CCME July 2012

Interview:

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Face 2 face with: David Clark, JCI’s Panoptix initiative

p34 | What is 800 PUMPS? p38

News Panasonic introduces tropical inverter system p18 | AD flags off energy D-Code: The black and white purchasing trial p14 | Schneider launches data centre initiative p12 JCI launches of lagging adhesives p32 Amazon series p16 | ClimaGulf to distribute Breezair in the GCC p10 | Event Round-up: Food Chain Dubai 2012 p46 Feature:

A status check on the motors industry p52

| Plus: Marketplace, Comings&Goings

JULY 2012

Waiting for a

miracle

Given the dismal outlook, the European sector has braced itself for a protracted period of a sluggish market, but keeps hoping for a miracle.

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Vol. 7 No. 7 | July 2012 04 from the editor

The burden of proof

happenings

contents US building claims achieving net-zero goal

HVAC manufacturers donate expertise to help vie for Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum and Sustainable Sites Initiative recognitions See page 22

06 The region 20 At large 28 Marketplace 32 d-code

The black and white of lagging adhesives Billy Prewitt points out that applying a lagging adhesive to the cut edges of insulation can prove beneficial.

Aggreko powers Olympic venues

INTERVIEWS

34 ‘20% of software is delivered by

London 2012 plugs in company as official provider and tier three sponsor

See page 24

cloud’

David Clark, Vice President of the cloudbased Panoptix Program at Johnson Controls talks about Building Efficiency Systems as the next big step after Building Automation Systems

36 The ABC of dampers

Javed Tejani walks us through the basics of dampers through an easy-to-understand Q&A.

40

38 Hello, this is 800 Pumps!

Nadir Ilmas, Division Manager, ITT Pumps Division explains the different aspects of 800-PUMPS, a service facility for the maintenance of pumps.

country report Italy

PERSPECTIVE 50 Water management - key to the

future

With the steady decline in freshwater sources throughout the Gulf, clean water is being perceived as the new oil of the 21st century in the region. This has prompted governments to focus on wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse.

55 SPOTLIGHT

The long and dusty road ahead...

In this last and final installment on the present series on air filtration, Dr Iyad Al-Attar highlights the need for better air filtration technology for improved Indoor Air Quality and reiterates his call for joint responsibility to ensure that this becomes a reality.

46

As Europe stands precariously on the brink of an economic precipice, the HVACR sector in Italy is predicated to the global economic slowdown in general and the European crisis in particular.

EVENT ROUND-UP

Food Chain Dubai 2012 Food establishments, refrigeration experts call for food safety legislation at the third edition of Food Chain.

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

3

from the

editor

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

The burden of

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher B Surendar | surendar@cpi-industry.com

proof

COO Nadeem Hood | nadeem@cpidubai.com Assistant Editor Valeria Camerino | valeria@cpi-industry.com

W

Contributing Editors Pratibha Umashankar prati@cpi-industry.com Anoop K Menon anoop@cpi-industry.com

ith the impending phase-out of HCFCs, in 2013, the UAE has evolved a strategy of a two-phase response. Speaking exclusively to Climate Control Middle East in his sun-drenched room at the Ministry of Environment and Water, in Dubai, the Minister’s Advisor, Dr Saad Al Numairy revealed how the UAE – and for that matter, the remaining GCC countries, with the exception of Bahrain – would first focus on HCFCs from a foam perspective and, later, tackle the issue of coolants. During the interview, Dr Al Numairy said HCFCs as refrigerants would remain for the time being, because the Ministry felt there were no viable alternatives that could match them in energy efficiency.

The Ministry revelation does not mean a shut-door case for alternatives, though, as Dr Al Numairy was quick to add that it was up to other refrigerant manufacturers to prove the energy-efficiency credentials of their coolant materials. For this, the Advisor suggested that the manufacturers set up pilot projects in the country.

A key aspect that came up for discussions during the interview was the use of natural refrigerants, with Dr Al Numairy suggesting the use of hydrocarbons in a wide range of HVACR applications. He cited sufficient international research that had gone into hydrocarbons in Europe and in Australia and added how questions related to their combustible nature had been robustly addressed.

Another issue with hydrocarbons is related to O&M-related challenges, which necessitates a broad base of skilled and specialised technicians. The general feeling in the industry is that currently there are an inadequate number of such technicians for hydrocarbons to gain popular currency.

Another natural refrigerant, ammonia, is also a contender, though its potential for extensive use is hampered by cost considerations and, according to some quarters, the myth surrounding its safety.

They argue that even the word used to describe ammonia, ‘toxic’, is inaccurate, saying that the correct word would be hazardous. In the same breath, they describe how technology and engineering practices have evolved to contain the hazard and how ammonia could be safely deployed even in congested residential neighbourhoods, as is the case with the Ski Dubai project at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. In its seven-year run, they say, there has not been a single incident of an ammonia leak or any danger to the people living there.

Business Development Consultant Stephanie McGuinness stephanie@cpi-industry.com Design Genesis Salao | getty@cpi-industry.com Ulysses Galgo | uly@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 50 6679359 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

Sufficient food for thought there.

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Interview: Face 2 face with: David Clark,

News

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e.com

JCI launches Amazon | What is 800 PUMPS? series p16 | Panasonic system p18 | AD flags p38 introduces tropical off energy purchasin inverter D-Code: The g trial p14 | Schneider centre initiative p12 | ClimaGulf to distribute launches data of lagging black and white A status check on theBreezair in the GCC p10 | Event Round-up: Food adhesives p32 Chain Dubai 2012 p46 motors industr y p52 |

Feature:

Plus: Marketplace,

Comings&Goings

MAY 2012

Waiting for a

miracle given the dismal outlook, the european sector has braced itself for a protracted period keeps hoping for a miracle. of a sluggish market, but

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Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Printed by: Excel Printing Press, Sharjah, UAE © Copyright 2012 CPI. All rights reserved.

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

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Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 375 68 30 Fax: +971 4 43 419 06 Web: www.cpi-industry.com

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.

happenings the region

DSI bags Abu Dhabi project

Company secures subcontract for MEP works for STEP pumping station

D

rake & Scull Water and Power (DSWP) has secured an AED470 million subcontract for the design review, procurement and construction of MEP and instrumentation works for the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) pumping station in Abu Dhabi, a DSI announcement stated.

The tunnel pumping station will be located at the termination of the new deep tunnel sewer at Al Wathba area, and will be executed in partnership with the design and build contractor, Construtora Norberto Odebrecht, a Brazilian conglomerate, with DSWP commencing the MEP package immediately after the civil works have been completed, the announcement highlighted.

Developed by Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), STEP will reportedly be one of the longest gravitydriven wastewater tunnels in the world,

designed to reduce the pressure on the current Emirate Sewerage system and to expand its future capacity.

Commenting on the award, ADSSC Managing Director, Alan Thomson said: “I am positive that we have found the right partner to deliver this programme and to utilise their worldwide expertise to help supplement the efforts of ADSSC to be the best-practice wastewater company in the region.”

Tawfiq Abu Soud, Managing Director of DSWP added: “We are delighted to have been selected to contribute to upgrading the emirate’s sewerage system.

Sustainability and environmentally sound engineering practices are crucial and pivotal elements to the successful completion of the project. Our expertise in environmental engineering and our partnership with Odebrecht will allow us to put in place eco-friendly engineering models and structures to

Tawfiq Abu Soud

protect the environment and contribute to the development of a sustainable infrastructure system in the Emirate.”

Empower reaffirms faith in DC

Says it ensures sustainability and conserves energy

O

n the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED) 2012, Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), has urged private and public sector entities as well as community organisations to make preservation of the environment a top priority.

Announcing this in a communiqué, Empower asserted that district cooling technology was the ideal solution to preserve the environment.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “Preserving environment is a critical necessity, not a luxury that we can do without. Environmental degradation is the biggest challenge that is threatening the world today, and this is reflected in the drastic climate change we are witnessing today.”

He added that district cooling services were at the forefront of cooling solutions that ensured sustainability

6

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

and conserved energy resources and that Empower had succeeded in increasing the footprint of usage of district cooling in Dubai by widening its use in residential and commercial areas and in offices and hotels.

According to Empower, the company is guided by the directive of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to conserve the environmental resources in the Emirate of Dubai.

Empower records 38.6% DC market share

Leads the sector in UAE and region according to a Frost & Sullivan report

A

report by Frost & Sullivan, a global research company, has confirmed Emirates Central Cooling System Corporation (Empower) as the leading entity in the UAE and in the Gulf region in the district cooling industry, holding 38.6% of the UAE district cooling market. Announcing this, Empower added that the report has placed its immediate competitor at 29.3% in market share.

According to the latest Frost & Sullivan DC specialised report published in March 2012, prepared after researching 14 major players in the industry in the GCC countries, the UAE generates more than 40% of the total revenue of the GCC DC industry.

The report revealed that a major part of the district cooling projects in the UAE come from the residential sector due to expansion of residential apartments in the country.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said: “The UAE’s leadership position in the Gulf district cooling industry is tribute to the governmental support provided by the local governments as well as the UAE government to boost

the district cooling industry’s strengths in technology, network and calibre. We are delighted that our position has been endorsed by such a prestigious and neutral international report. We are targeting 70% market share in two years, counting on the rapidly increasing development projects as well as the expansion of our operations.”

Empower claimed that it had succeeded in building a world-class district cooling infrastructure that offered an ideal environment-friendly solution for residential and commercial units, offices and hotels in the UAE. It highlighted that it served a variety of real estate projects in Dubai, including Business Bay, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Beach Residence and the City Of Arabia.

“In the GCC, the DC industry advancement is dependent on how to balance out between pricing strategy, capital investment, profitability, technology, innovation and end-user awareness. Our success in the industry is because we look into all these factors in due diligence,” Bin Shafar added.

QSTEC and QEWC sign MOU

Will develop power using solar energy

Q

atar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has announced signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) to explore possibilities of developing power generation using solar energy in Qatar and beyond. Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of QSTec and Fahad Hamad Al Mohannadi, GM of QEWC, signed the MOU at QEWC’s headquarters in West Bay, Doha, the announcement revealed.

“QSTec is extremely proud to be signing this agreement with QEWC, as it marks the important progress towards providing a sustainable source of energy in Qatar, part of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Dr Al Hajri, about the MOU. “We hope that the collaboration will see many projects become a reality, both here in Qatar and across the globe.”

Al Mohannadi added: “Over the past several years, the region has seen a number of pioneering and strategic efforts to diversify energy resources and develop projects that rely on renewable energy. These are all efforts to help conserve traditional energy resources. We, at QEWC, believe that the State of Qatar and the Arabian Gulf have both geographic and climate advantages suitable for the development Continued on page 8

Fahad Hamad Al Mohannadi and Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri during the signing ceremony at QEWC’s headquarters in West Bay, Doha

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

7

happenings the region

Dow and DCL sign MOU Will jointly further the cause of sustainable building and construction in Dubai

D

ow Chemical Company and the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), a division of Dubai Municipality responsible for providing product conformity assessments and performing tests, studies, standards development and measurement control, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on initiatives that drive sustainable building and construction in Dubai through joint research programmes, trainings and technical support. Announcing this, Dow said that as part of the MOU, it will cooperate

with DCL to provide technical assistance in the areas of Indoor Air Quality and energy efficiency, with the aim to develop standards and test methods for waterborne, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)-free and formaldehyde-abatement coatings, as well as reflective roof coatings and Exterior Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICs).

Dow and DCL will also collaborate on R&D trainings, joint studies and technical workshops to build industry awareness on sustainability, the announcement elaborated. Research,

testing and certification would take place at a dedicated space at DCL’s Green Materials Testing Laboratory.

DCL would also offer training and certification services to Dow, the announcement added.

According to Dow, the signing ceremony was held in Dubai, with Hawa Abdullah Bastaki, Director, DCL and Dr Ilham Kadri, General Manager, Dow Advanced Materials Division (AMD), Middle East & Africa, signing the MOU in the presence of Ali Elian, Head of Engineering Materials Laboratory Section, and other DCL and Dubai Municipality officials, as well as global and regional Dow business leaders, including Dr William E Jackson, Global R&D Director for Dow Building and Construction.

“We are pleased and honoured today to partner with the esteemed Dubai Central Laboratory to address the growing area of sustainable practices and regulations in Dubai’s building and construction industry,” said Dr Kadri. “We at Dow are dedicated to using science and technology to solve regional challenges. DCL is a true pioneer in researching, drafting and supporting the enforcement of Dubai Municipality regulations in the Building & Construction sector. We look forward to our mutual collaboration to develop regionally tailored solutions and to advance Dubai’s sustainability agenda together.”

QSTEC and QEWC sign MOU Story from page 7

of solar energy. Together with QEWC’s experience in power generation and water desalination and Qatar Solar Technologies efforts in research and development, we will help develop an appropriate framework, which addresses the development and effective use of this promising technology in the region.”

QSTec claimed that its priority was to harness sustainable alternative source of energy, and in this regard, it will soon be producing high quality, solargrade polysilicon, the key ingredient that goes into making efficient solar technologies, such as solar cells and modules that convert the power of the sun into energy.

As a move towards this, QSTec said that its $1 billion polysilicon manufacturing plant located in Ras Laffan

8

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Industrial City, will initially produce 8,000 metric tonnes per year of polysilicon, which will be transformed into solar modules, which, in turn, will capture enough solar energy to power around 240,000 homes for an entire year.

QEWC, which reportedly owns assets over $6.1 billion with an equity portfolio capacity that exceeds 5,800 MW of net power and 258 million gallons per day of net potable water, on its part, is targeting business development opportunities in Qatar by regionally utilising solar powered technology for power generation and water desalination purposes. The MOU is a testament of QSTec and QEWC’s support to providing a sustainable source of energy in Qatar, the two entities jointly stated.

happenings the region

Hempel strengthens ecofriendly product line

Says its products are now registered in the Manual of Green Building Materials, issued by the Government of Dubai

H

empel, supplier of decorative, marine and protective coatings, has announced that it has fortified its range of eco-friendly products in line with the company’s “Green Revolution” initiative, which it says, ultimately aims to reduce the impact of its operations on human health and the environment. Hempel further revealed that some of its products are now

registered and listed in the Manual of Green Building Materials issued by the Government of Dubai.

According to Hempel, its products have been classified under three categories in the manual: light colours on the outside of buildings; low-emitting material – paints and coatings; and lead or heavy metal-free material. The company further announced that it has generated a strong

response during its participation at the recently held World Eco Construct Abu Dhabi, wherein the company showcased its award-winning products, including the biocide-free Hempasil X3, the Topaz range and the energy-saving Contex Thermoguard coating. These products, claimed Hempel, covered its green initiative from three angles – safe and green formulation, low VOCs and no toxic ingredients.

Mark Rees, Group Vice President and Area Director, Hempel Middle East, said: “The Green Revolution initiative aims to establish the Hempel brand as paint supplier of choice for eco-friendly products that offer enhanced health and environmental benefits. It is therefore our continuing thrust to develop highperformance products that comply with international standards and local government regulations related to safety and environmental compliance.”

Laurence Brown, Country Manager, Hempel, UAE, added: “The inclusion of Hempel products in the Manual of Green Building Materials of the Government of Dubai strongly reaffirms our commitment to offer sustainable products and solutions that have no adverse effect on human health and the environment.”

ClimaGulf to distribute Breezair in GCC states Says it is looking for dealers in the region

C

limaGulf has announced that it has been appointed master distributor for Breezair, a natural air cooling technology brand, in the GCC region. The announcement added that the range of Breezair evaporative air conditioning systems had until now been distributed by ClimaGulf only in the UAE under a strategic alliance that

10

was formed two years ago with the brand’s Australian manufacturer, Seeley International.

Commenting on the enhanced distributor arrangement with Seeley International, Sabu C Abraham, Managing Director, ClimaGulf, said: “Our success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the provision of

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Continued on page 13

Wasel Vehicle Testing centre, Dubai

24 - 25 SEPTEMBER 2012 | DUBAI, UAE WWW.REFRIGERANTSREVIEW.COM ROUND 1 OF REFRIGERANTS REVIEW, in March 2012, thrust different types of refrigerants into the spotlight from a Middle Eastern perspective and, at the same time, gave an international overview on the state of affairs.

ROUND 2 will continue the assessment process, with a heightened involvement of end-users. Also in the picture will be government agencies, investigation bodies and enforcement groups, especially considering that there will be considerable focus on counterfeit refrigerants.

SPEAKERS (so far...)

Ghaleb Abusaa CEO, en3 Solutions (The Three Factors Company)

Mohamed Al Sahafi, Manager, Air Quality & National Ozone Coordinator, Presidency of Meteorology & Environment (PME), Saudi Arabia

Yehia Amr Engineering Director Carrier - Turkey

KEY ACTIVITY: Assessment and rating of refrigerants

KEY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION INCLUDE:  Natural refrigerants, HCFCs, HFC, HFOs  Reclaiming and recycling of refrigerants  Counterfeit refrigerants  Toxicity concerns  Tumours, liver damage and other health concerns  Is it as simple as pointing the finger at only natural refrigerants?

FOCUS

Natural refrigerants and district cooling

SPOTLIGHT

 Implementation bodies  Government agencies  End-users  Suppliers  Service providers

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happenings the region

Schneider launches data centre assessment services

EnergySTEP joins Schneider to provide tool to assess energy usage and efficiency

S

chneider Electric, specialising in energy management, has announced introducing EnergySTEP Data Center Assessment, which it claims is an innovative new solution in its energy management services for data centres.

The EnergySTEP Data Center Assessment is a detailed customisable assessment of the power, cooling, physical infrastructure and operational efficiencies of a data centre, which allows data centre managers to benchmark the performance of their facility against industry standards, such as the Green Grid Data Center Maturity Model, Schneider revealed. The analysis focuses on identifying improvements

that will help drive down the spiraling cost of energy, while ensuring maximum availability, it added.

Explaining the finer points of the service, Schneider said that apart from customising the assessment of power, the system reports on specific functions within the data centre, offering flexibility, which will help meet energy usage goals, business needs and financial targets. The extensive data collection and analysis is performed by a Schneider Electric energy management services (EMS) specialist, with expertise in data centre operations and energy management. Schneider claimed that the comprehensive report generated by the assessment, thus provides the vendor

neutral recommendations, including detailed findings illustrated with graphics and performance benchmarks. The specific recommendations for improving efficiency and maximising availability include estimated cost savings and ROI analysis, it said.

Jim Simonelli, Senior Vice-President, Solutions Officer, Schneider Electric, said: “Providing data centre managers with a tool to assess energy usage and efficiency empowers them to make informed decisions on optimising their infrastructure. Furthermore, the recommendations offered by Schneider Electric’s EnergySTEP Data Center Assessment will result in optimised energy usage, reduced operating costs and will enable data centre managers to prioritise improvements to better manage capital expenses.”

Empower launches customer service centre

Located at JBR, centre equipped to serve over 11,000 customers, company claims

A

hmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, inaugurated its advanced flagship Customer Service Centre at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) – the first outside Empower’s headquarters in Dubai Healthcare City. Announcing this, Empower said that the new service centre is located in Rimal 5, Podium

12

30, and provides day-to-day customer services, such as new customer registrations, bill payments, final bill payment applications and other general queries. The working hours of the new centre are from 7.30am to 3.30pm.

According to Empower, JBR is one of its most

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Continued on page 18

L-R: Samer Khoudeir, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer; Ramesh Ramadurai, COO and Ahmad Al Shafar, CEO

ClimaGulf to distribute Breezair in GCC states Story from page 10

innovative products and superior quality service to all our customers, an increase in the level of awareness and understanding of eco-friendly products, and the wholehearted support extended to ClimaGulf by Seeley International. With the size of the Middle East market for air cooling systems estimated at 100,000 units per annum, and with all countries in the GCC region supporting environmentally friendly and energy-efficient sources of air conditioning, we believe we can successfully tap into the huge potential that exists across this region for this innovative natural air

cooling technology. To help us meet our goals in the new territories that have come under our purview, we have started looking for associates with solid business acumen, who could immediately and independently take on the task of promoting and selling Breezair units in the GCC countries.”

Sam Peli, General Manager, Europe & Asia, Seeley International, added: “The excellent track record of ClimaGulf in the UAE has largely influenced our decision to extend their distributor rights to cover other GCC countries. We are confident that ClimaGulf’s

Breezair on the roof of a factory in Dubai

expertise, their extensive knowledge of the product and sound understanding of the Middle East market, will further strengthen the

environment-friendly Breezair brand in a region that is constantly seeking solutions that address environment and health concerns.”

Tabreed’s ISO certifications renewed

DC service provider claims this highlights company’s commitment to international best practices and environment

N

ational Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed), the Abu Dhabi-based district cooling utility company, has announced that its three ISO certifications for its management policies and procedures relating to its environmental practices, services quality and employee health and safety have been renewed.Elaborating on this, the announcement said that the certifications, which are reviewed by external

audits every three years, include ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System), which demonstrates the company’s ability to consistently provide a quality of service that meets its customers’ requirements; ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), which assesses the company’s environmental practices; and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System), Continued on page 15

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

13

happenings the region

Abu Dhabi flags off energy purchasing trial

Will study electricity consumers’ behaviour when placed on a time-of-day pricing

A

s part of a wider initiative aimed at increasing consumer awareness of electricity consumption, Abu Dhabi’s Powerwise Office, which is part of the Emirate’s Regulation and Supervision Bureau (RSB), is rolling out an energy purchasing trial for up to 400 volunteers. Announcing this, the RSB explained that the trial is designed to help customers and electricity companies assess and analyse consumption behaviour. The 400 volunteers, recruited from villas in pre-selected gated communities will participate in the trial, which will run for approximately 16 months.

According to the RSB, the trial introduces two indicative charge rates during a 24-hour period: peak time (2pm to 8pm), when electricity is most in demand, particularly in the summer months, which will be assigned a higher charge rate and off-peak time, which will cover the remainder of the 24-hour period, when rates will be lower.

The RSB highlighted that volunteer households will continue to pay their standard published rates to Abu Dhabi Distribution Company throughout the trial, and at the end of the trial, the Bureau will be able to determine if price signals have changed a customer’s

behaviour or not.

The RSB revealed that the energy purchasing trial was already under way with recruitment of volunteer households, and that the other processes involved pre-assessment of houses for installation of the electronic display,

Bahrain launches solar energy project

Aims to make its power sector more environmentally friendly

I

n what is reportedly one of the first major solar energy projects in the Middle East, Bahrain has announced plans to implement a solar smart grid in Awali.

Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) is implementing five megawatt solar capacity into a wireless smart grid network in cooperation with Petra Solar, Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) and Caspian Energy Holdings, the announcement elaborated, and added that the grid circumvents common interconnection issues and

14

costs of traditional solar systems because of its ability to install into the current transmission and distribution infrastructure.

“The Middle East has for some time evaluated the integration of solar energy for reduction of reliance on non-renewable energy sources,” Marty Youssefiani, CEO, Caspian Energy Holdings, said. “However, Bahrain is among the first in the region to implement a project of this kind, demonstrating a serious commitment to long term solutions.”

Bahrain’s Minister of Energy, Dr Abdul Hussain

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

bin Ali Mirza, added: “The project in Awali represents just the first step in a series of initiatives

by NOGA to diversify the sources of energy needed to ensure the sustainable development of the Kingdom. Following a successful implementation of this pilot project, we expect that other projects will follow in the near future.”

Gordon Smith, CEO, Bahrain Petroleum Company, said that he believed that the initiative will not only change the landscape of Awali, but more important, the

operating philosophy of BAPCO, which hitherto relied totally on fossil fuels for generating its electricity, will also change as a result of the project.

According to the news source, the Kingdom of Bahrain claimed that with this project, it aimed to ultimately transform its energy sector into one that is more environmentally friendly.

followed by familiarising volunteers with reading and interpreting their display. Once the volunteer households are comfortable with the process of monitoring and optimising

energy consumption, time-ofday pricing will be introduced to assess if the knowledge of having a lower rate has an impact on electricity consumption, the RSB added.

Speaking on behalf of the RSB, Nicholas Carter, Director General, RSB, said: “Meeting electricity demand during peak hours means generators working only perhaps eight hours a day in the summer and even less in the winter. Ideally, to maximise these generators for a longer period, we need to reduce the short-term peak by making the load flatter over a 24-hour period.”

Ramiz Alaileh, the Bureau’s Powerwise Manager elaborated: “It is all about “flattening” the peak in a voluntary way by incentivising customers to change their behaviour. We

Tabreed’s ISO certifications renewed Story from page 13

which measures the company’s compliance with various health and safety regulations and promotion of employee health and well being.

The company claimed that it received its re-certifications after an extensive assessment carried out by Intertek International, a leading global ISO accreditation company and the certification process included a comprehensive audit of Tabreed’s district cooling plants’ operations rooms, corporate headquarters as well as its management policies and procedures. The audit also entails an annual review to ensure the company continuously abides by international best practices going forward, Tabreed added.

Sujit Parhar, Tabreed’s CEO, said: “This is a great

achievement for Tabreed and is a direct result of the high standards of the systems we have embedded in the company as well as the hard work and professionalism of our employees. The re-certification recognises the importance Tabreed attributes to responsible and effective management systems, and the benefits they in turn create for our customers, society and employees.”

Andrew Cunningam, General Manager, Intertek International Limited, added: “Tabreed has continued to demonstrate its adherence to international best practices, and I’m pleased to announce that, after a thorough assessment of the company’s various management systems, we have renewed Tabreed’s ISO certificates for another three years.”

are doing this by offering a special electronic display, which will inform customers of their electricity consumption at any time during the day. This is a very exciting trial and will enable the whole sector to think about how to use its assets in a more efficient way, once we know the results. In the end, we can only change the way people use electricity wisely when we have good data, and that is what this trial and Powerwise is all about.”

The trial will end in late 2013, said RSB, when all displays will be collected and the two charge rates are switched off. To reflect the performance of households during the trial, a personalised report will be sent across to volunteers at regular intervals, it added.

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July 2012

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15

happenings the region

JCI launches Amazon series The new VRF system, the company says, has a COP of 3.65

J

CI on June 6 introduced the York ‘Amazon Series’ VRF system at a seminar in Abu Dhabi, jointly conducted by the company and its long-standing distributor, Faisal Jassim Trading Company.

During the launch, JCI described the DC inverter system as being Estidamacompliant. The system, JCI said, had a COP of 3.65, adding that it more than met the Estidama requirement of a minimum of 3.4.

During the seminar, JCI dispelled the myth that it was entering the VRF market only now. Moan Abraham, the company’s Sales Manager (Dubai and Northern Emirates), said that VRF was not new for JCI. “We have been working on VRFs since 2004, and we launched the system in select markets here in 2009,” Abraham said. “This product (Amazon Series) is Estidama-compliant with a DC inverter.”

The Amazon Series, Abraham said, was the result of extensive product

development and testing at the company’s facility in Wuxi, China. The system, he added, was tested for sound, cooling and reliability, among other conditions.

Speaking on the reliability of the VRF system, Abraham’s colleague, Irfan Syed, said that it had been tested extensively at Wuxi. “We simulated the Middle Eastern conditions at Wuxi and ran the system at 52°C for a period lasting between six and eight months,” Syed said. It was only after that the system entered the manufacturing process at JCI’s other facility in Guangzhou.

Speaking further on its reliability, Syed said that the company tested the VRF system for not only the performance of the compressors but also for major components like microprocessor controls and expansion valve. “Hence, if one outdoor unit gets into malfunction, the other takes over,” he said.

Speaking on the system’s energy efficiency, Syed said the DC inverter

AHI ACTS on meeting training requirements

Company’s training facility nears a milestone

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HI Carrier has trained close to 250 customers, dealers, sub-dealers and consultants at its ACTS facility in Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, since the launch of the facility on November 20, 2011, the company’s General Manager, Ajit

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Chandraraj, said.

Saying that it was a matter of pride, Chandraraj added that the training programmes, at the 300-square-metre facility, covered a wide range of equipment, including residential, light-commercial and VRF units. The scope

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

of the activity at ACTS, he said, included sales and marketing training, service training, controls training, installation, trouble shooting, commissioning and design.

“We are not merely selling products – those are sold across the shelf,” he said. “You

compressor ensured a high EER. The energy saving heat exchangers with inner grooves, he said, ensured an enhanced efficiency, whereas a new aviation fan minimised losses.

The structure of the units is designed to get energy efficiency, Syed said, adding that it had “four air-side heat exchanger dc inverter, plus new ac scroll”.

Speaking on the controls aspect, Syed said that the system had a feature for controlling as many as 3,000 outdoor units. Its AC Management System, he

ASHRAE UPDATE added could connect and control 400 indoor units.

The seminar presentation gave way to a question and answer session involving members of the audience, comprising consultants and contractors, among others.

During the session, a consultant asked why he ought to consider using VRF when it was more expensive (cost/TR) than a chilled water system and when a chilled water system was easier to install and also could be easily repaired in the event of a leak. The consultant also wanted to know if he necessarily had to call only a JCI engineer to attend to any problems.

Another member of the audience, a contractor, said that the design might be good, but the system was “massacred” at the time of installing. “And so we have to rely only on JCI,” he said.

“I can’t go to anyone else to install it.”

Answering these questions, Abraham said that sufficient R&D had gone into developing the VRF system, with the aim of giving maximum benefits to the customers. “Also, in addition to our engineers, we have trained Faisal Jassim engineers,” Abraham added, indicating that the company offered extensive support in installation. really do need technical experts and competence to service the products in the marketplace. And that is why Carrier and Toshiba, two world-class brands, have come together to offer technical training.”

Chandraraj spoke of how AHI Carrier was constantly introducing new product

“We also support load calculation, heat calculation, and have installations in three sites in the UAE and one in Oman up and running,” Abraham said, adding, “We ensure on warranty and give five years on compressors. Besides, electronic items are already reliability-tested for 52ºC. “For proper performance, though, Abraham said, the products need to be commissioned by a JCIcertified technician.”

Abraham made a strong case for the VRF by saying that if space was an issue, the VRF helped in spaceconstrained developments and in energy saving.

Earlier, Paul Rankin, Regional Executive Director (Gulf Region), Building Efficiency Division at JCI, opened the seminar by saying that JCI took energy saving very seriously, indeed, and that nothing said this better than the fact that it had over a 1,000 LEED professionals in its roster.

Raphael Khlat, Managing Director of Faisal Jassim, also spoke during the occasion, using the seminar as an opportunity to highlight the strong association Faisal Jassim had with JCI. “We have been associated with JCI since 2005,” Khlat said, “and are pleased with the VRF initiative.” ranges in Carrier and Toshiba, which he felt, gave the company a competitive edge. “We enjoy strong factory support to develop our market for the brands,” he said.

In February 2012, AHI Carrier launched the Toshiba VRF system for the Middle East region.

Qatar Oryx Chapter holds seminar

Focus on LEED 2009 update and ASHRAE standard 189.1-2011

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SHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter organised a seminar on May 19 at the College of North Atlantic on the topic: Green Building Overview: LEED 2009 Update and ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2011. The presentation was made by Dr Thomas M Lawrence, PhD, PE, LEED-AP, of the Faculty of Engineering, The University of Georgia, USA. Dr Lawrence made salient points on the subject under discussion and explained each point in great detail with facts and figures.

To begin with, drawing attention to the environmental impact of buildings in the US, both commercial and residential, he gave the following statistics: • 65.2% of total US electricity consumption > 36% of US primary use • 30% of total US greenhouse gas emissions • 136 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste in the US (approx 2.8 lbs/person/ day) • 12% of potable water in the US • 40% (three billion tonnes annually) of raw material used globally Dr Lawrence spelt out what was meant by WISER:

July 2012

• Water efficiency • Indoor environment quality • Sustainable sites • Energy and atmosphere • Resources and materials He also gave the summary of LEED NC 2009 points: • Sustainable Site 8 credits/26 points • Water Conservation and Efficiency 3 credits/10 points • Energy and Atmosphere 6 credits/35 points • Materials and Resources 7 credits/14 points • Indoor Environmental Quality 8 credits/15 points Total points: 100 Innovation and design: 6 points Regional priority: 4 points Total possible points: 110 Prerequisites required: 8 He reiterated the LEED Rating System (2009 update) • Certified Level 40-49 points • Silver Level 50-59 points • Gold Level 60-79 points • Platinum Level 80+ points Dr Lawrence also highlighted that Standard 189.1 sets standards for performance or lists specific equipment requirements, but that it does not specify exact design and implementation methods.

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17

happenings the region

Empower launches customer service centre Story from page 12

significant clients when it comes to number of customers served by the company in projects such as Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Healthcare City, Business Bay and City of Arabia.

Speaking on the occasion, Bin Shafar said: “Empower is entering a new phase of growth. This is supported by a solid infrastructure and well- trained staff and a worldclass round-the-clock system that offers a high- quality service. We chose JBR as a destination for our new centre

because of its emergence as one of the busiest residential and touristic areas, not only locally, but also regionally.

Serving around 500 customers a day, the new centre is wellequipped to provide a reliable and continuous service to customers. The new centre serves Empower’s clientele base in Jumeirah Beach Residence, which accounts for 11,000 customers and it adopts latest international practices in customer servicing, not only in the district cooling industry, but also across all industries.”

Panasonic launches tropical inverter system

The company claims that the air conditioner is the first of its kind in the world

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anasonic on June 19 launched what it called the world’s first tropical inverter air conditioner in Dubai. The system, the company said, is designed to meet the region’s challenging climatic conditions. The launch took place during a technical seminar at Westin Hotel.

The smart inverter compressor, Panasonic said, delivers 1.5 times faster cooling and also a savings of 30% on power consumption.

The new technology, Panasonic said, has made it possible for an 18,000 Btu air conditioner to reach up to 22,000 Btu and a 24,000 Btu model to reach up to 27,000 Btu. Furthermore, Panasonic said, the new technology manages the speed of the compressor,

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resulting in up to 30% less energy consumption, compared to a non-inverter model.

Deepak Krishnan, Assistant Manager – Large Applications, Appliance Product Marketing Division, at Panasonic, who led the presentation, said that it is a big plus to control the speed of the compressor and that the system was successfully tested for a year in Middle Eastern conditions in Kuwait. “We tested for T3 conditions, and a Malaysiabased third-party body helmed the test,” Krishnan said.

With a COP of 3.2, the air conditioning system meets the requirements of Kuwait’s MEW (3.0 at 48ºC) but not Estidama’s requirement, which stands at 3.4. Krishnan said

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

the new technology has achieved an EER of 7.99 at 48ºC in UAE test conditions and an EER of 8.02 at 46ºC. Earlier during the seminar, Hidekazu Tachibana, the Director of the Consumer Electronics Department at Panasonic Marketing (MEA), said that the tropical inverter represents a path-breaking technology for tropical climates, like in the GCC. Besides the inverter compressor, which according to Panasonic, is tailor-made for GCC conditions, the new technology features a tightly sealed electrical component box, which prevents fine sand particles from getting into the high-precision inverter circuit.

Also, an original autocooling system, the

company said, prevents the temperature inside the box from rising due to heat generated by the circuit board.

According to Panasonic, the technology also boasts the new ECONAVI system, with an incorporated Sunlight Detection feature, which detects changes in the intensity of sunlight in the room to reduce the waste of cooling under less sunlight conditions.

The ECONAVI uses high-precision human sensor and control program technologies to optimise air conditioner operation according to room conditions, Panasonic claimed during the seminar.

These technologies, Panasonic said, help detect unnecessary waste of energy.

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KNOWLEDGE PARTNER

happenings at large

GEA joins project COOL-SAVE European initiative aims to increase refrigeration energy efficiency in food and beverage industry

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EA Refrigeration Technologies has become a member of the energyconservation project, COOL-SAVE, which was founded within the context of the pan-European programme, Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE), the company has revealed in a communiqué. The objective of the project, GEA said, was to enhance the energy efficiency of refrigeration in the food and beverage industry. To achieve this goal, comprehensive analyses of refrigeration facilities of selected food producers have been used to collect current data, which in turn, will serve as a basis for exemplary and realistically designed measures for enhancement

of the efficiency of refrigeration plants, it added.

Similar to IEE, COOLSAVE project is also intended to strengthen the competitiveness of sustainable energy technologies with low climate impact, GEA elaborated and explained that the objective was not only to promote technical developments but also to overcome financial, cultural, and legal barriers to energy savings. A total of nine partner companies from six

ClimaCheck participates in COOL-SAVE project Believes business-as-usual attitude needs to change for energy efficiency

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limaCheck, the Swedish cleantech company, has, together with eight other companies and organisations in Europe, been granted 1.3 million Euro in funding from Intelligent Energy Europe for the COOL-SAVE project, with the aim to reduce the energy used for refrigeration in the European food and drink sector through

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optimisation of the plants.

The project will start with measuring and analysing the refrigeration systems of 25 representative plants and develop cost-effective strategies to improve energy efficiency in the industry, the announcement said.

According to ClimaCheck, around 15% to 20% of the world’s electrical production is utilised by cooling and air

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

conditioning systems, and therefore, have a large untapped energy-saving potential, often up to 20% to 30%, which can be saved by systematic optimisation of the operation.

Speaking about his organisation’s participation in the European initiative, Klas Berglof, CEO, ClimaCheck Sweden, said: “I am convinced that this is one of many important steps to improve the energy efficiency of cooling in the food and

drink sector. To increase the awareness of potential energy savings in the servicing sector as well as with the equipment owners is necessary to put the focus and allocate resource to optimisation projects.”

He added that as long as everybody took for granted, without establishing facts by measurements that plants operate well, there would be no challenge to the status quo and no change in the business-as-usual attitude.

European Union countries are participating in the project, it added.

Giving details, the communiqué said that the project intends to increase the energy efficiency of refrigeration technology in the food and beverage sector with a goal of 15% savings for 25 companies. Futureoriented energysaving measures are being prepared on the basis of current data and evaluations from all over Europe, targeted to achieve a payback within three years, it said. GEA Refrigeration Technologies will reportedly be responsible for the analysis of five or six refrigeration facilities in the

food and beverage industry.

According to GEA, it will apply a special simulation model for the purpose, and when the project is completed in about 30 months, a guideline applicable to all the European climate regions will be published. The company claimed that it plans to make the guideline accessible to those in responsible positions in approximately 2,000 companies in the food and beverage business in order to present the options and measures for improvement of refrigeration system efficiencies. In addition, it plans to distribute the results of COOL-SAVE through trade and sector associations using workshops and communications platforms.

ACREX India announces exhibition dates March event dedicated to ecofriendly environment

AHR Expo 2013 from Jan 28 to 30

Expected to attract professionals from all segments of HVACR industry

T

he AHR Expo, which is dubbed the world’s largest trade show exclusively for the HVACR industry, will be held from January 28 to 30 at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas. The event is expected to attract exhibitors and attendees comprising professionals from around the world in every segment of the industry and will be a leading resource for thousands of new products, ideas and services. It will also include more than 100 seminars and educational sessions and is a hands-on, interactive event that showcases a wide spectrum of equipment, systems, and components.

Special show features • Building automation and controls showcase • Software centre • New product technology theatre presentations • AHR Expo innovation awards presentation • ASHRAE winter conference, held concurrently with the show • Nearly 2,000 exhibiting companies from 35 countries and every segment of the HVACR industry participating • More than 350,000 net square feet of exhibition space • Nearly 50,000 total attendance (30,000 visitors) Further information is available at: www.ahrexpo.com or can be obtained by mailing to: info@ahrexpo.com.

During ACREX India 2012

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he 14th edition of the International Exhibition on Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services exhibition – ACREX India – will be held from March 7 to 9, 2013 at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India, with the theme: “Dedicated to an eco-friendly environment”. The event is being organised by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) with the professional expertise of UBM India. Announcing this, the organisers claimed that the exhibition will be an ideal platform to showcase technologically innovative, environmentally friendly, energy-saving and sustainable products and services, such as electrical, lighting, plumbing and water treatment, fire and safety, automation and fenestration, to meet the ever-growing, demanding HVACR market of India, as the event aims to surpass the expectations of the previous shows.

According to the organisers, the event will be educative and informative, with a series of technical workshops, seminars and interactive panel discussions held concurrently with the exhibition. The workshop and seminars will be conducted by internationally acclaimed experts of the industry and will provide an opportunity for participants to learn, share expertise and hone their skills on the latest trends and topics related to HVACR, MEP and other building services, they claimed.

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

21

happenings at large

US building claims achieving net-zero goal

HVAC manufacturers donate expertise to help vie for Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum and Sustainable Sites Initiative recognitions

Photo courtesy of http://www.wikimedia.org

T

he Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, dubbed the largest Living Building Challenge project in the United States, has opened in Pittsburgh. Announcing this, air curtain manufacturer, Berner International revealed that more than 10 HVAC industry manufacturers partially donated equipment that contributed to the conservatory achieving its net-zero energy goal.

Berner added that as the centerpiece of a $23.5 million expansion project at the 119-year-old nonprofit conservatory, the 24,350-squarefoot CSL will be the largest building in operation pursuing Living Building status in the

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

comings Henrik Ulrich &goings joins Victaulic Appointed Product Development Manager for EMEA-I region

V

ictaulic has appointed Henrik Ulrich to the newly created post of Product Development Manager, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India (EMEA-I), the company has announced. Ulrich holds a degree in Export Engineering from VIA University College, Horsens, Denmark, and has a background in sales and marketing and specialist knowledge of balancing valves built up over 15 years, it revealed.

According to Victaulic, Ulrich’s initial focus will be to provide an interface with the

22

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

company’s product managers in the US and seek new product opportunities and innovative solutions in the EMEA-I region.

Commenting on his appointment, Ulrich said: “There are amazing opportunities for Victaulic and a growing demand for our products in the coming years. If we look at our current range of products and see their many different applications, the potential is huge.

I am looking forward to helping to grow the business and ensuring Victaulic stays ahead of the competition when it comes to R&D.”

Henrik Ulrich

country when it is reviewed for the status after one year of recorded data, and will meet or exceed the world’s three highest certifications for sustainable structures and landscapes – Living Building Challenge status, LEED Platinum certification and Sustainable Sites Initiative. The CSL, reportedly, seeks to be a net-zero energy and sustainability role model for future buildings.

Berner explained the finer points of the project while highlighting the contribution by various companies: Aided with the HVAC manufacturer consortium’s innovations, two Pittsburgh firms, The Design Alliance Architects, and MEP consulting engineering company CJL Engineering, spearheaded the facility’s net-zero energy strategy. The design team incorporated energy recovery, geothermal, natural ventilation, solar photovoltaic, vertical axis wind turbine and other technologies, resulting in minimal input from municipal water and power utilities. Excess onsite electric and water production will be used to supplement neighboring buildings on the 13-acre site. The heart of the building’s HVAC is the Tricoil energy recovery system by Sensible Equipment, Orlando, Florida, installed by mechanical contractor, SSM Industries, Pittsburgh, while Berner itself has assembled and coordinated green OEM HVAC equipment and suppliers for the Tricoil portion of the project. Assembling the equipment within the region supports the Living Building Challenge PR8 Materials Radius requirement.

The 12,000-cfm Tricoil supplies both enthalpy wheel dehumidification and mechanical dehumidification via a patented recuperative loop that pre-cools and reheats outside air requirements. The system, which is supplemented by the building’s natural ventilation and under-floor ductwork air displacement strategy, also provides air conditioning and heating with help from energy recovery. Its water source heat pump is supplied by a 14-well vertical geothermal field installed by Western Pennsylvania Geothermal Heating & Cooling, Saxonburg. A building automation system by Automatic Logic, Kennesaw, Georgia, monitors and controls all building environmental conditions. The other green HVAC equipment donated to the project is electrical components by Chess Electric, Girard, Ohio; rooftop curb by Conn-Fab,

Uncasville, Connecticut; filters and filter glide pack by Filtech, West Homestead, Pennsylvania; exterior panels, doors and view ports by ITM4, Buffalo, Minnesota; compressors by Liqua-Chill, Oakmont, Pennsylvania; coils by Luvata/Heatcraft, Grenada, Mississippi; and fans by Pennbarry, Lebanon, Indiana.

“The design uses sustainable equipment and concepts readily available today, but what’s unique is the unprecedented combination of all this equipment into a net-zero energy

application,” said Alan Traugott, principal, CJL Engineering.

Kenneth L Eiermann, principal, Sensible Equipment, and inventor and patent holder of the Tricoil, added: “In preliminary design meetings we (HVAC manufacturers) thought net-zero energy might be insurmountable, especially in terms of air conditioning, but once everybody started conceiving of the sustainable possibilities within their own custom manufacturing capabilities, it was an exciting and viable challenge.”

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Nuaire. For the complete ventilation solution. for more information please contact: Alex O’Byrne 971 5529 50626 email enquiries@nuairegroup.com visit nuairegroup.com Alan Hopes export manager 971 5528 87110 email Alan.hopes@nuaire.co.uk nuaire PO Box 24459, dubai, United Arab emirates. locations in dubai, Abu dhabi, qatar, kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and across the middle east.

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July 2012

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happenings at large

Aggreko powers Olympic venues London 2012 plugs in company as official provider and tier three sponsor

Photo courtesy of www.leadinghotelsoftheworld.net

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he London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has appointed Aggreko as the exclusive and official supplier of temporary

energy services for London 2012, and in the process, the company becomes a tier- three sponsor of the Games. Announcing this, the company which specialises in

supply of temporary power and temperature control solutions said that under the agreement, Aggreko will provide power across 39 venues in seven different locations, and will also offer technical expertise.

Aggreko has revealed that its engineers and event management experts are enabling LOCOG to test key aspects of operational readiness, and for the period of the Games will provide over 260 MW of power using over 500 generator sets, 1,500 kilometres of cable and 4,500 distribution panels. It added that this is the biggest deployment of temporary power for a single sporting event ever in the UK. According to Aggreko, the power solution has had to allow for new developments, including the growth of high-definition television and increased use of Internet technologies, with the core Aggreko team supported by up to 200 engineers, electricians and other staff.

Most of the equipment used in the project has been manufactured at Aggreko’s factory in Scotland, it said. In addition to supporting both the opening and the closing ceremonies at the Olympic Stadium in London, Aggreko equipment will also be used to power field-of-play lighting and camera equipment in the various stadia, as well as powering the International Broadcasting Centre, with television feeds going to billions of people around the world.

Rupert Soames, Chief Executive of Aggreko, welcomed the deal saying: “We normally play away from home in places such as Beijing (2008 Olympics) and Vancouver (2010 Winter Olympics). It is, therefore, enormously exciting to have the opportunity to perform in front of our home crowd. We look forward to supporting the Organising Committee in their task of providing faultless execution of the London Olympic Games.”

Daikin McQuay first to meet RTU challenge Five manufacturers participating in initiative to build energy-efficient rooftop air conditioning units

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s part of the Obama Administration’s energy strategy to help American families and businesses save money on their energy bills, the US Department of Energy announced that Daikin McQuay’s Rebel rooftop unit system was the first to meet DOE’s Rooftop Unit (RTU) Challenge. This was conveyed through the US

24

Energy Department’s EERE News.

Five manufacturers – Daikin McQuay, Carrier, Lennox, 7AC Technologies and Rheem – are participating in the challenge to come up with efficient commercial air conditioners that satisfy a DOE-issued specification for energy savings and performance,

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

the news release said.

The companies have until April 1, 2013 to submit a product for independent evaluation according to the specification.

When built to meet the specification, these units are expected to reduce energy use by as much as 50% over current standards.

Nationwide, if all 10- to 20-tonne RTUs met the

specification, businesses would save over $1 billion each year in energy costs, helping American companies better compete on a global scale, the announcement explained.

It further elaborated that manufacturers now have a strong motivation to produce highly energyefficient air conditioning Continued on page 26

GEA bags Mlekpol retrofit contracts Polish dairy reduces energy costs with Grasso V range

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lekpol, reportedly the largest Polish dairy cooperative and one of the leading producers of ultrahigh-temperature milk (UHT milk), has announced upgrading its facilities at its Grajewo and Mrągowo plants, and awarding the contracts to the GEA Group, with the aim of producing ice water (approximately 1°C) reliably and cost effectively.

According to Mlekpol, while modernising its refrigeration plant, the most important criteria were maximum energy efficiency and optimisation during partial-load operation. On the basis of optimised partial-load system behaviour, GEA, therefore, selected the newly marketed piston compressors from the GEA Grasso V range as replacement for the old systems in both plants, Mlekpol elaborated, and explained that to cover the requirement of approximately three to four MW cooling duty, the dairy installed four GEA Grasso V1100 units in Grajewo, and five in MrÄ…gowo. These compressors, with ammonia refrigerant, each provide up to 830 kW cooling output. Since milk production does not always need maximum refrigeration output, these piston compressors were outfitted with frequency converters, as were the fans for the condensers and the pumps for the ice water.

The GEA Grasso control system automatically assures efficient operation of the refrigerating compressors, and as a result, intervention into the control system is necessary only for new programming or in the case of irregularities during operation, the

announcement claimed. In this context, the system is connected via a virtual private network (VPN) to GEA Service and alarm reports are additionally issued to the Smartphones of the Mlekpol team of technicians and to the monitors of the Technical Department, it added.

The Mlekpol dairy cooperative July 2012

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25

happenings at large

Mittel to provide welding technology to Greenheck Moss offers online fan Announces strategic cooperation with Norwegian construction service provider

S

wedish energy technology company, Mittel has announced a strategic cooperation with Moss Isolasjonsservice, a Norwegian full service provider of insulation services and insulation products.

The cooperation will focus on introducing Mittel’s new welding technology, Mittel TSC in Norway. The announcement added that Mittel recently signed a similar agreement with MPEC Olsztyn of Poland.

According to the agreement with Moss Isolasonsservice, Mittel will provide its advanced method for joint welding of district energy pipes, the Mittel TSC, to Moss, thus enabling Moss to serve its customers around Norway with Mittel’s modular welding muffs for new construction and repairs of district energy pipes.

Moss will have access to the TSC welding equipment, and the company’s technicians

have been certified to carry out installations using Mittel’s welding technology, the announcement elaborated.

Mittel will also assist Moss in building its own workshop to manufacture custom plastic fittings, including tees, bends and valve covers which are fitted in the field with the TSC method.

The patented Mittel TSC system is an advanced method for case jointing of preinsulated pipes with welding sleeves which makes the joints as strong and durable as the pipes, Mittel claimed.

“It is very valuable for us to be able to access Mittel’s experience and knowledge of joining district energy pipes,” said Robert Kraft, Project Manager, Moss Isolasjonsservice. “The cooperation with Mittel will give Moss the most advanced technology to build and maintain district heating systems, which are currently available on the market.”

coatings course

Claims it’s ideal as refresher course or for those new to ventilation concepts

G

reenheck, manufacturer and distributor of air movement and control equipment, has announced that a new fan coatings course is now available as part of the Greenheck Fan Fundamentals series of online training courses on greenheck.com.

According to Greenheck, the fan coatings course covers reasons to coat, coating methods, a comparison of wet and powder coating, selecting the right coating and independent testing. The company claimed that the online training courses are ideal as a refresher or for those new to ventilation concepts.

More information can

be obtained at www. greenheck.com by clicking on the Education link found on the home page navigation bar, Greenheck informed, and added that participants who register online for the course will receive a certificate upon completion of each module for PDH credits.

Daikin McQuay first to meet RTU challenge Story from page 24

units for commercial buildings, and members of DOE’s Commercial Buildings Energy Alliances (CBEA), such as Target, Walmart and other participating commercial building owners have expressed an interest in equipment that meets the new energy efficiency specification at an affordable price.

26

The Department of Energy is reportedly evaluating potential demonstration sites for high-performing products that meet the RTU Challenge.

In addition, the Department is also developing analytical tools that enable businesses to more accurately estimate the energy and cost savings of using high-performance RTUs in their facilities.

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

According to the news release, the RTU Challenge, aimed at spurring the market introduction of cost-effective, high-performance commercial rooftop unit air conditioners, was announced in January 2011.

The specification that underpins the challenge was developed by DOE technical experts and informed by

industry partners.

In a separate announcement, Daikin McQuay claimed that Rebel was one of three industry’s leading technologies unveiled last Autumn to challenge the status quo, and is part of a company-wide movement to deepen market dominance globally to be at the forefront in the Americas.

marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

Greenheck

FSAF24-BAL actuator

G

reenheck, manufacturer and distributor of air movement and control equipment, has announced introducing a new actuator – FSAF24BAL, which it says is a three-position, 24-volt actuator that allows combination fire smoke and smoke dampers to function as a balancing damper.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The actuator balances the airflow in ducts when paired with a combination fire smoke or smoke damper, eliminating the need for a separate balancing damper and reducing installation costs. n It uses 41% less energy to operate versus a standard modulating actuator. n It is offered on Greenheck FSD series combination fire smoke dampers and SMD series smoke dampers.

Cimberio

Monolink valve for fan coil unit PICV – Pressure Independent Control Valve

C

imberio, the Italian valves manufacturer, has introduced Monolink, a preassembled and factory-tested valve for fan coil units, which is being marketed in the Middle East region by Naffco Flow Control. The company claims that the product is offered in an attractive condensation-proof casing, thus avoiding insulation problems, making servicing easy.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n Incorporates components, such as a strainer, by-pass valve, balancing valve and drain cock with no requirement of assembly at site n Reduces the number of connections from the traditional 22 joints, (with separate individual valves) to just six connections union type, making installation easier and faster, thus saving on almost 30% to 35% on cost n Ideal for projects with space constraints n Minimal pressure drop n Nominal pressure PN25 n Working temperature: from -200C TO 120C n Full bore ball valve for easier flushing n Designed to provide flexible configuration of the system (use of either manual or automatic balancing valves) n A 100% European product with full approvals PICV – Pressure Independent Control Valve PICV – Pressure Independent Control Valve is another product from Cimberio. The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages:

28

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

n Due to unique design it is able to perform the important functions of regulation (selection of required flow-rate), control (constant flow-rate regardless of pressure fluctuations) and flow-rate modulation n Reduction of balancing costs, improved energy saving and high environmental comfort n Easy flushing due to quick and simple removal of differential pressure control cartridge placed inside valve body n Reduced installation dimensions due to compact valve construction, which does not require inlet and outlet straight pipe-lines to stabilise the flow According to Cimberio, the two products – Monolink valve for fan coil unit and PICV – come with a five-year factory warranty and full after-sales service and support from Naffco Flow Control.

PICV

Monolink

Distech Controls

ECL Series programmable controllers with Lonworks technology

D

istech Controls, dealing in automation and energy management solutions, has announced the availability of its Lonworks ECL Series programmable controllers.

Dubbing it as an innovative, next generation series, the manufacturer said that it uses the latest Lonworks 2.0 technology, including the new FT-5000 Neuron frMom Echelon, providing significantly faster operating speeds and additional functionality.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n The Lonmark-certified products offer a robust, powerful and feature-rich hardware platform. n The series includes a wide range of models, allowing system integrators and consulting engineers to select the most appropriate controller to cost-effectively address any application requirement. n The ECL Series comes after the introduction of the company’s BACnet ECB Series, launched in June 2010, and the two share a common hardware platform and programming toolset. Thus, the product lines provide increased flexibility and efficiency at installation, helping reduce overall project cost.

F i r e

n Energy-efficient control sequences built into the controllers automatically deliver maximum energy efficiency and optimised equipment operation. n The ECL Series supports Distech Controls’ Allure EC-Smart-Vue communicating sensor with backlit LCD display and icon-driven menu. n The line also features embedded wireless communication capabilities enabled via the open-to-wireless, wireless receiver module, offering building owners agility and flexibility, while optimising tenant comfort.

P r o t e c t i o n ISONE Fire Dampers

THE safest solution for your building Fire resistance No smoke leakage No heat transfer Upgradable material Certifications: NF and EN 1366-2 Recommended by the UAE fire code

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

29

marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

GEA Refrigeration Technologies Bock HG34 CO 2 T Compressors

G

EA Refrigeration Technologies has announced that the new GEA Bock HG34 CO2 T Compressors have recently gone into series production and are now available on the market. Currently, the programme of transcritical CO2 compressors includes the models RKX26, HG2 CO2 T and HG34 CO2 T, the company revealed.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and advantages: n High-strength spheroidal cast iron housing for high operating pressures of up to 150 bar on the high pressure side and 100 bar on the low pressure side n Wear-resistant, long-life mechanism n Reliable and safe oil supply through pump lubrication n Good operational characteristics through balanced total construction n Efficient drive motors in suction gas-cooled version; replaceable n Two selectable drive motors per compressor stage for different application conditions n Frequency controlled motors with wide frequency band from 25-70 Hz n Economic total efficiency for highest possible system COP n Suction and discharge connections with shut-off valves (compression joints for steel pipes and brazing connections for copper tubes possible) n Decompression valves for the suction and discharge area n Electrical connection box IP54 with Bock MP10 motor protection n Oil sump heater and thermal protection thermostat installed ex works as standard n Low oil throw n Equipped with synthetic oil for CO2 with high thermal load resistance

Direct-drive GEA A-Tec and GEA E-Tec spiral freezers

S

aying that they are especially designed for sensitive food, GEA Refrigeration Technologies has introduced direct-drive GEA A-Tec and GEA E-Tec spiral freezers and coolers.

The manufacturer claimed that the new direct-drive systems will primarily benefit the manufacturers of deep-fried, breaded, and sugar-glazed products. This advantage arises, GEA said, from the fact that, with conventional spiral freezers (ie, lowtension freezers), it is possible for sugar or fat to drip and decrease the friction between the drum and the conveyor belt, which can lead to jerking. But direct-drive systems are not affected by this problem, so that the running conveyor runs flat without tension variations, the food during cooling or freezing remains in place on the conveyor belt, and no deformations can occur because of a change in position, it explained.

The manufacturer listed other product features and advantages: n The gentle transport offers additional benefits, for example, baked goods or packaged prepared meals can be exactly positioned on the belt at high density, since their position on the belt does not change. n The low-tension freezers and coolers offer output up to seven tonnes per hour, depending on the product to be processed. n The direct drive system is seamlessly integrated in the GEA spiral series with a top drive outside the enclosure with the GEA A-Tec series, and a bottom drive inside the enclosure in the GEA E-Tec series. n They feature the Intralox Direct Drive System, in which the Acetal conveyor belts are directly geared to the drive drum.

WORLD LEADING VALVES

Connection and DN-sizes

FOR DISTRICT COOLING PIPELINES

Welded

‌ ISOLATION, CONTROL AND MEASUREMENT

Steel:........................................DN 10 - DN 600 Stainless steel:..........................DN 10 - DN 250

Due to the welded body construction the valve is light and easy to insulate

Ball valves

Spring-loaded PTFE ball seals are confirming complete tightness in the whole range of use

Long stem ball valves

Balancing valves Butterfly valves

female thread-female thread Steel:..........................................DN 10 - DN 50 Stainless steel:............................DN 10 - DN 50 Welded-flange

Ball and stem are of stainless steel

Steel:.........................................DN 15- DN 600 Stainless steel:...........................DN 15- DN 250

Blow-out safe construction of the stem is tightened with two o-rings, the upper can be changed

Flange-flange

Long working life and maintenance free design

Stainless steel:..........................DN 15 - DN 250

Steel:........................................DN 15 - DN 600

Available with welded, thread and flanged connections

Water metering

www.vexve.fi

30

Welded-female thread and

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Tested in accordance with EN 488 ISO 9001 certificated

Fullbore models also available.

Butterfly valves welded and flange Steel:....................................DN 350 - DN 1200

COOL INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS Ltd. C Dubai www.coolinternationalsolutions.com w

D-Code

A Climate Control Middle East campaign on demystifying the world of ducting

The black and white of lagging adhesives Billy Prewitt points out that applying a lagging adhesive to the cut edges of insulation can prove beneficial Making sure ductwork delivers

Mould and mildew resistance is always an important part of all products used inside any ductwork If the insulation is not sealed properly, free-flying fibers are released into the duct’s air stream, out the vents, and into the occupied space.

Applying a lagging adhesive to the cut edges of insulation locks down the loose fibers.

Lagging adhesives come 32

Photo courtesy of www.airductrepairs.com

conditioned air free of debris is an important step in the process of installing air ducts.

The process of cutting and installing insulation on the inside of ducts leaves raw edges that need to be sealed.

in two main colours – black and white. Black adhesive not only seals the ductwork, but also blends in with the colour of the insulation, while white adhesive, when applied on an internally lined black insulation, makes it easy for the inspector and engineer to see that the edges are properly sealed. White has also been specified to coat the entire dark insulation surface for some hospital applications. The white coating, in this case, makes it easier to spot any build-up

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

of dust and dirt in the duct system. Spraying or brushing the cut edges is the most common method of applying the adhesive.

It is important for the product to pass a freeze thaw cycle test to ensure product quality and stability. Mould and mildew resistance is always an important part of all products used inside any ductwork.

Another use for the white lagging adhesive is to seal the wrapped insulation on hot water and chilled

water piping. The adhesive provides a vapour barrier, keeping moisture away from the metal piping.

Applying a lagging adhesive helps provide clean air to be distributed throughout the building and seals and protects water distribution piping.

The writer is Marketing Manager, Carlisle HVAC. He can be contacted at Billy.Prewitt@ CarlisleHVAC.com

20 - 21 November 2012 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia THEME:

Exploring cooling approaches, addressing fire safety concerns Like elsewhere, the key HVACR concerns for developers are finance, power, water, safety and sustainability. C3 KSA will address these concerns.

Key areas of discussion will include: • • • • •

Financing of district cooling projects Addressing water issues, including the availability of TSE Power solutions arrived at in the past year: Looking back at C3 Al Khobar in October 2011 and the progress since then Green approaches adopted by developers… is solar cooling a viable option?

Fire safety is crucial for the well-being of occupants. What innovative approaches are we seeing in design, selection of materials & equipment and installation practices?

Broadly speaking, key topics of discussion include…

• Cooling • HVAC and fire safety • Building efficiency

Special focus: What do developers in Saudi Arabia want out of cooling systems? What is the take on DX systems, chillers, district cooling, CHP? What are the considerations for taking decisions that will have a long-term impact?

UniqUE fEatUrEs • Developers will lead the discussions • Opportunity for solution providers to directly connect with developers and government authorities during the course of roundtables and presentations • Conference will lead to a set of recommendations and a clear roadmap for action

CO-HOST

PLATINUM SPONSORS

SUPPORTING ASSOCIATION

www.ccube.org For sponsorships / EXhiBiTion opporTUniTiEs: Frédéric paillé Managing Director & Associate Publisher

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

For programmE-rElaTEd qUEriEs:

For EvEnT-rElaTEd qUEriEs:

B surendar

mehwish hilal

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher

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

Events & Marketing Manager

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

prodUCEd BY

SUPPORTING PARTNER

interview BUILDING PERFORMANCE

‘20% of software is

delivered by

cloud’

So why not deploy cloud for raising the performance of buildings, says Johnson Controls, which considers Building Efficiency Systems as the next big step after Building Automation Systems. David R Clark, the Vice President of the cloud-based Panoptix Program at JCI in conversation with B Surendar of Climate Control Middle East. use at home to solve business challenges.”

And 20% of software is delivered by cloud today.

Broadly speaking, how does Panoptix work?

David R Clark

How do you view the market opportunities for cloud-based solutions in the Middle East?

We think the market opportunity is right in the Middle East. More than the market opportunity, government initiatives, such as Dubai’s green building regulations, are encouraging.

Generally speaking, people are saying, “Give me the same type of technology I 34

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

With Panoptix, we put very intuitive analytics to the data we get from buildings. Panoptix is really an eco-system we are offering and not a single software.

It starts with apps and an open platform.

In about 90 days (Editor’s note: the interview was on May 22), we will be bringing a solution developer kit, so third-party application developers can have this platform. We have a family of apps doing energy management, resource management, and utility management.

We are developing global apps.

In the UAE, for instance, you have Estidama, which is different from USGBC’s LEED rating system. So someone could write an Estidama app using our software developer kit that will run on Panoptix.

We are giving clients the ability to communicate with one another. We have built

a live chat feature, and if you are a subscriber, you can ask questions about apps.

So it’s not just software but a platform and BMS in buildings. And if we want to network with buildings the world over, we can take data out of buildings into cloud and normalise it.

What is the nature of the apps?

We are talking of apps on meters and metering that uses statistics-based analytics to make sure that meters are working as they ought to. We have a fault detection and diagnostic module (FDD). Our airside app includes 70 FDD

modules whether air side systems are working efficiently. In other words, they run 70 routines. Soon, we will be introducing a waterside app that look at chillers and pumping systems. We also have a carbon and energy recorder app that tracks energy usage and transforms that into carbon footprint information.

That way, you can publicise your carbon management activities to a community or a city, and so that opens up the option of carbon credits.

We also have an Energy Performance Monitor. If you do a lighting retrofit or chiller upgrade or install VFD, this application will do continuous reporting on how that energy project is realising savings against a baseline. There are companies that do only FDDs and CA (Customised Analyses).

We do all.

What does it cost to incorporate Panoptix?

The upfront cost is very minimal and there is a subscription fee. It is in the range of USD 5,000 to USD 25,000 to tie Panoptix to your building. And then, there is the subscription fee.

Is the ROI attractive?

The economies become very compelling for clients. We are giving these tools to our clients and empowering them.

If they need help on how to put projects in place, they just need to pick up the phone. We are empowering the clients by putting the tools into their hands, and in that way, we are very different from other companies. One of the differentiations is that we don’t take over the building. We empower the clients, instead.

But if the clients want to, we can look after their building.

For this, we can bring into

play the TBOM (Editor’s note: TBOM, which stands for Total Building Operations Maintenance is JCI’s other building energy management offering).

What kind of savings can Panoptix yield for the client?

It can save anywhere between seven per cent and 15%. In existing initiatives, it can enhance savings and improve equipment life. For example, in our headquarters building, over the last 10 years, we have reduced the carbon footprint by 30%, and Panoptix is continuing to help us, and we have continuously brought it down by 30%. Panoptix can help us continuously bring it down.

retrofitting exercise at the Empire State Building in New York City?

Yes, we need some marquee projects here. Masdar is an option.

What strategy do you have lined up for Saudi Arabia, where a key challenge is the subsidies offered on power?

In Saudi Arabia, they should have to put subsidies around energy-saving technology.

The ROI will be longer. If Saudi Arabia is taking steps to reduce the current domestic consumption of three million

barrels of oil a day, they should encourage systems like Panoptix, which will allow building owners to go beyond low-hanging fruits. 

In the Middle East, what building types are you targeting?

In the Middle East, we will focus on commercial buildings, to start with, but they need to have building automation systems (BAS). We need BAS to get data. High-density residential buildings also look promising. Basically, anything that’s connected to BAS in building, we can take data out of.

, 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

In a country like the UAE, what is a good number to begin with?

In the UAE, a couple of 100 buildings would be good for Panoptix. To get people interested in the technology, we will wrap Panoptix into a performance contract, or TBOM, and sell them together.

If the client feels the cost is going up, then you need to look at the ROI.

Are you looking to deploy Panoptix in a marquee project here, just like JCI’s

en gin eerin g

en ergy

en vironment

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

July 2012

Engineering

Energy

Environment

www.climatecontrolme.com

35

interview

The ABC of

dampers

Javed Tejani walks us through the basics of dampers through a easy-to-understand Q&A. He emphatically says that dampers can save lives in the event of a fire.

Please describe/define a fire damper, a smoke damper and a combination of both.

A fire damper is a device used to restrict the passage of flame through the ductwork of an air system. A fire damper is installed in a firerated wall or floor and closes automatically to maintain the integrity of the partition in case of fire.

A smoke damper, on the other hand, is a device used to restrict the spread of smoke in an HVAC

system, which shuts down in the event of fire, or to control the movement of smoke in a building, when the HVAC system is operating in dynamic system.

A combination of smoke fire damper is a device that can be used as a fire damper as well as a smoke damper.

Basically, fire dampers are of two types – manual and motorised. A manual fire damper consists of a bimetallic fuse link. When the temperature reaches a predetermined level, the link will break and the damper will close down.

A motorised fire damper consists of an electro-thermal heat sensor and spring return actuator (motor). When the temperature reaches a certain designed level, the heat sensor will give the signal to the actuator, and the damper will close down.

Smoke dampers are divided according to their leakage class – Class I, Class II and Class III. This class division is according to AMCA 500D table. The bigger the class, more the leakage. Class I and Class II are recommended for HVAC systems.

Please list the advantages and disadvantages of manual and motorised dampers and in what conditions do each work best?

To test a manual damper you have to open the access door and perform the drop test. This is difficult, especially when the damper is installed within a congested space. To test a motorised damper, you just have to push the button and then reset it.

In a manual damper, you have to replace the fuse link, whereas in a motorised damper, the heat sensor is reusable.

Cost-wise, a motorised fire damper is more expensive than a manual damper.

36

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

The conclusion report stated that had dampers been installed in the duct system, then casualties could have been avoided or minimised But generally speaking, though motorised dampers incur more installation cost, in the long run, they are more effective and easier to commission than manual dampers.

What are the maintenance issues involved?

If the installation of the damper is correct and according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then there will be fewer maintenance issues. Generally, in manual fire dampers, after a period of time, the fusible link could break because of heat and improper handling of the dampers. It is very important to frequently inspect the blade position of the damper and rectify any problems immediately. On motorised dampers, this issue can be solved by pressing the reset button.

What are a few thumb rules for fire damper installation?

All fire dampers have to be installed in the fire wall it is intended to protect, unless

The conclusion report stated that had dampers been installed in the duct system, then casualties could have been avoided or minimised

combination of smoke and fire damper, one should get it approved by the local civil defence authority and a certifying body like UL, EN or BS.

How important are dampers during an event of fire?

the particular fire damper is tested and approved for out-of-the-wall installation.

The access door should be installed near the damper so that it will be easier to maintain. It is always recommended to use the fire damper with an auxiliary switch as well as a visual indicator to monitor the damper blade position from outside.

In your opinion, which is more dangerous – the spread of fire or the spread of smoke?

In fire accidents, it is a well-known fact that smoke has taken more lives than the fire itself. In a recent fire incident at the AMRI Hospital in Kolkata in India, it was found that the major casualties were because of suffocation and smoke inhalation.

In any centralised air conditioning system, smoke can be managed by two different systems – the static system and the dynamic system. In a static system,

all the units are shut down in case of fire, and the smoke damper closes to prevent the spread of smoke. The static system is generally used in smaller structures like villas or low-rise buildings. In the dynamic system, in case of fire, the movement of smoke is controlled and it uses walls and floors to create the pressure difference.

Pressuring the area surrounding the fire prevents the spread of smoke to other areas. The dynamic system is generally used in high-rise buildings.

What needs to be kept in mind while selecting dampers?

Before selecting any damper, one should understand its operation. A fire damper always closes down in case of failure, while a smoke damper and combination of smoke/fire damper can be kept open or closed depending on the requirement and design of the project. While selecting a fire damper, a smoke damper or a

Once again, I cite the example of the AMRI Hospital in Kolkata. The conclusion report stated that had dampers been installed in the duct system, then casualties could have been avoided or minimised.

Do you think there are adequate codes, standards and regulations regarding dampers in the Middle East? Are they at par with international standards like the NFPA?

Once the damper is installed in the HVAC system and the building is handed over to the client, then its maintenance and commissioning needs to take charge. More codes and regulations are needed in this area.

According to the NFPA, it is mandatory that the fire damper is tested a year after installation. But it appears that hardly any contractors or facility management companies follow this.  Javed Tejani is Technical Sales Manager, Prime AC Industries. He can be contacted at: javed.tejani@primeaircon.com

July 2012

www.climatecontrolme.com

37

interview PUMPS

Hello, this is

800 PUMPS! Faisal Jassim Trading Company has launched 800 PUMPS, a service facility for the maintenance of pumps. Nadir Ilmas, Division Manager, ITT Pumps Division, explained to Climate Control Middle East the different aspects of the new initiative.

Nadir Ilmas

What is 800 PUMPS all about?

800 PUMPS is a separate, dedicated initiative for the maintenance of pumps. We have observed situations where a lot of small companies vanish from the country and, at the end of the day, their customers suffer, because 38

they don’t know where to go for maintenance. Yes, there are alternatives, but more often than not, they prove to be expensive. So Faisal Jassim came up with the 800 PUMPS initiative to offer pump maintenance service as a rational price.

Another need for 800 PUMPS was that there was quite a bit of merger activity in the GCC, and usually when a merger occurs, the mother company often will eradicate the product line of the company it is taking in, and so the product line is wiped out.

We are here to offer a service to those that bought the products prior to the merger and discovered they had nowhere to go for service.

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Are you brand-neutral, then?

Yes, we will be offering this service not only to pumps we distribute, for instance ITT, but also to other brands out in the market.

Are you extending this service to the entire GCC?

The toll-free facility is open only to customers in the UAE, but the landline is for the entire GCC. Saudi Arabia could be an interesting market, and we would look to replicate the toll-free facility there.

What is the scope of your offering and your expertise?

Faisal Jassim, as a company,

has sold at least a billion UAE dirhams worth of pumps in the last 10-15 years. We handle not only the mechanical aspects of pumps but also the electrical aspects. We do sequencing and have inhouse expertise for controls.

We can handle pumps deployed in villas to those in large petrochemical industries.

Our in-house expertise also includes balancing machines and coating machines (for internal coating).

We are trying to put up a testing facility for the hydraulic performance of pumps. It will take a year’s time to build a test rig, because we would need power supply for that.

How important is coating for the proper functioning of pumps?

If internal coating of pumps is executed, then we can see a 2-3% increase in efficiency; also, internal coating enhances the life of the pumps. There are many companies who sell internal coating but do not do the actual coating.

Coating is more or less a retrofit job for repair of centrifugal pumps. Owing to constant exposure to water, there are corrosion issues and loss of pump thickness and isolated holes. We counter these with ceramic coating; we also do fusion bonded epoxy.

in-transit John Thomas, Regal-Beloit Corporation

Regal approach

Regal-Beloit Corporation recently executed a re-branding exercise. The company’s VP for the Asia Pacific region, John Thomas was recently in Dubai. Thomas and the company’s Director for the MENA region, Joe Thomas, spoke to B Surendar about the changes at Regal-Beloit and its approach to doing business in the region.

Why did you change the name to Regal from Regal-Beloit?

John Thomas: We wanted to take this opportunity to refresh our company’s brand image as well as simplify the commonly used name for our global teams, customers and partners to Regal. The official name of the corporation remains Regal-Beloit Corporation and our stock will continue to be traded under the RBC symbol on the NYSE.

What is the company’s view of the (GCC/Middle East) region?

John Thomas: While we continue to witness economic uncertainty in many of the major markets around the globe, we remain optimistic of growth potential for our products and the HVAC industry in the Middle East region based on the fundamentals of construction and infrastructure investment driving economic growth.

Joe Thomas: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is seeing significant growth connected with construction. As a motor

and control manufacturer, we have close working relationships with all the major manufacturers in the eastern, central and western provinces of the Kingdom, and look forward to supporting their success in the future.

Qatar will also be a very dynamic HVAC market going forward. There are over 200 five-star hotel construction projects being planned for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

What are your strategies vis-à-vis the region?

John Thomas: Regal is a company operating on six continents around the globe, focused on developing and providing innovative solutions to our customers and their HVAC systems. Over the last three years, Regal has doubled the number of new products introduced to our customers, and during 2011 alone, we introduced 50 new products and system solutions across our global markets.

Electric motors consume a significant portion of society’s electrical energy; so our innovation efforts are focused primarily on energy efficiency

and enhanced performance in the application for the user. Even though the cost for electrical energy in this market is very affordable compared to other major economies, I am very encouraged by the local interest on topics of sustainability and energyefficient building construction.

We want to engage with our HVAC customers and design new products to be a part of this regional efficiency trend across the air conditioning and commercial refrigeration markets.

Could you elaborate on the customer service aspect of the business?

John Thomas: Customer Care is a top initiative across Regal, and we know that our customers rely on us to provide a high quality product, at the right time, and with industry leading reliability in the application.

We are committed to continue to listen carefully to our customers’ changing needs and continue to improve our performance from our global manufacturing and design centres to meet or exceed their July 2012

expectations. We recognise when we perform well for our customers, they win, which leads to our future success.

Are you keenly looking at Iraq to expand business?

John Thomas: From talking to our customers, we see the Iraq market as very promising with strong future demand for both consumer and commercial HVAC products. We look forward to appropriately supporting our customers efforts to expand their business is this growth market.  www.climatecontrolme.com

39

country report ITALY

Waiting for a miracle As Europe stands precariously on the brink of an economic precipice, the HVACR sector in Italy, as most other things, is predicated to the global economic slowdown in general and the European crisis in particular. Given the dismal outlook, the sector has braced itself for a protracted period of a sluggish market, but keeps hoping for a miracle.

By Pratibha Umashankar

T

The present economic scenario in Europe brings to mind an old joke: Three men met at a park. The first one sighed. The second one sighed in response. The third one said irritably, “Oh, stop discussing the economy!”

The joke may sound cruel, but it is, perhaps, an eloquent comment on Europe’s present mood. And Italy is no exception. It is hard to miss the irony. The 2007 Chillventa country report on Italy said: “The refrigeration and air conditioning market in Italy has strong sales growth to show. A total of 13.4% more units were sold and 22.2% more of turnover achieved in 2007 40

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

compared with the previous year.”

Italy was dubbed the “Land of air conditioning” The Italian Association of Manufacturers of Air Conditioning and Ventilation Equipment Co. AER (Associazione construttori di apparecchiature ed impianti aeraulici), which published its statistics in March 2007, gloated that it was a positive year for the Italian HVAC sector with 13.4% more air conditioning units sold and 22.2% more turnover achieved compared with 2006. Although the production figures of the Italian companies had actually dropped overall by 1.4%, the turnover had risen by 13.4%.

There was a hidden subtext here, predicting the events to come. But the general mood of optimism, buoyed by statistics, prevented many from reading the signs of the times. Then came the global economic crisis, and the outlook in Europe changed completely.

Michele Paccagnella, Managing Director, MP3 Srl, with its head office in Camposampiero, Padova,

In the absence of new constructions, the (HVACR) market will be in recession, and it is exactly the situation we are in now Italy, admits as much when he says, “The European/global crisis has been continuing to heavily influence the HVACR sector in the last three years. The market has fallen by no less than 30%.”

Salah El Deeb, MEA Sales Manager, Castel Srl, Milan, agrees.

The economic crisis has definitely impacted Europe since late 2008

and early 2009,” he says and adds, “But in the last two years, the stronger companies have had a slight edge.

His company is a supplier of components for refrigeration and air conditioning applications and supplies to big and small OEM customers through distributors.

El Deeb, echoing Castel’s conviction believes that mega projects will continue as planned, the financial fragility of the market notwithstanding. “It’s a case of ‘stop and go’,” he analyses.

“Projects that have been injured have suffered slowdowns and a few have seen accelerations. The market outlook is that this is a reality which must be faced.”

Speaking about his company’s game plan, he adds: “Our organisation is based on an Italian network of area managers and agents, and the strategies we use for facing the global slowdown are mainly to focus on our core business and approaching customers through area commercial dealers. We are also looking at a process

of internationalisation, which includes opening a subsidiary in China.”

It appears that China is to Europe what Qatar and Saudi Arabia are to the Middle Eastern HVACR markets. Too many hopes are pinned on a growing Chinese market, thus rendering the Italian market vulnerable to the all-toofamiliar domino effect.

Paccagnella succinctly sums up the HVACR market outlook when he says: “The growth of the construction sector is directly proportional to the growth of our country. In the absence of new constructions, the (HVACR) market will be in recession, and it is exactly the situation we are in now.”

GENERAL FEATURES

From small distributers to a consolidated market:

Unlike in many other countries in Europe, the wholesale trade in Italy is spread among and organised by many smaller regional distributors. This is true not only of the components and

refrigerants segments, but also applies to refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The big companies are represented by many smaller associations, with no single federation. However, the trend is now moving from a fragmented market to a consolidated one, and also

In the market for ducts, the main innovations seen in the last few years have been polyurethane ducts and antimicrobial treatments for ducts

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country report ITALY

The gondolas of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

With a view to achieving the goals EU has set for itself, countries in the Union, including Italy have set their gaze on equipment and building design for achieving high energy efficiency. This has had a direct bearing on the country’s and the continent’s HVACR sector 42

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Salah El Deeb

Michele Paccagnella

towards competing with international players.

“Our strategy is to gradually reduce our sales in the domestic market and increase our exports,” reveals Paccagnella, reflecting this. “The evidence to show this is that in the first five months of 2012, in comparison to 2011, the total sales was about five per cent more with -13% in the Italian market and +38% in exports markets. The main players are our main competitors.”

Hospital sector helps the ailing market:

Another trend is that the largest public investments have been in the hospital sector, though from 2011, there has been a significant reduction in the number of tenders in this sector, too, as a result of the economic crisis.

MP3, a manufacturing company, with distributors, installers and contractors as its customers, has managed to keep afloat with contracts in the healthcare segment, despite the slowdown.

“We are today among the most important companies in the sector, leading in the fire prevention market (fire dampers),” Paccagnella claims. “The most important contracts we have obtained are for the supply of components for newrestructuring of hospitals, UN military bases, as also airports. The value of the contracts range between €200.000,00 and €700.000,00”

Going clean and green:

With green buildings being the buzzword, the concepts of environmental impact and eco-responsibility have gained greater traction in Italy. The focus has also shifted to Indoor Air Quality. There is a greater realisation, therefore, that cooling tower maintenance can pay good dividends, in terms of both energy efficiency and IAQ. Duct cleaning is also seen as playing a big role in better IAQ. Environmentally speaking, more efficient compressors and natural refrigerants, which reduce ozone depletion, are fast becoming the norm rather than a fad.

In the AHU sector, the main innovations are linked to energy saving and high efficiency heat recovery.

Ducting and fire safety:

“In the market for ducts, the main innovations seen in the last few years have been polyurethane ducts and antimicrobial treatments for ducts,” says Paccagnella. Apart from this, with tighter fire safety regulations being stringently followed all over the world, Italy has also seen the HVACR sector being co-opted into it with a call for newer technologies in ducting.

“In the fire prevention sector, as a result of the new European directive which is being introduced for all member states of the EU, new products are being developed, which, in addition to stopping the propagation of fire, must also block hot and cold fumes from spreading in buildings as these are one of the main causes of deaths in case of fires,” Paccagnella points out. “It is also necessary for these new products to undergo tests for all possible types of applications and very rigid construction and control systems must be put into effect as a result of the importance of these products.”

POWER STRUGGLE Mirroring the global predicament, steep energy cost in Italy has brought into sharp focus the need to implement energy-saving initiatives and reducing power bills. This, in turn, has underpinned the need for energyefficient equipment in the HVACR sector, and highlights the importance of electric drives as advanced and cost-effective solutions for HVACR components.

“For this reason, a new association has now been set up as part of Co.AER, the Italian Heat Pumps Association, which represents the interests of the industry, promotes research projects and developments and is also a member of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA),” says a Chillventa report.

(Chillventa country report: ITALY, 2007) “Heat pumps are also promoted by the Italian government,” the report continues.

“Law number 244 on highly efficient heat pumps has been in force since 24.

12. 2007, under which, 55% of the costs can be deducted direct from tax. This also includes costs associated with the replacement of existing plants with highly efficient heat pumps.”

Maria Calabria, in an analysis of the HVAC sector, vis-à-vis the heat pump market, states that in Italy, energy consumption for civilian use corresponds to approximately 90% of the total consumption, and heating and air conditioning systems absorb about one-third of total energy needs. “The implementation of energy savings programmes in the HVAC area can have a significant impact on Italian energy consumption and allow Italy to reach Kyoto objectives and European Union commitments,” she says.

“The use of GHPs alone could bring Italy to meet its renewable energy obligations by 2020.” (Italy: HVAC – Geothermal Heat Pump Market, US Commercial Service, United States of America, Department Of Commerce, September 2009)

Italy was one of the first EU countries to provide incentives for adopting energy-saving technologies in the construction sector. This is, of course, in line with the 2020 target

It is interesting that the US Department of Commerce admits that US was once the world leader in GHP technology and market development, but that the European markets now absorb two to three times the number of GHP July 2012

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country report ITALY units annually as do the US domestic markets. According to EPHA, the European heat pump market is growing progressively in most European countries, and the most significant growth is found in the larger markets, including Italy.

In this regard, it needs to be noted that Italy is dependent on imports for 84% of its energy, 50% of which comes from France alone. With changing climate patterns, demand for air conditioning systems has risen in the residential and the industrial sector. Heat pumps are, therefore, increasingly being seen as a possible solution, as they can double up for heating and cooling in view of the Mediterranean climate that prevails in Italy. However, the fact remains that EU, as most of Europe, is tightening legislation affecting building energy performance requirements and renewable energies, to help cut down energy bills and improve sustainability.

TARGET 20/20/20 According to the European Commission: “In March 2007, the European Union (EU) leaders endorsed an integrated approach to climate and energy policy that aims to combat climate change and increase the EU’s energy security, while strengthening its competitiveness.” They committed Europe to transforming itself into a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy.” (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/ policies/package/index_en.htm) To initiate this process, the EU heads of state and governments have set a series of of demanding climate and energy targets to be met by 2020, known as the “20-2020” targets. These are: • A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels • 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources • A 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency The EU leaders have also offered to increase the EU’s emissions reduction to 30%, on condition that other major emitting countries in the developed and developing worlds commit to do their fair share under a global climate agreement. (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ package/index_en.htm) 44

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

In the light of this, reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption, promoting energy efficiency, cost savings and environmental sustainability have become not just a trend, but are mandatory.

Focus on design:

With a view to achieving the goals EU has set for itself, countries in the Union, including Italy have set their gaze on equipment and building design for achieving high energy efficiency. This has had a direct bearing on the country’s and the continent’s HVACR sector. High efficiency, energy saving and renewable technologies will eventually phase out traditional designs and technologies. The sector will, therefore, witness a complete system revamp and integration and incorporation of renewable energy.

This will also see a shift in technology balance of power. The race is on for coming up with innovative product designs which will factor in the cost element. “There is big attention towards this, and the market demands for products that respond to this need for innovation is very strong,” admits El Deeb. Coming to specifics, he adds, “Certainly, in Italy, innovation passes through more efficient products from the point of view of energy savings and possibly with the use of refrigerants as alternatives to the current ones.”

INNOVATION AND PRICING – THE BALANCING ACT There are many new directives and policies in place in Italy for the construction, energy-saving and energyefficiency classification of buildings.

The government also offers incentives for alternative sources of energy and encourages installations of photovoltaic solar panels and high efficiency systems.

In fact, Italy was one of the first EU countries to provide incentives for adopting energy-saving technologies in the construction sector. This is, of course, in line with the 2020 target.

Since 2010, 57.5% of small and medium enterprises in Italy have invested in energy-saving practices.

However, the bleak economic scenario has created setbacks to the collective good intentions of the government and the HVACR industry. Paccagnella voices this market sentiment: “Unfortunately, due to the current crisis, subsidies towards research for new technological solutions have been practically nil.

Within the R&D help plan, the current government is evaluating whether to restart the support given to the industrial sector for R&D of sustainable solutions.

Again, unfortunately, due to the current economic crisis, the policy for incentives faces constant changes and is slowing down significantly in this important sector, which, in the last few years, has had an exponential growth, and which has created many new jobs. With the market facing a significant slowdown, currently, it is not clear what will happen next.”

Speaking about his own company’s sustainable initiatives, Paccagnella claims that towards the end of 2008, MP3 started a new series of projects for

the development of new products. “In 2009, 2010 and 2011 we invested over three million Euros and more is still being invested in this current year, 2012,” he reveals. “As a result of these investments, MP3 is able to tackle the recession in the Italian market with new technological

Maintaining the pricequality ratio and yet trying to drive an economic advantage has been a real challenge for the country’s HVACR sector

products which will allow moving sales from Italy to overseas markets.”

Penetration into the regional markets in Eastern Europe is also being viewed as a strategic response to economic and energy challenges, with manufacturers shifting their bases to Eastern Europe to reduce their production outlays and to cater to the increased automation needs of the countries in this region.

But heavy investments made in infrastructure, expansion of industries and production, including the HVACR sector, may not now pay the dividends expected. Moreover, with the entire Europe being in crisis mode, with small pockets as exceptions, moving base now may prove to be a futile exercise.

Against the backdrop of economic uncertainty and turmoil and the balancing act of reaching target 2020 with dwindling R&D funding, the increasing clamour by end users is to keep the prices of HVACR products and services low. Maintaining the price-quality ratio and yet trying to drive an economic advantage has been a real challenge for the country’s HVACR sector. Paccagnella puts the dilemma in a nutshell: “Any new solution becomes interesting for the end user only when the economic saving results from the sum of the initial cost of the new product and the management costs, compared to the previous solution.”

To lure more customers, the sector in Italy probably needs to come up with low-cost, off-the-shelf solutions for specific applications, and put grand designs in cold storage for the present.

CONCLUSION The HVACR industry in Italy, as in the whole of Europe, is undergoing unprecedented change. But it is a negative change. The dynamics which once drove the positive transformation – technological innovation in building design and energy conservation – which promised to flood the market with equipment and applications, has taken

a beating. What dictates terms to the sector now is cost for the end user and maintaining a decent bottom line for the manufacturers and service providers.

Factors like spiralling energy costs and mandatory compliance with energy efficiency standards, together with a focus on IAQ and its impact on human health, are the big challenges.

Paccagnella spells out the roadblocks in the path to achieving sustainability in a climate of economic crisis, with an eye on the price tag: “The challenges that the HVACR sector is facing and will face in the coming years are primarily linked to the Research and Development of green products, with low-energy consumption, low environmental impact, low pollution and reduced noise levels. The growth of the HVACR sector in the global economic context will be influenced mainly by the situation in the construction sectors, that is, from construction and economic policies in various countries.”

In an increasingly gloablised market, no country can insulate itself from the trends worldwide, positive or negative.

At present, they are negative and these, unfortunately, do not have quick-fix solutions.

El Deeb, voicing his company’s policy, says, “We are optimistic about the ability of HVACR Italian companies for the coming years, thanks to their power to become international, taking advantage of all the opportunities of the international markets.”

“As an enterprise, we must always maintain optimism,” concedes Paccagnella. “But we are also forced to be realistic. Today in Italy, there are no indicators that make us think there can be a quick recovery. In fact, many businesses are closing or are moving their factories abroad.” But he hastens to add: “It is also equally true that things could change very quickly if there was a change in strategy and greater attention paid to economic policy by the current government. Once it realises that Italian companies must be supported even if they are simple and concrete measures, like guaranteeing the circulation of money in short time spans, both between companies and public bodies, like in Germany and France, things will start to improve quickly.”

Probably, that would change sighs of anguish to sighs of relief.  July 2012

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22-23 MAY 2012 THE ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA, UAE 22-23 MAY 2012

THE ADDRESS DUBAIREPORT MARINA, UAE POST-EVENT

EVENT ROUND-UP

‘We need a framework’

Food establishments, refrigeration experts call for food safety legislation at the third edition of Food Chain Story: B Surendar

F

ood Chain Dubai 2012, on May 22 and 23 at The Address Dubai Marina, was a useful exercise for all delegates, with several key takeaways.

The participating food establishments were most forthcoming with their views, and they spoke with a deep sense of purpose.

They spoke about the importance of quality and safety, the need for legislation and enforcement, and the need for better awareness, education and training.

Abdul Rasheed of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, set the tone by sharing with delegates how in a survey in the UK, 55% of the respondents said they would switch brands immediately in response to food safety incidents. Rasheed’s words demonstrated the critical nature of cold chain. In other words, it was a clear message to the refrigeration industry that what they did and what they provided could impact not only health but also perception.

This proved beyond doubt that brand managers at food establishments and refrigeration engineers had a similar goal ahead of them.

Another participant, Lachlan Bowtell of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), said, “High quality and integrity do sell.” So that was further proof for the refrigeration industry, is ever one was needed, that their exertions were intertwined with the

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The refrigerator is working perfectly in the supermarket, but then the people go home, and in the 12-hour gap, no one knows if the refrigeration system has defaulted society at large.

Jeroen Tollenar of Culimer Seafood Company also spoke of quality and about how maintaining tuna at -60°C (super frozen) prevented discolouration. He said, “It prevents the plasma inside the cells to crystalise and expand to maintain the fresh cell structure.” In other words, if temperature control were to be compromised, chefs in five star hotels would consider the tuna less appealing. In short, Tollenar alluded to the fact that refrigeration was closely associated with market economics.

A recurring theme on Day 1 was the need for legislation. Speaker after speaker, and panelist after panelist, be they from the food establishments or the authorities, touched upon this subject.

Frédéric Paillé, Managing Director and Associate Publisher - Climate Control Middle East with Asia Abdulwahab Al Raeesi, Head of Studies and Food Planning Section, Food Control Department - Dubai Municipality during the official launch of ‘I care about food safety’ campaign

Abdul Rasheed, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (Middle East)

Lachlan Bowtell, Meat and Livestock Australia

Even when they have the equipment, they tend to switch off the alerts, which raises a serious issue,” he said. “If the commitment is not there, how will we monitor the quality?”

Bowtell of Meat and Livestock Australia said how he would love for the UAE to have one standard for the importation of meat and livestock.

“At this point, we have one standard for Dubai, one for Abu Dhabi, one for Sharjah and one for Ras Al Khaimah,” he said. “As an exporting entity, it is very frustrating.”

Carrying the point of the need for legislation further, Bobby Krishna of Dubai Municipality spoke of how he had noticed the refrigeration holding equipment to be almost always overstacked. And Dr Suheel Ahmed of Arabian Farms spoke of improper handling of chicken in the cold store.

He spoke of how the doors were kept open for eight hours, with vehicles coming in and going out, allowing hot air to enter the area, resulting in temperature abuse. He spoke about the need to address this particular issue and also the need for not only installing data loggers but also monitoring them over several intervals in a day.

He suggested that legislation could be introduced to cover these critical aspects of the food supply chain.

Mike Wunsch of Barakat spoke of doors of fridges being kept open in summertime in petrol stations. As a result, the juices his company supplied were exposed to temperatures like 15°C.

Roundtable 1 Panel: (L-R) Uwe Micheel, Radisson Blu Hotels and Resorts; Suraj P, Lulu Hypermarkets; Bobby Krishna T M, Dubai Municipality; Dr Joanne Taylor, Higher Colleges and Technologies / TSI, UK

Alexander Hoier, Viessmann Cold Rooms Middle East

Prakash Krishnamoorthy, Carrier Transicold Europe – Gulf Office

He spoke for the need for legislation to curb this practice and, thus, protect high-risk food products.

A member of the audience spoke about the need for temperature monitoring and recording as something very critical. “The refrigerator is working perfectly in the supermarket, but then the people go home, and in the 12-hour gap, no one knows if the refrigeration system has defaulted or if the power has gone off, so there is a need for continuous monitoring, and this need to be regulated by the authorities,” he said.

Dr Ahmed spoke of the need for

Dr Zahid Rizvi, Johnson Controls

commitment from store owners to not only handle the food properly but also to demand that equipment manufacturers delivered the best possible equipment. Currently, he said, the commitment towards food safety was not there. “Even when they have the equipment, they tend to switch off the alerts, which raises a serious issue,” he said. “If the commitment is not there, how will we monitor the quality, he asked.”

Chef Uwe Michel Steen of Radisson spoke of how he had observed open trucks leaving the wholesale market and how vegetables were loaded

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22-23 MAY 2012 THE ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA, UAE 22-23 MAY 2012

THE ADDRESS DUBAIREPORT MARINA, UAE POST-EVENT

EVENT ROUND-UP

Cold stores have to be as high as possible to justify the investments.

Cold air goes down, so higher the cold store, the more money we can save

in the streets. He also remarked on how most small restaurants and smaller supermarkets were not climate controlled at all.

Bobby Krishna said that legislation needed to be binding on the food industry, which often complained about the availability of space and money, but when the layout for a new supermarket was done, the least priority was given to the choice of location of the refrigeration equipment. For instance, he said, it was not a good idea to keep the

Roundtable 2 Panel: (L-R) Raad J Hulow, Emirates Flight Catering; Srilal Palihakkara, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach; Ghaleb Abusaa, The Three Factors Company (en³ Solutions) and Hassan Sultan, Dubai Municipality

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equipment in an area that was exposed to sunlight for a larger part of the day.

This, he observed, had ramifications for cost and also safety.

Rasheed of CIEH added to this by saying there was an opportunity for the cold chain industry to get into regulation and get guidelines on how to use the equipment effectively. And in coming up with legislation, the HVACR industry needed to support the regulators.

A member of the audience spoke about the unprofessional sector and the professional sector in the food industry and how so many owners in the unprofessional sector had no understanding of food and how in order to save costs, they bought low equipment that was not durable and how the layout was poorly planned.

The member of the audience gave the example of the freezer door being kept open outside and the food being exposed to heat shock. He suggested the need for legislation in that area and added that such food establishments should be identified at the very beginning – at the point where they started registering for licenses. “They ought to be trained in proper food handling methods and they have to be strictly told to pay attention to the layout of their stores,” he said.

The member of the audience also spoke about the need for predictive maintenance.

With reference to the professional sector, he said that consulting companies should help the food establishments get training in handling such equipment as blast chillers.

Another member of the audience, Raymond de Graaf of Al Reyami spoke of the need for Dubai Municipality to establish regulations for the construction of cold storage facilities and how the Emirate did not permit the construction of structures exceeding 50 metres. Saying that floor space in Dubai was expenseive, but building into the air was relatively cheap, he suggested regulation in this. “Cold stores have

Nobody was going to assess what the consultant offered or what the manufacturer offered, because the standards simply were not there

Anil Nair, Kraft Foods

Michael Fell, Emarat

to be as high as possible to justify the investments,” he said. “Cold air goes down, so higher the cold store, the more money we can save.”

It was heartening to note that Dubai Municipality, to whom the suggestions and appeals for legislation were made, responded in a positive fashion and with utter transparency. Asia Abdulwahab Al Raeesi, Bobby Krishna and Bashir Yousif, three key figures at Dubai Municipality’s Food Control Department, were candid in their view and acknowledged the need for legislation. For instance, while speaking during a panel discussion, Yousif said he did see a gap that legislation had to fill. He added that nobody was going to assess what the consultant offered or what the manufacturer offered, because the standards simply were not there.

He spoke for the need to approve certain consultants and suggested that there was a possible role for the Dubai Accreditation Centre in approving the consultants and ensuring that cold chain facilities were designed as per technical standards.

Al Raeesi added that legislation would certainly help in gaining a better understanding of the situation.

Interestingly enough, Richard Sprenger of the Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance, during a presentation, spoke of how legislation did not necessarily lead to best practice. He was speaking from a UK perspective. He said that legislation in itself was not enough, especially in the case of small food premises, because they did not have the resources and the means to understand and interpret the legislation. So there was the need for a link between the government and the food premises to ensure the purpose of the legislation was met.

Sprenger added that food safety legislation depended on science, environment and existing standards.

Legislation, he said, faced several hurdles. “What is the cost of legislation?” is a common question, he said.

Another influence was commercial pressure, Sprenger said, adding that public pressure also affected legislation. In all, he said, these challenges needed to be addressed. 

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perspective WATER MANAGEMENT

WATER

MANAGEMENT – KEY TO THE FUTURE With the steady decline in freshwater sources throughout the Gulf, clean water is being perceived as the new oil of the 21st century in the region. This has prompted governments to focus on wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse.

O

ne of the key strategies adopted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to counter the effects of the global downturn was to intensify investments in infrastructure. The region’s leaders reasoned that critical growth factors, such as energy and water, had to be better managed to sustain economic development amidst the recession, and support diversification into non-oil businesses that could help their respective nations broaden their income sources. This foresight has allowed the region to soften the blow of sharp falls in global oil demand and the global decline in consumer and business confidence, witnessed over the past few years.

Watering the growth

While oil defined the Middle East’s growth in the last century, water is significantly shaping the region’s destiny in the current one. Given its

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geographic location, the GCC, for one, is hard-pressed to optimise the use of its water resources. Water shortage is an ongoing threat in this region, which has to provide for a growing population and its sanitary needs, while meeting the growing water requirement of its various high-growth industries.

Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yield annual per-capita freshwater resources of approximately 100 cubic metres, falling far short of the internationally recognised minimal amount of 1,000 cubic metres water per person per year. Water

While oil defined the Middle East’s growth in the last century, water is significantly shaping the region’s destiny in the current one

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Fact highlights n Key strategies adopted by the GCC countries to counter the effects of the global downturn was to intensify investments into infrastructure n Water shortage is an ongoing threat in this region, which has to provide for a growing population and its sanitary needs, while meeting the growing water requirement of its various highgrowth industries. n Water and wastewater treatment infrastructure rank high in the development agendas of the GCC countries. n Around 70% of investments are being channelled towards sewage and wastewater treatment plants, as the GCC is highly dependent on desalinated water – the region’s major clean water source – which is very expensive to process. n The UAE alone plans to increase its desalination capacity by a staggering 76% to 14.1 million cubic metres a day this year.

The region is a global leader in membrane-based desalination technology, and with more wastewater treatment plants expected to adopt tertiary treatment, huge opportunities for wastewater treatment technologies, such as Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are expected to arise and wastewater treatment infrastructure thus rank high in the development agendas of GCC countries.

“Clean water is perceived as the new oil of the 21st century in this part of the world,” says Tawfiq Abu Soud, Managing Director, Drake and Scull Water and Power (DSWP).

Clearly, more effective strategies are needed to balance the dwindling supply and skyrocketing demand. The good news is that the GCC governments have both the funds and the political will to roll out advanced and longterm water and wastewater management programmes.

The next ingredients, then, are the right technologies and the right experts to fulfill their water-related agendas.”

There are many water treatment schemes currently being used in the GCC, including demineralisation,

membrane technologies, clarification, and disinfection.

The region is a global leader in membrane-based desalination technology, and with more wastewater treatment plants expected to adopt tertiary treatment, huge opportunities for wastewater treatment technologies, such as Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are expected to arise.

Municipalities account for the majority of end users for water and wastewater treatment equipment, cornering 60% of the overall market in 2010. Industrial end users account for the remaining 40%. Municipal wastewater treatment is a priority area for local governments due to various reasons, such as achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and concerns over the preservation of groundwater quality and the protection of marine ecosystems. In the industrial segment, oil and gas and petrochemical industries make up a huge 65% of the market. The six per cent average annual increase in water demand across the region has spurred a big boom in wastewater treatment and desalination plants, with all governments set to fund major water projects. Around 70% of investments are being channelled towards sewage and wastewater treatment plants, as the GCC is highly dependent on desalinated water – the region’s major clean water source – which is very expensive to process. The UAE alone plans to increase its desalination capacity by a staggering 76% to 14.1 million cubic metres a day this year.

The steady decline in freshwater throughout the

Gulf means that the focus will shift to wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse. Recycled water is already widely used in landscaping and district cooling throughout the region.

The vital question

The important question the region needs to ask itself is: What will the Arab world do when it runs out of water?

It is a question that the region will hopefully not have to answer, as it has started pursuing the use of advanced equipment, technologies and expertise to preserve the quantity

July 2012

and quality of its available water resources. With specialists being ushered into the field, the GCC is earnestly working towards laying out an effective water management infrastructure that will enable it to meet the needs of its people and the industries that fuel its progress. 

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feature MOTORS

The

driving force

Motor is the heart of most HVACR equipment. And like any heart, it consumes copious amounts of energy and demands great care and maintenance.

Fortunately, unlike its human counterpart, which comes in one fixed model provided by nature, with minor qualitative difference, a man-made motor can be constantly improved upon with technology, and is therefore ever-evolving.

The GCC region is trying to keep up with the evolution.

By Pratibha Umashankar

C

Comfort comes at a high cost. And so does progress.

A motor needs to be kept ticking for both – for indoor comfort in homes and offices and to keep the wheels of industry moving. Motors in the commercial and the residential segments in the HVACR sectors combined together, therefore, use up a lot of energy. Motors reportedly consume more than 50% of all the electrical

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energy generated in the United States and more than 30% of all the electricity used in the commercial sector. Most motors in the commercial sector are used to power HVACR systems.

According to industry insiders, it is quite common for a motor to annually consume many times its capital cost in electricity.

The GCC countries, with their energy consumption and carbon footprint highly disproportionate to their size and population, have the dubious track record of emulating their western counterparts in this regard.

The Middle East region is considered one of the biggest offenders when it comes to the HVACR industry, causing

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

environmental damage. For this reason, the HVACR sector worldwide, and in the region, has come under a lot of pressure in recent years to opt for motors that are energyefficient and environmentally sustainable. The challenge is to adopt new technologies that suit the region’s harsh climatic conditions. In this regard, being open to innovative products and educating everyone right across the board are keys to better products and energy savings.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT In the last two decades, as the clamour for greener motors increased, major motor manufacturers began earmarking huge

sums of money for R&D in the development of new technology, with manufacturers and the engineering fraternity joining hands to maximise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. But the recession and its unrelenting consequences have had their impact not only on R&D funding but also directly on the market itself, one affecting the other. Thus, the global economic slowdown has had a twofold impact – on innovation and sales.

The region which saw a buoyant market for HVACR products and services during the real estate boom have experienced a slump, which, in turn, has reduced revenues which can be channelised for

better technology worldwide.

The global markets in the sector have witnessed about 30% lower sales, which is reflected in the markets regionally, especially for traditional AC induction motor, believes Young Chun (James) Jeung, PresidentFounder, CTO SN Tech Inc, Phoenix, USA and South Korea. “But the market for green motors or smart motors has rapidly grown more than 20% to 30% since 2010,” he says. “Most of the OEMs want to use high-efficiency and smart control motors to add to their product competitiveness. Also, endusers want to cut energy bills.

So, the green motor market is moving towards growth.”

The region’s HVACR sector has traditionally had a tremendous potential, and might gather steam in the region’s search for better technology, despite a sluggish construction sector.

GREEN AND SMART TECHNOLOGY Rising energy costs and global concerns over environmental degradation are encouraging OEMs and suppliers to explore new ways of powering equipment.

Lower voltage products that run either independently of the electrical grid or are powered by solar energy is the hallmark of today’s motors. As buildings increasingly become intelligent and green, sustainable technology and smart integration are the buzzwords in the motor industry. Smart integration motor controllers provide integrated solutions for driving low-power single-coil brushless fans and motors.

The addition of variable

speed drive provides intelligent and accurate control to the motor, thus reducing power to the exact cooling requirement, or the exact water pressure required.

A section of experts are of the opinion that using a variable speed drive on a fan or a pump can reduce its electric consumption by 30% to 50%. They also posit the view that it may be more expedient to use low-energyconsumption products like smart motors to save energy than investing in mega renewable energy projects like wind or photovoltaic power plants, which demand heavy investments. “This is the reason why the US Government and Department of Energy have developed a new strategy to encourage using high-efficiency motors, such as smart motors or green motors, which can control speed by electronic device and permanent magnet rotor, as there is a lot of wastage in AC induction motors,” Jeung says. “Also, if ECMs (Electronically Commutated Motors) are used in HVACR applications instead of AC motors, we can reduce CO2 emission equaling to 1,000,000 cars per year. Therefore, AC induction motors are now like the ‘legacy’ light bulbs – relics that will be replaced

by ECMs, just as LED lighting will phase out old bulbs within the next 10 years.”

Thus, intelligent variablespeed drives are being integrated into motors that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy to save on power and for better control of temperature, humidity and fresh air. Speaking about his own company’s initiatives,

Jeung says, “SN Tech has developed not only intelligent variable speed motors but also intelligent operating software to serve various HVAC applications.”

AC induction motors are now like the “legacy” light bulbs – relics which will be replaced by ECMs, just as LED lighting will phase out old bulbs within the next 10 years Green motors operate in a wide range of linear step-less speed controls and are used for HVACR systems like air conditioners, fans, blowers, air drying units, gate and door air curtains and air conditioned transportation systems.

Jeung estimates that most of the HVACR applications in the residential segment use less than 1 Hp motor for 70% of the demands and that the commercial and industrial HVACR sectors uses 2 to 5 Hp motors for 30% of the demands. “The hermetic ECM will be a great opportunity to develop smart compressors, which can save more than 40% of electricity consumption compared to conventional compressors,” Jeung says.

All the innovations would prove beneficial to the region, which is facing an energy crisis, and particularly to Qatar, which is gearing up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia, which has huge housing projects under

July 2012

way. Supporting this view, Jeung says that the HVACR motor market could be over 70% of the total motor market in the GCC region.

“We are really interested in developing the Saudi HVACR market since there is a great potential to save energy against huge electricity consumption,” he elaborates.

THE RETROFIT MARKET With a move towards smart/intelligent and green buildings, there is a great potential even for the retrofit market as existing buildings are moving towards replacing AC motors. In fact, Jeung believes that at present, the retrofit market is bigger than the OEM market. “Since we don’t have a presence in the Kingdom and Qatar, we are looking forward to engaging with local OEM and HVACR motor distributors for the retrofit market,” he says.

WHY ECM? ECM technology is based on a brushless DC permanent magnet design that is inherently more efficient than the shaded-pole and permanent-split-capacitor (PSC) motors. PSC induction motors are, or used to be, the common feature in air handlers, air conditioners and refrigeration applications right across the HVACR industry. The ECM motors are made of two components – a motor control (control module) and a motor, sometimes called the motor module. By combining electronic controls with brushless DC motors, ECMs can maintain efficiency across a wide range of operating speeds. (Info from: http:// www.marathonelectric. in/marathon-technology-

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feature MOTORS innovation/ecm-motors.html) In a nutshell, the ECM motor is a three-phase motor with a permanent magnet rotor, which contributes to the electrical efficiency.

Also, it has the sensorless ability to control the revolutions per minute (rpm) and commutation (when to alternate the cycle). DC motors typically require brushes to set the commutation function, while ECM motors do not. In this sense, they are brushless DC motors. The sum total of the benefits the technology offers is: increased electrical efficiency, combating energy loss, the ability to programme a more precise operation of the motor and enhanced indoor comfort. Therefore, it is used in over a wide spectrum of HVACR system performance applications ranging from pumps, furnace fans and air conditioner fans and blowers to garage door openers and air compressors.

For these reasons, ECMs, have rapidly gained favour in the motor sector in the United States, and are being widely used in its residential HVACR systems. They have also found acceptance in the region, as it moves rapidly towards a greener HVACR market.

Jeung confirms this when he says: “The ECM technology would be a key element in HVACR applications in the near future. Already, there is a shift towards it in the HVACR market in North America.

The region basically needs wide speed control motors with smart programming in order to adapt to various optimal controlling in HVACR applications and environments, and especially

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ECM manufacturers are developing high-reliability motors to suit the high temperatures and humidity in the region, which is on the path of course correction after decades of indiscriminate energy use requires high temperature and humidity reliability as the temperatures in the GCC region can reach up to 50ºC and 95% humidity with the desert and sea around.”

CHALLENGES The motor sector in the region typically faces the challenges that can be termed the “usual suspects”: • Installation challenges – lack of awareness and non-conformity to installation manuals • Lack of stringent regulations – the region lags behind in best practices, as there is no stringent legislation in place covering the motors industry • Price versus quality issues – price dictating terms over quality due to economic slowdown, resulting in substandard products making inroads into the market. This can be linked to lack of regulation, owing to which, energy efficiency is neglected and purchase decisions are

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

solely based on price, with sustainability, performance, reliability and longevity becoming casualties • Sizing – many motor systems are oversized, resulting in running at low efficiency CONCLUSION The motor industry is undergoing tremendous change as a result of demand for greater performance and energy efficiency, reliability and cost cutting. A motor is now required to perform the functions of the heart as well as the brain of an equipment.

Rising energy costs and environmental concerns are encouraging OEMs and suppliers to investigate new ways of powering equipment and also going for retrofitting. Therefore, manufacturers and engineers have been endeavouring to come up with smarter and greener technology options. Both the industry and the market are ready for innovative solutions.

However, the industry itself has seen a reduction in R&D funding in the last three years due to the global economic slowdown. The GCC region is trying to keep pace with these changes and challenges.

There being a demand for retrofits is a healthy sign.

The electric motor sector in the region is undergoing a significant transformation owing to global market consolidation and the emergence of international competitors, as also the awareness that smarter and greener motors are eventually more cost effective and that money invested in new technology will yield benefits, both economic and

environmental. Investigating new ways of powering motors include designing lower-voltage products that can either run independently of the electrical grid or on solar power.

But for now, when it comes to innovation in the motors vis-à-vis the HVACR sector, ECM technology is envisaged as the solution. ECM manufacturers are developing high-reliability motors to suit the high temperatures and humidity in the region, which is on the path of course correction after decades of indiscriminate energy use.

Reducing the carbon footprint is the top priority for the region. Reducing noise levels is also high on the agenda, when it comes to the HVACR equipment.

The GCC states could play a vital role in this regard by de-subsidising power, which has led to unsustainable consumer behaviour patterns. As a corollary to this, green products need to be subsidised. Also, tighter regulations governing equipment, maintenance and installation practices help the lifespan and performance of motors. Standards formulated and being followed in the West will eventually become mandatory in the Middle East. Rising cost of equipment and energy, if not concern for the environment, will finally force errant parties to toe the line: As energy gets increasingly expensive the world over, it will become unfeasible for the GCC states to continue to dole it out cheaply. When energy bills begin to bite, investing in better quality products and using them optimally will become the norm. It is only a matter of time.

spotlight This is the fifteenth in a multi-series on air filtation

THE

LONG AND DUSTY ROAD AHEAD...

In this last and final installment on the present series on air filtration, Dr Iyad Al-Attar highlights the need for better air filtration technology for improved Indoor Air Quality and reiterates his call for joint responsibility to ensure that this becomes a reality. We hope that the sincerity his voice exudes and the earnestness and urgency of his mission has reached out to our readers.

O

One of the paradoxical posers of our times is that if air filter technologies and manufacturing processes are advancing progressively, why are indoor air problems on the rise? As a corollary to it, where is the missing link?

Ever so often, we hear of a new filtration technology that

claims to contribute to better Indoor Air Quality, but yet, Indoor Air Quality continues to pose a major health hazard to human occupants. So, is there some homework that has not been done? Are we paying back for long ignoring our planet and our environment?

What prevents us from stop

watching and start acting towards greater responsible measures to make clean air possible and sustainable?

Combining idealism and action If idealism is characterised as dreaming, and dreaming is associated with our

July 2012

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spotlight will to make choices free from constraints, then it is perfectly acceptable to demand the highest standard of living with all its underlying trappings.

Breathing clean air is a simple human right.

However, improving or maintaining its quality requires a coming together of idealism and practical action.

Filtration challenges The filtration paradigm changes when we consider different applications and the surrounding atmospheric conditions. HVAC requires air filters to remove contaminants, whether they are solid particles or microorganisms, to ensure that the air quality is suitable for specific indoor spaces. On the other hand, gas turbines require massive volumes of air to burn fuel with to produce energy. Clearly, filtration is imperative in order to introduce atmospheric air free of suspended contaminants to prevent damage to the turbine. Gas turbines require filtration of high volume of air, replete with high dust concentration, humidity and/ or corrosive and abrasive materials. It is important to highlight here that the filter itself – media and housing combined – must be capable of sustaining corrosion of different types.

In the GCC region, sand storms pose a great challenge to both HVAC and gas turbine applications, as the filter performance and lifespan alter drastically compared to those previously anticipated in laboratory settings.

The key in achieving

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the required filtration efficiencies is using lower pressure drop efficient filters to reduce energy

The key in achieving the required filtration efficiencies is using lower pressure drop efficient filters to reduce energy costs

costs. Advanced filtration manufacturing technologies have played a great role in making this goal possible.

But this does not mean that the filtration solutions have been fully optimised.

HVAC and gas turbine industries would certainly welcome any pressure drop reduction in future air filter designs. Such low pressure drop efficient filter designs would certainly greatly reflect on reducing energy consumption, particularly since energy costs are on the rise. Considering that the HVAC system energy usage represents a greater portion of the average facility’s energy, any additional energy saving provided by filtration would definitely get the attention of HVAC systems designers and gas turbine operational teams.

Figure 1: Imported SEM image showing spectrum of interest used for the elemental analysis

Figure 2: Elemental content output as per the spectrum of interest selected using the SEM

Climate Control Middle East July 2012

Lifespan of a filter – a vital clue The lifespan of a filter is another parameter in the air filter’s performance.

Predicting the probable lifetime of an air filter provides an indication of maintenance operating costs. Replacing the filter prematurely is uneconomical, since its entire potential lifetime is not utilised. On the other hand, leaving the filter to operate past its recommended final drop leads to greater energy consumption and may risk possible failure in the filter structure [1]. Although it is useful to have advanced information about filter lifetime, it is difficult to predict this with a high degree of certainty, due to variations of several parameters simultaneously.

Also, collected particles play a role in the filtration process. Replacements of fibrous filters are usually based on reaching their recommended final drop pressure by the manufacturer.

Dust characterisation – what filters are up against The performance of air filters used in gas turbines and HVAC applications tend to deviate from that predicted by laboratory results using standard air dust. This is especially true in regions known to have dust with characteristics deviating from that of standard dust, such as in the GCC region.

Dust characterisation is vital in investigating the possible impact of these characteristics on the results of dust-loaded

filter performance.

Therefore, identifying the underlying reasons behind the performance deviation is a corrective step towards a better understanding of dustloaded filter performance.

Chemically, dust can be characterised via Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS). This is an analytical procedure used for chemical characterisation. Once the sample is appropriately prepared, a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image is imported to the elemental analysis software connected to the SEM, where the spectrum of interest is selected for analysis, as shown in Figure 1. The software provides the elemental content output, as shown in Figure 2.

Fundamentally, the chemical characterisation is due mainly to the principle that each element has a unique atomic structure allowing each element to be identified distinctively through its characteristic energies. These X-rays are collected to allow for the chemical characterisation of the dust sample [2].

Filter media – the crucial component Filter media is the building block of any filter element, and it constitutes the crucial element in the filtration process. Filter media is defined according to the Filtration Dictionary as “any permeable material used in filtration and upon which, or within which, the solids (ie dispersed phase) are deposited” [3].

However, Purchas and Sutherland defined filter media in their “Handbook

Figure 3: Scanning electron microscopic filter media showing different fibre sizes

The performance of air filters used in gas turbines and HVAC applications tend to deviate from that predicted by laboratory results using standard air dust high filtration efficiency, fine fibres on their own may not have enough mechanical strength to support the filtration media. Therefore, larger fibres are needed to support the mechanical structure to the media, as illustrated in Figure 3.

However, these larger fibres do not considerably enhance the filtration efficiency [5].

Figure 4: SEM images of cross sections of HEPA media

of Filter Media” thus: “A filter medium is any material that under the operating conditions of the filter, is permeable to one of more components of a mixture, solution or suspension,

and is impermeable to the remaining components” [4].

Many high-efficiency filters are made of fibres which are available in polydispersed diameters. Although fine fibres are required to achieve

July 2012

HEPA filters HEPA filters are made from fibrous material such as glass fibre, and are extensively used as they exhibit better resistance to high temperatures and have lower fibre size distribution compared to synthetic media. Glass fibre media are highly porous with a low resistance to air flow.

The filter’s performance is affected by several variables, such as filter medium thickness, permeability,

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spotlight EDITOR’S NOTE: In Autumn, Iyad will start a fresh series on air filtration. In the series, he will be addressing technical aspects of air filtration in greater depth.

Photo courtesy of www.photos.com

The difficulty in the manufacturing process lies in the arrangement of the fibres so that a homogeneous medium is produced packing density, fibre diameter as well as structure and design of the filter cartridge. Furthermore, operating conditions, such as filtration velocity and temperature also affect the filter’s performance and may participate in the performance deviation from test reports.

The difficulty in the manufacturing process lies in the arrangement of the

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fibres so that a homogeneous medium is produced. Due to the polydisperse fibre diameters and different fibre length, it is very difficult to arrange the fibre in a random but comparable manner all over the filter medium. In fact, substantial variations in sheet thickness cause local fluctuation of the structure, which leads to local fluctuation of the permeability in a filter medium. These different permeabilities lead to fluctuations of the local flow velocity. A view of a HEPA filter medium cross section is shown Figure 4.

Epilogue My passion to promote the science of air filtration derives its inspiration from aerosol scientists who have dedicated their lives to making the requisite intellectual leap from an empirical springboard to establish filtration theories.

It is now our obligation to combine their knowledge, research efforts and factual evidence into making better filtration products to serve humanity.

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In fact, during the last century, several books have been written to describe the air filtration field and its theories. But I strongly believe that there is so much more to be discovered. On a positive note, the popular appeal to realise the goal of better Indoor Air Quality for our generation and the generations to come is on the rise. We cannot begin to compromise air quality of our homes and work environments for the simple reason that our reliance on air is fundamental to our existence.

I certainly hope that after this long journey of 15 articles on air filtration spread over a span of a year and half, I have been able to highlight the important aspects of the air filtration process, and also transmit my passion and sincerity to my readers.

I hope that every time my readers think of my series of articles, they will recall the smile of an infant in an incubator who relies on us to provide clean air to him or her via appropriate filtration technologies. 

References [1] NAFA, 2001. “Guide to air filtration”, Washington, DC: National Air Filtration Association.

[2] Analytical Chemistry of Aerosol, edited by Kvetoslav Rudolf Spurny, Lewis Publisher, 1999.

[3] Tarleton ES and Wakeman RJ 2008. “Dictionary of Filtration and Separation” Filtration Solutions, Exeter.

[4] Purchas, D and Sutherland, K 2002.

“Handbook of filter media”, 2nd ed., Elsevier Advanced Technology.

[5] Brown RC 1997. “Airflow pattern through granular filters and other simple three-dimensional filters” Filtration & Separation, 34 (2), 165-171.

The writer is Regional Director, Middle East, and International Consultant, EMW Filtertechnik, Germany. He can be contacted at iyad. al-attar@emw.de

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