MARKET FEATURES: COOLING TOWERS, HOT WATER SYSTEMS
August 2019
A look at how outdated and inefficient HVAC approaches are heating up cities around the world
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THEME: DISTRICT COOLING’S POTENTIAL FOR CONTRIBUTING TO UAE VISION 2021... PROFOUND POSSIBILITIES
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THE POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN HELP REDUCE PRIMARY ENERGY USE BY 70% ABOUT DC DIALOGUE
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Fares Ahmad General Manager, Emaar District Cooling
George Berbari CEO, DC PRO Engineering; Author, The Energy Budget
Eid Mohammed Senior Mechanical Engineer, UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development
Ken Currie Managing Director, DOMIKO District Cooling Advisory Services
Adib Moubadder CEO, Emicool
Amal Hamadeh Project Manager - Demand Side Management, UAE Ministry of Energy
Sriram Nagarajan Senior Manager, Voltas Limited
Mansour Kharoub Associate Principal - Mech Engineering Services, Khatib & Alami
Faisal Rashid DirectorDemand Side Management, Supreme Council of Energy
Sagar Kulkarni Managing Director, Consistent Engineering Consultants
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Nimal Amukotuwa, Independent consultant, elaborates on how the chilled water system at the Faarufushi island resort in the Maldives provides energy efficiency with an eye on long-term sustainability of the system and guest comfort.
PERSPECTIVE
20
Is District Cooling really the answer? Rehan Shahid, Director, P&T Architects and Engineers, writes on the need for addressing the less advantageous aspects of District Cooling systems, with a view to introducing remedial measures.
REGULARS
4
page
Hot water systems
14
Decoding the direction of hot water The market feature explores the microand macro-economic factors driving the positive trajectory of solar heatbased systems and heat pumps across residential and light-commercial projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
08
Daxing Diary
24
Beijing’s new USD 12 billion airport, slated to be the world’s largest, will see a departure from China’s reputation of building stuffy and poorly ventilated aviation hubs, claims VTS Group, which has supplied its air curtain and air heater solutions to the facility
30
Cooling Towers
Towering Profile The feature looks at trends surrounding the Middle East's cooling tower market, the forces driving demand for solutions and services as well as innovations and technological advancements making inroads in the region.
06 eDItor'S note music to the ears
August 2019
28
END-POINT
The Faarufushi Files
AUGUST 2019
The article looks at trends related to urbanisation, planning and policy-making, and seeks to identify solutions that would avert Urban Heat Island, which has the potential of subverting all efforts in sustainably providing comfort cooling.
REPORT
RUNNING A HIGH FEVER
MARKET FEATURES
CASE STUDY
COVER STORY
VOL. 14 NO. 08
Shooting for an energysmart world
58
Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder and CEO, Facilio, gives an overview of his journey into the energy sector and discusses how his personal philosophy of sustainability finds its expression in the company's commitment to use technology to effectively unlock opportunities within the builtenvironment.
34 Regional News 46 Global News
52 MARKET PLACE 54 COMINGS & GOINGS
August 2019
5
EDITOR’S NOTE
Music to the
L
Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
MARKET FEATURES: COOLING TOWERS, HOT WATER SYSTEMS
August 2019
Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early!
A look at how outdated and inefficient HVAC approaches are heating up cities around the world
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ast month, I spoke of solar intermittency and enthusiastically about how the cost of storage technology may not take the 10 years it took for the cost of solar photovoltaic cells to come down in a precipitous manner. Hand in hand with the prospect of lower cost is the looming possibility of storing hitherto unheard of capacities of energy. Reportedly, there is significant progress happening on storing solar energy (see page 32), with talk of an installation that is capable of storing one gigawatt-hour of energy. Equally exciting is the prospect of scaling up of the storage capacity in 10-15 years’ time to anywhere between 15 and 20 gigawatt-hours. This could have significant implications for powering air conditioning systems, including, possibly, even large equipment. We will, hopefully, see a significant drop in indirect emissions from running our air conditioning systems and also a reduction in the total cost of ownership. And hopefully, that will persuade the collective mindset of the ecosystem of building owners to look beyond expenses and allow for more fresh air changes to dilute the concentration of chemicals and microflora in the built-environment. With that, we will likely see a significant drop in building-related illnesses. For want of space in this page, let’s only consider the issue of a high concentration of microflora in the built-environment. Micro-organisms like Fungi (Aspergillus sp.), Bacteria (Streptomycetes) and Protozoa, proliferate in the indoor environment. There is sufficient epidemiological evidence to clearly show that exposure to pathogenic micro-organisms increases the risk of such conditions as hypersensitive pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic fungal sinusitis. Occupants going down with such illnesses place a high economic burden on public funds. It is not only the high costs associated with treating such patients but also the aspect of loss of productivity and happiness. It is about connecting the dots. The initiative of overcoming intermittency in supplying cleaner and relatively cheaper energy is inextricably linked to the prospect of a healthy, happy society. It’s nothing short of music to the ears… and what we need to aspire for as planners, policy-makers, engineers and health professionals.
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August 2019
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www.climatecontroljournal.com is the answer to a longexpressed need for a Web site, which would cover individual regions around the world in a bid to provide exclusive news, interviews, case-studies, technical articles and feature articles that are of relevance to HVACR and allied industry professionals, who are either based in them or are contributing to them in terms of energy efficiency (from the perspectives of reducing emissions and total cost of ownership), good indoor environmental quality and reliability across residential, commercial and industrial projects. The Web site contains five region-specific portals: Africa Asia Europe Middle East The Americas
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OVER STORY
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
RUNNING A Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect poses significant risk to people and planet. Hannah Jo Uy of Climate Control Middle East spoke to leading scientists to understand the true extent of the problem and explore how a proper diagnosis and holistic approach are vital for the development of a healthier and more sustainable environment…
HIGH FEVER
any cities across the globe are afflicted by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, caused by a combination of rapid and unprecedented urbanisation, and inefficient cooling approaches, among other likely factors. In addition to the health risks that increased temperatures pose to citizens, UHI could potentially subvert ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change. “Never forget,” says Dr Gerhard Schmitt, Professor of Information Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Director of the SingaporeETH Centre, “the city is at the same time the reason and the victim of a combination of global warming and local heat island effect. Cities account for 60-70% of global
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anthropogenic warming effects. The problem is in the city, and the answer is in the city. We have to rethink how we plan, run and manage the city.” Concrete infrastructure, lack of vegetation and human activity are some of the causes for UHI effect; however, with temperature spikes urging reliance on mechanical means of cooling, inefficient equipment and outdated designs only serve to aggravate existing symptoms. As such, Schmitt says, manufacturers must be encouraged to develop and distribute products according to only the highest standards. “Air conditioning is among the largest consumers of electricity,” he says. “The release of waste heat is often amplified if electricity to run the air conditioners is generated with fossil fuels and if AC systems are not running efficiently.” Schmitt adds that improper
HVAC design of many high-rise buildings also contributes to UHI. In his view, the stacking effect of air conditioners in buildings makes the system drastically less efficient. “As air conditioner condensers release heat and as the hot air rises, the higher floors get hotter. This means that the air conditioning units on the higher floors have to work harder and the whole system generates more and more heat,” he says. Schmitt says that in high-density, mixed-use cities, such as those in Asia, the stacking effect must be taken into consideration even at the city planning stage, given that buildings are so close together.
A NEW LOOK AT OLD ARCHITECTURE There are a number of mitigation strategies available that could be used to address UHI. Dr Matthias Roth, Professor of Urban Climatology and Deputy Head, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, points out that an examination of traditional, vernacular architecture provides useful guidelines in this regard. “For example, traditional settlements in dry desert climates are characterized by densely built houses, made of thick walls and painted in light colours, to provide shade between the buildings, lower the thermal responsiveness, to reduce heat retention and to reflect as much incoming solar radiation as possible,” he says. “The same solutions do not apply in the wet tropical context, where traditionally light-weight building materials, provision for shade and enhancement of ventilation have been maximised. Across most climatic regions, vegetation is known as one of the most versatile intervention options, which provides insulation to rooftops, evaporative cooling, shade by individual trees or through park cooling effects.”
Gerhard Schmitt
Matthias Roth
Schmitt adds that while traditional architecture offers a wealth of wisdom, design adoption must also take into account fundamental shifts in global climate. “Let’s take one of the typical passive buildings in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore,” he says. “They worked well in 1800s, 1900s, up to, maybe, 1950. They were perfectly useful, created a good indoor climate with high thermal comfort and enough breeze and wind. But the traditional way alone is not enough, because the outside temperature has risen 3, 4, 5 or even 6 degrees C. Simply replicating old buildings and materials in today’s context will not work. We have to take all the knowledge we can from the past and combine it with high-tech active cooling devices driven by renewable energy.” Kurt Shickman, Director, GCCA, believes that there has been a significant paradigm shift in how stakeholders view cooling and that passive cooling strategies are increasingly being considered in broader conversations when it comes to ensuring communities have greater access to cooling. Dr Ronnen Levinson, Staff Scientist and Leader of the Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in the United States, adds that growing appreciation for passive cooling strategies is especially evident in cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, and in his place of work, Berkeley Lab. Natural ventilation, cool paint, and other strategies can be implemented to make buildings that do not have air conditioning cooler, safer and more comfortable during heat waves. “We call this ‘cool building solutions for a warming world’,” he says. Unlike in the Middle East, he says, many buildings in Europe and parts of the United States lack air conditioning and, thus, are not prepared to withstand the unprecedented high temperatures of recent months.
August 2019
9
OVER STORY
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
Providing cooling as a service could be a competitive differentiator. I’m sure there is an excellent business case once one company can charge less because of more efficient equipment, smarter connection of machines and better scheduling of the entire network. That will force others to do the same. I think this will lead to a reduction of cost and increased efficiency in the HVAC industry
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August 2019
Kurt Shickman
Ronnen Levinson
Levinson points out that the increasingly common occurrence of heat waves must urge stakeholders to reevaluate design of existing buildings that were developed without mechanical air conditioning in mind, and that implementation of passive cooling strategies is especially important when it comes to securing the health, comfort, and well-being of disadvantaged communities.
REFLECTIVE SURFACES Another UHI mitigation strategy Roth puts the spotlight on is the use of reflective roofs and reflective pavements/ parking lots, which, he says, are a quick and relatively easy first step towards reducing daytime surface temperature and absorption of energy into the respective materials, with the added benefit of lowering air temperature. Levinson shares that at Berkeley Lab, many research efforts are underway to further explore and maximise the potential of reflective surfaces, such as cool walls, roofs, and pavements. Levinson says that Berkeley
Lab and its partners, including the University of Southern California and the University of California, San Diego , have investigated how reflective surfaces affect building energy use and urban air temperature. They have also explored the availability of cool roof, wall, and pavement materials, and their abilities to stay reflective over time. Levinson adds that climate simulations evaluating cool roofs and cool walls in Los Angeles found that the urban heat island (UHI) mitigation benefit of reflective walls is comparable to that of reflective roofs, as the outside air temperature reduction provided by cool walls was predicted to be 85% of that from cool roofs. They also found through building simulations that cool walls are a useful measure for saving energy in buildings across California and the southern half of the United States. “The energy savings from cool walls were typically as great, if not greater than, those from cool roofs. Although walls get half as much sunlight, they also have only half the insulation,” he says. Levinson says that Berkeley Lab, the University of Southern California, and Altostratus, Inc. have completed a study to identify not only urban heat islands but also urban cool islands across the city of Los Angeles by measuring variations in air temperatures, two metres off the ground. For the study, Levinson says, researchers traversed the city in vehicles equipped with a specialized rooftop thermometer and a GPS to map air temperature. “We wanted to identify cool islands and hot islands in the city and correlate them to the use of urban heat island countermeasures, such as cool roofs and vegetation, to verify what’s predicted by climate simulation models,” he says. “We found that as roofs became more reflective, outside air temperature dropped. We can use this information to help calibrate the models that simulate UHI mitigation.”
CUSTOM-TAILORED APPROACH Roth says that out of the many mitigation options in the market, the use of reflective surfaces, such as cool roofs, is probably the most cost-effective one available. It offers the most immediate impact, but all mitigation options are essentially scaledependent, he says. “While some are useful at the micro-scale, such as individual buildings, others are best applied at the localscale or entire neighborhoods,” he says. “It is, therefore, important that individual sectors exchange ideas and discuss plans with each other.” To demonstrate the complexities associated with many of the mitigation options, Roth says that while increasing vegetation is considered beneficial, provision for water may restrict its application in waterscarce regions. Schmitt adds that considering every country and every region have different
climate zones and geographical conditions, solutions must be tailored to address unique challenges of cities and that there can never be a one-size-fits-all approach. “Every city we look at is different from others,” Schmitt says. “The same guidelines and roadmaps in one city, for example in a temperate climate, could cause opposite effects of what is intended in a tropical climate. Different countries and cities are almost like different planets, sometimes.” Another challenge Schmitt cites when it comes to addressing UHI is the fact that the level of understanding policymakers have towards the issue varies greatly in different parts of the world and between developed and developing countries. Roth says that in most developed countries, climate-sensitive urban design and planning practices are becoming routine considerations in city governments. However, Roth adds that in certain countries, where fast provision of
relatively cheap housing and essential urban infrastructure is more important, it would not be a surprise if adopting climatesensitive design is not a high priority. Even when it comes to environmental targets, Roth says, the urban heat island is not always one of the major considerations. “The UHI should primarily be given high priority in the fast-growing cities located in the tropics and sub-tropics and/or where summer heat-waves are experienced,” he says. “But in most cities, air and water quality, waste management, etc., are equally important issues. More people, for example, die because of bad air quality than urban heat.” Shickman adds that while efficient cooling is very important, there is a very large group of people for whom efficient cooling won’t have an effect because they lack access to cooling services. “Heat mitigation is often not a policy priority because the full extent of its effects on communities is not well understood or quantified in every place. Strategies to reduce heat and improve access to passive cooling are important on their own, but they also often help ease higher priority or more visible challenges in the places they are deployed. While it’s clear there are other challenges and problems, we can’t lose sight of this. Cooling often takes a backseat to other pressing problems, but focusing on cooling could have an unexpected positive effect on those other problems.”
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OVER STORY
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
ALL HANDS ON DECK In view of complex urban systems, administering the treatment required to address UHI requires participation of all stakeholders. Providing the perspective of academics, Levinson says the work of researchers and scientists in the field is mainly directed towards studying strategies to enhance city cooling solutions, but that they also play a role in developing better cool materials for the building envelope, as well as in policy. Researchers at Berkeley Lab, he adds, have contributed to building energy standards and to performing technical analysis to identify what energy savings are achieved and the additional cost required, to better understand what might be considered appropriate incentives. The Lab, he says, also contributed to cool roof provisions in the ASHRAE 90.1 building energy efficiency standard for commercial buildings and in the LEED green building program from the US Green Building Council. Levinson says that Berkeley Lab, along with other institutes, also develops educational materials that are, in turn, used by contactors and builders to understand and integrate cool roofs in construction. Further, it provides material to general audiences, such as home owners, to explain cool surfaces, to promote energy-efficient practices, if the buildings are air conditioned, or enhance thermal comfort, in the event the buildings are not air conditioned. In view of the wealth of available material being offered by the research community, Levinson believes there should be greater effort to educate the public and policymakers on new technologies available. Roth says that given that addressing UHI is an active and evolving area of research, it is essential that governments collaborate with the research community to be properly informed of the latest developments. Roth also highlights the important role governments play through regulation, recommending that city authorities devise planning guidelines, which offer benefits to developers, while at the same time incentivising adoption of climate-sensitive design. “An example is to mandate developers to retain open green space at ground level in exchange for relaxing building height restrictions,” he says. “Or, ask developers to incorporate the same amount of greenspace built-over into their building design, as skygardens or green walls. Or, how about mandating financial institutions to evaluate their
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August 2019
loans with respect to the environmental impact of a building in terms of the outdoor impact but also regards energy efficiency, use of resources during construction and during operation.” Shickman suggests that there should be a straightforward policy to require certain procurement specifications in order to receive government funding or development support. “If you are able to get that built in, you’re making tremendous change,” he says. “It is a big challenge, but it also a big opportunity.” Schmitt says that he believes there is opportunity for manufacturers within the cooling sector to move towards a more service-oriented framework, pointing to a similar shift he has observed in the transportation sector. “It’s becoming more about sustainable mobility, and the automobile industry is more conscious of energy efficiency and reduction of pollution,”
he says. “I see the same shift with the HVAC community offering cooling as a service. The industry is taking the efficiency of equipment into greater account and taking a longer-term view of this process of cooling. The service providers see it as their responsibility to change the air filters to ensure that air conditioners are clean and are operating efficiently, which consumers often don’t do, because they don’t know what’s behind these boxes. Providing cooling as a service could be a competitive differentiator. I’m sure there is an excellent business case once one company can charge less because of more efficient equipment, smarter connection of machines and better scheduling of the entire network. That will force others to do the same. I think this will lead to a reduction of cost and increased efficiency in the HVAC industry.” Identifying the best approach to mitigate UHI can, undoubtedly, be a challenge. Schmitt says this is perceived to be complex and difficult to understand, only because stakeholders are looking at a building in isolation instead of understanding how the building interacts with the rest of city. Essentially, there is a need to move away from traditional concepts of cities to create a positive change. “Every building, every room, every person is part of a context,” he says. “The person is part of the room, the room is part of the building and the building is part of a city. If we change anything, it has impact on the city, on the neighborhood, and to the individual in the building.” Schmitt proposes that stakeholders must take on the role of doctors and view the city as an organism, sharing insights from the Future Cities Laboratory’s approach of understanding the city through the lens of urban metabolism. “When a person has a fever, you have to identify the source of the fever,” he says. “Then, it will be simpler to make the diagnosis to help with the mitigation. But, it has to be done building by building, case by case and city by city – then it will be successful.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
August 2019
13
ASE-STUDY
FAARUFUSHI FILES
he chilled water system at the Faarufushi island resort in the Maldives provides a coefficient of performance (CoP) of 3.889 kW.r/kW.i, with an eye on long-term sustainability of the system and guest comfort. It does so with an oil-free chiller, achieving a CoP of 5.024 kW.r/kW.i at full load. In addition to the several energy-saving factors incorporated in the chilled water system, the maintenance costs are much lower than in a conventional air conditioning system in the Maldives.
T
MALDIVES AND FAARUFUSHI MALDIVES Located in the tropics, Faarufushi Maldives experiences a warm (average annual DB temperature around 30 degrees C) humid climate (annual average RH around 80%). The 86-guest accommodation comprises 47 beach villas and 39 ocean retreats, built on stilts over the waters of the lagoon. The back-of-the-house items, such as utility buildings, kitchens, storage and accommodation and the staff facilities are located in the centre of the island, away from the guest retreats.
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August 2019
The staff accommodation houses around 230 personnel, required to provide the dayto-day needs of the guests, maintain the utilities and manage the staff.
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM PROPOSED AND INSTALLED As the islands in the Maldives are separated from one another, the power and water need to be generated in each of them. The cost of an electrical kWh and a cubic
metre of domestic water so generated is around USD 0.25 per kWh and USD 2.50 per m3, respectively at current oil prices. Therefore, the electric power and water consumption of the air conditioning system requires to be as low as possible. An air-cooled system would not be acceptable, owing to the high corrosion rate of the cooling fins from the sea breeze blowing through the island, carrying salt-laden moisture. To meet the challenges, the system proposed for Faarufushi was… • A central chilled water system (water-cooled, oil-free (less) chillers) • A closed-loop condenser water system to avoid water consumption, where sea water cools the condenser water. The sea water leaving the chiller plant room is used to cool the generator engine jacket coolant, saving the power required to have an additional sea water pump for that purpose) • Make-up water supply for the chilled water and condenser water closed systems from a second stage reverse osmosis plant to ensure that a water quality of TTD > 4.00 ppm, calcium hardness > 1.6 ppm and a pH of 7.4 is maintained in providing a corrosion-free water system.
THE FAARUFUSHI FILES Nimal Amukotuwa elaborates on a project in an island resort in Maldives involving chilled water air conditioning with oil-free compressors
• Chilled water, condenser water and cooling water pipe circuits with non-metallic (PE and HDPE) piping, towards providing a corrosion-free pipe layout • Avoidance of a pressure-differential sensor on the index pipe circuit, which is over 700 metres from the chilled water plant room, to control the secondary pump speed variation (achieved with sensor-less VFD pump controller) • Guest room thermostats, with set back during unoccupied periods, where the mode is sensed via the key card switch • Dehumidifier (operated via a thermocouple) installed in each guest room to remove humidity and, thereby, provide a lower latent load to the chilled water system • A chiller system manager to control the auto operation of the chillers, primary chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps and condenser water cooling pumps • Btu meters (with ultrasonic flow meter) and flow meters to monitor the energy of each chiller and resort cooling load
• Ultrasonic flow meter to monitor the de-coupler flow and provide a signal to chiller system manager to stage the chillers as per resort cooling demand, based on chilled water flow requirement
• A pump controller to manage the secondary pump speed and staging of the pumps in an energy-efficient manner in meeting the resort’s cooling demand • Float switch arrangement to maintain the water level of the filtered seawater tank, whilst staging the lead lag of the two pumps
August 2019
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ASE-STUDY
FAARUFUSHI FILES
The bits and pieces that keep Faarufushi cool
The water-cooled, oil-free chillers The Faarufushi project opted for Daikin Magnitude water-cooled centrifugal chillers to meet the requirements of deploying watercooled, oil-free (oil less) chillers. The chillers were fitted with Turbo Core compressors, which are VFD-driven and have a permanent magnet motor. The magnetic bearings eliminate the need for oil in the compressor and, thereby, avert the possibility of the mixing of oil in the refrigerant system.
Journal has indicated that oil in evaporator of 1-2% results in a 2-4% performance loss, and of 7-8% results in a 13-15% performance loss. As per Daikin, the maintenance of the magnetic-bearing chiller is minimal. As such, the client – the owner of Faarufushi Maldives – proposes to enter into a service contract with Daikin on completion of the defects’ liability period, to ensure properly maintained and serviced chillers.
The chilled water plant comprises…
▶ Basic Magnetic
• Three Daikin Magnitude water-cooled centrifugal chillers (model: WMC048SD) • Three Armstrong Series 4380 design envelop in line centrifugal primary chilled water pumps (11.65 l/s at 4.8 m head)
Bearing Compressor Design
• Three Armstrong Series 4300 design envelop in line centrifugal condenser Water Pumps (25.4 l/s at 16.4 m head • Three Armstrong Series 4380 design envelop in line centrifugal secondary chilled water pumps (11.65 l/s at 26.2 m head) • Three DESMI end-suction (model: NSLH125-215/ D02) centrifugal pump for condenser water cooling sea water • Two DESMI end-suction (model NSLH125-330/D02) centrifugal pump for filtering sea water • Three Kelvion (Germany, model NT 100M) HV titanium plate heat exchanger (primary sea water/ secondary condenser water)
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August 2019
The use of a permanent magnet motor in a centrifugal compressor is more efficient than either deploying a fixed-speed centrifugal compressor or a traditional variable-speed centrifugal compressor, with a traditional motor. In addition to the friction-less rotation of the compressor shaft, the possibility of mixing of oil with refrigerant in the system is eliminated. (Typically, oil, on mixing with the refrigerant, forms a coating on the inside of the evaporator and condenser tubes, causing a reduction of heat exchange. As per ASHRAE Research Project 751-RP, oil films/coatings on the heat transfer surfaces could result in a steady drop in performance. And RSES
To contain the noise of the chillers and associated pumps, the chiller plant room has an acoustic treatment, and the noise level outside the room is not over 45.0 dBA.
Closed-circuit condenser water system Although the installation has water-cooled condensing system, due to the closedwater loop, the condenser water circuit has no water consumption. The condenser water heat is rejected by sea water via a heat exchanger. The good water quality ensures long life of the condenser tubes and other components in the condenser water circuit.
The Chilled Water (ChW) system The same water quality, as in the condenser water system, is maintained in the chilled water system to keep the components of the ChW system in good condition. The secondary chilled water system layout’s total piping coverage is around 6,600 metres, and with low-friction-loss pipe design, the pumping power is 13.4 kWs at peak flow rate.
It is anticipated that the chiller, the piping system (chilled water, condenser water and cooling water) and the piping would provide Faarufushi Maldives 25 years of service, at a minimum. In addition, the installed chiller, having a higher efficiency than that of a standard chiller, provides more energy savings. The maintenance requirement of the central chilled water system is less than that of a DX air conditioning system,
which requires constant cleaning of the outdoor unit condenser coils, and the replacement of units every 5-6 years. Although the capital costs of the chilled water system in the Faarufushi project was much higher than what it would have been if the owner had chosen a DX system, a lifecycle cost analysis between the ChW and DX systems, based on a 25-year period, indicates a saving of over USD 3,000,000.
August 2019
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ASE-STUDY
FAARUFUSHI FILES
▶ Chillers
▶ Primary ChW pumps
▶ CONDENSER & COOLING WATER PIPE LAYOUT SCHEMATIC
ENERGY RATINGS AND WATER CONSUMPTION The CoP of the chiller and chilled water plant, inclusive of all pumps (primary ChW, CW, secondary ChW, sea water filter and cooling) is 5.127 kW.r/kW.i. and 3.889 kW.r/kW.i (0.9044 kW/T.r), respectively. Owing to the fact that the condenser water circuit is a closed loop, there is no water consumption. Indeed, the water consumption of the chiller plant is 0.0 litres.
SAVINGS WITH THERMOSTATS SET BACK IN GUEST ROOMS The estimated power savings by setting the guest rooms at an annual average of
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60% occupancy at a pre-set temperature of 25 degrees C, when the room is unoccupied (as sensed by the key card switch) is 23,548 kWh.
CONCLUSIONS The chilled water system installed at the Faarufushi Maldives resort trumps the conventional DX air conditioning systems used in other resorts in a number of ways: (a) Sustainability – the longer life of the system is a major plus, compared to split units, which require more frequent replacement (b) Cost efficiency – resulting from lower maintenance and replacement costs
(c) Energy efficiency – due to the efficient chillers connected to the chilled water (oil-free chillers rather than conventional chillers, which require lubricating oil) (d) Environment friendliness – due to the absence of consumption of water in a water-cooled system.
Nimal Amukotuwa is an independent consultant. He can be contacted at namukotuwa@gmail.com
IT’S CLEARLY YOUR SOLUTION VRV IV SETS THE STANDARD... AGAIN
Pioneering Japanese Technology since 1982 Daikin VRV IV sets the standard again. Thanks to its variable refrigerant temperature control, Inverter, Intelligent Control Systems, wide range of indoor units and Fresh Air solution, VRV IV is clearly a Total Building Solution designed for high ambient conditions.
Galaxy Cooling Technologies LLC
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19
ERSPECTIVE
Rehan Shahid is Director, P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd. He can be contacted at rehan@ptdubai.ae
IS DISTRICT COOLING REALLY THE ANSWER?
Rehan Shahid contends that District Cooling probably poses more questions than answers
utting aside the debate over the energy efficiency of District Cooling systems, we need to steer our attention towards the underground reticulation pipes and the construction of permanent structures, such as huge valve chambers, by District Cooling providers, who are not only adding to the pollution of the planet but also contributing to subsequent issues that future generations will likely have to address and deal with. In contrast, with overhead or above-grade utilities, there is a choice of rerouting or even completely eliminating these systems, if an alternative technology is available in the future. One reasonably acceptable example would be satellite and mobile phones versus landlines. The intensity of effort required to remove buried services from the ground is immense. We are talking hundreds of miles of pipes, which is a formidable task, not to mention an expensive one, as well, and, consequently, almost impossible for a small city to handle. So, what do we do, then? Leave the underground piping networks in the ground for future generations to deal with? Continue with a fresh piece of land, till we run out of that, too? Let’s assume that we leave them, as is. Doing so would mean the spectre of a huge cost in maintaining the networks, which is something that is inadequately considered while carrying out feasibility studies. Moreover, the cost of land used for this purpose
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– thousands and thousands of square miles of it – on top of which you are not allowed to build any structures, is not quite adequately considered, either. Broadly speaking, it is important we take a step back and seriously evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of having more District Cooling plants everywhere. We all understand that pulling a 300mm2 copper cable out of the ground is much easier than digging an 800mm diameter, or bigger, pipe out. But let’s not delude ourselves – when it comes to sewage, we may be stuck with the sewage infrastructure for a very long time to come. Although a micro model may also be adopted, where the sewage is dealt with at the source -- that is, have mini treatment plants, at present, such an apparatus is neither encouraged nor economically feasible at a micro level. So, does a District Cooling system provide what it promises – that is, an energy-efficient, economical and greener solution? Perhaps not. District Cooling systems waste water, use more energy than an onsite plant and demand that huge diversities are applied to the plants, in order to make more profit. The consumer has to pay for the connected load, which is 100% and not diversified.
it should be considered, even if it costs a little more. In that context, serious consideration should be given to air-cooled systems. There is a serious need to embrace available sources of renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy, at a micro level at a pace that is faster than the current speed of uptake. End users should be encouraged to install solar panels on every building, new or old. And grants may be offered as an incentive for this purpose. The energy thus obtained can then be used to supplement energy required to run appliances, air conditioning systems and the such, while the top-up may come from power utility companies. In keeping with the theme, the Solid State Thermoelectric Air Conditioner, which uses the Peltier Effect, is definitely something to keep an eye on, considering that air conditioning systems are the biggest users of energy. For District Cooling systems, feasibility studies should be carried out with utmost transparency and through taking a holistic approach. It is important to consider the pace of future trends and technologies, including the cost of maintenance, the stripping of roads, re-carpeting them and rerouting them, in some cases. It is equally important to take into account CO2 emissions due to the use of heavy machinery, associated equipment, materials and activities. And the most important factor of all – the world we will be leaving behind for future generations to inherit.
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District Cooling plants also often underperform for various reasons – a discussion better left for another time. Furthermore, the consumer is unfairly penalised for not having the right return water temperature, when it should also be the District Cooling provider’s responsibility to take care of this variable and, in addition, have sufficient capacity to cater to all the clients it has signed on. Let us take a further look at the rather inaccurate representation of energy-efficient, “optimised” District Cooling plants. Let’s consider the Holy Month of Ramadan (during summer). Without any hesitation and having to go into much detail, it would not be incorrect to suggest that most residential blocks and commercial premises will be occupied at around 3pm. In that case, the diversity that the District Cooling plants consider is no longer relevant, as all the connected blocks would require simultaneous cooling. Hence, it’s highly probable that the District Cooling plant would underperform and not provide adequate chilled water to all consumers. As a result, consumers are left high and dry, without any reasonable clarification forthcoming. In essence, it may be said that the District Cooling providers have more consumers than what their plant is capable of handling, and they are forced to have to ‘catch up’, so to speak. This certainly cannot be regarded as an acceptable energy-efficient solution. So, what may be considered as a possible direction? If there is an alternative to having an extensive network of buried assets,
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August 2019
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ERSPECTIVE
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…
I am sure once all these are considered, the case in favour of District Cooling systems will come into question. Let us not ignore, and in due course forget, that once we start moving in the direction of District Cooling, it becomes almost impossible to even consider any other technology, as a fortune is spent to nurture a white elephant. The business model demands exorbitant amounts of returns. The expansion in District cooling business is driven by the handsome profits the utility firms reap, whilst the consumers foot the bill for the upkeep and maintenance of such systems. In that context, end-users should be provided with options and allowed to make informed decisions based on independent studies. We talk about not enough power being available, for various but mainly economic reasons, yet we waste this expensively acquired energy to light up and cool massive shopping centres and malls regardless of occupancy levels. Consumers ought to be educated and reminded that cooling an unoccupied dwelling is simply not acceptable. It is important to introduce weekly/monthly programmable thermostats, occupancy sensors and the such, so they can stop wasting energy as much as possible. It will not be long before we will have IoT (Internet of Things) sensors as allies in the bid to lower energy consumption. Until that happens, our fraternity needs to do its bit and spread the word. We need to consider options that don’t further destroy the environment. We all know that the air conditioning industry is an ever-evolving one, so does it make sense to build towns and cities based on the assumption that District Cooling is the best way forward, when the ability of the system to meet the need for energyefficient air conditioning is debatable?
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When the result of District Cooling is a high level of pollution, in my opinion, there is no argument. We should not be allowed to destroy something we do not own in the name of ‘development’ or whatever else we would like to call it. District Cooling doesn’t make economic sense, nor is it environmentally friendly. Water is wasted, be it Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), which is further treated, so it can be used in cooling towers, thus using even more energy in the process, or precious potable water. In the Middle East, thermal desalination, a highly energy intensive process, is the dominant approach in making seawater potable. Water is too precious to be wasted – a 1,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) watercooled chilled water plant would use up to 170 cubic metres of water a day. Putting that into perspective, 170 cubic metres (170,000 litres) of potable water is enough to fulfil the two-litres-a-day requirement of 85,000. This alone should be enough to look at other alternatives. The need of the hour is the production of more green energy to power our cooling systems. With the pace at which technological advances are taking place, we can be certain that we will soon find even more viable and ecofriendly ways of cooling our habitats and producing more green energy. What will then become of these District Cooling networks with their reticulation networks spread underground? Whose problem will it be to clean up?
CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.
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23
REPORT
DAXING DIARY
Beijing’s new USD 12 billion airport, slated to be the world’s largest, will see a departure from China’s reputation of building stuffy and poorly ventilated aviation hubs, claims VTS Group, which has supplied its air curtain and air heater solutions to the facility
ocated less than 50 kilometres south of the capital of China, Beijing Daxing Airport is slated to become the world’s biggest airport and the most progressive and modern transportation centre. According to officials in China, the airport, being built at a cost of around USD 12 billion, will be a great model of futuristic infrastructure, filled with the most advanced and highest quality technology. The new airport will act as a second international airport for Beijing, to relieve the pressure on Beijing’s Capital International Airport, which is straining under a heavy load.
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With the opening planned for September 30, 2019, the Beijing Daxing Airport will have a capacity to handle 45 million passengers annually by 2021, and 72 million by 2025.
MODERN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY In contrast to already functioning airports, the Daxing airport is shaped like a spreading six-petalled flower, where the central hub will be used for passenger processing, ticketing and security. Five of the petals will lead to gates, with the sixth hosting administrative offices. By using distributed zones of operation, the airport is set up in such a manner that passengers will arrive at the carousel in less than 13 minutes after their flight lands at the airport.
▶ Beijing Daxing Airport
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Given its futuristic design, the new airport is obligated to deliver the highest quality and the most developed of technologies. For example, the airport will feature robots at automated security checkpoint, or as patrol inspectors. The robot inspector will guarantee the airport’s higher requirements for security of power supply. The inspector will assist the system in carrying out inspections – at considerably improved speeds. Currently, the inspection process lasts 1-2 minutes, whereas it will last 10-30 seconds in the new regime, with data recording and analysis occurring simultaneously. The robot inspector is expected to improve the intelligent management level of the airport’s substations.
Phase Change Material (PCM’s) between and + release thermal energy during the phase change which releases large amounts of energy in the form of latent heat. It bridges the gap between energy availability and energy use as well as load shifting capability.
8~100C (47~500F)
Return 12~130C (54~560F)
Flow 5~70C (41~450F)
8~100C (47~500F)
AND WHAT ABOUT THE VENTILATION? Airports in China have always been known for being stuffy and poorly ventilated. Even when a new, expensive and modern-looking airport opened in the country, passengers had the feeling that someone had forgotten to design or simply switch on the air conditioning. In the case of Daxing, though, the ventilation will be of the highest standards for aviation centres in Asia. The ventilation systems in the air conditioning units will benefit from the support of a very efficient set of air heaters and air curtains with the objective of assuring comfort and pleasure. Faced with unpredictable and quickly changing weather patterns, caused by the high amplitude of temperature and Beijing’s infamous smog, the designers of Daxing decided to opt for air curtains to ensure a comfortable environment in the complex. By using air stream air curtains, their target was to prevent insects and impure air mixing with the inside air of the premises, keeping the chilled air inside at its utmost purity. They reached out to VTS Group for its WING air curtains. The result: 298 sets of WING air curtains, which are so named because they look like the wings of an aircraft, to protect the facility.
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www.pcmproducts.net August 2019
25
REPORT
THE VOLCANO EFFECT In addition to its WING air curtains, VTS supplied its VOLCANO air heaters to control the temperature parameters inside the buildings, as a counter to the fast and dynamic weather changes in the Daxing airport area. The heating units, numbering 162, once fully operational, will control the inside temperature even in the middle of severe winters, at a low cost. The WING and VOLCANO are equipped with electronically commutated (EC)
motors, which allow for the possibility of reducing energy costs – a significant concern in the case of extensive buildings, like airports, where devices are expected to work 24 hours a day without any interruptions all year through. Introduced in 2017, the energy-saving motors reportedly have the ability to lower power consumption costs by even 50%.
BMS COMPATIBILITY While the presence of EC motors in the WING and VOLCANO is being regarded as a major attribute, an equally significant one is their ability to cooperate with a Building Management System (BMS) regime. This would mean that functions, like Door Optimum and Calendar programming, can be set up for all ventilation devices from one place and would allow operators to have an easy and quick view of impact on conditions and parameters prevailing at any given moment in the facility.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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August 2019
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Securing the interests of multiple MEP stakeholders through strengthening the understanding on legal issues
30 SEPTEMBER 2019 FALCON BALLROOM, LE MERIDIEN HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE, DUBAI, UAE
3rd edition
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OVERVIEW
he 3rd edition of The Client Consultant Contractor Conference will have a decidedly legal focus, in a bid to crack the code on contractual disagreements and payment delays. It will also examine the work of various industry associations as they attempt to take the lead in shaping a more predictable course of action that protects the interests of all stakeholders. The objective of the conference remains the same – strengthening the foundations for better building performance, be it to drive down indirect emissions, lower the total cost of ownership or enhance reliability of air conditioning systems and the indoor environmental quality.
SPEAKERS (CONFIRMED SO FAR)
Raied Al Bitar Regional MEP Manager, Eagle Hills
K Anbalagan Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants
Khaled Derhalli Regional Director, EFECO
Mansour Kharoub Associate Principal - Mech Engineering Services, Khatib & Alami
Suresh Kumar General Manager, Voltas
Vasanth Kumar General Manager, IFMC Electromechanical Works LLC
Jeán van Loggerenberg Partner, CKR Consulting Engineers
Timothy McLaren Senior Commercial Contracts Engineer, Ramboll
Sougata Nandi CEO and Founder, 3e Advisory
Prabhu Ramachandran CEO, Facilio
Sekhar Reddy Head MEP - Meydan One Mall, MS Construction
Dr Zahid Rizvi CEO & General Manager, Aspire Consulting
Filippo Sona Managing DirectorGlobal Hospitality, Drees and Sommer
Hassan Younes Director & Partner, Griffin Consultants
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FEATURE
Hot water systems
DECODING THE DIRECTION OF
HOT WATER
Industry representatives affirm that the hot water system market for HVAC applications seems to be moving towards solar-powered systems, and yet product-cost continues to be seen as an influencing factor BY RANJANA KONATT | FEATURES WRITER
he overall market worth of the HVAC hot water systems sub-industry in the combined Gulf region and Egypt is approximately USD 500 million, says Santosh Devassy, Marketing Director, Rheem Manufacturing MEA. The market today, he says, consists of a wide range of hot water systems across residential and light-commercial applications, and the sub-industry is driven by a number of micro and macro-economic factors. Elaborating on one such factor, Herbert B Bremstaller, Founder and CEO, ECOTHERM Austria GmbH, says that today, operators are looking for ways to reduce the operating costs associated with running hot water systems. This has led to the possibility of installing new systems or even replacing existing ones with solar-powered hot water systems, he says. The need for energy efficiency and the call to retrofit buildings, he says, is clearly seen as a potential driver of the sub-industry. “The UAE has always taken the lead to implement energy-efficient systems, and the same is now being followed by other countries in the region,” Bremstaller adds. While the call to conduct retrofits is also a factor influencing the hot water systems sub-industry, Abhay Miglani, Business Development Manager, Armacell Middle East, asserts that the UAE is witnessing a rise in demand for solar-powered heating systems –
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Santosh Devassy
Herbert B Bremstaller
Abhay Miglani
for both commercial and residential segments. He says that the surge in solar-powered heating is in line with the UAE Vision 2030 – the Sustainable Development Goals, which put more focus on solar and alternative green energy usage. Another macro-economic driver that is believed to have an influence on the demand for water systems in the upcoming World Expo 2020. Devassy says that the World Expo 2020 is expected to be one of the largest events in the Arab world, and with 190 countries set to be participating and an expected footfall of millions of visitors expected from around the globe, he says that the event will lead to a positive demand in the market. There seem to be growth and opportunity for the subindustry, and a rise in real-estate would mean more supply of hot water systems, he says. Miglani, too, is of the opinion that the aim of having the World Expo 2020 is to make it the most sustainable World Expo. Hence, he adds, there is an immense amount of focus on clean energy generation and on reducing the overall carbon footprint. Elaborating on the many applications where hot water systems are put to use, Bremstaller says that in villa applications, thermosiphon hot water systems are very popular. They are economical and are easy to install, he says. However, when talking about big applications, for instance – in places like hospitals, hotels or industrial applications, you can use the so-called ‘fresnel collector’, which can produce steam from solar heat, and this steam can then be used as a primary
heat source for manufacturing processes – cooling or even to produce hot water, hence reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, he says. Even though hot water systems have a wide application, representatives from the industry affirm that cost is a factor that is often brought up for debate. Bremstaller says that with high demand for the systems and challenging building designs, the cost of projects and the application of systems often tend to overshoot budgets, and this eventually results in owners looking at the initial cost of a system. Money is spent on the exterior looks of the buildings, but day-to-day operating systems are compromised owing to budget constraints, he says. Elaborating, he
adds that this means that the cost for other systems is often compromised on. However, Devassy says that typically, cost as a factor rarely exists for high-end projects and is more of a factor for mid-end projects. Miglani elaborates on the explanation he gives to his customers on how though a product may be a little more expensive, it is still worth it. He says, “I tell my customer to not just look at the initial capex but to look at the lifecycle cost.” If we look at the lifecycle cost of a solar-based heater, it will definitely earn money for the owner, he adds. Bremstaller points to innovation as a selling point, but adds that it is still a tough-sell. “The general trend is to follow what has been done in the past,” he says. The manufacturing industry has seen tremendous growth in terms of innovation and energy efficiency, he says, but designers still follow the specifications that were followed in the last 10-12 years. While challenges do exist, the overall sentiment with regard to the direction the hot water system sub-industry seems to be
taking is positive. Though the use of solar heat-based systems and heat pumps are a big trend, there is also a possibility of suppliers trying and opting for a cheaper option, Bremstaller says. The need of the hour, he says, are new regulations, which would ensure that initial cost is not the only criterion in sourcing hot water systems, and that other attributes, like quality, reliability and sustainability are also taken into account. Devassy says that as energy-efficient sustainable products become popular, the efforts by the government and the steps taken to develop sustainability programmes represent a positive news, indeed.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
August 2019
29
FEATURE
Cooling Towers
TOWERING PROFILE
How are cooling tower manufacturers navigating market conditions in the Middle East? What are the opportunities ahead for new and established companies in a highly competitive business environment? Hannah Jo Uy has the story…
he new standard – this is how Jelle Wagelmans, Regional Manager Middle East for Evapco, describes the market condition in the GCC region. For Wagelmans, and many others, it is becoming clear that the golden years following the GCC region’s construction boom are not going to make a comeback anytime soon. In view of this, he believes that in order to have a fair assessment of the current business environment, the market should not be compared with the immense demand seen during earlier years. “Dubai was built out of the desert, so there was a lot of construction required in the first years,” he says, “but still today, business is at a decent level, construction-wise. We put our targets in line with today's business opportunities, because the “old” days are not coming back, as Dubai is pretty developed already. If you compare aerial pictures taken in the 1990s with pictures of today, you won’t even recognize the city.” Over the past two years, other markets in the GCC region have seen a similar trend in terms of reduced demand, Wagelmans says. The consumption
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of concrete in Saudi Arabia, or lack thereof, is an indication of the relatively low number of projects currently executed in the Kingdom, he points out. However, Wagelmans says, new projects are emerging from Saudi Arabia, and it is expected the country will present more opportunities for regional manufacturers in the coming months and years. Sharing his sentiments on the market is Talal Damerchi, General Manager, Hamon Cooling Tower Company, who says, “We are facing headwinds owing to the softening of demand following the slowing pace of construction activity in the GCC region due to the downward pressure of real estate prices.” However, Damerchi says, recently there has been excitement surrounding new markets, especially in Egypt. Birey Bakanay, Vice General Manager, Niba, shares his view representing a Turkish manufacturer that has recently made a more serious effort to advance its presence in the GCC region. In the past year, Bakanay says, the company secured a prestigious project supplying cooling towers to the Kuwait Airport terminal. “That gave us better hope for future
projects,” he adds. For Bakanay, the market continues to hold a wealth of opportunities. “It is clear that the demand is decreasing,” he says. “But this also gives us opportunity to compete with already established competition. When the demand is steady or increasing, the end-users and contractors are usually not looking for new suppliers and going with their usual suppliers. In times of decreasing demand and high competition, they look more into finding new suppliers that they can count on.”
NEW DIRECTIONS Considering the market conditions, manufacturers are urged to pursue creative business strategies in a bid to strengthen their position in the region. Elaborating on how Evapco is addressing such challenges, Wagelmans says the company is focusing on creating new business channels while working to secure as many of the projects in the market as possible. “We try to orient ourselves to other directions, like inspections of existing installations, greater focus on aftermarket, spare parts and annual maintenance contracts,” he says. Speaking for Hamon, Damerchi shares that while the company was primarily focused on large District Cooling plants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, they are exploring other opportunities by increasing their product offering, expanding regional coverage, diversifying the sectors the company supplies to and focusing on replacement and aftermarket through the company’s installation base. Damerchi adds that while the District Cooling market has matured in the UAE, it is still growing in Saudi Arabia and in Egypt, adding that in general, there is greater uptake for standalone watercooled systems. Wagelmans points out that even in countries with strong acceptance of District Cooling, the market is increasingly favouring modular plants instead of immediately building 30,000-40,000 TR (tonnes of refrigeration) District Cooling plants (DCP) with field-erected cooling towers. “If you drive around the region,” he says, “you see a District Cooling plant where you have a complete roof available for cooling tower installation, but instead of eight towers, only three are installed. The other five are no longer required due to a lower cooling load requirement caused by changes in the area of development. But still, District Cooling providers had to invest in the construction of a complete plant ready to provide 40,000 TR, while actually only 10,000-15,000 tons of cooling is produced and paid for by their customers.” Wagelmans says this is why District Cooling providers are hesitant these days to spend money on a District Cooling plant and, instead are opting to start new projects with modular plants (3,0005,000 TR each) and only plan to build a complete District Cooling plant once the load requirement in the area increases. “You have so many developments in the UAE, and sometimes the occupancy and cooling load that is required by the area is not as expected. You have a 40,000 TR plant ready which is barely used; this becomes very hard
Jelle Wagelmans
Talal Damerchi
Birey Bakanay
to justify in today’s business climate.” He adds that the trend is also going for modular plants, because these plants offer greater flexibility. “If after some years a complete District Cooling plant is built, the installed modular plants can be relocated to a new area or development," he says. "In some cases, modular plants are even added to the network with an existing DCP because the peak cooling load required is higher as the original design."
AN ISSUE OF CONFORMITY As manufacturers navigate new market trends, another important aspect weighing heavily on their minds is the level of understanding consultants have on the technical scope of different certifications. Wagelmans believes there is room for improvement when it comes to conformity among manufacturers, especially with regard to the International Building Code. “Evapco cooling towers are all complying to the International Building Code (IBC), but we have doubts that all cooling towers
in today’s Middle East market do,” he says. “We are following this international standard as we are global supplier of heat transfer equipment, but we are not seeing this standard specified in the region much, although it is an important standard, because it addresses the product quality: seismic resistance, wind load, etc.” Wagelmans says that Factory Mutual (FM) certification is becoming the norm in the region these days. “FM is not only about fire resistance,” he says. “FM also covers wind load, seismic load and resistance against air borne debris. There is a lot of testing and a factory audit required before suppliers can get FM certification, and it’s a more known and accepted standard in the GCC region compared to IBC. It is also easier to check, because all FM-approved products, not only cooling towers, are listed on the FM Approval Guide website.” Wagelmans says greater acceptance of FM certification can also be attributed to the UAE Ministry of Defense. “The Ministry of Defense accepts FM as a quality standard to approve cooling towers,” he says. “That’s why FM certification these days is becoming a standard note in most cooling tower specifications.” Weighing in on the issue is Damerchi, who says that generally, there are misunderstandings surrounding FM in the industry. Providing a comprehensive overview of what the certification entails, he says: “FM is an insurance company, and as part of their insurance certification, they conduct testing to evaluate if the material used in the cooling tower is fire-retardant and to determine how fast the fire will propagate from one cell to another. FM is not a performance certification. The performance certification is done by CTI and Eurovent.” Damerchi adds that most cooling tower manufacturers do not apply for FM certification, as it is not widely used in Europe and in the United States. “We advocate that using firefighting system in the cooling tower is a better way, as this is a more positive system to stop the fire,” he says, adding that FM, in its insurance certification, notes that to obtain FM insurance, FM certification is not the only criterion. “FM insurance can be obtained if [the product] is FM-certified, has a firefighting system or uses fire-retardant materials,” he says. “Therefore, we in Hamon advocate the use of a firefighting system, as this is a more positive action to stop the fire. And we also recommend to use good fire-retardant material in the construction of the cooling tower.”
August 2019
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FEATURE
Explaining why such measures are necessary, Wagelmans says: “Most people think you have a lot of water in a cooling tower, how can it burn? Problems can occur during the winter time when the ambient temperature drops and not all cooling towers are required to operate to cover the cooling load. This is the ideal time of the year for major cooling tower maintenance work and even refurbishment, if required. Even a small spark from grinding or welding works can cause great damage if it drops inside an idle cooling tower, as most standard cooling tower components are flammable to highly flammable, depending on the material of construction that is used.” He points out that this danger has also been recognised in the latest edition of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practise 2018, in which it is explicitly stated that cooling tower components should be made of noncombustible materials and the cooling tower should be certified as noncombustible. “If not, the cooling tower must be provided with an extra fire protection system, such as a deluge water spray system,” he says. Wagelmans adds that while the cost add of an FM-approved cooling tower construction would be approximately the same as integrating a deluge system, he says that the disadvantages of the deluge system are the additional water circuit that would have to be maintained and the additional piping that would be required. He also emphasises that the installation of an extra deluge system would void the CTI certification (third-party thermal performance certification) of the cooling tower, as the deluge system would need to be installed inside the cooling tower, in the air stream, thus potentially impacting the performance.
MISREPRESENTATION AND COST CUTTING Wagelmans believes it is important to inform people about the differences between different cooling tower certifications programmes, like CTI, Eurovent, IBC and FM which are available today, as some of them, like CTI, already became a standard in the Middle East market, considering that based on his observations greater than 95% of actual project specifications require CTI-certified cooling towers. For Bakanay, CTI as a certification for thermal performance enables a level playing field. However, Wagelmans says that stakeholders must be aware that not
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Cooling Towers
all manufacturers certify their complete cooling tower product line. “As Evapco, we always certify our complete product line, all models and including all accessories,” he says, “Some of our competitors only certify a limited number of models in a certain product line, as this is allowed by CTI. All certified models can be checked on the CTI website, but this might be confusing for customers. Evapco already raised this point to the attention of CTI. If you look at the website, you see brands listed as CTI-certified, but if you take a closer look at the details you will notice that only one out of the 40 models is certified in some cases. We understand CTI – they want to make it an open level playing field for everyone; however, it is critical to ensure that all manufacturers are held to the same high standards and that customers understand the criteria required to meet CTI certification. Evapco wants to make certain that the engineering community can firmly rely on the integrity of CTI and the value of CTI certification.” Wagelmans says that some manufacturers tend to avoid certifying the complete product line owing to the additional cost it entails in terms of testing and R&D. “On the other hand, you also have the European alternative, Eurovent certification,” he says. “Eurovent not only executes cooling tower performance testing but also executes a factory audit, each year, so at least customers are assured that a third-party has audited the factory of their cooling tower supplier. This adds great value to the Eurovent certification in our opinion.”
Weighing in on the issue is Damerchi, who emphasises that the market is rife with misrepresentation and misleading certification. “We, in Hamon, believe that one sure approach to test the actual delivered cooling tower on site is by conducting a CTI 105 Test,” he says. “Factory certification is good but is only valid for small packaged towers that can be tested in the factory. We believe that for large site assembled cooling towers, the only true, possible certification is CTI 105 site testing.” For Damerchi, the willingness of a company to invest into conforming with the highest standard depends on the company’s willingness to protect its standing in the market. He says that Hamon, as a global company, aims to stick to international standards through projects verified by CTI performance testing, and to actively participate in setting up high standards in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC). “We see the same attention to quality from our competitors who stick to CTI testing and are members of Eurovent,” he says. “We are very proud of our reputation, so we will not risk our reputation by taking any shortcuts. Obviously, we can’t say the same about new entrants, who might try to take shortcuts to save cost.” Wagelmans points out there are two ways the industry can battle such bad practices. The first, he says, would be to educate the consultants on the nuances between certifications and to help them ask the right questions. However, Wagelmans says, doing so entails having a greater
The third group would be people who are not up to date but willing to listen to manufacturers and learn about the latest updates on available standards and products.” Over and above a campaign to educate the market, Wagelmans says, a fixed regulation to enhance market surveillance would be very helpful in battling misrepresentation in the industry as a whole. “If you can put a certain quality standard in the market, stakeholders will benefit from it,” he says, “but the standard should be based on input received from manufacturers, so it will offer a fair chance to everyone but still allows for high-quality products and encourages more due diligence.”
understanding of the different kinds of consultants in the market. “I would categorise them in three groups,” he says. “Some are very experienced and up to date on the latest developments in the industry, they know what they are talking about and offer high quality specifications to their customers. The second group are aware of the available standards, but the contractor’s position in the project is strong, for example Design and Build projects, and the consultant's influence is limited. Contractors will always have a limited budget and try to reduce the cost of equipment as much as possible, even if this is in opposition to local regulations. The responsible government authorities will play a key role in these projects, as they will need to make sure all equipment installed by contractor is in line with local regulations. Fire and life safety are of utmost importance, in my opinion, and can’t be compromised on.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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August 2019
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REGIONAL NEWS
Green Sukuk is evidence of the direction we have decided to take, says Majid Al Futtaim The Sukuk shows the appetite and the awareness of the global investor community, says Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Al Futtaim By Ranjana Konatt | Features Writer
ustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Majid Al Futtaim, and we believe that issuing the Green Sukuk is evidence of the direction we have decided to take, said Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Majid Ibrahim Al Zu’bi Al Futtaim. The Sukuk, he added, is important to the company from a regional perspective, and it shows the appetite and the awareness of the global investor community. Elaborating on the contribution of the Green Sukuk to green energy and to sustainable water management in the region, Al Zu’bi pointed to the company’s 2014 sustainable building policy,
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‘Lack of technical knowledge, cost-driven solutions lead to inefficient design and performance’ CEO of Aspire Consulting outlines challenges facing specialised consultants in the Middle East’s refrigeration industry; discusses gaps hindering better engineering practice By Hannah Jo Uy | Assistant Editor
that considering the fact that the market situation will onsultants bear a significant responsibility inevitably apply a degree of pressure on consultants, in within the HVACR industry, when it comes terms of financial constraints and delivery deadlines, there to promoting energy-efficient solutions, said should be a measure of protection given to consultants. Dr Zahid Rizvi, CEO and General Manager, A possible solution, Dr Rizvi said, is a mechanism, where UAE-based Aspire Consulting. Dr Rizvi underlined the industry engineering standards are linked to fee structures, important role consultants play as specialists initiating which would drive the community towards better decisions around plant design in providing sustainable engineering practices. solutions that will effectively manage power consumption Dr Zahid Rizvi Dr Rizvi also addressed the apprehension that and mitigate buildings’ negative impact on the consultants may feel when it comes to specifying new product environment. However, Dr Rizvi pointed out that a significant challenge innovations offered by manufacturers, pointing out that the biggest facing consultants in the Middle East refrigeration industry is the lack of bottleneck in the adoption of new technology is the alignment, appropriate training and weak communication channels among system or lack thereof, between the manufacturers’ R&D teams and the installers, and commissioning and maintenance engineers. The lack of consultants. “Many manufacturers seem apprehensive in sharing technical knowledge, combined with cost-driven solutions, he stressed, data or engaging with consultants in the process of new products inevitably lead to inefficient systems design and performance. and design research,” he said, “but this can be easily overcome with Dr Rizvi said that a number of other factors are aggravating the confidentiality agreements. In the end, both manufacturers and knowledge gap in the market. As an example, he pointed out that consultants need to be aligned with the products and the special in tight market situations, when projects are mainly driven by cost, needs [of the market], and not involving the consultants at roll-out feedback and evaluation on performance are rarely considered after the stages will not serve the best purpose for manufacturers, in my project has been completed. “This situation does not lead to enhanced opinion.” learning, at all engineering levels, and slows down the much-needed Underlining the value of stronger communication channels, Dr improvements,” he said, adding that there should be an appropriate Rizvi emphasised that while it is important to innovate and think ‘out mechanism, wherein consultants are able receive feedback on projects. of the box’, if engineers in charge of the execution of the project Dr Rizvi also touched on the importance of being discerning when it are not properly trained, inevitably there will be a breakdown in the comes to accepting projects. “I strongly believe a consultant should only chain, which will affect the intended performance and maintenance take on the type of projects they are experts on and not chase projects, of the system and lead to delayed timelines and higher cost towards as the outcome will inevitably reflect this,” he said. “Consultants have a completion. Dr Rizvi said that he believes consultants need to bear responsibility to deliver optimum engineering solutions in their line of responsibility and take the lead in closing these knowledge gaps, expertise and communicate accordingly with continuous engagement, which serve as a barrier to better building performance. with client and the remaining team of project engineers.” Dr Rizvi said
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which he said is a part of the day-to-day business of the company. “This means that any new build must be LEED Gold,” he said. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim is the only company in the region that has a policy on renewable energy. Al Zu’bi said being net-positive is the new advanced concept of sustainability. “Being net positive, in simple words, means to give more than you take, so this is what we have done,” he said. “We have measured the impact and have found out the environmental impact in carbon, in energy and in water.”
Elaborating on the benefits the Green Sukuk is likely to bring to its investors and to the environment, he said that the Sukuk will enable the company to show investors that we can help you make money while also helping the environment. We have approximately six plants, and we have already begun working on the on-site generation of renewables, he said, adding, “We recently signed an off-site generation plant in Jordan.”
Hamon, integrated cooling and air quality solutions for a cleaner environment Hamon is a multinational Group with over 100 years experience in the design and supply of cooling technologies (wet and dry cooling) and air quality systems to the power industry, as well as other energy intensive sectors. We engineer, manufacture, deliver and erect all cooling system types as well as dust, acid gas and NOx removal systems with over 50,000 references worldwide in all types of applications. Our local teams are ready to support you on the specifications of the project, its implementation as well as the maintenance of the equipment.
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August 2019
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REGIONAL NEWS
Siemens Gamesa: Thermal storage paving the way for a more resilient energy future Chief Technology Officer discusses ongoing development to make electrothermal energy storage system commercially viable; outlines emerging trends By Hannah Jo Uy | Assistant Editor
resilient renewable At this stage, by 2022-2025, energy framework is we´ll be competitive with the not only feasible, it rest of the technologies in the is inevitable, Antonio energy market.” de la Torre, Chief Technology Discussing how the Officer, Siemens Gamesa, said technology can be used to following the company’s recent address requirements of Antonio de la Torre launch of its electrothermal systems that have traditionally energy storage system. de la placed a heavy load on the Torre said he sees a future of renewable energy grid, de la Torre confirmed that the power integrating wind, solar and storage system can be used to resolve the issue of at the same time, with storage powering air conditioning equipment overloading the grid and managed directly by the grid the grid. de la Torre pointed out that since regulators. “That means in the future, there will be countries where solar or wind country regulators will deliver stored power will be guaranteed for some part energy, whenever the grid demands it,” he of the day and provide excessive energy, said. the excess of energy can be stored in a big de la Torre said that Siemens Gamesa installation capable of storing one gigawatt is currently in the process of developing hour of energy quite soon. “Within a 10-15 the technology and has completed the first years’ timeframe, storage capacity will prototype of five megawatt hours. “We range from 15 to 20 gigawatt hours,” he are now jumping to 130 megawatt hours said. “This means that stored energy will be of energy,” he said. “The last quantum delivered to the grid by the regulator, and leap we need to perform to make it excess demand required for air conditioning commercially viable will be the validation devices can be addressed by these types of of our next one-gigawatt-hour installation. installations.”
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▶ The inauguration of Siemens Gamesa's Electric Thermal Energy Storage (ETES)
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de la Torre said that he has no doubt the price of storage systems will only continue to be incrementally lower with time. “Our company foresees that the energy trading will continue evolving to lower costs,” he said. “And stored energy will contribute to get the energy prices lower when demand will show peaks.” de la Torre shared that as the company has designed a very versatile system, the thermal storage can be applied in standalone configurations or as part of a hybrid solution combined with wind and solar windfarms. Such versatility, de La Torre said, extends to applications for the system in other regions, even amidst the harsh conditions across the Middle East. “We do not expect there to be challenges applying this technology to other parts of the world,” he said. “We create global solutions that can be customised to meet any country’s requirements. So, in the case of the Middle East we would be able to make some customisations to meet any particular grid requirements, or environmental issues.” de la Torre weighed in on the future of energy trading, which he said, will be significantly different from presentday operations. “In line with our global strategy, we think that energy trading will be based on how different sources of energy can deliver in real time,” he said. “So, we foresee two prices for the energy – a price for energy available at any given time and a price for energy in storage. That is what we see in a simplified manner of what must happen as part of the energy transition.” Apart from the price issues, de la Torre said that critical infrastructures demanding energy in crisis scenarios are the ones that will get the biggest benefit from the massive thermal storage solution SGRE (Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy) is creating.
Empower awards contracts worth more than AED 100 million District Cooling utility provider moves towards network extension at Dubai Production City
Cauz takes charge of CAREL EEMEA His appointment is part of the Group’s constant international expansion, CAREL says
By CCME Content Team
By CCME Content Team
mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has awarded contracts worth over AED 100 million to extend its cooling service pipeline network with a length of about 10 kilometres to connect Ahmad Bin Shafar the various plants located in Dubai Production City, the District Cooling utility provider said through a Press release. Empower highlighted through the release that the extension of its network is part of its strategy to develop its infrastructure using advanced technologies to achieve customer happiness and satisfaction. According to the release, the project consists of two network extensions to inter-connect seven semi-permanent plants. The network, which serves Dubai Production City, will be completed by Q1 of 2020, the release said. “At Empower, we are committed to developing our infrastructure and using the latest chillers technology at Dubai Production City, to maximise cooling and achieve the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2021, where infrastructure is one of its major pillars,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower. “As the years go by, Empower continues to develop its Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, contributing to the efficiency of the cooling sector and providing an easier experience for countries and companies looking to implement district cooling systems. The plants are constructed as per international standards and are targeting to achieve internationally recognised certifications for design, construction and operation of environmentally friendly and highperformance buildings.”
AREL on July 16 appointed Mirco Cauz, formerly Managing Director of CAREL Central and Southern Europe, to the role of Regional CEO for the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Region (EEMEA), the company said through a Press release. He will report directly to Francesco Nalini, CEO, CAREL. Cauz’s appointment, the release said, is part of the Group’s constant international expansion and with the aim of strengthening its regional structures. In the new regional organisation, the Managing Directors of CAREL Russia, CAREL Mirco Cauz Middle East, Alfaco Poland, CAREL Ukraine, CAREL South Africa and CAREL Central and Southern Europe subsidiaries will all report to Cauz. “It is an honour for me to be appointed to this prestigious position in a growing group, such as CAREL,” Cauz said. “Our colleagues in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region stand out for their experience and professionalism. It will be a privilege to work with them and, together, find the best synergies for organising the team and consolidating our presence on the market, by anticipating our customers’ requirements.” Concurrently, the position of Managing Director of CAREL Central and Southern Europe has been assigned to Marco Galluppi, formerly part of the team as Business Development Manager for Turkey & West Asia.
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Emirati-French Business Forum discusses role of AI, block chain in smart cities Government officials highlight strong alignment of UAE and France in promoting economic cooperation and meeting environmental objectives By Hannah Jo Uy | Assistant Editor
lockchain, AI, smart meters and the use of such disruptive technologies in the move to optimise energy resources, enhance efficiency and to promote smart and sustainable cities were the topics of discussion during the second H. E. Saeed Mohammed edition of the Emirati-French Business Al Tayer forum, on July 3, at DEWA’s sustainable building office in Dubai. Organised by the French Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates, Business France and DEWA, the event focused on “The Future of Energy Innovation”. H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO, DEWA, inaugurated the forum by highlighting the strong, historical ties of UAE and France. He said, “French companies and French investors in the UAE, play an important role in strengthening the bonds of friendship and human and social relations, which positively reflects the economic trade cooperation between the two countries and achieves common interests.” H.E. Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates, also highlighted the strong relations of the two countries. “Dubai continues to be a privileged destination for companies
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looking to reach a wider group and for companies in sustainability and innovation,” he said. “Environment and climate change is one of the topics where UAE and France are perfectly aligned, with strong commitment to renewable and clean energy.” H.E. Pouille underlined the H.E. Ludovic Pouille significance of the event, which drew the participation and attendance of decision-makers from public and private sectors, government officials and representatives from multinational companies and SMEs. Providing a comprehensive overview of DEWA’s milestone achievements, Al Tayer discussed best practices when it comes to anticipating and shaping the future of energy by ushering in a futuristic model of utilities through the production, transmission and distribution of electricity and water. Richard Dib, Head of Data Science Activation, Smart Dubai, put the spotlight on the government’s commitment to make Dubai ‘the happiest city on earth’ during a keynote speech. “Smart Dubai is leveraging the power of technology and working to understand how technology can be used across multiple sectors to make sure
‘FM providers inherit inefficiencies owing to poor HVAC design, selection and commissioning’ Issue is aggravated by the sheer volume of construction projects across the GCC region, says official, Tafawuq Facility Management By Hannah Jo Uy | Assistant Editor
he challenge of addressing energy loss, owing to inefficient HVAC systems, often falls on FM operators, who inherit buildings that suffer from improper design, construction and commissioning, said Mohammed Alsharaf, Chief Operations Officer, Eltizam Asset Management Group, who pointed out the issue is aggravated by the sheer volume of
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construction projects in the UAE and across the GCC region. Alsharaf was speaking based on the challenges that Tafawuq Facility Management, a subsidiary of Eltizam, has faced in projects throughout the region. In addition to poor design, selection and commissioning of HVAC systems, Alsharaf said that FM operators encounter equipment that have been neglected for long periods of time and systems operating beyond the
normal service life, with technology that is either obsolete or malfunctioning. As such, Alsharaf emphasised the importance of investing in quality and specialised FM services. Alsharaf also highlighted the company’s custom -tailored approach in maintaining and operating HVAC systems in residential Mohammed Alsharaf and commercial developments, be it small air conditioning units, chilled water networks or large-tonnage District Cooling plants. Alsharaf said that Tafawuq develops and implements bespoke strategies, following a comprehensive assessment of the number of buildings involved, the size of the HVAC systems, its usage and the building’s operating hours. The type of equipment installed, previous maintenance records and recent upgrades, if any, are
all citizens are having an efficient, seamless, safe and personalised experience leading to a happier city,” he said. Dib pointed out that unlike most smart cities, Dubai’s digital transformation is not confined to a specific sector, as the strategy advocates a more holistic approach. Dib added that Smart Dubai will soon be implementing a set of policies to encourage implementation and adoption of block chain among relevant private companies and government entities as part of its Block Chain strategy. Dib said that Smart Dubai has also launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) roadmap to identify and implement a plan to integrate AI and to build capability within government entities with regard to AI. These technologies were further discussed during a panel discussion on “Disruptive Technologies within Utilities’, moderated by Jean-Luc Scherer, Founder and CEO, Innopolis. Marwan Bin Haider, EVP Innovation and The Future, DEWA; Carola Puusteli, Electricity Companies, Segment President, Schneider Electric and Mohammed Azizi, Country Director MENA and Pakistan, Sigfox were the panelists. Puusteli underlined the importance of unlocking opportunities offered by technology to transform cities and utilities, and said that digitalisation of electricity is the next biggest revolution within the utilities sector. “Buildings are [responsible for] 50% of energy consumption for the world, and we believe in Schneider it will be 80% in the coming years,” she said. During a discussion on potential solutions, Bin Haider confirmed that Dubai is looking at AI as a solution to promote efficiency of operations, pointing out that the UAE’s appointment of a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, underlines the country’s commitment to leverage technology to improve cities. “It’s part of the DNA,” Bin Haider said. “For us, AI is a must. We have a clear roadmap and strategy to make stakeholders happy, and [it is] also part of our investment portfolio. [We look at] potential opportunities in AI for optimising our operation, not just for the sake of having AI. AI without data will not take us anywhere.”
also taken into consideration, he added. Alsharaf said the company also specialises in managing Close Control Units (CCUs) for applications where humidity and climate control are essential, such as in data centres. In such cases, Alsharaf said, the company develops a comprehensive maintenance structure, taking into consideration history, precise operating condition and performance of the unit to ensure reliability. He added that improving indoor air quality through maintenance, following a thorough assessment of the design and installation of HVAC equipment, in view of applicable regulation and standards, is also an integral part of Tafawuq’s FM delivery. Alsharaf said that in order to continue providing quality and specialised maintenance services, Tafawuq places strong importance on training and knowledge exchange to enhance technical excellence. This, he said, is evident in the company’s recent investment in a 600-square-metre training facility, for its Training Academy, created to develop the technical knowledge of technicians on asset management from energy and sustainability standpoints. Most importantly, Al Sharaf said, Eltizam prides itself in being able to maintain strong ties with its partners, by engaging with developers, consultants and manufacturers to identify concerns when it comes to building performance, and effectively address issues related to lifecycle, energy profile and maintenance cost.
UL in IAQ initiative Company says it will create a joint working group with Eurovent Middle East for improving air quality By CCME Content Team
L has joined Eurovent Middle East as an associate member to work towards higher safety standards in relation to HVACR equipment and installations, the company said through a Press communiqué. UL will also form a joint working group with Eurovent Middle East to develop initiatives for improved Indoor Air Quality, the communiqué said. Commenting on the membership, Hamid Syed, Vice President and General Manager, UL Middle East, said: “The activities of Eurovent and UL complement each other. Eurovent Association represents the manufacturers in the region with their challenges, demands and needs. UL with its broad range of services dedicated to safety and sustainability is an ideal partner to support the manufacturers directly in the region. “We will create a joint working group with Eurovent, as both sides detected the need to be more active in the field of indoor air quality in order to improve safety and life quality for the people in the region. This is very much in line with UL’s mission to foster safe living and working conditions for people around the world through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. “We believe together we can make a bigger impact in this specific field of indoor air quality, and I am convinced that we will not stop there and collaborate in further areas in the future.” Markus Lattner, Managing Director, Eurovent Middle East, said: “We are very happy to see UL joining our growing family. Our main focus at Eurovent is looking at wider issues, like how to improve energy efficiency in this region or improve indoor air quality through broader initiatives. Therefore, we see a lot of areas for a successful collaboration with UL.
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“We will discuss how we can contribute together for a better understanding of the current market and seek out opportunities for improvement. “We believe that our cooperation can help to develop specific strategies to initiate actions by authorities, property developers and by the people themselves. We hope to be involved in more collaborations to create awareness in the market for safety, latest technologies and even regulatory aspects.
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REGIONAL NEWS
Kingspan inaugurates duct panel production line Dubai facility will manufacture UL 181-listed PalDuct phenolic preinsulated duct panels, company says By CCME Content Team
ingspan Insulation opened a new production line to manufacture UL 181-listed PalDuct phenolic pre-insulated duct panels, the company said through a Press communiqué. Gene Murtagh, CEO, Kingspan Group plc – together with Peter Wilson, Managing Director, Kingspan’s Insulation Division and Sarmad Fakhri, Managing Director, Kingspan Insulation LLC – inaugurated the manufacturing line at Kingspan Insulation’s manufacturing site, at Dubai Investment Park 2, the communiqué said. The company’s senior management and special guests were present during the ceremony, the communiqué added. Speaking on the occasion, Murtagh said that the company aims to offer a local product with premium quality and faster delivery times, passing on savings from ▶ L-R (In the foreground): Peter Wilson, Gene Murtagh and Sarmad Fakhri import costs to its customers in the UAE. “It is one of the largest manufacturing facilities of UL 181-listed duct Kingspan PalDuct phenolic pre-insulated ductwork, as they will know panels in the world.” that the product is genuine and safe to install. UL 181 represents a standard for safety, the communiqué said, The PalDuct panels are imbued with a rigid thermoset phenolic adding that it covers the materials in the fabrication of air duct insulation core, the communiqué said, adding that they have systems. To get UL listed, the products are required to pass various protective special reinforced aluminium faces. The core of the panels, tests by UL for flame resistance, burning, mould growth and humidity the communiqué said, has a fibre-free and closed-cell insulation core, test, impact and leakage, to name a few, the communiqué said. which has been manufactured with a CFC/HCFC-free blowing agent Fakhri said that when viewed against the backdrop of products that has zero ozone-depleting potential (ODP) and low global warming entering the market with questionable credentials and traceability, potential (GWP). clients and contractors can have peace of mind through using
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Power corridors can unlock RE potential CESI Middle East Managing Director discusses feasibility of electrical interconnections and the need to restructure power sectors across the GCC region By Hannah Jo Uy | Assistant Editor
lectrical interconnections would unlock the renewable energy potential of the Middle East region, strengthen political relations of the involved countries and usher in a more efficient evolution of the power system, said Dr Floris Hendrikus Schulze, Managing Director, CESI Middle East FZE. Dr Schulze said that presently, CESI is deeply involved in the pre-feasibility study for a potential power corridor between Middle East and
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North Africa and, potentially, to Europe. He added that the company is assessing the potential of the electricity market in the GCC region, which, he said, is key to restructuring the power sectors of the Middle East. Concerning a GCC region energy corridor, Dr Schulze pointed out that an interconnection linking all the countries is already present. “It has been used successfully already for many years for improving the reliability of the GCC region
system during emergencies and to share generation reserves,” he said. “The next step to fully exploit the opportunities offered by the interconnection is to increase the electricity trading among the countries, which is currently limited due to the still early stages of market restructuring of the power sectors of the GCC region countries.” Dr Schulze said that increased utilisation of the energy interconnection will advance efforts to integrate renewable energy to the grid by
Empower strikes gold at IDEA 2019 in Pittsburgh District Cooling utility company wins two gold awards for ‘Number of Buildings Committed’ and ‘Total Building Area Committed’ By CCME Content Team
mirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) won two gold awards at the 110th IDEA Annual Conference & Tradeshow 2019, which took place from June 24 to 27 in Pittsburgh, in the United States, the District Cooling utility said through a Press communiqué. The utility won gold in the ‘Number of Buildings Committed’ and in the ‘Total Building Area Committed’ categories, the communiqué said. It won an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the ‘IDEA Innovation Award’ category for its Intelligent Delta T Analyzer & Detector technology, the communiqué further said. Empower earned gold as recognition for serving a large number of buildings and communities, for its significant contribution to the development and provision of the District Cooling sector and for promoting the technology in several developing cities around the world, the communiqué said. It earned the Honorable Mention for the Delta T technology, which the communiqué said, helps to automatically search and detect lost energy from central cooling plants and buildings benefitting from the service.
Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, expressed his happiness upon receiving the awards and recognitions from IDEA. He stressed that the awards reflect the major role Empower plays in promoting District Cooling technology, one of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient practices used in residential and commercial units, hotels and other facilities, the communiqué said. “Receiving these awards is the result of adopting state-of-the-art District Cooling systems, meeting the increasing demand for District Cooling from several projects in different areas, and in recognition of Empower’s efforts to provide world-class cooling services, to support Dubai’s strategic approach,” Bin Shafar said. “Receiving the innovation award honorable mention for ‘Intelligent Delta T Analyzer & Detector technology’, enables us to develop and excel in the field of District Cooling, using AI systems. This, in turn, reduces the annual operating costs of companies and enhances the efficiency of the use of facilities.”
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▶ L-R: Ahmad Bin Shafar with IDEA President, Robert Thornton
As many countries in the allowing the countries to export Middle East are investing in power when there is an excess of solar power, Dr Schulze also generation from renewables. touched on opportunities Commenting on news reports with regard to solar wheeling, surrounding Saudi Arabia’s where electricity generated in growing interest in exporting one location can be purchased power to countries facing energy Dr Floris Hendrikus directly by a company or challenges, such as Iraq, Dr Schulze institution in another – a Schulze said that power trading prevalent practice in is a concrete possibility. Dr Jordan. “The success of such Schulze said that considering Iraq is facing kind of projects depends a significant problem of load curtailment, [on] the existence of a exploring electricity imports as a means positive business case of improving the situation is vital. “This for the private [sector] need well combines with the characteristics for self-consuming or of KSA’s power system and GCC region self-buying electricity countries, because they generally have from PV plants instead of enough generation capacity and availability from the grid,” he said. “The of primary fuels, making them interested in electricity tariffs paid by the electricity export,” he said.
electricity customers, therefore, play a major role – the higher the cost of electricity from the grid, the higher the interest for privates to go for wheeling options.” In relation to the GCC region, Dr Schulze said that the electricity tariffs are generally accompanied by strong subsidies, with customers incurring low costs for electricity. As such, to make wheeling projects more attractive, he said there must be a move to restructure the power sector and cut the subsidies to provide correct price signals for energy consumption to the customers and increase the economic efficiency of the power system as a whole.
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REGIONAL NEWS
BLUEAIR WINS ‘SUPERBRANDS’ AWARD Company earns the nod from the Superbrands Council UAE and marketing professionals as “one of the strongest and trustworthy brands in the country” By CCME Content Team
ir-purification solutions provider, Blueair has been recognised as one of the strongest and most trusted brands in the UAE by the Superbrands organisation, an independent authority, and arbiter of branding excellence, the company said through a Press communiqué. Blueair earned the honour of being voted to receive the Superbrands Award by a panel of top UAE business leaders and more than 2,500 senior managers and marketing professionals, following a rigorous selection process, the communiqué said. Speaking on the occasion, TR Ganesh, General Manager – Middle East and ▶ L-R: Mike English, Director of Superbrands Middle East presents the award to TR Ganesh, Africa, Blueair, said: “Blueair believes General Manager - Middle East and Africa, Blueair in clean air for the next-generation – a vision that has been driving us on a journey of air innovation. Our company’s mission is to help as many people as possible develop the best performing solutions and create the best overall user experience.” Blueair’s goal, the communiqué said, has always been about creating healthier environments for consumers. Blueair, the communiqué added, works hard to exceed industry standards and create products that combine technological innovation and a passion for Swedish design. According to the communiqué, every product in Blueair’s portfolio has been designed with the utmost attention to detail. From choice of materials and performance to design and even the finish, Blueair air purifiers are made to fit into the lives of consumers with taste and sensibility, the communiqué said. ▶ The Blueair team celebrates earning the honour According to the communiqué, Blueair’s HEPASilent technology helps residents breathe easy by removing 99.97% of airborne pollutants down to 0.1 micron in size, including dust, viruses, According to the communiqué, Blueair has won several industry allergens and smoke. awards and has been endorsed by experts over the last two decades. Ganesh said: “The purpose of Blueair goes far beyond selling The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association and, more recently, products and services. We have a firm intent to improve the health the Asthma Allergy Nordic, have recommended four of Blueair’s and well-being of people everywhere and especially in the UAE. That air purifiers – Classic 405, Classic 480i, Classic 605 and Classic 680i is why we have a programme in place to improve access to clean air – for people with asthma, allergies and respiratory problems, the via sustainably developed products, activities to increase awareness communiqué said. The Superbrands award, the communiqué added, of the importance of clean air, and a community commitment to is another powerful endorsement for Blueair in the UAE. caring for even the most vulnerable. Blueair remains committed to the residents of UAE in delivering clean air as nature had intended.”
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ARABIA CSR AWARDS SET TO TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER Twelfth edition of the ceremony will continue to lend itself as a platform for advancing CSR and sustainability awareness and practices in the region By CCME Content Team
he Arabia CSR Network will conduct the Arabia CSR Awards ceremony on October 2 in Dubai, the body said through a Press release. Speaking on the origin of the Awards, Habiba Al Mar’ashi Al Hashmi, President, ACSR Awards, and President and CEO, Arabia CSR Network, said: “As a growing network, we attracted a gamut of organisations – from the government sector, businesses, academia and civil society. The common purpose was to understand how the principles of ethics, good governance, human capital development, environmental responsibility and social commitment could be embedded into every day practices. The aim was to become champions of sustainable development, a concept that integrates economic growth with a healthy planet and thriving communities. Almost all of them demonstrated a strong capacity for quality, health, safety and environmental management, and boasted outstanding achievements in these areas. Thus, it was a natural progression for us to develop a set of awards that would recognise their efforts and motivate others to follow the path to sustainability and success.” The Awards, during the time of its inception, the release highlighted, was the only such system to receive the support of the UN Global Compact. It was held in Dubai under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council, the release pointed out. The two aspects, the release said, went on to shape the ‘glocalised’ nature of the awards, where local best practices were aligned to global standards of excellence. The October 2 ceremony will mark the 12th edition of the Awards. The release characterised the 12 years as “challenging at times”, having to break past the mental resistance of organisations to move away from the status quo. “CSR and Sustainability have increasingly become a vital cog in every organisation regionally and globally,” Al Mar’ashi Al Hashmi said. “In our part of the world, there is scope for so much more to be done to increase awareness and knowledge about the issues, something that Arabia CSR Network has been doing since its inception, 15 years ago. “We have been blessed all along to have visionary organisations that share our vision to be the driving force and benchmark in the Arab World. This platform has been able to advance CSR and sustainability awareness and practices in the region. This has resulted in their ability to address regional issues and concerns that aim to achieve a balance between profitability and sustainable development, respectively. We welcome all entities working in the Arab Region to step forward and join hands with us in this dynamic journey.”
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August 2019
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REGIONAL NEWS
Kuwait eyes up to 400 MW of CSP in expanded solar park The country has expanded its renewables target at the Shagaya Renewable Energy Complex to 4 GW By CCME Content Team
uwait has expanded its 2030 renewables target at the Shagaya Renewable Energy Complex to 4 GW, but CSP developers will have to wait until a third phase of development, due online in 2025-26, to secure projects, Osamah Alsayegh, Executive Director of Energy & Building Research Center at KISR said, according to a New Energy Update report. In February, Kuwait started commercial operations at its 50 MW Shagaya CSP plant, marking the completion of phase 1 of the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park, the report said. Developed by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Shagaya Park was launched in 2012 and was originally expected to host 2 GW of capacity by 2030, across three phases, the report said. KISR initially recommended a generation mix at the park of 56% CSP capacity – equivalent to 1.15 GW – alongside 35% PV and 7.5% wind, the report said.
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Kuwait's electricity demand is expected to triple by 2030, and the Shagaya complex forms part of Kuwait's target to generate 15% of its electricity from renewable sources, the report said. KISR has now decided to add a fourth phase to the park and raise its 2030 target at the site to 4 GW, but CSP developers will miss out on much of this expansion, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. In phase 2, Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) will develop 1.5 GW of capacity and has decided to install 100% PV technology, despite KISR recommending 20-30% CSP capacity to improve dispatchability, the report said. As a result, CSP capacity at Shagaya will be far below KISR’s initial recommendations, and developers will have to wait until phase 3 to bid for projects, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. Kuwait plans to implement a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) model to attract private-sector investment for
▶ Kuwait is expanding its Shagaya renewable energy park, but CSP will play a smaller role than originally expected. (Photo courtesy MMYPEM)
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phases 3 and 4, the report said. For phase 3, KISR has recommended an "optimum configuration" of 1,200 MW PV, 200 MW CSP and 100MW wind, based on preliminary studies of market requirements, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. Kuwait authorities are now preparing tender papers for phase 3, and the capacity is expected to come online by 2025-26, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. KISR's latest analysis shows that Kuwait CSP capacity will not exceed 400 MW by 2030, which is an optimistic projection, the report further quoted Alsayegh as saying. SPINNING RESERVE KNPC likely favoured PV technology for the phase 2 project, due to faster deployment timelines, lower costs and adequate online dispatchable capacity, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. According to the report, following completion of phase 1, KISR transferred ownership of the Shagaya development to the Ministry of Electricity & Water (MEW), which is the country’s sole electricity producer and distributor. KNPC was advised by the MEW that there is currently enough spinning reserve to omit CSP capacity and solely deploy PV technology in this phase, the report said. Growing PV and wind penetration improve the business case for CSP plants with storage to provide dispatchable power to the grid, the report noted. However, Kuwait's power generation mix will remain dominated by fossil fuel generation, limiting the appeal of CSP, the report said. The 60MW KOC Solar EOR facility is the only other CSP project active in Kuwait’s pipeline, and the project has stalled at the planning phase, according to the CSP Global Tracker, the report said. PARK INFRASTRUCTURE The phase 2 development is currently in the EPC tendering process, the report
INSTALLED COSTS OF CSP, PV AND WIND IN 2010-2018
▶ Source: International Renewable Energy Agency's "Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018" report, May 2019
said, adding that up to eight international consortiums were expected to bid for the EPC contract, which will be developed under an engineering, procurement and construction plus finance (EPC+F) contract. “Construction is expected sometime in the fall, with a commercial operations target of 2022/23,” the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. The Phase 2 project will benefit from infrastructure and local skills networks, put in place during the eight-year development of phase 1. According to the report, KISR and its partners tackled land acquisition, permitting and licensing challenges, and built out grid connections. “This is a remote site with no infrastructure, so KISR had to coordinate with the MEW to build a substation and overhead lines,” the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. Despite the progress, further challenges remain, the report said. Kuwait currently has no power-purchase-agreement (PPA) framework in place and lacks the streamlined national renewables strategy used by other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the report added. EARLY LEARNINGS CSP developers planning for phase 3 projects will gain from improved park infrastructure
and learnings from the 50 MW Shagaya CSP plant, the report said. Four months into commercial operations, the Shagaya CSP plant is "performing well," the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. The plant must be tested through all seasons of the year to determine whether target energy levels will be met, the report quoted Alsayegh as noting. "We are now starting to collect data and understand how it is performing against our weather conditions and consulting this information with the project stakeholders," the report further quoted Alsayegh as saying. According to the report, in April, construction and engineering group, MMYPEM said it was performing maintenance works at the plant to "improve the functioning of the energy storage system." MMYPEM assembled the solar field, balance of plant equipment and turbine for the plant. The maintenance was expected to last "several months", the report quoted MMYPEM as saying. WATER BOOST Like many Middle East projects, the Shagaya plant is subjected to high temperatures, dust and humidity, which raises significant cleaning and water supply challenges, the report said. The plant was
expected to require 40,000 cubic metres of water per year, the report quoted Itziar Azpitarte, Marketing Director at Spanish technological centre, IK4-Tekniker, as saying in 2017. According to the report, the Shagaya site is not connected to the national water pipe network, and operations teams must transport water to the site via tankers. This introduces additional costs and water supply risks, the report said, adding that advanced technologies could help minimise these risks, going forward. According to the report, in Europe, the EU-funded WASCOP research project aims to reduce water consumption of CSP plants by 70-90% and boost power output by 2-3%. IK4-Tekniker is a partner in the project, and tests at the Shagaya CSP plant showed WASCOP’s technologies can reduce cleaning frequency by almost 65%, the report quoted Azpitarte as saying. Future CSP plants could also benefit from plans to expand water supply in the region, the report quoted Alsayegh as saying. "The MEW is expected to buildout water infrastructure to meet the industrial and residential growth in the area,” the report quoted Alsayegh as saying, “which would benefit the plant."
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GLOBAL NEWS
Istanbul gears up to host ISKSODEX in October
International HVACR fair will unite procurement delegations from EU countries, in particular, as well as from Africa and South America, with Turkish manufacturers for new commercial cooperation opportunities, organisers say
By CCME Content Team
SK-SODEX, scheduled to take place from October 2 to 5 at the İstanbul TÜYAP Fair and Exhibition Centre, will see manufacturers of HVACR equipment further their efforts in attracting new markets with an export goal of USD 5.5 billion, the organisers of the show said through a Press release. Turkey will be a key area of focus, with investors keen on investing in the country, said Alexander Kühnel, General Manager, Hannover Messe Sodeks, a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe. “The air conditioning sector is a significant export area in Turkish industry and continues to set new records every year with its growth figures,” Kühnel said. “The sector’s shift towards state-of-the-art products with a focus on R&D activities in recent years, provides a
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competitive advantage, particularly in international markets, and draws the attention of foreign investors. The number of foreign investors wishing to establish commercial cooperation with the Turkish air-conditioning sector has increased significantly. Aiming at raising its exports goal by utilizing this increased interest, the sector especially focuses on farther markets with low exports volume. It is of great significance that the sector comes together with target markets at international exhibitions and demonstrates its said potential.” Noting that the event will be bringing the air conditioning sector and the target country markets together, Kühnel said: “The Turkish air conditioning sector has started to extend its presence to strategic markets, such as Australia, Argentine and Chile. We are aware that Africa continent is also one of the new targets of the sector. We will be increasing the number of foreign buyers from existing countries on one hand, mainly from Germany, UK, Italy, France and Spain, which are parallel to the top five export countries of Turkey’s HVAC&R industry, and on the other hand we will be providing a great opportunity for Turkish manufacturers to meet important procurement delegations from the said markets that are the new export targets of the sector, in İstanbul. We will also be hosting sector professionals from many strategic markets, including, in particular the USA, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Northern and Western Africa, Russia and Poland, within the scope of the “International Buyers’ Delegation” programme. During the fair, we will also be conducting supportive programs focusing on the advantages of the sector, and providing new opportunities to the exhibitors and visitors for networking, establishing business connections, and exchanging information and experience.” According to the release, the event will be hosting exhibitors from Germany, China, India, Japan, UAE, South Korea, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Greece, USA and Turkey. National and international companies will have the opportunity of promoting a wide range of new products and services related to heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, insulation, pumps, valves, fittings, water treatment, fire prevention and solar energy systems, the release said. According to the release, the event will be held in cooperation with ISKAV (Heating, Cooling, Air-
Conditioning Research and Education Association), DOSIDER (Natural Gas Appliances Industrialists and Businessmen Association), İSKİD (Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Manufacturers' Association), İZODER (Heat, Water, Sound and Fire Insulators Association), TTMD (Turkish Society of HVAC and Sanitary Engineers), POMSAD (Turkish Pump and Valve Manufacturers Association), SOSİAD (Association of Refrigeration Industry and Businessmen), ESSİAD (Aegean Region Refrigeration Industry and Businessmen Association), MTMD (Mechanical Contractors’ Association) and KBSB (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Manufacturer's Association).
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GLOBAL NEWS
ASHRAE releases 2019-2024 Strategic Plan Document outlines two initiative areas: ‘Built-environment of the future’ and ‘Future of ASHRAE’ By CCME Content Team
SHRAE on July 1 released a new strategic plan to guide the society’s work over the next five years, it said through a Press communiqué. The ASHRAE 2019-2024 Strategic Plan describes the society’s core values, mission and vision for future success, while also identifying areas where ASHRAE will direct its attention and resources over the next several years, the communiqué said. According to the communiqué, the previous plan, released in 2014, resulted in several significant accomplishments, including the extension of ASHRAE’s global presence, a greater role in the residential sector and higher levels of volunteer involvement. The new plan’s initiatives, the communiqué said, reflect the society’s long-standing commitment to the HVAC&R industry, while leveraging the opportunities and addressing the challenges that are taking place in the fast-evolving built-environment. The new strategic plan outlines two initiative areas: ► Built-environment of the future ■ Resilient buildings and communities ■ Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
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"In developing our new strategic plan, we closely considered the changing landscape of our industry as well as the diversity of our membership,” said Darryl K Boyce, 2019-20 ASHRAE President. “We sought wide-ranging involvement from ASHRAE members and key industry organizations on how to best position ASHRAE to meet our internal and external challenges, and the result is a concise, straightforward plan based on the values that have motivated the members of our society for close to 125 years.” Some key action items outlined in the plan include: ► Promote best practices that enable adaptability, resilience and recovery of buildings and communities related to the challenges of the design and construction process. ► Accelerate thought-leadership and understanding of IEQ and its implications for occupants’ health and wellness. ► Streamline the organisation’s internal governance to adapt to regional differences and allocate valued time and resources to the most impactful pursuits. ► Evaluate and improve methods to better engage chapters, regions and the members they serve in an integrated way.
► Future of ASHRAE ■ Organisational streamlining ■ Improve Chapter engagement, capacity and support
ACG to conduct CxA Workshop & Exam Dallas event will take place in conjunction with the Critical Facilities Summit By CCME Content Team
he AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) will conduct an educational workshop on September 23 in Dallas, Texas, in the United States, followed by an administration of the exam for the Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) credential for approved candidates, the organisers of the Critical Facilities Summit said through a Press communiqué. The CxA event is being held in conjunction with the Critical Facilities Summit, from September 24 to 26 in Dallas, of which ACG is a Supporting Organisation, the communiqué said. The Summit is geared towards seniorlevel professionals, responsible for the design, construction, management and operations of mission-critical facilities, the communiqué said.
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According to the communiqué, the accelerated one-day workshop covers all aspects of commissioning, ranging from design reviews and OPRs to functional testing and commissioning documentation, and addresses both new and existing building commissioning. The CxA Workshop is approved by the AIA for 5 LU/HSW continuing education units, the communiqué said. The CxA exam is a four-hour, closed-book exam that tests approved candidates on their knowledge of the commissioning process, as well as a general understanding of building systems and how commissioning fits in with the rest of the construction process, the communiqué said. According to the communiqué, the CxA programme achieved ANSI
accreditation in 2017, and the credential is also a recognised certification by the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines programme, ensuring that the CxA is considered an approved commissioning credential for all federally funded projects. The CxA certification, the communiqué said, is the premier credential for independent commissioning providers. It demonstrates you are an experienced commissioning provider with a complete understanding of the commissioning process and with the ability to ensure that the intent of the building owner is achieved.
BSRIA paints a rosy picture of French AC market The French Heat Pump Association reports that air-air AC and heat pump units have outsold condensing boilers By CCME Content Team
BSRIA report, quoting a French Heat Pump Association’s report that air-air AC/heat pump units had outsold condensing boilers, said that the French AC market is on an upward trajectory. The projection, BSRIA said, is in line with its 2018 estimate that the market for ducted and non-ducted single splits, multi-splits and VRFs had increased to 589,000 units, as opposed to condensing boilers, of which 532,000 units were sold. This is a very important milestone for the air conditioning industry, which is fast being seen as the provider of a key building service, BSRIA said. Furthermore, the air conditioning sector is expecting a further sharp upturn in growth, with sales of air-air splits soaring to a record 700,000 units, BSRIA added. With this objective in sight, BSRIA said, manufacturers need to expand their supply capacities, and distributors need to monitor and plan their stock levels to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2018, when stocks held by wholesalers were depleted, as the market experienced a period of high demand. According to BSRIA, this rate of growth is having an impact on the level of HFC refrigerants in the market. BSRIA estimates that in 2018, about 880 tonnes of HFC R-410a were sold with splits and VRF systems. This includes the factory charge as well as the refrigerant charge in pipes, as part of the installation of each product, BSRIA said. This compares with 257 tonnes of HFC R-32, which is taking over in products, such as single and multi-splits, BSRIA said. For the moment, R-32 is used in France only in units below 5 HP, corresponding to about 14 kW of cooling capacity, BSRIA added. Should sales of R-32 continue to grow at the expense of R-410a in 2019, BSRIA said, this would limit the impact that the growth in sales of air conditioning products could otherwise have on global warming.
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▶ Packaged air conditioning by type of refrigerants
▶ The use of refrigerants in splits
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August 2019
49
GLOBAL NEWS
ENGIE launches redesigned air-cooled chiller
The QUANTUM series, company says, is available in 28 versions, of which 14 use R-1234ze, with the remaining 14 using either R-134a or R-513a By CCME Content Team
NGIE Refrigeration on June 24 launched a redesigned air-cooled Quantum series air chiller, the company announced through a Press communiqué. In total, 28 versions of the QUANTUM Air series are available, the communiqué said, adding that 14 of the models use the refrigerant R-1234ze, and the remaining 14 use either R-134a or R-513A.
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“We put the concentrated expertise of our team into the redesigned QUANTUM Air models, along with our wealth of experience from 16 years of refrigeration solutions with our previous QUANTUM chillers,” said Jochen Hornung, CEO, ENGIE Refrigeration. “On this basis, our QUANTUM Air is the ideal way for us to help our customers meet the most
stringent economic and ecological requirements in an increasingly complex market environment – today and in the future.” According to the communiqué, the new air-cooled QUANTUM scores above all in terms of its efficiency, performance, control system and serviceability. First, the new models considerably exceed even the levels of efficiency of the previous series, something Lindau has achieved through intelligent connections between the different components, the communiqué quoted the company as saying. Second, the QUANTUM Air makes more efficient use of operating fluids, as the refrigerant fill level has been reduced significantly – regardless of whether R-1234ze, R-134a or R-513A is chosen, the communiqué said.
Nidec completes acquisition of Embraco Whirlpool Corporation’s compressor business changes hands By CCME Content Team
idec Corporation on July 1 completed the acquisition of Embraco, the compressor business of Whirlpool Corporation, following the European Commission’s approval, granted on June 26, 2019, Nidec said through a Press communiqué. The acquisition was performed in line with the acquisition plan, announced on April 24, 2018, the communiqué said. As a result of the acquisition, the communiqué said, Embraco and its subsidiaries became Nidec’s subsidiaries. In addition, certain customary post-closing filings and registrations related to the acquisition of the two subsidiaries in China of Embraco are expected to be completed by September 30, 2019. According to the communiqué, Nidec has been actively developing a new growth platform, with a particular focus on
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appliance, commercial and industrial businesses. As part of the strategy, the company is pursuing strategic acquisitions in the appliance industry, the communiqué said. For this purpose, Nidec has created a new division, called Nidec Global Appliance Division, which mainly consists of Nidec Sole Motor Corporation, acquired in January 2010 and the appliance business of Nidec Motor Corporation, acquired in September 2010. In July 2017, Nidec acquired Secom Group (currently Nidec Global Appliance Compressors GmbH), which enabled the company to enter into the household and commercial refrigeration compressor market, the communiqué said. Combining with Embraco’s business, Nidec aimed to expand further its refrigeration compressor business, the communiqué revealed. However, Nidec, through two of Nidec’s subsidiaries will sell
its compressor business, Secom, as condition for the European Commission’s approval of Nidec’s acquisition of Embraco, the communiqué said. Although Nidec will sell Secom, the company believes the acquisition of Embraco will allow Nidec to expand further into the global refrigeration compressor market, the communiqué said. Embraco’s strength lies in industry-leading compressors for household and commercial refrigerators, the communiqué said. Nidec has confidence in further strengthening its refrigeration compressor business through expanding its product portfolio and sales areas, the communiqué said. In addition, ever stricter environmental regulations in major regions like Europe, the Americas and China are stimulating customer demand for eco-conscious and space-saving refrigeration compressors, the communiqué said, adding that Embraco’s
advanced compressors meet such customer requirements. Nidec also believes its brushless DC motor technology will complement Embraco’s compressors, the communiqué said. Furthermore, since motors and compressors have similarities in terms of the nature of components used, Embraco expects to reduce procurement costs by taking advantage of synergies of the Nidec group’s purchase capabilities, the communiqué said. According to the communiqué, the company believes that this acquisition will bring the Nidec Group closer to its FY2020 sales target of two trillion yen, as both parties’ technological capabilities, brands and customer base come to blend well together.
This twofold increase in efficiency during operation and in the use of operating fluids leads to a smaller ecological footprint, the communiqué further said. In addition, a novel structural design allows for a reduction in the size of the chiller without affecting its performance, the communiqué added. According to the communiqué, the new QUANTUM Air achieves a refrigeration capacity of between 250 kilowatts and two megawatts for the first time. This means the chiller outperforms not only its predecessor model but all aircooled chillers with magnetic-bearing compressor technology that are currently available on the market, the communiqué quoted the company as claiming. Its design concept, the communiqué said,
ensures the same refrigeration capacity as its predecessor while being not only smaller but also significantly lighter. This considerably reduces roof loads – a significant advantage if the machine is set up outdoors on top of buildings, the communiqué said. Another feature of the QUANTUM Air is its modified control system, the communiqué said, which facilitates improved control and regulation options that are optimised in terms of energy efficiency. Furthermore, it enables even better adaptation to customerspecific cooling requirements at every operating point and at different ambient temperatures, the communiqué said. In addition, ENGIE Refrigeration has chosen new components for the QUANTUM
Air and recombined the individual machine components according to a sophisticated modular principle, the communiqué said. This, the communiqué added, reduces delivery times and makes the machine easier to service, as it will be easier for the service technician to enter the interior of the machine during maintenance in future.
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MARKETPLACE
This section contains updates on regional and international products.
Rittal
‘Blue e’ chillers (11-25 kW) ittal said through a Press communiqué that it has significantly improved its cooling technology for machines and enclosures with its new ‘Blue e’ chillers in the 11-25 kW output class range. Through using 40% less refrigerant, the devices are able to make an important contribution to sustainable environmental protection, the communiqué said. At the same time, users can benefit from precise temperature control, simplified operation and installation, as well as from new safety functions, the communiqué added. Pre-configured option packages that are quickly available from stock can meet almost any need: for precision control systems, with higher pressure requirements or for robust outdoor applications in cold zones, the communiqué further added.
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According to the communiqué, the re-cooling of liquids by means of chillers is one of the basic requirements for smooth operation in many industrial manufacturing processes. For example, enclosures, and especially machine tools, must have an exact temperature control feature for the precise machining of metal, the communiqué said. Besides that, solutions that are easy to operate and install and those that offer maximum safety are necessary, the communiqué said. Users are also no longer willing and ready to accept long delivery times, the communiqué said. Customised technical solutions must be quickly available off the shelf and as standard, the communiqué said, adding that customers are more and more focused on sustainability and environmental friendliness. With the development of the new chiller, the communiqué said, Rittal can offer a mature solution package that meets all these needs. As well as the Blue e+ chillers with 1.5-6 kW, the chillers are now available in the robust industrial standard (IP 44, electrical) in four output classes, ranging from 11 to 25 kW and in the two enclosure sizes of 660 x 1265 x 1315 mm and 760 x 1265 x 1515 mm (Wx Hx D) – in addition to Blue e+ chillers from 1.5-6 kW, the communiqué said. Owing to the use of microchannel technology and the resulting very high fin efficiency of the heat exchangers (extruded aluminium profile with small
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channels and with a diameter of around 1 mm), the devices require 40% less refrigerant than before, the communiqué said. Since the heat exchangers are 100% made of aluminium, galvanic corrosion cannot occur. REGULATING ACCORDING TO NEED According to the communiqué, the fan and compressor are regulated centrally by means of a digital controller. This way, the communiqué said, the temperature of the cooling medium can be precisely regulated. By default, the hysteresis is ±2 K; however, a precision control (hot gas bypass) of ±0.25 K is also possible as an option, the communiqué said. This prevents temperature fluctuations that cause inaccuracies on the machined workpiece, and also ensures consistent quality, the communiqué added. EASY TO USE According to the communiqué, the multilingual and industrialgrade touch display on the front of the chiller and the intelligent communication interfaces make both operation and analysis easy. Consequently, the communiqué said, the parameterisation of the devices, as well as the read-out of the data and system messages are performed clearly and quickly and shown in plain text. Error messages are prioritised and displayed in three escalation levels (note, error and maintenance), the communiqué said. RAPID ASSEMBLY The chillers are wired ready for connection and can be quickly put into operation, the communiqué said. Lifting eyebolts make transport easy, as does the base/plinth, which is suitable for transport by forklift truck, the communiqué said. Uniform water connections, an adjustable overflow valve (bypass valve) and ideal accessibility to all the components make it easier for fitters and service staff to work on the units, the communiqué said. SAFETY Integrated overflow valves ensure a constant circulation of cooling water, when the consumer is closed and the pump is running, the communiqué said. This protects the coolant pump from overload, the communiqué said. The valve is preset for the pump being used and for 50-Hz operation, but it can also be set for 60-Hz operation, the communiqué added. A filling level monitoring system, the communiqué said, ensures maximum reliability and improved availability. Besides this, the communiqué added, optional flow monitors emit an alarm if the flow rate is too low, and they can detect hydraulic errors, such as contamination and blockages in the system, at an early stage.
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COMINGS & GOINGS
Chukri Alaani SPX Cooling Technologies PX Cooling Technologies, which manufactures evaporative cooling towers and heat exchangers, has announced the addition of Chukri Alaani as Sales Manager – UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq. In his new assignment, Alaani is responsible for directing the commercial network within his territory to achieve product line growth initiatives, SPX said through a Press communiqué. In addition to managing a team of manufacturer’s reps, his responsibility includes working directly with engineering consultants and project owners, the communiqué said. “We are excited to bring Chukri on board,” said Jeroen Bouten, Director Sales – EMEA. “His industry experience and extensive network within the HVAC and industrial sector within the GCC will expand our ability to serve customers well in these important countries.” Prior to joining SPX, Alaani built over 10 years of business development experience within the engineering sectors, including positions with Trane and Johnson Controls, the communiqué said, adding that he holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Ajman University of Science and Technology.
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AWARDS 2019 26 NOVEMBER
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September August 20192018
28 AWARD CATEGORIES: 1.
MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (AIR TREATMENT)
14. HVACR ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURER/ SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
2.
MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (AIR MOVEMENT, VENTILATION)
15. PROJECT OF THE YEAR (OUTDOOR COOLING SYSTEMS)
3.
MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (FIRE SAFETY)
4.
BUILDING ENVELOP OF THE YEAR (CONTRIBUTING MANUFACTURER/ SUPPLIER)
16. PROJECT OF THE YEAR – IEQ (HEALTHCARE, ACADEMIC, HOSPITALITY, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL)
5.
BUILDING PERFORMANCE SERVICES (TESTING AND CERTIFICATION)
6.
DISTRICT COOLING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
7.
O&M COMPANY OF THE YEAR (CHILLED WATER PLANT)
8.
9.
DISTRICT COOLING UTILITY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURER/ SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (CHILLERS)
17. HVAC CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR 18. HVAC CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR 19. BUILDING EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROJECT OF THE YEAR 20. COMMISSIONING/RE-COMMISSIONING COMPANY OF THE YEAR 21. FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR (ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND IEQ) 22. IOT INTEGRATION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 23. HVACR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
10. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (CHILLED WATER SYSTEM EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS, LESS CHILLERS)
24. YOUNG HVACR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR 25. MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (VEHICLE ENVELOP)
11. MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (STANDALONE DX)
26. COLD STORE OF THE YEAR
12. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (VRF SYSTEMS)
27. DOMINIC DE SOUSA AWARD FOR INNOVATION
13. GCC REGION MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
28. EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
REGISTER TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES NOW THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES IS
6PM (UAE TIME, GMT+4) ON OCTOBER 20, 2019 (ENTRIES SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR EVALUATION) September 2018 August 2019
3 57
ND-POINT
Prabhu Ramachandran, Facilio
SHOOTING FOR AN ENERGYSMART WORLD The legacy model of facilities management is as out of place in a world of connected devices, AI and machine learning as a horse-drawn buggy, says Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder and CEO of Facilio
ULTRA-STREAMLINED AND EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS Optimising the use of energy is an important aspect of what my team and I do at Facilio. If one were to apply the ‘a dollar saved is more than a dollar earned’ adage to the realm of energy, one could certainly say that our solution has the net effect of contributing dramatically to a more energy-smart world. I have always been driven by the desire to seek out solutions. Looking at what technology has made possible in enabling ultra-streamlined and efficient systems in other industries, it was obvious to us at Facilio that building automation was an obvious candidate for tech-driven evolution. In 2017, my colleagues, Rajavel Subramanian, Krishnamoorthi and Yogendra Babu, and I, felt the need to leverage technology to offer a solution to the global challenge of lowering energy consumption. Our built spaces are a fundamental aspect of civilisation that we take for granted, and since most of our activities revolve around them, so do the opportunities to introduce radical energy efficiency. With the concurrent emergence of IoT and AI, the avenue and methodology that could be explored to enable such a breakthrough in power consumption was obvious. However, while I am glad that the energy aspect of what we do has attracted attention, what we offer is really just a smarter, more enabled and empowered way to use buildings and to add value to them as infrastructure.
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HOW I BEGAN Over the last 18 years, the one common thread in my career has been to leverage technology in the service of efficiency and customer experience. Prior to taking the leap into entrepreneurship, with the launch of Facilio, I was the director of WebNMS, the IoT division of Zoho Corp. While being directly responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of strategy, innovation and product management, my work scope also included business development and marketing, for enterprise companies and large organisations. During this period, my experiences in dealing with large-scale and complex software systems for global businesses helped me understand how to address bottlenecks and issues at that scale, and how to use technology as an enabler to generate solutions. My stint at Zoho was, in many ways, very similar to being part of a startup, and it is because of this familiarity with implementing big-picture and breakthrough innovations that I, along with my colleagues, was able to envisage and deliver the product we have. The source of the passion that has driven me has always been the desire to find a better way to do things. Facilio is still deeply rooted in the commitment to creating a solution that, when applied at scale, will transform our world for the better. It’s because of this perspective that, along with being the Founder & CEO of Facilio,
I think the greatest positive to being an FM company is that one can fundamentally influence some of the most important concerns that currently occupy the attention of humans all across the planet
I am currently an advisor and technical committee member at Net Zero Buildings of the Indian Green Building Council.
WHAT FACILIO MEANS TO ME The philosophical underpinnings of Facilio are very straightforward. We are strong believers in innovation and the power of technology to unlock unprecedented opportunities to improve performance and efficiencies. Technology, as such, has already been an integral part of facilities management for some decades. Automation is everywhere in buildings. Where we stand apart is in making no compromises. Our approach was built on going for a comprehensive and all-inclusive solution
that ticked all the boxes. For example, commercial real estate owners and facilities managers have been heavily restricted in their ability to have transparency into their operations, and balance sustainability and ROI expectations. Building occupants, in the meantime, are more and more accustomed to the empowering nature of digital technologies in every walk of life, and so their service and experience expectations have been rapidly redefined. Existing automation solutions have been unable to cope with these evolving needs of the builtenvironment, restricting the industry from rapid digital transformation. Our philosophy was based on not settling for a refinement of a few aspects and features but rather helping CRE owners and FMs completely reimagine how buildings need to be managed in the modern era. And for that, we built Facilio’s enterprise-wide platform around the core principles of measure, analyse and act, using data insights, real-time transparency and a unified solution to empower nearly every metric of performance that can be conceived in the context of buildings. It was about being ready not only for today but also about preparing for tomorrow’s needs. We also wanted to ensure that our solution required low capital input, could be integrated with existing infrastructure, instead of rendering it obsolete, and yet could be in a position to lend itself to providing an enterprise-grade platform for portfolios to be managed efficiently in real-time. I’m happy to say that we have been able to create an elegant and comprehensive solution that addresses all these objectives. While energy efficiency is a key component of our solution, in comparison to other tools that are limited in scope to energy management, Facilio’s solution maximises impact by ensuring that energy problems are addressed in real-time by integrating all teams and departments, equipping them with contextualised data and real-time visibility and, therefore, reinforcing accountability.
THE VIRTUES OF BEING AN FM COMPANY
Prabhu Ramachandran
Buildings and their impact on humans, is a centuries-old relationship. From reflecting our dreams and aspirations, to serving as iconic reminders of an era, buildings have stood
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ND-POINT
Prabhu Ramachandran, Facilio
the test of time and evolution. Today, buildings not only impact the health and wellbeing of billions of humans who interact with them on a daily basis but also the environment. Therefore, managing facilities, and managing them well, has become a critical space, if the world is to successfully transition into a more sustainable, efficient and end user-empowered version of itself. The legacy model of facilities management is as out of place in a world of connected devices, AI and machine learning as a horse-drawn buggy. I think the greatest positive to being an FM company is that one can fundamentally influence some of the most important concerns that currently occupy the attention of humans all across the planet. Most people today see the promise of technology and aspire to living a life empowered by the possibilities that it has enabled. However, having learnt from the last couple of centuries, the consensus is also to apply technology in a way that does not destroy the environment and is sustainable. What is most satisfying about how we at Facilio are contributing as an FM tech company is that we have been able to reconcile these superficially divergent goals. It’s commonly estimated that buildings consume about 40% of global
energy. Imagine being able to influence such an incredibly substantial chunk of our consumption as a civilisation! In my opinion, this is the single most exciting thing about what we have set in motion at Facilio. Also, the vast standing infrastructure and legacy systems, all around the world, placed a limitation on how soon and at what scale innovations could be applied. It’s simply not possible to discard and replace existing structures completely. Our solution found a way around this by introducing the concept of enterprise scale software platforms, as a means to redefine future buildings as well as update existing ones, with a single solution.
and leveraging AI to generate actionable insights, the framework for an integrated and proactive system becomes apparent. The breakthrough is in being able to gain true system transparency and the ability to respond to requirements and performance on an ongoing basis. Buildings waste a lot of energy in the form of leakages, overuse, poorly serviced assets and simple human errors – such as not switching off a piece of equipment or not updating temperature settings. Centralised, data-driven decision-making empowers building owners and FMs to go beyond considering such leaks and inefficiencies as routine.
THE IMPORTANCE OF R&D INNOVATIONS DRIVING THE AIR CONDITIONING MARKET IoT is a natural ally to any automation and mechanised system. If you consider all the excitement and enthusiasm around Industry 4.0, and what IIoT is achieving in the manufacturing sector, it’s not hard to think of what can be achieved by the same technology in the built-environment. By using sensors to collate data in realtime about the performance metrics and outcomes within an air conditioned space
At Facilio, we are very cognizant of the fact that the central advantage we offer our customers stems from innovative thinking and breakthrough solutions. In fact, this is essentially what we identify as our role in the industry. This is the reason why we have invested a substantial part of our returns, and the capital we have raised, into R&D and the further refinement of the Facilio solution. The great advantage we have is that as a software platform, the product is not only hardware agnostic but is also open to several more iterations of
▶ Founders of Facilio during the Tridium Niagara Forum Dubai 2018: Yogendra Babu, Prabhu Ramachandran, Krishnamoorthy R, and Rajavel Subramanian
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â–ś Prabhu Ramachandran receives the Startup World Cup (India) in 2018
innovation. We are by no means satisfied with what the product has been able to enable in its current form. From the very early feedback we received from early adopters to innovations we see emerging in other verticals, we are constantly open to adding and improving on our product. Of course, innovation developed inhouse, by our own R&D team, is also a very essential part of the process. We are also investing substantial R&D efforts towards applying tech, like machine learning and AI, to manage facilities efficiently.
HOW I WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GCC REGION The GCC region is currently in the midst of major departures from established practices, in terms of expanding the scope of the commercial activities it is known for, as well as leading the world in the implementation of future-ready initiatives. In Dubai alone, nearly USD 8 billion has been earmarked for upgrading building infrastructure. The target is to retrofit 30,000 existing buildings by 2030, as part of the ambitious goal set by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, to reduce energy demand by 30%.
The region is already home to several instances of ongoing, and planned, Smart City initiatives. Facilio sees itself as a key enabler in this ecosystem. Fortunately, there is considerable political will and dynamism on display in the GCC region, in terms of proposed projects and programmes, and I see this consensus leading the world in enabling what is, ultimately, the key to transitioning into the optimal deployment of future-ready infrastructure. In terms of contributing to growth and prosperity, I think it is important to realise that every great leap in communication, transport and infrastructure has completely transformed the world. Every enabling and empowering innovation in these fields results in civilisation taking a quantum and exponential leap forward. New York City has just announced that it proposes becoming completely carbon neutral by 2050. This would have been considered laughable for such a large city, not too long ago. Given the GCC region’s affinity for adopting disruptive innovation rapidly and at scale, I believe that such initiatives and ambitions have an even more natural basis within this region. FM is so basic to the way we organise our society and so inherent to our everyday lives that I
truly believe our impact is potentially even greater than what we can conceive at the moment. Ultimately growth and prosperity are about leveraging resources and capital to create the greatest possible outcome, and I believe Facilio can play a key role in ensuring that this is achieved to a degree that is completely unprecedented.
MENTORS IN MY LIFE Shailesh Kumar at Zoho was my mentor. I worked with Shailesh throughout my entire 17 years at Zoho. His management style and approach towards people had a big influence on me. I am extremely grateful for his constant support and guidance at Zoho. Shekhar Kirani @Accel is more mentor than investor for me. We started working with Shekhar from Day 1 of Facilio. During the past two-plus years of building Facilio, his guidance helped us to execute faster while sharpening our approach and getting ready to scale. This was like a coaching that an athlete gets from a coach to compete on a global scale.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
August 2019
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COMING SOON
GLOBAL NEWS
14 NOVEMBER 2019 CHICAGO, USA
OVERVIEW It is likely 2019 will be referred to as the year when Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems finally earned a patient hearing in the United States. In March 2019, ASHRAE Guideline 41 on design, installation and commissioning of VRF systems came up for Public Review, perhaps representing a significant shift in thinking in the United States. (The Guideline is expected to be released in early 2020.) For long considered an enigma – perhaps even an oddity – VRF systems, which emerged in Japan in the early 1980s – are at long last being viewed as a commercial cooling option for projects across the country, where traditional ducted systems remain the system of choice for heating and cooling in the built-environment. Suddenly, the prospect of zone-based cooling and greater energy efficiency among comparable systems, is finding appeal among consultants, contractors and developers. Still, the absence of substantial field performance data is a barrier for acceptance, as are some other factors. The World VRF Congress is a non-parochial, third-party platform that seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of VRF technology and an insight into its energy consumption and other aspects through relevant case studies from the United States and the rest of the world. Produced by CPI America, a sister company of CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Journal and Climate Control ME, the Congress is part of a broader mission by the publishing house to present various cooling approaches that lower indirect greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the total cost of ownership and offer reliable comfort cooling across multiple end-user sectors.
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Regional Office: LG Electronics Gulf FZE, P.O Box 61445, Dubai. Tel: +971 4 279 9222, UAE, Mr. Amjad Abu Alika, Tel: +971 50 450 9808, email: amjad.abualika@lge.com; Fortune International Trading LLC, Mr. Wail Halbouni, Tel: +971 50 481 3570, email: fortintl@emirates.net.ae; Ghantoot Trading, Mr. Nour Haboush, Tel: +971 50 109 4109, email: nour.h@ghantootgroup.ae; District Cooling Company, Mr. Ahmed Henedi, Tel: +971 50 658 4832, email: ahmed@districtcoolingcompany.com; Al Yousuf Electronics, Mr. Moitra, Tel: +971 50 457 6170, email: pmoitra@alyousuf.com; Bahrain, AJM Kooheji and Sons, Mr. Jayachandran, Tel: +973 36888801, email: v.jayachandran@ajmkooheji.com: Al Babtain Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Co., Mr. Naji Kataya, Tel: +965 5 051 5771, email: nkataya@albabtaingroup.com,kw; BLK, Mr. Imad Rhayel, Tel: +965 5 157 1229, email: irhayel@blk.com.kw; Oman, Oman Gulf Enterprise, Mr. Narender Kumar, Tel: +968 9 747 4505, email: narenderk@otegroup.com; Aspire Projects and Service, Mr. Vivek Wagh, Tel: +968 99357694, email: vivekwagh@aspireoman.com; Azerbaijan, NBC LLC., Mr. Elkhan Sadikhov, Tel: +994 50 216 3363, email: elkhan.sadikhov@nbc.com; Al-Con Maxiwell Group, Mr. Vagif Alexperov, Tel: + 994 50 216 2092, email: maxiwellbaku@inbox.ru; Armenia/Georgia, ARAY Gulf, Mr. Vilson Melikjanyan, Tel: +374 9 307 7755, email: vilson@aray.am; Yemen, Modern House Exhibition, Mr. Khaled Jabr, Tel: +967 71 172 0202, email: mail@mhe-yemen.com; Pakistan, Iceberg Industries (Lucky Goldstar), Mr. Imran Jamil Khan, Tel: +923 21 277 6100, email: ceo@icebergindustries.net