Climate Control Middle East December 2014 by Climate Control Middle East

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DECEMBER 2014

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Climate Control

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IMPLICATIONS OF THE REFRIGERANT PHASE-OUT FOR END-USERS IN THE REGION

NIGHT OF

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CHAMPIONS

CONFERENCE COMES TO THE GCC REGION REKINDLING HOPE OF GREATER CLARITY ON DISTRICT COOLING INTERVIEWS Ahmad Bin Shafar CEO, Empower

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Ken Smith Chair, International District Energy Association (IDEA)

Ahmad Shehadeh CFO, Qatar Cool

78 (P)article of faith

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THE 3RD ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST

VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW CONFERENCE 2015 30 - 31 MARCH 2015 • DUBAI, UAE

contents VOL. 9 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2014

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INTERVIEWS

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Shafar Ahmad Bin r CEO, Empowe

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Ken Smith tional Chair, Interna District Energy A) (IDE Association

hadeh Ahmad She l CFO, Qatar Coo

2014

INTERVIEWS

A near non-existent commissioning culture in the GCC region is raising the spectre of a major IAQ problem, not to mention the waste of precious energy.

Ahmad Bin Shafar CEO, Empower page

40 page

REPORT

IFS AND BUTS Sharmeen Khan examines the implications of the refrigerant phase-out for end-users in the region.

page

INSIgHT

BREAK THAT MOULD! Sufficient epidemiological evidence is available to show that the occupants of damp buildings are at increased risk of respiratory infections, writes Christopher Rajamani.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

INTERVIEW

Ken Smith Chair, International District Energy Association (IDEA)

GOING THE NATURAL WAY

Ahmad Shehadeh CFO, Qatar Cool

In an interview with eurammon, Dieter Mosemann answers the big questions surrounding energy efficiency and natural refrigerants.

PERSPECTIVE Dan Coday, Sales Manager, Tower Tech

Science has spoken. There is no ambiguity in their message. Leaders must act. Time is not on our side.” -Ban Ki-moon on Climate Change http://ow.ly/DJng8

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NIGHT OF

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CHAMPIONS

foursevenfive @foursevenfive

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The cover title, ‘The rebirth of an IDEA’ is also symbolic of our efforts in presenting a new-look Climate Control Middle East. Hope you find it useful and enjoyable!

EVENT ROUND-UP 'Residential projects are dictating the mood'

DEPARTmENTS PAGE

BREATHE EASY

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(P)article of faith Have national and international efforts been adequate to counter escalating number of deaths due to air pollution? Can we blame it all on air filtration technologies? Dr Iyad Al-Attar asks.

Frédéric Paillé Managing Director & Associate Publisher, CPI Industry

LICENCE TO CHILL

Thumb rules for chiller evacuation and dehydration A step-by-step procedural guide for proper dehydration of a high-pressure centrifugal chiller.

REgULARS 06 ED'S NOTE Towards 10

NEWS

HEALTH INDEX PAGES 16, 22, 78, 94, 97

ENVIRONmENT INDEX Energy Efficiency

Resource Conservation

PAGES 9, 11, 16, 20, 24, 40, 84, 90, 94, 96, 102

Pollution Prevention

84 94 96 98 102 106 December 2014

Regional Global Associations & Societies Marketplace People History

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n the winter of 2005, as we quietly worked away at launching Climate Control Middle East, the thought of touching 10 did not even cross our minds. Though the mood in a region flush with construction projects was buoyant, the launch in January 2006 was a low-key affair. The build-up in momentum, however, was anything but low profile, and before long, policy-makers, master developers, consultants, contractors and manufacturers were talking about the magazine with an enthusiasm only reserved for a pioneering platform that also strove to uphold journalistic ideals. Nine years hence, we are pleased to note the same enthusiasm and take it as a recognition of consistency in our attitude and, at the same time, a willingness to adapt to changing needs and expectations. As we kick off year-long celebrations in anticipation of touching 10, we are mindful of the fact that the magazine’s mix of news, insights and analyses is viewed as an important read to better understand socio-economic and environmental issues through an HVACR prism. A key feature of the celebrations is the new design of the magazine, which we hope is appealing. Another is the new mix of content, along with a fresh approach to communicating facts, figures and insights. We have spent months at a stretch working on the new design, ensuring a continuity of those traditions that have shaped the character of the magazine, while infusing new elements to enhance navigability and to increase the possibility of a serendipitous experience. The treatment of design elements, as you will notice, is bolder and is aimed at giving you an interesting and more fulfilling reading experience. On the contents front, we have introduced several new sections as part of a larger repositioning exercise to better align ourselves to regional and global developmental goals. And the articles are a representation of our vision to be relatable, relevant and concise, yet comprehensive. We hope you will find the offering worth your time and attention.

B Surendar Editor @BSurendar_HVACR

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

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

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THE

BIG PICTURE

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

George Berbari, the CEO of UAEbased DC PRO Engineering calls global warming the single biggest failure of humankind. Though images of penguins… and polar bears have joined the ranks of clichéd symbols, the message simply must be reinforced to tighten efforts and to rise above mundane challenges to address the bigger issues… hence The Big Picture!

December 2014

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{ report }

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Nutshell • The phasing out of harmful refrigerants is fraught with difficulties, with respect to cost and availability of substitutes and possible replacement of equipment. • End-users are face to face with regulatory and technological issues and hope the prevalent guessing game will make way for clarity before the zero

hour strikes.

“T The time is ticking for halogenated refrigerants. But they can’t be wished away. And the roadmap for adopting substitutes is ﬁlled with detours and uncertainty. Sharmeen Khan examines the implications of the phase-out for end-users in the region. Edited by Pratibha Umashankar

he question no longer revolves around which refrigerant to use but when to implement plans to move to long-term alternatives and greener refrigerants without scheduled phase-out dates.” While saying this, B G Mathews reflects the unease and uncertainty of end-users in the region caught in the throes of the phase-out. Mathews is the Director of Engineering at the Sheraton Hotel in Qatar. His concerns, mirroring many others like him, are understandable: The Montreal and Kyoto protocols have decreed that certain class of refrigerants that substantially contribute to ozone depletion or global warming must go. On the hit list are some Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs and Hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs. The EU has taken a clear direction towards phasing out HFCs, while developing countries are expected to phase in HFCs as replacement for HCFCs. Another layer of complexity is that just any HFC won’t do, though; as reinforced during the 3rd Refrigerants Symposium, in end-October in Dubai, UAE, the search is on for low-GWP alternatives to the refrigerants currently in use in high-ambient countries.

December 2014

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{ report } Climate change 'won't stop at the Pacific Islands' - Angela Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel has added to international calls on Australia to reveal its plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

smh.com.au @smh

I often say vaccines are one of the best health investments. Here’s why: http://b-gat. es/1HWfRFP pic. twitter.com/HhlkzrTIsK

Bill Gates @BillGates

End-users in the GCC region have a cloudy vision, and it’s owing to competition among conflicting interests. First, there is the debate on who has the best technology. And then, there is the debate between manufacturers of non-flammable and flammable refrigerants. It becomes a matter of choosing between safety and the environment. Those manufacturers that have non-flammable refrigerants say safety is more important than the environment and those with flammable refrigerants say the opposite. I would like to see clarity. Yacoub Almatouq, Refrigerant Expert, Kuwait

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

R407C also has a large temperature glide, and seeking original equipment manufacturer (OEM) approval before seeking this route would be recommended Refrigerants – a hotbutton issue

“HCFCs are thousand times more powerful than carbon dioxide,” warns Haneef Shakeel, Head of HVAC Engineering at KEO Consultancy in Kuwait. “Their major applications are in refrigeration and air conditioning (where they are used as refrigerants, which accounts for 80% of their use), foams, aerosols, fire extinguishers and solvents. It is these same heat-trapping properties that make most F-gases such good refrigerants, which also make them extremely powerful greenhouse gases.” Little wonder, then, that green movements globally are urging developing countries to leapfrog the phase-out process and to move to environmentally safer and legally certified alternatives to avert irreparable damage to the environment. In light of this, the GCC has taken initiatives towards the phase-out, with a number of projects in the region, says Ashroff Shakoor, Assistant Engineering Director at

Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai. However, the phasing out of harmful refrigerants in developed countries has raised the question of what really is the best substitute, points out Sahar Al-Awadhi, Engineering & Maintenance Department, MoH Fujairah Hospital. “While these countries have introduced HFCs, developing countries are still facing a difficult dilemma,” he says, echoing the general mood in the industry. “On one hand, they could decide to use new low-GWP solutions, which still do not have a high degree of maturity, or they could decide to use well-proven HFC technologies, which however, may be outdated in a few years.”

Your time starts now!

Shakoor believes the time to act is now, as European countries have already started acting on a phase-out blueprint. “Let’s consider a 25-30 year performance life of centrifugal chillers,” he says. “A waitand-see approach could leave equipment

Points to

ponder

If the end-users in the region should switch over to an interim low-GWP refrigerant now: • What should the refrigerant be? • Is the refrigerant readily available, and what is the cost? • Will the change in refrigerant require them to install new equipment? • How expensive is the equipment? • What challenges would they face in convincing their management to make the investment? • If they install the equipment, are they concerned of the prospect of having to change it in the near term, owing to a change in thinking and a push towards a refrigerant with a lower GWP? • Are they concerned that their managements would not take too kindly to them and that it would jeopardise their career?

Small..

BUT UNIQUE

December 2014

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{ report } owners struggling to make necessary changes. Government-mandated phaseouts could occur as they have in the past, or managers might have trouble finding refrigerant replacement supplies for ageing equipment in their facility.” It is, therefore, crucial that the phasing-out process in the region picks up momentum, as 2020 – the Kyoto

and how much will they cost? Will they require installation of new equipment? Again, what will be their cost? “For existing R22 air conditioning equipment, R407C can be used; however, this requires hardware replacements,” says Mohammad Azam Sarwar, Director of Engineering of Sheraton Jeddah Hotels and Villas,

Eventually, the drop-ins and replaced HCFCs will achieve uniformity in price as demand begins to exceed supply

What they said “CFCs are now virtually phased out, and refrigerant stockpiles are nearly exhausted. HCFCs that are widely used in AC systems are currently under the phase-out radar.” – Stephen Hayes, Area Director of Engineering ME, Marriott International Inc, UAE

SNIPPET

Let there be light...

n a bid to move with the times, the Vatican has recently ushered in a high-tech lighting and air conditioning system aimed to reduce the damage to the frescoes from dust, and from the breath, sweat and heat emanating from nearly six million visitors annually. While the 7,000 LED lights will save energy, even as they throw new light on the immortal frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, the air conditioning system will move air slowly through the vast interiors. The flow, humidity and temperature of the air will be adjusted using data from 70 sensors in the chapel walls, as well as from TV cameras that monitor the number of visitors, a BBC report said.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

“R22 will still remain the first choice for the service market for the next 12-18 months.” – Afschin Soleimani, Director, Fire & Risk Engineering, Ramboll Middle East, UAE

“The phase out of CFCs has been accomplished globally. Even though old systems are still running, no new systems or virgin CFC for service are allowed.” – Julius Okot Chono, Director of Engineering, Crowne Plaza Hotel, UAE

Protocol deadline – isn’t too far away, when we factor in recognising and certifying alternatives. Kabir Hussainy, Deputy Director of Engineering at the American Hospital in the UAE, believes that the substitutes would, then, need to be tried and tested at each facility to check for compatibility of the coolant with the cooling units. The procurement and stocking up of the substitutes, he cautions, would, then, be the next step in the phase-out process. Says Mathews, “The sooner engineers and managers begin planning and implementing that plan, the better off they will be when availability of any particular refrigerant becomes uncertain.” In saying so, he underscores the fact that while there is a general agreement about the urgent need to phase out harmful refrigerants, finding suitable substitutes with a low-GWP is fraught with difficulties. Questions making the rounds, waiting for answers are: What are the alternatives? Are they readily available,

voicing the general misgivings. He elaborates: “R407C also has a large temperature glide, and seeking original equipment manufacturer (OEM) approval before seeking this route would be recommended. Whereas, R410A should be used for new equipment only, and should be not used as a retrofit refrigerant due to the high discharge pressures involved.” There are also doubts about accepting an interim refrigerant. “Retrofit drop-in refrigerants should not be viewed as a long-term solution,” Sarwar advises. These are designed to keep existing equipment running when R22 becomes unavailable and the equipment still has a useful lifetime.” Facility owners are, it appears, still in the process of evaluating the availability of substitutes in the future before making large-scale purchases for their systems. To state it in simple terms, facility owners, consultants, managers and engineering directors in the region, and probably around the world, are facing a dilemma,

nay, a “trilemma” with a set of further ramifications: Availability of substitutes, their suitability to the equipment and the hiked price tag the substitutes and new equipment may come with.

Who’ll be the fall guy?

The above begs the question: Who will make hard decisions that need to be made? And who will bear the onus of the consequences? Will the decisions on refrigerants and equipment future-proof their companies when the final countdown on the phase-out begins? Or will they come back to haunt them in a volatile scenario, where introduction of newer low-GWP alternatives with compatible equipment might render their decisions costly and their choices obsolete? Ganesh Kumar, Head of Engineering

“The replacement was to a large extent handled by replacing CFCs with HFCs, without compromising safety during installation and use. However, as we know today, the widespread use of HFCs eventually becomes a major global warming source.” – Sahar Al-Awadhi, Engineering & Maintenance Department, MoH Fujairah Hospital, UAE

& Maintenance, Mercato Mall, in Dubai, believes the process needs to begin at the top and percolate down, and says: “If you are in a large organisation, it’s important that senior levels’ commitment is given to CFC/HCFC phase-out, and that someone is made responsible for undertaking the steps, such as considering: How many systems you own? What types of hardware is used? What refrigerant is used? How old each system is? Which technical options will prove most practical and have the lowest financial impact?” Shakeel, dubbing CFCs and HCFCs as outdated options, urges the engineering fraternity to accept the challenge and the consequent responsibility, instead of visualising worst-case scenarios. He asserts: “It’s up to us as engineers who are responsible for convincing our facility managers and owners to consider greener alternatives,

by portraying long-term benefits, costs and advantages of the switchover…. The switchover will definitely be an expensive step in hindsight, but would help facilities in terms of health, repair and energy usage costs in the long term.” For Hussainy, too, the time for dithering is over, as phase-out is a reality. “Managers of facilities who educate themselves now and begin implementing the phasing-out of refrigerant management plans,” he says, “will be able to enjoy the fact that they have potentially saved the budget a significant amount of money, while also contributing to a healthier planet.”

The road ahead

Afschin Soleimani, Director, Fire & Risk Engineering at Ramboll Middle East, votes

“It’s likely that the most cost-effective solutions will involve a combination of several different activities, such as purchase of new equipment or conversion of the existing one.” – Mounir Lakkis, Engineering Director, Burj Al Arab, UAE

for preparedness for an orderly move from HCFCs to the alternatives. He says: “Dropin refrigerants are already available, although are currently a bit more expensive. It’s predicted that this gap will narrow as R22 scarcity begins to appear. Eventually, the drop-ins and replaced

HCFCs will achieve uniformity in price as demand begins to exceed supply.” Julius Okot Chono, Director of Engineering, Crowne Plaza Hotel, UAE, on his part, suggests talking to customers now and beginning discussions on drop-ins, retrofit options and equipment replacements. “Don’t panic!” he urges. “Now should be a period of education and information flow from importer to distributor, to contractor and on to the end-user.” Shakoor, however, hits the nail on its head when he says, “As a company, I would no longer suggest owners to procure equipment utilising refrigerants that could easily outlive the phase-out period.” One wonders if his voice of common sense will get drowned amidst the rhetoric. Saving the environment

“The structured schedule of activities is particularly important for those facilities who own a number of refrigeration systems. Owners of a large area will generally have fewer options to consider.” – Ganesh Kumar, Head of Engineering & Maintenance, Mercato Mall, UAE

is undoubtedly the ultimate goal. But whoever said the road leading to it will be an easy one?

December 2014

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COVER STORY

A near non-existent commissioning culture in the GCC region is raising the spectre of a major IAQ problem, not to mention the waste of precious energy Story by Sharmeen Khan Edited by B Surendar and Pratibha Umashankar

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

wo years ago, a project in a high-profile residential cluster in Dubai was on the verge of being handed over to the client, when he discovered mould and fungal growth. The situation was extremely serious – over 90% of the builtarea had microbial growth in it, raising the prospect of a major Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problem, with potential health ramifications for occupants. Dubai-based LEEDconsultancy firm, Green Technologies was hurriedly called in as a third party to investigate the situation. The engineers of the firm soon discovered that the root of the problem was poor design. “A large volume of cold air was being dumped into the premises, owing to dysfunctional control valves, and the commissioning report (pertaining to FCUs and readings) was doctored,” says Mario Seneviratne, the Director of the company. Further investigation revealed that the project was originally set to be constructed at another site, but had later been relocated. Due to lack of space at the new location, the design orientation was rotated by 90 degrees without accordingly altering the original design. After concluding their investigation, the engineers were left with but one solution to the problem – continuous heating throughout the premises. Reniel Barroso, Engineering Manager at Green Technologies, says the solution was applied. Heating the building meant additional energy consumption, but that was the only solution to a severe IAQ problem. Poor design, combined with improper commissioning, had led to a potential health hazard, which could be combated only through energy-inefficient means.

In a nutshell…

Mario Seneviratne

• Commissioning is not considered an integral part of the construction and handover processes in the region. • In instances where commissioning happens, it is often improper. • Tight deadlines, inadequate commissioning engineers and lack of complete awareness of the benefits of commissioning among customers are some of the reasons for a poor commissioning culture.

Reniel Barroso

K Anbalagan

• The gathering pace of the Green Building movement in the region, it is believed, will improve regulation on commissioning.

A large volume of cold air was being dumped into the premises, owing to dysfunctional control valves, and the commissioning report was doctored

December 2014

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COVER STORY A below-the-radar issue

The building in question is just one among many that are victims of questionable design approaches at one end and poor commissioning practices at another. Another engineering consultancy firm, Proleed, speaks of working towards overcoming a similar challenge in as many as 40 buildings in the same cluster. The firm’s partner, K Anbalagan says the problem is widespread, beyond the cluster, and prevalent throughout the GCC region. The key element in the life of any building project is the commissioning. Although it sounds like a very mundane issue, proper commissioning is actually the fine line between the success and failure in meeting sustainability goals, including air quality and energy efficiency. That said, the region still seems to be lagging behind on this front. Poor or improper commissioning practices have been the bane of the construction industry in the GCC region. The broader issue is a poor culture of commissioning. Says Saeed Alabbar, Director at UAE-based AESG Middle East, and the Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC): “The standard has traditionally been poor in the region, and the testing and commissioning process is often rushed in order to meet tight deadlines. I always refer to analogies in the aerospace or automotive industry – the development of a new aircraft or vehicle involves months, if not years, of testing and refinement, whereas in buildings, the whole process is often afforded one or two months and carried out by inexperienced workers. Buildings of today are extremely complex, so it is critical that we get the commissioning right to ensure the ongoing efficiency of the building and protect the health and well-being of occupants of the building.”

The HVAC industry wants a change in the line of commissioning, but that is not possible with the use of old methods Mohammed Zackariah, Chief HVAC Consultant at Saudi Arabia-based Suhaimi Design Protecooling, echoes Alabbar’s views when he talks of the situation in the Kingdom. Builders do not follow a proper order and only look for the final operation of the building, he says. The measurement of the end result is done based on the functionality, operation and satisfaction. “If cooling is delivered, that means that the work is done,” he adds.

The deadline squeeze

Commissioning standards in the GCC region are low owing to multiple reasons, with the prime being the urge to hurry through with projects with an eye on costs. It is what Alabbar refers to as “tight deadlines”. Another reason is the lack of adequate well-qualified commissioning engineers in the region. Yet another reason is the lack of coordination among the principal players in the construction of a building, including the developer. Salah Nezar, the Sustainability Director at Doha-headquartered Qatar Project Management, says that complex projects need to be tailored in terms of design, management and cost to make their commissioning more time effective, as well as manageable. “The commissioning agent needs input from different aspects of the facility, which is missing in the Middle East," he says. "This involvement helps save

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

money and the effort during the whole process, and enhances a sense of comfort,” he explains. Seneviratne echoes Nezar’s words, when he says, “Unfortunately, contractors are bound contractually to install what the design includes. The GCC experiences a lack of expertise during the handing-over process; designers and contractors need to co-ordinate and sign off at every stage. During the process, designers need to specify the equipment for the other players, and work alongside them. The main reason the problem occurred in the project at the residential cluster in Dubai is that the fancoil units were bigger than what was necessary. Bigger is not always better.” A fundamental issue is lack of complete awareness of the benefits of proper commissioning; many seemingly deem it an altogether unnecessary exercise. The key driver in reversing the trend has to be the developer, so it is important the awareness campaign has to start there. Nezar says that more often than not, developers fail to realise the value and strength of their assets, which causes faulty management and operation of the facility. Building awareness among developers, Nezar adds, could help diminish the issue. Through gaining an understanding of commissioning, they will consider it more important to quantify the benefits than asking how much is being spent. Alabbar resonates Nezar’s point when he says that building owners are invariably the single most important stakeholder sub-group in the commissioning process. “The client is the party that deems the acceptable standards he expects when the building is handed over, and so often, we have seen building owners willing to accept building systems not tested

Saeed Alabbar

Mohammed Zachariah

Salah Nezar

Sarfraz Dairkee

Points to

ponder To combat mould, the engineers called in to solve the problem at the residential cluster in Dubai adopted the approach of continuous heating of the premises. • What were the broad implications of the approach? • How much additional energy had to be spent on heating? • If extrapolated to all the buildings in the UAE, what would have been the energy demand? • What pressure would the additional demand have placed on energy and economy policy-makers and planners? • And what about the utilities? Would the change in the demand profile have necessitated more power-related infrastructure?

December 2014

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COVER STORY or commissioned properly in order to achieve a faster handover date,” Alabbar says. Adds Zackariah, “It is the sole responsibility of building owners or clients to insist on proper commissioning practices, as it is in their own long-term interest and benefit.”

engineers is that following guidelines, such as those laid by ASHRAE, governments in the region can insist on a complete follow-through process from the primary level of planning to construction. Further, efforts by governments to lay down mandatory requirements and tangible criteria would help the cause of commissioning. The issue of regulation has several layers to it. For instance, as a starting point, big institutions need to take the lead in encouraging regulation in every country, Zackariah thinks. Dairkee, however, feels that there already is leadership action and that regulatory bodies are demanding better commissioning; the issue, though, is not reaching its potential in a systematic manner. Alabbar concurs with Dairkee on leadership action. The standard in the region has definitely improved over the last few years, and rating systems, such as Estidama, LEED and GSAS that advocate an independent commissioning authority to lead and verify the process, play a major role in improving the standard in the region. The nascent economic upturn has given a boost to a faltering Green Building movement. The gathering pace of the movement in the region, many feel, will

Whose baby is it, anyway?

Besides developers and owners, the other stakeholders need to have an acute understanding of the commissioning process, thinks Sarfraz Dairkee, the General Manager of UAE-based MAHY Khoory Group, a founding-member of the EGBC. Commissioning differs from project to project, Dairkee says. He likens this to a journey, saying, “If you change your destination, you should also change your course – not take a detour.” The HVAC industry, he believes, wants a change in the line of commissioning, but that is not possible with the use of old methods. Apart from building awareness, a key area that needs attention is the role of regulation. A proper regulatory framework has the potential to reverse the trend of poor commissioning in the GCC region. Resources, such as available at ASHRAE, can help. The widespread sentiment among consulting

improve regulation on commissioning. There is a lot of scope and requirement for proper practices, as commissioning is the backbone of green buildings. “Until about a few years ago, there was a lot of talk about Green Buildings, which then died out but is once again gaining pace,” says Zackariah. “This will gather a huge portion of commissioning and automatically improve the regulation process.” Progress on regulation is a positive sign. It is a critical need along with better awareness and the availability of adequate qualified commissioning engineers, especially with the visible increase in construction projects in the GCC region. “A number of projects that had been shelved during the economic downturn are now slowly being resumed,” Dairkee says, signalling another issue. “Potentially, the increase in construction activity in the Middle East after a period of relative inactivity in the marketplace may present challenges for the commissioning of the delayed and future projects.” The onus is on stakeholders to rise to the occasion and for regulators and enforcement agencies to keep a vigilant eye. Mould, as seen in the residential cluster, is unwelcome, as are the attendant IAQ and energyinefficiency issues.

SNIPPETS

Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

n November 14, US President Barack Obama pledged USD three billion to an international fund to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change, at the G20 Leaders Summit in Australia. The huge amount – twice as much as pledged earlier by other countries ahead of a November 20 deadline – came as a surprise.

Photo courtesy www.uk-cpi.com

Obama pledges USD 3 billion for climate well-being

Homeless in Antarctica?

he book, Our Iceberg is Melting by Dr John Kotter, set in a penguin colony in Antarctica facing displacement due to climate change, made waves when published in 2006. Fred, one of the penguins, is the first to notice signs of their iceberg melting. He is sneered at by others for being an alarmist, but he shows them how to cope with the challenge. A theatrical version of the book was staged in Bengaluru, India, all through November.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Windowless plane – sky's the limit

he Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), a UK-based a technology association, has mooted the idea of the world’s first windowless plane in an effort to conserve fuel, while allowing passengers to get a view of the view outside. This will not only optimise space, but also reduce aircraft weight, thanks to OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology. It is calculated that for every one percent reduction in weight, the approximate fuel saving is 0.75%.

December 2014

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INSIGHT Christopher Rajamani is Technical and Business Development Manager, Al Hoty Stanger Laboratories. He can be contacted at chris@alhotylab.ae

Break that mould!

Sufficient epidemiological evidence is available to show that the occupants of damp buildings are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections and exacerbation of asthma, writes Christopher Rajamani.

ome August, and most of us pack our bags for that much-needed vacation. After a relaxing break, we re-enter our homes and invariably are greeted with mould proliferating on porous surfaces, which is caused by the various bacteria and fungi harboured indoors, along with erratic control on our indoor moisture and temperature levels. These bacteria and fungi require moisture and nutrition to proliferate. Dampness in the indoor air catalyses the growth of mould, fungi and bacteria, which emit spores into the air. The secondary effect is the degradation of material within this environment, and the outcome is polluted indoor air. Some of the moisturerelated pollutants are Fungi (Aspergillus sp.), Bacteria (Streptomycetes), Protozoa, Allergens (dust mites, Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds). Other causes of mould proliferation are

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

a) Not adequately implementing energy conservation measures b) Sudden growth in population and consequent urbanisation c) Climate change d) The quality of construction material, and poor designs and implementation.

What does WHO say? As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) Indoor Air Quality guidelines, sufficient epidemiological evidence is available from studies conducted in different countries and under different climatic conditions to show that the occupants of damp or mouldy buildings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both

There is clinical evidence to show that exposure to mould and other dampnessrelated microbial agents increases the risks of rare conditions, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic fungal sinusitis

MOISTURE SOURCES CONSTRUCTION RELATED - Plumbing - Sewage - HVAC - Central ﬁre extinguishers

NATURAL - Humidity - Ground Moisture

AIR

DOMESTIC USE - Cooking - Cleaning - Washing

SURFACES

STRUCTURES

Mould & Bacterial growth

Degradation of construction

Chemical contaminants

Structures Domestic materials

EFFECT ON THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

HUMAN RELATED - Breathing, perspiration - Pets - Ornamental plants

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Figure 1: Modes of moisture ingress

houses and public buildings – are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections and exacerbation of asthma. Some evidence suggests increased risks of allergic rhinitis and asthma. The results of a few intervention studies available show that remediation of dampness can reduce adverse health outcomes. There is clinical evidence to show that exposure to mould and other

dampness-related microbial agents increases the risks of rare conditions, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic fungal sinusitis.

Stopping them in their tracks…

Chemical contaminants, allergens, bacteria and mould thrive in a damp environment. The following steps can be taken to prevent

their growth: • Increased ventilation rates to aid maximum ingress of fresh air • Controlling indoor air humidity • Adequate mechanical exhaust systems • Proper design, implementation and maintenance of buildings • Measuring and balancing internal air flow when required • Periodic tests by

December 2014

accredited laboratories for microbiological and chemical contaminants In brief, a well-designed, constructed and maintained structure prevents moisture ingress, and thereby, microbiological and chemical contaminants. This prevents thermal bridges caused by metallic components in the structures and the entry of moisture or vapour-phase moisture.

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ON DISTRICT COOLING

TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

WINTER 2014

MAKING IT COUNT The IDEA Conference has its task cut out to bring about meaningful change

INTERVIEWS Ahmad Bin Shafar CEO, Empower

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Ken Smith Chair, International District Energy Association (IDEA)

Ahmad Shehadeh CFO, Qatar Cool

COMMENT

A time for intellectual honesty By B Surendar

ithout the slightest doubt, we stand at a crossroads of opportunity to make District Cooling work in the GCC region. While the ‘capacity numbers’ toted up so far are impressive, the penetration rate vis-à-vis the entire cooling market tells a different story. As has been said ad nauseam, District Cooling has a lot going for it, including the potential for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, greater reliability and lower maintenance costs. Little wonder, then, that the Supreme Council of Energy in Dubai, for instance, has identified District Cooling as one of the eight pillars to raise energy efficiency by 30% by 2030. And in the words of the regulatory body, RSB: “Providing cooling at a district, rather than building, level can be more efficient. Dubai’s energy strategy looks to increase the share of district cooling from under 20% currently to 40% by 2030.” To garner a greater market share, though, we need to see… • A stronger legal and financial framework to ensure intent and design get transformed into reality • Intellectual honesty… the sharing of operational data, without of course, compromising on commercial competitive advantages • A central database to benchmark data and to aid in measuring efficiency • Cohesiveness among stakeholders and an integrated project delivery mechanism • A sense of belonging among stakeholders to ensure the best of equipment, the best of design drawings and the best of construction practices are in place to ensure the long-term integrity of the schemes • The optimising of operation and maintenance protocols and procedures • Innovative thinking • Greater respect for the customer

December 2014

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{ INTERVIEW }

‘We need new ideas on how to optimise’ Empower CEO, Ahmad Bin Shafar sees the forthcoming International District Cooling conference by IDEA in Dubai as an opportunity for the infusion of fresh ideas in the region. Empower is the host of the conference, which will run from December 14 to 16. B Surendar in conversation with Bin Shafar… The last time we met (in February 2014), you spoke of the linking of District Cooling plants as a special project. What can you share with readers on that? The linking of Healthcare City 1 with Healthcare City 2 will happen, and it will pass through the Jadaf area. Connectivity does not mean we are shifting the load; we are looking only for redundancy for the future.

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) is coming to town with its international conference in December after a gap of a few years. You find yourself in a pivotal position as the host of the event. What does the conference mean to the region? We are committed to events like those conducted by IDEA, ASHRAE and CPI Industry,

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

because we consider them as initiatives supporting the use of the latest technologies in the field of electro-mechanical engineering. As a leader in District Cooling, we thought of bringing IDEA to Dubai. Many people find it a challenge to go to the United States, so we are bringing the United States to Dubai. And we foresee people from Africa, the Levant and the Sub-continent attending the conference along with

people in the GCC. These are exciting times. IDEA is thinking of setting up a representative office in Dubai. Many people are asking for information, and I see the representative office as connecting the United States to Dubai. The office will enable deal-making and the transfer of technology. It is important to share knowledge. People should know, and the knowledge should not be something that is exclusive.

The conference itself will be a big event, a big ceremonious occasion. As Empower, we will be announcing a huge project, which I cannot disclose at this point in time. You will need to wait till the Conference. Through the announcement, you will understand Empower’s strategy. Broadly speaking, we see the conference as an opportunity for sharing knowledge. We are striving to lift the industry level by level. District Cooling is not a luxury but a necessity, so we need best practices. And as Empower, we are willing to work hand in hand even with the competition. We would love to have a uniform rate for energy, because the current structure seems to be hurting many in the industry. Maybe it has to do with the management style or cost structuring, and they perhaps need to take a look at both. I want people to say that District Cooling is the most efficient compared to the traditional style of air conditioning. And what would the key takeaways be? During a meeting with Rob (IDEA President Rob Thornton) in the United States, we expressed a need to bring in consultants to the region. Since the last international IDEA conference in Dubai, we have seen an increase in the number of District Cooling plants in the GCC region. Today, we not only have a large number of plant rooms but also a high capacity, which is more than three times what they have in the United States. So the focus is on efficiency. We need new ideas on how to optimise. We need operation specialists. At the same time, it is time that the international community sees our experiment and experience with District Cooling and takes life lessons, because though we are young, we are smart.

We would love to have a uniform rate for energy, because the current structure seems to be hurting many in the industry The World Bank is reportedly launching an initiative to support the growth and development of District Cooling in the Developing World, including parts of the MENA region. Do you see this as an opportunity to leverage your experience and expand into the region? I think Dubai is a very busy place, with a large number of projects. I believe in home court and will be focusing all my attention on Dubai. H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai has given us a clear vision through the 2030 plan, and so the focus will be on optimising with a view to conserving energy. Later on, as and when Dubai is saturated, we may explore possibilities, and that, too, only if we find a strong partner. On an immediate basis, though, we are happy to share knowledge. With the one million TR scale, we have the knowledge base.

Would you be encouraging a customer focus at the conference, considering that no one brings them into the discussions? Speaking in a general sense about the GCC region, there are instances of customer dissatisfaction with District Cooling. And in the specific case of Empower, a certain set of end-users, whose building in a Jumeirah Lake Towers cluster was damaged in a fire, is complaining about the District Cooling charges that continue to be levied on them, considering the building became unfit for inhabitation after the fire. If there are 10 buildings in a cluster, I cannot ignore the fact that the District Cooling utility has to put in assets; and one building should not jeopardise the economic model. Having said that, we will not charge the end-users for consumption. We are keen on engaging with our customers. We are sending 45,000 conference flyers to our customers with the November bill to create awareness and to inform

December 2014

them about the venue, date and time. We are specifically sending the flyers to the engineers of those hotels that are our customers. The hotels constitute 10% of the buildings to which we supply chilled water. We want people to come and listen to the presentations with the idea of gaining knowledge. In recent months, there has been much talk about the direction District Cooling ought to take, about how District Cooling as a standalone model is perhaps not as efficient and that it ought to be married with trigen, including solartrigen. As Empower, would you consider adopting the model? I want to focus on the core business and excel. In the United States, you have an open market, and companies generate electricity, water and steam, but in my view, efficiency will be lost there. I don’t want to enter generation; I would much rather let those that are smart at it. I want to strengthen my core business. Trigen projects in the GCC region are coming up in places with a short supply of electricity, but don’t forget that when you want to generate power, you are subjected to international rates of fuel, because you will be generating. The issue with solar-trigen is footprint. And if miles into the desert, you have to pull cables from the plant room.

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{ INTERVIEW }

Engineers tend to get enamoured of the equipment, but you need to think about the customers

e h t , e W f -15 Chair o 4 1 0 2 e h t , Ken Smith trict Energy is D l a n io t a the Intern in another , ) A E ID ( n d St Associatio of US-base O E C e h t ul District avatar, is a P t S , y rg e is t En nergy. In th Paul Distric E n e e r G re Ev Cooling and B Surendar, he speaks ith interview w idends the customerdiv is of the rich dopted by h a h c a o r p p centric a ed. s have yield n io t a is n a org

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

In the GCC, we have had instances where endusers have been unable to use their buildings, owing to some disruption or the other, but still have received bills towards payment for the supply of chilled water to the buildings. This is causing anguish among the affected end-users, which is not favourable for the reputation of District Cooling. Have you had similar situations in St Paul? How have you responded? When it comes to our billing system, we do have capacity and energy charges intertwined, which are paid through the year by the customer base. And if we have any situations, we work through them. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the specifics of the situations you

meters are tied with a fibreoptic system that we can monitor, and if we see the Delta T decreasing, we can alert the building manager and enquire if they need our assistance to look into the issue. It could be as simple as doors that were not supposed to be open that are open. We handle such types of unique circumstances that arise or if service was interrupted for some reason. To us, it is a partnership with our customers. The broad strategy is to provide services the customers value. Reliability is on top of the list. We survey our customers every year on what is important to them. We survey them on the sustainability aspect of our systems and stability of rates.

they would like to have, so the preparation is quite detailed. We also facilitate low-interest loans and funding mechanisms to help customers make their buildings more energy efficient. To what do you attribute such a customer-friendly approach? Since the beginning we have had customers on the Board of Directors. We have seven Board members, and three of them are elected by the customers. We have elections every year from the customer base. Three others are appointed by the City of St Paul; currently, one of those three is a customer. The seventh member is elected by the remaining

! r e m o t s u c

refer to in the GCC region and so cannot comment on them. What special care do you take of your customers in St Paul? Customers are extremely important and an overall part of the strategy in St Paul. To the extent that we have a full-time staff that spends time interacting with customers on such issues as how the buildings are performing with regards to Delta T and how their building systems are working. The members of the staff are highly skilled energy engineers. In St Paul, 95%-99% of the

Overall, it is about providing value to our customers. While we were started by the City of St Paul, we are an independent, non-profit organisation. We hold annual meetings with customers, and customer-appreciation days and tours, during which management and members of our customer service team are available to answer any questions customers might have. Another initiative is an annual training event for customers. For this, we bring outside speakers that inform customers on how they can improve the performance of their buildings. Prior to the event, we ask what training

six members. Currently, that person is the chair of the board and has also been a customer. So we very much have customer input in what we do. We are upgrading our technology from metering and monitoring perspectives. We have completed approximately 70% of the process of upgrading our metering system. The old meters had hour data. The new meters provide oneminute data, so that way, we will be more precise and able to troubleshoot and improve the performance of the system. We are also developing a Web-based portal for customers.

December 2014

We are a non-profit company, so any benefit that we generate from the operations goes back into the business to help keep rates down for customers. There is not an incentive for profit. The customers on the Board ask: Are you maintaining the infrastructure responsibly? Are you giving good reliability? Are you giving good value to customers? Are you thinking about the future? One of the District Cooling providers in the region has begun offering FM services, and another is mulling over the idea. Do you have a similar approach? We have talked about whether to provide additional services, such as FM, in St Paul. We have worked with a variety of outside providers, and either through their staff or our staff, assessed the needs of customers. Our full-time customer service team is constantly trying to understand heat exchanger issues, maintenance issues, control valve issues. Our engineers have hands-on experience and often can solve issues without having to call anybody. If the customer has a design issue, then we point them to the right resources. To the extent we can help them we will. Would you be leading any discussions on the customer side during the IDEA conference in Dubai? I have talked to Rob (IDEA President Rob Thornton) about specifically speaking about customers. You have lot of engineers in the District Energy space, and engineers tend to get enamoured of the equipment, but at the end of the day, you need to think about the customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perspective, what is important to them, and what we can do to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.ď&#x20AC;ź

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{ INTERVIEW }

‘Today, we are close to synchronising demand with delivery’ Qatar Cool is set to open its fourth plant in 2016 to meet the cooling demands of the country. This conversation between Ahmad Shehadeh, the company’s CFO, and B Surendar covers a wide arch. Do you feel the District Cooling industry in the region has come of age? To rephrase the question, do you feel the industry is more mature than before? If we take Qatar, there are many District Cooling systems that have been implemented around the capital city of Doha, with the total capacity being close to 320,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR). The application of the system in major developments proves that District Cooling is gaining in popularity amongst developers. We should expect to continue to see a surge in the country’s District Cooling market due to its numerous benefits at all levels.

Sophie James / Shutterstock.com

But is the industry mature yet? The industry has matured when compared to the previous years, but of course, there are areas that still need attention. About 10 years ago, consultants would add 25% on top of what was needed. Today, they calculate the cooling load in a more accurate manner. We see a certain balance in the industry. Does that mean we are 100% accurate on the estimates? The answer is ‘no’. There are still a number of areas that we need to work on, in collaboration with consultants and the owners of towers. Most of the lessons being learnt are technical in nature, and some are commercial. In the past, some of the owners of towers would say, “I would need District Cooling connection by January 1, 2016.” We would look at the tower and see that they have not even started on the design, which would make January 1, 2016 an unlikely target. The owners of the towers would, however, insist on the date, and the consultants and contractors, in order to please them, would force us to put the date in the contract. On that date, however, they would come

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

back to us and raise the question, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why do I have to pay when my tower is not ready?â&#x20AC;? In reply, we would show the contract. Today, most of the owners of towers are past customers. They are ready to accept our offer of an assessment, and if we tell them that they would be far better off penciling in January 1, 2017 as the date for starting the supply of chilled water, they agree. This maturity is better for us, because we can avoid losing the money if the owner comes to us. Today, we are in a better position to estimate when they need the service and the tower owners are more educated and aware. They know that if they put a date on the agreement, they will have to pay. Today, we are close to synchronising the demand with delivery. In case there is an alarm to be raised, we raise it at an early stage. Our technical team assesses a project to see if the energy transfer station (ETS) is ready or not, and we raise an alarm if it is not so. Overall, the maturity can be seen in the communication, which is better. I see this throughout the GCC, be it among the authorities, end-users or the contractors. Is there an improvement in the manner in which plants are being operated? Solving the Low Delta T Syndrome, for instance, again boils down to communication. We have gathered a number of success stories in the past few years, and they have not been the result of our efforts alone, but through coordinating with tower owners on how to get the best efficiency and to save money. We are proactive in sharing data with consultants. For instance, when consultants see the peak load for the past five years, they have a better idea of the design and the best square metre per tonne. I must add that while sharing data, we keep the identity of the tower confidential, to respect the privacy and interests of the owner of the tower.

plant in 2016, in the West Bay area, to meet the growing demand for District Cooling. At the same time, we are working with many major developments in the country to establish a District Cooling system in their projects. What about new opportunities outside the country? There is talk of the World Bank supporting the deployment of District Cooling in developing countries in the MENA region through creating channels for funding. Our focus is Qatar, where we are seeing a lot of activities and a number of new cities. And there is the Qatar National Vision 2030, which opens up opportunities. The market in Qatar is huge, that is why even players in the UAE are looking for opportunities here. That said, we are open to exploring any good opportunities that will provide us the right return to our shareholders. Tabreed being a partner, we are willing to expand with them anywhere. In 2008, we did not have much of an exposure

Has Qatar Cool any plans of expanding beyond the region? And what are the plans within the country? What new business opportunities are you eyeing? Qatar Cool has had significant growth over the past 10 years. We now boast three operative plants, two in the West Bay area and one on The Pearl-Qatar. We are on track to opening our fourth

December 2014

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{ INTERVIEW } in Qatar, so we started looking outside the GCC region. We started exploring opportunities in Singapore and the United States, but tax issues prevented us from proceeding further. The District Cooling market seems to be going through a consolidation phase in the region. We saw that in the case of Empower in Dubai, with the acquisition of Palm District Cooling and Palm Water. Do you plan to make any acquisitions? We have come to own Cool Tech Qatar and I2I through acquisitions. Earlier in the year, Qatar Cool acquired the remaining 49% of the shares from an Emirati stakeholder, and now Cool Tech Qatar and I2I are fully owned by Qatar Cool. Qatar Cool’s acquisition of these two

related services. In the future, we might add facilities management to our portfolio of services, not to make money but to provide a service. Though we don’t have an FM division, we don’t shirk from helping our end-users. We view reputation as a very important characteristic. We have had instances of end-users complaining, but they (the complaints) have been related to filters, cleaning and essentially, aspects completely outside the scope of District Cooling. It is the secondary side of cooling, but we need to help our customers to resolve the challenges. Could you please elaborate on your pricing policy? If we are talking of an apartment, the financial model is complex; if [it is] a single user, such as a hotel, the model is

TR, began operations in September 2006; the second plant in West Bay, with a capacity of 37,000 TR, started operations in October 2009. The two plants are providing cooling service to more than 50% of the existing towers in the West Bay area. As mentioned earlier, we are currently pursuing the construction of the third plant in the same area, which will have a capacity of 37,000 TR. Our Integrated District Cooling Plant (IDCP) on The Pearl-Qatar, which is the largest District Cooling plant in the world, was inaugurated in November 2010 to serve the 41-million-square- foot, man-made island. It has a capacity of 130,000 TR. Do you have spare capacity in any of your plant rooms? Of the 130,000 TR at the IDCP, 103,000 TR are signed. And of course, the 103,000 TR don’t peak at the same time. Within two to three years, we will be

Within two to three years, we will be fully using the 130,000 TR

companies is a further demonstration of its continued expansion and the development of sustainable energy practices in Qatar. The service provided by both Cool Tech Qatar and I2I represents an integral part of efficient District Cooling services, which show great potential for growth. What have been the benefits of the acquisition? Since the acquisition, the decision-making is much easier, and I think Cool Tech Qatar and I2I have become more focused on targeting customers. Thanks to the acquisition, we as Qatar Cool are able to provide District Cooling, and chemicals-, testing- and balancing-

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

straightforward. The pricing also depends on whether we have the guarantee of off-take. We look at each development as unique and consider all factors – that is how it suits the developer, the customer, the end- user and us as the provider. As a District Cooling company, we cannot lose, because if we do, so does the customer. It is also in our interest to get a reasonable profile, but not an excessive one. What is your total installed capacity? The total installed capacity is about 200,000 TR. The company’s first plant in West Bay, with a capacity of 30,000

130,000 TR capacity to serve the 41-million-square-foot man-made island, The Pearl-Qatar

fully using the 130,000 TR. At the time of the installation, we were not given the cooling load. The West Bay area is more challenging. In the Pearl, the entire development runs on District Cooling. Here in the West Bay, the owners of towers can choose if they want to go with standalone systems or District Cooling. So here, when we saw demand, we started constructing the third DCP, in which 23,000 TR is already signed. We hope to have the balance signed up by the time the plant is fully operational. All the plants are linked, and yes, there are challenges with hydraulic balancing; however, each plant can help the other. In the winter, we can close the north and south and run on the central plant. We cannot close the central and make the system only depend on the north or the south plant, owing to hydraulics. We are currently in the process of fine-tuning the scheme. And we can

We have already changed some of the impellers in the pumps and some valves.

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December 2014

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{ INTERVIEW }

That was a legitimate argument they had, as road contractors are beyond our control always improve our network and pumps to increase the flow. We have already changed some of the impellers in the pumps and some valves. We propose to change the piping from 250 to 500 dia for the hydraulics to work; this aspect is still under study. To change the pipes, we have to get the approval from the authorities to dig the roads. Once executed, the piping work will not only satisfy the customer but also improve the efficiency. What are the challenges and opportunities related to the use of treated sewage effluent (TSE) in your District Cooling plants? For instance, is there adequate TSE in Doha to run all your plants? Qatar Cool’s plants are equipped to use TSE. We are currently working with the government (Ashghal) to secure sufficient quantity to operate our plants. One of the major challenges is to have the TSE infrastructure available, and close to the plants. Using TSE presents an opportunity to reduce cost, as TSE is lower in cost than potable water, which is currently in use. The coordination is ongoing between Qatar Cool and Ashghal at the moment to start receiving TSE water by the middle of next year for DCP 1 and DCP 2 in the West Bay area. We look forward to this phase of our operation, and we will work to make it successful. How do you tackle the issue of Legionella in the cooling towers? Qatar Cool has a standard practice to test the cooling tower/condenser water for the presence of Legionella every three months.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

In addition, Qatar Cool plants follow an online condenser water treatment programme that injects biocides in the water to avoid any biological growth. With regards to chillers, do you have any that run on HCFCs, like R-123, in your plant rooms? We do not have CFC R-123 refrigerant in our plants. All Qatar Cool plants have chillers with HFC Refrigerant R-134A. What is the time-frame considered in a Master Development for a District Cooling plant to operate efficiently – with staggered and unplanned development? We have a skilled operation team, which controls and monitors the plant efficiency from the equipment level up to the overall plant. Through years of experience, the team has developed certain mechanisms to reduce the impact of the staggered and unplanned development on the plant efficiency. For example, the chillers are designed to have fixed volume flow; however, we operate them on variable volumes, to reduce the impact of low return temperature, which is a result of higher flow from the chiller plants, to meet the customer demand located at the end of the network, and the inefficiency of the customer side HVAC system during the testing and balancing phase. There is a general feeling that end-users are not happy with the District Cooling concept, in terms of billing. There are numerous instances of complaints. What is your take on this? Have you felt

a need to address this? Or do you have a system in place by which end-users are happy? At Qatar Cool, we value our customers above all else. The success of our operations relies heavily on our interaction with our customers. Awareness is the first step to ensuring customer satisfaction, where we aim to be accessible, transparent and effective. Our team is tasked with increasing our customer portfolio, yet their most important role is managing these valuable relationships. Our team meets regularly with customers, ensuring the longevity of these relationships by adding value in all areas related to our service. We also encourage our customers to visit our customer service office, where our trained, bilingual staff educate them on the benefits of District Cooling and respond to enquiries in a timely and professional manner. We have developed brochures and collaterals to further this cause, providing customers with insightful information and a clear, explanatory breakdown of our fees. Have you ever used temporary air-cooled chillers in your schemes? The general consensus is that the chillers are inefficient when compared to their watercooled counterparts. I ask the question, because there is considerable heartburn that the ‘inefficiencies’ are often passed on to the customer. We don’t use air-cooled chillers at all. Those customers who have high sensitivity on temperature, such as banks with their data centres had asked for air-cooled backup, fearing disruption to cooling, owing to the possibility of a burst District Cooling pipe as a result of road works, but that was a temporary demand, till the road works lasted. That was a legitimate argument they had, as road contractors are beyond our control. In those cases, we had given temporary cooling purely as backup. This happened in 2010. There was an issue with piping, owing to street contractors. The customer had informed us, and we responded by mobilising temporary cooling, and it was a success story, because we were able to provide uninterrupted cooling. On that occasion, more than 20 Qatar Cool personnel were involved in ensuring continuity of service, and they were enthusiastic participants, because they wanted to learn from it and be part of the experience. The project lasted only five days.

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{ PERSPECTIVE } Dan Coday is International Sales Manager for Tower Tech, Inc. He can be contacted at: dcoday@towertechinc.com

Will the real cost of a cooling tower please stand up? Saying that it’s time to count the hidden expenses while calculating the lifecycle cost of a cooling tower, Dan Coday raises several crucial questions that can help customers make a decision for their next project.

ver the past 50+ years, cooling towers have been considered a commodity piece of equipment due to limited technological improvement among numerous competitors. This has resulted in a simplistic evaluation process that typically looks at three main metrics: 1) Initial cost of equipment 2) Footprint of equipment 3) Installed fan energy consumption at one per cent design conditions. Over the past 10+ years, the industry has evolved with technological improvements

that can dramatically change a customer’s return on investment and overall value proposition. However, the same three main metrics for evaluation have not changed in most cases, and no longer allow customers to make an accurate financial determination on the best selection for their project, simply because it’s not about evaluating the right things any longer. The old metrics are so mismatched with the industry today that lower initial cost equipment is frequently purchased, when in the final “net present value” analysis, that same equipment is costlier than other technology, even if the lower cost equipment would have

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

operATInG CoST

InSTALLed CoST

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{ PERSPECTIVE } been free of charge. There are four categories of cost associated with purchasing, owning and operating a cooling tower. The categories and the cost considerations of each category for making an accurate financial evaluation of “net present value” lifecycle cost include: • Real total installed cost • Operating and maintenance cost • Intangible costs • Life expectancy

real total installed cost

Comparing initial equipment cost among vendors is not always an accurate financial comparison of this category. How much time and expense is involved in

What’s the amount and impact of issues associated with PM-10 drift emissions, such as corrosion and Legionella? assembly and construction? Is a concrete basin and sealing of the basin required? What is the operating weight of the equipment, especially when on top of a building, and how does that impact the cost of civil construction? How tall is the equipment and how does that impact the cost of the parapet wall? How much space is required for the equipment and airflow requirements for that particular design, and especially for a

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Engineering

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Energy

Environment

new DCP, does that have an impact on the cost of the building?

operating and maintenance cost

Many are surprised to learn this category can often cost an owner/operator 50% of the initial cost of the equipment every year. With the advent of variable flow HVAC plants, evaluating energy cost based on the fan energy at the one per cent worst-case scenario design wet bulb conditions can have little relation to actual energy consumption. The questions that arise here are: What range of efficient variable flow over all the fill media can the cooling tower reach, and how does that impact actual annual fan energy consumption when compounded with VSD fans? How much chiller energy can it save? What is the cost of a cooling tower’s total pump head energy? What type of water can the cooling tower design handle? And how does that impact its life and maintenance assumptions? What type of water treatment can the cooling tower handle? And how does that impact chemical costs and/or its blow down water usage? What cycles of concentration can the cooling tower design handle without scale and corrosion? And how does that impact water disposal cost? What type of routine inspection, maintenance and parts are required over the life of the tower? And what’s the corresponding cost?

Intangible costs

Sometimes, the cost of the cooling tower is small in comparison to problems it can cause. The questions to be asked are: How critical is the process up time, and how reliant and redundant is the design being evaluated? What’s the amount and impact of issues associated with PM-10 drift emissions, such as corrosion and Legionella? Are aesthetics important, and does sound or plume matter? How safe is the cooling tower design to work on for the maintenance personnel?

Life expectancy

New District Cooling and chiller plants are typically budgeted to last 20-30 years. In light of this, the questions to be asked are: Do the materials of construction and constructability of the cooling tower selected match that same life expectancy? If not, how much will it cost to demolish, engineer, purchase and pay to have another cooling tower installed or to do a major rebuild? As an owner/operator, nobody cares more about the real net present value lifecycle cost of the next project more than the customer. Therefore, it makes sense for the customer to create a spreadsheet to track comparisons between manufacturers for each of the category items, discussed earlier, to help make a better net present value lifecycle cost decision for the next project.

December 2014

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INTERVIEW

ENERGY-EFFICIENT NATURAL REFRIGERANTS – it’s time to re-evaluate our approach In an interview with eurammon, Dieter Mosemann answers the big questions surrounding energy efficiency and natural refrigerants. His comments on the revised F-gas Regulation are of topical concern and interest. Everyone is talking about energy efficiency these days – even the specialist media. What exactly does energy efficiency mean in relation to refrigeration and air conditioning systems? Energy efficiency means that I’m able to meet a predefined goal using a minimum amount of energy. In terms of a refrigeration or air conditioning system, it means I’m able to achieve my planned cooling targets using as little energy as possible. To do this, all the processes and components need to complement each other perfectly, such as the refrigerant, compressors, heat

exchanger and auxiliary drives, such as pumps and fans. But external factors also need to be taken into consideration, like the ambient temperature. Energy efficiency is a crucial factor, because it influences the system’s operating costs. So it’s part of the cost-benefit analysis. And there’s also an ecological dimension, as the lesser the energy you use, the lower your environmental impact.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

How do you determine whether a refrigeration or air conditioning system is energy efficient?

of reference – it’s the highest theoretically possible level of efficiency for the conversion of energy without any loss. The closer the refrigeration or air conditioning system gets to this zero-loss process, the more efficient it is. The VDMA specification 24247 describes the calculation method for refrigeration systems and the VDMA specification 24248 details the method for heat pumps. These performance figures, evaluate, for example, how efficiently the temperature increases from the evaporation temperature to the condensation temperature is done, and demonstrate the temperature difference between needed temperature and evaporation temperature, as well as between condensation temperature and heat sink (cooling water), and assess the effect of auxiliary systems. In practice, the yearly average efficiency of some systems does not reach the planned level of efficiency. Why is that? Many systems are planned in such a way that they reach maximum efficiency when they’re running at full capacity; this is often part of the contract. However, it doesn’t correspond with reality, and requires a new approach. A good example of this is an industrial refrigeration plant designed to run at maximum capacity with an external temperature of 35°C. If you apply the temperature profile of Strasbourg, which is often used as the standard, the city’s temperatures in 2009 were below 10°C for half the year, and for 36% of the year, it was even below five degrees C – it was only above 35°C for 0.6 per cent of the year.

And there’s also an ecological dimension, as the lesser the energy you use, the lower your environmental impact In practice, there are clearly defined performance figures that can be used to verify the system’s energy efficiency. The Carnot cycle efficiency is used as a point

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INTERVIEW This demonstrates that only 0.6% of the year was considered while designing the system and the majority of the time – more than 99% of the year – was not looked at. To help solve this problem, the Forschungsrat Kältetechnik e.V. (Research Council for Refrigeration Technology) developed an energy efficiency tool that allows to generate seasonal evaluations of refrigeration systems. The EU has recognised the need for a better evaluation of real system conditions, and the first minimum requirements for the seasonal efficiency of liquid cooling systems for air conditioning and industrial process cooling are expected to be announced by the EU in 2016.

and air conditioning. NH3 has also proven to be excellent for water chiller units that operate all year round with free cooling, if they feature air-cooled condensers or evaporative condensers. Free cooling takes advantage of ammonia’s extremely high evaporation enthalpy and very low vapour density: vapour circulates from

Systems with natural refrigerants often require a higher initial investment, but they also provide greater energy efficiency. Is it worth it? Yes – this has been demonstrated successfully in numerous systems already in operation. Ammonia dominates the larger industrial refrigeration systems, despite the higher initial investment involved, because it is so efficient, and it’s also becoming more important in the air conditioning sector. There are already ammonia liquid cooling systems with over 200 kW being used to cool public spaces. In Berlin, these systems are used in some shopping centres, bank buildings and arenas. But there are also famous international buildings, such as the theatre in Copenhagen and the Skylink terminal in Vienna that are cooled using NH3. For smaller cooling units, I believe hydrocarbons will be used more and more, although they, too, place particular demands on the system’s safety.

Ammonia dominates the larger industrial refrigeration systems, despite the higher initial investment involved, because it is so efficient, and it’s also becoming more important in the air conditioning sector

Do natural refrigerants offer any advantages in relation to systems with seasonally fluctuating energy efficiency? Generally speaking, the thermodynamic properties of both ammonia and hydrocarbons make them very energy-efficient refrigerants that can be used in many areas of industrial cooling

the evaporator to the condenser and as a liquid from the condenser to the evaporator, when the ambient temperature is lower than the cooling water temperature. As such, compressors are not required while making use of free cooling. Energy is saved because engines driving the compressor, pumps and fans are not needed while operating with free cooling, and as such energy efficiency of the entire system is improved.

How will the revised F-gas Regulation affect the use of natural refrigerants? Although the new F-gas Regulation stipulates a phase-down of partially fluorinated hydrocarbons to 21% by 2035, synthetic refrigerants won’t automatically disappear from the market. In fact, new HFO refrigerants are being developed, even though their thermal decomposition products can be problematic, as research into mobile air conditioning units has shown. The long-term effects of these new substances are also not sufficiently understood. This, in turn, raises the question of why the industry doesn’t finally switch to natural refrigerants with no ifs or buts. After all, the natural substances are environmentally friendly and have proven to be energy-efficient in most applications. The HFOs, however, represent a continuation of the halogenated chorine and fluorine chemicals saga – and we already know how that ends. Dr Dieter Mosemann is an expert in refrigeration and air conditioning technologies and advises various international committees.

I would like to see our universities offer courses on energy-related engineering, and our people specialise in energy and sustainable development. At a university level, we need to focus on energy data, reliability issues, and lessons learnt from all aspects of projects and all directions of development. I want universities to focus on such subjects as energy conservation and water conservation. Khalid Mulhim, Chapter Officer, ASHRAE Saudi Arabian Chapter

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

December 2014

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Climate Control Middle East December 2014

The thrill of it all The 2014 Climate Control Awards ceremony, on the 19th of November in Dubai, was the largest to date and, perhaps, the most thrilling. Earlier, the call for participation had attracted an unprecedented 68 entries involving an equally unprecedented 52 companies, or entities, in 30 categories. A 31st category – the Editor’s Choice Award – did not involve a call for entries. The judging process was rigorous and the evaluation stringent, keeping in mind the critical role of the industry against the backdrop of regional aspirations related to socio-economic development and the safeguarding of the environment. Those that made it to the shortlist and, eventually, to the podium, had reason to feel proud, and it showed in their exultant expressions. The ceremony was not only about trophies and acceptance speeches but also entertainment, which also rose to unprecedented levels. We bring you images of the amazing night that was…

December 2014

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November 19, 2014 ď&#x201A;&#x161; Al Yassat Ballroom, Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, UAE

at the reception

December 2014

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The Producers

Frédéric Paillé, Managing Director & Associate Publisher, CPI Industry

Third-party moderator

B Surendar, Editorial Director & Associate Publisher, CPI Industry

Some of the members of the jury…

(L-R) K Anbalagan, Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants; Kamal Mohammed Azayem, Mechanical Engineering Expert, Building Department – Qualifications & Building Studies Section, Dubai Municipality; Sarfraz Dairkee of the Emirates Green Building Council; Sougata Nandi, Independent Sustainable Development Evangelist and the former Sustainability Director of TECOM; Redha Hassan Salman, Director, STP Department, Dubai Municipality

Faraz Said, Associate Director, Transactions & Restructuring, KPMG

The following judges were absent: Ghaleb Abusaa, the CEO of en3 Solutions; Ramesh Paranjpey, Independent Refrigeration Consultant; Dr M Ramaswamy, Technical Expert, Sultan’s Royal Estates, Sultanate of Oman

The CPI Industry Team

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

November 19, 2014 Al Yassat Ballroom, Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, UAE

e ! h t Let begin w o sh

Dominic De Sousa, Publisher and Chairman, CPI Media Group

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HONOURABLE MENTION (Sustainable Project of the Year) The Research Council (Oman)/ DC PRO Engineering

DISTRICT COOLING CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR DC PRO Engineering

DISTRICT COOLING UTILITY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR Qatar District Cooling Company (Qatar Cool) (joint winner)

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

DISTRICT COOLING CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR ADC Energy Systems

EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council

DISTRICT COOLING UTILITY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) (joint winner)

HVACR ACCESSORIES PROVIDER OF THE YEAR Hira Industries

November 19, 2014 Al Yassat Ballroom, Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, UAE

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (AIR MOVEMENT) TROX Middle East

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (COOLING TOWERS) Evapco Europe BVBA (joint winner)

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (AIR TREATMENT) Corodex Industries

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (CHILLERS) Daikin McQuay Middle East

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (COOLING TOWERS) SPIG Middle East (joint winner)

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (CONTROLS & VALVES) Siemens

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (HYDRONIC SYSTEMS) IMI Hydronic Engineering

December 2014

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MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (PUMPING SYSTEMS) KSB

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION – BODY BUILDING) Technical Supplies Services

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (STANDALONE DX, INCLUDING VRF SYSTEMS) Samsung Gulf Electronics

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (VENTILATION) DuctSox-MENA

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS) NALCO Gulf Ltd – an ECOLAB company

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (SUPERMARKET REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS) Carrier Commercial Refrigeration

MARKETING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR Qatar District Cooling Company (Qatar Cool)

November 19, 2014 Al Yassat Ballroom, Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, UAE

O&M COMPANY OF THE YEAR (DISTRICT COOLING, CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS) Trane Middle East

RENTAL COOLING FIRM OF THE YEAR Trane Middle East

PROJECT OF THE YEAR (STANDALONE DX, INCLUDING VRF SYSTEMS) Al Malki Trading and Contracting

O&M COMPANY OF THE YEAR (IEQ) Smashing! Cleaning Services

PARADIGM SHIFT AGENT OF THE YEAR / HVACR INNOVATION Trane Middle East

STANDALONE PROJECT OF THE YEAR (CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTING FIRM) Arabian MEP Contracting

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OF THE YEAR Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

December 2014

HONOURABLE MENTION (Marketing Initiative of the Year) Stephen Gill Associates

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November 19, 2014 Al Yassat Ballroom, Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, UAE

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Some of the guests...

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

December 2014

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Some of the guests...

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

December 2014

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DSE were early pioneers of implementing large scale District Cooling Plants for mega developments

Modern, EfďŹ cient and cost effective cooling

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

December 2014

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DSE installed a 60,000 TR District Cooling Plant in the iconic Jumeirah Beach Residences in 2004

The prestigious Dohaland Development in Doha, Qatar

DSE's engineering technology helps in cooling the renowned Meydan complex in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Authorized Exclusive Distributor Dubai, Northern Emirates & Oman

P.O. Box: 76091, Dubai, U.A.E Tel / Fax: +971 4 263 6834 / +971 4 263 6835 Email: info@ahrglobal.com December 2014

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ADVERTORIAL

DAIKIN awarded as the Best Manufacturer of the Year – Chiller Products Reflecting our Global image as the leader in the HVAC industry, DAIKIN McQuay Middle East has been awarded Best Manufacturer of the Year – Chillers at the 2014 Climate Control Awards Ceremony, held on the 19th November in Dubai - UAE. This award is a regional recognition of Daikin Applied’s leadership in providing high performance system solutions that help preserve and protect our natural environment; premium quality standard, high efficiency, low noise and environmental friendliness across our complete product range. DAIKIN, through strengthening our applied range, is proud to be considered the TOTAL SOLUTION PROVIDER for all your HVAC needs from the smallest 1.5 Ton DX to the biggest 3200 Ton District Cooling chillers. DAIKIN, with your support, will continue to lead the international standards and be a reference in the HVAC industry in the region and worldwide.

Daikin McQuay Middle East 64

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December 2014

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ADVERTORIAL

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

December 2014

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ADVERTORIAL

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Benefits of District Cooling From the winners of the ‘Best District Cooling System in the World’ award 2014 and the ‘Best District Cooling Provider’ award in the Middle East 2013

Being 40% to 60% more energy efficient than conventional air-conditioning systems such as air cooled chillers, split air-conditioning units and window air-conditioning units

Substantially lowering costs and increasing operating reliability and availability

Reducing construction cost as air-conditioning systems typically constitute up to 10% of overall building costs, which developers are able to save by outsourcing air-conditioning requirements

Reducing maintenance costs as air-conditioning systems, especially in large buildings, require regular professional maintenance

Improving air quality and temperature control that are difficult to monitor and regulate, especially if a system is operating below optimal levels

Increasing the potential for economics of scale as the use of a single central unit to replace multiple individual units results in high potential for economics of scale

Increasing potential revenue through the utilization of the space occupied by conventional air-conditioning systems on roofs or in individual offices/apartments for facilities such as swimming pools and gardens

A Better Way To Cool Your Environment

ADVERTORIAL

ADC Energy Systems LLC, is one of the foremost district energy companies in the UAE and Qatar. Ibrahim Sleiman, the company’s CEO, speaks about the organisation’s achievements, its plans to diversify into infrastructure and energy sectors and about making inroads into other geographical regions.

n 2005, a group of entrepreneurs decided to strike out on their own, and ADC Energy Systems LLC came into being. The group brought to the table collective experience of developing ventures in the air conditioning sector. “They identified an opportunity in District Cooling and acquired our first project soon after,” recounts Ibrahim Sleiman. BAGGING ICONIC PROJECTS ADC struck gold in its very first endeavour – the prestigious Palm Jumeirah Crescent District Cooling plants – and delivered a total of 120,000 TR. The work encompassed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for four central cooling plants of 30,000 TR worth of modular units mounted on skids at the iconic real estate development. Buoyed by the success, ADC evolved into one of the leading District Cooling EPC companies in the UAE.

MAKING EXCELLENCE A HABIT

ADC’s biggest strength stems from its ability to execute EPC and design and build contracts for major developers, backed by a qualified and experienced team. ADC being recognised as the ‘Best EPC Contractor of the Year in District Cooling’ at the 2011 Climate Control Awards is an evidence of this. By way of reinforcing ADC’s capabilities, the company won the Award in 2013, as well. And at the 2014 Climate Control Awards, held on November 19 in Dubai, it walked away with a third trophy in the same category. The company, already ISO 9001-certified, got certified lately in ISO 14000 and OHSHAS 18000 for sound Environment, Health & Safety practices and standards, as part of its Integrated Management System (IMS).

“We worked with Emicool, which was involved in the supply of chilled water to the Green Community and the Dubai Investments Park (DIP) on two separate occasions, installing two different plants during the 2008-2009 period,” Sleiman recalls. “Almost simultaneously,” explains Sleiman, “we were awarded a job at Shams Abu Dhabi on Reem Island by another utility player. PAL Technologies was given a concession by Tamouh Investments to provide central cooling to various buildings, and we were picked as the EPC contractor for the project on behalf of the property developer, Sorouh Real Estate. At the time, the plant was one of the largest ever built in the Middle East, with an overall planned capacity of almost 90,000 TR.” Despite the impact of the global financial crisis on the District Cooling sector, ADC bagged the Paragon ABD (Dalkia Utilities and Partners) Cooling contract in 2011, to serve the Tourism Development & Investment Company’s (TDIC) Saadiyat Island. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, due to open in 2015, will be cooled by these plants, along with numerous iconic institutions, including the Guggenheim Museum, as well as local museums, hotels and resorts. ADC’s involvement includes two District Cooling plants providing for a combined capacity of 50,000 TR for a service area of 27 square kilometres. Almost simultaneously, Tabreed, the energy partner for UAE University (UAEU) in Al Ain, awarded the EPC of UAEU’s central cooling plant extension to ADC on a fast-track basis. The ninemonth project was completed in early May 2012. Equally important was CitiCool, a Saudi Arabia-based District Cooling and facilities management services provider, which awarded ADC the main contract for a central cooling plant for King Saud University in Riyadh. PAL Technology, Sleiman informs, awarded two more Abu Dhabi-based

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

projects in 2013 that are nearing completion – ADNEC and New York University Abu Dhabi, for a total planned capacity of 51,000 TR. Another PAL DCP development on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, was added to ADC’s kitty, with a plan to complete the plant by mid-2016 for another 20,000 TR. ADC surged to the forefront of Qatar’s DCP sector by the end of 2013 by bagging the 90,000 TR Marafeq Qatar plant in the Lusail development, along with its partner, BUTEC, on the Civil works, followed by an award early 2014 for a JV between ADC and Al Jaber Engineering for a 35,000 TR plant in the West Bay area by Qatar Cool. SEEKING NEW CHALLENGES ADC has responded to emerging opportunities by adopting an innovative design methodology based on a standardised engineering platform with modularised components for achieving a quick turnaround. “Current market conditions demand that we reduce our overheads, be more agile and adapt our procurement, engineering and construction efforts to deliver more fast-track type solutions,” says Sleiman. The company’s decision to diversify into the infrastructure, industrial and energy sectors is driven by the same demand, as are its plans to expand its geographical presence outside the UAE by strengthening its capabilities in Saudi Arabia, where it has a branch, and by penetrating into Qatar and Kuwait. “We have projects in the pipeline in the industrial, data centre, pharmaceutical and infrastructural sectors,” informs Sleiman. VISION FOR A NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE ADC has its sights set on broadening its geographical base and new market sectors. In the long run, Sleiman is also keen to sharpen the company’s

vision for a more efficient, equitable and sustainable national and pannational energy infrastructure for the GCC region. “We feel very strongly that ADC should support and promote the concept of integrated and distributed energy plants,” he reflects. “ADC Energy Systems needs to promote the concept of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP). This also necessitates that utilities produce the energy, where it’s going to be consumed, to reduce transmission losses while ensuring that the plant is optimised for that particular district in terms of power, chilled water, hot water and other utilities.” He believes that this can only work with the support of governments in establishing country-wide energy infrastructure and using natural gas as the main feedstock fossil fuel for generating cleaner electricity. Sleiman says that ADC strongly backs any efforts in the emerging renewable energy sector in the region, following its selection from among major international bidders, as the EPC contractor of choice for an integrated solar, geothermal, absorption and associated systems project, prior to the Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala’s decision to defer the Masdar City District Cooling scheme, which is now back on track. One of the Middle East’s biggest assets is arguably also its biggest obstacle to change in the energy distribution market, believes Sleiman. “The gas that is produced is intended for export or for use in large industrial plants,” he points out, and says, “But by developing a natural gas network, we can offer local communities with efficient, integrated and synergistic utilities, customised for their demands. By making clean feedstock sources available, making legislative changes and reducing subsidies on existing utilities, I’m confident this vision can become a reality.”

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ADVERTORIAL

That’s how Siemens characterises its Demand FlowTM solution, which improves performance and reduces the energy consumption of large-scale central chilled water plants

erman engineering firm, Siemens has recently completed the first two Middle Eastern installations of its Demand FlowTM solution, a variable pressure curve technology, which improves performance and reduces the energy consumption of large-scale central chilled water plants. In some cases, the technology has yielded energy savings as high as 50%, with measured total plant performance as low as 0.33 kW/ tonne. Demand FlowTM uses variable frequency drives, controlled by software integrated into the building automation and control system, to allow plant optimisation. The variable frequency drives – assigned to all constant speed motors,

such as condenser pumps, chilled water pumps and cooling tower fans – enable the production of chilled water, in accordance with demand, rather than at a constant rate. This reduction of flow in periods of lower demand saves energy and reduces operation and maintenance costs over the lifecycle of the plant. “Demand FlowTM is a simple but extremely powerful solution,” says Ralf Fueller, Head of Building Technologies for Siemens UAE. “Specially developed algorithms use variable frequency drives to maintain optimal differential system pressure, reduce excessive pumping energy and equipment runtime and increase deliverable tonnage

The strength of Demand FlowTM is that it optimises the entire chiller plant as a holistic system and energy savings can be guaranteed if desired

LOOKING FOR HVACR PRODUCTS? 72

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

on systems suffering with a diminished refrigeration effect. Importantly, the system does not require the installation of costly variable frequency drives on chiller compressor motors.” The outcome is that Demand FlowTM can generally achieve significant energy savings in five major areas of a chilled-water system: cooling towers, condenser pumps, chillers, chilled-water pumps and airhandling units. “The strength of this solution is that we can absolutely guarantee energy savings by taking a holistic view of the whole plant,” Fueller says. “Crucially, this approach ensures that energy is not simply shifted from one plant subsystem to another, as in some other energy conservation methods for chiller plants in the market. Demand FlowTM can measure and verify the total energy consumption of the plant, including each individual subsystem, and provide an accurate report for the whole facility.” Completely chiller agnostic, Demand FlowTM is not specific to any one manufacturer and does not void equipment warranties. Once commissioned, the system is fully automatic, with the Demand FlowTM Controller automatically optimising the whole chiller plant.

DEMAND FLOW AT A GLANCE

The platform is also responsible for the accumulation of data, reporting of energy proﬁles and detailing equipment operating parameters

• Improves the

•

Typically, access to Demand FlowTM is available through a graphical user interface, and plant managers are also able to use the web-based service platform, AdvantageTM Navigator from Siemens to monitor chiller plant system performance from anywhere in the world. The platform is also responsible for the accumulation of data, reporting of energy profiles and detailing equipment operating parameters. Siemens has successfully implemented this technology in more than 160 facilities worldwide, including hospitals, office buildings, data centres, hotels and resorts, universities and manufacturing and industrial sites. The first two turnkey installations of the Demand FlowTM technology from Siemens in the Middle

East have been completed. “Currently, both of these projects are in the measurement and verification phase, which means we monitor the plant’s performance over the course of a year to determine the energy savings on the previous year’s consumption,” Fueller says. “So far, the analysis is indicating that energy savings on both installations will exceed our initial estimates, which is a very pleasing result.” With cooling making up a significant proportion of regional electricity demand, Fueller is confident that the technology is perfectly suited to the Middle East. “Demand for cooling in this region is high and also seasonably variable,” Fuller says. “Systems are designed

•

• •

efficiency of the chilled water system Increases the deliverable tonnage of the chilled-water plant Simplifies plant operations without sacrificing occupant comfort in favour of energy savings Allows central chilled water plant to more accurately maintain optimal differential system pressure Solves the industry issue of Low Delta T Syndrome Reduces operational and maintenance costs over the lifecycle of a plant

for peak load during summer, and the rest of the time they are under partialload conditions; this is when Demand FlowTM can really make a difference.”

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‘RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS ARE DICTATING THE MOOD’

A plethora of new construction projects, coupled with innovations, has spurred the HVACR industry into action, as evidenced by the upbeat mood at the recently concluded Big 5 Dubai. Nickyta Ray reports.

The facts at a glance… • The Big 5 Show was officially opened by H.E. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai. • The event had more than 2,700 exhibitors from 60 countries. • This year witnessed a bigger Saudi presence with 27 exhibitors in 2013 increasing to 100 exhibitors.

s the curtains came down on The Big 5 Show 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Centre on November 20, the atmosphere signalled encouraging signs of growth ahead. Responding to the slow but palpable change in the post-slump scenario, The Big 5, taglined “International Building & Construction Show”, had eight dedicated product sectors this year: steel; building interiors; coating, adhesives and sealants; general construction; kitchens and bathrooms; water technology; windows, doors and cladding; and HVAC systems.

Increasing footfall

Saad Ali, VP and Group General Manager, Ruskin Titus

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Andy White

Gulf, claimed an increase in footfall at his company’s stand and attributed the upbeat mood to new products. “Innovation,” he said, “has been witnessed in the market, and the HVACR industry is faring well.” Andy White, Group Event Director of The Big 5 Show, said: “We are seeing

increased activity across the entire GCC, as countries continue to position themselves as destinations for major tourism events. Increasingly, visitors to The Big 5 are sourcing products for retail projects, and we continue to develop our event to help professionals take advantage of this exciting opportunity.” “Yes,” was the positive reply from Pramodh Idicheria, General Manager at Leminar, when asked about the increase in the number of visitors. Conference floors and workshops, too, saw more participation.

Are big bucks percolating down to the HVACR realm? “Residential projects are surging and dictating the mood of the construction

The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s Largest District Cooling Provider EMPOWER, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation, is created with the objective of providing world class District Cooling Services to Dubai and the region. Empower is determined to satisfy the critical needs of its customers and in the process develop its own distinctive competencies.

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market,” said Darius Khanloo, Managing Director of Hormann, sharing his insight with Climate Control Middle East. He believed that investment opportunities were picking up. “There were incessant enquiries; thus, we are all set for the growth,” he said. Indeed, all through the event – from November 17 to 20 – investors could be heard talking about projects worth billions of dollars. The HVAC section, evidently, experienced the trickle-down effect. From the exhibition floor, Ravi Wadhwani, Business Manager-HVAC Accessories at Hira Industries, said: “There has been an estimate of 20-25% growth in the HVACR industry in comparison to last year. Optimism is swelling….” On a similar note, H P Dudani, General Manager, Product Exports of Blue Star, said: “VRF is gaining fillip in the market, gradually. We witness a nine to 10% growth in the HVACR industry.”

Sustainability, ergo innovation

Sustainability was clearly the new mantra. Jordan Baker,

Regional Manager-Middle East Gulf, at Greenheck Fan Corporation, in an interview with Climate Control Middle East, confirming this, said: “The market is reacting positively to new products and innovations. Greenheck’s fans have been the highlight of our pavilion here at the show.” Predictably, it was energy efficiency that predicated innovation. David George Stevenson, Managing Director at Belimo Automation, put down the interest his company’s energy valves elicited to a changing market approach to energy efficiency. He said, “We have sensed more awareness and readiness to accept energy-efficient products to be infused into the market.” It was not just bottoms up, but a top-down effect, too, with new government initiatives being unveiled. Chairing the Sustainable Design & Construction conference as part of the Show, Saeed Alabbar, Director, Alabbar Energy and Sustainability Group, and the Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council, observed: “The UAE is taking a leading role with a number of initiatives from the public and private sectors. Government organisations are pushing forward green products and materials with sustainable features. This would pave a way for a greener future with energy

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

H.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah

efficiency.” In his keynote address at the Sustainable Design & Construction Conference, H.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Dubai Municipality, revealed that efforts in water treatment, environment and waste management, thermal insulation, energy conservation, green buildings, and green city formed part of the initiatives from Dubai Municipality. (For details of the initiatives, see the report on the Sustainability Conference.) Dudani, speaking from the industry’s point of view, hailed the growing awareness about energy efficiency in the sector as a good sign. As always, the event attracted companies launching new products. “We have showcased our products, which have been tested to British standards in a steady growing market,”

said Steve Goldsworthy, Managing Director of Zip Clip, a company that manufactures and designers high-spec suspension systems for all HVAC, electrical, mechanical and signage requirements. “Eurobond would be involved in setting up of a data centre in Jebel Ali, Dubai, and approvals from the Dubai Civil Defence has been sought so far,” Mark Winstanley, Business Unit Manager-Middle East for Eurobond, revealed, indicating the shape of things to come. The construction, he said, will begin by the end of 2015.

It’s all about networking

Networking ranked high among the flurry of activities at the event. Echoing this, Franco Rizzo, Head of Sales at Durodyne, said, “This year’s show has equipped us with great contacts with the industry, and the growth here has been organic.” Speaking about networking yielding results, B S Prashant, the General Manager at Eros, said: “There has been a great change in The Big 5 from the past. These changes are positive signs, and we have signed an agreement, the details of which would be shared once we confirm.” See related story on page 88

December 2014

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Dr Iyad Al-Attar, is an air filtration consultant. He can be contacted at iyad@iyadalattar.com

Have national and international efforts been adequate to counter escalating number of deaths due to air pollution? Can we blame it all on air filtration technologies? Dr Iyad Al-Attar asks a few pertinent, if inconvenient, questions. Particles surrounding us

Given that an adult individual typically breathes 17,000 litres of air daily, even a low concentration of airborne contaminants represent a large quantity of them entering the human body through inhalation. Every day, billions of particles are inhaled with the ambient air by every human being. Many of these particles are deposited in the respiratory tract. The quantity of deposits depends on the size, density, shape, charge, and surface properties of the particles and the breathing pattern of the individual. Silicosis, which is perhaps the most important occupational disease, and which is caused by inhalation of minute particles of silica, and other forms of pneumoconiosis (caused by inhalation of dust) stand as ideal examples of serious pulmonary diseases. The microscopic particles in the air we breathe can be hazardous to health and are, thus, considered a specific

Figure 1: Scanning electron microscopic image of an absolute filter medium

type of air pollution. The size of these particles is in the range of several nanometers to several micrometers. Epidemiological studies have shown beyond doubt an association between increased urban air pollution and adverse health effects on susceptible sections of the population, particularly the elderly, who may have pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. Urban air contains

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

particles, whose size may be classed from coarse to those that are ultrafine (<0.1 Âľm in diameter). Ultrafine particles contribute very little to the total mass in a sample of air, but they exist in very high concentrations, which in episodic events can reach several hundred thousand/ cm3 in the urban air.

Rounding up the usual suspects

Air filtration is not the only

problem causing Indoor Air Quality. Therefore, addressing it cannot be the sole solution. Certainly, air filtration technologies can serve as a defensive measure to protect us from urban polluted air coming to our indoor environment. High efficiency filters (Figure 1) are capable of capturing particles of different size distributions at different efficiencies, as shown in Figure 2. However, that does not entitle emission sources to continue their increasing contribution to air pollution.

Epidemiological studies have shown beyond doubt an association between increased urban air pollution and adverse health effects on susceptible sections of the population What is really surprising is that despite all the global efforts so far, air pollution is still on the rise, which signifies that there is still a lot to be achieved. The responsibility is shared among the industry, policymakers and decision-makers to check their response system for more aggressive

action towards such a global problem. In addition to dust, which arises from human activity, two natural phenomena that cause high levels of airborne dust concentrations are high winds in desert regions and volcanic events. Thus, climatic conditions, the natural environment and human activities can cause windblown or construction dust or even fugitive dust, which contribute to air pollution. Perhaps, the 2010 volcanic eruption in Iceland, which grounded aviation activities for days and incurred short- and long-term

Figure 2: Particle deposition on a fibrous filter medium

losses to businesses and the environment can be cited as a good example. Studies have shown that air pollution creates developmental problems in infants. Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) reported air pollution to be responsible for the death of seven million people annually. One in eight deaths worldwide is caused by poor air quality. In fact, the agency believes that air pollution is the greatest environmental risk factor for disease and death. The agency reported that nearly 4.3 million deaths in 2012 were caused by

December 2014

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Dr Iyad Al-Attar, is an air filtration consultant. He can be contacted at iyad@iyadalattar.com

minimising the impact on the environment. The strides made in the field of material technology, new coatings, new cooling schemes and the growth of combined cycle power plants also contribute to boosting performance. In addition, improved compression ratio has substantially enhanced the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine. Figure 3: Schematic of gas turbine highlighting its components

Figure 4: Dendrite formations on filter fibres as particles collect other particles

poor Indoor Air Quality. WHO reports that deaths due to poor indoor air are greater than deaths due to AIDS, diabetes and road accidents combined. Therefore, in addition to the technical requirement of clean air in our daily residential and industrial applications, there is also an ethical obligation to prevent suffering and early death.

Elusive solutions

Air cleaning is now an important branch of social engineering, and protection of public, both in urban and rural areas from harmful emissions is the subject of legislation in all civilised countries. The increasing public concern regarding Indoor

WHO reports that deaths due to poor indoor air are greater than deaths due to AIDS, diabetes and road accidents combined Air Quality in residential and commercial buildings has led to major developments of high-efficiency air filters. Clean air is required for HVAC systems in buildings,

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Inbuilt challenges clean rooms, pharmaceutical industries, all enclosed environments, engine intakes and exhausts. Air filters are essential components for gas turbine air intakes, as large mass of clean air must be supplied to the combustion chamber (Figure 3). Power plants operate gas turbines to generate energy for our buildings for different purposes, such as air conditioning, which is regarded as the main user of power generated in the GCC states. No one can deny the importance of power in our daily lives, as it is the driving force behind our cities and industries. However, power plant emissions contribute to the pollution problem. Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we reduce and/or treat such emissions? In fact, great advances in air filtration will prove invaluable to the gas turbine industry (Figure 3). Further, the past two decades have witnessed enormous growth in gas turbine technology. The advancements in design, fabrication, installation, operation and maintenance of gas turbines have played a paramount role in enhancing the power generation process, while

Certainly, some of the standing challenges in this field are the escalating cost of natural gas and its availability to sites. The inlet of a gas turbine is designed to introduce large masses of clean air, which would require smooth geometry. Obviously, atmospheric air cannot be brought in without appropriate filtration. Several contaminants can coat the compressor blades and cause erosive or corrosive damage to the turbine components, thus causing performance downgrade. Further, sticky contaminants can alter the bladesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; surface and mass, which would further contribute to performance reduction. Challenges do not stop there. The dilemma of increasing the number of filter stages and/or their efficiency pose the risk of increasing the pressure drop of the entire filter section. The option is between increasing the pressure drop on the one hand, and reducing the number of filter stages and/or their efficiencies to allow greater volume of, but less clean air, which would expose the turbine component to higher contaminant concentrations, on the other hand.

awakening? Should we build more hospitals to admit the increasing number of patients suffering from pulmonary disorders? Quite simply, what are we waiting for? What sort of statistics would be needed for a real wake-up call? I truly hope that the dream of leaving behind a cleaner planet for our children than the one we inherited is not disappearing into thin air – air filled with contaminants.

The risk can escalate to include particles clogging the perforations of the blade responsible for the cooling function. If the latter is chosen, then another practice referred to as Compressor Washing is deployed. The negative ramifications in this washing option lie in the outage time, loss of power generation, and the labour and maintenance cost – an economics which comes with its own calculations. There are considerable numbers of parameters that need to be addressed. Filtration on its own stands as a great candidate in terms of improving turbine performance. High dust and other contaminant concentrations impede the performance of gas turbines. Therefore, appropriate selection of filter media and cartridge design is of critical importance to the plant. Figure 4 shows how dust deposition and dendrite formation of dust cake can result, depending on the

is air pollution going? And most importantly, where is it taking us? What are the corrective actions needed to realign our efforts to better environmental

All images are copy right of the author. References available upon request.

Should we build more hospitals to admit the increasing number of patients suffering from pulmonary disorders? particle size distribution, dominant collection mechanisms and/or the type of media used.

Leaving behind a safer planet

Although we are in the 21st century, which has witnessed an abundance of sampling techniques and products, the correlation between urban activities and indoor air is still not well established. Shouldn’t we, then, wonder: Where

December 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

Dan Mizesko is Managing Partner, U.S. Chiller Services Int, HVAC & Energy Services. He can be contacted at dan@uschillerservices.com

proper r. r o f e d ral gui trifugal chille u d e c n ro step p pressure ce y b using p e h gard, g e i r A st h is th a te In tures. comple tion of a r mpera ed to te d ir u y the m q h o e e de at ro hang time r

c e ne room eed to uce th be do lly red n can e the n her the a c o ig ti u ti h n d a r e ta e r d s o . Th ehy ill sub will als rocess trap w ess. It tion p c a r o r d p a cold y h m is tion the de vacuu hydra during deep n. the de il o y o ti r e a p r v lved, a s, a ehyd m pum re invo rature a te of d e vacuu s a p r e will be r m e tu era om te ter th barrel p s o r r m fa to te w e a t r lo n o , th -ambie that at rature e evap noted tempe ting th . If low e a e r e b h tu is to ly s fe mo It need ff any d of sa boil o metho r to e d th e o s. requir r some proces nket o ation la r b d y t h a e he the d ed for requir

D 82

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

The following steps need to be taken to perform dehydration: Connect a high capacity vacuum pump, 5 cfm or larger, to the refrigerant charging valve. Tubing from the pump to the chiller should be as short in length and as large in diameter as possible to provide the least resistance to gas flow.

Valve off the vacuum pump, stop the pump and record the manometer reading.

Use an absolute pressure manometer indicator to measure the vacuum. Open the shutoff valve to the vacuum indicator only when taking a reading. Leave the valve open for three minutes to allow the indicator vacuum to equalise with the chiller vacuum.

After a two-hour wait, take another manometer reading. If the reading has not changed, dehydration is complete. If the reading indicates vacuum loss, repeat Steps three and four.

If the entire chiller is to be dehydrated, open all isolation valves (if present). With the chiller ambient temperature at 60°F (15.6°C) or higher, operate the vacuum pump until the manometer reads 29.8 in. Hg vac, ref 30 in. bar. (0.1 psia) (–100.61 kPa). Operate the pump an additional two hours. Do not apply a greater vacuum than 29.82 in. Hg vac (757.4 mm Hg). At this pressure, isolated pockets of moisture can turn into ice. The slow rate of evaporation (sublimation) of ice at these low temperatures and pressures greatly increases the dehydration time.

If the reading continues to change after several attempts, perform a leak test up to a maximum 160 psig (1103 kPa) pressure. Locate and repair the leak and repeat the dehydration procedures.

CAIRO HEAD OFFICE:

Cairo, Egypt Tel: (202) 25161610 25163737 Fax: (202) 27549849 E-mail: admin@alliedco.org Web: www.alliedco.org

DUBAI, UAE

Tel: 0971 4 297 8500 Fax: 0971 4 2652 192 E-mail: alliedae@eim.ae Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, UAE

Empower, Business Bay, Dubai UAE

Winner of Best Consulting Firm District Cooling in the Climate Control Awards 2011

BRAnCHEs:

• Jeddah, KSA • Toronto, Canada

FOUNDED TO LEAD

Allied has grown into one of the leading Engineering and Project Management firms in the Middle East, boasting offices in 3 major Countries in the Middle East (Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kingdome of Saudi Arabia). Allied offers full range of Engineering and Project Management services provided by nearly 140 dedicated professionals distributed among Egyptian, UAE and KSA locations. The company is a multidisciplinary consulting firm and has a track record and specialization in Buildings, Industrial Works and District Cooling and Power Generation Plants.

December 2014

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REGIONAL

New tariffs for water and electricity in Abu Dhabi

answer all customer questions related to the new tariff structure and help customers manage their consumption using simple conservation tips available on our website.” Elaborating on this, Abdulla Al Sheryani, Customer Service Director at AADC, said, “We encourage customers to use all our services, especially ‘Estisharat’ to help identify easy ways to reduce consumption and stay ‘in the green’.”

Aimed to change consumer behaviour and protect natural resources

he Regulation and Supervision Bureau (the Bureau) in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) and Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC) has announced the new structure of water and electricity tariffs for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, effective January 1, 2015. The change, said the Bureau, aims to encourage the efficient use of water and electricity and raise awareness of the importance of reducing consumption to support the

sustainable growth of the emirate and to ensure supply of water and electricity and securing its resources and its diversification. The move is avowedly part of a wider initiative aimed at driving behavioural change in how water and electricity are currently consumed in the Emirate. Underlining theese objectives, the Bureau’s Acting Director General, Saif Al Qubaisi, said: “The smart use of natural resources is one of the guiding principles for Abu Dhabi.... The restructuring of tariffs will help drive understanding of the true value of water and

electricity which, in turn, supports the sustainable growth of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.” Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Customer Service at ADDC, added, “Our staff is available around the clock to

New New tariffs tariffs structure structure for water for water andand electricity electricity consumption consumption The Regulation The Regulation and Supervision and Supervision Bureau inBureau collaboration in collaboration with ADDC with & AADC ADDCwould & AADC likewould to notify likeall towater notifyand all water electricity and electricity customerscustomers in the Emirate in theofEmirate Abu Dhabi of Abu thatDhabi new that new tariffs will tariffs comewill intocome effectinto on 1effect January on 12015 January and 2015 will apply and will to all apply consumption to all consumption from this date. from Residential this date. Residential customerscustomers will be charged will bedifferent chargedtariffs different for the tariffs ‘green’ for the and ‘green’ ‘red’ and ‘red’ consumption consumption bands. Consumption bands. Consumption that is ‘above thatideal is ‘above average’ ideal(in average’ the red) (inwill thebe red) subject will be tosubject a higher totariff a higher than tariff consumption than consumption that is in the that‘ideal is in average’ the ‘ideal(green). average’ (green).

New tariffs structure for water and electricity consumption

The new tariffs The new are given tariffs are below. given below.

Residential Residential customers customers

National

Daily Current tariff Current tariff New tariff New tariff Daily consumption Customer Customer Property Property fils/kWh fils/kWhfils/kWh fils/kWhconsumption kWh/day kWh/day Flat

Flat 5

Villa

Expat

National

National Expat

New electricity New electricity tariffstariffs

Expat

New water New water tariffstariffs The new tariffs will Residential Residential customers customers come into effect Current tariffCurrent tariff Daily Daily New tariff New tariffconsumption Property Property dhs/1,000 dhs/1,000 consumption dhs/1,000dhs/1,000 litres litres on 1 January 2015 Customer Customer litres litres litres/day litres/day 1.7 1.7 up to 700up to 700 and will apply to all Flat Flat 1.89 1.89 over 700 over 700 0 0 consumption from 1.7 1.7 up to 7,000 up to 7,000 Villa Villa this date. Residential 1.89 1.89 over 7,000 over 7,000 customers will be 5.95 5.95 up to 700up to 700 Flat Flat Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective tariff over 700 over 700 charged different tariffs 2.2 2.2 5.95 5.95 up to 5,000 up to 5,000 Villa Villa for the ‘green’ and ‘red’ Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective over tariff 5,000 over 5,000 consumption bands. Other customers Consumption that isOther customers Current tariffCurrent tariff New tariff New tariff ‘above ideal average’ Customer (in Customer AED/1,000AED/1,000 litres litres AED/1,000 AED/1,000 litres litres the red) will be subject Government Government 2.2 2.2 Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective tariff to a higher tariff than Commercial Commercial 2.2 2.2 4 4 consumption that is including Ranches including Ranches 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 in the ‘ideal average’ AgricultureAgriculture (green). Industry Industry 2.2 2.2 4 4

Villa

Flat

Flat 15

Villa

5.5

up to 30 up to 30

up to 400up to 400

5.5

over 400 over 400

up to 20 up to 20

over 30

Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective tariff over 20 over 20 15 21 21 up to 200up to 200 Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective tariff over 200 over 200

Other customers Other customers Current tariff Current tariff fils/kWh fils/kWh

Customer Customer

New tariff New tariff fils/kWh fils/kWh

Government Government

Cost reflective Cost tariff reflective tariff

Commercial Commercial

AgricultureAgriculture including Ranches including Ranches

Industry below Industry 1MW below 1MW

Industry over Industry 1MW over 1MW Peak 10am-10pm, Peak 10am-10pm, 1 Jun – 30 1Sep Jun – 30 Sep Off-peak (all Off-peak other times) (all other times)

For more information about the new tariffs, you can visit www.addc.ae or www.aadc.ae For moreFor information more information about theabout new tariffs, the new please tariffs, visit please visit

www.addc.ae www.addc.ae or www.aadc.ae or www.aadc.ae 84

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

EPMA launches first project management educational conference

Local project management expertise deemed critical to UAE’s growth

Mohammed Al Shehhi

mirates Project Management Academy (EPMA) held its first Young Crew of the Future Conference on November 5 at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi. Revealing this through an official communiqué, EPMA said the conference brought together experts from the project management industry to mentor student delegates from the UAE’s colleges and universities and share knowledge and best practices.

December 2014

EPMA, highlighted that it considers developing local project management expertise critical to the growth of the country, as its mission is to foster local and international cooperation in the field. Underscoring this, Mohammed Al Shehhi, CEO of EPMA, said: “By striving to achieve excellence in project management, we at EPMA are committed to delivering critical economic benefits to both Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. This will in turn support the development of our country into a diverse, dynamic, thriving and globally competitive economy.”

www.climatecontrolme.com

REGIONAL Photo courtesy shao weiwei / Shutterstock.com

District Cooling experts to assemble at IDEA conference in Dubai Will share insights to advance DC market in GCC and MENA regions

he International District Energy Association (IDEA) has announced in an official communiqué that some of the brightest District Cooling experts from around the world are expected to converge at districtCOOLING2014, to share tested and proven insights with local cooling operators and developers. The communiqué added that the conference, to be held from December 14 to 16, at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, would serve as the premier District Cooling event for the UAE, capitalising on the development momentum in the GCC and MENA regions, to advance the deployment of District Cooling systems, grow market share and diversify customer portfolios.

Empower receives US Consul General Meeting aimed to exchange R&D best practices in HVAC industry and to bolster bilateral trade

mpower has announced receiving the US Consul General, His Excellency Robert Waller, accompanied by Nasir Abbasi, Commercial Attaché at US Consulate in Dubai, in a move to further boost bilateral trade relations and cooperation between the United States and the UAE The announcement revealed that the two entities also discussed the need for exchanging expertise in the the District Cooling sectors and best practices in R&D in the HVAC industry. “The high-level meeting between Empower and the US Consular team headed by the Consul General, was a stimulating gathering on current and future trade ties between the US and the UAE,” re-affirmed Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower. The meeting was deemed to be significant, as Empower is set to host the International District Energy Association’s districtCOOLING2014 conference in Dubai from December 14 to 16 (see reports, above and right). To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the conference has the avowed theme of “Cleaner Energy, Greener Cities”.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Global development of District Cooling tops IDEA conference agenda Will discuss Empower’s system in conserving water used in cooling

mpower has announced that the future of the District Cooling sector in the world will top the agenda of districtCOOLING2014, to be held from December 14 to 16, at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai. Organised by IDEA, the conference will reportedly focus on developing solutions related to preserving water resources used in District Cooling operations. Empower claimed that it had made significant strides by adopting treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) technology coupled with the reverse osmosis technology, to be used in cooling stations. Empower added that earlier this year, it had shared information about setting up a global control centre in order to monitor all its 57 plants in Dubai. In this context, the conference, and the accompanying exhibition, will reportedly review effective solutions to enhance the productivity of cooling stations to achieve positive results for District Cooling companies, as well as building owners and end-consumers alike. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said: “The international conference will address the ideal environment-friendly cooling solutions, as District Cooling was introduced as an alternative to conventional cooling systems that consume more energy resources."

REGIONAL

IDEA ranks UAE high in global District Cooling infrastructure Commends Empower for open-door approach

mpower has revealed in a news release that the International District Energy Association (IDEA) has hailed UAE’s District Cooling facilities and its energy-efficient and environmentally sound infrastructure. The comment was made against the backdrop of IDEA's districtCOOLING2014 conference, to be held from December 14 to 16 in Dubai (see reports on Page 86). Rob Thornton, President and CEO, IDEA, said: “The UAE is an ideal location to host the industry and to bring people together, especially from the growing cities across MENA seeking urban-scale solutions for water conservation and energy efficiency. Specifically, the scale of District Cooling in Dubai provides valuable best practice insights to help accelerate the pace of industry growth,

informing new benchmarks and developing more advanced techniques.” Recognising Empower’s expertise in promoting the conservation of water resources in the delivery of District Cooling services, Thornton reportedly praised Empower’s offer to “open their doors to the world” by including technical tours of the Business Bay and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) plants. Themed on Cleaner Energy, Greener Cities, the IDEA global conference is expected to shed light on the latest trends in District Cooling as well as share success stories of the industry. “Global benchmarks in District Cooling, including those set by Empower,” said Thornton, “will also come up for discussion, as part of efforts to widen the footprint of this technology on the global and regional map.”

Geco inaugurates air condition and spare parts showroom New facility is located at Deira Dubai’s market for HVAC equipment

eco Industry Packing LLC (GIPL) has announced inaugurating a showroom, “Geco Air Condition & Spare Parts LLC”, in Dubai recently. The inauguration was held under the patronage of the Managing Director of Albatha Engineering Group, Adrian Ferrari Stanford, the announcement added.

The move to open the showroom, stocking refrigerant gases, compressors, spare parts and accessories, said Geco, brings GIPL’s branch network to a total of four facilities – three offices and a showroom – located in Deira Dubai’s market for HVAC equipment, compressors and spare parts.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

Climaveneta establishes presence in the Middle East

Opens subsidiary in Dubai to serve regional markets

limaveneta, dealing in HVAC and HPAC systems, has announced establishing a new subsidiary, “Climaveneta Middle East”, headquarted in Dubai, to serve the UAE and Gulf markets. Climaveneta, said the announcement, has already been present in Dubai for many years, and has now strengthened its presence through the new subsidiary. Elaborating on the latest business move, Mauro Montello, Corporate Sales and Marketing Samer Kurmush Director of Climaveneta, said: “So far, the creation of new subsidiaries has generally been aimed at solidifying a leading presence in already ‘Climaveneta-dominated’ markets. With Climaveneta Middle East, we felt the conditions were there to make a more aggressive move, directly entering markets that have been traditional strongholds of some of our main competitors. The growth potential for us is huge, and we trust our subsidiary will be a gamechanger in the Gulf markets.” Samer Kurmush, Climaveneta’s Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, based in Dubai, added: “This step is taken to better serve the local markets, focus on market needs, and tailor solutions as per customer requirements. The subsidiary will operate as business unit and will manage an extensive network of distributing partners, dealers and service centres in order to ensure appropriate market coverage and customer support in their areas of responsibility.”

INCLUDES LISTING OF

HVACR EVENTS WORLDWIDE

Advertising Deadline

28 December 2014

REGIONAL

Sustainability conference unveils innovative initiatives Dubai to become one of top 10 sustainable cities in the world by 2020

H.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah

he nveiling of the latest sustainable developments and regulatory framework in the region was the highlight of the Sustainable Design & Construction Conference that took place on November 18 and 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, as part of The Big 5 Show. Reflecting the underlying theme, H.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, in his keynote address said that the Dubai Municipality

Concrete ideas

The Government of Dubai has proposed several initiatives across various sectors to meet its sustainability mission targets. Here are a few major ones revealed during the conference…

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

per day, by adopting regulations introduced by the Dubai Municipality. He pointed out that 210 shops had already been leased out at a cost of over AED 100 million. The market, reportedly built at a cost of AED 50.5 million covers an area of 27,000 square metres. Revealing plans of “Desert Rose”, a proposed city to be built at a cost of AED 20 billion, Lootah said that it would meet a wide spectrum of requirements, all under one roof. The city, he said, would have sustainable features, like rooftop solar panels and waste recycling plants, and reduce carbon footprint and lessen dependence on private transportation by providing housing along the metro line and stations. “The urban planning of the project would be in the shape of a desert flower in different colours, in sync with the desert environment as a symbol of sustainability,” Lootah said. “The city will adopt the sustainability standards in terms of economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, depending on the natural resources and renewable energy.” Alexandr Vlassyuk / Shutterstock.com

.E. Hussain Nasser Lootah in his keynote address (see report, above) said that efforts in water treatment, environment and waste management, thermal insulation, energy conservation, green buildings and green city were a few of the initiatives introduced by the Dubai Municipality as part of the sustainability drive. “Dubai is one of the fast-growing cities in the world,” he said. “Thus, it is important to comply with niche construction and materials standards. Our Green Building Regulations Guide has 79 chapters, and we are working through these chapters to implement all of the directives. The 79 regulations would tackle issues related to building design by opting for sustainable sites and adopting the right updated techniques and technologies. This would, in turn, reduce harmful impacts on the environment at the construction phase. The regulations and specifications would support green products and materials used in construction and operation processes.” Lootah declared that all heaters would be converted into solar heaters, thus optimising the use of solar power. Shifting his focus on another issue, Lootah underscored the Dubai Municipality’s decision to make Building Information Modelling (BIM) mandatory for specified architecture and MEP works in Dubai, and called it “a significant move in tapping innovative skills to create, manage and execute projects here in the country”. Lootah also drew attention to Al Fahidi market, also known as the green market, in Al Souk Al Kabeer in Bur Dubai, which he said would save a total of 45% of energy

had decided to implement the use of green concrete, which does not release CO2. The Municipality, he said, would by early 2015 insist on all buildings being constructed using the material, with a tough new “smart checking system” in place – an Emirate-wide move by Dubai Municipality to encourage the use of green concrete. Lootah also shared the information that the Government of Dubai had set its sights on Dubai becoming one of the top 10 sustainable cities in the world by 2020.

Seen at The BIG 5â&#x20AC;Ś Al Yousuf Group showcases energy-saving solutions Highlights climate control and green-roofing products AL YOUSUF GROUP showcased its range of energysaving lighting designs from Al Yousuf DIB and LPA from Japan, and climate control products, like Green Roofing from ZINCO at the exhibition, under its business division, Al Yousuf GreenTech (AGT). The Group also introduced, what it claimed to be the latest in LED products to replace conventional lighting from the mood lighting range to the flood and street lights, in addition to its range of outdoor solar lights.

The Hira and Walraven teams

Brett Martin introduces Marlon Clickfix panel glazing system Product offers thermal insulation and weather resistance, company says UK-HEADQUARTERED Brett Martin showcased its Marlon Clickfix panel glazing system with colour options. The tongue-and-groove connections, the company explained, interlock to form glazed areas and complement its range of rooflight systems and glazing solutions for commercial and industrial building projects. Made from high-performance polycarbonate, the system, the company claimed, delivers thermal insulation, a diffused light transmission, long-term weather resistance, high rigidity and impact strength and comes with fire rating.

Hira Industries announces JV Diamond Pipe Supports and Walraven Group merged HIRA INDUSTRIES announced inking a joint venture within its organisation in the Pipe Supports Division, formed by merging the current business of Diamond Pipe Supports (DPS) with the business of the Walraven Group. The Walraven Group, the announcement said, with its headquarters in Mijdrecht, Netherlands, has its own production facilities and sales offices in 12 European countries, the United States and China. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current range of products, Hira said, would be expanded to add products that have been pioneered by Walraven.

December 2014

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REGIONAL

GEA presents Plusbox Also exhibits air-cooled condensing unit SHG4

Kansai Paint introduces products with active benefits Range includes anti-microbial and temperature-reducing paints, company says

At its stand at The Big 5, GEA highlighted the GEA Plusbox – a series of modular-design outdoor condenser sets based on its semi-hermetic compressors and condensers. The Plusbox, the company claimed, can be configured according to the individual requirements of plant-systems contractors, while offering energy efficiency and a considerably higher COP compared to condenser sets from other manufacturers. In addition to the Plusbox, GEA also exhibited the air-cooled condensing unit SHG4, with the two series GEA Bock SHG5 L and SHG6 L, as well as the two-stage SHGZ7 L models.

Dubbing them paints with “Active Benefits”, Kansai Paint, showcased its products at The Big 5, ranging from antimicrobial paints that can kill disease-spreading bacteria in hospitals and those that help reduce building temperatures to washable, stain and scratch-resistant paints. In this context, Syed Ameer Hamza Hasan, CEO of Kansai Paint Middle East, said, “At Kansai Paint, we invest heavily into R&D to develop products that are friendly to the environment with a strong focus on sustainable practices.”

Darius Khanloo of Hörmann

Hörmann launches new products Rollmatic Rolling Grille and ThermoPro doors introduced HÖRMANN MIDDLE EAST returned to The Big 5 this year with two new products – the Rollmatic Rolling Grille and ThermoPro entrance doors. Giving details, Hörmann said that the Rollmatic Rolling Grille is ideal for confined spaces, as it requires a maximum headroom or fitting depth of only 335mm and a sideroom of 100/200 mm on the operator side and can be operated either manually via a pull chain or through an automatic operator. The ThermoPro entrance door, said Hörmann, is a home safety option made of steel, but blends with the interior of any house.

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GLOBAL Countries closer to agreement on eliminating HFCs EU considering submitting formal proposal to amend Montreal Protocol in 2015

he international community has moved a step closer to a deal on eliminating hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) at a meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held in Paris from November 17 to 21. Revealing this in an official communiqué, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said that despite coordinated resistance from some MENAregion states, other countries, which had opposed formal discussions on measures to curb HFCs, displayed a markedly more constructive attitude, with India’s Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar publicly acknowledging the need for action. EIA highlighted that the European Union’s new Climate Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete announced that the EU is considering submitting a formal proposal to amend the Montreal Protocol in 2015, ahead of talks to agree to a global climate deal at COP21 in Paris. In light of this, EIA Climate Campaigner said: “The European Union has to step up to the plate. Developing countries will need reassurances on finance and technology before signing up to a deal on HFCs. With worldleading legislation on HFCs in the shape of its F-Gas Regulation, the EU is uniquely positioned to provide guidance to developing countries and market opportunities for innovative technology. This can be a win-win situation for developed and developing countries alike.”

2015 AHR Expo HVACR Awards announced

IAQ, building automation, cooling, green building, heating and refrigeration among the categories

nnouncing the winners of the 2015 AHR Expo Innovation Awards in a communiqué, the organisers of the Expo have revealed that the winners will showcase their winning products at the HVACR exposition and conference to be held from January 26 to 28 in Chicago. The organisers claimed that representing the major segments of the HVACR

marketplace, the winning entries were selected in 10 categories as the most innovative new products among the thousands that will be displayed at the 2015 AHR Expo. The winning products, they said, were selected by a panel of judges consisting of ASHRAE members, who evaluated the products based on innovation, application, value to the user and market impact.

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

More stringent EU energy regulations for fan/motor units Applies to all assemblies from 125 W to 500 kW

ccording to a news report in JARN, dated October 2014, the second stage of the Energyrelated Products (ErP) Directive in Europe extends the original scope to include not only the motor but also the complete fan and motor assemblies. The report elaborated that the regulation applies to all assemblies from 125 W to 500 kW, and includes the motor, the power train, direct coupled or belt drive and the impeller. The report highlighted that in a bid to tighten the norms, the new directive has decreed that if the assembly does not meet the specified efficiency levels, it cannot obtain the Conformite Europeenne (CE) mark, thus rendering it unfit for sale legally inside the EU. Half the fan/motor units currently on the market will reportedly not meet the ErP 2015 standard.

Legionnaires’ outbreak proves fatal Kills four in Portugal, dozens ill

ccording to a Reuters report, titled “Legionnaires’ outbreak kills Four in Portugal, over 160 ill” reported by Andrei Khalip, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has killed at least four people just outside the Portuguese capital, Lisbon and left dozens hospitalised, with the authorities saying that the source of the outbreak is yet to be found. According to the report, the Health Ministry stated that 160 people had been diagnosed with the disease. The disease, said the report, is contracted by breathing in a mist or vapour contaminated with the Legionella bacteria, which can grow in cooling towers, showers and other water sources.

WEG supplies motors for Europe’s largest sewage treatment works

Self-sufficiency in powering plants through CHP key part of project

EG, dealing in power distribution, automation and control sector, in a news release, has revealed that its motors have been pressed into service at two major sewage treatment works upgrade projects currently being carried out by Thames Water, in the UK. Giving details, WEG said that the projects are located at Beckton and Crossness,

with Beckton being one of Europe’s largest sewage treatment works, currently serving 3.5 million people, and expected to increase the sewage capacity by 60% when completed. A key part of the projects, said WEG, involves the extraction of biogas from the organic waste within the sewage processed, and that the biogas allows selfsufficiency in powering

Burr Oak Tool celebrates 70 years

Moves part of its operations to new assembly facility

Becton STW digester

the plants through CHP (Combined Heat & Power) generating systems, with the potential to sell excess energy back into the National Grid. Extraction of biogas is performed by 12 anaerobic digesters across the two sites, WEG explained, with

the digesters using a pair of horizontal chopper pumps driven by a WEG 30 kW IE2 WIMES EExd motor. WEG claimed that the application was extremely demanding and that it was able to deliver the EExd ATEX-rated motors within tight deadlines.

Systemair - Roof Fans

urr Oak Tool has announced it is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Founded on October 20, 1944 in Burr Oak, Michigan, United States, the company said that over the years, it has designed customised production machinery for the heat transfer and tube processing industries with its machines installed and successfully operating in over 70 countries. Burr Oak Tool also shared the information that it has recently moved part of its operations to its new Assembly Facility Building, where machine assembly production has already begun.

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ASSOCIATIONS & Societies ASHRAE Falcon Chapter and ESMA sign MoU Initiate strategic collaboration

he ASHRAE Falcon Chapter (AFC) and the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) has announced signing an MoU to advance mutual interests of their respective members and to collaborate in energy codes, standards, communication and research. The MoU, said the announcement, was signed by H.E. Abdulla Al Maeeni, the Director General of ESMA and Dr Ahmed Alaa Eldin, The Regional Vice Chair of Grassroots Government activities in the Region at Large (RAL), on the sidelines of the 4th Symposium for Alternative Refrigerants for High-Ambient Countries, held in Dubai on October 28 and 29. The Symposium was

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

are also the avowed objectives that come under the ambit of the agreement. Other common areas of interest reportedly include: Preparation of standard specifications for reviewing by the specialised technical Dr. Ahmed Alaa Eldin Mohamed, Regional Vice Chair, Region at Large and H.E. committees; a Abdulla Al Maeeni, Director General of ESMA national system of measurement and organised by ESMA, the Falcon Chapter, the calibration; following up, monitoring and UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, advising on the application of standards UNIP, UNIDO, AHRI and other regional and adopted by commercial and industrial international associations and organisations. sectors; granting the Emirates Quality Mark According to ESMA and AFC, the for national products; issuing certificates of agreement ensures the collaboration conformity of commodities to standards; between the two entities to work together accrediting various types of CABs, including on common goals and ideologies and public testing and calibration labs, medical labs, affairs strategies. inspection bodies, product certification Working together on consumer protection, bodies and certification bodies for QMS, EMS the environment and the national market, and FSMS; and representing the country at and strengthening the national economy regional and international conferences.

comings & goings ASJC appoints new CEO for Saudi, Lebanon Mohanad Alshaikh first Saudi national to hold the position

I would aspire to identify the triggering factors in the environment causing asthma and rhinitis among school students in the GCC. Educating physicians, setting up rigid guidelines on how to optimally recognise the trigger factors are some of my core visions. Dr Asma Al Nuaimi, Pediatric Pulmonologist, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE

l Salem Johnson Controls (ASJC), a joint venture between Al Salem Group of Companies and Johnson Controls, has announced the appointment of Mohanad Alshaikh as the CEO for the company’s Saudi and Lebanon operations. He is the first Saudi national to hold the position of CEO of the company, the announcement highlighted. Alshaikh, said the company, has a Bachelor’s degree in International Finance, Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Information Systems and a Doctorate degree in Engineering Management, along with executive education programmes in Science, Technology and Innovation as well as in International Business from the Harvard and Georgetown business schools. He has reportedly held other positions at Al Salem Johnson Controls. Speaking about his new role, Alshaikh said, “Our strategy and growth will be based on finding the right channels while developing our expertise and expanding the products and services that we offer to our customers.”

December 2014

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MARKETPLACE BITZER

LHE condensing units

laiming that it already fulfills the EU’s new 2015 Ecodesign Directive, Bitzer has announced showcasing at Chillventa 2014 its new LHE condensing unit with Ecoline reciprocating compressors. The company lists the following product features and benefits: • It comes with EC fan motor with 50% better efficiency. • Has cutting-edge mini-channel heat exchanger. • Energy-saving, low-noise operation features, which are possible in standard configuration. • Has electronically commutated (EC) fans featuring permanent magnets. • The unit is compatible with R134a, R404A/R507A, R407A, R407C, R407F, other HFCs, and HFO and HFO/HFC mixes.

SKM

WCCB Series R-134a water-cooled centrifugal chillers

aying that it has a cooling capacity of 450 to 1,400 tonnes, SKM, dealing in air conditioning equipment, has announced introducing the WCCB Series R134a water-cooled centrifugal chillers. The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: • The SKM WCCB chiller R134a refrigerant’s COP meets ASHRAE 90.1-2015 requirements. • It comes with a PLC-based control panel with LCD touch screen display. The semi-hermetic two-stage centrifugal compressor offers: • Seven per cent increase in efficiency, more stable operation at low-load condition and with minimum surge compared to single stage • Refrigerant-cooled two-pole high-efficiency induction motor • Precise inlet guide vane control for step-less capacity modulation • Built-in oil pump for better lubrication of bearings and gears • Low oil carry over with the internal two-stage oil separation • Optional VFD for improved

Climate Control Middle East December 2014

integrated or non-standard part-load values Heat transfer technology: • Optimisation of tubes arrangement and refrigerant distribution • The special outer fin shape and inner-grooved copper tube yields highest heat transfer performance in condenser and evaporator • WCCB chiller features Falling Film evaporator with lesser refrigerant charge compared to traditional flooded, helps earn LEED points for Enhanced Refrigerant Management.

GREENHECK

Energy Recovery Filter System

aying that they incorporate energy recovery technology into kitchen exhaust hoods, Greenheck has announced introducing its new Energy Recovery Filter System.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: • Energy Recovery Filter System captures the waste heat produced by the cooking appliances that would otherwise be exhausted from a kitchen hood and uses it to preheat a portion of the incoming water supply that is directed into the patented energy recovery filters. • The water flowing through the filters captures the waste heat from the exhaust airstream, preheating the water supply before it enters a conventional water heater, thus saving energy and heating costs. • As an added benefit, the water flowing through the filters naturally lowers the hood temperature, condensing more grease from the airstream. • Independent third-party testing shows that the system removes 88% of grease particles at eight microns, resulting in reduced hood and duct-cleaning costs.

December 2014

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MARKETPLACE WINTERS INSTRUMENTS

LE1 Pressure Transmitters

inters Instruments has announced that its LE1 Pressure Transmitters are now available with zero span adjustment, allowing users to recalibrate their device in the field. The company lists other product features and benefits: • Zero span adjustment provides time and cost savings associated with sending

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product to the factory for calibration. • The transmitter is designed for highvolume OEM applications, including pump and compressor monitoring, refrigeration and HVAC. • It has a compact stainless steel construction with ceramic sensor, and a high accuracy level of 0.5%. • It is available with Micro, Packard or Cable Leads electrical connections for installation flexibility.

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people

My background

CHAmPIONINg AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH Saeed Alabbar, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council and the Founding Managing Director of AESG, believes that all buildings need to come under the ambit of sustainability, not just prestigious projects.

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As a boy, I had always been interested in problem-solving and challenges, and that led me to specialise in engineering. After school, I attended the University of Bath, from where I earned a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree (with Honours) in Mechanical Engineering.

A need for niche

At the time of graduation, I was aware the world faced immense challenges related to climate change and resource conservation, including water scarcity, and as an engineer, I felt I had a responsibility towards contributing to efforts aimed at mitigating the situation. The responsibility drove me to consulting in the field of urban buildings. And in 2011, I started AESG to focus on sustainable development as a core mission in the region. AESG was born out of a need to provide high-quality niche consulting services in energy and sustainable development. Today, three years later, the firm has offered its services across the region with projects in

UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. AESG has progressed quite well and has been involved in prestigious projects, including the masterplanning of the Masdar headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the Standard Chartered LEEDPlatinum building in Dubai, the Bahrain Airport and the Ministry of Housing initiatives in Bahrain. In all, AESG has been involved in over 5,000 buildings in the region, some at the master-planning level and some at a retrofitting and O&M level, plus work related to commissioning.

Focusing on the mainstream

In 2013, I took up the chairmanship of the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC). As the person at the helm, I would like to see sustainable buildings for all and not just in the case of prestigious projects. There are over 120,000 existing buildings in Dubai alone. Prestigious buildings pursuing a sustainability rating represent a small percentage of the market. As an important step to achieving the goal, the EGBC in October signed an MoU with the UAE Ministry of Public Works, which is responsible for social and housing projects throughout the Emirates. The mission is to realise the goal of sustainable buildings embedded throughout the UAE and not just at a prestigious level. In addition, the Council has taken a number of initiatives, such as providing online tools for multifaceted projects, including schools, houses and apartments. The tools are at a semi-technical level, aimed at helping people acquire the fundamentals on how to build sustainably or even something as basic as setting the set-point. The online tools

About 40 experts helped write the guidelines, which have a local UAE flavour to them. represent a capacity-building initiative of the Council. The Council is also finishing work on the drafting of technical guidelines on how to retrofit existing buildings to be more sustainable. This includes deep-retrofit initiatives, such as chiller retrofits, right down to operating buildings in a sustainable manner. The Council has 145 companies as members, so with the personnel populating each of the companies, we have a massive database of experts. About 40 experts helped write the guidelines, which have a local UAE flavour to them. It is called, “Technical Guidelines for Greening Existing Buildings” and will be released in either Q1 or Q2 of 2015. Another EGBC project in my chairmanship has to do with creating an energy-efficiency taskforce. For this, we have collaborated with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Etihad ESCO and RSB. The taskforce will drive focused workshops towards achieving energy-efficient projects. At an awareness-building level, the Council has its ongoing EGBC Congress. The 2014 Congress, which was held in October, was a huge success. The MoU with the UAE Ministry of Public Works was signed during the Congress.

sustained. If you work towards getting a building certified to a sustainability system, it is a means to an end than an end to a means, and that’s where things got lost. Buildings only start generating waste and start consuming water and energy after they become operational. That said, the Green Building movement has made enormous progress in the last six to eight years, particularly in the past three to four years.

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Realigning sustainability

The recession provided an opportunity to step back and see rationally where we were. And yes, there have been shortcomings. Sustainability ought to be

Today, I see a more holistic approach to sustainability. Be it the Dubai Green Building regulations or Estidama, there is a lot of training going on to build the capacity of contractors, consultants and private organisations. We still need to do a lot to raise the standard of sustainable development design, construction and operation, but we are heading in the right direction.

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people I feel the bigger issue is the infrastructure around the code Proliferation of Green Building Councils

When it comes to discussing shortcomings, people often talk about the number of Green Building bodies in the region. I for one firmly believe that Green Building Councils are here to coordinate what’s being done in the region. In the case of the Emirates

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Green Building Council, as mentioned earlier, we have 145 corporations as members, and they are collaborating at different stages. Broadly, Green Building Councils are driving collaboration and working with government and creating links between government departments and manufacturers and are addressing the needs of consultants and contractors.

Leveraging different standards in the GCC Too much has been spoken and written about the presence of different Green Building standards in the GCC. I think it’s healthy to have different standards, because that way, you have competition in raising the standards. Also,

if there was one common standard across the GCC, it would be difficult to make changes (in response to evolving needs), because you would need buy-in from each of the GCC countries, which can be time-consuming. Having different Green Building standards is not unique to the GCC. In the US, every district has a separate code. I feel the bigger issue is the infrastructure around the code. We need to work towards establishing the infrastructure, such as testing standards and enforcement. Those are areas you don’t want to duplicate. It doesn’t make sense if each state has separate testing standards. Likewise, if you can’t enforce, then there

SNIPPETS

is an issue. Currently, we have numerous instances of disconnect between what’s being designed and what’s being constructed. That’s where we need to have better coordination, including the training of professionals. At the same time, a case can be made about having a common code across the GCC. It would be useful as well to ensure all the minimum energy efficiency and sustainable development needs are captured.

Contributing to the region

I have a passion for improving the quality of buildings that are raised and operated. I often see a lot of sophisticated technology being incorporated, such as

high-tech BMS, but are they being operated right? We need to improve the quality of the FM industry. Our buildings are leaking energy. Often, great work in design is lost. In my career, I want to do my utmost to improve the quality of building and FM practices.

A matter of discipline

I lead a very hectic work life and like to unwind by swimming, running or fishing. I believe sport teaches you discipline and decisionmaking. These are important for success. As much as working to the highest levels of integrity and never compromising on that. As a human being, I would like to leave a positive impact on those I work with.

What is the Galapagos Syndrome?

emember Charles Darwin who set out from England in 1831 on a voyage and made a whistle stop at the Galapagos Islands – an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean near the Equator? There, he observed the unique flora and fauna, which led him to come up with his life-defining work. The animal and plant life there was an isolated

example, but his theory had global implications, which initially had no takers. Now cut to modern-day Japan, also an Island, where you encounter a similar phenomenon, but in the field of innovative technology and services. Despite their superiority in this field, they haven’t managed to grab a big chunk of the world market. Ergo, the Galapagos Syndrome refers to madein-Japan featurerich products that were groundbreaking, but unsuccessful elsewhere.

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HISTORY

HVAC – the Romans knew it! Wall and ﬂoor panels to create radiant heating? They’re as old as the hills ... of Rome by Pratibha Umashankar The place was Rome. The time was a winter evening over 2,000 years ago. It was nippy outside, but families propped up by cushions were lolling around, enveloped in the warm, luxurious comfort of their villas. An impromptu meeting was taking place at a great bath nearby, where, while sloshing around in water that was just right – not too hot and not too cold – military strategy was being discussed. In the

sauna room adjacent to it, reserved for secret trysts, political head honchos, while sweating out the day’s stress amidst the Could the Great Fire of rising vapours, planned palace Rome – the one when intrigues in hushed tones. In Emperor Nero proverbially all these places of opulence, fiddled while the city burnt heat was emanating from – been not a deliberate act, walls and floors, made but a hypocaust accident? possible by a hypocaust – a system of under-floor heating.

Just a thought:

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This is how it worked:

he level of the floor was raised by about two feet above the ground supported by columns or pedestals at regular intervals. The space below was left open. A furnace room with a continuously burning fire generated heat. The heat waves flowed through the space below the raised floor, thus heating the floor above and the interior of the room. The floors and walls were built with layers with gaps between each layer with in-built flues. This rather clever design enabled hot air and smoke to pass through the walls and out through vents on to the roof. Thus, a hypocaust heated the room with minimal pollution, though, of course, the heat waves did carry some pollutants along. The air-flow system was connected by ducts consisting of stone or brick tunnels under the floor, into the large open

space beneath the raised floor, and into the wall flues. Thus, the flues, sometimes pre-cast, built directly into the walls, saved space, even as they spread warmth and acted as room insulators. The hot air rising created a barrier, keeping the warmth trapped inside. Stone, handmade bricks, mortar and ceramic tiles were the typical materials used to build a hypocaust. Records indicate that an early form of concrete may have also been used. What defies one’s imagination is that historical accounts reveal that a ventilator made of bronze fitted into the domed ceiling was used to adjust the heat. However, a wide variation in temperature regulation without today’s smart devices may not have been possible. What was, indeed, possible was to feed more wood, coal or charcoal to the fire to crank up the heat and vice versa. As is usually the case, while wealthy Romans enjoyed thermal comfort, a team of slaves tended the fire below, amidst heat, soot and fire hazards.

SASIMOTO / Shutterstock.com

The most amazing aspect of the hypocaust was that it was both a primary and a secondary system of heating, as it created radiant heat and distributed it efﬁciently and evenly within a space.

Afterthought:

Excavation teams at MohenjoDaro of the Indus Valley Civilisation have found structures similar to hypocausts, lined with bitumen-coated bricks. If this was, indeed, designed to heat up interiors, it would pre-date the earliest Roman HVAC technology by 2,000 years!

Do what the Romans do …

Victor Maschek / Shutterstock.com

Hypocaust, or hypocaustum in Latin, comes from two Greek words – hypo meaning under and caust meaning to light a ﬁre or burn, is one of the most ancient forms of HVAC systems used by Romans to keep their houses warm and heat water in public bathhouses and saunas.

Hypocausts were replicated all over Europe wherever the Romans had a footprint. In the Iberian Peninsula, the technology was applied to heat the baths or hammams in Al Andalus – the Hispano-Islamic areas comprising parts of Spain and Portugal – the medieval Muslim cultural domains. Gloria, an adaptation of the hypocaust applying the principle of slow combustion, has been recorded to be in use in Castile in Spain, until modern heating systems arrived.

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