pumped (kg/m³)

V = Velocity of liquid being pumped (m/s).

Head

Definition of head

Head is the term used to define the energy supplied to the liquid by the pump. The increase in pressure between the inlet and outlet of a pump (i.e., the pressure increase imposed on the piping system by the pump) is due to the momentum imparted by the impeller. This in turn is a function of the velocity at the tip of the impeller. Similar to total pressure, total head is made up of static head (Hs) and dynamic head (Hd ).

If two identical pumps, operating in identical conditions, are pumping different liquids, the head (H), which is the height of a column of the liquid at the pump discharge that each pump can sustain, will be (if the effects of pipe friction are ignored) identical. The pressure developed by each pump will also be the same unless the densities of the liquids being pumped differ. The head, also known as the liquid column, is a function of the impeller velocity and pump construction, it is entirely independent of the liquid being pumped.

Converting head to pressure

Pressure can be calculated from a known head as follows: p = g x H x ρ 1000

Where:

p = pressure (kPa)

g = acceleration due to gravity (m²)

H = head (m)

ρ = density of liquid being pumped (kg/m³).

Example

Both pumps in Figure 3 will produce a liquid column of H metres. However, if Pump 1 handles water and Pump 2 handles mercury, pressure gauge P1 will register a pressure equal to:

9.8 × H × 1000/1000 = 9.8 × H (kPa).

The density of mercury is 13,600 kg/m³ and hence pressure gauge P2 will register a pressure equal to:

9.8 × H × 13,600/1000 = 133.3 × H (Pa).

Note that, although the head is the same, the pressures are very different.

The power required for pumping any liquid is proportional to the product of the density of the liquid and the height it has to be elevated. Therefore, if Pump 1 requires 10kW,

then Pump 2 would require 13.6 x 10 = 136kW. Hence, the difference with Pump 2 is that the discharge pressure and the power consumption will be 13.6 times that of Pump 1. Since both pumps have the same physical dimensions, they will deliver the same volumes of different liquids so long as the viscosities are the same.

In summary

• Regardless of the density of the liquid, the centrifugal pump will always produce the same head if operating conditions and speed are maintained constant.

• The pressure (read from a gauge at the discharge) will be increased in direct proportion to the ratio of the density

of the liquid to that of water at 15°C; i.e., the specific gravity of the liquid.

• The power required by the pump will also be increased in proportion to the ratio of the density of the liquid to that of water at 15°C; i.e., the specific gravity of the liquid.

Terminology – pressure or head

When working with pumps, the word head is often used to define pressure.

Note: The terms head and pressure are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Pump manufacturers have traditionally preferred to use head when specifying pump performance. The main reason for this is that a particular pump always sustains a given head regardless of the liquid it is pumping.

Figure 1 – Annular flow device

– Identical pumps handling different liquids produce the same head

The HVAC&R industry uses both terms, with a slight preference for pressure. This is simply because air conditioning system designers generally work with pressure when calculating piping system performance; i.e., they use pipe pressure loss charts, fitting losses based on pressure rather than head and pressure losses through coils, chillers, etc., all expressed in kPa. There is little problem with this while the liquid being pumped is water at the normal temperatures encountered in air conditioning systems (typically 8–10°C for chilled water and 45–85°C for heating water). The density of water varies little from 1,000kg/m³ within these temperature ranges.

Another reason for using pressure terminology instead of head is that, in an actual HVAC&R installation, the gauges on the pump suction and discharge normally display pressure, not head.

Pump head terminology

When the hydraulic fluid flows continuously between the pump, plant and the terminal units (serving a coil) without going to the reservoir, then the system is called a closed loop hydraulic system. When the system is open to atmospheric pressure it is called an open system.

Pascal’s law states that any pressure applied to a fluid inside a closed system will transmit that pressure equally everywhere and in all directions, which in turn ensures the pump operating pressure will not allow the possibility of cavitation of the pump. For an open loop system, a height of the make up tank must be sufficient to ensure that cavitation cannot be present.

The following covers some common terms and quantities relating to pump or system head (see Figure 4).

• Dynamic discharge head is equal to static discharge head plus friction head plus velocity head.

• Dynamic suction head is equal to positive static suction head minus friction head minus velocity head.

• Dynamic suction lift is the sum of suction lift and velocity head at the pump suction (when the source is below the pump centreline).

Friction head is the height of liquid (metres) that represents system resistance caused by flow.

• Static head is the hydrostatic height of a fluid. In a closed system, the static head has no effect on performance apart from the pump casing being able to handle the static head within the system.

• Static suction head is the positive vertical height in metres from the pump centreline to the free surface of the fluid.

Static suction lift is the distance in metres from the pump centreline to the free surface of the fluid (below the pump centreline). Suction head is the height of fluid above the centreline of the pump on the suction side of the pump.

In order to size a pump, the following would apply (for an open system only):

• Static pressure minus suction head equals actual static head pressure loss Suction lift is the height the fluid must be lifted within an open type system on the suction side of the pump to reach the centreline of the pump

Total dynamic head is the dynamic discharge head plus dynamic suction lift, or dynamic discharge head minus dynamic suction head Dynamic discharge head equals static discharge head plus friction head plus velocity head

• Velocity head is the height of fluid corresponding to the kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid divided by gravitational acceleration.

Flow rate

Flow velocity

Flow velocities are usually determined during the design stage.

Flow-rate tolerance

Flow rate tolerances will be designated by the design engineer in the TAB specifications, typically as stated in CIBSE Code W.

The heating water flow rate should be between ±10% of design, even though hot water systems can normally tolerate a wider flow

deviation because of the larger temperature differential between supply and return.

The ±10% tolerance is economically achievable and can eliminate side effects caused by low water velocity, air purge problems, etc.. However, terminals using low temperature hot water as found in heat recovery systems may require the tolerance to be within ±5% of design flow rate.

Varying pump flow

In some hydronic systems, the flow rate is changed by either varying the pump speed or by the sequencing constant speed multiple pumps on and off (see Figure 5).

Varying pump speed is preferred because of the significantly reduced energy cost brought about by the reduction in pump pressure and water flow rate. For a constant speed pumped system, as the flow is reduced due to the load requirements, the pump pressure is increased with no resultant energy savings. Most of the control valves would be closed or near closed at times of low load. For variable speed pumps, as the load diminishes, the water flow rate is reduced and at the same time the pressure on the pump is reduced, leading to lower power required and less energy consumed by the pump.

It should be noted that the use of a variable‑speed pump will not overcome or even help in any way the problems associated with a system that is poorly balanced. If the flow rate is incorrect initially or at full flow, it will stay that way as the pump pressure is varied. Hence there is still the need to perform a water balance regardless of a variable speed pump being installed.

The terminal units in most variable volume systems have individual two way control valves that allow full diversity or random loading (0–100%).

A minimum pressure differential must be allowed for in the design stage to ensure that all terminals receive the design flow rate at all times.

Hydronic pressure losses

Hydronic systems are subject to the same types of frictional losses and dynamic losses through fittings as experienced in air distribution systems. Pressure loss data for piping system components are supplied by the manufacturers and are expressed in one of the following terms:

• Equivalent metres of pipe Kilopascals (kPa)

• Metres of water.

Figure 5 – Varying pump flow by varying impeller diameter or speed

The Kv value describes the amount of water that flows through the valve at a pressure loss of 1 bar. The Kvs value describes the Kv value when the valve is fully open.

This is a measured characteristic of the valve body against an actual pressure drop. For a known flow rate, all valves have a measurable pressure drop across them:

p = ( m³/hr )² × 100 kv = ( 3.6 × L/s )² × 100 kv

Frictional losses in pipes may vary due to:

• The condition of the piping

• The ageing process of the piping

• Chemical treatment of the system

Changes in the pH level of the system.

A closed system will remain relatively clean due to the fact that minimal water is added to the system apart from water that has been lost through leakage (gland packings), hence there will be small variation in the system pressure loss.

On the other hand, any system open to atmosphere and the dust therein (e.g., a condenser water system) will over time accumulate debris and suffer corrosion, which will generate a higher pressure loss per metre of piping than an equivalent closed system. Appropriate water treatment and filtration and straining can help to keep open systems clean.

Control valve authority

Control valve authority is a term used to describe how the control valve is selected and sized to ensure that the valve and the coil will perform correctly, and the valve has controllability over the circuit (or coil) through the whole valve stroke.

The valve authority is generally defined as a ratio of the pressure drop against the fully opened valve compared to the pressure drop of the entire circuit (valve included) at the design flow rate conditions. In terms of control, the valve authority works in conjunction with the valve, actuator and terminal characteristics (see Figure 6).

If the control valve is oversized, this will impact on the performance of the system and the life span and reliability of the valve.

When sizing a control valve, the most common approach is to calculate the flow coefficient known as Kv

Where:

kv = control valve flow coefficient

Q= flow rate

p = pressure drop.

Example

A control valve is to be selected for a flow of 20.17L/s with a maximum pressure drop of 53kPa. Determine the required Kv of the valve:

Kv = m³/hr × 10

√Δp = 3.6 × 20.17 × 10

√53 = 99.74 (say 100)

The combined characteristic will be considered linear from the controller’s point of view (see Figure 7). The lower the authority, the larger the pressure shift will be.

System curves

The frictional losses throughout the piping system will depend on the actual flow rate achieved (see Figure 8).

If only one set of friction pressure/flow rate data is available, a system curve can be obtained by using the principle that pressure varies directly as the square of the flow rate. When two values are known, the new flow rate or pressure can be calculated by the following equation:

Where:

p₂ = ( L/s2 )²

p1 = L/s1

p = pressure (kPa)

L/s = flow rate (L/s).

Example:

A system has a pressure of 100kPa with a flow rate of 1.6 L/s. Determine the new pressure at 2.0L/s:

Pressure p2 = p1 × ( L/s2 )² L/s1

Pressure p2 = 100 × ( 2.0 )² 1.6

Pressure p2 = 156kPa

Figure 6 – Valve authority

is related to valve, actuator

and terminal characteristics

– Valve authority diagram

Figure 8 – Typical hydronic system curve

GOING FULL CIRCLE

According to Your Home, Australia’s independent guide to designing, building or renovating energy efficient and adaptable homes, the embodied energy of a product is the total energy used in making, sustaining and transporting that product during its entire life cycle, from cradle to grave. It includes the energy used in mining and manufacturing the materials, as well as the services that support these processes during the life of the product. Choice of materials and construction methods can significantly change the embodied energy in a building. Different materials also have different capacities to be reused or recycled, which can help recover the embodied energy at the end of a building’s life. This includes all the components that make up HVAC&R equipment.

BIGGER THAN RECYCLING

In a circular economy, products are designed for a longer life, for durability, repairability, and for ease of disassembly when their use is complete. This all helps recover more value and increase the potential for recycling into different or new products, which in turn helps to protect the environment, use natural resources more wisely, develop new sectors, create jobs, and develop new capabilities.

Head of Circular Economy Development at Planet Ark Dr Nicole Garofano says the circular economy concept is gaining traction in Australia.

“A circular economy is one that designs out waste and pollution from product design and throughout its life,” she says. “It keeps valuable materials in use for longer and at their highest value, and regenerates, or at least balances, natural resources. Recycling is one business model in a circular economy, but I would argue designing products from the start to not require recycling and to have a higher value end use is of greater importance.”

In October 2022, federal, state and territory environment ministers announced they would “work with the private sector to design out waste and pollution, keep materials in use and foster markets to achieve a circular economy by 2030”. A Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group was also formed, led by Minister Tanya Plibersek and Minister Ed Husic. Garofano says these moves reflect the level of government interest in transitioning towards a circular economy.

“Furthermore, local governments are incorporating circular economy business models into procurement processes and announcing circular intentions through climate and net zero strategies,” she says, “which is equally exciting to see.”

According to Garofano, a number of important initiatives are already in play across industry and government (see breakouts).

“Product stewardship is another important tool,” she says. “This places financial responsibility on the product producer to enable its recovery at end of use or end of life. The Product Stewardship Investment Fund is evidence of how far reaching this concept can be, encompassing a variety of products, from children’s car seats to agricultural plastic to end‑of‑life vehicle waste.

“As more questions are raised as to how to ensure we design products with disassembly in mind, and how to retain the high material value of products, the greater the chance of product stewardship being introduced across a range of new sectors.”

All this aside, Garofano believes the most significant shift needed to transition towards a circular economy is in how we view and participate in consumption.

“How can we plan buying decisions around function before, during, and post use?” she asks. “Being able to decide on the function or purpose of a product

MECLA

The Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA) is a collaboration between the NSW Government and more than 100 founding members driving reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry.

When MECLA began in 2021, it focused on addressing emissions from the most common and highest volume building materials: steel, cement and aluminium, which MECLA says produce about 7–9 per cent of annual global greenhouse emissions each.

In 2022, MECLA members established a new working group, to look at building services. Reducing embodied carbon in building services is particularly challenging because there is less control over the emissions from the manufacture of the materials that make up these services. With many supply chains in the mix, part of the solution is to demonstrate demand for low‑embodied‑carbon products to the entire supply chain.

AIRAH is co chairing the building services working group. ■

As we move towards a circular economy, we need to think not just about the energy our systems use when they are operating, but also the energy that goes into making them, and what happens to the materials at end of life. Louise Belfield reports on our growing interest in embodied carbon.

and how much the product is really needed in its current form, or at all, is a scary concept to consider in a world where the linear economy prevails.

“We have traditionally taken materials from the earth, made products to sell to a market, used the products, and then disposed of products in landfills. But with some 100 billion tonnes of materials extracted from the planet globally every year, the time is coming, and in some cases is already here, when materials will not be available in their current abundance and we will have to think differently.

“We must see value in all materials, both virgin and secondary, and we have to design for durability, repairability, and disassembly. We must have an economic system – a circular economic system –that enables these practices and business models. Our resource availability will simply demand it.”

So, what does all this mean for HVAC&R systems?

Different components in a building have different life‑cycles, and these are either technical or economic.

According to one major building services contractor, the air distribution system and some parts of it like AHUs and ductwork may have a life exceeding 50 years. Other elements such as FCUs and VAVs and the componentry inside perhaps have a life of 15–20 years. Chillers and chilled water system elements (coils, valves, pumps etc.) will have an effective life of 15–25 years depending on maintenance and type of building use.

Beyond life cycle replacement there is the change of use/building refurbishment trigger point and a reuse or replace decision around fitness for the

new purpose. One contractor offers the example of a 40 plus‑storey city building that was refurbished around 18 years ago, and decisions were made about what to reuse and what to replace based on cost –with subsequent negative life cycle cost implications. Now, the same building is being refurbished, and the same decisions are being made around a different set of lifecycle‑focused criteria and embodied carbon. This is indicative of a general trend toward recycling of ductwork, pipework, cabling and more, with refrigerant being reclaimed and casing sold for scrap.

ONE PERSON’S TRASH …

Christopher Pol discovered first hand the riches that can come out of old systems. The Western Australia fridgie has had some great returns from the systems he collects.

“It’s a great way to recycle the materials, and make some decent money,” Pol says.

“The missus wasn’t enjoying looking out of the kitchen window at the Great Wall of aircon units I was accumulating, so I’ve had my apprentice busy chipping away at them: 78 down, 130 to go.

“So far we’ve had three skip bins of just light steel, then the first trailer load of coils and half the scrap copper was ready to cash in.”

It’s definitely worthwhile scrapping, Pol says.

“The trailer load of coils scored a cool $7k cheque. It has also been bloody handy having a good selection of second hand parts sitting around to get people out of trouble.”

MEASURING EMBODIED CARBON

The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) and Green Star, the rating system developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), are now incorporating embodied carbon into their ratings.

Before we can land on an accurate rating for embodied carbon, however, we need to be able to accurately measure it.

One way is by using an environmental product declaration (EPD). An EPD is an independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent

and comparable data and other relevant environmental information about the life‑cycle environmental impact of a product.

But although a wide variety of building products already have EPDs, many products in the HVAC&R space do not.

To fill this gap, a methodology called TM65 was developed in the UK, and has been adapted to Australia and New Zealand by the GBCA and CIBSE, with assistance from AIRAH. This has been incorporated into the Green Star credit system for star ratings. ■

Pol’s situation corresponds with Greg Picker’s view of recycling in the HVAC&R industry. As General Manager of the Air conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA), feedback he receives about recycling levels for air conditioning systems suggests it is very high in Australia, particularly compared to other countries.

“There are three main things that come out of most air conditioners: metals, refrigerants, and plastics,” Picker says.

“Figures from KPMG, for example, show that more than 85 per cent of metals from split systems at end of life were being recycled, with bigger systems likely yielding an even higher recycling rate.”

When it comes to refrigerants, our level of refrigerant recovery in Australia is also indicative of good practice globally; however, Picker believes more gas could be recovered from systems at end of life, particularly in smaller residential systems.

“Another bit that worries me though, is that if a system is on top of a building that is being demolished, how efficient are the demolition people going to be at getting the metals and gas out?” he says.

Plastics are another matter. According to Picker, most of it goes to landfill as shredder flock. So how do we change this?

“Certainly, governments have talked about stewardship,” says Picker. “We’re among the best in the world when it comes to metals and refrigerant recovery, and we have to deal with a whole range of other issues – such as ensuring maintenance in existing kit – but over time we will need to address plastics as well.

“However, this is a live conversation in policy circles so we will have to wait and see – the future may be soon.

“The good news from a manufacturing perspective is that our recycling efforts are world leading. [But] we reckon there are still improvements to be made, and we need to address these.”

CIRCULARITY AND REFRIGERANTS

One reason for Australia’s world leading recycling reputation are our mandatory laws around refrigerants. Without them, we could be in a far worse environmental position.

“In Australia, it is a legal requirement that refrigerant is recovered, and it is actually illegal to vent the product into the atmosphere,” says Kylie Farrelley, general manager of Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA), the product stewardship organisation for the Australian refrigerants industry.

“Just one kilo of a common refrigerant used commercial refrigeration is equivalent to four tonnes of CO2. You only need a little bit to be released to atmosphere to do a lot of environmental damage.”

Intentionally venting is illegal under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act, and good maintenance by licenced technicians is essential so the gas is not inadvertently released into atmosphere.

Recovered refrigerant is either retained for reclamation (recycled) by specialised equipment or safely disposed of by RRA. It is recovered by licenced technicians who return it to their wholesaler, and the wholesaler issues a rebate to the contractor. RRA then collects it from the

WA-based fridgie Christopher Pol earns extra money by breaking down old systems and cashing in the metal.

wholesaler and re imburses the wholesaler for the rebate paid to the contractor.

RRA has two methods for destroying refrigerants. The first is an argon plasma arc which transforms refrigerant into a salty water waste. With the other, the refrigerant is processed through a modified cement kiln where the acidy gases created from the breakdown of fluorinated gases are neutralised by the alkaline lime in the cement clinker.

“Both those processes are approved by the United Nations Environmental Program and they’re at least 99.99 per cent efficient,” says Farrelley.

PIECE BY PIECE

According to one major building services contractor, there has been an increase in recycling of systems and their components.

This includes FCUs and AHUs, which are mostly recyclable scrap metal. When it comes to boilers, the bigger units can be recycled by specialists who strip gas trains, gun burners etc. and remove the equipment from site.

Refrigerant is generally reclaimed, although some refrigerants are like liquid gold while others are too dirty to be recycled.

Chiller bodies are mostly recycled by specialists who can strip the components and on sell.

Larger pieces of equipment such as chillers, boilers and pumps are sometimes removed by rigging contractors, who reap the rewards of the recycling and recovery (some hold refrigerant handling licenses) and offset their project cost by having recycling rights. This helps contractors avoid the removal and dumping logistics. ■

In 2020, RRA launched the Gas Seeker Initiative to encourage more recovery on the back of COVID 19. This successfully increased levels of recovered refrigerant by about 23 per cent. According to Farrelley, however, this appeared to be largely a shed clearing exercise, because the bulk of the uplift came from product that has become redundant, such as R22. There was also a noticeable uplift of CFCs returned. Ultimately, Farrelley’s take on the industry’s recycling efforts is that things are looking pretty good for metals and refrigerants, with plastics lagging behind somewhat.

Over the past four years, RRA has paid out more than

$8 million in rebates to contractors. And while there are varying impacts from the changing regulatory environment, increased quantities of recovered refrigerant have been collected. Annual recovery is in the order of 500 tonnes.

Developed in Australia 30 years ago, the RRA program has won several international awards, and Farrelley spends some of her time consulting with countries around the world, educating them on our model.

“They’re only developing programs now,” she says. “We’ve been operating for 30 years, and while it’s not perfect, RRA actually operates the one of best programs of its kind anywhere in the world.” ■

A plasma arc destruction plant, used for destroying refrigerant.

A STRATEGIC MARKET

For businesses operating on a global level, Australia generally falls within the larger Asian region. Yet in terms of characteristics, it stands apart. Johnson Controls Hitachi Air Conditioning’s Vice President and General Manager, Japan and Asia Operations, Kintaro Izumida was recently in the country, and he and Temperzone Chief Customer Officer Damien Walsh spoke to HVAC&R News about the strategic importance of the Australian market – and their plans here.

According to Kintaro Izumida from global HVAC&R manufacturer Johnson Controls Hitachi Air Conditioning, the air conditioning industry is booming.

“We have seen good growth in the global market,” he says. “Among all regions, our growth in Asia region including ANZ was outstanding.”

For Australia, this is positive news.

“This market has a bright future,” he says. “I can say 5–6 per cent growth per year.”

Izumida is in charge of Japan and Asia Operations – a region that contributes a large percentage of the firm’s global revenue. Obviously, Australia is only one part of the region, but Izumida says the significance of the market is more than just its size. It’s also a question of variety.

“We have room air conditioners, we have package units, we have VRF,” he says. “And we have many connected technologies such as IoT.”

Over the past 20 years, Hitachi has partnered with local manufacturer Temperzone, and the company’s Chief Customer Officer Damien Walsh agrees that Australia is a unique market.

“It’s different in different parts of the country,” he says. “Queensland is very RAC driven, NSW and places like SA and WA are very ducted driven, sometimes up to capacities that are unheard of in other parts of the world, and often with high static. We need all these unique line ups that are also specifically designed for our extreme conditions.”

CLEAN AIR AWARENESS

One of the global changes driving growth for air conditioning is the increase in people working from home because of the COVID 19 pandemic. This has also raised awareness about indoor air quality. In response, the two manufacturers have developed solutions that incorporate automatic coil and filter cleaning, ionisation, and air purification,

in both room air conditioners and VRF systems.

“The customer is now not only asking about cooling and heating,” says Izumida. “Also they are requesting good indoor air quality.”

The self cleaning functions reflect an attempt to address a long standing issue in the HVAC&R industry: poor maintenance. As Walsh points out, some of the problems with indoor air quality are simply because filters and coils are not regularly cleaned.

He says another way of improving maintenance is to improve accessibility. This can be done through technology that allows technicians to access system settings by simply tapping on a unit, replacing manual configuration. This also makes it possible to “copy and paste” settings from one unit to multiple units. There are options for predictive maintenance and better online support too.

“You can download the operational data from the system and send it via SMS or email directly to the tech support team,” says Walsh. “They can have a look at the live data that the technician sees and diagnose the problem remotely. It’s that intelligence, that’s advancing our systems significantly.”

SUPPLY CHAIN STABILITY

As well as increasing awareness of indoor air quality, the COVID 19 pandemic wreaked havoc on supply chains around the world. Izumida says this forced his company to look at new processes.

“We want to have double sourcing or triple sourcing,” he says. “For example, one chip coming from a China factory, one coming from Thailand, from Malaysia or Japan. It’s a kind of geographical risk avoidance.

“Also, logistics expenses are getting higher. We should

produce products near our markets. Or, if you’re far from market, at least reduce the distance.

“Many problems are now getting better, but we could have more surprises. Our supply chains have to be solid.”

Overall, both Izumida and Walsh are upbeat about the outlook for the industry, especially in Australia.

“We don’t have this kind of market anywhere else in the world,” says Izumida. “We can show different solutions, and if we can have success here, we can set this as best practice all over the world. Australia can be a showcase.”

FUTURE FOCUS

Izumida says the firm’s development will be aligned with three key objectives: sustainability, wellbeing, and digitalisation.

“With climate change being a pressing concern worldwide, the importance of HVAC systems as part of social infrastructure has increased significantly,” he says.

“However, in the past, these systems have had a negative impact on the environment due to their energy consumption and the use of fluorocarbons in their refrigerants. Therefore, we are committed to innovating in the HVAC industry and developing energy saving products that use refrigerants with low ODP (ozone depletion potential) and low GWP (global warming potential). By doing so, we can greatly contribute to protecting the environment.” ■

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning’s Vice President and General Manager, Japan and Asia Operations, Kintaro Izumida.

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1 COOLEST DAY OF THE YEAR

The global HVAC&R industry is gearing up to celebrate World Refrigeration Day on June 26. This year the theme is “Next Generation Cooling: The Future is in our hands”, recognising the importance of our future workforce.

“We need to recruit, train and retain people equipped with the knowledge and skills that a modern, forward‑thinking industry requires,” says World Refrigeration Day founder Stephen Gill. “This year’s campaign is an opportunity to showcase what we are doing now to ensure we have the diverse and highly skilled workforce that our sector needs for the future.”

As this issue went to print, there were already a number of events planned in Australia.

AIRAH has organised a series of five webinars covering the fundamentals of refrigeration. The sessions are free to attend and will run from June until November. Register at airah.org.au/webinars

Woolworths is opening its plant rooms to show off cutting edge transcritical CO2 technology. There will be events in six capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. The event is aimed at young people who may be considering a career in a trade, but all are welcome. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/3m22zwf4

And for those in the Melbourne CBD, RMIT is hosting tours of its Melbourne refrigeration training facility and will be opening a brand new, state‑of‑the art CO2 lab. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/ry2cpdfz ■

2 TAX TIME TIPS

Not sure what deductions you can claim as a tradesperson? The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has developed a tailored occupation guide for tradies. For example, on the topic of tools, the ATO notes that if you’ve bought new tools for work this financial year you can claim a deduction, but remember:

If you also use the tools or equipment for private purposes, you can only claim the work related portion

If the tools and equipment cost more than $300, or are part of a set that together cost more than $300, you will need to claim a deduction over a number of years

If the tools or equipment are supplied by your employer, another person, or you’re reimbursed for the cost, you can’t claim a deduction.

The ATO is also promoting the myDeductions tool in the ATO app for a fast and easy way to store receipts and keep track of records. The app allows you to track the progress and outcome of your tax return after you’ve lodged it. Go to ato.gov.au/tradie ■

3

DIAMOND DEALERS SHINE

Mitsubishi Electric has announced the winners of its 2023 Diamond Dealer awards. Originally organised to recognise the success of specialist air conditioning dealers across Australia, this year the Dealer Awards Weekend included Auckland for the first time.

There were many winners on the night, along with the prestigious General Manager Award winners, who were:

• RAC: Climat Air Control & Energy Centres

• Mr Slim/Com Pac: iBreeze Air & Solar

• City Multi: Chill Rite Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

An impressive line up of speakers was engaged to inspire, motivate and thank the dealers for all their hard work in 2022. New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee MBE was the headline speaker, and Kiwi All Blacks legend Ian Jones gave attendees exclusive insights into the culture of the All Blacks.

“It’s been great opportunity to celebrate with our dealers as they have all contributed to another record year for Mitsubishi Electric in Australia,” says LEG National Sales Zane Barron.

The three night program culminated with a black tie gala awards presentation hosted by TV personality Larry Emdur.

Go to www.mitsubishielectric.com.au ■

4 AUSTRALIA’S TOP TRADIE

Australian tradies are set to battle it out for recognition as the best of the best at the inaugural Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards, to be held at Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith in Sydney on Friday September 22, 2023.

There are 44 industry categories – including air conditioning and refrigeration – that trade businesses can be nominated in, as well as individual awards for Apprentice Champion, Trades Entrepreneur, Trades Champion Leader and the Champion Tradie.

“Tradies are the backbone of Australian society and an integral part of the small business sector,” says awards founder and managing director Steve Loe. “A third of Australia’s workforce are in a trade and the awards gives them the opportunity to be publicly acknowledged for their hard work and service.

“A trades career can often mean early starts, long days and exhausting manual labour. It’s a very physically taxing career and those who perform to a high standard deserve to be recognised for their contribution to the community and exceptional customer service.”

Entries are open now, closing on July 27, with finalists to be announced on August 16.

Go to www.tradesbusinesschampions.com.au ■

5 BE A MATE, IT’S WORTH IT

R U OK? is sharing free resources that encourage trainees and apprentices to foster supportive friendships by regularly checking in with their mates and paying attention to life events and any signs that might indicate a mate is struggling. The campaign is titled “Be a mate, it’s worth it”.

Lance and Cassie Wiggers from iBreeze Air & Solar

The resources include free practical tools and tips that empower trainees and apprentices with the knowledge and confidence to have meaningful R U OK? conversations and foster supportive friendships.

“Research shows being an apprentice or trainee can be challenging for young people who are learning how to transition from classroom to workplace,” says R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton. “This, along with the usual ups and downs of life, can have a cumulative effect and impact their mental health and sense of social connection.

“We encourage them to make the time to build strong friendships they can rely on as they move through life to ensure they feel connected and supported. This is about being there for your mates, and them being there for you.”

Go to ruok.org.au ■

6 ON THE ROAD AGAIN

SimPRO has locked in four Simprosium Roadshow events in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney from September 21 to October 12, 2023. The events will cover all things tools, trades and tech with trade experts, business owners and teams.

The full day event will include live demonstrations of simPRO’s newest features and breakout sessions to allow participants to form new business relationships. More than 100 trade business owners and leaders are expected to attend, sharing their expert insights. It is aimed not only at people working in the HVAC&R arena, but also for those in the electrical, plumbing, security, and fire protection trades.

AIRAH members can save 20 per cent on registration with the code AIRAH20. Go to tinyurl.com/5xr2atyp

In other news at simPRO, Gary Specter has been appointed as the company’s new chief executive officer. He brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role, including leadership roles at Adobe, Magento, NetSuite, IBM and Cart.com.

“I’m extremely excited to join simPRO,” Specter says. “My goal is to build on the strong foundation of the company and lead simPRO to the next level.” ■

7

RIESE RISES TO AIRAH BOARD

Following a vote at the Institute’s annual Convention, Dr Michael Riese, M.AIRAH, has officially joined AIRAH’s national board. Originally from Germany and now based in Adelaide, Riese works for industrial and commercial refrigeration specialist Cold Logic, where he leads the Defence Division and is also responsible for Cold Logic’s R&D effort.

“Michael’s skill set and areas of interest nicely complement those of the existing directors, so we are delighted to welcome him on board,” says AIRAH President Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH. “We also thank Liza Taylor, M.AIRAH, who completes her term at the end of May, for her enthusiasm, strategic insight, and tireless work on the board over the past six years.”

Joining Jackson and Riese as AIRAH board directors are Bryon Price, F.AIRAH; Ura Sarfejoo, M.AIRAH; Mikaila Ganado, M.AIRAH; and Chris Stamatis, M.AIRAH.

“It is a great honour to have gained the trust of my fellow associate directors to garner their vote,” Riese says of his AIRAH board appointment. “I am happy that we will now have a dedicated voice for industrial, natural and large commercial refrigeration back within the steering group of AIRAH.” ■

8

ELLIS AIR CHANGES HANDS

Sojitz Corporation has announced it will acquire Australian air conditioning and mechanical services company Ellis Air Group.

Sojitz is a Japanese company working across a wide range of sectors including infrastructure, automotive, transportation, and consumer industries. It describes the acquisition of Ellis Air as a step into the energy conservation market in Australia.

It is understood that Ellis Air’s experience in energy‑saving air conditioning design and construction was a key factor in the acquisition. The company is also an approved electricity retailer

and National Energy Market (NEM) member, which would support Sojitz and Ellis Air’s expansion into the Energy as a Service (EaaS) field. This includes providing heating and cooling as a service Ellis Air has welcomed the acquisition.

“We look forward to working with Sojitz to help our clients achieve their goals and contribute towards the realisation of a decarbonised society while helping Ellis continue its growth and expansion,” says Ellis Air Managing Director Adam Langford, M.AIRAH.

Go to ellisair.com.au ■

9 ARBS MARKS MILESTONE

The ARBS Foundation – the foundation for industry education and research – is celebrating nearly a decade of support for the HVAC&R industry.

ARBS Executive Officer David Eynon says there are three broad categories into which ARBS funding has been directed: practical research, development and upgrading of training courses and materials, and funding students into training courses.

In terms of practical research, the foundation has been a partner with Team Catalyst on several ventures, including research comparing the performance of active chilled beam systems against two chilled water plant configurations.

The foundation also provided financial support for the development of training programs, such as the Professional Diploma in Sustainable HVAC Design and Operation developed by AIRAH.

And the ARBS Foundation supported the Aboriginal Career Start Program of NSW TAFE and provided grants to graduating students to purchase the tools they need to work in the trade.

ARBS Foundation Chair Ian Hopkins, M.AIRAH says the foundation’s aim is to promote the growth and success of the industry.

“These projects and initiatives are just a few examples of how we are achieving this goal,” he says.

Go to arbsfoundation.com.au ■

Dr Michael Riese, M.AIRAH

Name: Shiva Bagheri

Company: Testo

Occupation: Service engineer

What’s the best thing about working in HVAC&R? You never stop learning.

How long have you worked in the industry?

If someone wanted to find you on the job, they should look for the person who is … Busy on the computer while providing technical assistance over the phone or working on the devices.

Favourite tool: Multimeter.

Best on-the-job advice you ever received: Find a job you enjoy.

Dream car: Lamborghini Aventador.

Dream holiday: Rome, Italy.

Favourite smoko snack: Mixed nuts/dark chocolate.

What did you listen to on the way to work today?

The Happiness Lab podcast on Spotify.

When I’m not working, I’m … Spending time with my family.

Cool Tech

BUCKLE UP

RMIT students have designed a toolbelt for women and gender‑diverse tradies.

If you’re a woman working in trades and looking for a toolbelt, your options are pretty limited.

In a report commissioned by the New South Wales Board of Vocational Education and Training, it was found that while issues like this may seem small, they can be a daily, major irritant to women in trades.

“Coming from a female perspective, toolbelts currently available in the market are not designed for my figure,” says RMIT fashion student Charlotte Hunter. “Their anchor points are predominantly around the hips, and slide down with any excess weight.”

For non male bodies, this uneven weight distribution could cause injury if worn for long periods of time.

RMIT fashion design students recently designed a series of gender diverse toolbelts for a project involving Vocational Education Trades students.

To mitigate the potential for injury and create a toolbelt that works on a wider array of figures, Hunter decided to work with two major anchor points on the shoulders and waist.

“The symmetric design allows for even weight distribution,” she says. “And by anchoring around the waist of a feminine figure, the belt will not slide down and potentially cause injury.”

As part of the project, fashion design and plumbing trades students discussed their ideas.

“The students really captured the essence of a toolbelt and reimagined it in so many different ways,” says RMIT’s Sebastian La Rocca. “I would love to see some of these concepts become reality.”

Alas, there are no plans at this stage to take these designs to market. ■

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1

VOTE FOR THE WINNER!

Choose your favourite entry at www.hvacrnews.com.au/the-lighter-side

GREAT SNAKES!

Kyla was on a maintenance job in Edinburg North, Adelaide, when he found this.

“Brown snake is not too happy,” he says.

“I wonder if he’d completed his JSA.”

Graham says: Animals, reptiles, and insects provide constant challenges to machinery that can provide shelter and warmth.

2 DESK JOB

Ross found this ducted unit tucked away in Palmyra WA. “I found it running but drawing high current,” he says. “There was actually a bird cage sitting on that shelf above covering up the rear air intake path also.”

Graham says: Many units operate with restricted airflow due to poor installation or inadequate maintenance. I suppose if people are desperate for work, they will compromise quality for an insistent customer, but there is really no excuse.

3 ACCESS CHALLENGE

Mick from Albury has sent in another classic. “No sir, we can’t wash those filters,” he says, “but your plasterer has a great square finish!”

Graham says: The sad thing is that whoever sold this job could have probably found a different solution rather than trying to solve every air conditioning challenge around a standard split.

4 GONE IN 60 SECONDS

An anonymous snapper sent us this carpark calamity. The roof mounted fan is installed as an in line fan. It’s also duct taped to the ductwork with no appropriate transition piece.

Graham says: I wonder when the handover inspection happened or was this a late addition because the system wasn’t working as required. How do people get away with this?

5 MOVIE MADNESS

Dr Dave sent us this photo of a large air handling plant room for a cinema in Sydney.

“The outside air inlet grill is located on the right‑hand side of the room,” says Dr Dave.

“The space is always at outdoor temperature conditions, brilliant on a 40°C plus day.

“Coolroom and freezer room condensing units have always been in the current locations, AC unit has recently been installed. I imagine it was selected due to easy connection of AC unit pipework that is coming out of the floor (not seen in photo) and a lazy attitude.”

Graham says: Hopefully some exhaust ventilation is also available to remove the heat.

Additional comments and observations provided by Graham Boyle, L.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

If your entry is deemed the 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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