CCME November 2013 by Climate Control Middle East

Vol. 8 No. 11 | NOVEMBER 2013 04 from the editor

‘R’ for growth

happenings

contents

08 The region 26 At large 40 Marketplace

48 ASHRAE UPDATE

INTERVIEW

Building a new vision

POST-EVENT REPORTS

58 District cooling – annual stocktaking

The Climate Control Conference, C3 Doha, lived up to its avowed goal of providing an opportunity for industry insiders to directly connect with end-users. We bring you the report.

70 ‘We want to transform the Qatar food safety system’

Key government food safety regulatory and enforcement bodies talk about national aspirations and initiatives for a robust food safety culture in the peninsula.

PERSPECTIVES 92

Trendsetting technologies for centrifugal chillers

The performance of centrifugal chillers could be optimised by combining the new technologies of magnetic bearings and variable speed drives, along with HFC refrigerants.

While William P “Bill” Bahnfleth, the new ASHRAE President emphasised the need to make buildings healthy, productive, safe and comfortable places, his gaze is trained towards energy conservation and protection of the environment.

Increasing power and ROI with TIAC Sam Abdalla demonstrates that applying TIAC to existing assets provides a “bridge” solution to meet today’s peak power demands, especially in the GCC region.

It’s time to change those old dehumidifiers 100

New dehumidifier technologies may reduce operating expenses for natatoriums.

FEATURE 104 More than just a façade

Jerome Sanchez finds out how ETICS could extend the lifecycle of new and existing buildings and, consequently, help in conserving resources.

SPOTLIGHT 108

The rising tide for clean air: Bridging the gap between aspiration and action

Can filters provide the required performance smartness we demand in achieving filtration perfection? Dr Iyad Al-Attar asks.

68 The Big 5 comes to town!

COUNTRY REPORTS: GERMANY AND CANADA Stories of resilience and innovation

International construction manufacturers eye Middle East as prime location for introducing the latest innovations

November 2013

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happenings the region

Phase 1 of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park goes live Said to have the capacity to produce 13 MW of energy through photovoltaic technology

Courtesy Government of Dubai Media Office

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with other leaders and dignitaries present at the launch event

. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai officially inaugurated the first phase of the 280,000-square metre Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park on October 22 in Saih Al Dahal, UAE. The launch event was

also attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and CEO and Chairman of The Emirates

Group; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and other dignitaries. Commenting on the launch of the first phase of the Solar Park, said to have the capacity to produce 13 MW of energy through photovoltaic technology, and to be linked

to DEWA’s network, Al Tayer said: “Today, we celebrate the harvest of our hard work in our efforts to implement our strategy [of] diversifying the energy mix in Dubai, by increasing the production of solar energy [in order] to provide one per cent of Dubai’s total power output by 2020 and five per cent by 2030 as we inaugurate the first project today.” Al Tayer said that the Solar Plant, which uses photovoltaic technology, was considered to be the biggest in the MENA region. “It uses pioneering technologies represented by over 152,000 photocells connected to 13 step-up transformers in inverter buildings,” said Al Tayer, then added that the facility was expected to generate more than 24 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. On the same occasion, Sheikh Mohammed also launched phase two of the project, a 100 MW installation, said to be built on the basis of public-private partnership. The inauguration of the Solar Park coincided with the World Energy Day.

DAFZA calls for cooperation among GCC freezones

DAFZA and EZC discuss opportunities and challenges

ubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) has announced that it is leading a bid for all freezones in the GCC to exchange knowledge and best practices to attract more multinational corporations and SME investors across the region. In its first drive to encourage cooperation, DAFZA met with Qatar’s Economic Zones Company (EZC), and the two organisations

discussed their experiences, opportunities and challenges, the announcement added. In this context, Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General at DAFZA, said: “The establishment of other freezones across the region aiming to be developed by 2016 will enhance the region’s capabilities in attracting overseas companies and local entrepreneurs. As a leader in the GCC, we have

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

Nasser Al Madani and Fahad Rashed Al Kaabi

taken on the responsibility of sharing the lessons we’ve learnt over our last two decades of operation.” Fahad Rashed Al Kaabi, CEO, Economic Zones Company, added, “The Economic Zones Company

in Qatar aims to support the development and investment in SMEs to create a foundation suitable for sustainable growth, as we work to achieve our 2030 vision and diversify the Qatari economy.”

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happenings the region

UAE Minister speaks at WEC

“But we recognise that change is part of the industry. Supply costs of certain energy forms are reaching unprecedented lows, while others are reaching peaks. Moreover, not only does the world demand more hydrocarbon supply, it also needs rapid decarbonisation.” Touching on the UAE’s pioneering approach to sustainable practice, the Minister added: “Today we are pioneering carbon capture and storage technologies that will allow deeper cuts in the future, with the first commercial-scale project set to reinject 800,000 tonnes of carbon annually.” About the country’s renewable energy project and commitment to diversify its energy mix, the Minister highlighted Shams 1, reportedly the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant and the UAE’s model nuclear energy programme.

Stresses commitment to energy leadership

he UAE Minster of Energy, H.E. Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, spoke of the UAE’s commitment to delivering energy to the world, despite the global challenges of rising energy demands and increasing pressure on natural resources, an official communiqué said. The message was delivered on October 14 during a keynote address at the World Energy Congress (WEC) held in Daegu, South Korea, the release added.

In a wide ranging speech, Minister Al Mazrouei reportedly touched on the need for innovation within the energy sector in order to secure future supplies and highlighted the UAE’s diversification plans, which include significant investments in nuclear and renewable energy, as well as decarbonising its hydrocarbon industry. According to the communiqué, he also made a pledge that the UAE will remain committed to

DM announces project on IAQ

Study involves public buildings in Dubai

n an event held on October 20 at City Hall, Dubai, Dubai Municipality (DM) announced launching a project study on the Indoor Air Quality of public buildings in the emirate. The study, said DM, was a joint initiative of DM and Scientific & Technical Centre for Building (CSTB), France, a public organisation for research and expertise, involved in IAQ testing projects in France and Enviro' & Industrial Solutions ME. CSTB would be offering its contract research expertise. As a preamble to the new initiative, Engr

Engr Redha Salman

Redha Salman, Director of Public Health and Safety, Dubai Municipality, made a presentation on a study of air quality outside buildings

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

H.E. Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei

investing in non-oil economic diversification and urged the international energy community to recognise the evolution of the country’s energy leadership. “The UAE has long been a central player in global energy with the world’s 7th largest oil and gas reserves and a history of reliable and highly economic supply to global markets,” said the Minister.

that the DM conducted in 2007, as also on its IEQ programmes, in its continuing endeavour to provide comfortable and sustainable living to its residents. Highlighting key initiatives taken under health and safety schemes – strategies and policies, regulation and standards, evaluation and improvement – he said that there was continuous research and that SBS (sick building syndrome) concerns and the SARS epidemic had improved global awareness on IAQ and a demand for healthy living. IAQ was the focus since people spent significant amount of time indoors, he said. The presentation highlighted DM’s key milestones: • DM the first in the region to carry out a survey and focus on IAQ, following its participation in 2006

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in AUMA/EPA International Conference: Engineering solutions to IAQ problems Issued first law in the region (Local Order 1/2003) to combat IAQrelated issues Issued guidelines for the control of Legionella in water systems in 2010 The Dubai Green Building Regulations document, issued in 2010, has a full chapter dedicated to building vitality Issued a ban on smoking in restaurants in 2007

Salman outlined the DM’s future programmes: • Registration of IAQ Service Providers (2013-2014) • Draft guidelines for registration of IAQ consultants, contractors, etc • New Web-based electronic services for reporting, which includes building health and safety selfContinued on page 16

happenings the region

Middle East seeks to conserve groundwater

International Water Summit will bring together ideas and best practices to find solutions

onserving precious groundwater resources, which, as an example, accounts for 63.3% of water resources in Abu Dhabi, will be a key focus of the Sustainable Water Solutions Village at the 2nd International Water Summit (IWS) from 20 to 22 January 2014 in the UAE capital, hosted by Masdar. Announcing this, Reed Exhibitions, organiser of the Summit, pointed out in a news release that the event is being held against the backdrop of the following scenario: With new predictions that water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa will worsen, conserving groundwater resources as part of the region’s water security strategy is becoming more

The Sustainable Water Solutions Village at IWS 2014 in Abu Dhabi next January will feature technologies, projects and case studies that offer solutions to the challenges of water security.

DM announces project on IAQ | compliance reports • Setting of performance targets for different building types • Extending smoking regulations to different public zones Following Salman’s presentation, Olivier Ramalho of CSTB, highlighted the programmes it had conducted in France focused on profiling pollutants, assessment and survey. After this, Reem Deeb, Project Manager from Enviro' Industrial Solutions ME, which would be carrying out the actual survey in Dubai, pointing out that pollutant levels indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoors, gave the project outline:

urgent. Also, a recent study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact and Research, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, concludes that an expected rise of 3.5°C in global mean temperature by the end of the century will expose 668 million people worldwide to new or aggravated water scarcity, on top of the 1.3 billion currently living in water-scarce regions. The Sustainable Water Solutions Village at IWS 2014, therefore, will reportedly bring together global ideas, best practices and think-tanks that have been successfully implemented in water-scarce communities to achieve water sustainability and conserve natural resources. Highlighting that waterrelated issues will get worse if urgent action is not taken, Ara Fernezian, Managing Director, Middle East, Reed Exhibitions, said, “However, it also opens a range of commercial opportunities, with over $300 billion of investment on water projects being planned by governments in the GCC countries by 2022.”

Continued from page 14

• Monitoring sites: universities, secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens, nurseries • Parameters to be monitored: eight hours of continuous monitoring; monitoring CO, CO2, VOCs, PM 10, O3, relative humidity, temperature, air movement and mould • Measuring of 25 individual VOCs and inorganic gases – One sampling point per floor Collection of data: 1. Two questionnaires 2. Building and monitoring location description 3. Common practices 4. Records of events during monitoring, for example, opening of the window and the duration of opening

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

CSTB will help with: 1. Sampling strategy guiding 2. Questionnaires 3. Literature Review Report 4. Data analysis 5. Correlation and source identification Project phasing: The duration of the project: nine months • Phase 1 will include project mobilisation, with overlapping phases • Phase 2: Generation of prerequisite reports (three months) • Phase 3: Winter monitoring phase: a) preliminary data collection, b) equipment calibration (four months) • Phase 4: Data analysis winter phase (four months) a. Date quality control b. Report on IAQ results • Phase 5: Summer

monitoring phase (four months) • Phase 6: Data analysis summer phase (four months) • Phase 7: Project outcomes (two months) a. Formation of mitigation plan b. Integration Salman in his concluding remarks said that in Q4 2014 the DM would conduct a seminar on the findings of the survey. In the Q&A session that ensued, in answer to queries, he informed that this was the first time ever that such a survey was being undertaken in schools, and that an action plan would be put in place after receiving the survey results.

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happenings the region

LG unveils Multi V IV Tropical | Other features of the new system highlighted during Sawant’s presentation were: • Multi V IV Tropical employs six bypass valves, instead of the typical four-valve arrangement, resulting in precise refrigerant control, as well as in more economical performance in part-load. • The High Pressure Oil Return (HiPOR) system embedded in the Multi V IV Tropical returns oil directly into the compressor, that is

Continued from page 20

regarded to improve partload efficiency across the system’s 15Hz to 150Hz operational range • The system has an active refrigerant control that allows it to more quickly adapt to the changing load. • It has an automatic dust removal function that blows dust away from the condenser coil – a function said to be very vital, in light of the climatic conditions in the Middle East.

EGBC celebrates World Green Building Week

Announces 2nd Annual EGBC Congress dates

mirates Green Building Council (EBGC), in the October 2013 issue of its newsletter, Emirates Green, said that it celebrated World Green Building Week from 16 to 20 September with a number of activities across the UAE, which included building tours, a community event, seminars and workshops, all of which elicited tremendous response. Adnan Sharafi, Chairman of EGBC, said in his Editorial in the newsletter that he participated in the tour of the new premises of DEWA, reportedly the largest government building to be awarded a LEED Platinum certificate, and commended DEWA for its pioneering role in the field of sustainability. EGBC extended its invitation to visit it at its exhibition stands at The Big 5, in Dubai, from November 25 to 28, and pointed out that volunteering hours with

EGBC could count towards LEED Maintenance Credits. Those available to volunteer could email to events@ emiratesgbc.org and provide information about the day and time of availability to volunteer at any of its exhibitions, it said. EGBC informed that it was gearing up to host the 2nd Annual EGBC Congress on December 11 and 12 in Dubai, the theme this year being “Building a Green Future”, targeting various government bodies and industry to showcase their best practices in different sectors like hospitality, education, retail and commercial. Discussions will serve to foster industry dialogue and engage multiple stakeholders to further influence sustainable practices in the built environment and work towards achieving the country’s vision of a Green Economy for Sustainable Development, it added.

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

• Each module of the system is observed to be 45 kilogrammes lighter than the previous model, which can lead to a reduction in structural cost. • The new system allows for an indoor-to-indoor piping length of up to 40 metres, and for a total piping length of 1,000 metres. • Its operational noise level is also lower compared to other models on offer, thanks to the quieter

operation of its inverter compressors. In an exclusive interaction with Climate Control Middle East, Dongjoon Kang, Director, MEAHQ AE MEA Biz Supporting Division, LG, and Alan Kwangsok Song, Vice President, SAC Marketing Division, SAC Business Unit, LG, revealed that the new system, being shipped from South Korea, will be made available in the market from January 2014.

INTERVIEW

Hira Industries ranked No. 10 in the Dubai SME 100

Hira Industries Managing Director Manish Hiranandani speaks to Climate Control Middle East about his company’s latest feat. Here are the highlights….

What does the No. 10 ranking in the Dubai SME 100 mean to your company? Dubai SME100 is a premier ranking of Dubai's 100 top performing SMEs, launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME). The Dubai SME 100 seeks to identify Dubai's top SMEs that are role models the Emirate can be proud of and we are glad that our hard work and everyone in the organisation was rewarded with this honour. It is a proud moment for all of us in the organisation, that out of over 3,500 applicants, we were ranked number 10, after being assessed by a government entity, which is part of the Department of Economic

Development. It is always good to get a pat on your back, especially from a government-initiated project. This has certainly motivated our organisation to try even harder and achieve greater growth in the future. What parameters were evaluated? Various parameters were evaluated…, some being growth performance, innovation, international orientation and corporate governance. Fortunately, we have successfully implemented a strong management team in the organisation, who has well implemented the company's strategy and vision and has grown the business, not only in the Middle East but also internationally.

happenings the region

Daikin McQuay launches WCT 6,000TR in Doha

Claims the centrifugal chiller is an efficient solution for DC

aying that it represents the most recent product in a long line of innovative solutions, Daikin McQuay Middle East, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daikin Europe, manufacturers of air conditioners for

residential, commercial and industrial applications, has announced launching WCT 6,000 water-cooled centrifugal chiller, at an event held on November 18 in Sharq Village & Spa, Doha, Qatar.

Dubbing it as the most efficient and largest commercial capacity district cooling chiller in the world, the manufacturer claimed that with cooling capacities of up to 6,200TR, WCT chillers provided industryleading efficiencies, resulting in low operating costs and excellent return on investment. Giving further details about the product in a prelaunch news release, Maged Makar, Business Development Manager at Daikin McQuay Middle East, said that the new system included a pair of two-stage centrifugal chillers arranged in series-counter flow to reach the high lift

Tabreed posts 2013 yearto-date net profit increase

O&M support to KSA’s King Abdullah Financial District major operational milestone

ational Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed), the Abu Dhabi-based district cooling utility company, released its consolidated third quarter (Q3) 2013 financial results on October 4, in which it has revealed an increase in its net profit, new customer connections, improved operating efficiencies and lower finance costs that, it claims, continue to drive the company’s strong financial performance. The company gave the following financial highlights – nine months ended 30 September 2013: • Net profit attributable to the parent increased by 21% to AED 202.3 million (2012 YTD: AED 167.6 million)

• Core chilled water revenue increased by four per cent to AED 775.9 million (2012 YTD: AED 747.6 million) • Core chilled water profit from operations increased by four per cent to AED 266.4 million (2012 YTD: AED 255.9 million) • In line with expectations as the company continued to phase out the non-core businesses, Group revenue declined by two per cent to AED 826.5 million (2012 YTD: AED 842.0 million) • EBITDA increased by five per cent to AED 379.7 million (2012 YTD: AED 362.2 million) • Net finance costs decreased by 14% to AED 111.0 million (2012 YTD: AED 128.6 million) Operational highlights –

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

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nine months ended 30 September 2013: 16,150 TR of customer connections added in the third quarter Group connected capacity across the GCC increased by 8.1% to reach 829,403 TR Connected capacity in the UAE increased by 5.4% to reach 635,224 TR Affiliate company Saudi Tabreed began providing operation and maintenance (O&M) support to the district cooling plant servicing the King Abdulla Financial District in Saudi Arabia

In light of this, Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Tabreed’s Chairman, said: “Tabreed’s strategy to drive

typically required in district cooling systems, with interstage flash economisers that increased the life of the unit. François Boueri, Vice President, Daikin McQuay Middle East, added: “We are thrilled to launch the WCT 6,000TR chiller…. While offering faster payback for DC investors and easier installations for EPC contractors, WCT will also ensure that consumption of subsidised electrical energy is minimised.” Abhinav Goel, Qatar Country Manager, on his part, assured full support to its clients at every stage in the district cooling segment with WCT.

growth through our core chilled water business continues to deliver strong results. Looking ahead, we remain optimistic that chilled water demand will continue to increase across the region, and look forward to working closely with our clients to implement energyefficient cooling solutions that enable our region’s sustainable development.” Jasim Husain Thabet, Tabreed’s CEO, added: “The combination of revenue growth in our chilled water business and lower financing costs resulted in a strong improvement in profit for the period. The commencement of O&M support to the King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia was a major operational milestone. Today, we deliver approximately 830,000 TR of critical district cooling services in five countries throughout the GCC, making us the region’s pre-eminent district cooling provider.”

happenings at large

Montreal Protocol makes progress on HFCs

But India fails to honour G20 promise, saus EIA

he Parties to the Montreal Protocol made progress towards addressing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as the 25th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol drew to a close in Bangkok on October 25, with a majority of parties demonstrating their willingness to move towards a global agreement. Announcing this in a communiqué, the

Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) added that this was despite India, the world’s 10th largest economy, blocking detailed discussions of the proposals, in contradiction of the recent G20 agreement to address phasing down the consumption and production of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. A global phase-down of HFCs would mitigate at least 100 billion tonnes of CO2-

equivalent by 2050, the EIA pointed out. Giving details, it said that the Parties agreed that the Montreal Protocol’s technical and economic panel should prepare a report looking at the economic costs and environmental benefits of various scenarios of avoiding HFCs, and that it would hold a workshop on the management of HFCs with the next Montreal Protocol preparatory meeting. According to EIA, after years of deadlock, support for global action on HFCs gathered pace since the beginning of the year, from the Arctic Council’s call for a phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol in March and the G20 leaders’ statement at the St Petersburg summit in September to two separate presidential agreements between China and US in

NAFA presents awards

Recognises contribution to the cause of air filtration

he National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) has announced presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to James Hanley, a Department Manager and Senior Research Environmental Scientist at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, with 35 years of experience in aerosol science and technology. During the past 28 years, Hanley has led numerous research and standardsdevelopment efforts in aerosol filtration for the US Environmental Protection Agency and for ASHRAE, the announcement added. NAFA revealed that the award had not had a nominee since its inception, because of its high bar of achievement, and that this year was the first

James Hanley (right) accepts Lifetime Achievement Award from Leslye Sandberg (left), President of NAFA

time the award was given. The award established in 2007 by NAFA, reportedly recognises individuals either in or outside the NAFA membership who contribute substantially to the overall knowledge of the art and science of air filtration,

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

which includes research, increased understanding of the principles of air filtration, testing and validating performance and promoting the application of proper air filtration. In another related news release, NAFA has announced

June and September, and, most recently, the joint declaration by Presidents Manmohan Singh and Obama, establishing a task force to resolve issues surrounding an HFC phase-down. Clare Perry, Senior Campaigner, EIA, remarking about India’s stand said, “We’re struggling to understand how a commitment by Prime Minister Singh barely a month ago has not translated into concrete action in Bangkok.” On a positive note, Mark W Roberts, Senior Counsel and International Policy Advisor at EIA’s US office, said, “We are pleased that the entire group of African countries has joined the growing chorus of countries requesting formal discussions on phasing down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.”

presenting the NAFA Distinguished Service Award to Ron Mattson, CAFS and President of DP Systems of Chicago, Illinois, and one of NAFA’s 30-year members, and Jim Rosenthal, a NAFA spokesperson and one of its strongest advocates. According to NAFA, the award is presented to two NAFA members who, by their long-time consistent efforts, help promote the organisation through their participation in committees, contributing articles to Air Media, writing or rewriting text for the NAFA Guide to Air Filtration and the Installation, Operations and Maintenance of Air Filtration Systems texts, and generally doing work that promotes the air filter industry while being part of NAFA. Nominated by NAFA members, this year there were reportedly eight contenders.

happenings at large

ASHRAE, AHR Expo return to NYC

Expo to be held in conjunction with Winter Conference 2014

ith a special focus on the design, development and operation of tall buildings, New York City’s skyline will serve as the backdrop for the 2014 ASHRAE Winter Conference, taking place from January 18 to 22 at the New York Hilton, ASHRAE has announced. The International AirConditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo, held in conjunction with the Winter Conference, will run from January 21 to 23, it has added. According to ASHRAE, the conference’s Technical Programme will examine themes relevant to NYC, as well as the basics of HVAC systems, refrigeration and other topics significant to the building industry. The technical programme will reportedly feature more

than 200 sessions addressing building information systems; hydronic system design; improving building performance; indoor environmental air health/ IEQ; refrigeration; HVAC&R systems and equipment; and HVAC&R fundamentals and application. It has highlighted other event details: • Choice of 23 Professional Development Seminars and Short Courses on HVAC trends • New updates to Standards 90.1 and 62.1, in addition to 11 new courses that include Standard 55, building enclosure commissioning, electric rates and regulations, health care facilities, building energy audits and ground source heat pumps by ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI)

Danish minister highlights direct access DH technology Cites example of island self-sufficient in renewable energy

ccording to a news item in the DBDH October newsletter, the Danish Minister for Housing, Urban and Rural Affairs, Carsten Hansen, delivered the opening speech at the conference, themed “District heating in our cities, towns and communities”,

at the Embassy of Denmark on September 17 in London, where he highlighted cases of advanced DHC systems in Denmark, many of them located in rural areas and small towns. One of the examples he reportedly cited was the island of Samsø, which is

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

• ALI courses are approved for renewal of professional engineer and professional architect licenses, as well as for industry certification programmes • A special administration of all six certification examinations on Thursday, January 23: Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP), Building Energy Modelling Professional (BEMP), Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP), High-Performance Building Design Professional (HBDP), Healthcare Facility Design Professional (HFDP) and Operations & Performance Management Professional (OPMP)

• Technical tours include the Tishman Speyer Rockefeller Center central refrigeration plant, building management system and ice storage facility; the cogeneration project at One Penn Plaza; and the cooling system of the New York Hilton, among others • The Conference plenary taking place on January 18 will feature Mark Sanborn, President of Sanborn & Associates, Inc.

already said to be 100% selfsufficient in using renewable energy sources, and now has plans to become a fossil-free island. In addition, said the DBDH report, The Energy Academy has been established, which encourages the study of transforming a society into using local energy resources. The report added that Lars Hummelmose, Managing Director of DBDH, who was also one of the participants at the conference, made a presentation on the history of DHC in Denmark, the importance of heat planning at a national and local level, the DHC system of today and the future. “Denmark’s DHC

scheme is properly the best in the world and the technology suppliers and consultancy companies in Denmark are global leaders,” Hummelmose was quoted to have said at the conference. He also reportedly extended an invitation to the UK authorities and energy interest groups to come to Denmark and study, what he claimed to be the world’s most advanced DHC system. The conference was organised by the UK Town & Country Planning Association and the Embassy of Denmark, the DBDH report said.

Registration and complete conference information is available at www.ashrae. org/newyork, ASHRAE has informed. Continued on page 32

happenings at large

Güntner part of winning team at RAC Awards

Tesco’s Metro store recognised for first allaluminium refrigeration system

ith Güntner, manufacturer of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment components, has announced that it was part of a winning team of the RAC Industry Awards 2013, presented on September 25. According to Güntner, the team included Tesco, Carter Synergy, Reflok and FSW, and was nominated, with six other teams for the category “Retail Project of the Year”. The winning project presented

by the team was Tesco’s Metro store in Wolverhampton, which features the first allaluminium refrigeration system anywhere in the world. The installation, said Güntner, was completed in April 2013 by major refrigeration contractor, Carter Synergy, and makes exclusive use of Reflok Aluminium piping and heat-free connectors along with a Güntner’s microchannel heat exchanger with microox technology, also completely made of aluminium.

ISH Shanghai & CIHE 2013 concludes Concurrent fringe events further regional growth in individual heating

SH Shanghai & CIHE, Shanghai International Trade Fair for HVAC, held from September 25 to 27 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, successfully concluded its 2013 edition, Messe Frankfurt announced. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai), Beijing B&D Tiger

Exhibition and Shanghai Zhanye Exhibition, the show was reportedly designed to better educate end-users and industry professionals on the application of HVAC technology across the regional market. With the second edition taking place concurrently with Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology and

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

The installation, which is also designed to be leak-free, thanks to its specification with the non-brazed Reflok, was described as “groundbreaking” by the judges, Güntner claimed. The annual award reportedly recoginses retail refrigeration or air conditioning project demonstrating significant environmental advantages

the Shanghai Building Water, Water Treatment Technology and Equipment Expo, the fair attracted 249 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, and drew 10,183 visitors, the organisers claimed. In addition, during the first two days, a series of fringe events, including seminars and classroomstyle discussions were held, where attendees were offered programmes covering topics such as floor-heating installation, application of radiator heating and heat pump technology and building heating trends, the organisers revealed. This year reportedly marked the introduction of the European Pavilion to the event, with a number of European HVAC brands, highlighting technologies currently available from

over traditional methods in areas such as emissions reduction, cooling performance, energy efficiency and leak containment, among other criteria. The judges look for solutions that push the boundaries, either through development in conventional approaches or the use of novel methods or technology, Güntner informed.

the continent. Commenting on the success of the show, Richard Li, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt in China, said: “The Shanghai edition to our ISH brand continues to achieve its mission: introducing and promoting the concept of individual heating and related HVAC technologies to East and Central China.” Li Hongbo, General Manager, Beijing B&D Exhibition, added: “By organising the fair in addition to its concurrent fringe events, we have positioned ISH Shanghai & CIHE as the regional destination for all HVAC and building technologyrelated professionals to meet, share knowledge and implement new technologies to their upcoming projects.”

happenings at large

Sainsbury’s trials world’s first naturally refrigerated trailer

If successful, could help save over 70,000 tonnes of CO2 as per replacement plan

ccording to a news item in International Supermarket News (ISN), Sainsbury’s is trialling the world’s first naturally refrigerated trailer to transport

chilled and frozen goods. The CO2 refrigerated unit trial is part of the retailer’s review of its transport refrigeration gas, to reduce its carbon footprint, which includes converting its stores to natural refrigeration by 2030, the news item reported. Sainsbury’s, said ISN, was the first UK retailer to commit voluntarily to phasing out harmful HFC refrigerants, and consequently converted its refrigerated depots in 2011 and is in the process of switching 250 stores to CO2 refrigerant by 2014. Over 160 stores have already

EIA makes a call to action on HFCs

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC urged to take note

egotiators from more than 190 countries are meeting in Warsaw, Poland, for the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (C0P19), against the backdrop of multiple warnings from the scientific community that the planet’s climate system is on the brink. Disseminating this information through a media briefing, the London- and Washingtonbased Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) informed that among the issues up for discussion at the conference being held from November 11 to 22 will be proposals to institute a global phasedown of the production and consumption of the family of chemicals known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, a quick, effective and relatively

straightforward initiative, which would mitigate at least 100 billion tonnes (100 gigatonnes) of CO2equivalent by 2050. According to EIA, HFC emissions are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and are predicted to spiral to 5.5-8.8 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2050 – equivalent to nine to 19% of global CO2 emissions under a business-as-usual scenario. EIA said that its argument is that swift, effective and large reductions in greenhouse gases must start now. In light of this, campaigners from EIA are reportedly in Warsaw to call on countries to support the consumption and production phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol with accounting of emissions remaining under the UNFCCC.

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

reportedly moved to the natural refrigeration system. Currently all new stores are fitted with CO2 as standard and its Haslucks Green Local store in Solihull is also trialling the very first small-scale CO2 refrigeration system, making it Britain’s greenest convenience store, ISN said. Sainsbury’s is said to be working with Carrier Transicold in a two-year trial of the new HFC-free cooling technology for road transport, using a modified version of Carrier’s NaturaLINE refrigeration system.

World Energy Council holds Congress

Calls for policymakers and industry leaders to “get real”

t the 2013 World Energy Congress held in Daegu in South Korea from October 13 to 17, World Energy Council (WEC) warned that several prevailing myths were severely hampering the efforts of governments, industry and civil society to create a sustainable energy future. Revealing this in a news release, WEC urged stakeholders to take urgent and incisive action to develop and transform the global energy system, and cautioned that failure to do so could put energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability at serious risk. According to WEC, more than 6,000 delegates from 113 countries, including over 50 government ministers and 272 expert speakers from 72 countries attended the Congress, and contributed to a programme under the theme, “Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today”. The sessions during the event reportedly aimed to challenge

INS quoted Nick Davies, Sainsbury’s Head of Transport Operations, as saying: “The new carbon dioxide technology has much less of an impact on climate change, and we hope it will play a big part in helping us reduce our carbon emissions. We will be monitoring its performance closely and if successful, in line with our replacement plan, it could help us save over 70,000 tonnes of CO2 compared to the current refrigerated trailer fleet.” To read the whole story, visit the News section of our website, www.climatecontrolme.com

existing thinking on energy issues and define the future global energy environment. In this context, Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman of the WEC, said: “It is vital that we form a coherent, long-term framework within which to plan and implement future investment. Leadership is needed if we are to address the triple challenge of the energy trilemma, affordability, accessibility and environmentally sustainable energy for all.” Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the WEC, added: “There are many myths that impact the energy sector, which we have been able to expose through our studies. Our congress is the ideal place to bring these findings and recommendations to seek to find solutions to promoting the sustainable supply of energy for the greatest benefit of all.” WEC released its official statement entitled “Exposing the Myths, Defining the Future – It’s Time to Get Real to Secure Tomorrow’s Energy Today”. (The full statement is available at: http:// www.climatecontrolme. com/en/.)

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November 2013

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ASHRAE UPDATE

ASHRAE/ IES publish Standard 202

Focused on commissioning process, will help ensure fully functional facility

SHRAE has announced publishing ANSI/ ASHRAE/IES Standard 202, Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems, which identifies the minimum acceptable commissioning process for buildings and systems as described in ASHRAE’s Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning Process. The commissioning process as detailed in Standard 202 applies to all construction projects and systems and is an industry consensus document, ASHRAE has added. According to ASHRAE, the commissioning process assumes that owners, programmers, designers,

contractors and operations and maintenance entities are fully accountable for the quality of their work, and that the process begins at project inception and continues for the life of a facility. The standard defines the commissioning process through 13 functional steps, each of which contains deliverables, said ASHRAE, and has listed them as follows: • Initiate the Commissioning Process, including defining roles and responsibilities • Define the project requirements which results in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) document

• Develop commissioning plan – produces a written Commissioning Process Plan • Plan design approach to Owners Project Requirements – defines the basis of design • Set contractor commissioning requirement, which are included in the commissioning specifications • Design review by the commissioning authority provides feedback and a design review report • Submittals review verifies compliance with the OPR in a submittal review report • Observation & Testing verifies system performance with results documented in construction checklists and reports • Issues resolution coordination is done with an issues and resolution log • Systems manual assembly results in a systems manual for building operation • Conduct training for building operations with training plans and records

• Post occupancy operation commissioning provides an end of warranty commissioning report • Assembly of a commissioning report captures all the project commissioning documentation “Given the integration and interdependency of facility systems, a performance deficiency in one system can result in less than optimal performance by other systems,” Gerald Kettler, PE, Chair of the committee that wrote the standard, said. “Implementing the Commissioning Process is intended to reduce the project capital cost through the warranty period and also reduce the life-cycle cost of the facility. Using this integrated process results in a fully functional, finetuned facility, with complete documentation of its systems and assemblies and trained operations and maintenance personnel.” According to ASHRAE, the cost of ANSI/ASHRAE/ IES Standard 202-2013, Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems, is $72 ($61, ASHRAE members).

For more updates on ASHRAE, visit the News section of our website, www.climatecontrolme.com.

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

PO Box: 122353, Saif Zone, Sharjah, UAE * Phone: +971 6 5578100 * Fax: +971 6 5578400 * info@sauterme.ae * www.sauter-controls.com

What is your mission and vision as the new President of ASHRAE?

My Presidential Theme, “Shaping the Next,” focuses on embracing our responsibility to “Our World” – fellow humans and the Earth – to make buildings safe, healthy, productive, comfortable environments in harmony with Nature. To do this, we must develop “Ourselves” – the human resource of the professional community, and transform “Our Work” – what we do, how we do it, and who we do it with, by becoming more global in outlook, broader in scope and more collaborative in approach. This vision is being implemented through efforts to form an alliance of organisations focused on indoor environmental quality, exploration of ASHRAE’s role in serving developing economies and the residential construction market, and formation of an industry partnership to collaborate on building performance.

ASHRAE has been constantly publishing new standards or updating/ modifying existing ones. What, in your opinion, would be the impact of these new standards and of the updates towards raising the bar on energy efficiency, IAQ and other socio-economic and environmental ideals?

The most important ASHRAE standards define minimum criteria for acceptable performance within the built environment industry that are frequently adopted into building regulations. As they are updated, ASHRAE standards generally raise these minimum levels, particularly with respect to energy efficiency, and incorporate new technical developments. For example, excluding plug and process loads, a typical building complying with energy efficiency standard, Standard 90.1-2007, which is widely referenced in codes, should consume 35% less energy than one built in compliance with the earliest version, Standard 90-75. ASHRAE Standard 62.1 for ventilation to achieve acceptable Indoor Air Quality has been updated in recent years to include separate ventilation requirements for controlling occupant- and building-generated pollutants and to include improved criteria for natural ventilation.

November 2013

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interview

William P "Bill" Bahnfleth, 2013-2014 ASHRAE President

ASHRAE is currently developing a guide on Sustainable Refrigerated Facilities and Systems. The Guide will address the entire range of facility and equipment design and efficiency alternatives for refrigerated processing During the 3rd Regional Conference on Alternative Refrigerants for the Airconditioning Industry in High-ambient Temperature Countries (ARACIHAT), in September 2013 in Dubai, co-conducted by the ASHRAE Falcon Chapter, UNEP and AHRI, one key 52

Passing the baton: Tom Watson, 2012-2013 ASHRAE President with William P "Bill"Bahnfleth

issue that emerged was the observed lack of consensus among industry stakeholders in terms of interim refrigerants. What direction is ASHRAE taking in terms of steering and encouraging efforts towards finding suitable alternative refrigerants for high-ambient temperature countries?

As a technical society, ASHRAE seeks to obtain and publish the most accurate information on available technologies and to promote the development of new technology to meet the needs of the industry through its research programme. The latest knowledge is incorporated in standards through ASHRAE’s consensus process. The committees that write our two major refrigerant standards (Standard 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, Standard 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration System) are moving to address new refrigerants on a timely basis. ASHRAE is currently not conducting research on refrigerants for high-ambient conditions, but this would

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

certainly be a worthy topic. ASHRAE’s First International Conference on Energy and Indoor Environment, to be held in Doha, Qatar in April 2014, will, no doubt, provide a lively forum for discussion of this issue.

During your term, what stewardship role does ASHRAE see itself playing in food safety and food security, in the context of refrigeration? There’s a real need for reliable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cold chain management solutions in the region, in view of population growth and better awareness related to food hygiene.

ASHRAE is strongly committed to supporting the development of the cold chain. ASHRAE is currently developing a guide on Sustainable Refrigerated Facilities and Systems. The Guide will address the entire range of facility and equipment design and efficiency alternatives for refrigerated processing, storage and distribution (the cold chain), in both developed and developing countries. As global urbanisation continues,

refrigerated storage and transport from farm to store is critical. Food spoilage is a significant sustainability problem, particularly in least developed countries. Medicine storage and transportation is likewise critical. The project has two parts. The first is a comprehensive guide being funded by ASHRAE and other partners, which is slated for publication in 2015. The second is the development, with United Nations Environment Programme funding, of a supporting document specifically targeted to developing nations and published in all six official languages of the United Nations.

ASHRAE has recently conducted IAQ 2013, the Environmental Health in Low-Energy Buildings Conference, in October. In your opinion, is there a better awareness towards better IAQ in global society?

In the realm of indoor environmental control systems for buildings and transportation systems where we work, we provide for basic needs and quality of life by making those who use those systems safe, healthy, productive and comfortable. ASHRAE has contributed significantly to this mission in the past and continues to do so today; however, our focus, and that of the industry, for some time has shifted strongly towards energy conservation and protection of the atmosphere. We must restore a proper emphasis on the indoor environment. We must connect science to practice. We can take the results of research and use them to create real change applications. We can educate and equip the industry in the principles and practice of indoor environmental quality as we have done in others. The conference in Vancouver, Canada, at which I presented a plenary speech,

was one of the frankest self-examinations of the status of IAQ that I have experienced. I believe the consensus of the assembled international community of experts was that, while much valuable research on the relationship between indoor air and health has accumulated over the past 30 years, we could be doing a much better job of implementing it in practice. The reasons for this gap are many, including less awareness of the importance of IAQ and its impacts than is needed among the public, the professional community, and regulatory bodies. The free distribution of the ASHRAE “Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning”, by downloading from the ASHRAE website, and the formation of an alliance of international IAQ organisations are significant steps we are taking to address this issue.

Still on the topic of IEQ, ASHRAE has recently announced that its next High Performance Buildings Conference will be in April 2014. What are you looking to achieve in this conference?

The High Performance Buildings Conference seeks to advance the industry’s efforts to achieve a true high-performance built environment, providing a unique opportunity for dialogue among attendees to facilitate understanding of current indoor environmental quality and energy-saving efforts and to share best practices for achieving high-performance buildings. The conference topics provide a comprehensive overview of highperformance building design with a focus on strategies in several areas. New subject areas include water efficiency, building occupant behaviour, new building technologies and Indoor Environmental Quality. In addition, there is increased emphasis on lighting/ daylighting and the building envelope.

What is ASHRAE doing in terms of encouraging the funding of wellstructured research activities to further the cause of the HVACR industry?

ASHRAE’s research programme is guided by a research strategic plan that is updated every five years by an expert advisory panel. The current plan, which can be downloaded from the ASHRAE web site, has 11 priorities addressing key issues from environmental impacts of refrigerants to understanding the impact of HVAC and building design

on the transmission of disease to energy efficiency. Whether projects are developed through solicited proposals in response to work statements prepared by ASHRAE’s technical committees, task groups, or multidisciplinary task groups, or through unsolicited proposals, they should address these priorities. Technical committees develop their own research plans focused within their scopes of operation, so the process is well-structured and connected directly to the needs of the industry. A new effort that may be of particular interest to your readers is the formation

of a multidisciplinary task group (MTG) to develop a hot climate design guide. The scope of the MTG is as follows: MTG.HCDG – Hot Climate Design Guide Scope: MTG.HCDG will coordinate technical committee/task group/ technical resource group activities and participating outside groups to help support the technical basis, development, and publication of a new “Hot Climate Design Guide.” Responsibilities include the development of supporting research, presentations and content for the “Hot Climate Design Guide” special

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November 2013

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interview

William P "Bill" Bahnfleth, 2013-2014 ASHRAE President

publication. This is an excellent example of an effective response to a regional industry need through the established mechanisms of the ASHRAE technical organisation.

assignments and the desired ideals of a better society?

What communication strategies is ASHRAE employing in the Middle East to highlight the clear and present need for research related to highambient conditions? For instance, is ASHRAE urging governments to allocate a percentage of their GDP to scientific research by showing a correlation between such research

As mentioned in response to an earlier question, one way we are sharing guidance related to high-ambient conditions is through our upcoming First International Conference on Energy and Indoor Environment for Hot Climates taking place from February 24 to 26, 2014, in Doha, Qatar. Organised by ASHRAE, the Qatar Oryx Chapter and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, it is endorsed by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Chartered Institution of

w it h ca M or te go e re ri es fr ig th an er at everio nre be fo la te re d

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Climate Control Middle East November 2013

Features Ducts Fans and blowers Building performance Humidifiers and dehumidifiers Acoustics in district cooling plants

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Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the Federation of European Heating and AirConditioning Associations (REHVA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). This conference will be the first to tackle energy and indoor environmental quality issues in humid and arid hot climates, providing a forum for discussion of the latest research and developments. Consulting engineers, building owners, industry manufacturers, environmental organisations, researchers, scientists and all interested professionals are invited to present and participate. Another way is through publications, such as the recently published “District Cooling Guide,” which provides design guidance for all major aspects of district cooling systems. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring that the guide addressed issues particular to systems operating in the Arabian Gulf region where district cooling is seeing rapid growth. ASHRAE has long had a significant effort in advocacy and government activities in the United States. This year, we have formed a “Grassroots Government Activities Committee” to provide support for chapter and regional level interactions with government. For chapters located outside the US, this may include providing advice at the national level. ASHRAE does not have a specific position on how much of their GDP developed or developing nations should devote to research, but ASHRAE advocates for funding in high-priority areas through direct contacts with government and also through its Position Documents, which can be obtained from the ASHRAE website.

Are there any further initiatives to the district cooling design manual brought out by ASHRAE with the support of Empower in the UAE?

There are no specific follow-on plans at this time, but ASHRAE would be very interested in working with Empower or others to develop further guidance or conduct research on district energy projects of mutual interest. The sponsoring technical committee for the district cooling design manual, TC 6.2 (District Energy), is working on potential new research project topics now. The committee also is considering unsolicited research proposals, such as URP-1713, Evaluating the Thermal Storage Potential of District Chilled Water Piping Systems to Reduce Peak Electrical Demand, submitted by the University of Georgia.

post-event report

THE CLIMATE CONTROL CONFERENCE, DOHA, QATAR

District cooling – annual stocktaking With Talk, Exhibit, Network as its catchphrase, The Climate Control Conference, on 6-7 October in Doha, lived up to its avowed goal of providing an opportunity for industry insiders to directly connect with end-users and explored key issues facing the sector. We bring you the first part of the report. Story: Mary Coons, our Qatar correspondent

Q 58

Qatar is an extraordinary story. The country is and will continue to experience explosive economic development during the upcoming five to 10 years leading up to the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Building roads, light rail networks and other infrastructurerelated features and raising

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

super-structures are not the only pieces of the economic development saga; education, social responsibility and environmental protection are the integral components of the larger picture. Global eyes will be closely watching Qatar’s every move as it transforms into an emerging world player.

Held against this backdrop under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Naif Bin Suhaim Al Thani, The Climate Control Conference, on October 6 and 7 at the Grand Hyatt, Doha, endeavoured to align itself to the broader goals. Organised and produced by CPI Industry’s Climate Control Middle East

7th edition

“In talking with the folks at Lusail, there is no excess TSE available for us to use in our cooling towers. It’s all used onsite for irrigation" – Robert Miller, District Cooling Specialist, Marafeq Qatar

November 2013

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7th edition

post-event report

THE CLIMATE CONTROL CONFERENCE, DOHA, QATAR

magazine and co-hosted by Qatar Cool, the event saw participation primarily from the district cooling stakeholder community in Qatar, including district cooling providers and water experts, and the legal and financial sectors. The delegates included representatives from Qatar Cool, Marafeq, Qatar Project Management (QPM), Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), King & Spalding and Doha Bank, among other high-profile entities. The primary goal the conference had set for itself was to discuss district cooling within the framework of regulation, the sustainable use of water, end-user aspirations and carbon credits as a source of finance. Though Qatarspecific, it had wider regional implications. In his opening remarks, B Surendar, Editorial Director & Associate Publisher, CPI Industry, introduced the overarching theme of the conference. In his Industry Leadership Address, Mohannad Khader, Vice President – Commercial, Qatar Cool, spoke on “The broader role of a district cooling provider in the community: A multifaceted model in serving the country and the people”, and set the stage for presentations and plenary discussions, with George Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering, as the moderator. (See box on programme highlights for list of speakers and presentation details.) Into its 7th edition, the conference raised many issues and challenges confronting the district cooling industry, with water resources management and project finance being key topics of discussion on Day One of the event. Water resources management, especially, figured high on the agenda, as Qatar Cool, the co-host had 60

“Legionella bacteria is now in the Middle East. It can be found anywhere – wherever a source of water creates aerosols.” – Christopher Rajamani, Technical & Business Development Manager, Al Hoty Stanger Laboratories

announced that it would start using treated sewage effluent (TSE) as an alternative to precious potable water at its district cooling plants in the West Bay area by 2014. The conference, therefore, explored alternatives to using potable water. Taking the cue from the Qatar Cool announcement on TSE, technology solutions providers at the conference, elaborated on the advances and innovations, which made the use of alternative sources of water a viable proposition. TSE, they said, posed no risk to humans or to equipment, thus allaying concerns related to Legionella. (See Box TSE – immediate concerns.) Project finance was another area of interest during the conference, with district cooling companies eager for tips on earning the confidence

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

of banks and other financial institutions. Dr R Seetharaman, the Group CEO, Doha Bank, in his presentation said that banks would willingly lend to district cooling schemes, if they saw risk factors being addressed, and added that regulations would go a long way in assuring banks of the viability of projects. Saying that Doha Bank supported sustainability initiatives – an approach he called green banking – Dr Seetharaman stressed that he would like to see more of the PPP model in district cooling. (See box on financial considerations for presentation highlights.) The three major areas that almost every session touched upon over the two days were: TSE, Legionella and Tri-gen/cogen. There are no easy solutions, and often, there are more questions than answers. But industry leaders made the most of the first day of the event to seek common ground and discuss insights on the way forward for district cooling systems, not only Qatar-specific but also GCC-wide. We will bring you the Day Two report and panel discussion highlights in the December issue of CCME.

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November 2013

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7th edition

post-event report

THE CLIMATE CONTROL CONFERENCE, DOHA, QATAR

Speakers

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

George Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering

Tim Burbury, Partner, King & Spalding, LLP

Gerhard Bingel, Senior Industry Development Manager (MEA region), Nalco Gulf Ltd, Dubai

Dan Coday, Sales Manager, International Tower Tech, Inc

Dr Esam Elsarrag, Director, Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (Barwa & Qatari Diar Research Institute)

Hani Awni Hawamdeh, General Manager, Pre-Contract Services, Arab Engineering Bureau

Tayyab Husaini, Regional Product Manager (Middle East), Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls

Mohannad Khader, Vice President – Commercial, Qatar Cool

Salah Nezar, Sustainability Director, Qatar Project Management

D Reed Philips, Projects Director, Marafeq Qatar

Maurice JP Piché, Administrator & Co-owner, Sonitec-Vortisand Inc

Issa Qandeel, Vice President – Development, Qatar Cool

Pradeep Saxena, General Manager, TransGulf ElectroMechanical, Qatar

Dr R Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank Group

Hassan Sultan, Director, Mechanical Department, MZ & Partners

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

7th edition

post-event report

THE CLIMATE CONTROL CONFERENCE, DOHA, QATAR

TSE – immediate concerns Mohannad Khader of Qatar Cool and Bob Miller of Marafeq Qatar, both district cooling provider experts, had a conversation on TSE on the sidelines of the conference, while Mary Coons listened in … Miller: Who did you talk with about getting TSE? Khader: We talked to Ashghal. They are coordinating with Kahramaa to provide us with potable water, because we have to alternate these pipes to convert to TSE. We talked to both parties. It is not as important to Ashghal as the MoE. To use TSE you have to get rid of it, so you need to know where to put it. Overall, the communication with Kahramaa and Ashghal helped with the process. Miller: Kahramaa has mandated TSE use beginning in 2014 and said that potable water is “strictly prohibited”. What are you going to do next year when it is mandated to use? Can you use potable water in some circumstances until TSE is available?” Khader: Kahramaa won’t ask for something impractical. If TSE is not available, we have potable water as a source. And we can switch when TSE is available. In our case, we told Ashghal that we will keep the existing potable water line coming from Kahramaa as a backup, in case anything happens.

think there’s going to be enough TSE to run our plants on any kind of a full-load basis. Now, that doesn’t mean we can’t get TSE from outside of Lusail proper. Right across the street, apparently there’s an Ashghal network, and somehow we could probably get a pipeline up to our plants. Khader: We need to do some more studies about how to treat TSE. In the design we have now with TSE as the main source, we would have more [TSE] than we could treat in the polishing plants. We have no problem; whenever the infrastructure is ready, we can make the switch. Miller: Where is the infrastructure? Khader: That’s something that Ashghal is going to

Miller: In talking with the folks at Lusail, there is no excess TSE available for us to use in our cooling towers. It’s all used on-site for irrigation. There might be some excess in winter that we could probably use. But I don’t

Miller: Have they [Ashghal] talked about having to add infrastructure in that you might have to pay for? Khader: No, they’re just talking about tapping into the existing infrastructure. The request is coming from them. Miller: Is TSE free for you? Khader: No, but at the first stage, it is free. Miller: Qatar Cool seems to be on the front lines of TSE in Qatar.

Miller: Shouldn’t all district cooling providers have a backup potable water line? Khader: Yes, you’re absolutely right.

put in. They have an existing network in West Bay. Ashghal approached us about tapping into existing infrastructure. We asked them to describe infrastructure and network existence in the area, and to confirm that they had this kind of network capacity large enough to support district cooling, which they did.

We will start using TSE in the West Bay area. This will free up millions of cubic metres of fresh water to the country.”

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

– Mohannad Khader, Vice President – Commercial, Qatar Cool

Khader: Yes, but we also know the challenges. Ashghal seems to have some doubts about TSE. I told them and others, if you want to see a real actual case, go visit Empower. They are replacing desalinated water with TSE. Miller: Since you are in the early stages in your plan to switch from potable to TSE, do you have any special provisions that you are going to do for the chillers, such as perhaps drain and fill them with potable water? Khader: Honestly, I don’t know. There’s something going on – not with the chiller heat exchangers – but something with the water itself, just to make sure that the tower is clean. Miller: That’s one of the things that we talked about in Bahrain with the seawater chillers. During off peak periods when we’re not using all of the chillers, we don’t want to let all that seawater just sit in the condenser. So, we had a provision to drain the seawater and fill it with potable water to somewhat lay up the chiller for the off season. I was wondering if maybe the same thing ought to be done with the TSE. Five key points emerged from the discussion: • Qatar Cool did not have to pay for the TSE pipeline; Ashghal did. • Communication with Kahramaa and Ashghal helped with the process. • Qatar Cool must also comply with Ministry of Environment (MoE) requirements for discharge to the sea. • TSE is free for now, but this could change. • Kahramaa won’t ask for something impractical.

Financial considerations Project financing being a key conference issue, Dr R Seetharaman’s presentation was of special interest to the audience. Mary Coons sums up its salient aspects … Global economies are under pressure. Energy markets are taking a back seat. We need to look at the bigger picture in the world today, and that translates into investing in Qatar and the GCC as a structured solution, believes Dr R Seetharaman, Doha Bank Group CEO. “In most governments, it’s an integral part of economic and social development; we must recognise this. And that’s where we must begin,” he told the audience. Discussing financial considerations and risk management, he offered insights for district cooling systems in the GCC region and elaborated on the need to understand economics and

ensure global policymakers generate public/private partnership (PPP) markets and remain commercially viable. To achieve this, he identified four major areas that must be addressed: • Risk management and regulations • Green Banking • Green Gulf • Public/Private Partnership Risk management and regulations Banks will willingly lend to district cooling projects if it can be demonstrated that risk factors are addressed. In Dr Seetharaman’s view, if deposits are short term and lending is long term, there are inherent risks. “So, regulators

have to come in," he said. "If all kinds of synergies come in, bankers will have the confidence to lend money.” Fiscal service is core and 60 to 70% executable, he explained. “If you look at the last five years, you will see that we are witnessing huge amounts of investments for research. This is execution.” He believed that regulations would go a long way in reassuring banks about a project’s viability. “We need to regulate security for global growth and understand the boundaries for regulation. Policymakers must come to terms with this,” he said. He also emphasised the need to understand from a banking perspective that

November 2013

banks lend on investments. “District cooling projects of this scale have taken a back seat; bankers are very sceptical about recognising these opportunities,” he pointed out. “When it comes to building a model, the public is very much lost and the bankers can’t come to terms with the risk.” Highlighting that district cooling projects are expensive for developers, he predicted that preferential treatment of these projects is in the GCC governments’ best interest, and acknowledged, “This treatment would result in better fiscal surplus at macro levels due to more economic use of fossil resources for exports and reduction in overall energy consumption.”

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7th edition

post-event report

THE CLIMATE CONTROL CONFERENCE, DOHA, QATAR

Green Banking Part of green banking practices includes learning sector solutions, such as ensuring water security, carbon financing and creating outlets to reduce carbon emissions, said Dr Seetharaman. In light of this, he believed that carbon emission reduction standards to ensure quality must be in place both locally and regionally.

Green Gulf Environmentally friendly projects are just a start. If you look at the bigger picture, district cooling is one process to creating a Green Gulf. There are many dynamics of energy security, including the intricacies necessary in reducing our carbon footprint via carbon emission reductions, Dr Seetharaman elaborated. “How do we get water?” he asked, and answered, “We desalinate it.” Recycling and reusing water is just another aspect.

Understanding opportunities to convert reverse osmosis represents yet another dynamic of energy security, he pointed out. Public/Private Partnership The private sector has an opportunity to build a public partnership market. This new framework will invest in energy and water security, both integral parts of the government. He said, and admitted it meant a huge amount of work.

Counting and countering the cost Tayyab Husaini made a presentation, titled 'Innovative solutions for optimising total project lifecycle cost in District Cooling'. Mary Coons puts it in a nutshell. Tayyab Husaini, Regional Product Manager, Middle East Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls, put forward a challenge and an opportunity to counter it: Fact: In a district cooling plant, chillers consume the greatest portion of energy and demand, and typically they run more than 99% of the operating hours at offdesign conditions. This is not saving energy. Opportunity: Compressors running at lower speeds, whenever possible, consume less power and can potentially save up to 30% of the annual energy consumption. “The industry has two innovative solutions to the above situation: variable speed drive chillers and modular chiller plants,” contended Husaini. “You can save energy using variable speed drive chillers. However, you must design for peak load.” The

dilemma, he said, was to ensure chiller efficiency even at chilled water low Delta T conditions. Husaini used the analogy of an automobile to explain the difference between constant speed drive (accelerator pegged to the floor and braking to slow down) and variable speed drive (full control of the accelerator and braking to slow down). He, then, transferred the analogy to centrifugal chillers at design and off-design conditions. At design conditions at both constant and variable speed, he said, the loaded chillers’ pre-rotation vanes (PRV) were open with the motor at design speed. But at offdesign conditions, at constant speed, the PRV is closed as the load decreases while the motor speed remains constant at full. With the variable speed example at off design, the motor speed decreases, optimises compressor

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

efficiency, optimises PRV position and, consequently, consumes less energy. Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Chillers With the use of variable speed drive, can inlet vanes be eliminated? Absolutely not, replied Husaini. “A balance between the speed reduction and vane throttling is needed for ‘surge-free’ operation at low-load conditions.” Benefits of a VSD, he explained, include improved and constant power factor of 0.95 or better, which eliminates PF correction capacitors and reduces current for the same power; reduced inrush to less than 100% full load amps, which enhances motor life and reduces emergency power generator size; reduced driveline wear; reduced sound level at lower loads; and the elimination of any

Corporations must have a social responsibility, which includes going back to the public as well. Bankers and lenders, must, in turn, embrace social responsibility, he stressed, and added: “Educate the public and build legal systems to ensure they are responsive … that’s what the PPP opportunity is all about….” “What’s important is that we create a better world by creating better citizenship,” he concluded.

ill-effects of exaggerated design parameters, meaning, higher condenser water temperature and fouling factors. Husaini once again emphasised that these benefits ensured chiller efficiency even at chilled water low Delta T conditions. Next, he applied the VSD chillers to a district cooling application, asking the audience, “Now that medium voltage VSDs are more commercially viable, can I apply this breakthrough technology to district cooling? Yes, of course,” he replied, answering his own rhetorical question, while pointing to a real-life case study. Through a series of slides, Husaini then set up the case study: 30,000 TR using six 5,000 TR chiller pairs. The minimum load was assumed to be 8,000 TR, annual cooling load 150 million TR-hr, 0.70 kW/TR at full load, and AED 0.33 ($US 0.90) per kWh. The results of the analysis, as reported by Husaini were: • Four-year payback with VSDs on all 12 chillers • 2.5-year payback with VSDs on six chillers (three chiller pairs)

He concluded his case study by explaining that if you want the greatest benefit on your chiller compressor using variable speed drive, you must use the coolest possible condenser water temperature, avoid variable speed drives on cooling tower fans, and no cooling tower bypass.

Modular packaged chiller plants A new concept in the Middle East, modular packaged chiller plants are NOT a replacement for district cooling plants Husaini stressed. “Chiller plants greater than 15,000 tonnes complement district cooling plants,” he explained.

He elaborated: A packaged plant is a pre-designed, factory assembled, selfcontained system shipped in modules for on-site assembly. It contains chillers, cooling towers, instrumentation, controls, pumps, pipework, electrics, and everything else necessary for producing chilled water. Packaged plants can be preengineered for the majority of chiller plant applications to customer specification. The major benefit of packaged plants is almost always improved project management. Specifically, benefits include: • Single point of responsibility • Reduced construction schedules • Greater flexibility that

affords scalability in the event of phased construction • Reduced job site risk and contingency costs due to less site exposure • Possibility to relocate, in case of future development Of packaged plants, there are two types: temporary and permanent, Husaini informed. He concluded his presentation by discussing the applications of packaged plants, such as projects requiring mobile temporary cooling, semipermanent plants deferred due to uncertain economic conditions, and high security projects with access restrictions.

Winners honoured During the conference, CPI Industry and Climate Control Middle East recognised and honoured companies that displayed exceptional technological and leadership qualities in the sphere of District Cooling. The selection of companies was by a panel of judges. KPMG monitored the process.

District Cooling Provider Qatar District Cooling Company Manufacturer (cooling towers) TowerTech Manufacturer (pumping systems) KSB Water/Wastewater Treatment Firm NALCO District Cooling Consultant/Planner Marafeq Qatar District Cooling Consultant/Planner DC PRO Engineering

November 2013

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post-event report

FOOD CHAIN, DOHA QATAR

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

DOHA, QATAR | 2013

‘We want to transform the Qatar food safety system’ Key government food safety regulatory and enforcement bodies talk about national aspirations and initiatives for a robust food safety culture in the peninsula. By B Surendar

Key government personalities related to ensuring food safety in Qatar, cold chain technology solutions providers and food establishments discussed critical temperature-abuse scenarios, among other issues, during the 5th Edition of the Food Chain Conference, held on the 30th and the 31st of October in Doha. The Conference, produced by CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Middle East magazine, received key support from Doha Municipality, Qatar Foundation and the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar. Wassan Abdulla Al Baker, Manager, Food Safety &

Wassan Abdulla Al -Baker

Mohammed Ahmed Yousef Alsayed

Joelle Hamaji Seyouri Qatar Foundation

Dr Shady Salah Zeyadah Doha Municipality November 2013

Environmental Health, with the Public Health Department of the Supreme Council of Health, set the theme for the discussions when she said that food safety was a shared responsibility; in one stroke, Al Baker effectively called out for a collaborative effort among all stakeholders for the health and well-being of the people living in Qatar. Saying that food safetyrelated hazards could occur at any point, be it production, storage or retail, Al Baker, who gave the keynote address, said it was important to put certain preventive measures in place to reduce food-borne illnesses. “To ensure consumer protection, we have to set FSQA (food safety and quality assurance) standards, which should be built in from the farm to the table,” Al Baker said. “It is the responsibility of the government to set regulations, legislation and standards, and to make sure those regulations and standards are carefully followed.” She added that it was equally binding on food establishments from commercial, moral and legal standpoints to provide safe food, keeping in mind consumer protection as the main objective. She called for a strong partnership between government and the industry, adding that even consumers should be responsible for food safety. Mohammed Ahmed Yousef Alsayed, the Head of the Health Control Section at Doha Municipality, echoed Al Baker’s views during his address, when he said that the consumer should be protected at all times, and that it was the responsibility of Doha Municipality to do so. Alsayed spoke against the backdrop of a feeling www.climatecontrolme.com

post-event report

FOOD CHAIN, DOHA QATAR

DOHA, QATAR | 2013

among food establishments in the country that the Municipality was particularly severe on them. “We want to work together to reach an objective to safeguard the consumers between us and those working with the food,” he said. “We want to eliminate the misunderstanding among companies that we are there to penalise them. We are not there to just punish them. We are supposed to execute the laws given to us, and execution of laws includes punishment, but this is not absolute, and if anyone is not happy, they can take us to the court.” In his address, Alsayed revealed that the Municipality in 2012 closed down 60 firms out of a total of 6,000, which he said was just one per cent and, hence, proved that the Municipality was not trigger-happy. Alsayed said the Municipality checked not only the food in restaurants and cold stores but also the refrigeration equipment and transport refrigeration. Food establishments came to the conference expecting to learn about specific key government initiatives. Al Baker addressed this when she spoke of the Qatar National Development Strategy and about how one of its most important goals was preventive healthcare and, by extension, establishing a food safety authority. Saying that the Supreme Council of Health had drafted the framework of the Food Safety Authority, Al Baker added that the body was in the process of reviewing the organisational structure of the authority and setting up Standard Operating Procedures. In her interaction with the delegates, Al Baker revealed that in addition to setting up the Food Safety Authority, the country was working towards establishing large laboratories, including ones dedicated for food safety. “Overall, we want to transform the Qatar food safety system,” Al Baker said. “We want to develop a food safety culture in the country.” 72

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

The Big 5 2013 is supported by Dubai Municipality, with Diamond Sponsor, Emirates Steel; Platinum Sponsors, Turkey and Saudi Arabia Pavilion; Gold Sponsors Rahji Steel and Massbetter exhibition and conference; Silver Sponsor, Qatar Steel; Free Zone Partner, JAFZA; Information Services Partner Etisalat and Official Broadcast Partner CNBC. Event highlights • The Big 5 welcomes back its popular live product showcase with hands-on demonstrations that provide an opportunity for visitors to discover the latest groundbreaking products for themselves. • The Gaia Awards will honour construction equipment and products that have integrated the concept of moving towards a more sustainable built environment. The awards are open not only to exhibitors but also to nonexhibitors whose products

are distributed within the MENA Region. • The Big 5 Platinum Club is an exclusive inviteonly club for the most influential contractors, architects, projects managers, consultants and other professionals who influence the purchasing of construction products and services. Members include buyers from right across the Middle East working on some of the world’s largest and most talked about projects. Members enjoy VIP services and free entry

into selected show features across The Big 5 portfolio of events. • The educational programme at the show will include: Conference • Sustainability in design • Sustainability in construction • Project showcases Professional development • LEED 201: Core concepts & Strategies • LEED BD+C 301: Implementing the

November 2013

building design + construction rating system • Project management • Arbitration in construction • Dubai green building codes Educational features • Educational seminars • Live product demonstrations • How to trade in the UAE • Materials testing & certification

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THE BIG 5 PRE-EVENT REPORT Here are a few of the seminars and product demonstrations at The Big 5: Venue: Maktoum Hall, Seminar Theatre 1 Date: November 25 Time: 5.30-6.30pm Panel discussion

‘The best possible cooling approaches for the region’ Chair: B Surendar, Editor, Climate Control Middle East; Editorial Director & Associate Publisher, CPI Industry The panel discussion will review different cooling approaches, taking into consideration energy efficiency, affordability, real estate footprint, acoustics, carbon footprint & broad environmental concerns. What are the key considerations in opting for a cooling approach, and does any one of them override the rest? Panelists:  Moan Abraham, Director, Distribution Middle East, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls  Ghaleb Abusaa, CEO, en3 Solutions  Fadi Hashem, Head of MEP, DC PRO Engineering  Fabian Jayasuriya, Technical Director, Emicool  Ali Redha, Technical Manager, United Electronics (Mitsubishi)

Fabric ducting – a solution (November 25, 14:00-14:30, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, John Lipscomb, International Sales Manager, DuctSox MENA FZCO) The seminar on fabric ducting will explore the benefits and advantages of the technology in large open ceiling areas. In

addition, it will zero in on its hygienic advantages and on the reasons why fabric ducting is reportedly considered the best air dispersion system to be used in cleanrooms, laboratories and other sensitive areas.

Advantages of independent 100% outdoor air units for IEQ (November 25, 14:45-15:15, Seminar Theatre 2, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Alan Joines, Director Engineering & Marketing, CLIVET Mideast LLC) The session will see discussions on energy savings and advantages afforded through the use of distributed units for 100% OAV in hospitals, schools, and residential and commercial applications, where maximum control for IEQ is desired.

Reduced energy consumption and improved IAQ using constant airflow regulators (November 25, 17:45-18:15, Seminar Theatre 2, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Noman Qamar, Product Manager, Aldes Middle East FZE) Whether it is for the removal of polluted air from toilets, kitchens, technical areas in a single or centralised ventilation system, or for the supply of hygienic, fresh/ treated air in an air conditioning system, there is a growing need for optimum air-balancing with precise and constant airflow regulation. Managing to set real airflows as per those calculated in design stage will ensure hygiene and thermal comfort, while limiting noise and optimising fan or AHU operating costs. To meet this challenge, a range of constant airflow regulators (CAR) will be reviewed.

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

Revolutionary energy savings with oil-free chiller (November 26, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Philipp Ampferl, Regional General Manager, Smardt Chiller Group FZE) The seminar gives an introduction to the reportedly innovative, energy-efficient and oil-free chiller technology, which can add to potential cost savings, enabled by current communication and data capabilities. With advancements in the field of variable speed drives with HFC refrigerants and driving the chiller oil-free with magnetic bearings, a new trend in centrifugal chiller applications was launched. Smardt chillers are said to be configured with the oil-free centrifugal technology, magnetic bearings and integral variable-speed drives. This unique combination reportedly gives a clear energy and ecological advantage over traditional lubricated chillers, in terms of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting operation costs, reducing footprints and increasing efficiency.

Elastomeric thermal insulations for HVAC applications (November 26, 15:15-15:45, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Moshin Moin, Production Manager, Rubber World Industry LLC) With the aim of helping attendees gain expertise in optimising HVAC systems, the seminar will explore how to maintain the systems, so they run safely and at peak efficiency, and how to maximise energy efficiency and minimise downtime spent in maintenance.

Cross-flow filtration + antibacterial media = major savings in cooling towers operating costs (November 27, 13:4514:15, Seminar Theatre 3, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Maurice Piche, Sonitec Vortisand) The seminar will see a presentation on why crossflow filtration at 0.45µ can reduce chiller energy by at least 10%, on how it can save on water consumption by up to 90% against other filtration techniques and on reducing bio-fouling of chillers and exchangers (biofilm) with antimicrobial media. In addition, it will also explore ways of reducing Legionella risks through fine particule filtration and antibacterial media.

Part-load mindset is the path to carbon reduction (November 27, 15:15-15:45, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Brent Ross, Global Marketing Director for Product, Armstrong Fluid Technology) To effectively compete in today’s marketplace, it’s believed that we need to employ new approaches to system design based on demand-based rather than capacity-based control. What’s more, we are supposed to achieve these savings whilst still delivering lowest installed cost. This involves fundamentally rethinking how systems are designed, specified and integrated. This presentation will review traditional approaches to variable volume, variable speed pumping systems and contrast these with effective new methods for meeting cooling loads more energy efficiently and cost-effectively.

Remote monitoring and management of HVACR systems (November 27, 15:15-15:45, Seminar Theatre 3, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Rakesh Saxena, General Manager, Trimac Inc) The presentation will talk about Sitrad, reportedly a costeffective remote monitoring and management solution that

is affordable even by small restaurants, bakeries or butchery shops. Sitrad is said to allow a two-way communication between the users and commercial refrigeration equipments via Internet or smartphone apps and feature an instant alert via email, SMS or through buzzers to the service personnel for remedial actions before the food gets spoilt, potentially saving thousands of dollars to the business owners.

Direct evaporative cooling system (November 28, 13:4514:15, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Samuel Peli, Climagulf) The session looks to focus on an alternative, energy efficient and sustainable cooling system suitable for many commercial

and industrial applications, and most appropriate for the harsh weather conditions of the Gulf.

Advances in de-aeration of chilled water systems (November 28, 15:15-15:45, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Willem Tieleman, Technical Manager International, Reflex Winkelmann GmBH) The session will see discussions on some new developments and techniques available for efficient and effective removal of air and gas bubbles from chilled water system flow.

Sustainable HVAC solutions for the manufacturing sector (November 28, 15:15-15:45, Seminar Theatre 2, Maktoum

Hall Education Zone, Pranesh Kankanwadi, Climagulf) The seminar will take a close look at employing energy saving concepts in cooling systems and indoor air designs to achieve comfortable working conditions, specifically in the complex environment of manufacturing sector in the GCC.

Advances in HVAC motor technologies (November 28, 16:45-17:15, Seminar Theatre 1, Maktoum Hall Education Zone, Mohamad Dahouk, Director for HVACR Technologies, Regal Beloit) This seminar will give a basic overview of electronically commuted motors (ECM) technology for HVAC applications, outlining its advantages in comparison to standard induction motors.

Energy recovery ventilator (November 26, 15:00-15:30, Rakesh Saxena, General Manager, Trimac Inc) Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) produced by Lifebreath in Canada, exhaust the polluted indoor air from homes and offices and replace it with the same amount of filtered and cooled fresh air. ERVs recover energy from the cold polluted air and transfers that energy to the incoming fresh air using an air-to-air plate heat exchanger with up to 90% efficiency. This improves the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), while maximising energy efficiency.

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CANADA

Because Canada can Industry players say that the visible scars of the recent economic downturn are gradually fading from the face of the Canadian HVAC industry. Jerome Sanchez has the report.

I In spite of the global economic uncertainty, the HVAC market in Canada is said to have maintained its stability and is even observed to be growing. There is currently a perceived increase in

demand for innovative HVAC products, owing to a higher level of consciousness on the part of the Canadian market of the need to reduce energy consumption. In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, HVAC industry players believe that innovation is the essential business strategy that will work.

In the face of the global crisis Though the global financial downturn did not leave Canada entirely unscathed, the blow was somewhat cushioned. Maurice PichĂŠ, Administrator and Co-owner,

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

Sonitec-Vortisand, considers Canada to have been relatively exempt from the latest recession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Canada suffered [only] a mild slowdown of its economy, thanks to a healthy real estate market and stringent bank regulations,â&#x20AC;? he says. He believes that despite the condition of the export market to the United States during the crisis has affected the Canadian economy, the top manufacturers have compensated the losses experienced in the United States by extending their export activities to other markets.

The prevailing low interest rates will favour investments in production equipment and productivity improvement measures

Although Piché can sense a mild recovery, he says that the still-fragile market expansion causes the manufacturers to be very cautious in their forecasts and investments. “Fortunately,” he says, “the prevailing low interest rates will favour investments in production equipment and productivity improvement measures.” Dean Wood, International Sales Manager, Envira-North Systems, also attributes the slight slowdown of the Canadian economy to the decrease in exports to the United States and Europe during the crisis years, but says that despite this, Canadian markets remained stable. “Small constant gains from new construction, and a consistent retrofitting base, stabilise our market,” says Wood. Rakesh Saxena, General Manager, Trimac, agrees with Wood and says that the steady growth of the Canadian HVAC market has been brought about by the double-digit growth in residential and commercial construction activities.

On drivers and challenges

Owing to the economic downturn, home and building owners have grown increasingly conscious of the energy cost of their facilities. This heightened attention to energy savings, say the industry players, is driving the growth of the industry in Canada. Wood says that despite the economic uncertainty, energy-efficient technologies drive the growth of the market. "Products like AltraAir fans encourage owners/ operators to retrofit their buildings to continually generate savings.” Saxena seconds Wood, and adds that retrofit projects, in addition to an increase in expenditure on construction projects, keep the Canadian

HVAC industry buoyant. “Increased customer awareness about energy savings and the various incentive programmes have contributed to the growth in retrofit projects,” he explains. He shares his observation that customers in Canada are investing in VFDs, automation, heat recovery units and duct sealing solutions, among others. “The key drivers,” says Piché, “will be those manufacturers that invest in innovative, and energy- and water-efficient technologies, bringing to the market value-added solutions geared for an international audience.” Piché believes that the “generosity” of the Canadian taxation system further fuels innovation among Canadian HVAC manufacturers: “The Canadian taxation system, being one of the most generous [systems] in supporting R&D investments, is another key incentive to outperform the traditional approach,” he emphasises. “Even for a small company, like Sonitec-Vortisand, these incentives have been maximised, and the management has decided to invest over USD 500,000 over the last 24 months to design a new generation of cross-flow filters launched in October 2013, the H2F Vortisand.” While manufacturers welcome the fact that R&D among Canadian companies is ramping up, and that new products are gradually being welcomed by the market, they do not deny that there still exist challenges, mostly brought about by the crisis of recent years and by the novelty of energy-efficient products. Saxena points to the uncertainty of the US economy and underscores the fact that the United States is a large trading partner of Canada, and that

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country report

CANADA

Scene of the Toronto skyline from Central Island

the fluctuation of the Canadian Dollar against the US Dollar is one of the foremost challenges to the industry. Piché, on the other hand, points out that diversifying export activities outside of the United States still remains a challenge for Canadian HVAC companies. “Government programmes and trade associations are very active in promoting market expansion to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries and to the growing Asian markets,” he says. However, he sounds a warning when he says that the long selling cycles in the above-mentioned countries, as well as the lack of regulatory enforcement for protecting IP (intellectual property) is discouraging for any innovative manufacturer. On a lighter note, Piché shares the news that the Canadian Government has recently signed a free trade agreement with 88

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

the European Community, though the benefits of this “major breakthrough” are expected to yield results five to 10 years from now, as the European economy starts to recover from its current turmoil. Wood explores another facet of the issue, when he says that, in his opinion, customer education is one of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry in Canada. “New technologies are constantly available; the key is educating customers about which technologies are best utilised and where.” In his opinion, the key to addressing this challenge is to understand the objectives put forth and provide the necessary expertise to the customers, so that they are able to make educated decisions.

Eyes on the Middle East and beyond

In the face of the economic uncertainty in North America and Europe, Canadian industry players

Government programmes and trade associations are very active in promoting market expansion to the BRIC countries and to the growing Asian markets are looking to expand their operations towards other regions, such as MENA. Piché says: “It is quite obvious that any manufacturer developing innovative technologies to address the key concerns observed in the MENA region is poised to [achieve] market penetration success.” He reveals that the GCC will remain a prime target for Sonitec-Vortisand to expand its operations in. “Depending on the market penetration depth and speed of adoption for our technologies, we are seriously considering to [expand] in the GCC with an assembly facility and service organisation that would allow us to service other markets in the MENA region,” he adds. Saxena adopts the same optimistic tone about his company’s operations in the Middle East, as he shares the view that Trimac is heavily investing to drive energy-efficiency awareness in the region. He reveals that his company has introduced several energy-saving products in the region, such as a robotic duct cleaning solution and high-volume lowspeed (HVLS) fans. “Our innovations,” says Wood, “are introduced into markets, as they evolve to meet the needs and demands of endusers in each market.” He explains that the growth in construction activities in the GCC region helps drive innovation in his company, as market-specific requirements push the development and evolution of its

to Canadian HVAC manufacturers, Wood believes that his company will continue to carefully evaluate each market – a practice that has brought it success. “Without mentioning specific targets," Wood says, "new emerging markets represent excellent opportunities for our company and our Canadian colleagues." 

technologies for use in the GCC and other potential markets. Though the opportunity to enter new markets is generally attractive

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P.O. Box 2328 P.O. Box 2328 P.O. Box 47356 P.O. Box 27358 P.O. Box 20126

E-mail: info@unigulf.ae

Tel. : +971 42862100 Tel. : +971 42223697/2282940 Tel. : +971 26338748 Tel. : +971 65397099 Tel. : +9731 7746826/27

Fax : +971 42858001 Fax : +971 42281435 Fax : +971 26338749 Fax : +971 65397088 Fax : +9731 7746849

Website: www.unigulfdevelopment.ae

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perspective CHILLERS

Trendsetting technologies for centrifugal chillers The performance of centrifugal chillers can be optimised by combining the new technologies of magnetic bearings and variable speed drives, along with HFC refrigerants, says Philipp Ampferl.

ill quite recently, centrifugal chillers were not taken into account as a major factor for sustainable efficiency improvements while considering a building’s energy consumption. The high operational efficiency at full load was a major consideration while buying centrifugal chillers. However, now, the other side of the coin has revealed the main limitations regarding partload performance, maximum

responds by partially closing its inlet vanes to restrict refrigerant flow. While this control method is effective down to about 20% of a chiller’s rated output, it results in decreased operating efficiency. This implies that a conventional centrifugal chiller, rated at 0.6 kw/per tonne at full load, might require as much as 0.8 kW per tonne when very lightly part-loaded (Figure 1).

Since chillers typically operate at or near full load less than 10% of the time, partload operating characteristics significantly impact annual energy requirements Magnetic bearing technology

condensing temperatures above 40°C and the inability to operate at low cooling loads. Presently, the changed attitude is that overall economics on lifecycle basis demands much more than peak loading. This is because it has been proved that a typical chiller operates less than one per cent per year on peak load. However, the solution is at hand now: A groundbreaking trend in centrifugal chiller applications has been launched with advancements

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

in the field of variable speed drives with HFC refrigerants that drives the chiller oilfree with magnetic bearings, making them highly efficient and superior in terms of energy consumption and lifecycle costs. The new centrifugal technology is available in typical screw chiller sizes (from 60TR), and because of the high condensing temperatures, also in an air-cooled and evaporative versions. Conventional systems show that if building load decreases, the chiller

Since chillers typically operate at or near full load less than 10% of the time, part-load operating characteristics significantly impact annual energy requirements. The answer to improving a centrifugal chiller’s efficiency, therefore, is to drive it with variable speed drives with HFC refrigerants and oil-free with magnetic bearing technology. The totally oil-free technology achieves the highest part-load efficiencies for chillers and chilled water systems, including water-,

Figure 1

air- and evaporatively cooled applications. Proprietary magnetic bearings replace conventional oil-lubricated bearings, eliminating high friction losses, mechanical wear and high-maintenance oil management systems to deliver chiller energy savings

of 35% or more, compared to conventional chillers while ensuring long-term reliability. The main moving parts of a compressor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rotor shaft and impellers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are levitated during rotation by a digitally controlled magnetic bearing system. Position sensors

at each magnetic bearing provide real-time feedback to the bearing control system, 120 times each revolution, ensuring constantly centred rotation. (See figures 2 and 3) High-speed variablefrequency operation affords outstanding part-load efficiency, compactness and extraordinary soft-start capacity. An inlet guide vane assembly trims low-load capacity and is digitally integrated with the variablespeed control to optimise energy efficiency and compressor performance throughout the full range of load and temperature conditions. In addition, HFC-134a refrigerant cools electronic and electromechanical components to assure

maximum efficiency and safe operation.

Run 100% oil-free with magnetic bearings

Conventional compressors and chillers consume more energy due to the presence of lubricating oil that hinders heat transfer. Even a chiller with an oil content of 3.5% may lose eight per cent efficiency (See Figure 4). Many chillers are overcharged with oil, resulting in actual energy efficiency much lower than the equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rating (See Figure 5). As against this, friction-free magnetic bearings eliminate the cost of such inefficiencies, as well as the maintenance costs associated with oil service. The compressor uses an integrated variable frequency drive to reduce

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perspective TIAC

Saudi Electric Company: Turbine inlet air chilling (TIAC) system is reported to increase power output during off-peak consumption times and store the energy to be used during the daily six-hour peak consumption period.

Increasing power and ROI with Turbine Inlet Air Chilling Despite innovations in harnessing unconventional energy, we will still need conventional plants to provide guaranteed capacity, believes Sam Abdalla, and demonstrates that applying TIAC to existing assets provides a “bridge” solution to meet today’s peak power demands, especially in the GCC region.

hile there is much promise in solar, wind and geothermal power technologies to help offset carbon emissions and produce the renewable, cost-effective electric energy of the future, it must be recognised that they will never be reliable as sources of firm capacity and will always need to be backed up by traditional power generation equipment. With the need to get on-line and ramp up quickly to address

the vagaries of nature, it would seem that combustion turbine systems, either in simple cycle or combined cycle configurations, would be the systems of choice to provide the required firm capacity. Combustion turbines are here to stay, at least in the medium term. Combustion turbine technology is mature, and improvements in the technology tend to be small and costly. However, there are other proven technologies that are affordable and easy to implement that can help

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

boost power production from existing combustion turbine units, while also reducing emissions. These tested solutions can serve as the “bridge” from inefficient thermal power production to the innovative technologies of tomorrow. Turbine Inlet Air Chilling (TIAC) is one such proven solution that helps gas turbine power plants boost power production affordably and efficiently.

The technology

The rated capacity of any gas combustion turbine

The purpose of TIAC is to restore the power output of a combustion turbine at elevated ambient temperatures to its rated capacity or better is based on the standard ambient air conditioning of 15°C, 60% RH and 1 atmosphere pressure at sea level, as defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO). A combustion turbine’s power output is proportional to the mass flow of gas passing through the machine. At high ambient temperatures, air is less dense, and therefore, the mass of air flowing through the machine, for the same volume, is lower than at ISO conditions. Thus, as ambient temperature increases, the turbine’s output decreases (Figure 1). The purpose of TIAC is to restore the power output of a combustion turbine at elevated ambient temperatures to its rated capacity or better. Inlet cooling can be accomplished in two ways – evaporative cooling, in which the inlet air is passed through a moist medium that cools the air through evaporation of the liquid coolant (water);

and mechanical cooling, in which the inlet air passes through cooling coils (cooled with chilled water) and undergoes both sensible and latent cooling. The big difference between the two methods is that evaporative cooling cannot cool the air below the ambient wet bulb temperature, whereas mechanical cooling can cool the inlet air to the dew point and below. Mechanical TIAC gives the operator the ultimate control of the turbine’s inlet air temperature, enabling the system to operate at the optimum inlet temperature all the year around (Figure 2) This technology is applicable to all combustion turbines (CTs), whether operating in simple-cycle, cogeneration, or combined-cycle systems. The technology can be applied on newly installed gas turbines and as retrofit on the existing ones.

How does it work?

By cooling the ambient air, the density of the air increases and the

Power Output

mass flow rate to the gas turbine increases, leading to higher power output (the same concept as the car turbo-charger). The cooling is accomplished by installing a heat exchanger (cooling coil) downstream from the air filter elements (Figure 3). The chilled water flows through the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the inlet air to the required air temperature. The chilled water is produced in a chiller plant, using electric- or steampowered chillers (Figure 4). The TIAC chiller plant is often supplemented with a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. This allows the peak cooling load, which occurs for only a few hours a year, to be served by a chiller plant that is sized for the average cooling load. The chiller plant runs all the time at a more or less constant load and is either cooling inlet air or charging the TES tank with chilled water. When the cooling load is greater than the chiller plant’s capacity, the additional load is served from the TES tank. Saudi Arabia has excellent examples of the effective use of TES, including Saudi Electric Company’s Power Plant 8, which combines an 11,000 TR chiller plant and a 195,000 TonneHour thermal energy storage tank. The combination of TIAC and energy storage increases total plant output by 25%.

TIAC in the Gulf region Temperature

T Chiller

Figure 1: Combustion power output v/s ambient temperature

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, KSA and the United Arab Emirates – enjoy sunny climates the year round, with very high ambient temperatures and

Figure 2: Turbine power output with mechanical TIAC

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perspective TIAC

relative humidity in the summer season. These high ambient conditions cause the gas turbines’ output to deteriorate significantly. Ironically, this occurs when more power is required due to the high demand for cooling.

At market prices, it costs about $800/kW to build a new simple cycle power plant, while installing TIAC costs around $300/ equivalent kW

Figure 3: TIAC coil placement

Figure 4: The chiller system

2011. As an example, let us look at an F class combustion turbine that has an ISO power output of 300 MWe. At an ambient dry-bulb temperature of 50°C, the machine will produce only around 210 MWe, whereas the same combustion turbine can produce more than 300MW in the winter season, when the ambient temperature is below 15°C, ie, at ISO or better. Thus, with TIAC, and assuming there is no change in power purchase rates from season to season, the turbine will provide at the very least a 30% increase in revenue in the summer season, thus enabling investors to improve asset utilisation and achieve a higher return on investment.

TIAC in SAUDI ARABIA

The table, above right, presents the approximate installed power capacity (GW) in the GCC region in

KSA

48.0

UAE

26.8

Kuwait

10.7

Bahrain

3.3

Oman

Qatar

5.4

GCC

98.3 GW

Since KSA has the highest installed power production capacity, let’s take an analytical look at the impact of TIAC on the country’s existing gas turbine fleet. In the 1990s, Saudi Electric Company (SEC) realised the valuable economic benefit of TIAC. As of today, there are nearly 100 gas turbines across the SEC network with an installed TIAC system. Additionally, there are two IPP projects under construction for ARAMCO, which will be equipped with TIAC. Taking a look at the power boost and economic benefits of TIAC, it’s easy to understand the advantages for Saudi Arabia and areas

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with similar climates. According to an SEC official, approximately 35% of Saudi Arabia’s installed capacity is simple cycle and nearly 10% is combined cycle. This results in approximately 20 GW of power production using combustion turbines. Let’s do the maths on the benefit on TIAC. TIAC can add up to 30% capacity in summer season, so the prospective added power using TIAC is equivalent to approximately 6 GW of installed capacity. At market prices, it costs about $800/kW to build a new simple cycle power plant, while installing TIAC costs around $300/ equivalent kW. The savings is approximately $500/KW for TIAC. When applied to the 6 GW estimated above, the result is CAPEX saving of about $3 billion. It is also important to consider that the operation and maintenance of a gas turbine is substantially

more expensive than TIAC. Capacity provided through the use of TIAC has an O&M cost of approximately 50% of the O&M cost of capacity provided by a conventional combustion turbine. Additionally, TIAC can be installed and brought on-line relatively quickly, with an average time frame of seven to 10 months from project inception to finish. We should continue to innovate and evolve the energy technologies of the future, but there will still be the need for conventional plants to provide guaranteed capacity. The GCC countries will need to build new power plants to address these needs. Meanwhile, applying TIAC to existing assets provides an ideal “bridge” solution to meet today’s peak power demands, reliably and affordably. Furthermore, applying TIAC to new construction enables the owner to extract all the potential power output available from that asset, increasing ROI and building value. 

The writer is Manager for Commercial Operations, Stellar Energy. He can be contacted at: sabdalla@ stellar-energy.net

perspective DEHUMIDIFIERS

It’s time to change those old dehumidifiers Arguing that new dehumidifier technologies reduce operating expenses for natatoriums, Ralph Kittler, PE, walks us through the latest advancements.

not only control humidity, but also heat or cool the space and use heat recovery to provide free pool water heating. A step up to new packaged natatorium dehumidifiers with high technology options will significantly cut energy costs and refrigerant liabilities without costing much more, if at all, than conventional equipment. And even if higher technology does cost more, the payback is generally short and the potential for energy savings will most probably amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars over the higher technology unit’s lifecycle. Beyond retrofits of existing pools, the hundreds of MENA region hotels slated for or currently amidst construction should seriously consider today’s indoor pool dehumidifier technology advancements.

Keeping the new dehumidifier efficiently tuned

he thousands of hotels with indoor swimming pools built throughout the last 25-year hospitality boom period of the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region have a unique opportunity to significantly cut energy costs. This is

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because the useful lifecycles of these hotels’ older technology indoor pool dehumidifiers are ending, and today’s advanced technology replacements offer significant energy improvement options over what was available 25, 20 and even 10 years ago. If the built-up approach to control

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the humidity was used, then the potential for savings is even greater now, as those systems consume more energy. The tried and proven technology of conventional dehumidifiers is typically the approach used by indoor pool designers. These selfcontained HVAC systems

Dehumidifiers are every bit as intricate as the most sophisticated HVAC system, computer or car, and, therefore, need periodic calibration and tuning to maintain their designed energy efficiency. There are literally dozens of parameters a dehumidifier monitors and controls to keep energy efficiency at the highest level. Furthermore, most hotel maintenance staff and engineers typically aren’t trained to detect these inconsistencies. Even a hotel’s preferred HVAC service contractor might be lacking in the fundamentals of dehumidifier service, which requires decidedly different and more complex troubleshooting than conventional air conditioning training. Imagine, for example, if an operator was not aware

that its unit was not adjusted for optimum moisture removal effectiveness. This inefficiency could cost the operator thousands of dollars in energy costs in a large facility. The dehumidifier’s ineffectiveness may not immediately affect the facility’s indoor air comfort, and could possibly continue unnoticed until possibly detected at an annual service check. One technology advancement is web-based monitoring capabilities for the purpose of spotting early inefficiency developments before they result in component breakdown or months of energy-wasting operation. Manufacturers have realised the benefits of frequent monitoring and have taken advantage of recent microprocessor advancements and the Internet’s potential to access real-time information flow and historical trend records of a dehumidifier’s operating parameters. On-board monitor/control microprocessors can now send the dehumidifier’s vital operating statistics daily, regardless of where in the world it is located, to factory technicians via an on-board Ethernet connection. These manufacturers offer a free daily monitoring service and even have smartphone applications, where an authorised user can access a dehumidifier unit from anywhere on the globe. The manufacturer can alert the facility manager about any issues and oversee the local service contractor set-up and adjust the unit to ensure optimum performance. Alarms can also be sent to the factory to ensure a quick resolution of any problem. A building owner not taking advantage of these minimalcost options would be pennywise and pound foolish.

The exhaust air is an energy source that designers and operators should always consider for heat recovery The latest energysaving components

Direct drive plenum fans with variable frequency drives (VFDs) are also advanced technology examples for potential energy savings of up to 20% versus conventional dehumidifier unit beltdriven fans. When VFDs are added to direct drive technology, there is potential for even more efficiency with the ability of ramping up or down the fan speed. Adjusting the fan speed via a VFD also adds more flexibility for air balancing. Another potential advantage VFDs offer is the ability to ramp down the plenum fan speed during off-peak hours when less overall supply airflow might be a consideration. While these technologies have been available for years, it has only recently been introduced into the dehumidifier market, and not all manufacturers offer them. Until recently, the preferred method was fan belts connecting the fan motor to the blower – a method that needs regular adjustments and fan belt replacements. Conversely, the direct drive

method connects the motor directly to the fan shaft, thus eliminating friction, noise, maintenance and power transfer inefficiencies associated with belt drives. A direct drive plenum fan and a VFD combination offers approximately 20% reduction in fan motor energy and, therefore cost savings – a staggering figure, considering the fact that a typical pool dehumidifier’s fans operate 24/7. The payback is instantaneous, since direct drive plenum fans/VFD options are comparable in price to belt-driven systems.

Energy recovery – using exhaust air to pre-heat outdoor air

Building designers generally adhere to ASHRAE Standard 62 for indoor air quality (IAQ), which stipulates

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the minimum fresh air requirements for various applications, activities and type of facilities. Of course, outdoor air induction requires compensatory exhaust air, which must surpass the outdoor air volume in order to maintain the negative pressure natatoriums require. The option of exhaust air energy recovery now offered on many dehumidifier brands can save significant amounts of energy. Whether it is using extremely energy-rich 26°C (80°F) space exhaust air to pre-cool the 37°C (100°F) outdoor air of Dubai in August, or using it to preheat the sub-10°C (50°F) air of Cairo in January, exhaust energy recovery can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars annually.

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perspective DEHUMIDIFIERS

Remotely located exhaust fans can also be outfitted with heat transfer coils that are piped to the dehumidifier. The exhaust air is an energy source that designers and operators should always consider for heat recovery. In the same sense, remotely located chemicalsource-capture exhaust fans are now available on commercial pool gutters. The gutter itself actually draws chloramines – gaseous contaminants that cause Lifeguard Lung and other common respiratory ailments – away from the pool surface where swimmers breathe. The chloramines, which are chlorine molecules attached to contaminants such as ammonia or perspiration, are drawn off the pool surface and exhausted to the dehumidifier for preconditioning outdoor air. The combination of evacuating pool surface chemical gases through a gutter system can also make a tremendous difference in IAQ throughout a hotel or community pool facility and many times eliminate “chlorine” odour complaints altogether.

The future is in refrigerant reduction

The expense and environmental damage liabilities of hyydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) refrigerants, such as R-22 and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), such as R-134a and R-410A, should have a bearing on future retrofit and new construction indoor pool dehumidifier choices. Advanced technology from HVACR manufacturers is offering dramatically reduced refrigerant charges using technology where polypropylene glycol serves as an alternative heat rejection liquid instead of HCFC or HFC refrigerants.

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Choosing equipment that uses up to 85% less refrigerants than conventional dehumidifiers is a wave of the future, especially for green projects Glycol is up to 95% less expensive than refrigerants and installing its PVC versus copper piping reduces job costs. If a leak occurs, liquid glycol is not environmentally damaging to the atmosphere versus the gaseous state of refrigerants. Choosing equipment that uses up to 85% less refrigerants than conventional dehumidifiers

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

is a wave of the future, especially for green projects. There are some significant side benefits to these systems: • Since they are factorysealed refrigerant systems, they don’t require expensive site refrigeration work by specially trained technicians when installing the systems’ piping. • All problems historically associated with large refrigerant charges and field charging are totally eliminated. • Manufacturers have made these systems competitively priced with traditional systems. • There are no copper pipes needed to connect the dehumidifier to the dry cooler. Since PVC or CVPC piping is used, no tempting copper lines are visible to potential thieves. Incorporating some or all of these energyreduction innovations in new construction or retrofit projects promises unprecedented IAQ, reduced energy, short paybacks and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in long-term savings over the

equipment’s lifecycle. The benefits also outweigh the economics of continuing to use an existing older, lower technology dehumidifier until it reaches its full lifecycle. These recent advancements might prompt indoor pool owners to seriously analyse the efficiency of their current equipment, environmental impact and overall operational costs. A new system might have an attractive payback and deliver better overall performance.

The writer is a Co-Founder and Vice President of Sales/Marketing at Seresco Technologies Inc, an Ottawa, Ontario-based manufacturer of DX and chilled water coil natatorium dehumidifiers. He can be contacted at: ralphkittler@ serescodehumidifiers.com

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Spotlight This is the eighth in a multi-part, in-depth series on air filtration

The rising tide for clean air: bridging the gap between aspiration and action

There appears to be a chasm between our avowed goal of breathing and providing clean air and existing filter designs. Can they provide the required performance smartness we demand in achieving filtration perfection? Dr Iyad Al-Attar asks.

D Day by day, the clamour for not only breathing clean air but also for supplying it to several industrial applications that highly influence our life and its style is growing louder. Our well-pronounced reliance on it is substantially increasing. But what are we doing about it?

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Demand for clean air

No one can afford to overlook the importance of atmospheric dust characterisation in recognising the challenge of dust loading of filters

Climate Control Middle East November 2013

We all demand the best air quality in any indoor environment we spend time in. The industry, too, is increasingly insisting on the need for clean air in critical industrial applications. This certainly highlights the importance of filtration in providing clean air and emphasises the need for a greater understanding of the actual performance of air filters installed in Air Handling Units (AHUs) and in the intake of gas

turbines.

Filters in action

When we buy a smart phone, we assess its intelligence according to its capabilities and its data processing power; manufacturers even interact with potential users to predict what they want and direct them towards the appropriate application. However, an integrated factor of a smart phone has to also deal with the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intelligence in capitalising on its features. Air filters, too, can get smarter. However, a major part of its efficient use relies on

Figure 1: Scanning electron microscopic image of atmospheric dust

the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness and understanding in order to optimise its performance. Another aspect of filter success in action is its accurate performance prediction, which is critically important to estimate filter lifetime, reduce energy and maintenance operating costs. However, when air filter performance deviates from that predicted by laboratory results, operational concerns emerge regarding air filter selection. Further, no one can afford to overlook the importance of atmospheric dust characterisation (See

Figure 1) in recognising the challenge of dust loading of filters. In addition, other factors, such as effects of face velocity, filter design, filter media properties and the associated Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS) are equally important. Another parameter that can contribute to the filter performance deviation is the high dust concentrations due to sandstorms in our region, which may not match the concentration specified by the international standards.

Compromising filter efficiency to lower pressure drop

What drives filtration engineers? Is it the same drive as that of building owners and operators? Is it merely lowering operational and maintenance costs? Should that be done at the expense of lowering the quality of the filtration

material, or reducing design features, or minimising parameters, such as filter depth and filter class, or even using a different design? Are there untouched parameters that one should not alter or, at least, leave until they are the last resort? It seems to be a trend that when a high-pressure drop is experienced, the decision immediately tends to lean towards lowering filter efficiency. At this point, we pause and ask: What is our objective? Is it to save energy? Usually the question is, how can we save energy while improving or, at least, maintaining the filter efficiency? However, on the contrary, the tendency should be directed towards optimising the efficiency while lowering the pressure drop. Therefore, prior to lowering the filter efficiency, we must consider the consequences on the human

November 2013

occupants and the HVAC and/ or gas turbine applications we are trying to protect. Further, a cost analysis must be conducted to consider the additional maintenance cost that would be required as a consequence of lowering the efficiency. Same consideration has to be looked at when we analyse the impact of lowering IAQ on productivity and absenteeism. Living in the 21st century, I can only imagine that the ongoing research and development is moving towards providing the world with efficient and aerodynamic air filters. Settling for the option of lowering filter efficiency to save energy would imply that we are surrendering ourselves to old techniques that provide higher dust concentration settlement on the equipment and human occupants. In my judgment, lowering the efficiency to lower the

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