CCME February 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

INSIDE: Exclusive

News Honeywell in counterfeit refrigerant

interview with Hannes Carl drive in Saudi Arabia p6 Downtown Dubai's new Borg, State Secretary, Perspectives The pros and cons of a modular AC Metro link Sweden, on the opens p8

chilled water plant p54 country's sustainability standards p43 Focus: A breath of fresher air p30 Plus: Marketplace, ASHRAE Update

FEBRUARY 2013

VISIT US! Hall number: 7

Stand number: 7A 30 26 FEB - 1 MAR 2013

The need for a

second

wind A modest rise in figures recorded by Spain’s HVACR sector has led industry players in the country to hope that it is a precursor to a market surge.

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Vol. 8 No. 2 | FEBRUARY 2013 04 from the editor

The building of a platform

contents

happenings 06 The region 16 At large 24 Marketplace

30 FOCUS A breath of fresher air

Ensuring the best possible Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has become one of the foremost considerations of manufacturers in the insulation market.

38 REPORT

Working together for a greener future

Discussions at the 1st EGBC Congress established that sustainability is a holistic concept, and that in order for it to become viable and effective, all sectors of society need to come together and contribute to the advancement of the cause.

42 REPORT

THE TIME IS NOW!

The 2013 World Future Energy Summit attracted thousands of participants, including global leaders, industry players, members of the academia and journalists, who came together to discuss practical and sustainable solutions to energy challenges facing the world.

PERSPECTIVE

46 The sun, the sand and the stadia

Making a case for zero-energy district cooling plants in Qatar to meet the air conditioning demands of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Salah Nezar plots the path ahead by weighing the pros and cons.

57 Free cooling and its implications in DOAS design

DOAS, which is based on the principle of marshalling fresh air directly to cool an occupied space, has gained relevance and immediacy in the light of escalating energy costs. Deepak Pahwa and Rahul Aeron walk us through the concept and its practical application.

61

LED lighting: Why it remains the undiscovered energy-saving solution

James Chorlton discusses why many organisations are yet to reap the rewards of LED lighting.

54

PERSPECTIVE

To go modularor

traditional George Berbari presents the pros and cons of a modular chilled water plant.

is ticking The onus is on everyone to halve GHG emissions by 2050. A report on Round 2 of Refrigerants Review.

COUNTRY REPORT

33

The need for a

second

wind A modest rise in figures recorded by Spain’s HVACR sector has led industry players in the country to hope that it is a precursor to a market surge. What factors can the sector capitalise on to make a complete recovery? What new technologies does the industry need to keep pace with the present challenges?

Jerome Sanchez has the report.

February 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

3

from the

editor

Publisher Dominic De Sousa Managing Director & Associate Publisher Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Editorial Director & Associate Publisher B Surendar | surendar@cpi-industry.com

The building of a

COO Nadeem Hood | nadeem@cpidubai.com

platform

Contributing Editors Pratibha Umashankar | prati@cpi-industry.com Anoop K Menon | anoop@cpi-industry.com Business Development Consultant Stephanie McGuinness stephanie@cpi-industry.com

ne of the key takeaways from The Climate Control Conference in Riyadh in November 2012 was the expressed need for a VRF Association, something along the lines of the International District Energy Association, so that all the stakeholders can have an opportunity to meet and to exchange notes on a myriad issues.

Perhaps never before has this need for information been more pronounced than now, considering the fact that variable refrigerant flow systems have gained some ground in the region.

An association of stakeholders – and this could include the regulators, climate change implementation bodies, manufacturers, developers, facilities owners, contractors, consultants and even the end-users – has the potential to offer clarity on environmental policies that govern regulations on energy efficiency and refrigerants. Further, it can highlight technological innovations from VRF manufacturers to keep developers interested. But perhaps the most significant role it can play is that of advocacy.

In the case of district cooling, conference after conference has driven home the benefits of a large centralised cooling regimen on several fronts. There has been sufficient opportunity for stakeholders to receive and process regional and international data in support of district cooling, and that has helped increase the penetration rate in the GCC, never mind the fact that the rate of growth remains a moot point.

The point, though, is that the VRF industry could do with a large dose of advocacy. At the Riyadh conference, delegates asked the manufacturers to share operational data with them and other features. One of the delegates specifically urged the manufacturers to band together to highlight the benefits, such as the full modulation of the system and the low noise of variable flow, which he said, was excellent from an acoustics perspective.

On the 24th and the 25th of February, CPI Industry will be conducting a regional VRF conference, in Abu Dhabi, where considerable attention will be dedicated to the regulatory frameworks in place in the GCC. To date, key stakeholders in government and industry have pledged their support and will be attending. We can’t think of a better opportunity than the conference to start discussions on a VRF Association.

This could be the beginning of something significant for the HVAC industry in the region. It would be lovely if you could join and help take things forward.

Design Genesis Salao | getty@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Troy Maagma | troy@cpidubai.com Database/ Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Stephanie McGuinness: +971 55 6503757 stephanie@cpi-industry.com USA and Canada Kanika Saxena Director (North America) 25 Kingsbridge Garden Cir Suite 919 Mississauga, ON, Canada L5R 4B1 kanika@cpi-industry.com Tel/fax: +1 905 890 5031 Euro Zone and UK Sicking Industrial Marketing Wilhelm Sicking 45130 Essen - Emmastrasse 44 Tel: +49 (0)201-779861 Fax: +49 (0)201-781741 Andreas Sicking 59872 Freienohl - Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 16 Tel: +49 (0)2903-3385-70 Fax: +49 (0)2903-3385-82 sicking-media@email.de • www.sicking.de China Sean Xiao Hui China Business Media Group Room 403, Block 17, Wuyimingzhu, No 6 Jinshan Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350008, China Tel: +86 591 8386 3000

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INSIDE: Exclusive www.climatecontrolm News Honeywell interview with in counterfeit refrige e.com Carl Borg, StateHannes rant drive in Saudi Arabi y, Sweden, onSecretar a p6 Downtown the Perspectives The country's sustaina Dubai's pros and of a modular AC Metronew standards p43 bility chilled water cons link plant p54 Focus: A breath of

fresher air p30

Plus: Marketplace,

opens p8

ASHRAE Update

FEBRUARY 2013

VISIT US!

Hall nUmber: 7 STand nUmber: 7a 30 26 Feb - 1 mar 2013

The need for

While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

a

second

wind A modest rise in figures has led industry player recorded by Spain’s HVACR sector precursor to a marke s in the country to hope that it is a t surge.

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Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Printed by: Excel Printing Press, Sharjah, UAE © Copyright 2013 CPI. All rights reserved.

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happenings the region

Saudi Arabia and Honeywell seize counterfeit refrigerants

Local authorities take action against fake refrigerant dealers

H

oneywell has announced that local authorities in Saudi Arabia have seized nearly 3,500 cylinders of counterfeit refrigerant being fraudulently sold under the Honeywell Genetron brand name. The seizure was part of a joint effort between the company and local law enforcement, the company revealed.

According to local authorities, the counterfeit refrigerant was marked Honeywell’s Genetron 134a and shipped to Dammam Port, Saudi Arabia from China.

Honeywell said that on its part, it has intensified its anti-counterfeit efforts in the Middle East over the past two years, and pointed out that in 2011, the

combined efforts of police, customs, local municipalities and other government officials resulted in the seizure of approximately 6,000 cylinders in the UAE of materials branded as Honeywell Genetron 134a, but that actually contained dangerous toxic and flammable substances. The

company added that it has actively pursued counterfeits for over 10 years with successful seizures in more than 20 countries covering six continents. During the last two years alone, working with local governments, it had seized more than 200,000 counterfeit products, it claimed.

Empower reports upsizing staff

Claims employee numbers rose by 17% in 2012

E

mpower, the district cooling service provider in the region, has announced that its employee numbers rose by 17% in 2012, compared to 2010. It also said that it had launched several power plants and client servicing centres in 2012, as part of the company’s strategic planning to provide high quality district cooling system, which it said reduced energy 6

consumption, unlike the traditional air conditioning systems.

Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said that the increase in staff reflected the company’s growing clientele and services. He noted that there was rising demand for district cooling, as more real estate projects were opting for it.

“The actual increase in the use of district cooling services is driven by

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

the growing number of buildings and apartment units. We are executing a plan to put the company on the global front and this can only be done by developing the capabilities of all technicians, client servicing employees and management executives,” Bin Shafar added.

According to Empower, it

It reiterated that it is continuing its efforts to build awareness among endcustomers about the risks of using counterfeit products.

These include creating posters for garages and service stations that explain how dangerous it can be to use non-genuine products.

Honeywell emphasised that all Genetron refrigerants went through extensive tests to assure quality and safety, and that these properties could be guaranteed only when buying the refrigerant from Honeywell-authorised suppliers.

“We continue to take the necessary aggressive actions in cooperation with law enforcement and other government authorities to ensure that users get the high-quality product they need as well as ensuring its safety,” said Paul Sanders, Managing Director for Honeywell Fluorine Products in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. “These efforts have resulted in seizures around the world.”

is implementing a training strategy to its human resources as it believed that it was the primary contributor in strengthening its prominent position in the region and the world.

happenings the region

Downtown Dubai’s new AC Metro link opens

Travellators connect Burj Khalifa/The Dubai Mall Metro station with Downtown Dubai

ESIA and DEWA inaugurate solar power project in Jebel Ali ME’s first such facility to be built inside conventional power plant

M

Adnan Al Hammadi, CEO, RTA’s Rail Agency (second from left) with Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, Emaar Properties (third from left), inaugurating the Metro Link

E

maar Properties PJSC, the property developer, has announced the opening of the new 820metre long air conditioned metro link that connects the Burj Khalifa/The Dubai Mall Metro Station with attractions in Downtown Dubai. Visitors now have an air conditioned passage from the Metro to various leisure, shopping, commercial and lifestyle amenities in Downtown Dubai, including Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, several hotels, and Emaar Square, the development’s commercial hub. The travellator also facilitates the convenience of visitors to Downtown Dubai’s 8

new commercial precinct, the announcement added.

According to Emaar, the metro link has 10 travellators with a central walkway for pedestrian use, starting at the Burj Khalifa/The Dubai Mall Metro station entrance and travels through the Downtown Dubai development before connecting directly with The Dubai Mall.

Commenting on the new

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

link, Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, Emaar Properties, said, “The direct connection with the Dubai Metro, which is now one of the most popular public transport modes in the city, will help in reducing vehicular traffic and enable visitors to simply walk across from the station to Downtown Dubai through a temperaturecontrolled travellator.”

arc Norman, Marketing & Communications Director, Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA), in a communiqué has shared the information that ESIA and the Dubai Electricity and Water Company (DEWA) have completed the first solar power facility to be built inside an existing conventional power plant in the Middle East. The 10kW rooftop system has been installed within DEWA’s main power generation complex in Jebel Ali, the communiqué added.

"This pilot project marks an important step towards the development of solar power in the UAE, and particularly solar rooftop, which many view as the most promising way to foster a viable solar power market", Norman explained.

happenings the region

Hempel inaugurates new outlet in Dubai Move part of its expansion drive in UAE paint market

H

empel, suppliers of decorative, marine and protective coatings, has revealed that it is strengthening its range of paint offerings for the UAE market, particularly within the decorative and protective segments, which account for up to 85% of the total paint sales in the country, according to a study by PKF research.

Hempel further announced the inauguration of a new outlet in Dubai as part of the company’s aggressive regional expansion plans.

The opening of Sadafat Trading, the authorised Hempel dealer located in Hor Al Anz, takes advantage of the growth pace of the UAE market, which is powered by revitalised real estate and infrastructure development

initiatives, increased oil and gas activity, as well as strong demands from the manufacturing, hospitality and marine sectors, the company said.

Laurence Brown, Hempel UAE Country Manager, on the occasion said: “Leveraging on the company’s well-established R&D infrastructure, Hempel has focused strongly on developing specialised coatings that cater to specific demands of the local market, giving us a competitive edge. The opening of the Sadafat Trading outlet, which is strategically located in the hardware hub of Dubai in Hor Al Anz, therefore brings us closer to our customers and reinforces our ability to reach out to our clients.”

Pentair to expand UAE operations

Frost & Sullivan gives its perspective on the move

P

entair, a Global conglomerate catering to industrial and non-industrial (including residential, commercial and agricultural among others) customer segments, has acquired Tyco Flow Control, a supplier of industrial valves in the Middle East. According to

10

Frost & Sullivan, which shared this information, the move complements Pentair’s capabilities in the region and dominance in the relevant product market and is well placed to leverage on Tyco Flow Control’s capabilities and strong customer base.

Virein Kumar Yadlapalli,

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Manazel completes Al Reef project Will have integrated community of up to 15,000 residents

M

anazel Real Estate has announced the completion of the final phase of villas, totalling 200, in Al Reef Contemporary Village and has already commenced the handover to investors, a progress which Mohamed Al Qubaisi

Program Manager, Automation and Electronics Practice, Frost & Sullivan, giving his perspective on the matter, believed that the company’s access to Emirates Techno Casting (ETC), a casting supplier in the Middle East, via Tyco Flow Control, is expected to facilitate a relatively higher cost control and improved delivery/lead times, specifically applicable to valves and pumps product offerings.

Continued healthy growth of the product market in the Middle

officially concludes the total development of the 2,367 villas in Al Reef.

Manazel pointed out that upon the completion of Al Reef Project and all its services and amenities, it will represent a fully integrated community of up to 15,000 residents.

Speaking about the project, HE Mohamed M Al Qubaisi, Chairman of Manazel Real Estate, said: “This achievement today at Al Reef stands witness to our commitment to the values and objectives we rooted at the start of our endeavour, and our continuous care to manage and steer all the operations of construction to the last details through to achieving the desired results.”

East – pumps and valves in the industrial sector is a cumulative of over USD 2.5 billion opportunity – is a significant push for increased product localisation/local valueadded activity and preference for local sourcing, which bodes well for Pentair, Frost & Sullivan elaborated, and added that Pentair’s announcement to invest AED 183 million makes it perfectly placed to capitalise on the market opportunity via its established local setup and global market expertise.

happenings the region

DEWA receives delegation from Schneider

Meeting aimed at collaboration in renewable energy, sustainability and clean techniques

H

. E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received a high-profile delegation from Schneider Electric, a company specialising in energy management. Announcing this, DEWA said that the delegation included Torhan Torhangil, Chief of Global Operations and Middle East Zone President; Yves Daumas, VP of Industry Business for the Gulf Countries; Goktug Gur, President for the UAE,

Oman and Pakistan; Ghassan Barghouth, Country President for Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain; and Ahmed Sfar, VP of Infrastructure Business in UAE and Oman.

According to DEWA, Al Tayer welcomed the delegation and stressed the importance of cooperating with Schneider Electric.

“The meeting aimed to strengthen the collaboration and exchange of expertise between DEWA and Schneider Electric, particularly in renewable

Wärtsilä bags Jordan power plant project Claims to become the world’s largest tri-fuel power plant when completed

W

ärtsilä, provider of power plant solutions and services, has announced signing two long-term service agreements covering Amman Asia Electric Power’s power plant in Al Manakher, Jordan. A consortium headed by Wärtsilä has been tasked to build the power plant, which will supply electricity to the Jordanian national

12

grid, the announcement added.

The agreements reportedly comprise a 15 year parts supply agreement, as well as a five-year technical service agreement with KEPCO Plant Service & Engineering Co, the operations and maintenance contractor for the power plant.

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

energy, sustainability, energy efficiency and clean techniques, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and minimising the carbon and energy footprint,” Al Tayer said. He also briefed the delegation on DEWA’s milestones and achievements in sustainability and showcased its Sustainable Building – claimed to be the first green building in the governmental sector worldwide that also uses solar power.

The delegation, in

The facility which is under construction, will have a net electrical output of 573 MW, and when completed, will be the world's largest tri-fuel power plant with

turn, briefed Al Tayer on Schneider Electric’s services in Dubai and the rest of the UAE, the announcement added. The company’s initiatives reportedly include a sustainable and efficient initiative for power usage ‘Smart Cities’ which contributes to minimising carbon emissions and managing the growing demand for water. The company also claims to provide solutions in the fields of sustainability and renewable energy.

combustion engines capable of using natural gas, heavy fuel oil and light fuel oil, the company claimed. The plant is to be powered by a total of 38 Wärtsilä 50DF multi-fuel engines running initially on heavy fuel oil. However, once the natural gas infrastructure is in place, the Wärtsilä engine technology will enable a switch to gas fuel, the company explained. It added that the first phase of the power plant project was expected to be operational by February 2014. The entire plant is scheduled to be in operation by September of the same year.

Victaulic products for DOKAAE project

Saudi complex adopts company’s grooved technology

V

ictaulic, manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, has announced that the Development of King Abdul Aziz Endowment (DOKAAE) in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is one of the latest projects to use its grooved piping technology.

Announcing this, the company added that the

developer and contractor was the Saudi Binladin Group, reportedly the largest construction company in Saudi Arabia.

Victaulic gave details of the project: the DOKAAE complex, known as the Abraj Al-Bait Towers, includes seven towers with a maximum capacity of 65,000 guests or visitors. The seven structures currently hold several world records of their own, including the world’s tallest clock tower at 530 metres, the largest clock face at 1,849 m2 and the world’s largest floor area at approximately 1.5 million m2, with the towers also containing the world’s tallest hotel, which at 601 m is currently the second highest building in the world.

Victaulic grooved

DOKAAE Tower

mechanical piping systems were used in all areas of DOKAAE, including HVAC, fire protection and desalination, with pipe

HERE,THERE AND ALMOST EVERYWHERE!

sizes ranging from 2” up to 60” (50.8 to 1525 mm) and pressure ratings of up to 17.75 bars, with piping materials of both copper and stainless steel, the company said.

According to Victaulic, the project took over seven years to complete and includes a nine-storey chilling plant with more than 65,000 tonnes of cooling water capacity, where its products have been used extensively, including 168 heat exchangers, as well as on main connections and risers.

Using its systems enabled prefabrication, whilst flamefree assembly using grooved products not only speeded up installation times but also kept welding to a minimum, as local ambient temperatures rose to over 50 degrees centigrade, it claimed.

Our mark is all over the city.

Faisal Jassim Trading Company LLC has been instrumental in providing top quality electrical and mechanical equipment to the building services industry.

From air distribution systems, pre-insulated ducts, pumps, boilers and district cooling equipment, to valves, solar systems, air-conditioning and ventilation equipment, today FJTCO stands tall in its commitment to bring life to your building.

Find out more at www.faisaljassim.ae

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February 2013

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happenings the region

Masdar launches renewable energy desalination programme

Envisaged to meet country’s long-term potable water needs

M

asdar has announced launching a pilot programme to test and develop advanced energy-efficient seawater desalination technologies suitable to be powered by renewable energy sources.

The long-term goal of the programme is to implement renewable energy-powered desalination plants in the UAE and to have a facility at commercial scale by 2020, the announcement elaborated.

It added that the pilot

programme was announced at the inaugural International Water Summit, a participating event of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which took place from January 15 to 17. The programme was reportedly attended by H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; H.E. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority; H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi

, Yo u r t r u s t e d pa r t n e r f o r Yo u r engineering, energY and environment solutions

Environment Agency; and Adnan Amin, DirectorGeneral of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

According to Masdar, the programme is reportedly a direct result of a call to action to improve water security made by H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, which

is envisaged to stimulate growth, promote investment and advance the desalination sector.

Working with technology partners and investors, the programme includes three test sites in the UAE and will operate for 3.5 years, Masdar said, and added that by pairing energy efficient desalination technologies with renewable energy, the programme aimed to reduce

Sauter holds seminar on BMS and green buildings

Showcases EY-modulo 5 building automation system

S eng i ne e r i n g

e n e r g y

e n v i ro n m e nt

phone +971 4 445 7131, +971 4 447 4407 Fax +971 4 447 4410 p.o.Box 125787, Jumeirah Lakes towers tiffany tower, 30th Floor - Dubai, U.a.e. info@en3solutions.com www.en3solutions.com

the three Factor company

14

Engineering

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Energy

Environment

auter, a Swiss-based manufacturer and supplier of building management systems, organised a seminar on January 8 at the Beach Rotana in Abu Dhabi. The event gave an opportunity for its leaders to give a background of the company and highlight the features of Sauter EY-modulo 5.

Bertram Schmitz, CEO, Sauter, first took the podium and spoke about the company’s history and milestones. In his presentation, he highlighted that the new

Sauter Head Office Building was the first industrial building to be certified with the Minergie label in northwestern Switzerland.

Minergie is a registered quality label for new and re-furbished low-energy-consumption buildings. The label is registered in Switzerland and around the world, he explained.

Sauter’s Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Marketing and Sales, Jean Schwartzentruber spoke extensively about Sauter EY-modulo 5. He said that it

energy consumption and bridge the gap between promising desalination technologies, which are being developed in universities and research centres worldwide, and large-scale industrial applications powered by renewable energy.

Masdar said that it will coordinate the programme with key Abu Dhabi stakeholders, such as ADWEA, the Regulation and Supervision Bureau, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company.

“The availability of potable water is one of the most pressing issues in the world, particularly in the Gulf region, where water production is a costly and energy-intensive process,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. “With the UAE’s growing economy and rising population, it is

crucial that we identify a sustainable desalination solution to meet our long-term water needs.

Connecting desalination technologies to renewable energy enables us to capitalise on our abundant resources, such as solar, as a solution to improve water security.”

H.E. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi informed that in parallel to its own efforts, ADWEA looked forward to wrking with Masdar on the development of desalination technologies with improved energy efficiency in line with its commitment to improving the sustainability of its operations.

Masdar highlighted that it would be issuing a Request for Proposals for Technological Development inviting industrial players to submit co-development proposals.

was a configurable modular system that could meet any demand for building technology and claimed that the technology was entirely based in the open BACnet/IP communication via Ethernet and any existing IT networks.

He enumerated EY-modulo 5’s other features: • It allows complete exchange of data for complex building management functions, including air conditioning, alarm and fire protection functions, and room automation.

• It provides direct access to all data relevant to the user’s building.

• The user can utilise any common web browser to access relevant information, clear data point lists, precise

analysis tools and log data evaluation options, and export the data to standard programs anytime and anywhere.

• It has the ability to provide alarm notification via PCs, PDAs, pagers, fax machines, landline phones and mobile phones.

Mohamed Mansour, Chairman, Sauter Middle East FZC, capped the evening off by speaking about its operations in the region.

He said that the full range of the company’s systems and products were available at Sauter Middle East. He also spoke about the latest projects the company was involved in, including NMC Speciality Hospital in Dubai, Umm Al Quwain Hospital, and Al Hilli KG School in Al Ain.

Empower delegation attends American ASHRAE conference

ASHRAE DC Design Manual was expected to be approved

A

n official delegation of Empower, the district cooling service provider, participated at the American ASHRAE conference held between 26 and 30 January in Dallas, Texas, Empower announced.

It was expected that the first District Cooling Design Manual would be approved on the second day of the conference (January 27) through voting by members of the technical committee of ASHRAE, in the presence of the chairman of ASHRAE and Ahmed bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, the announcement added, and highlighted that Empower was the only company sponsoring the international manual. The official launch of the manual would reportedly take place on the sidelines of the conference.

According to Empower, the company’s delegation was headed by Bin Shafar and comprised Tariq Al Yasi, Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer; Mohamed Kahoor, Director of Business Support Services; and Moustapha Assayed, Senior Engineering Manager.

Bin Shafar said that Empower’s participation in this year’s conference had special significance as the UAE was the only country in the world that was sponsoring the release of the manual as the global reference for air conditioning February 2013

and heating designs. Bin Shafar added that Empower had funded all the studies and research done for the document, making it accessible to specialists in air conditioning and heating in the world.

Bin Shafar said that he believed the Gulf region was well qualified to lead the world’s district cooling industry as it had high usage of air conditioning throughout the year, unlike western countries where air conditioning was seasonally used. Bin Shafar added that Empower was the exclusive company to review the manual and emphasised that that it was a matter of pride for Empower to be the only district cooling company that was contributing in the fruition of the project.

He further explained that participation in such an international event was driven by Empower’s strategy to adopt latest solutions and technologies in district cooling, and pointed out that the global district cooling industry looked at Empower as a key player and regarded the regional district cooling industry as a mature segment committed to raising standards.

The Gulf region had the financial and human resources to present itself as a key player in the district cooling industry in the world, Bin Shafar concluded. www.climatecontrolme.com

15

happenings at large

UNEP, FAO and partners launch Think, Eat, Save campaign Global initiative aimed to change culture of food waste

In developed regions around 300 million tonnes of food is wasted annually because producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for consumption

AC-Sun uses water to power air conditioning

Claims new technology saves 90% of energy

C

alling it revolutionary, the Danish entrepreneurial company AC-Sun has announced developing a new technology, which it claims turns solar heat into air conditioning with minimal use of electrical power, thereby saving 90% of energy.

With a combination of low pressure turbines and using water as refrigerant, this patented technology is able to create efficient cooling from solar heat, explained Nils Olsen, CEO at AC-Sun. The company further elaborated the process involved: The system consists

16

of two separate circuits. In principle, the driving circuit is the same as on a power plant. Heat creates steam that drives a turbine, but in this case, the temperatures and pressure are lower; since the circuits operate under vacuum, steam is allowed to be generated at low temperatures. The cooling circuit is similar to that of a refrigerator, except here the media is water. To make water work as a refrigerant, the pressure is also very low in the cooling circuit.

According to the FORCE Institute, the technology used

by AC-Sun will save 86% on CO2 emission compared to an average conventional air

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

conditioning unit.

The company has listed the following benefits of the technology: • About 90% of the energy used for cooling comes from “free” hot water, for example, from a solar panel, from cooling water from machines, or from district heating water.

• Electrical power consumption is only 10% of a conventional system.

• No chemical cooling media such as CFC, HCFC or others are used – only water.

• The surplus heat from the process, which is not re-utilised in the system, can be used for other purposes,

S

aying that simple actions by consumers and food retailers can dramatically cut the 1.3 billion tonnes of food lost or wasted each year, and can help shape a sustainable future, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and partners have launched a new global campaign to cut food waste.

Called Think.Eat.Save.

Reduce Your Foodprint campaign, it is in support of the Save Food initiative to reduce food loss and waste along the entire chain of food production and consumption – run by the FAO and trade fair organiser Messe Düsseldorf – and the UN Secretary General’s Zero Hunger Challenge, the announcement

for example, heating of water for the household.

• The price of a system will only be marginally higher than the price of a conventional system.

According to AC-Sun, it is financed by Insero Horsens and Østjysk Innovation, and that it is currently looking for technical partners who want to commercialise this patented technology, thereby taking it from prototype to finished product.

revealed and added that the campaign specifically targets food wasted by consumers, retailers and the hospitality industry.

According to UNEP, the campaign harnesses the expertise of organisations such as WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Feeding the 5,000 and other partners, including national governments who have considerable experience targeting and changing wasteful practices.

The objective of the campaign is to accelerate action and provide a global vision and information-sharing portal (www.thinkeatsave. org) for the many and diverse initiatives currently under way around the world, the announcement explained.

According to data released

by FAO, worldwide, about one-third of all food produced, worth around USD 1 trillion, gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems.

Food loss occurs mostly at the production stages – harvesting, processing and distribution – while food waste typically takes place at the retailer and consumer end of the food-supply chain.

Against the backdrop of the campaign, Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director said: “In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense – economically, environmentally and ethically. Aside from the cost implications, all the

land, water, fertilisers and labour needed to grow that food is wasted, not to mention the generation of greenhouse gas emissions produced by food decomposing on landfill and the transport of food that is ultimately thrown away.

To bring about the vision of a truly sustainable world, we need a transformation in the way we produce and consume our natural resources.”

José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, added: “In industrialised regions, almost half of the total food squandered, around 300 million tonnes annually, occurs because producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for consumption. This is more than the total net food

production of Sub-Saharan Africa, and would be sufficient to feed the estimated 870 million people hungry in the world. If we can help food producers to reduce losses through better harvesting, processing, storage, transport and marketing methods, and combine this with profound and lasting changes in the way people consume food, then we can have a healthier and hunger-free world.”

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February 2013

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17

happenings at large

Honeywell’s first HFO blend in the market Aimed at AC and heat pumps applications

H

oneywell has announced that its first HFO blend is now commercially available.

The company’s Solstice L-41 is reportedly designed to be a lower GWP alternative to R410A in air conditioning

and heat pump applications.

Honeywell made the announcement at the recent 2012 International Symposium on New Refrigerants and Environmental Technology in Kobe, Japan.

Honeywell claimed that

Solstice L-41 delivers a 75% reduction in GWP compared to R410A and that the refrigerant has excellent energy efficiency and cost effectiveness and can be used in existing equipment designs with minimal changes.

Solstice L-41 is reportedly a blend based on Honeywell’s HFO-1234ze technology, first introduced in 2008 and now

Rainforest Deniyaya awarded LEED Platinum

First in Sri Lanka, fifth in the world and fourth in Asia to be thus recognised for LEED honour for sustainable tourism

T

he Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, occupying a 500-acre division of the Enselwatte Tea Estate, marking the South-Eastern perimeter of the Sinharaja Rainforest, has received LEED Platinum certification for Sustainable Tourism through Eco Management.

Mario Seneviratne, LEED Consultant and Managing Director, Green Technologies, Dubai, has shared this information in a communiqué.

The lodge overlooking the country’s richest natural habitat, is the first project in Sri Lanka, fifth in the world and fourth in Asia to earn the recognition, the communiqué added. The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, is also

18

the first major collaborated private sector initiative by the leisure corporates in the country, it further elaborated.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, reportedly provided advisory assistance and USAID supported the initiative.

According to the communiqué, lauding the certification, the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, said: “I am pleased to send this message for the opening of The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, marking a significant advance in Ecotourism in the country.

“Located at the foothills bordering the Sinharaja rainforest, conceptualised and built to ensure the protection of nature and

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Prema Cooray, Chairman of the Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, receiving the LEED Platinum Award for Ecotourism from Mario Seneviratne, LEED Fellow, Managing Director, Green Technologies, Dubai

The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka

the environment, this could most correctly be described as an outstanding example of an ‘Ecolodge’, which takes Sri Lanka’s tourism to a new height of progress with the combination of ecotourism and

sustainable development….

“It is noteworthy that observing of best practices in the field of ecotourism in the development of this important venture has won it the Platinum rating from the

Tuned to Your Cooling Needs

The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa

US Green Building Council under its scheme of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).

We can be truly proud of this honour, which I understand is the first time such a rating has been bestowed on a Sri Lankan hotel….

“I wish The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, every success in this groundbreaking venture to promote high quality ecotourism in the country.”

Basil Rajapaksa, the Minister of Economic Development, in his message

Commercial Development for Honeywell Fluorine Products, said: “Honeywell has been working closely with leading equipment manufacturers to optimise Solstice L-41 to meet the demanding requirements of both stationary air conditioning and heat pump applications across a broad range of operating conditions.

Solstice L-41 will allow these manufacturers to offer more environmentally friendly air conditioning and heat pump systems to help address climate change.”

reportedly said: “The prestigious LEED Platinum Certification awarded to the Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, recognises Sri Lanka’s focus on sustainable tourism. The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to promoting diversity in the country’s tourism product and Ecotourism takes high priority and focus as a new area of global interest. The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka, is a combined creation of some [of] Sri Lanka’s leading conglomerates, who have transcended their core businesses to build a unique travel proposition that we as a Nation can benefit from….

“I believe that The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka is a perfect example of where the best practices of planning, construction and promotion have been fulfilled….

“I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a role in realising The Rainforest, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka dream.”

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The new HFO blend also claims advantages over R32, Honeywell said, as it has a higher GWP and limitations related to high discharge temperatures which can affect performance and durability in hot climates, and may also require new lubricants.

According to Honeywell, a new HFO-1234ze manufacturing plant is currently under construction.

Tom Morris, Director of

SAMSON Controls FZE PO Box 262793, PBU YC01 (near R/A 08) Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Phone: +971 4 8834933 · Fax: +971 4 8834944 E-mail: info@samson.ae · ww.samson.ae SAMSON GROUP · www.samsongroup.net

February 2013

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19

happenings at large

India building world’s tallest cooling towers Will serve Kalisindh thermal energy plant to generate up to 1,200 MW power

W

hat are believed to be the world’s tallest cooling towers are nearing completion as part of India’s Kalisindh Thermal Energy plant, Rajasthan, India. According to Linden Comansa, a subsidiary in China, which provides cranes, BGR Energy System specialised in energy plant engineering and construction is in charge of one of India’s most important energy projects.

With an initial budget of almost EUR 725 million (around USD 820 million), the Kalisindh Thermal Energy Plant is part of an ambitious plan of the Rajasthan Government, which expects to produce up to 1,200 MW (2 x 600) when the plant is operative, Linden Comansa reveals. At 202 metres, the two cooling towers are believed to be the world’s highest – taller than Niederaussem in Germany, it

adds.

For the construction of the two cooling towers, BGR Energy Systems is using two 21CJ290 tower cranes from Comansa Jie, with maximum load capacity of 18 tonnes.

Both have jib length of 74 m, the maximum of this model, which allows them

Western Europe registers increased renewable energy

But its nuclear share depleting, says GBI Research report

T

o meet carbon emissions targets and reduce dependency on depleting fossil fuel reserves, the nations of Western Europe are beefing up their renewable energy generation, but significantly limiting growth within their nuclear power industries in the face of widespread public opposition, says business intelligence providers GBI Research.

According to the firm’s latest report, the top 10 Western European power markets will increase renewable installed capacity from 308.5 Gigawatts (GW) in 2012 to 466.9 GW in

20

2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3%.

Meanwhile, during the same time frame, nuclear installed capacity for these countries will grow from 104 GW to 105.6 GW – representing a far smaller CAGR of just 0.2%.

GBI Research expects a negative growth trend in nuclear power across countries such as Germany, the UK, Spain and Sweden, but overall positive growth is forecast

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

until 2020 due to capacity additions from Finland and the traditionally

to reach the tower’s base diameter, of 142 m. Both cranes have reportedly been jacked-up with a hydraulic cage in different phases, until they reached 217 m of height, Linden Comansa said. The construction of the first cooling tower reportedly ended in June 2012.

nuclear-reliant France.

In terms of power market share, however, Western Europe’s nuclear power installed capacity is predicted to drop from 14.2% last year to 11.3% by the end of the decade – primarily due to the increased influence of renewable power, which is expected to grow from 38.8% to 49.8% during the same period.

The report predicts the total cumulative installed capacity of these top 10 Western European nations to climb from 758.1 GW in 2012 to 937.3 GW in 2020, at a CAGR of 2.7%.

ASHRAE UPDATE

Chinese company penalised

Was counterfeiting DuPont refrigerants

for counterfeiting DuPont refrigerants.

A recent judicial settlement requires Quzhouzhou Fuming Co of Quzhou City to pay the equivalent of USD 39,400 to the Chinese Government and to pay USD 32,000 in damages and court costs to DuPont, the report added.

Tracking the story, the ASHRAE newsletter said that in 2009, a distributor alerted DuPont to potential counterfeiting of DuPont’s Suva and Freon brands.

A raid by local authorities in late September 2011 resulted in seizure of 1,500 empty refrigerant cylinders with Suva and Freon packaging, 1,000 counterfeit labels and 1,000 counterfeit DuPont Freon R22 cylinders. After the raid, DuPont reportedly issued cease-anddesist letters, but the company continued to sell the counterfeit refrigerants.

DuPont then filed a legal action against the company, the report said.

A

ccording to the news provided by the December 20, 2012 issue of The HVAC&R Industry, ASHRAE’s weekly eNewsletter, DuPont has successfully acted against a Chinese company

Improved air quality by means of pre-insulated aluminium ducts

Chiller efficiency improvements proposed for Standard 90.1

Our Easy Duct System has been designed on the basis of specific technical & economic necessities to permit the construction of air distribution systems that guarantee the highest standards of safety and conformity to international regulations.

Change builds on efficiency improvements implemented in 2010

A

ccording to ASHRAE’s weekly eNewsletter HVAC&R Industry, dated December 20, 2012, Chiller efficiencies for air- and watercooled chillers would be increased to more than 20% under a proposed addendum to ANSI/ASHRAE/ IES Standard 90.1-2010, Energy Standard for Buildings except low-rise residential buildings. The proposed addendum ch reportedly changes the requirements for air- and water-cooled chillers as defined in section 6.4.2.1 and the efficiency requirements listed in table 6.8.1C. This change builds on efficiency improvements that were implemented in 2010 by further improving the efficiency requirements, said Dick Lord, a member of the committee that developed the proposal through a working team of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) chiller section. Addendum ch was open for public review until 14 January 2013.

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February 2013

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21

marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

Berner International Corp

ICM Series’ ICB air curtain

B

erner International Corp, a US manufacturer of air curtains, has announced expanding its In-Ceiling Mount (ICM) Series by adding the ICB, which it claims is the HVAC industry’s first in-ceiling flush mount air curtain rated for doorways with up to 16-foot-high ceilings in hotels, hospitals, office buildings, schools and other commercial facilities.

The company further claims that efficient one-hp motors combined with its proprietary Pro-V Nozzle design, which generates 50% more velocity at the floor versus standard ceiling mount units make the ICB’s unprecedented 16-foot range possible.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The improved velocity allows for lower

speed operation resulting in up to half the decibel ratings and energy consumption of competing in-ceiling air curtains. n It is available in three to 12-foot lengths, features a high-style, lowprofile faceplate available in white polyester-coated aluminum or stainless steel. It is also available in custom colour, powder-coat aluminum faceplates that offer an aesthetic choice. n The heaters’ easy serviceability requires removing only two mounting screws and a quick-disconnect cable. n It meets fire and life safety codes by drawing clean air directly from the lobby without the need of costly fieldinstalled ductwork. n It cuts maintenance costs with a

Carel

ChillBooster

C

arel, which designs and manufactures products for the air conditioning and refrigeration sector, has announced that it will be presenting its ChillBooster, an air cooling solution, at the Saudi HVAC Confex 2013, to be held from February 11 to 13.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: Technical features: n Flow-rate (l/h): 100, for the AC010D, 500 for the AC050D, 1000 for the AC100D n Inlet pressure min.-max. (Bar/Mpa/ Psi): 3-8 / 0.3-0.8 / 40-115 n Temperature (°C/°F): 5-40 / 40-104 n Inlet, outlet and drain connection: G1/2” female n Electrical specifications: 230 V, 50/60 Hz (depending on the model) n Certification: CE Advantages: n The ChillBooster atomises water into very fine droplets that evaporate

24

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

spontaneously. The atomised water cools the coil by a flow of colder air and droplets of water, allowing more favourable operating conditions. n The droplets that evaporate from the surface of the fins actively contribute to the cooling process, increasing the booster effect. n This allows liquid coolers and condensers to deliver their rated capacity even during the hotter periods of the year, which often coincide with operation at maximum load. This means no costly system oversizing.

cleanable, reusable media filter. n The external service panel requires no ceiling panel removal and allows easy accessibility for component replacement or microprocessor control programming. n It minimises insect and vehicle emission infiltration. n The Intelliswitch is designed with selfdiagnostic capabilities. n It is applicable to both retrofit and new construction. n Personal technical support is available during business hours, or a 24/7 online FAQ and troubleshooting page atwww. intellihow2.com. n It is a perfect complement to the ICA, which is an AMCA-certified in-ceiling mount air curtain introduced last year for eight to 12-foot-high ceilings.

Dyson

Dyson Hot fan heater

D

yson has announced introducing Dyson Hot fan heater, which it says has been engineered specifically for fast and even room heating.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n Dyson Hot fan heater can be set between 1 °C and 37 °C to heat a room. When it hits the desired temperature, it monitors the room temperature by measuring surrounding air. If a drop is detected, the heater turns back on to maintain the set temperature. n It has low surface temperatures throughout and no visible heating elements. n If tipped over, the machine has been engineered to automatically cut out. n Using patented Air Multiplier technology, air is drawn in through a mixed flow impeller, a combination of the technologies used in turbochargers and jet engines. It is then accelerated through a 2.5 mm aperture (the thickness of a £2 coin) set within the loop amplifier. This creates a jet of hot air, which passes over an airfoil-shaped ramp channelling its direction. Surrounding air is drawn into the airflow, amplifying it six times in a process known as inducement and entrainment. n The fan heater has temperature controls and an intelligent thermostat. Variable airflow and oscillation is controlled either by remote or on the front of the machine. The remote turns the

fan heater on and off, adjusting temperature; airflow rate and controlling oscillation can be done easily from across a room. It is curved and magnetized to store neatly on top of the machine. n Unlike conventional heaters it has a dual-mode function as a cooling fan and couples high airflow and velocity.

Distech Controls

New models of Allure EC-Smart-Vue communicating sensor line

D

istech Controls, which provides building automation and energy management solutions, has announced introducing six new models of its Allure EC-Smart-Vue Series communicating room sensor, now with integrated CO2 and motion sensors.The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The Allure EC-Smart-Vue communicating sensor is designed to interface with Distech Controls’ BACnet ECB Series and LONWORKS ECL Series controllers. n Its design includes a backlit display and icon-driven menu. n It is suitable for VAV, fan coil, roof top, heat pump, and unit vent room control applications.

n By combining multiple sensors – temperature, humidity, CO2, and motion – in a single unit, it reduces time and installation costs, since only one room device needs be mounted, wired, and commissioned. n The four-in-one communicating sensor offers additional energy savings compared to other sensing solutions, as it supports both demand-controlled ventilation and occupancy-based control strategies for HVAC and lighting. n Its built-in CO2 sensor contributes to maintaining Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). n It also features the ECO-Vue leaf pattern, which graphically indicates energy consumption in real time to promote occupants’ energy conscious behaviour.

February 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

25

marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

WEG

W22X line of flameproof motor range

W

EG, dealing in the power distribution, automation and control sectors, has announced adding three new frame sizes to its W22X line of flameproof motors: the 560, 630 and 710. Produced in Maia, Portugal, WEG’s centre for the manufacture and design of MV and HV explosion proof induction motors, the W22X meets worldwide standards, the company claimed.

The manufacturer lists other product features and advantages: n Innovations adopted in the W22X design include a tube array for optimising through draught cooling, which provides air ducts with both axial and radial flowpaths to maximise cooling of the rotor, stator and critical components such as the bearings. n The range is allied with an aerodynamic fan and fan cover, designed for efficient air flow generation whilst minimising the noise output. n The design of the junction box includes internal mounting bolts for protection against impact and environmental damage and prevents the accumulation of water whilst providing space for easy connections. n There are multiple options available for the junction box while a current transformer, surge arrestor or capacitors can be fitted to the W22X. n The three new frame sizes are all available in 2, 4, 6 and 8 pole versions with medium and high voltage options and a range of maximum outputs from 500kW to 4500kW. n The entire W22X range is based on a welded steel construction

and includes integral solid feet so that vibration is kept to a minimum, complementing the low noise outputs. n With the W22X range WEG has the capability to provide optimal explosion-protected solutions for virtually all situations – from -55°C up to +60°C. n The range is certified to ATEX and IECEx, including Ex d(e) I Mb, Ex d(e) IIB T4 Gb, Ex d(e) IIC T4 Gb and Ex tb IIC T125°C Db IP6X designations, making it deployable in most hazardous environments. n Other national and regional certifications, such as GOST, CCOE, INMETRO, will be available in future.

Crane Fluid Systems

Differential pressure control valves

V

alve manufacturer Crane Fluid Systems has announced launching a new range of compact differential pressure control valves (DPCVs) with features, which the company claims offer cost-saving benefits and reduced energy consumption, whilst still maintaining their high quality and reliability. They are available in sizes DN15 to DN50 and are PN16 rated and have an adjustable differential pressure range of 20 – 100kPa, it adds.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n Belonging to the FlowMaster range of commissioning valves, the DPCVs (F400 and R400) are quick and easy to install, have a long life expectancy and require little or no maintenance. n The new design aids system analysis and simplifies circuits: Having threaded female ends, it reduces the need for additional adapters in most circuits and allows easy connections to alternative pipework solutions when adapters are required. There is an addition of two bosses for integral

26

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

test point installation, which gives greater flexibility and reduces the need for separate test points within the circuit. n With the two bosses, pressure readings can now be taken from before and after the control circuit. The pressure is linked to the upper and lower chambers and the diaphragm, which separates the chambers and pressures, controls the rubberseated piston to stabilise the pressure differential. The piston closes the valve on rising differential pressure and opens it on falling differential pressure. The valve will continue to move in this way until equilibrium of pressure is achieved.

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marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

GEA

ConBraze heat exchangers

C

laiming that they were highly efficient heat pumps and refrigeration systems with smaller footprint and lower pressure drop, GEA introduced ConBraze at Chillventa late last year. They are slated to be in the market this year.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n ConBraze is designed for use as an evaporator, economiser, or condenser with the refrigerants R410A or CO2. n It was developed on the basis of the proven 500 Range, but essentially differs from this range by its innovative plate design. n In comparison to previous heat exchangers, the new model features a more compact design, requires less material, needs a smaller filling amount of refrigerant, and therefore offers a cost advantage over conventional heat exchangers. n The hydraulically optimised channel geometry and the optimally adjusted asymmetry relationships enable it to achieve the best possible optimal heat exchange with optimal flow relationships. n Again, thanks to its adjustable channel geometry, it is possible to optimally match the heat exchanger to plant layout. n It will initially come in a version for a maximum of 45 bar system pressure, but there will be further design developments in asymmetrical areas of operation.

Küba S-Class air cooler range: Küba market SP and Küba SG commercial

S

aying that it is redefining the standards for commercial high-performance air coolers with a complete revamp of its established GEA Küba air cooler range, GEA has introduced Küba market SP and Küba SG commercial.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The new coolers reduce energy consumption by 50%, while simultaneously increasing efficiency to over 90%. n The company has improved the air throw considerably and noticeably reduced pressure loss. n The system also enjoys vastly improved ease of mounting, thanks to a newly developed integrated terminal box as a fixed component of the cooler. n Installation has also been greatly simplified, defrosting further optimised.

PRESENTED BY

UAE FOOD SAFETY

INSPECTORS’ CONGRESS 16 May 2013 | Dubai, UAE

(Prologue to Food Chain Dubai 2013)

FOR SPONSORSHIPS / EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES:

FOR PROGRAMME-RELATED QUERIES:

Frédéric Paillé

B Surendar

Managing Director & Associate Publisher

T: +971 (4) 375 6833 M: +971 (50) 714 7204 F: +971 (4) 434 1906 E: fred@cpi-industry.com

28

In North America, contact: Kanika Saxena Our representative in North America

T: +1 (905) 890 5031 E: kanika@cpi-industry.com

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher

T: +971 (4) 375 6831 M: +971 (50) 509 2457 F: +971 (4) 434 1906 E: surendar@cpi-industry.com

FOR EVENT-RELATED QUERIES: Mehwish Hilal Events & Marketing Manager

T: +971 (4) 375 6840 M: +971 (55) 478 5011 F: +971 (4) 434 1906 E: mehwish@cpi-industry.com

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

focus

INSULATION

A BREATH OF

FRESHER AIR Ensuring the best possible Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has become one of the foremost considerations of manufacturers in the insulation market. Their latest products now address issues of volatile organic compounds, thermal comfort and fire retardancy, among others. Jerome Sanchez takes a closer look at the innovations in the insulation sector.

A

According to studies, people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. In the Middle East in particular, where surroundings can be dusty and the summers scorching, residents choose to stay indoors, close the windows and turn on their air conditioning systems. By staying inside their offices, flats or villas, people tend to breathe in re-circulated air.

30

Even if it is filtered, it is still stale air. What this means is that all gases remain inside and the occupants run the risk of inhaling contaminated air.

The question of IAQ

As Dr Laurențiu Pestrițu, Insulation Product Manager, Middle East, India and Africa at Hira Industries, puts it, indoor air is always contaminated, not only with naturally generated pollutants like CO2, but also with manmade pollutants like volatile organic chemicals, industrial fibres, highly acidic particles of dust and spores of mould and bacteria. Inhaling these compounds, he says, might not always result in

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

immediate signs of illness, but might potentially contribute to building related illnesses over time.

Speaking about how his company addresses this issue, he draws attention to Aerofoam XLPE polyolefin insulation manufactured by Hira. He emphasises that the product is a non-fibrous, closed cell material with built-in antimicrobial and anti-fungal protection. He says that Aerofoam XLPE is especially ideal for hospital environments where Indoor Air Quality is the top priority.

He claims that Aerofoam XLPE is dust and fibre-free and does not contribute to the aggravation of respiratory conditions, which makes the

product particularly suitable for use in schools, offices and hospitals. In addition, it is formaldehyde-free and does not contribute to sick building syndrome being classified as a minimal VOC product, he says.

M. Rajkumar, CEO and Director, Best Products Trading, provides additional insights into the issue of contaminated air and IAQ. “Fibreglass, in particular, contains fine glass particles and certain phenolic compounds as binder. When they get exposed to moving indoor air, they can shred and float in the air, causing health hazards during installation as well as for the building occupants for several

We are mainly thinking of our insulation solutions putting the people in the centre – the ones installing the insulation and the ones using it afterwards

years,” he explains. “When the central air conditioner is in operation, moving air through the building, such fine particles are constantly inhaled by the occupants, and may cause bronchial disorders or allergic reactions.”

He also points out that stored moisture inside insulation materials can cause rusting of steel pipes and ducts, and create surfaces congenial to growth of bacteria and fungi, which could further affect the IAQ.

Where there’s fire …

Aside from Indoor Air Quality, fire retardancy is another key issue with regard to insulation, which industry

players highlight.

Speaking about risks posed by “traditional” insulation materials, Rajkumar points out that rubber used as an insulation material might potentially pose a serious hazard in cases of fire.

“Insulation materials using rubber compounds can be very dangerous in fire situations because of their smoke opacity,” Rajkumar explains. He adds that during an incidence of fire, people may not be able to see anything around them due to the thick black smoke that rubber may give off. “It is also a known fact that the major cause of death in fire accidents is suffocation

and the inability to reach exit doors due to the prevailing blinding black smoke,” Rajkumar points out.

“Thermefirm cross-linked polyethylene foam has fire retardant properties,” he claims, speaking about how his company’s product could help address the issue. He highlights that the product is rated and tested to Part 6 and Part 7 as per the British standards and rated Class ‘0’ materials for its fire retardant properties.

Roni Thomas, Marketing Manager, CMS Group, too, lays stress on the issue of fire retardancy when he speaks about his company’s product –Thermobreak. He says that owing to the extensive fire and smoke testing done on the February 2013

Thermobreak, it is fireretardant and has self-fire extinguishing features. “It is not going to catch fire, it is non-toxic, non-flammable and it poses no hazard to health,” Thomas claims. "It has undergone extensive fire and smoke tests via BS 476 Part 6 and Part 7, Class 0." In addition, he points out that it conforms to ISO 5659-2 smoke density and toxicity.

Absorption, strength and durability

Other issues concerning insulation that the industry players mention are water and moisture absorption, material strength and durability of the material’s insulation properties. “Rubber insulation, as can be seen in many buildings, absorbs moisture like a sponge. This means that the material loses its thermal resistance property and will work on the contrary, that is, as a thermal conducting material due to the stored water,” Rajkumar explains. “Rockwool and fibreglass look like cotton candy, and as such can absorb water. When the material absorbs water, it loses its intended, original thermal resistance. This happens more often when vapour barriers are not installed in the correct manner.”

Thermefirm, he adds, will keep its thermal properties “forever”, thanks to its impervious nature to moisture; its resistance to cuts, abrasions and cracks; to most chemicals; and to dust particles.

“Thermefirm’s thermal resistance does not age www.climatecontrolme.com

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focus

INSULATION

with time for decades, and certainly for the lifetime of the building,” he asserts.

Pestrițu also points out the built-in water vapour barrier of Hira’s Aerofoam XLPE. He says that the product offers built-in resistance to the transmission of water vapour through the material.

Thanks to this feature, mould and bacteria are inhibited, and even if the surface were to get damaged or pierced, the product will still provide resistance against microbial growth and fungi, he claims.

Market perception

The new technologies infused in the latest products in the market and the rigorous manufacturing and testing practices they are subjected to in order to ensure their quality, have, perhaps, led to the misconception that these products are far more expensive than traditional insulation materials. However, the industry players try to dispel this by highlighting the salient features of their products and by comparing the total installed cost of the insulation materials.

Rajkumar points out several advantages of Thermefirm in terms of ease of installation.

“Being a wrap-around type of insulation with self-adhesive lining, Thermefirm cuts labour cost by 75% as elaborate cutting and sticking work at the site is reduced,” he says, driving home the point that, though cross-linked polyethylene insulation materials may seem expensive, the total installed cost is actually the same as that of the traditional insulation materials.

“Accessories and labour make traditional insulation 32

Rockwool and fibreglass look like cotton candy, and as such can absorb water. When the material absorbs water, it loses its intended, original thermal resistance materials more expensive.

Using the same amount of money, polyethylene will do its duty for the lifetime of the

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

building,” he points out. He believes that the market, in fact is in favour of this.

“The product is already popular, recommended by most consultants and used by several quality-conscious contractors.”

Pestrițu, on the other hand, speaks about how Hira keeps the interest of the installation personnel and end-users in mind while planning for their new products. “We are mainly thinking of our insulation solutions putting the people in the centre – the ones installing the insulation and the ones using it afterwards,” he reveals.

He believes that the next generation of products Hira is developing would have benefits from installation, health and cost-saving points of view. In his opinion, these products would be easy to install and to maintain, would not emit VOCs, would not contain CFCs and would not contain dust or fibres and the products would have a long

life expectancy and would provide better performance per square metre than other insulation materials.

Though Thomas endorses that Thermobreak would prove advantageous over the more traditional insulation materials because it is easy to install and requires less labour and accessories, he maintains that more than new technology, what is important is the handling and maintenance of insulation materials.

“I believe that the key to addressing issues concerning insulation is professional installation according to OEM specification, irrespective of the type of insulation used. I believe that each insulation material should only be handled by professionals and should be handled properly,” he says.

In, conclusion, he observes: “The market is now going for quality. It is no longer compromising quality over the price.” 

country report SPAIN

The need for a

second

wind

A modest rise in figures recorded by Spain’s HVACR sector has led industry players in the country to hope that it is a precursor to a market surge. What factors can the sector capitalise on to make a complete recovery? What new technologies does the industry need to keep pace with the present challenges?

Jerome Sanchez has the report.

February 2013

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country report SPAIN

T

The Spanish HVACR industry reportedly experienced considerable growth in the first half of the last decade.

Formerly regarded as objects of luxury and privilege, air conditioning and heating equipment have now become common in households, buildings and facilities in the country.

Beginning in 2008, however, the industry started experiencing a downturn owing to the economic recession plaguing, not only Spain, but also the entire world. Reports cite that the precarious situation of the Spanish economy, combined with the housing mortgage crisis resulted in a decline in the sectors of air conditioning and heating, as a result of the decrease in spending and industrial activities.

As Carlos Merino, Manager, GER, revealed: “We have noticed that enterprises do not invest money in nonvital things owing to the fact that the financial and economic situation need to improve. They only invest in those things that are really important. Say, in a farm. Owners will only heat those zones where heating is needed. They won’t invest in machines to heat the whole area.”

In 2010, numbers from the Asociación de Fabricantes de Equipos de Climatización (AFEC) showed signs of growth. The entire industry had a turnover of EUR 4.3 billion and gave jobs to around 25,000 people. These 34

results represented a humble upturn compared to the past years, when increasing decline was noted. Heating and air conditioning were the primary contributors to the growth of the sector, with turnovers of approximately EUR 1.1 billion each. Refrigeration and industrial refrigeration sectors registered sales of EUR 560 million, with 80% attributed to exports.

Stalled growth

Numbers for 2011, however, showed yet another year of decline for the Spanish air conditioning sector.

From an estimated EUR 1.1 billion in turnover in 2010, representing an increase of 1.6% from the figures in 2009, numbers for 2011 showed a decrease of 16.3% at approximately EUR 972.4 million.

Back to the drawing board To combat the lingering crisis, one of the strategies adopted by the Spanish

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Carlos Merino HVACR companies is to work towards improvement of the energy efficiency of their products. Sources suggest that they are also exploring using renewable energy – solar, geothermic and aerothermal, among others. In line with this, Merino spoke about GER’s new product: “We have a new product named WIN BIO, which works with biomass, and it is rocking the market. It is a symbol of what the market demands – cheaper alternatives to fossil

To combat the lingering crisis, one of the strategies adopted by the Spanish HVACR companies is to work towards improvement of the energy efficiency of their products

fuels to make equipment work.”

He pointed out that energy efficiency was the main thrust of research of Spanish HVACR companies in the light of the economic downturn. “Harder times need more effectiveness and efficiency to maintain the industry and other different sectors,” said Merino. “GER spends and invests a lot of time researching to make improvements all the time.

For us, quality, technology, efficiency and effectiveness are four basic elements in the equation of every single product that we manufacture.”

In terms of designing pieces of equipment with more energy efficiency, Merino emphasised that products

by GER had been using IE2 engines since 2010. “IE2 is a classification of the energy efficiency of engines. There exists a directive from the EU that obliges companies to manufacture engines whose real performance [exceeds] approximately 90%,” Merino said. As a result, he added, products manufactured by

GER were more efficient and, consequently, contributed to the improvement of energy efficiency of facilities.

Industry players believe that the HVACR industry in Spain has a great roadmap ahead.

According to an article by Elena Cano, entitled “El sector de la climatización facturó 4.300 milliones de euros en 2010” that appeared in Mundo Empresarial Europeo, industry experts believed that, though the HVACR sector had already reached its maturity, it was still far from being saturated.

In addition, the retrofit and the replacement market could prove to be a beacon of hope for the industry, since the number of obsolete equipment was increasing, and because there was a growing need to update these pieces of equipment, like changing the refrigerants used to more environmentally friendly ones.

A similar point was made by the article entitled “Aire Acondicionado: el mercado vuelve a crecer” that appeared in Protiendas. According to the article, industry players

were of the opinion that retrofitting would prove to be relevant to the industry, as the construction of new buildings or facilities had come to a halt in recent years. It added that industry leaders believed that making “retrofitting plans” attractive to end-users was very important, particularly because the economic situation deterred spending by consumers.

In addition, as per the article, industry experts considered the degree of customer experience as an important factor for the retrofitting market. They said that the “retrofitting plans” needed to take into consideration the fact that end-users were beginning to look for new products in the market and that they were

February 2013

fast shifting their attention to products that might provide the least noise, the best indoor air quality, and the best energy efficiency.

Building on the point that the Spanish HVACR market is still far from being saturated, industry leaders estimated the penetration of the sector in Spain to be around 40% to 45%. Based on this estimation, they were of the opinion that there was still much room for development and expansion for the sector.

Innovations to the rescue

Given that the market is becoming more informed and more discerning in its choices of HVACR equipment, and that new standards and regulations concerning

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country report SPAIN

the sector have come out in recent years, innovation is considered by industry players to be another important factor that will drive the growth of the HVACR industry in Spain.

According to “Aire Acondicionado: el mercado vuelve a crecer”, the new technologies introduced with HVACR products in Spain mainly concentrated on the improvement of air quality, energy efficiency, reduction of noise and making “intelligent” products.

In terms of the improvement of air quality, companies in Spain were venturing into air purification systems with triple filters and anti-allergy filters that eliminated bad odours and allergens.

In terms of energy efficiency, the emphasis was on manufacturing high-efficiency and environmentally friendly products.

On the subject of reduction of noise, products that have “super silent” modes that only produce little more than 20dB noise were already available in Spain.

Regarding “intelligent” products, the thrust was on developing sensors that not only detected occupants’ presence, but also analysed the level of activity in a particular room. This feature was believed to add to the energy efficiency of the motors by preventing unnecessary energy use.

Spanish HVACR companies seem to have a good grasp of the present situation and appear to have a clear road map of what needs to be done to thrive and survive to France, Portugal, Eastern European countries and Morocco.

Merino shared the information that GER’s products were already being exported to the GCC countries, particularly to the UAE and Qatar.

“Some of our

The export market scenario

According to the article by Cano, the multinational companies were still the largest exporters in Spain.

These companies exported from their factories in Spain 36

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

products have been sold and are being used in Dubai and in Qatar. An example is the evaporative cooling pad to improve the effectiveness of the condenser,” he said.

However, according to the article mentioned earlier, acquisition of Spanish companies by foreign companies in recent years had not yet affected the manufacturing sector in Spain, as it still continued to be one of the most important manufacturing platforms in Europe. Other industry players, however, were of the opinion that the entry of foreign companies via acquisition of local entities translated into loss in decision-making capacities and innovation in the sector.

Around 80% of sales of large equipment was attributed to imports, particularly from France and Italy. On the other hand, products from China, Korea and Japan were the most favoured when it came to household air conditioning equipment.

Conclusion

If the numbers from 2011 and the opinion of industry players are any indication, it is clear that the global economic crisis still lingers and is still taking its toll on the Spanish economy. On the positive side, Spanish HVACR companies seem to have a good grasp of the present situation and appear to have a clear road map of what needs to be done to thrive and survive.

They understand that the market is primarily calling for more energy efficiency and cost savings, and they are ramping up their research and development strategies in this direction. They also recognise that the retrofit and replacement market can prove to be an area where they can concentrate their efforts amidst the slowdown in new construction projects in Spain.

They have also increased their efforts in introducing new technologies to their products to address the present needs of the market for better indoor air quality, equipment noise reduction and more intelligent systems. 

report EGBC

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A

GREENER FUTURE Discussions at the first Emirates Green Building Council Congress established that sustainability is a holistic concept, and that in order for it to become viable and effective, all sectors of society need to come together and contribute to the advancement of the cause. We bring you Part II of our report.

Report by Jerome Sanchez

T

he second half of the first Emirates Green Building Council Congress, held on November 27 and 28, 2012, featured panel discussions and presentations involving personalities from the industry, nongovernmental organisations and academia. The discussions focused on how these sectors of society could contribute towards promoting sustainable development and strategies to foster energy efficiency and encourage sustainability.

After the paper presentation

by Charles Blaschke (for details on the first half of the

38

event, see the report featured in our January 2013 issue), came a panel discussion on radical sustainable innovation, entitled “Creating Opportunities for a New

KHALED BUSHNAQ

Vision”, moderated by Dr Robert Cooke, EGBC Technical Committee Coordinator. Steven Pratt, Regional Director for Middle East, InterfaceFlor; Yousif Al

Zarouni, Senior Manager of Strategy and Delivery, Bee’ah; Ali Al Suwaidi, Vice President, Middle East Facilities Management Association; and Khaled Bushnaq, CEO of EMS

“Unfortunately, people all over the world [regard the topic] of environment and sustainability as a luxury. Who consumes? Businesses, landlords, factories – and they want to see their money put into something that produces.

To them, environment is something they can care about later. After the latest economic crisis, when the real estate crisis happened, when rents went down and energy prices went up, and started to touch the bottom line of the businesses, only then people started approaching organisations for solution….”

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Change needs to come through regulator change, technical and technological change, and social change … we shouldn’t underestimate the power of cultures and the power of society, and the need to engage that society

participated in the discussion.

The panel discussion focused on innovation needed to reduce energy consumption, halve the carbon intensity of fuel sources, increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability of energy sources, while maintaining the quality of life in the UAE

and in the region in general.

“Change needs to happen, we need innovation,” said Cooke.

“Change needs to come through regulator change, technical and technological change, and social change.…

We shouldn’t underestimate the power of cultures and the power of society, and the need to engage that society.”

Cooke directed the discussion by asking the panelists to share examples of changes they were experiencing within the market they were working in.

The panel discussion was followed by presentations on high performance buildings from the event’s sponsors. The speakers were Dr Ilham

ALI AL SUWAIDI

“When I say creativity, people think it’s about charging more. I think creativity is in us; we can be creative in our work. The idea here is really to ensure that you have competent people operating your building, maintaining your building. You have to have the right training for these people. They need technical expertise, they need to make sure that the owner understands the importance of energy management, safety and contingency planning, rather than just, ‘I need a cleaner, I need a plumber, I need an electrician’…. The market needs more education, more of understanding the concept of lifecycle costing, and long-term planning....”

February 2013

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39

report EGBC

Kadri, General Manager, Dow Advanced Materials; Michel van Roosendaal, Vice President, Services and Contracting, EMEIA, Trane and Thermo King; Graham Russell, CEO, CEMEX USA and GCC; and Todd Jarvis, Global Marketing Director, Shaw Contract Group.

In her presentation, Dr Kadri highlighted that Dow Advanced Materials had already started to practice sustainability in its own facilities and factories around the world. She added that her company upheld sustainability through innovation and research and development.

“We would like to see more innovations, more products, and more solutions come out of the pipeline with the best sustainability profile,” she said.

Van Roosendaal focused on the best practices in the maintenance of buildings to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their power consumption. He said that the performance of a building could be gauged through its safety and comfort, business performance, reliability, and efficiency. “In Europe, by 2020, new buildings will have to be at near zero emissions, near zero energy consumption,” added Van Roosendaal. “For us, at Trane, it’s a big change, because it’s not just a matter of selling as many choices as you can and keeping the set point as low as you can. It’s about finding a balance and how I can operate in a sustainable way in such a way that I have a high performance building.”

Summing up his talk, Van Roosendaal, emphasising that his company found most of the opportunities in existing buildings, said, “You have more of an impact from a 40

(L-R) Adnan Sharafi, Habiba Al Marashi, Dr Hanan Taleb and Tamara Wither

YOUSIF AL ZAROUNI

Sustainability is a holistic concept. It is not something that you can disintegrate and only one sector of the society can deal with it poorly designed building operated and maintained effectively, than a welldesigned building with poor operating and maintenance practices.”

Russell spoke about his company’s sustainability efforts across its entire product range. He also spoke about how the regional and the global operations

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

“We are a waste management company who’s aiming to recycle and to recover more materials to ensure a sustainable environment. We have a lot of materials that can be recovered.

But where is the market for it? There’s no market. Or there is a market, but people do not know, or never thought of how to recycle materials to ensure the sustainability of the environment….” of CEMEX complement each other. In addition, he also discussed about CEMEX’s guiding pillars in its operations, which he said were collaboration, leadership and integrity. He also briefly presented some of CEMEX’s local projects, including Dubai Mall, Mirdif City Center and the Dubai Airport Terminal 3. He ended his presentation by showing some of the company’s new products that, according to him, directly contribute to sustainability.

Using the Golden Gate Bridge as a case-in point, Jarvis introduced the notion of building “something that will last forever”. Speaking about Shaw’s effort to make products that would “last forever”, he highlighted that his company was the first in the world to be awarded the “cradle-tocradle” certification. He said that this was achieved through the use of healthy materials in the process, the efficient use of water and

Dr Ilham Kadri

Michel van Roosendaal

Graham Russell

energy, the consideration of social responsibility in the manufacturing process, and the production of highly recyclable products. “So, I like to encourage you, as you continue to build the UAE, think about this concept of “forever”, and how you continue your unbelievable, amazing growth here, with this type of “forever” concept,” he concluded.

The next part of the Congress comprised another panel discussion on the role of society in sustainability.

The discussion was moderated

by Praseeda Nair, Editor of BGreen. Panelists included

Adnan Sharafi, Chairman, Emirates Green Building Council; Habiba Al Marashi, Founder and Chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group; Tamara Wither, CSR Program Manager, Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF; and Dr Hanan Taleb, Assistant Professor, British University in Dubai.

The discussion focused on the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in forming a more informed society.

“Sustainability is a holistic concept. It is not something that you can disintegrate and only one sector of the society

can deal with it. It can only be effective when all sectors of the society come together, each in their own speciality, to want to deal with it,” said Al Marashi. She added that in, her opinion, the most important sector of society was the civil society. “They are the ones who [act] as the glue that binds all these together, and brings the community at large on to the platform, and mobilise it,” she said. She emphasised that the student community, in her opinion, was the future and that they really needed to be involved in the efforts that were being undertaken today.

“If you want to have the continuity, the assertiveness, and the sustainability of anything that you are doing, you have to take the next generation and train them," she concluded.

Withers noted that there was a remarkable demand for environmental education initiatives across the UAE. “If we raise awareness in the schools, then we will see a change, not only in how they live their lives, but they [students] can also influence their parents. I think, through all of our organisations, that’s an important element and something that we’ll continue

STEVEN PRATT

“If you want to be sustainable, then you can be, and that’s where the innovation really comes in – it’s about the desire to be sustainable, to do the best that you can in whatever it is that you do, whether it’s energy performance, recycling, or managing a facility…. Sustainability isn’t an individual’s responsibility; it’s a partnership’s responsibility. And we can’t have sustainability without partnerships.”

February 2013

to do more of in the future,” she added.

“People are the most important resources for sustainable development,” Taleb said, commencing her segment of the panel discussion. Taleb observed that in the past, the academe used to work in isolation and that it was not aware of what was happening in real life. As a member of an educational institution, she said, it was therefore important for her to engage students in real-life situations. In this regard, she believed that at present there was an intensified effort to collaborate and cooperate with local entities to be informed of what pertinent research topics they could undertake. “The designs or the projects that we are doing in the British University in Dubai are mainly connected to the Dubai climate, UAE climate, and the social needs that we need to address in our design. So, it is very important to connect our students to the local environment and address the people’s needs,” she added.

The first day of the Congress was capped by presentations of case studies of green buildings.

Christopher Charles Benninger, Professor and Principal Architect, Suzlon Energy, spoke about the new Suzlon Energy Building in Pune, India. Eman Al Madani, CSR Executive, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented retrofits and modifications adopted for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce building in Dubai.

The second day of the Emirates Green Building Council Congress featured workshops on passive cooling strategies, Estidama, Dubai building codes, and LEED in the Middle East.  www.climatecontrolme.com

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report

WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT

The time is

n w!

The 2013 World Future Energy Summit attracted thousands of participants, including global leaders, industry players, members of the academia and journalists, who came together to discuss practical and sustainable solutions to energy challenges facing the world. The event also served as a forum to address the issue of climate change and to share insights and work towards progress.

Jerome Sanchez has the story.

T

he sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2013), held from January 15 to 17 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, served as a venue for different sectors of the society to come together and discuss, debate and present the latest perspectives in renewable and clean energy.

The event, hosted by the green energy research entity Masdar, a subsidiary of government-owned Mubadala Development Company, officially opened with a ceremony attended by various heads of states and important

42

personalities from over 150 countries.

H. H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, opened WFES 2013, and French President François Hollande delivered the keynote address on the importance of new energy technology.

Other global personalities who spoke during the opening ceremony were Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina; Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and Global Development Expert and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs.

According to an official

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

communiqué from the organisers, President Hollande in his keynote address, driving home the point that the world needed to spend more on renewable energy, said, “If we don’t spend … we will have a catastrophe.” He added that failure to spend on renewable energy would cause a spike in the demand for fossil energy, thus “making its prices unaffordable”.

Furthermore, he reportedly proposed establishing joint funds between oil producing and consuming countries for the purpose.

In her speech, President Fernández de Kirchner said that the main contributions must come from developed nations because their energy

The long-run vision set by the Swedish Government, however, is that by 2050, our energy system should be totally sustainable, with no net emissions

Exporting environmental standards After the opening of the Swedish Pavilion, Climate Control Middle East engaged Hannes Carl Borg, State Secretary, Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications, Sweden, for an exclusive interview regarding Sweden’s sustainability standards and how the country plans to influence the GCC states and other countries in the world to follow in their footsteps towards sustainability.

Could you tell us about Sweden’s sustainability standards and the roadmap ahead?

so that one of the biggest challenges for us at present is to reduce our own dependency within the transport sector.

efforts in terms of sustainability?

I don’t really see that there’s one single turning point; it’s more of an evolution over time. Swedes have always had a close relation to nature. Of course, there are some effects from the oil crisis back in the 1970s.

But this is something that has been growing over time, with the adoption of stricter and stricter regulations as awareness has increased.

Swedes are very aware of the world around them, and are very early adopters, for example, to new technologies. So, there’s a great interest in these issues in Sweden.

Is Sweden planning to extend these practices to other countries, like the GCC states?

How is it thinking of influencing these countries to follow suit?

areas, especially when you look at sustainable cities, so the system approach combining, for example, technologies for waste reduction and transport.

We see that we have an approach and a whole package that could be used as an example and could be of use in other countries.

We see that there is huge potential demand for these technologies, especially in the GCC region. We see here, as in the rest of the world, an increasing demand for these solutions, and you have a growing organisation.

From a Swedish point of view, we also see the benefit of this being a bigger part of the future Swedish economy and making some export profits from it, because today, the Swedish industry, to a large extent, is still traditional – steel, paper, and traditional products – and we see that these sectors can only grow to a certain extent in the future. And we have to make our economy more flexible and diversify even more.

February 2013

www.climatecontrolme.com

Photo courtesy Embassy of Sweden

Sweden has a very long history of having a very high environmental standard. We Indeed, we have the What would you introduced environmental ambition to stretch out into consider the turning legislation as early as the the world. We see this as point when Sweden beginning of the century. we are leading within some began to ramp up its Today, we are one of the forerunners, not only in the level of legislation, but also, when you look at what’s in focus this week. When it comes to renewables, Sweden is the top country within the European Union.

We have a goal for the year 2020 to reach, that at least half our energy should be renewable. Today we are at 48%. The long-run vision set by the Swedish Government, however, is that by 2050, our energy system should be totally sustainable, with no net emissions. So these are the ambitions, and of course, Sweden has been blessed by nature. We have a lot of natural resources, for Hannes Carl Borg, State Secretary, Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communication, Sweden, with Mr Max hydropower, for example, Bjuhr, Sweden’s Ambassador to the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain at the Swedish pavilion during WFES

43

report

WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT

if we can capture and reuse this water, we can offset desalinated water consumption consumption and emissions were much higher than those of developing nations.

“Responsibility lies on all, but not in equal shares … developed nation’s contributions must be much higher,” she reportedly said.

Queen Rania of Jordan, on the other hand, called for finding sustainable

solutions to energy needs. She reportedly added that without these solutions, progress would be slow and uneven, not only in the Middle East, but also everywhere around the world. “Today, 1.4 billion people – one in five in the world – still cannot access grid electricity. For a billion more, access in unreliable,” she said, according to the official release.

WFES 2013 provided an opportunity for over 650 exhibitors from 40 countries in the renewable energy, energy-smart technology and environment sectors to showcase their products and introduce innovative technologies. The event served as an avenue for these companies to come together and promote climate change technologies and present their research and development

projects.

WFES 2013 also served as a platform for government bodies to discuss existing regulatory policies and speak to the participants about their core functions and how they contribute towards sustainability.

The organisers said that 20 countries had set up national pavilions during the event to showcase their country’s innovations. These included Japan, Republic of Korea, USA, Russia, Germany, Norway, France, India, China, and Sweden.

At the close of the event, the organisers announced that WFES 2013 saw an increase in attendee and exhibitor numbers. According to an official release, Naji El Haddad, WFES Show Director for event organiser Reed Exhibitions, said:

Benefits of living in a glass house Climate Control Middle East caught up with Samih Nabih Yehia, Area Sales Manager for Abu Dhabi, Emirates Glass, who spoke about the salient features of the glass panels his company had installed in a model of an Estidama-compliant home on display during the event.

Samih Nabih Yehia explained that the glass panels used in the model featured two major Estidama requirements – solar heat gain coefficient and U value.

He highlighted that while Estidama standards asked for a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.4, his company’s panels were providing 0.19 to 0.21, which, he said, was almost 100% above the Estidama

44

requirement. In terms of the U value, their glass panels matched the requirements, he said.

Yehia pointed out that the panels installed in the model home were double-glazed glass, which was achieved by sputtering types of metals on the glass. The process involved nuclear technology, he revealed.

As for the transmission

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

of visible light, Yehia said that Emirates Glass was providing glass panels with a range from four per cent to 70%. He emphasised that in the UAE, people preferred using glass panels with 20% to 25% light transmission, which would provide a comfortably lit environment to the occupants.

From a cooling perspective, Yehia said that

“WFES continues to go from strength to strength as the leading world event for the renewable energy and sustainable industries.

With 91 official government delegations at the opening ceremony and increased attendee and exhibitor numbers, WFES’s importance on the future energy calendar has been reinforced.”

Climate Control Middle East used the event as an opportunity to stay tuned to the latest developments and serious concerns in the energy sector, both national and global. As part of its mission to have its ear to the ground, it also caught up with people in the government and private sectors to conduct in-depth interviews to gain significant insights into the future of energy and its conservation.

the regular clear glass would give its users around 400 watts of relative heat gain per square metre, while the glass panels from Emirates Glass was giving 110 to 150 watts of relative heat gain per square metre, so the users could save around 250 watts per square metre.

He summed up by saying that allowing a comfortable amount of light to come in resulted in the decreased need for indoor lighting.

“The problem with panels with high light transmission was that they allowed too much light, because of which people would choose to draw the curtains and switch on the lights. We are giving a comfortable light transmission, where people can live with some privacy, so we don’t use lighting for daytime,” he said.

Brushing up on paint Abdel Megeed, General Manager, Jotun, Abu Dhabi, spoke to Climate Control Middle East about how Jotun’s eco-friendly range of paints contributed to the improvement of indoor air quality and to the reduction in energy consumption of buildings or households.

Explaining that Jotun's range of eco-friendly paints catered to both the external and the internal parts of a building or a house, Megeed spoke about Jotun’s Jotashield Extreme, which he claimed was suitable for building exteriors, saying that it was heat reflective and could reduce the penetration of

temperature from the outside to the inside of a structure.

“When you have this type of reduction in temperature, it automatically reflects into the energy consumption, when it comes to air conditioning and controlling the temperature inside the house, and many things,” he said.

He then went on to speak about Jotun’s solutions for the improvement of Indoor Air Quality. “When you

apply the paint, the paint dries. How does it dry?” he asked, and explained that the liquid part of the paint would evaporate into the air, thus drying the paint. The liquid part could possibly be made up of water, chemicals or solvents. While the paint dried in days or a few weeks, it could keep on emitting VOCs even after drying.

“This is something that people do not know. It may still take months after the

Recycling – watering the idea We spoke with Matthew Griffiths, Director of Water Strategy and Reuse, Regulation and Supervision Bureau, Abu Dhabi, to find out what the main function of the Bureau was and how it could be relevant to the district cooling sector.

The Bureau is responsible for the technical and economic regulation of collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater.

“We are the independent regulator for the water, wastewater and electricity sector," said Griffiths.

“We don’t regulate the district cooling sector.

But obviously, the district cooling sector is closely linked to power and water.”

“From a wastewater perspective, what this means

is taking the wastewater from properties, from residential, commercial and industrial properties, into the sewerage system and through to treatment plants and then we produce quality products, which we call in Abu Dhabi recycled water and biosolids, and we are responsible for trying to get those products reused in a safe, economic and sustainable way.” He revealed that the Bureau had developed recycled water

and biosolids regulations whose main purpose was to provide a framework for the safe, efficient and economic reuse of recycled water.

“The emirate invests huge amounts of money in treating this water to a high quality, so what we want to do is make sure it gets reused, because if we can capture and reuse this water, we can offset desalinated water consumption,” he pointed out.

When asked if the water

paint dries that it continues to emit other compounds that contaminate the air,” he pointed out.

“Jotun, as a Norwegian company, has very high standard when it comes to indoor air quality, health and environment in Norway, which is perceived to be one of the most conservative countries when it comes to these areas,” Mageed said. He claimed that Jotun paints were low VOC, anti-asthma and non-toxic even after application, and lead chromate free. “Lead chromate is a very cheap pigment used to colour the paint,” he said. “At Jotun, we developed the technology of making colours with pigments free from lead chromate; we do not use lead chromate in our paints at all,” he said.

could be used for district cooling, he replied: “Now, for sure, district cooling is a potential end-user of this water. There might be quality considerations, the district cooling [provider] might need to polish the water to get it to a suitable quality for use in the district cooling plant. But that would be a technical decision on a case-by-case basis.”

Griffiths said that the regulations that the Bureau had produced included safety plans and supply agreements. “The idea is that the recycled water is branded as a product. So an end-user, which could be a district cooling plant, would approach the sewerage services company to get some of this water, and enter a supply agreement in terms of volume and quality, and that would start the relationship,” he concluded.

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING

The sun, the sand and

the stadiA

I

Making a case for zero-energy district cooling plants in Qatar to meet the air conditioning demands of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Salah Nezar plots the path ahead by weighing the pros and cons.

n simple terms, netzero energy implies that a solution involves producing as much energy as it consumes.

Net-zero site energy use can be ascertained by exporting an equal amount of received energy measured over the course of one year. The equation for net-zero source energy use is that one energy unit produced on-site could offset three imported units produced off-site. Net-zero energy emissions offset the amount of produced carbon emissions through the energy source powering a building.

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Thermal absorption solar refrigeration system costs almost three to four times the cost of a conventional vapour compression system

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Natural resources – the state of affairs in the GCC Before a case can be made for any energy source, it is important to gauge the ground reality. Looking at the present scenario, it is evident that the GCC countries will have the dubious distinction of emerging as world leaders in electricity consumption, as per capita consumption is expected to increase at annual rates of 2.5%. By the same token, power requirement in Qatar is expected to rise to 10 GW by 2020, compared to 7.6 GW today. Water demand in Qatar is also envisaged to double from 1.1 million m3/ day in 2011 to 2.1 million

m3/day by 2020. A large part of this increase can be attributed to the needs of a growing population and a significant 47% of energy consumption being diverted for residential use. It is interesting to note that the GCC countries put to use only 10.5% of their electricity in the industrial sector, as opposed to 37.7% globally.

The graphs on Figure 1 and 2 depict the water consumption in the GCC states in 2010 and water production in Qatar, respectively.

From the two graphs, one can say that Qatar is, at present, the highest consumer of water among the GCC states and that there is a steady and steep increase in total water production in Qatar in the last five years. The average annual increase from 2006 to 2010 is an alarming 13.2%.

The map on Figure 3 indicates the limitation of seawater desalination, which is an eloquent comment on the heavy dependence on seawater in the region to meet its everincreasing water demands and the pressure the region in general, and Qatar in particular, puts on its desalination plants.

Challenges and solutions

Given the data, it is not difficult to realise that there are several challenges to be overcome in the path to achieving net-zero. The challenges become even more daunting in the light of the fact that Qatar is getting ready to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country’s resources and infrastructure will be tested to their limits during the preparation stage, to the run up to the event, and during the mega event itself in the coming decade.

Viewed from this prism, a few of the parameters and challenges to be kept in mind are: 1. Climatic conditions 2. Water scarcity 3. An openair experience 4. Evening matches in

summer 5. Safety of athletes 6. Comfort of spectators 7. State of technology 8. Integration and flexibility 9. Infrastructure One way of combating the challenges is to press into service solar-assisted refrigeration solution. The specific areas which need special attention are: • Source of the solution • Systems of the solution • Current system solution • Alternatives at a larger scale • Alternatives at a smaller scale • Alternatives at the air side

Fig 1. Water consumption in the GCC 2010

Absorption chillers

Absorption chillers offer a solution. The following are the advantages of absorption chillers: • Reliable, durable and mature technology • Significant reduction of electrical consumption • Reduced operating costs • Reduced CO2 emissions • Non-flammable and nontoxic • Ecologically benign • Ozone-friendly working medium LiBr • Vacuum and LiBr solutions charged in factory (“plug & play”) • Water as refrigerant • Available for outdoor installations However, absorption chiller technology is not without its drawbacks. In a nutshell, they are: • High sensitivity towards high condenser water temperature • High make-up water rates (evaporation, blow-down and drift loss)

Fig 2. Total water production in Qatar

Fig 3. Seawater desalination limitation map to be accessed from top 10 challenges in achieving net-zero

• Relatively high chilled

water temperature (7°C to 8°C) • Temperature level of the heat medium, provokes aggressive corrosion • Large area for solar collectors • Assisting rather than driving When we compare steamdriven centrifugal chillers

February 2013

against absorption chillers, we notice the following: • Applicable to large tonnage from 100 to 5,000 TR with free source of steam • Machine COP = 1.8 • Steam-driven centrifugal chiller at capacities more than 1,000 TR is more cost effective than twostage absorption chiller

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING The following maps and graphs will give us an idea about the annual availability of the sun and the mean daily global radiation for Doha.

Fig 4. Sun availability map

Fig 6

Fig 5. The source of the solution

Fig 7. Absorption refrigeration cycle

Fig 10 Fig 8. Absorption machines comparison chart

Fig 9. Condenser water temperature & efficiency

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Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Fig 11. Steam-driven centrifugal vs absorption chillers

PRESENTED BY

FirsT AnnUAl MiDDlE EAsT ConFErEnCE on inDoor EnvironMEnTAl QUAliTy

SpeakerS So far...

Tawfik A M Khoja Director General Executive Board Health Ministers Council for Cooperation Council

Health | occupant Comfort | Productivity | Cost reduction | HvAC 12 - 13 May 2013 | Hall 5, Dubai World Trade Center, UAE The First Annual Middle East Conference on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) will be the first ever focused and dedicated regional meeting platform on IEQ from HVAC and Architecture perspectives. It will be the largest, third-party event in the region. IEQ addresses Indoor Air Quality, Views, Daylight, Occupancy comfort, and health hazards such as VOCs. n Regulations and standards in the GCC n Commissioning, re-commissioning and retrocommissioning n Quality of installation and insulation in the case of galvanised sheet-metal ducts n Mould remediation in ducts and walls n Fabric ducting n Dehumidification and humidification n Air filtration n Air diffusion

Key Topics

n Ionisers: Opportunities and concerns n Acoustics and vibration n VOCs in the built-environment n Cleaning of coils n UV retrofit in AHUs for healthcare applications n Triple glazing n Get the design and operations right n Impact of IEQ on Rating Systems

reGISTer NoW!

Who WiLL ATTeND

Farhan Juratli Project Manager, District Cooling Nakheel PJSC

n Learn first-hand about regulations & standards in the Middle East, technology solutions, specialised IEQ services, best practices in installation, training, sales support strategies, project references in the Middle East and case studies n Opportunity to collaborate and partner with IEQ technology manufacturers and service providers in arriving at solutions, as per the specific requirements of projects n Opportunity to see live demonstrations of IEQ systems and better understand their specific features n CEOs n Ministry officials n Health Directors n Education Directors n Municipality Directors n Procurement directors and managers n Engineering Directors n Head of Infrastructure n Head of MEP Services n Asset Managers/Directors n Technical Directors

n Developers n Building Owners n Healthcare entities n Consultants n Contractors n Chambers of Commerce n Free Zones

For programmE-rElaTEd qUEriEs:

Frédéric paillé

B surendar

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in north america, contact: Kanika saxena

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For sponsorships / EXhiBiTion opporTUniTiEs: Managing Director & Associate Publisher

SUPPORTED BY

iNDUsTRy Type n Regulators from across the Middle East n Government agencies from across the Middle East n Quasi-Government bodies from across the Middle East n Master Developers

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Mario Seneviratne Founding Member, US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Faculty MD, Green Technologies

Log on to www.cpi-industry.com/events/ieq/index.php

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING

The sun as a solution – pros and cons Now, going back to the use of solar energy in the light of the 2022 World Cup, it can be seen that the use of solar energy and infrastructure have been favourable in major competitive and non-competitive venues. A few of them which can be cited as examples are: the 2022-bid Showcase Stadium, Doha; Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE; ESAB Head Office, UAE; and UEFA HQ, Nyon, Switzerland.

Masdar City Solar Cooling Plant Solution Pilot has the following features:

• A Sopogy micro-parabolic trough collector with

uniaxial tracking and a total mirror aperture area of 334 m2 • Synthetic oil as thermal media • Heat is transferred to the system’s pressurised water circuit through a heat exchanger • A Mirroxx linear fresnel collector with uniaxial tracking and a total mirror aperture area of 132 m2 heats the pressurised water directly • The two solar thermal collector systems have been in

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Climate Control Middle East February 2013

successful test operation already for more than three months • Schneider Electric provided the control system components for the pilot plant • Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy to analyse the monitored data and assess system performance • Collector’s thermal energy has been driving the broad 50 refrigeration-tonne double-effect absorption chiller cooling 1,700 m2 of office building • Air delivery system uses chilled beams coupled with fresh air energy recovery units • Water consumption data not available

The 2022-bid Showcase Stadium, Doha, has the following features:

• A 500-seats model stadium with retractable

roof • A Mirroxx linear fresnel collector with uniaxial tracking and a total mirror aperture area of 1,040 m2 heats the pressurised water directly • Thermal storage PV arrays for electricity generation with a monitoring system and not connected to the local electrical grid • Double-Effect 150 TR Thermax absorption chiller with dual fuel source and underground chilled water storage tank • Displacement ventilation for air delivery system for the pitch coupled with UFAD for spectator stands • Water consumption data not available

ESAB Head Office, Jafza, UAE, has the

following features: • 6,500 m2 built to achieve LEED Platinum • USD 1 million solar thermal cooling system, one of the large-scale applications in the region • Solar system use 1,500 solar vacuum tubes • 70% energy reduction compared to a “AsUsual Building” by using solar thermal and efficient lighting systems • Six packaged absorption units (climate well) to serve roof-mounted AHUs handling latent loads • Radiant cooling system using thermodeck approach (hollow-core ceiling slab) handling sensible loads

UEFA HQ, Nyon, Switzerland has the

following features: • Design intent: must be a sustainable and energy-efficient building operating in 2010 • Building’s cooling load: 100 TR • Renewable energy source: geothermal, thermal solar and PV (200 m2) • Thermal array: 90 vacuum tubes over 110 m2 area generating 55 KW used for heating and domestic water in winter and cooling in summer to cover 10% only of the loads • Water temperature: hot at 88°C for generator and chilled water at 7°C. • Storage tank: 3,000 litres • Refrigeration machine: absorption chiller with cooling capacity of 10 TR

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING Delivering on promises

Despite the examples cited, it needs to be noted that delivering on promises of net-zero comes with its own set of attendant conditions, like context integration, systems selection justification, cost effectiveness, infrastructure integration and controls integration. Let us examine a few of them.

Context integration Integration with other aspects: • Event, accommodation, medical, mobility and education • The location of district cooling plants • Chilled water reticulation optimisation • Location of solar fields • Relationship with other utilities • Use of recycled water for heat rejection • Used cooling tower blow-down water for irrigation

Systems selection justification

Systems integration • At present, most solar cooling systems are assemblies of single components and don’t provide a fully integrated system.

• These components, in many cases, have their own control units.

• The performance of the solar cooling solution depends a lot on the availability of a single-source centralised control.

• The industry will follow the market momentum in embracing a fully integrated solution for solar cooling system.

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Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Cost effectiveness • Thermal absorption solar refrigeration system costs almost three to four times the cost of a conventional vapour compression system.

• Double effect direct-fired/steam absorption chiller costs between 1.8 to two times the cost of a vapour compression chiller.

• The cost of reduced scale cooling system using adsorption machine costs almost four times compared to a non-solar assisted system.

• The cost of a direct-fired and steam absorption chiller is 35% higher than the directfired chiller.

• The cost of a direct-fired and hot water absorption chiller is 35% higher than the direct-fired chiller.

• A square metre of a thermal solar flat collector costs between QR 1,700 to QR 3,400.

• A square metre of solar evacuated tube costs between QR 3,400 to QR 3,970.

Conclusion

Full integration

The article is based on a presentation made by Salah Nezar at an ASHRAE Oryx Chapter seminar on September 24, 2012.

The presenter’s disclaimer: This is an unscientific presentation with scientific overtones.

The main aim of conducting this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a carbon-neutral (solar) solution for a cooling plant at a different scale vis-à-vis the 2022 World Cup. To begin with, the entire operation needs a vast area for the solar field (15 to 20 times the football pitch size).

It also requires a single-source control system for all the systems’ components. It also needs to be pointed out that cooling system efficiency is sensitive to high condenser water temperature.

The adverse impact of dust and humidity on system’s efficiency also needs to be taken into account. Other aspects that have to be factored in are high rates of water depletion and pollution (evaporation and bleed-off) and higher costs. The cooling plant reticulation needs be integrated into the city’s infrastructure for its effective and efficient functioning.

Finally, an “opportunity document” needs to be developed for each venue to grasp more accurately the pros and cons before the project is implemented.

The author is a LEED AP, GSAS GCP, Sustainability Director, QPM. He can be contacted at s.nezar@qpm.com.qa

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING

To go modularor

traditional

M

George Berbari presents the pros and cons of a modular chilled water plant.

Modular chilled water plants have several applications.

The first application of water-cooled modular plants were inlet turbine cooling, which were used to increase the capacity of a power plant. The modular solution

Modular plants which were designed for 0.9 to 0.95 KW/ tonne were often operating at 1.1 to 1.3 KW/tonnes

Jumeirah Beach Residence – district cooling plant with 60,000 tonnes

Dubai Festival City has a district cooling plant of 50,000 tonnes

proved to be ideal for existing power plants, where offsite construction and short installation period provided a great advantage for small plants of 10,000 tonnes or less, required for the power plants.

The second great

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application came in the form of temporary plants of 1,000- to 10,000-tonne capacity, which provided the ideal solution either for entities dealing in plants on a rental basis or those purchased to supply short-

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

to medium-term cooling until the permanent plant room was built. However, modular plants which were designed for 0.9 to 0.95 KW/ tonne were often operating at 1.1 to 1.3 KW/tonnes, as integrated industrial controls

and operation were not invested in. This was due to the temporary nature of the installation, as reported by key district cooling operators, who typically operate several temporary solutions.

The third application of a modular plant was for a large capcacity district cooling plant. Two such plants have been built in Dubai – the first in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) plantroom, with 60,000-tonne capacity, and the second at the Dubai Festival City, with 50,000-tonne capacity.

Two aditional plants of 36,000 tonnes each, where phase 1 comprised 18,000 tonnes, were built for Barwa City in Qatar, and a small plant of 5,000 tonnes was built for a capital project in Abu Dhabi.

All the above plants comprised containarised chiller, condenser pumps and

Despite its advantages, the main drawback of a modular plant is the large footprint it creates primary chilled water pumps, while the cooling tower was built on a separate concrete basin or used FRP basins. The elctric switch gear and water tanks were built in traditional concrete structures and the distribution of chilled water pumping in some cases was containarised, and in other cases, it was built in concrete structures. They, therefore, represented a hybrid approach of traditional concrete structures, a

chilled water plantroom and a modular containarised solution.

Despite its advantages, the main drawback of a modular plant is the large footprint it creates. For example, the JBR plant is almost 170 m x 60 m = 10,000 m2 in footprint or 5.9 tonnes per m2 of land.

The Dubai Festival City plant is 135 m x 60 m = 8,100 m2 in footprint or 6.2 tonnes per m2 of land, while Barwa City DCP occupies an area of 5,440 m2 for each plant of 36,000-tonne capacity, which translates into a density of 6.6 tonne/m2.

The traditional multistorey plants are typically constructed on 15 to 20 tonnes per m2 of land, saving prime and expensive city centre real estate land that can be utilised for other purposes.

Here, it needs to be pointed out that one of the best examples of judicious use of land is Qatar Cool West Bay 2 plantroom, where a 37,500 m2 of chiller plant was constructed based on a world record of 22 tonnes per m2 of land, only for the chiller plant, and almost 17 tonnes per m2 of land for the entire plant, with a thermal storage tank.

Now, let us compare the plus points of a traditional plantroom and a package

chiller plant.

The main advantages of traditional plantroom over a package chiller plant are: • Three times better land utilisation • Better aesthetic appearance in critical city centres • Easier operation and maintenance as all chillers

February 2013

are accessible on a single plantroom, rather than opening several doors and side openings to clean the condenser or change major component in modular plant • Much better operating efficiency, as industrial control is integrated in one system, as

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perspective DISTRICT COOLING

Modularity offers more flexibility in terms of buildup compared to fragmented communicating controls between several containarised units • Lower construction cost – the West Bay 2 has cost Qatar Cool around QR 140,000,000 or QR 3,750 tonnage, as compared to QR 5,500 or QR 6,000/ tonne for a modular plant built at the same period The main advantages of a modular plant over a traditional plant are: • Modularity offers more flexibility in terms of buildup; on the other hand, in a traditional plant, one has to build the entire concrete plant and stageup the chiller component • Can carry out offsite construction with standarised qualitycontrolled component that are not dependent on contractor work • Faster onsite construction period once the module arrives on site – however, a caveat: the module requires a six to 10-month ordering period, depending upon chiller manufacturer’s delivery period, as well as other main components It is interesting to note that more than 90% of

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Qatar Cool West Bay 2 – district cooling plant of 37,500 tonnes

3,500,000,000 tonnes were built in the GCC region as tradional concrete plants, while less than 10% opted for modular plants, due to the above-stated reasons.

In the final analysis, it is my opinion that a large capacity plant, for example, one above 10,000 tonnes in capcity and up to 60,000 tonnes, should be built in a traditional manner. But where a 100,000-tonne plant is required, the builtup capacity can be staged to minimise initial investment, as it will take a few years before the full capacity is needed. It would be better to build two plants of 50,000 tonnes, preferably at two separate strategic locations, in order to optimise the distribution piping. And if only one plot is available, it is better to build them side by side, where one can be built immediately, and the second one at a later stage.

The first 50,000-tonne plant

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

building and thermal storage can be built in one go, while chillers can be staged as and when necessary.

On the other hand, small capacity plantrooms of less than 10,000 tonnes or a temporary or a semi-temporary cooling arrangement could consider the modular plant option, as it offers an advantage, when it comes to construction cost and time. 

The writer is the CEO of DC Pro Engineering, Dubai. He can be contacted at gberbari@ dcproeng.com

Free cooling and its implications in

DOAS design DOAS, which is based on the principle of marshalling fresh air directly to cool an occupied space, has gained relevance and immediacy in the light of escalating energy costs. Deepak Pahwa and Rahul Aeron walk us through the concept and its practical application.

ABSTRACT

The concept of free cooling in HVAC is an old one.

However, its relevance has now come into the limelight due to skyrocketing energy price and the advent of green buildings.

There is no single definition of free cooling, and therefore, it is understood and applied differently in different cases.

This paper aims to unveil the concept of free cooling by applying it to a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) and understanding its dependency on the ambient air conditions with relevance to different geographical climates.

BACKGROUND

Free cooling is perceived differently by different people. To many, it is the natural cooling energy available in the environment.

However, it has to be noted that it requires a datum to ascertain what the free cooling energy is, before one can begin to analyse the concept of free cooling.

The main sources of natural

Free cooling takes place when the external ambient air enthalpy is less than the indoor air enthalpy and the cool external air is transferred to the building envelope cooling are: • Deep seawater • High altitude coldness • Nighttime coldness • Subterranean geothermal energy The definition of free cooling is very subjective,

Figure 1

even from an HVAC perspective. Nighttime coldness and the differential between design conditions and ambient conditions form the basis of free cooling.

FREE COOLING FROM AN HVAC PERSPECTIVE

Free cooling takes place when the external ambient air enthalpy is less than the indoor air enthalpy and the cool external air is transferred to the building envelope.

February 2013

Free cooling is used in conjunction with air systems. Air conditioning systems either provide or supply air using one of the following: • A mixture of outside air and re-circulated air • 100% outside air system or in other terms, dedicated outdoor air system Free cooling may be used with mixed outside air and re-circulation systems by the use of modulating dampers. Dampers are

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perspective DOAS

Figure 2

provided on the outside air intake duct work and the recirculation duct work. In the event of cool outside air, the quantity of outside air is increased and the quantity of recirculated air is reduced to provide the required supply air temperature. In this way, cooling by means of refrigeration equipment is avoided altogether at certain times of the year and often at night.

DOAS is an independent unit for bringing in all the fresh air directly into an occupied space. It is based on the divide and conquer approach, wherein all the external latent and sensible load is taken care of by the DOAS unit.

In addition, special DOAS units also condition fresh air to a dew point where it is lower than the room design dew point, enabling the dehumidified fresh air to also

58

take care of internal latent load.

UNDERSTANDING APPLIED FREE COOLING CONCEPT Figure 1 simplifies the concept of free cooling and how it is applied:

Assumptions: • The room air and return air are maintained at 75°F/50% RH. • The red line depicts RA enthalpy line.

• The triangle shown in blue depicts free cooling on account of enthalpy, which can be calculated using the enthalpy difference of outside air and return air.

Figure 3

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

Figure 4

The area with supply air temperature less than the room return air temperature will give sensible free cooling calculated by difference in DBT between outside air and return air.

The area when the air condition is less than the dew point temperature of a room is the area with free latent load. This area has constant load not based on the enthalpy difference.

There is no free sensible cooling in this area.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

R Mark Nunnely and several other authors have explained in various

An intelligent DOAS will offer a logical solution to ably utilise the advantage of free cooling papers the advantages of the “Divide and Conquer (DAQ)” approach, which separates the fresh air unit from the parallel terminal unit.

To explain further (Figure 2), in a DAQ approach, the fresh air unit takes care of

the entire fresh air load and deliver the ventilation/supply air at design temperature neutral with a dew point sufficiently lower than the design dew point, to take care of the internal latent load.

Thus, the parallel unit, be it FCU or chilled beams or AHUs, has to cater only to the building envelop and the internal sensible load, as both can be handled and managed independently. This design provides a simple and economical approach to the building air conditioning design.

THE DOAS APPROACH

As explained above, in

the DAQ approach, the importance shifts to the configuration and type of fresh air unit, often referred to as DOAS. Depending on different geographical reasons and several other considerations, various DOAS have been configured, designed and developed.

The authors have been continuously studying and developing different configurations for a DOAS by using one or more of the following: • Enthalpy wheel • Cooling coil • Active dehumidification wheel • Passive dehumidification wheel

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perspective DOAS offer a logical solution to ably utilise the advantage of free cooling.

Profiling plays a major role in assisting and applying HVAC concepts and designs

CONCLUSION

Through this paper, the authors attempt to elaborate the concept of free cooling from an HVAC perspective and are inclined to conclude that the most important criterion that governs free cooling is the ambient air condition. The HVAC equipment system design will govern the way free cooling is applied in the most effective manner. 

• Sensible wheel • Evaporative cooling pads The authors in this and another other paper, 'Applied DOAS – a tropical climate retrospect', demonstrate that an intelligent combination of a total enthalpy wheel, cooling coil and passive desiccant dehumidification wheel (Figure 3) offer the best solution in terms of substantial energy saving, offsetting internal latent load and effective RH management by supplying air at a dew point lower than room design to take care of internal latent load, in addition to removing fresh air latent and fresh air sensible load.

GLOBAL WEATHER PROFILE

Geographical weather profiling is an understanding and study of various measurable parameters which govern the natural climatic conditioning of the various geographical regions.

Profiling plays a major role in assisting and applying HVAC concepts and designs with a weather profile backdrop.

From this viewpoint, the globe can be divided into three main regions:

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Table 3

• America • Europe • Asia From Figure 4, it is apparent that the HVAC designs are built around considering the America region as cooling-centric; the Europe region as heatingcentric; and the Asia region as moisture-centric for a good and viable HVAC design.

The weather profile of a city is the key driving parameter in assessing free cooling value that the climate offers to any HVAC design.

FREE COOLING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN A DOAS DESIGN APPLIED TO GLOBAL WEATHER PROFILE The authors now intend to apply the free cooling concept for the most energy efficient DOAS design

Climate Control Middle East February 2013

(enthalpy wheel, cooling coil and passive desiccant dehumidification wheel).

The idea is to get a holistic picture taking into account a global perspective. To further demonstrate the importance of hourly data, the study is further categorised into a 24 x 7 (Table 1) scenario and a normal working hours – 9am to 5pm (Table 2) scenario.

OBSERVATIONS

As it is evident from the above data (Table 3), the free cooling hourly basis from one city to another, the DOAS should be intelligently designed to decide its control logic on the basis of the free cooling available.

This can be done by controlling various parameters, like supply air fan speed and bypass, different component speed and cooling coil temperature.

It needs to be pointed out that an intelligent DOAS will

References 1. A Practical Guide to Free Cooling, Alternative Cooling, Night Cooling and Low Energy Systems for Air Conditioning Systems: Mike Hardy 2. Dehumidification and Cooling Loads from Ventilation Air: Lewis Harriman, Plager D, Kosar D 3. 30% Surplus OA. Does it Use More Energy?: Stanely A Mumma 4. Designing Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems: Stanley A Mumma 5. Designing for Absolute Moisture Control: R Mark Nunnelly and J Patrick 6. ABCs of DOAS: Wayne Morris 7. Overview of Integrating Dedicated Outdoor Air System with Parallel Terminal Systems: Stanley A Mumma 8. Applied DOAS: A Tropical Climate Retrospect: Deepak Pahwa and Milind Mate

About the Authors: Deepak Pahwa is the Managing Director of Bry-Air (Asia) Pvt Ltd, and Fellow ASHRAE. He serves on TC-3.5, TC-5.5 and TC-5.7.

Rahul Aeron is the National Sales Manager of Desiccant Rotors International Pvt Ltd.

LED lighting: Why it remains the undiscovered energysaving solution

The lighting industry is facing the most notable transition since the introduction of electric light bulbs in the 19th century. This is due to the rapid emergence of LED lighting that is transforming the technological and competitive landscape. However, the uptake has been slow compared to other energy-saving initiatives that are employed to meet energy-targets. Here, James Chorlton discusses why many organisations are yet to reap the rewards of LED lighting.

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echnological advances in LED lighting are happening at incredible speed. The technology is now permeating every area of our lives, from traffic lights and car headlights to laptop computers, but arguably with the most impact in commercial lighting.

Lighting represents an average of 21% of a building’s total energy consumption (Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK, July 2011) and accounts for 19% of global energy production. It is estimated to be responsible for around six per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Traditional lighting systems emit around five per cent of light for 95% of heat energy, which, for a product aiming to produce light, does not fulfil even the most relaxed of performance criteria. However, the very

low price of such systems, and the incremental efficiency improvements that technology advancement has brought, have until now kept traditional solutions as a clear favourite over greener options.

However, the industry is now changing. The emergence of LED as an efficient light source has made it possible for governments to set targets and even ban types of inefficient light bulbs.

Proponents of LED lighting argue that a worldwide switch to LED could reduce the energy consumption of lighting by 40%. This equates to approximately EUR 130 billion per year saved in running costs or 670 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided – the equivalent output of 640 medium-sized power plants.

Honeywell, which has a heritage in LED dating back 40 years, has

recently called for a global switch to LED lighting.

It’s a move supported by global independent body, the Lighting Industry Association. According to Peter Hunt, Joint Chief Executive of the association, the pace of change in LED technology has brought not just high efficiency, but also the opportunity to

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improve the quality of the lit environment, as manufacturers invest in continuous improvement.

For facilities managers looking to reduce costs and meet energy targets, the switch to LED lighting is a logical, effective solution.

Europe, as the most aggressive global region when it comes to energy

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perspective LED LIGHTING

Much of the confusion in the market has been caused by many brands selling LED without a strong heritage in the technology, leading to disappointing experiences creating future barriers to entry efficiency, is likely to drive the global uptake of LED across the next 10 years and set the example with regards to implementation.

However, to date, most organisations – across Europe and the rest of the world – have been slow to investigate the cost- and energy-saving benefits of the technology, often discouraged by widelydiscussed myths. Much of the confusion in the market has been caused by many brands selling LED without a strong heritage in the technology, leading to disappointing experiences creating future barriers to entry.

The first of these myths is that LED systems cost too much. All too often in commercial lighting situations, for example building corridors,

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warehouses and car parks, lighting decisions are based on initial cost rather than longer-term benefits.

Initial fixture costs may be higher for some LED lighting solutions than for comparable incandescent and fluorescent lighting solutions. But initial fixture cost does not account for the total cost of owning, operating, and maintaining a lighting system. A LED

tube from a reputed company lasts five years longer than the average fluorescent tube, and because of their long life, LED lighting fixtures avoid the maintenance and material costs incurred when changing the exhausted tubes.

Also, with LEDs consuming far less energy, annual power costs can be significantly reduced. The average fluorescent tube generates 58 watts compared to a good quality LED at 23 watts, saving 60% and having a dramatic impact on a building’s energy consumption. In fact, payback on LED lighting solutions can often be realised in less than three years.

The second myth is that LEDs are not bright enough.

This was traditionally true, but is simply no longer the case. Traditionally, comparisons between the lumen output of conventional lamps against LED lighting fixtures have been inaccurate and misleading, as they fail

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to account for the significant amount of wasted light in conventional lighting solutions. When comparing lighting fixtures on the basis of delivered light, LED fixtures often perform as well, and in some cases significantly better than conventional fixtures, while consuming far less energy.

Plus, with LEDs being inherently directional, they

emit almost all of their light output in the desired direction, rather than dispersing it in all directions.

In fact, LED is a revolutionary lighting technology. It offers greater colour variability, “instant on” capability, dimming capacity, and freedom in design. It also has a much wider optimum temperature span. It can withstand extremely cold conditions – such as those in freezer cases or on the streets of Alaska – as well as operate effectively up to +40°C. In fact, a Honeywell LED operates effectively from +40°C to -20°C. By comparison, a fluorescent tube is limited to a range of+35 °C to +15°C and often struggles at the typically lower ambient conditions found in many applications. A T5 fluorescent, for example, has an optimum temperature of 35°C, making it very limited in its use.

Despite this, technology transitions can create significant uncertainty, and the myths around LED

lamps have kept them in the slow lane to adoption, with businesses largely missing out on their great potential.

So, what is the future for LED in a traditionally slow-moving lighting industry? Legislation is critical to the growth of the lighting market across the next 10 years. The high level of natural wealth and population growth drives

newly emerging markets in APAC and the rest of the world, but the hard push of legislation in Europe followed by NAFTA is closing the gap. According to McKinsey & Company, LED lighting has the potential to be the dominant technology in domestic and commercial lighting by 2015. The word “potential” is the key here. In order for these potential benefits to be realised, organisations need to be more cognisant of how the benefits outweigh the myths. 

The writer is Business Director of Honeywell Electrical Devices and Systems (ED&S).

He can be contacted at james.chorlton@ honeywell.com