CCME March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

NEWS

70% of Empower’s Business Bay plant completed p6 • Al-Futtaim and JCI sign agreement p8 • Mitsubishi acquires Klimat-Fer p22 • DuPont closes counterfeit case p22

Country report: Italy’s pursuit of industrial recovery and stability p36

Exclusive: Joelle Khoury, Project Manager, Etisalat FM, speaks about the company’s Mabanina programme p10

Spotlight: The truth about ‘filtration bankruptcy’ p70

Up close and personal with

M Rajkumar, BESTPRO p73

MARCH 2014

Winner of the Climate Control Awards 2013 for the best VRF Manufacturer

W inner theClimate Climate Control Awards Awards 2013 W(Small inner ofofthe Chillers and DX Systems,Control including VRF Systems)2013 forthe thebest bestVRF VRFManufacturer Manufacturer for

(Small Chillers and DXSystems, Systems,including includingVRF VRF Systems) Systems) (Small Chillers and DX

10 10 10

CELEBRATING

CELEBRATING Years CELEBRATING

Years Years

with inverter all inverter with withall all inverter compressor technology compressor compressortechnology technology

www.climatecontrolme.com

NEWS

70% of empower’s Business Bay plant completed p6 • al-Futtaim and JCi sign agreement p8 • mitsubishi acquires Klimat-Fer p22 • duPont closes counterfeit case p22

Country report: italy’s pursuit of industrial recovery and stability p36

Exclusive: Joelle Khoury, Project manager, etisalat Fm, speaks about the company’s mabanina programme p10

Spotlight: the truth about ‘filtration bankruptcy’ p70

Up close and personal with

m rajkumar, BestPro p73

MARCH 2014

STRIKING A BALANCE Making energy-efficient air-moving equipment thrive through a market still largely conditioned by price THE

PROCESS

COOLING

REPORT

A CLIMATE CONTrOL MIDDLE EAST MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT ON PAINTS AND COATINGS

A CLIMATE CONTrOL MIDDLE EAST MAGAZINE QUArTErLY SUPPLEMENT ON INDUSTrIAL COOLING

DOUBLE-LAUNCH

SPECIAL

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ

US$15

Vol. 9 No. 3 | March 2014 04 FROM THE EDITOR Game-changer

HAPPENINGS

06 The region

EXCLUSIVE! 10 Mabanina – a retrofit programme for ‘our buildings’

contents

42

COVER STORY

A BALANCING ACT

With more stringent sustainability requirements and new market demands, air-moving equipment manufacturers are placing more energy-efficient and higher quality systems on offer. The challenge, however, is to move the products through a market that is observed to be still largely governed by price.

Joelle Khoury, Etisalat Facilities Management, speaks exclusively to Climate Control Middle East about the initiative.

28 EVENT ROUNDUP A good day to drive hard

CpI Industry hosted a golf tournament for professionals from the HVACR industry and allied industries. We bring you the day that was, in pictures….

32 INTERVIEW

‘We should use our resources to gain more power’ Abdulkarim Al Saleh, Group CEO, Fawaz Group, speaks to B Surendar about the region’s market renaissance and challenges.

36 COUNTRY REPORT

ITALY

Running fast to remain rooted As the after-effects of the global economic slowdown refuse to go away, the HVACR sector in Italy has turned to R&D in an attempt to remain competitive and relevant.

68 PERSPECTIVE

COOLING TOWERS

Why temporary cooling towers in the Middle East?

Arguing that cooling towers are prone to troubles that can throw an entire plant into turmoil, Daniel B Coday lists the benefits of temporary cooling towers and makes a case for them in the region.

70 SPOTLIGHT

The filtration compass

Dr Iyad Al-Attar warns us of the abyss of truth we confront when we deviate from the roadmap for providing clean air and take the fast track to filtration bankruptcy.

34

INTERVIEW

IEQ and energy efficiency: Finding the right balance

Hassan Sultan, the Chair of the Organising Committee of the ASHRAE conference and the former president of the ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter, in conversation with B Surendar

45

ENDPOINT

The man from extremes

A firm believer in sustainability, M Rajkumar of BESTpRO & AHRGLOBAL, wants to contribute to the region through cutting-edge technologies

FACE VALUE

AN ANNUAL SUPPLEMENT ON PAINTS AND COATINGS

LA D U O N U CH B SPLE EC IA L

18 At large 24 Marketplace

73

54

THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT

A QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENT ON INDUSTRIAL COOLING March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

3

From the

editor

GAmECHANGER

F

irst, it was the discovery of fire. And then came the invention of the wheel. In more recent times, relatively speaking, the Internet has redefined seemingly every facet of life. But the most recent game-changer simply has to be 3D printing, specifically in the context of food production.

In Abu Dhabi, three weeks or so ago, I had the privilege of witnessing two gents hold court at the inaugural Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture. The first, by name Mark Post, had created waves by developing the world’s first lab-grown burger, and there he was in Abu Dhabi explaining how he went about achieving it. The second, Andras Forgacs, had brazenly revealed the possibility of 3D printing every possible meat, tissue by tissue, layer by layer.

In Abu Dhabi, he did not merely explain – he pulled out a piece of leather he had produced, for good measure. It was absolutely surreal – the stuff of science fiction!

Later, I caught up with Dr Post (interview on page 13) in a bid to confirm the implications that had feverishly flooded the mind. Just imagine, for quite a few years now, we at Climate Control Middle East have been discussing the critical role of cold chain in food safety, through the pages of the magazine and through the several Food Chain conferences we have conducted, as an extension of our editorial responsibilities. And here was someone who was confirming that soon there would no longer be any need for livestock farming, slaughtering and transporting over long distances and that distant pastures would make way for meat-growing labs in Riyadh, Doha and Dubai, where every conceivable variety could be grown from a single cell to layer after layer of tissue, with fats, proteins and all. Essentially, this approach of growing at the doorstep of the end-consumer would mean a drastic shortening of the cold supply chain, thus reducing the possibility of temperature abuse by several notches.

And further, at one stroke, the new paradigm would almost eliminate the need for large volumes of water, currently so essential for conventional livestock farming and processing. It would as much significantly reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. It is a well-documented fact that the meat industry is water-intensive and, arguably, the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Of course, a few questions relating to social and religious sentiments would need to be addressed, and there are the larger issues of scalability and affordability, but those are issues one could grapple with. The primary fact is that a vital breakthrough has been made with massive implications for food security and food safety, and the possibilities are alluring.

Science, wonderful science!

B Surendar Editor @BSurendar_HVACR

Get the next issue of Climate Control middle East early!

Did you know that Climate Control Middle East is also available electronically? Get a digitised copy of the magazine every month, before the issue goes for print! As a bonus, the digital version includes such features as a keyword search, annotation, highlight, note-making and hot links. for more details, please access www.cpi-industry.com/digital

Also available at WWW.ISSuu.Com/CPI-INDuStRY

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Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Publisher Dominic De Sousa Managing Director & Associate Publisher Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Editorial Director & Associate Publisher B Surendar | surendar@cpi-industry.com CEO Nadeem Hood | nadeem@cpidubai.com Assistant Editor Jerome Sanchez jerome@cpi-industry.com Contributing Editors Pratibha Umashankar prati@cpi-industry.com Anoop K Menon anoop@cpi-industry.com Senior Business Development Consultant Stephanie McGuinness stephanie@cpi-industry.com Design Genesis Salao | getty@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Troy Maagma | troy.maagma@cpimediagroup.com Database/ Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Stephanie McGuinness: +971 50 5034087 stephanie@cpi-industry.com USA and Canada Kanika Saxena Director (North America) 25 Kingsbridge Garden Cir Suite 919 Mississauga, ON, Canada L5R 4B1 kanika@cpi-industry.com Tel/fax: +1 905 890 5031 Euro Zone and UK Sicking Industrial Marketing Wilhelm Sicking 45130 Essen - Emmastrasse 44 Tel: +49 (0)201-779861 Fax: +49 (0)201-781741 Andreas Sicking 59872 Freienohl - Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 16 Tel: +49 (0)2903-3385-70 Fax: +49 (0)2903-3385-82 sicking-media@email.de • www.sicking.de

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happenings the region

70% of Empower’s business bay plant completed

On completion, the network will deliver 300,000 TR in the area

E

mpower has announced that 70% of the first phase of its Business Bay facilities has been constructed, and that the first phase of the project will begin operations in May, after the Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) network is up and running. Construction progress on the facility includes the completion of the plant structure, electrical transformer structures and chiller systems, the announcement added.

The Business Bay plant is notable for being the first District Cooling facility to implement the Dubai Executive Council’s guidelines on environmental sustainability, Empower claimed.

In this context of the project’s progress, Ahmad Bin

Ahmed Bin Shafar

Shafar, the CEO of Empower, said: “The Business Bay District Cooling plants are major projects for Empower, and we predict that this network will be a significant revenue source for the company, as the development evolves into Dubai’s most vibrant community, comprising commercial, retail and residential spaces.

The Business Bay network also widens the scope of Empower’s services to include a portfolio of developments across Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.”

Highlighting that the new Business Bay plant will be the second of a larger network in the area, Bin Shafar revealed that the company was planning to build additional facilities in phases over the next few years. “On completion, the Empower network will deliver 300,000 TR in the area," Bin Shafar said. "The upcoming plants are also being designed and implemented as per green building codes and will be LEED certified.”

Dubai launches ESCOs’ first regulatory framework in Middle East

Aims to transform Dubai into a smart and sustainable city

H

.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and MD and CEO of DEWA, delivered a speech on the occasion of the launching of the regulatory framework of energy service companies – said to be the first of its kind in the Middle East – by the Regulatory and Supervisory

6

Bureau for Electricity and Water Sector, through Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad ESCO). Announcing this in a communiqué, DEWA said that the speech was delivered in the presence of companies working in the field of energy services.

The communiqué quoted the crux of the speech: “It is important to put into effect the regulatory frameworks that reflect the commitment

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

of the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to promote the leadership and competitiveness of Dubai at global level, as well as encouraging and supporting

partnerships with private sector through Etihad ESCO, that aim to create new business and investment opportunities to contribute to transforming Dubai into a smart and sustainable city.”

happenings the region

Al-Futtaim Engineering and Johnson Controls sign agreement

Building efficiency product distribution pact to improve building management and security

A

l-Futtaim Engineering and Johnson Controls have signed an agreement to distribute Johnson Controls’ heating, cooling and building management products, as well as fire alarm and security technologies across the UAE, with Al-Futtaim Engineering being the exclusive distributors for Johnson Controls’ fire alarm systems in the UAE. Announcing this in a news release, Al-Futtaim Engineering said that, under the agreement, it will

Claude Allain and Dawood Ozair

Danfoss augments online content for HVAC professionals Part of its move to share knowledge on sustainable solutions for commercial AC

D

anfoss has announced revamping its website dedicated to the technology of inverter compressors and application of variable speed technology in commercial air conditioning. The new concept emphasises sustainable innovations, the announcement added.

Danfoss gave details of the augmented website: • More in-depth information about inverter technology • More white papers and more e-lessons to help consulting engineers, OEMs and design manufacturers increase their knowledge of inverter solutions for commercial HVAC • A discussion group, “Inverter Compressors”, on LinkedIn to facilitate dialogue among peers and Danfoss experts on technical and general questions on the inverter compressor technology According to Danfoss, the online initiatives are part of its move to share knowledge on sustainable solutions for commercial air conditioning. The company also reportedly has an online training portal, Danfoss Learning, with training programmes and free e-learning courses on all the technologies and products offered by the company, referenced by ISHRAE.

8

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

distribute high efficiency York residential and light commercial HVAC solutions and VRF systems, as well as the Facility Explorer building automation system and fire, security and CCTV systems from Johnson Controls.

Dawood Ozair, Senior Managing Director, Al-Futtaim Engineering, Electronics and Technologies, speaking about joining hands with Johnson Controls, said, “This is a strategic expansion of our product line aimed at offering our customers highly reliable, cost-effective and energyefficient solutions that will help reduce their operational costs.”

Claude Allain, Vice President and General Manager of the Middle East for Johnson Controls, added, “Al-Futtaim shares our vision to create a comfortable, secure and sustainable future for customers in this region.”

PSCCC exhibits Jeddah healthcare hub at Arab Health 2014

Sustainability a key component, says Executive Committee

T

he Prince Sultan Cultural Centre Company (PSCCC) showcased its Jeddah Healthcare Park project at this year’s Arab Health Exhibition & Congress. Announcing this, PSCCC said that it was initiated in November 2012 as a world-class healthcare hub.

PSCC also announced a series of potential partnerships with Linde, VAMED, Senior Assist, Alfaisal University and MedCina for Ventilator Extended Care; Rehabilitation Hospital; NonVentilator Extended Care; Medical Education; and the Tertiary Care Hospital.

Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services, the global arm of Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, will reportedly operate the tertiary care hospital, and will be responsible for governing the quality and standard-compliance across the Healthcare Park.

According to the PSCCC Executive Committee, synergistic planning, patient-centred care and sustainability were the three main concepts taken into account during planning.

Mohamed AlFadl, Chairman of PSCCC, said, “By incorporating primary, secondary, tertiary, and long-term and rehabilitation care, and by offering patient education, the PSCCC Jeddah Healthcare Park aims to offer a continuum of care for patients, according to international standards.”

happenings the region

368 UAE buildings opt for sustainable makeover

Buildings under Etisalat Facilities Management’s Mabanina programme receive 100% project outlay upfront

T

hree hundred and sixtyeight buildings across the UAE have so far signed up for Mabanina, the strategic energy management programme offered by Etisalat Facilities Management in collaboration with Energy Management Services (EMS) International.

Announcing this, Etisalat Facilities Management said

Tick

that under the initiative, launched in October 2013, Mabanina (“our buildings” in Arabic) offers innovative solutions to efficiently manage UAE buildings with a view to maximising energy efficiency, reducing water consumption and bringing down expenses related to building maintenance.

Etisalat Facilities

TALK

Management gave further details of the programme: • It is implemented in three distinct phases over a fiveyear contractual period.

• The opening phase involves a comprehensive audit of the building’s water and energy consumption, as well as a review of its current facilities management status.

• This is followed by a retrofit of the building’s utilities system in phase two, while phase three ensures the ongoing delivery of facilities management services.

• Etisalat Facilities Management undertakes to bear the entire capital outlay related to the audit and the retrofit of the facilities.

• Owners can pay back from the savings accrued on utility bills over a five-year period.

• It helps building owners

In an innovative move, Etisalat Facilities Management has initiated Mabanina, a programme to manage UAE buildings with a view to maximise energy efficiency, reduce water consumption and bring down building maintenance expenses. Joelle Khoury, Project Manager of Mabanina, and Sales and Marketing Director at Etisalat Facilities Management, speaks exclusively to Climate Control Middle East about the initiative.

10

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Joelle Khoury, Project Manager of Mabanina, and Sales and Marketing Director at Etisalat Facilities Management, said: “Mabanina is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the UAE that merges two crucial functions to ensure the long-term sustainability of buildings’ energy and water management, as well as facilities management. The provision of both solutions on a single platform through synchronising a host of procedures works to the advantage of end-users in saving time, eliminating redundancies, reducing wastage, and bringing down maintenance costs.

KEY INSIGHTS ON WHAT'S MAKING NEWS

Mabanina – a retrofit programme for ‘our buildings’

Could you please share with us information regarding the criteria to qualify for the Mabanina programme?

If a project qualifies for the programme, are we looking at actual financial assistance or are the FM services going to be rendered by Etisalat Facilities Management?

In keeping with Mabanina’s wider objective, which is to support the UAE Government’s goal to reduce the country’s carbon footprint, we have tried to keep our criteria

achieve international green regulations, such as LEED certification and conform to the sustainability standards set by Dubai Municipality.

as concise as possible. Mabanina operates under a five-year contract, during which period we will retrofit the structure for water and energy efficiencies, and facilitate facility management. We are hopeful that more and more building owners will realise the business appeal and register for this initiative. We are especially targeting residential and business towers, which are the most common type of buildings in the UAE. Overall, there are more than 30,000 buildings in the country that can benefit from Mabanina’s goal to maximise energy efficiency, and reduce water and energy consumption.

Could you throw light on the payback mechanism?

One of the distinguishing features of the Mabanina initiative is to eliminate the worry of building owners to raise capital for any upgrade of their buildings. The process is transparent. We start with an open conversation with the owner to understand and assess his needs. In all cases, even before the contract is signed, we conduct a preliminary energy audit of the building completely free of charge to give the owner

Tick

TALK KEY INSIGHTS ON WHAT'S MAKING NEWS

a fair idea of the type of work and costs involved.

Once the contract comes into effect, the Mabanina team conducts a comprehensive audit of the building’s energy and water consumption. Capital costs towards the retrofit are furnished in full by Mabanina ahead of any onsite work. This is followed by the execution of the building retrofit, which includes a free upgrade of the air conditioning and the lighting system.

The financial benefits of the retrofit are immediate and are reflected in the following month’s utility bills received by the building owner. Payback to Mabanina starts six months into the contract. The payback is derived from the difference in the building’s utility bills before and after the retrofit, and is sustained on a monthly basis, until all the development costs from our side are met. Thus, the owner is able to completely pay back the cost of the retrofit out of savings accrued.

How does Mabanina facilitate buildings to achieve LEED certification or to conform to the sustainability standards set by Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Also, how will Etisalat FM be able to assist in ensuring that the facilities maintain their efficiency in the long run, after the audits and retrofits are done?

Mabanina offers considerable leeway to building owners in terms of the degree of sustainability that they’d like their structures to achieve. Not all owners insist on LEED certification for their buildings. But for those who do, Mabanina can support them in achieving their goals.

That said, Mabanina offers a high quality of service that is aligned to the Dubai Municipality Green Building Codes.

The most important guarantee to our clients is the high-quality of service we provide due to the wide range of technology and expertise we deploy into the project. Some of the technology we use come from trusted industry leaders, such as Schneider Electric, General Electric, Philips and Siemens.

And every member of our team is either recognised as energy auditing executive by international bodies, or holds extensive expertise in the field of energy preservation.

March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

11

happenings the region

ACTS bags Saudi tower testing project Will carry out quality control in the construction of the world’s first kilometretall building

A

dvanced Construction Technology Services (ACTS), a consulting organisation in the field of construction materials and geotechnical engineering, has announced that it has been commissioned to carry out the quality control of all construction materials that will be used in the Kingdom Tower project, touted to be the world’s first kilometre-high skyscraper, currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

ACTS gave further details: Kingdom Tower, the centrepiece and first construction phase of the Kingdom City development, is designed to be over 1,000 metres tall (3,280 feet), encompassing a total construction area of 530,000 square metres (5.7 million square feet). The building will have 200 floors, 160 of which are habitable. Its preliminary cost is set at USD 1.23 billion, and is expected to overshadow Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by at least 173 metres (568 feet).

ACTS said that it would be mobilising world-class testing equipment and expert professionals to do the thirdparty testing works on about half a million cubic metres of concrete and around

80,000 tonnes of steel to be used on the mega project, deploying around 100 expert staff.

A fully equipped site laboratory will perform day-today quality control operations, while specialised testing services will be conducted at its laboratory in Briman area in Jeddah, reportedly one of the largest testing facilities in the Middle East.

Nabil Batrawi, Project Director, Saudi Bin Ladin Group (SBG), said: “We selected ACTS after a thorough evaluation of their capabilities and strength. We look forward to working with them to

ensure this project receives the best attention to quality it deserves.”

Khaled Awad, Chairman of ACTS, added, “We will be investing our experience and knowledge to provide accurate, traceable and reliable test information in the largest megatall building in the world.”

Abunayyan and Toray announce JV

Saudi and Japanese entities plan to deploy innovative RO technology for economical utilisation of water and energy

U

nder the Patronage of H.R.H. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz and H.E. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe, Abunayyan Holding, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, provider of power and water desalination technologies, and Tokyobased Toray Industries, with expertise in membrane sales and service, have launched Toray Membrane Middle East LLC (TMME), a joint venture in water

12

and wastewater treatment technologies in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Announcing this, the two entities said that the new company, TMME, established with a projected investment of over SAR 300 million (USD 80 million) with investments from Toray’s subsidiary, Toray Membrane Europe AG, will manufacture and sell water treatment membranes, in addition to providing technical services.

According to the announcement, TMME plans

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

to construct a production factory by applying Toray’s production technology and global quality control standards to help utilise water and energy resources economically and beneficially. The factory will reportedly begin production of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane elements beginning in 2015.

Global water shortages, the continued need for conservation of water

resources, and the endeavour to respond to essential environmental considerations, have pushed the tremendous expansion of the global RO membrane market, the two entities informed.

Demand from large-scale seawater desalination projects and wastewater recycling applications, expected to increase in the MENA region to meet water shortage, they claimed, puts TMME ahead of the game.

pertinent views, served fast

Lab-grown burger, anyone?

Dr Mark Post, Professor of Physiology at Maastricht University, is known as the scientist behind the Googlefunded, world’s first lab-grown burger – an innovative approach to creating genuine meat from animal stem cells (designated muscle stem cells) rather than vegetable substitutes. B Surendar of Climate Control Middle East caught up with him during the inaugural Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, held from the 3rd to the 5th of February at ADNEC, in Abu Dhabi, where Dr Post was a plenary-session speaker.

Excerpts from the interview…

We are intrigued by a lab-developed burger. Do tell us more, especially from a food safety point of view.

It is a sterile way of making a burger.

We started with a very small sample.

There are no parasites, and so when the product comes out of production, it is sterile.

So would that guarantee minimal presence or complete elimination of harmful micro-organisms?

It all depends on how you end the process. If the packaging is done under sterile conditions, then yes. Don’t forget, it will be the same tissue, so the enzymatic degradation would be the same.

Scientifically, would it be possible to increase the resistance to temperature-abuse?

In my view, that would be tampering with Nature. With our approach, you don’t need pastures and large swathes of lands. And you can reduce the supply chain by growing the meat closer to the consumer.

What about scalability? How soon do you envisage a ramp-up in production?

I see scalability happening 4-5 years from now.

FIRE/SMOKE DAMPERS

longer – seven years, maybe.

And you also have to get regulatory approval.

have seen for GM food. The fear associated with GM is ecological. People eat GM either directly or indirectly and are not too worried about it. The bigger problem with GM is ecological catastrophe.

That is not the issue with us, because cells cannot survive outside labs, while seeds can.

How do you anticipate the consumer to react? Do you have a feel for the consumer mindset?

I am pretty optimistic that our method will face less resistance than what we

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And the cost-effectiveness of producing the burger? The meat?

Cost-effectiveness will take a little

March 2014

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13

happenings the region

Jotun introduces environmentally friendly coatings

Research firm commissioned to study impact of heat reflective coatings on energy consumption

I

n a release, Jotun Powder Coatings has announced introducing The Cool Shades Collection of heatreflective architectural powder coatings, which it claims is energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

The range has been specially formulated to reduce the temperature of aluminium building components exposed to the sun, and this helps reduce energy consumption and improve indoor comfort,

the announcement added.

Giving details, Jotun said that it commissioned German sustainable architecture consultancy and research firm, ai³ to conduct a study on the impact of the Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value on the users’ comfort and energy performance of buildings.

The study reportedly covered the observation of simulation buildings, where heat reflective coatings were used on opaque parts of the façade,

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

across five cities – Istanbul, Bangkok, Doha, Shanghai and Sydney. Non-insulated and highly insulated window types were observed during the process, said Jotun.

Observations made in Doha, which represented the Middle East aspect of the study, were conducted on a residential building model containing 80 apartments and 20 floors, it revealed (See details on page 50).

Commenting on this, Yulia Gvozdeva, Global Product Manager, Jotun Powder Coatings, said that the positive results gained from the study assured architects

comings&goings

GEA appoints Director of Marketing and Market Intelligence Tobias Kahmann responsible for two merged departments

E

eng i n e e r i ng

e n e r g y

e n v i ro n m e n t

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

the three Factor company

14

Engineering

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Energy

Environment

and developers that The Cool Shades Collection helped deliver more environmentally friendly and sustainable projects.

Jager, Founder and Head of ai³, added: “The use of these heat reflective coatings in low insulated systems also leads to a reduced risk of contracting skin burns and irritation. In terms of energy efficiency in hot climate regions like the Middle East, the application of The Cool Shades Collection on the window frames and other metal components of the building's façade leads to a reduction of energy consumption.

ffective as of the beginning of 2014, Tobias Kahmann has accepted responsibility as Director of two merged departments at GEA Refrigeration Technologies: Marketing and Market Intelligence.

Announcing this in a press communiqué, GEA said that Annette Wille, who was previously head of the Department Marketing, will move to a new assignment at GEA Refrigeration Technologies.

Kahmann, who was the Director of Market Intelligence before its merger with the Department of Marketing, is now responsible for all marketing activities: market-data generation, market analysis, market-data resourcing, and development of marketing strategy, as well as internal and external communication, the communiqué revealed.

Before joining the GEA Group in early 2012, Kahmann, an Economist-lawyer, worked at E.ON Ruhrgas, where his last position was in Strategy and Stakeholder Management in the Division Exploration & Production, GEA informed, and added that prior to that, he was active as a management consultant and was responsible for areas of work, such as the strategic re-positioning of after-sales business and the development of a customerloyalty programme for a German automobile brand.

happenings at large

MOSTRA CONVEGNO (See related Italy country report on page 36)

Courtesy www.fieramilano.it

Siemens to participate in Mostra Convegno

Will highlight energy-efficient HVAC solutions

S

iemens has announced that it will be participating in the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) international trade show, being held from March 18 to 21 in Milan, where, as a single-source supplier, it will present its portfolio of energyefficient products for the HVAC market.

The company gave the following product highlights: • Climatix IC, a cloud-based remote servicing system for HVAC systems, continuously collects important process and plant data over the installation’s entire lifecycle and stores it in a central

location, making it possible to analyse system status, reliability and efficiency and prepare diagnostics, optimise values and perform upgrades.

• Energy-efficient burner solutions, which come standard with VSD interfaces and combustion optimisation, are easily integrated into Siemens automation technology via ProfiBus or ProfiNet, as well as into third-party automation and building management systems via Modbus. It is a combination of two heat sources, such as gas-fired heating boilers and heat pumps, which enable

supply for heating and cooling systems.

• A range of new products in the redesigned line of Acvatix valves and actuators includes new combi valves, pressure-compensated valves, control ball valves and thermal actuators that are compact, more energy efficient and easy to handle.

They can be used to cover all control tasks in HVAC applications.

• OpenAir line include fire and smoke protection dampers actuators, actuators for HVAC applications with or without a fail-safe function, as well as fast-running actuators delivering a torque of 6 Nm at a running time of two seconds.

outdoor condensing unit with modular design for application for cold and freezing rooms, convenience stores and fillingstation shops, the company highlighted.

According to GEA, in line with the current efforts to use natural refrigerants, it

will showcase subcritical and transcritical CO2 compressors, including an HC-compressor, for use with hydrocarbons.

The stand will also reportedly feature a GEA Bock ATEX compressor, especially designed for explosion-risk environments.

The products and solutions that will be shown at MCE, Siemens revealed, are part of its “Environmental Portfolio.”

GEA to present compressor solutions at MCE

Will highlight Bock HG44e semi-hermetic range at HVACR trade fair in Milan

G

EA has announced that it will present various compressor solutions for a range of applications at the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) 2014, the HVACR trade fair in Milan, being held from March 18 to 21.

The highlight at this year’s GEA stand (A21 B22 at Hall 24) will be the new semi-hermetic compressor range GEA Bock HG44e, the announcement revealed.

These new four-cylinder compressors, the manufacturer claimed, offer a considerably 18

greater coefficient of performance (COP), larger displacement stages, and more compact dimensions than the previous models from the HG4 range. With four model sizes, the compressors enable closely matched coverage of a range of maximum displacements from 41.3 m³/h to 67.0 m³/h, and are ideally suited for supermarket applications, it added.

GEA said that it would also be presenting its new eightcylinder GEA Bock HG88e compressor as well as the GEA Plusbox, which is a complete

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Courtesy www.chillventa-rossija.com

Good response from industry for Chillventa 2014

Organisers report 90% of display space firmly booked

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hillventa, an international gathering of the refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pump fraternity, which will have its fourth edition from October 14-16, has received “very good feedback”, the organisers claimed through an official communiqué, and revealed that 90% of the hall space in 2012 has already been firmly booked.

The Chillventa Congressing supporting programme will take place, as usual, the day before Chillventa, on October 13, they added.

“The response from the industry after sending the exhibitor documents puts us in a positive mood,” said Alexander Stein, Director Exhibitions Chillventa at NürnbergMesse. “Now that so many have already made

binding bookings for their stand space, we assume that the number of exhibitors will at least reach the level of the previous event.

The large 60% share of international companies is

March 2014

very encouraging. The visitors and congress participants can already look forward to a comprehensive, international and highly topical spectrum of products and a top-class congress programme.”

www.climatecontrolme.com

19

happenings at large

Ziehl-Abegg announces posting record revenue

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Invests over EUR 41 million with positive 2014 outlook

ermany-based ventilation and drive systems company, Ziehl-Abegg, has announced achieving "outstanding results" in 2013, despite a challenging global economic climate.

Giving details, ZiehlAbegg said that its revenue increased by five per cent and totalled a record EUR 388 million.

Business in Asia was looking particularly good, with investments reaching EUR 41.4 million for the first time in the company's history. This, said the company, was founded largely on the establishment of a new site in Hohenlohe in southern Germany, for the drive systems technology division.

In 2014, it is expecting high, single-digit growth rates, thanks to incoming

orders, which were already 10% above last year's rate, the company claimed.

"The market is responding very well to our low-noise, energysaving products", said CEO Peter Fenkl, and credited this to its fan and drive technology and to the awards from the German Federal Environment Agency and various environmental ministries.

Observing that the company’s worldwide production network was continuing to grow, with its sites in Asia, the Americas and Australia being continuously enhanced to provide local assembly and production facilities, CTO Norbert Schuster informed that revenue development in Asia had been considerably better than expected.

SIPOS actuators for hydroelectric RWE power plant

Supports German Government’s energy sector environmental initiative

S

ipos' electric actuators are being used for the environmental initiative for an eel bypass system at Unkelmühle, a hydroelectric RWE power plant near Bonn, which is part of an energy policy launched by the German Government to support measures for the modernisation of hydroelectric power plants, SIPOS Aktorik has announced.

SIPOS gave further details: The project

20

encourages a system with an incentivised feed-in tariff, along with consideration of environmental conditions, which includes a requirement for turbine intake screens to have lower clearances in order to guarantee that fish pass parallel to the power plant. In light of this, SIPOS claimed that its universally applicable actuator concept has enabled parallel operation (synchronisation) of several SIPOS 5 actuators without the need for a PLC. Designed to address the fact that eels

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

The Unkelmühle hydro-electric power plant pilot eel bypass initiative incorporates SIPOS’ synchronised actuators

rarely use fish ladders for their descent, a flap (bottom gallery) has been installed over the entire base span of the inlet. The flap is periodically operated by two synchronised SIPOS 5 part-turn actuators located on both sides of the inlet and connected by cables to the flap, SIPOS explained,

and pointed out that the eels now had the opportunity to bypass the inlet area via the cross flow through the flap and a pipe system.

Another power station at EOn Gerlachshausen/ Lower Franconia has also reportedly been equipped with SIPOS’ eel bypass solution.

happenings at large

STOCK IMAGE ONLY

Mitsubishi Electric acquires Klimat-Fer

Move will strengthen railcar AC systems business in Europe

M

itsubishi Electric Corporation and Klimat-Fer S.p.A, the Italian railcar air conditioning systems manufacturer, have announced signing an agreement that will see 80% of Klimat-Fer’s shares incorporated into Mitsubishi Electric’s railcar business in Europe. The move will reportedly bolster the company’s market position as well as local sales, production and after-sales support.

The two entities highlighted the positives each bring to the

table, coupled with signs of improvement in the railcar air conditioning sector: The railcar air conditioning systems market in Europe is deemed to be the world’s largest, with annual growth expected to be in the region of two to three per cent. Additionally, the manufacturing bases of most of the world’s major car-builders are also based in Europe. Klimat-Fer has had a presence in Italy for over half a century. Mitsubishi Electric’s experience and advanced technological knowledge will

DuPont Refrigerants successfully closes counterfeit case

Illegal ozone-depleting substances found in investigation in Philippines

D

uPont Refrigerants has announced a successful settlement with T.A. Fresco of a case involving the packaging and sale of counterfeit illegal DuPont Suva 134a.

DuPont gave the background of the case: In 2012, DuPont initiated an investigation into T.A. Fresco, a company in the Philippines which was supplying refrigerants to a service provider in the shipping industry. An undercover purchase was conducted by DuPont, which revealed that T.A.

22

Fresco was selling R-134a refrigerant cylinders with incorrect spelling and markings, indicating a counterfeit product. Upon further testing of the contents of the cylinders, the product was determined to be made up of more than 90% R-12 refrigerant. With the assistance of US Homeland Security officials, the local police raided the T.A. Fresco warehouse and seized 511 counterfeit cylinders, falsely labelled as “DuPont™ Suva 134a”.

In the third quarter of 2013, it negotiated the settlement of the case, which included a formal public apology

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

leverage Klimat-Fer’s business in the areas of innovation and sales, each enhancing its business structure in Europe and the expansion of its global transportation systems business.

Against this backdrop, Takahiro Kikuchi, Executive Officer and President of the Public Utilities Systems Group at Mitsubishi Electric, said, “We are very pleased to be joining forces with them

in a national newspaper in the Philippines, full compensation for the destruction of the counterfeit refrigerant and monetary compensation for the illegal distribution of the product, DuPont revealed.

Most importantly, said DuPont, the negotiation resulted in disclosure of the source of supply to T.A. Fresco. A separate legal investigation has been opened on the named company in China, it added.

“This case was not only a blatant counterfeit situation, but also involved the illegal smuggling of ODS, violating the Montreal Protocol,” emphasised Elizabeth M Sassano, Global Brand Protection Manager, DuPont Refrigerants.

“DuPont takes protection

[Klimat-Fer] to strengthen our market share across Europe and enhance our product development and sales offer.”

Matteo Todesco at KlimatFer, added, “All Klimat-Fer’s staff is proud to become part of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and confident that they will be able to play an important role for the expansion of Mitsubishi Electric’s transportation business in Europe.”

of its brands and safety and compliance with environmental international treaties very seriously. We will continue to pursue and prosecute such cases to the fullest extent of the law.”

marketplace

this section contains regional and international products information

Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum tuRBoVAC i turbo molecular pumps

D

ubbing it the new vacuum technology for the analytical market and r&D requirements, Oerlikon Leybold vacuum has announced it will be presenting its TUrBOvAC i line of molecular pumps at the 2014 PITTCON Conference & Expo in Chicago, to be held from March 2-6.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n Through their additional compression stage, the TUrBOvAC 350 i and 450 i are particularly well-suited for ultra-high vacuum applications and for integration within compact pump system solutions. n The 350 i and 450 i are designed with classic rotors excel with regard to high gas throughput, fast run-up time and insensitivity to particulates, and are, therefore, optimised for process applications and high gas loads. n The 350 i and 450 i are available with an additional interstage port, allowing pumping down of an additional chamber. n Offering a pumping speed for light gases up to 60% above that of comparative products, and a compression level approximately 100 times higher compared to products of the previous generation, they are designed especially

Turbo 350 i

Turbo 450 i

for processes with small backing pumps. n The multi-inlet pumps meet the requirements of analytical instrumentation as they offer high degree of flexibility and allow the customisation of the number, height and position of the vacuum connections. They can also be adapted to a specific vacuum chamber. n They come with maintenance and

oil-free hybrid bearings with lifetime lubrication. n They have been equipped with a purge gas connection. n They come with a rotatable vacuum flange connection, integrated drive electronics with direct 24/48 v DC supply, as well as a flexible communication interface with USB, rS 485 and digital I/O ports.

E+E Elektronik EE870 modular Co 2 transmitter

C

laiming that it is designed for maintenance-free use in demanding OEM applications, E+E Elektronik has announced introducing EE870 Modular CO2 Transmitter.

24

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n EE870 offers various analogue outputs, Modbus interface, and a wide range of AC and DC supply voltage ranges. n The compact, interchangeable probe measures CO2 concentrations up to 10,000 ppm and can be replaced within seconds without the need of calibration or adjustment. n The user can change the measuring range by simply plugging in another probe. n The probe is based on infrared technology (NDIr) and uses a dual

wavelength auto-calibration procedure.

Thus, it is completely maintenancefree, highly resistant to environmental influences and offers long-term stability. n Thanks to the factory multipoint CO2 and temperature adjustment, temperature compensation ensures excellent measurement accuracy over the entire operating range of -40°C to 60°C. n Due to the probe’s high resistance to pollution and the IP65 housing and replaceable filter, the EE870 is particularly suitable for use in harsh conditions, such as greenhouses, stables, fruit & vegetable storage facilities, hatchers and incubators. n Offers easy installation and service due to its modular design.

Andrews Sykes Climate Rental fast Dri Dehumidifier fD40

A

ndrews Sykes Climate rental has n It has optional extras, such announced the launch of fast Dri as a remote humidistat and fD40 Dehumidifier, which it says, a condensate pump, allowing has been designed keeping in mind the automatic and unattended climate conditions in the Middle East. operation, which helps manage running costs.

The manufacturer lists the following n It has the following applications: product features and benefits:  Building, tank and equipment n With up to 75 litres per day, it has an drying efficient moisture removal even at low  Drying after fire and flood temperatures.  Art galleries, archives and n Its high capacity dehumidification is warehouses capable of drying out an area of 940  Printers, computer rooms and m3. electrical switch rooms n The dual voltage operation enables it to  Storage of delicate products be used with a 240-volt domestic power  Industrial and pharmaceutical supply, or with a 110-volt industrial and processes construction power supply.  Agriculture n It only has a 53-decibel noise level.

• The FD40 Dehumidifier is available n The strong and durable GrP cover keeps throughout the company’s depots the unit corrosion-free and stylish. in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and n It comes with a two-wheeled trolley for through its agents in Bahrain, Qatar, ease of movement.

Kuwait and Oman.

Steel Construction Engineering Co. L.L.C. since 1977

Our services includes the following:

• Design and Build district cooling plant • Design and Build modular district cooling plant • Design and Build modular ETS rooms • Design and Build underground chilled water pipeline CCS, GRP, HDPE • Design and Build thermal storage tanks • Design and Build vertical storage tanks (fixed and floating roof tanks)

• Design and Build Pressure vessels • Process piping (oil and gas) • Major repairs for fixed and floating roof tanks • Tanks industrial cleaning (internal and external) • Refurbishment of turbines and boilers • General civil construction works

W E A RE A CE RTIFIED ISO C OMPAN Y ISO 900 1 AND ASM E S, U & R STAM PS.

ABU DHABI HEAD OFFICE

DUBAI OFFICE

P.O. Box: 3922 P.O. Box: 111023 Tel: 02-6346334 Tel: 04-2833553 Fax: 02-6321131 Fax: 04-2833554 E-mail: sceco@emirates.net.ae | kch@sceco-uae.com

MUSAFFAH FACTORY

P.O. Box: 47902 Tel: 02-5501011 Fax: 02-5501012

March 2014

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25

marketplace

This section contains regional and international products information

GEA CAIRfricostar range swimming-pool climate-control systems

P

ointing out that many operators of swimming pools are only aware of total energy consumption figures and not of the relationships between energy consumption and respective modes of pool operations, GEA Heat Exchangers has announced offering the CAIRfricostar range of swimming-pool climate-control systems.

GEA further claims that it is an effective energy monitoring system that provides appreciably greater transparency.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n The new system enables recording of energy

consumption by major components, for example, by fans, heat pumps, and electric heating coils. n A data bus records and collects this data in the control unit of the system. Pool operators

Saint-Gobain Gyproc Middle East Rigitone and Gyptone acoustic solutions for walls and ceilings

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laiming that they combine functionality and aesthetics in modern design for walls and ceilings, whilst meeting the most demanding requirements of acoustic performance, Saint-Gobain Gyproc Middle East, the Abu Dhabibased lightweight building systems Gyptone Activ’Air manufacturer, has announced introducing two new products: Rigitone and Gyptone.

The manufacturer lists the following product features and benefits: n Sustainable choice for use in schools, hospitals, shopping malls, offices and any large open atrias n Available in many sizes, styles and designs for acoustics and indoor environments n Robust and easy to install and Rigitone maintain

26

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

can read off these consumption figures on the system display, or are able to access and evaluate them with a higherlevel building-services management system. n The standard versions of GEA CAIRfricostar models from the factory support the bus systems required (eg, MODbus, BACnet, or LON bus). n Since it reveals the relationship between consumption and the basic settings of the dehumidification unit, it facilitates the exploitation of optimisation potentials, as well as benefits like cost reduction, climate and environmental protection, and subsidies and government benefits. n In addition, the data is ideal for use within the context of energy management that is certified in accordance with ISO 50001.

Gyptone n The range consists of boards, tiles and planks in a choice of perforated and non-perforated designs. n The perforated acoustic products for walls and ceilings now have Activ'Air. Combined with the environmental properties of gypsum, which actively remove pollutants and dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds, such as formaldehyde from a space, they render indoor air and buildings safer and healthier for occupants. n Gyptone Activ'Air boards and tiles are available in four designs, which provide sound absorption across a full range of frequencies.

Rigitone n The broad spectrum of acoustic boards offer a wide design scope for creating both rooms and buildings. n Since they are jointless, they are particularly suited for ceiling solutions in many edge profiles.

Schneider Electric Split ACs for data centres in India

I

Courtesy www.ishrae.in

n a news report published in January, JARN has revealed that Uniflair, a part of Schneider Electric, has launched split air conditioners for data centres in India.

The manufacturer reportedly lists the following product features and benefits: n The indoor unit can be mounted on a wall or ceiling and comes with a microprocessor control to maintain precise room conditions. n The wall-mounted option has a provision for free cooling. n The outdoor unit is fitted with a scroll compressor and is equipped with modulating speed control. n A design feature offers access to the electrical board, “technical” department and servo motor for free cooling damper. n A separate panel for the fan compartment enables maintenance and servicing without having to turn off the unit.

by A I R H A N D L I N G U N I T S Mekar products conforms to the european

nergy ellateed

roduct directive

For Inquiries, Please contact us at: Mekar Air Handling Units LLC

Mekar is an Italian manufacturer of high quality chillers, air handling units and fan coil units.

Our strength lies in our diverse and energy efcient product range, exibility in design and manufacturing which is backed up by reliable after sales engineering support.

Dubai:

tel. +971 4 3574469

Abu Dhabi:

tel. +971 2 815 2815

Qatar:

tel. +974 4 4153742

Riyadh:

tel. +966 5 00360470 +966 5 99878838

Jeddah:

tel. +966 2 6632204 ext. 1107

Kuwait:

tel. +96524815077 ext. 673

Italy:

tel. +39 045 6630536

March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

27

eventroundup

30 January  Jumeirah golF estates

A good day to drive hard for the first time ever, CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Middle East, hosted a golf tournament for professionals from the HvACr industry and allied industries.

We bring you the day that was, in pictures‌.

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Climate Control Middle East March 2014

THE FIRST ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL GOLF TOURNAMENT was held on January 30, at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAE. The event served as an opportunity for recreation and networking among peers in the HvACr and broad construction industries.

The tournament, co-hosted by Samsung, was played as a 4-ball, texas scramble, with 10% of combined team handicap.

frédéric Paillé, Managing Director and Associate Publisher, CPI Industry, welcoming the players to the greens

March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

29

eventroundup

30 January  Jumeirah golF estates

30

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

After a tiring but enjoyable day at the course, the players had the chance to dine and network with their peers and colleagues at a buffet dinner‌.

March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

31

interview FaWaZ grouP

‘We should use our resources to gain more power’ Abdulkarim Al Saleh, Group CEO, Fawaz Group, speaks to B Surendar about the region’s market renaissance and challenges – both fiscal and technical.

Helming the kuwaitbased company dealing

in electromechanical engineering, manufacturing, maintenance and trading, with HVAC as one of its areas of interests, and footprints across the region, Abdulkarim Al Saleh has interesting insights to share …

Are you seeing encouraging signs from the market?

The demand for HVAC is definitely increasing. There are lots of projects in the UAE and in Saudi Arabia, in particular. There are several interesting developments in these two countries, in particular.

What are the key challenges?

The KPIs have changed in the past 10-15 years. There are a lot of companies in the market, so professionalism and quality assurance are needed. People are getting more educated in terms of value engineering and facilities management contracts. However, the scene is different from one country to another, even in terms of technical needs. In the UAE, the concentration is more on green and District Cooling. Here, in Kuwait, there is more focus on power consumption and ice storage 32

tanks. In Kuwait, when you have a chiller, maintenance is from a power consumption point of view, and there is a drive towards thermal energy storage.

Do you see any initiatives coming in kuwait towards a shift away from power subsidies for consumers?

No, there is no such intention.

As before, the push is on the manufacturers to reduce the power consumption per tonne of air conditioning. In Kuwait, there is no significant market share for District Cooling.

I am with District Cooling when it comes to towers, but am against it when it comes to a complex of villas or a cluster of hotels, as we see in Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. I recommend VRVs or VRFs for individual villas.

Kuwait is a rich country, so they can provide more power stations. The stations should be added. We should use our resources to gain more power.

While the government is requiring thermal energy storage, the market is developing in terms of packaged units for private citizens. So, there is a good opportunity for VRVs and VRFs to enter the market and get competitive advantage.

In the past, when compared

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

There is a good opportunity for VRVs and VRFs to enter the market and get competitive advantage

to chillers, VRVs and VRFs did not have much of a chance, in terms of value engineering. In today’s Kuwait, there is better education on power consumption, cost efficiency and price.

At fawaz, what is the stance on the type of refrigerant to be used?

At Fawaz Contracting, we provide what we are asked for. We don’t specify, we get specified. My personal view is that I would like to use an environmentally friendly refrigerant; however, we respond as per market demands.

kuwait is known for its high incidence of sandstorms. What progress is being made on the IEQ front?

In the case of sandstorms, there is only so much we can do in terms of central air conditioning. Sand comes through the windows and other features, and from different directions. We do recommend fresh air louvres and filtration systems, but this does not control several areas of the projects. MEP is not in control; it is a civil contracting task.

Broadly speaking, do you see any changes in the drivers for HVAC growth?

Ministries have to start to put more money into the market in terms of projects, and this will get private companies to invest. We keep hearing about investments in Kuwait, but [we] still are not in touch with them. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, we see hundreds of millions of investments going into cities being built. We need to see the investments in Kuwait.

And what about your interests in the uAE?

We have about AED 500 million in projects in the UAE, and with the Expo, we are seeing a lot of demand in the tendering stage. We are very keen on entering the FM sector in the UAE. We are very strong in FM in Kuwait, and we want to drive that strength into the UAE. That’s our plan for this year.n

interview

Hassan Sultan ON THE First International Conference on Energy and Indoor Environment for Hot Climates, DOHA QATAR

IEQ and energy efficiency: Finding the right balance ASHRAE’s First International Conference on Energy and Indoor Environment for Hot Climates was held from February 24-26 in Doha, Qatar. Organised by the ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter under the patronage of H.E. Shaikha Abdullah Al Misnad, the President of Qatar University, the event underscored the balance that needs to be achieved between Indoor Environmental Quality and energy efficiency. Hassan Sultan, the Chair of the Organising Committee of the conference and the former President of the ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter, in conversation with B Surendar of Climate Control Middle East.

What were the objectives of the conference?

The first objective of conducting the conference was to have specific papers addressing issues related to energy efficiency and IEQ for hot climates. We wanted the papers to reflect the expertise in the region, because all of us are suffering from a lack of standards and special equipment to handle the extreme heat, humidity and other factors.

We encouraged some of the standards organisations and engineering institutes to participate with papers and key notes to address the issues, because the responsibility of focusing on the hot climatic conditions lies with local and international entities.

Another objective of the conference was to get the GCC base of HVAC manufacturers involved in the conference from our 34

side, to talk of the various difficulties and also the good engineering practices.

Yet another objective of the conference was to have on board local research centres, like the Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI, Qatar Foundation) and Qatar University.

Further, we believed it was important to have networking among all the stakeholders – the standards bodies, societies and the manufacturers, to physically discuss around the table the various ideas that would benefit the region.

Do you feel you have achieved the objectives?

We have succeeded in achieving our objectives, case-in point being the participation of Qatar Foundation and Qatar University. We also succeeded in attracting most of the global bodies,

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

like CIBSE, REHVA, WHO, AHRI, UNEP and IAPMO. In all, we hosted 60 speakers from around the world, presenting 45 papers.

What were the key insights and recommendations that emerged from the three days of discussions?

The assessment of the conference will take some time. We are a professional body, and there will be an assessment on, for example, how far we have achieved from a technical papers standpoint. Every single paper that was presented was reviewed by ASHRAE. Every single paper has got a set of conclusions. So we will now be collating and reviewing all the conclusions from the various papers presented in the different sessions over the three days, add our own assessments and come up with one final assessment report.

What do you plan to do with the report?

We are very open and transparent and will be posting them on our Web site for the benefit of engineering bodies and universities.

Could you share with the readers the extent of awareness on IEQ issues in Qatar?

IEQ is a hot subject. Earlier, people used to talk on IAQ, but we pressed for coverage of all issues related to human comfort, health and well-being in the builtenvironment. When it comes to IEQ, of course there are guidelines, but they are general in nature. For instance, if ASHRAE or CIBSE is addressing IEQ-related issues, they are not specific to hot climatic conditions. So we have to manipulate to see how the guidelines can be suitable for the GCC. It was left to each country to have its own documents. Hence, we thought of having a specific conference for the hot climate in the region and to have people from all over the world talking about it. There are other parts of the world that experience hot climatic conditions – places like Brazil and Mexico. This conference was an opportunity for delegates to listen to the experiences of architects and engineers from those countries.

In Qatar, there is some awareness on IEQ. A few years ago, the Ministry of Environment began studying IEQ. In order to come up with solutions, you have to follow a certain procedure of data collection, workshops, conferences and, finally, an assessment and legislation. Currently, there are many bodies in Qatar, like Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation) and GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System) that are looking into IEQ. GSAS, for

the conference, we received four to five ambassadors and representatives from the Qatar Society of Engineers, Ashghal, GORD and Kahramaa. For me, to have ambassadors attending was great. They said that the topics attracted them to come.

Additionally, we have received many requests asking us to conduct the conference next year, as well, but we haven’t taken a decision yet. It’s taken a year and four months to conduct this. It’s been a heartening experience.

Dr Walid Chakroun, ASHRAE Kuwait, Prof Rashed Al Amari of Qatar University, Hassan Sultan and William Bahnfleth, ASHRAE President

In order to come up with solutions, you have to follow a certain procedure of data collection, workshops, conferences and, finally, an assessment and legislation

instance, is implementing IEQ, if a particular project is GSAS-rated. But what we would like to see is a cohesive effort among the agencies. This conference will assist and give a hand to the efforts of different local authorities.

During this year’s AHR Expo in January in New York City, we saw

Hassan Sultan is ASHRAE RAL SA, RVC, ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter, and E&IEC Organizing Committee Chair.

He can be contacted at e.hassansultan@gmail.com for a copy of the technical papers.

discussions that sought to achieve a balance between IEQ and energy efficiency. How far did you succeed along that line of thought with this conference?

This conference was precisely about finding the balance.

To look at it broadly, a particular refrigerant may be energy efficient, but is it good from an IEQ point of view? Perhaps not. So, it is important to balance IEQ, energy efficiency and also the budget. The private sector will implement special systems and sub-systems that use an acceptable refrigerant, but they will plan when they are going to get the money back. If the return period is 15 years, they will not invest.

The idea should be doable and reliable.

What has been the general response to the conference?

The general response to the conference has been excellent.

We invited the ministries, embassies, consultants and universities. Over the course of the three days of March 2014

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countryreport ITALY

E

urope has just about managed to survive the financial crisis that brought most countries in the continent to the brink of an economic precipice. Akin to the situation in Lewis Carrol’s Through the Looking Glass, where the Red Queen and Alice have to keep running fast on the chessboard just to be able to stay in the same place, the industry players are racing to remain on firm ground. In this post-downturn scenario, they believe things could have been worse. And Italy is no exception.

Michele Paccagnella, Managing Director of MP3 Srl, admits as much when he says: “The general situation in Italy from 2008 to today remains essentially unchanged. The financial crisis has caused a sharp slowdown in the housing market, which in turn, caused a sharp decline in work for 36

Studies show that the range of increased temperature within the plant room is always 10°C to 20°C in surplus to the machine’s actual rated conditions from OEM companies in the HVACR sector.” Paccagnella spells out the implications: “The first effect of the financial crisis was that money was not circulating, meaning that many small- or medium-sized companies have been forced to close due to bankruptcy, and suppliers have had to suffer heavy losses on credits.

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

The same financial system has been involved in these losses, and, as a result, companies still operating in the market have seen a sharp reduction in credit and a high increase in the cost of money.”

Marco Galluppi, Manager, South Europe and Middle East, Carel Industries, though a couple of notches toned down in response, admits as much when he says, “Because of the difficult economic situation, the HVACR industry in Italy is experiencing a significant decline in public procurements and national demand.” But on an optimistic note he adds, “But fortunately, our customers export a lot. This means a growth of the Carel turnover in the Italian HVACR market, which is 30% of the total yearly turnover of the company.”

Samuele Peli, General Manager for Sales, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Seeley International, echoes the opinion of the two other industry players, but adopts a

positive view: “The economic crisis has badly hit Italy in the past years, and it is not yet completely over, although early signs of recovery are increasingly manifesting.” Peli shares the view that the crisis has forced a lot of companies out of business, particularly the small ones that were not specialised enough or were not properly structured to add value to the distribution chain. “To some extent, the market may be healthier once the economic recovery starts,” he says, expressing his optimism.

Survival strategies – innovation is the key

Paccagnella estimates that on an average, in Italy, the HVAC market has fallen by about 40%. Against the backdrop of continuing economic uncertainty, companies have focused on innovative product design, dictated by energy and cost efficiency. However, the dynamics that once drove the positive transformation fuelled by a buoyant outlook,

Running fast

to remain rooted

As the after-effects of the global economic slowdown refuse to go away, the HVACR sector in Italy has turned to R&D in an attempt to remain competitive and relevant. There is a collective hope that the worst is over.

Report by Pratibha Umashankar, with inputs from Jerome Sanchez which promised to flood the market with equipment and applications, has taken a beating. Turning to innovation in the present scenario is more of a desperate attempt to keep afloat, than an indication of an upbeat industry eager to invest its spare cash in R&D to spur technological advancement.

Paccagnella, corroborating this, says, “The only possibility of growth and development for Italian companies has been R&D.” But he sounds a caveat when he admits that the game plan is not easy to implement, due to lack of financial support and the search for new export markets. “MP3 can be of example,” he says, and explains that his company, with an annual turnover of about EUR 17-20 million, despite the high credit losses, between 2009 and 2012 invested about EUR 5 million in R&D. Galluppi confirms that

investing in innovation focused on high-efficiency solutions leading to energy savings is the current trend, which his company, too, is following, despite challenges, “We study [and] test in our laboratories and propose control systems that harmonise and optimise the various different functions of the units, including the use of innovative products,” he claims.

Hypothecated to this is the UNI EN 14825:2012 regulation, which requires manufacturers to provide the average seasonal performance coefficients for the units in specific reference conditions in terms of climate and applications (Energy Efficiency Ratio, EER).

“The factors that have weight in such calculations assume unit operation at part-load for a considerable amount of time, compared to operation at rated-load, which accounts for just four

per cent,” says Galluppi, and explains: “Reaching the predefined seasonal performance target requires the use of cutting-edge technology to ensure effective control of the refrigerating unit at part-loads. This involves components, such as inverters, for managing variable speed compressors and electronic expansion valves for effective evaporator control.”

The regulation is also seen as an opportunity to pit superior quality products against low-end competition. The Italian industry is, therefore, strongly interested in fulfilling it, Galluppi explains, indicating the positive repercussions such strictures have on the industry.

However, Paccagnella is quick to point out that though there are existing regulations in Italy, there have been no recent regulations introduced governing construction of March 2014

buildings and their heating and cooling systems. He succinctly sums up the situation: “Energy efficiency, although it is more costeffective than using renewable energy resources, to date, is still a distant objective to achieve. Instead, a lot of Italian companies have developed high energyefficient products aimed at foreign markets.”

(For more information on the current Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, see box “Promoting the energy performance of buildings.)

New technologies – subtext in italics

Paccagnella goes on to draw attention to the small print: “An example of a product and a current issue in Europe and, partially, in Italy, is heat recovery – highefficiency heat recovery units ranging between 80% and 95% efficiency, which www.climatecontrolme.com

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countryreport ITALY

Promoting the energy performance of buildings Samuele Peli, Seeley International, shares some insights on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive currently in vigour in Italy. Here is what he said: Air conditioning (cooling and/or heating) of residential and commercial buildings is accountable for a significant – and increasing – portion of the global energy consumption. This is estimated to be around 40% of the total energy consumption in Europe (Italy). This matter is currently regulated by the European EPBD Directives (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), dating back to 2002 and re-visited in 2010 (Directives 2002/91/EC and 2010/31/UE).

The objective of these Directives is to promote the energy performance of buildings within the European Community, taking into account outdoor climatic and local conditions, as well as indoor climate requirements and cost-effectiveness.

The first Directive has introduced an energy efficiency rating system for both new and existing buildings, and the 2010 revision has put more focus on the public sector to have a leading role in promoting energy efficiency. This has gone a long way in improving the existing situation, but there’s still plenty of scope for significant improvements, especially in the private sector and in industrial buildings.”

guarantee minimum energy consumption. Even within the AHU market, the trend is to produce increasingly high efficiency units.”

Another important aspect of the market vis-à-vis innovation in the HVACR sector is that of Controlled Mechanical Ventilation (CMV) used for the renewal of air inside buildings, Paccagnella informs, and reveals its flipside: “More frequently, modern buildings are built ‘air-tight’ for energy-saving reasons. But this brings problems linked to ambient air pollution, known as SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) and to the formation of moulds 38

due to the accumulation of humidity,” he warns. “For this reason, it has become necessary to control the exchange of air without the need of opening windows or doors, which would eliminate the benefits of energy saving.”

He believes that CMV systems are essential in guaranteeing the maximum performance of a building, unifying energy saving and ensuring indoor comfort.

Galluppi says that his company has invested in new technologies, and elaborates: “The main ones are the Electronic Expansion Valve, control for brushless DC motor (for fans, compressors,

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Michele Paccagnella

Marco Galluppi

etc), adiabatic cooling systems and the local and remote monitoring/telemaintenance systems. Beside the fact that every country shows different climatic conditions, all these technologies can properly be used and contribute to increasing the energy saving in all HVACR machines and installations worldwide.”

Galluppi believes that the market is appreciative of energy-efficient technologies, as long as the benefits outweigh the price difference.

“Carel’s commitment is to provide solutions, not just products, which leverage on the integration to put together different technologies, keeping the price difference as low as possible to its customers and to the market,” he claims.

Sharing insights about his company’s technologies, Peli says: “At Seeley International, we have Breezair to the market – an efficient direct evaporative cooler capable of cooling large areas, at a fraction of the cost of conventional compressorbased systems.” He shares that his company’s products are designed to deliver efficient performance even in the

An important aspect of the market vis-à-vis innovation in the HVACR sector is that of Controlled Mechanical Ventilation (CMV) used for the renewal of air inside buildings harshest of conditions. “To suit the European (Italian) market,” he explains, “we have developed an advanced control system capable of interfacing with BMS systems, providing plenty of advanced control options, but also improving the overall system performance.”

In addition, Peli shared the fact that in recent years, his company has introduced a cooling system, called Climate Wizard, said to be capable of achieving a cooling performance similar to, or even better than, refrigerated systems, but with much higher efficiency.

Also, mirroring the global predicament, steep energy cost in Italy has brought into sharp focus the need to implement energy-saving initiatives to reduce power bills, apart from

addressing environmental concerns. This, in turn, has further underscored the need for energy-efficient equipment in the HVACR sector.

In search of new markets

With hardly any wriggle room in the domestic market due to its slow recovery, HVACR players in Italy are training their gaze beyond its shores.

“Our business is continuing to grow in BRICS countries, and also in some countries of the Middle East,” says Galluppi. Carel believes that the Middle East market will continue to perform well and register significant growth and offer business opportunities. “To consolidate this strategy, Carel will settle, during the first half of 2014, its own branch office in-charge of the Middle East market, located in Dubai,” Galluppi reveals. When it comes to Italy, “We are investing in HVAC consultants and designers in order to counter the actual crisis,” he says. “We are also supplying to the local HVACR manufacturing companies.”

As a direct result of bolstering its R&D efforts, MP3 has managed to maintain a constant turnover in the domestic market and increase its exports by 35% in 2013, Paccagnella claims.

“There are multiple markets to turn to, with special/different needs,” he elaborates. He, however, points to a major roadblock when Italian companies try to make inroads into other European markets: “Within the European community, while having common regulations, some countries like Germany and France, for reasons that are unclear (protectionism), apply additional restrictions to EU regulations,

creating major difficulties for the sale of products in these markets. However, to date, for Italian companies, the main markets are in the EU and Russia.”

Penetration into markets in Eastern Europe is also being viewed as a strategic response to economic and energy challenges by the HVACR sector. But again, the path is riddled with difficulties. “The situation is different with reference to countries in Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Hungary, etc), where there are local companies against whom it is very

difficult to compete because of the lower cost of labour, taxation, energy and overheads,” explains Paccagnella.

Manufacturers shifting their bases to Eastern Europe to reduce their production outlays and to cater to the increased automation needs of the countries in the region, may be seen as an option. However, investments made in infrastructure, expansion and production may not yield immediate dividends. Therefore, moving base could prove to be a futile exercise, at least for the present.

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Closer home, speaking about the Middle East market for Italian HVACR products, Paccagnella underscores that it is not exactly a cakewalk, either.

“The situation is again different when one wishes to export products to the Middle East markets,” he says, and gives the reasons: “It is very difficult to find local partners who understand the value of European products compared to local ones, as the unique and underlying factor remains price.

And products built according to EU regulations are not considered, since American standards and regulations are used as reference.”

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are important markets for Italian companies, Paccagnella admits, but concedes that, even these pose a challenge. “We (MP3) have undertaken business activities, [made] numerous contacts, held meetings and visits, but have as yet not found suitable collaboration agreements because of issues related to the cost of products,” he reveals.

Commenting on Seeley, Peli says that beyond Italy, his company has maintained focus on other European markets and has increased distribution into the Middle East and Africa. “We have witnessed an increasing focus, especially on the UAE and KSA, though the market in the whole GCC area has been very dynamic. The GCC market is offering plenty of opportunities for reputable manufacturers with high quality levels.”

Conclusion

Italy is struggling to come out of the crisis mode in the post-downturn era. Though the worst seems to be over, the market remains sluggish, 40

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

and there appear to be no quick-fix solutions. The challenges that the HVACR sector is facing are primarily linked to R&D. The race is on for coming up with innovative products with low energy consumption, low environmental impact, low pollution and reduced noise levels, while factoring in the cost element. This will, perhaps, see a shift in technology balance of power. The focus will be on design. Consequently, countries in the EU, including Italy, have set their gaze on equipment and building design that will tick all the above boxes.

Evidently, to lure more customers, the HVACR sector in Italy probably needs to deliver low-cost, off-the-shelf solutions for specific applications, and put grand breakthroughs in cold storage for the present.

However, in an incremental effect, new technologies will, perhaps, eventually phase out traditional ones. The sector is all set to witness a complete system revamp and integration and incorporation of renewable energy in the long run.

According to ReportLinker, based on research from Freedonia, the global HVAC equipment market is expected to record an increase in demand of six per cent yearly, through 2014, bringing market worth to more than USD 88 billion.

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

By the same token, if the above prediction comes true, then, Italy’s HVAC sector could be a beneficiary of the trickledown effect. 

Epilogue

According to the Red Queen Hypothesis, organisms – and these days organisations – must constantly adapt, evolve, and proliferate, not merely to gain advantage but also simply to survive while pitted against each other in the race for the survival of the fittest, in an ever-evolving and ever-changing environment. In short, they need to run fast to remain rooted.

focus

air-moving eQuiPment

A BALANCING

ACt

With more stringent sustainability requirements and new market demands, air-moving equipment manufacturers are placing more energy-efficient and higher quality systems on offer. The challenge, however, is to move the products through a market that is observed to be still largely governed by price. Jerome Sanchez has the report.

W

ith the observed gradual recovery and stabilisation of the GCC markets has come the steady increase in regional construction activities, which in turn, is seen to boost the demand for HVAC equipment and its allied products. New market demands and more stringent sustainability regulations have prompted air-moving equipment manufacturers to ramp up their R&D in the interest of manufacturing, and offer more energy-efficient equipment. However, while many aspects of the industry and of product development have evolved, industry players agree that there seems to be one reality that has remained unchanged: Price still predominantly governs the market.

In the face of this market 42

Tanmoy Kr Choudhury

Aboobacker Aslam

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

in such a high supply-demand market, project specification should not be compromised with an alternative specification tendency, the challenge for air-moving equipment manufacturers is to strike a balance between minimising the total acquisition cost of the equipment and offering sustainable products that consistently evolve and comply with the requirements set by the market and regulatory authorities.

‘Construction is moving at a greater pace’

The air-moving equipment sector in the GCC is said to be progressing at a stable and even pace. After the recent economic downturn that considerably affected global markets, the sector appears to have steadied itself, largely owing to the gradual stabilisation of the regional construction market.

Tanmoy Kr Choudhury, R&D and Technical Manager at Maico Gulf, shares the view that the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the main growth areas for the HVAC industry in the GCC. “A clear regulatory environment and the governing of private investments in infrastructure create a favourable investment climate in the UAE,” says Choudhury, and adds that in Saudi Arabia, the number of ongoing mega projects bode well for the entry of international firms. In his opinion, the growing private investment would provide greater opportunities for large foreign contractors to

increase their involvement in construction projects in the country. “As construction industries in [other] Gulf countries stagnate, construction companies look to Saudi Arabia for opportunities,” he observes.

Aboobacker Aslam, Sales and Marketing Manager, Systemair, makes a stronger assertion, saying that Saudi Arabia is the predominant mover in the GCC, and that the UAE is gradually moving out of a static period, as the country is looking forward to positive construction activities in the medium- and long-term.

Speaking against the backdrop of Qatar’s continuing endeavour to develop its non-oil sectors, Choudhury says the shift in the country’s economic priority provides crucial support to its infrastructure development. “Hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he adds, “should [also] yield considerable contracts across the construction and infrastructure sectors.”

While the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are identified as major growth areas for the industry, Choudhury says that Oman and Kuwait are other emerging markets for HVAC equipment. Commenting on Oman’s potential, he says: “Growing tourism and transport infrastructure offer opportunities for developers and business in the country.” In addition, he says that the diversification of Oman’s economy will lead to a number of construction contracts and investment into accompanying infrastructure.

Speaking about Kuwait, Choudhury shares his opinion that the tight integration of infrastructure development among Gulf States will provide opportunities for Kuwaiti firms to win contracts in the region.

Some industry challenges

Finding the sweet spot:

with very little price headroom, they find it challenging to develop and innovate their airmoving equipment In the interest of capitalising on the industry’s new-found stability and in order to meet the market’s new demands, air-moving equipment manufacturers have stepped up their product development and boosted their existing product line.

One challenge for industry players, however, is how to keep prices competitive and offer high quality products at the same time, as there exists a general notion that price is still king when it comes to HVAC product selection.

Moreover, it has been widely observed that product efficiency and reliability are only considered for select quality projects.

Choudhury agrees to this view when he says, “A recent interest in green HVACR systems has focused [market] attention on a number of HVACR system strategies that are seen to support the intents and expectations of green design, though very less attention [has been given] on equipment selection and product efficiency.” He sounds a warning that in such a high supply-demand market, project specification should not be compromised with an alternative specification.

Industry experts concur with Choudhury, as they observe that cutting corners in a project can have a huge impact on the total energy usage in buildings.

In addition, undercutting can potentially lead to an unhealthy market competition

and to the proliferation of substandard products, believe industry players. With very little price headroom, they find it challenging to develop and innovate their air-moving equipment. limited knowledge and awareness: Despite the fact that the concept of sustainability has moved into the collective psyche of the HVAC industry, there is still a pressing need to create awareness and educate stakeholders regarding sustainable products and practices, say industry players. Choudhury seconds this while speaking in the context of Indoor Air Quality: “There is a need to increase understanding [of the market] about the methods of controlling indoor air contaminants. The MEP

March 2014

consultants, in particular, should incorporate these specifications into their designs.” Aslam supports this view, and says that the lack of knowledge and understanding in the market regarding the relationship between cost and return, for instance with respect to the improvement of IEQ, is a key concern in the air-moving equipment sector.

Industry players point out that basic norms are disregarded, product manuals are not studied and compromises are made in the installation process.

For instance, improper fan selection, which not only leads to an overuse of energy but could also cause severe damage to the ductwork, could, in the long run, be attributed to the observed deficiency in good and recommended installation

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air-moving eQuiPment

negative effect on energy usage due to unnecessarily high static pressure requirements and lack of timely maintenance could have an adverse effect on both energy cost and the environment practices. Industry players, therefore, warn that designs that have a negative effect on energy usage due to unnecessarily high static pressure requirements, and lack of timely maintenance could have an adverse effect on both energy cost and the environment.

the value of maintenance

In order to ensure that air-moving equipment contributes to occupant comfort and maintains its energy performance, Choudhury advices advocating regular maintenance practices and continuous commissioning. “Performance measurements should be done monthly or at least quarterly to provide operators with enough data

44

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

to tell when systems are beginning to perform poorly,” he says, and adds that many building automation systems are already capable of providing hourly data on temperature humidity and energy use through BMS or local control systems.

“Maintenance is an absolute necessity and is inevitable for any HVAC product to ensure good IEQ,” says Aslam, but he sounds a warning that maintenance is too often neglected. “This leads to consequent issues, like leakage and pressure build-ups through dirty filters, among others, which may result in poor IEQ.”

Conclusion

Though the regional HVAC market has shown some signs of maturity in recent years, industry players acknowledge the fact that the market has yet to fully shift its priority from acquisition cost to equipment efficiency and quality. The challenge, say the players, is not only limited to educating the end-users on the benefits of high quality products, but some contractors and designers should also be oriented on installation and maintenance of best practices, and on the adverse effects of erroneous product specification and selection. In the interest of introducing sustainable systems and practices to the market, air-moving equipment manufacturers aim to strike a balance between offering an innovative product and encouraging the market to look beyond the price tag.

A CLIMATE CONTrOL MIDDLE EAST MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT ON PAINTS AND COATINGS

March 2014

www.climatecontrolme.com

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facevalue MCu PaINTS

Going beyond the surface

An accelerated growth in the region’s construction sector has benefited the paints and coatings industry, which, in turn, has seen major developments to combat challenges posed by Volatile Organic Compounds. Maniza Dewan and Roshni Jacob discuss the new advancements in the segment.

T

he GCC region has been seeing an increase in activities across various industries, particularly the construction industry, with countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, embarking on massive infrastructure plans. This, in turn, has prompted a wide range of specialised products to meet the market’s demands. The paints sector is one of them.

Paints and coatings in the GCC

The total market size of the paints and coatings industry in the GCC region for 2012 was estimated at USD 2.26 billion and, according to market sources, is expected to grow to USD 3.16 billion by 46

2017, at a compound annual rate of 5.8%.

The GCC region is among the largest manufacturers and consumers of paints and coatings in the world, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for over 70% of the paint sales within the region, as shown in Figure 2.

key market drivers in the region As mentioned earlier, the basic demand for paints comes from the large infrastructure spending of various governments in the region. With the planned outlay being in billions of dollars, the demand for paints has been steadily rising. The key market drivers are as follows: 1. Abu Dhabi has some of the largest projects under way, such as Capital District, Al Reem Island, Yas Island development,

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Two major developments in the paints and coatings industry have been low volatile organic compound paints and heat rejection paints Masdar City and Saadiyat Island.

2. Saudi Arabia is a leader in infrastructure spending with projects, such as King Abdullah Economic City, Kingdom City, Riyadh power plant,

expansion of Rabigh power plant, Haramain High Speed Railway linking Jeddah with Makkah and Madinah, and infrastructure development projects, such as the expansion of King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah.

3. Kuwait wants to start privatising the state infrastructure projects.

A few of the notable projects are Madinat Al Hareer (City of Silk), Kuwait Urban Metro and tourism development projects.

4. Qatar is going to be one of the leading spenders in infrastructure, as it is gearing up for the 2020 World Cup. Major projects

in the state are the Qatar national railway system, New Doha International Airport and New Doha port.

mcu can be applied irrespective of the weather conditions and shows resistance to uv radiation, which is a plus point in the middle east

5. Oman, too, is spending on expansion and setting up of ports, which include Sohar Airport, Muscat Airport and Salalah Port.

Challenges

The region’s harsh weather has added numerous challenges for the paint and coatings manufacturers, as the products need to be able to withstand the environment and other conditions that the region presents. Due to these factors, even residential projects require paints and coatings that have specialised features, such as heat shielding and weather resistance. Two major developments in the paints and coatings industry have been low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and heat rejection paints.

figure 1

Heat rejection

figure 2

technological advancements in the industry: low VoC paints

It has been noted that the market is moving towards products with minimal volatile organic compounds (VOC) content, as people are becoming increasingly aware of the health hazards behind paints and coatings and of the advantages of using “greener� products. VOC products are those that contain unstable, carbon-containing compounds that readily vaporise into the air. This implies that as paint dries, VOCs are released into the air at high levels. Upon vaporisation, these compounds react with the other elements that produce ozone that leads to air pollution and a multitude of health issues, such as breathing problems, burning and watery eyes and nausea. In fact, certain VOCs have been linked to cancer and even kidney and liver damage.

figure 3

Indoor VOC levels are estimated to be 10 times higher than the outdoor levels. VOC levels are at the highest during and soon after the first painting. And they continue to leak out harmful gases for several years.

Paint manufacturers are being challenged to create products that minimise the risks to health and to the environment, without

compromising quality and performance and keeping up with environmental regulations and trends.

Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints have been introduced to the market, with lower VOC paints preserving both indoor and outdoor air quality. Furthermore, they reduce the incidence of eye or respiratory irritation from exposure to VOC fumes.

March 2014

Heat rejection is critical for paints that are used in the region, given the harsh summers that are experienced here. A paint or coating that has heat rejection qualities is one that uses a technology where a broad-spectrum thermally reflective coating is applied to certain type of microspheres, in order to block heat radiation. This helps dissipate the heat.

The ability to block or reflect heat from any source, such as heaters or radiators in buildings to pipes and vehicles outdoor, are the qualities of a good heat rejecter. Heat rejection paints and coatings have been known to extend the lifespan of the products they are applied on by cooling down materials that heat up during normal operations, and also aid in the protection of life and property by lowering high temperatures that are reached by industrial equipment and other machinery.

A case for mCu paints

One can make a compelling case for Moisture Cure Urethane (MCU) paints.

MCU is a single component polyurea coating technology that has a long cycle compared to its competitors in the market. It is an effective and economical solution www.climatecontrolme.com

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facevalue MCu PaINTS

Moisture Curing One Component Coatings. [online]

mcu can withstand humidity, heat, cold and rain. as much as 35% of the overall time can be cut when using mcu for nearly every construction need in which steel is the substrate material.

MCU can be applied irrespective of the weather conditions (ie, temperature, humidity and dew point), and shows resistance to UV radiation, which is a plus point in the Middle East, as it provides longterm durability and dries quickly in comparison to its competitors. Another added advantage of using MCU is that, while using other paints, a minimum of 20 coats would be required. With MCU, however, three to four coats suffice, thus reducing wastage and guaranteeing faster project completion.

Furthermore, MCU can be used in a variety of industries prominent in the Middle East, as shown in figure 5.

It is evident that MCU offers many advantages to the contractor and the project owner in terms of time and money. Projects no longer need to be shut down due to weather constraints, as MCU can withstand humidity, heat, cold and rain. As much as 35% of the overall time can be cut when using MCU.

Conclusion

MCU paints are currently being introduced into the GCC markets, with Bahrain being the lead user. There are tests being conducted by large organisations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. As MCU requires only three to 48

Eartheasy.com ~ Solutions for Sustainable Living. [online] Available at: http://www. eartheasy.com. frost.com. n.d. frost & Sullivan: Asia Pacific Paint & Coatings Market Optimistic for Double Digit Growth in 2011. [online] Available at: http://www.frost. com/prod/servlet/press-release. pag?docid=219572747.

Henderson, J. 2013. Paints and coatings industry | ConstructionWeekOnline.com. [online] Available at: http:// www.constructionweekonline. com/article-24255-paints-andcoatings-industry/.

Mcucoatings.com. n.d. Coating supplier and manufacturer for marines, industries, minings MCU Coatings International. [online] Available at: http://www. mcucoatings.com/. figure 4 Source: MCU Coatings

figure 5

four different one-component products and one thinner to protect the entire structure, it is easy to stock and apply it with the fewer potential errors. MCU has, therefore, generated tremendous interest in the industry.

BIBlIOgRApHY Admin. 2013. MCU-Coatings vs Epoxy Paint Coating for Steel Corrosion Protection, protective coatings, marine paint. [online] Bayer MaterialScience NAfTA – Our Businesses – Coatings, Adhesives & Specialties – Coatings raw Materials –

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

The writer is Principal Director & Co-founder at Falak Consulting. She can be contacted at: maniza.dewan@ falakconsulting.com

The writer is Analyst at Falak Consulting. She can be contacted at: roshni.jacob@ falakconsulting.com

Painting the town green

U

rbanisation, which refers to the increasing number of people residing in urban areas, has now become a global trend with almost half of the world already living in cities and towns. In fact, the United Nations (UN) has forecast that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas.

Heat Island Effect

With this figure in mind, one can just imagine the amount of energy needed. Modern cities consume about 75% of the energy, while at the same time producing 80% of carbon emissions. They are also responsible for the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect – when temperature in industrialised cities becomes significantly warmer as compared to nearby surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon is mainly caused by decreasing vegetation and low reflective power of urban surfaces, and also leads to an increase in cooling and energy costs.

A unified approach

Looking to address this, industry and governments

The contributions of the paint and powder coatings industry towards Green Building and energy-efficiency efforts have gone a long way in delivering benefits, with heat reflection being one of them, says Yulia Gvozdeva, and supports her view with empirical instances.

Building compliance remains strong, and has prompted industry analysts to predict that by the year 2015, 60% of the country’s construction projects will be green.

The increasing presence of vocs in indoor and outdoor environments can be attributed to the fact that they have become essential ingredients in many products and materials around the world have started to design and implement Green Building initiatives and standards. This unified approach has paved the way for the adoption of Green Building rating systems like LEED, Green Star, Estidama and BREEAM among others.

Dubai, for example, initially introduced Green Building regulations and specifications as a voluntary practice in 2011, but has now made it a standard application for all

projects. Another example is Abu Dhabi’s Estidama, which is the Arabic word for sustainability. The programme provides a strong framework that is mandatory for all new buildings, and has been in use since 2008 across a variety of projects. Estidama is part of the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 vision of further developing the UAE capital according to innovative green standards. Other examples of this global drive include Singapore, where it has become mandatory for public projects to obtain a high environmental rating set by the country’s Building regulations. As part of the move towards increased compliance, some governments offer strong incentives to encourage private investors and developers to contribute.

Reflecting the strong commitment towards sustainability, the Gulf region has already seen successful execution of green projects like Masdar City in Abu Dhabi (the world’s first carbon-neutral city); the DEWA building in Dubai’s Al Quoz area with the LEED Platinum rating and the King Abdullah Financial District in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is set to become the world’s first LEED-certified district. The UAE’s confidence in shifting towards Green March 2014

Building materials sector – evolution of green strategies

The building materials sector has been tagged as one of the most dynamic segments in developing and introducing technologies that help to deliver more sustainable construction projects. Commendable as it is, companies in this sector have actively invested in implementing their green strategies and have directed their R&D activities towards eco-friendly and more efficient solutions. The paint and coating industry has been quite active in the move towards sustainability, having introduced a wide range of green solutions that are now used all over the world.

The industry has placed great importance on the move to reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) which represent a large variety of chemicals like aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and halogenated compounds.

One of the main concerns associated with indoor exposure to VOCs is their potential negative effect on the health of building occupants (sensory, irritation, toxic as well as increased risk of cancer due to exposure to benzene), whereas outdoor VOC emissions contribute www.climatecontrolme.com

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facevalue POWDER COaTINGS

Impact of the tSR Value on the users' comfort and the energy performance of buildings

When Jotun introduced its new line of heat-reflective architectural power coatings, which it claimed is energy-saving and environmentally friendly, the company commissioned a German sustainable architecture consultancy and reaserch firm to conduct a study on the impact of the Total Solar reflectance (TSr) values on the users’ comfort and energy performance of buildings.

Here is a summary of the results.

Seconds

Minutes

Effect of thermal insulation on TSR energy savings Annual Energy Requirements Location: Doha – Qatar

Hours

90

2,450,000

80

70

60

1

Normally no changes in the skin tissue

2

Burns 1 Degree (redness, swelling with pain)

3

Transition Zone

4

Burns 2 Degree (blistering, skin incomplete destruction) and 3 Degree (full skin destruction) Grafik: ai³ Source: SKIBA 1979 und Gefaehrdungsbeurteilung.de

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Annual Energy Requirement, total in [kWh]

Contact temperature of material to the skin in [°C]

Impact of high surface temperatures on human skin

2,400,000

2,350,000

2,300,000

Highly insulated window frames (Uframe = 1.5 W/(m2k))

2,250,000

Non-insulated window frames (Uframe = 7.0 W/(m2k))

2,200,000

2,150,000

44

TSR 5%

TSR 10%

40

TSR 30%

TSR 50%

TSR 70%

TSR 90%

Total Solar Reflectance of the window frames

0.1

0.3

1

10

100

1.000

10.000

Time of heat impact in [sec]

 The scenario: 35°C exterior and 25°C interior air temperature, thermally non-insulated window and five per cent TSr  Interior surface temperature can go up to 50°C and higher  risk of skin irritation and burns (1 minute at 51°C)  Using the coating with 90% TSr in this case will reduce surface temp to 35°C and eliminate the risks

Impact of TSR coatings on the façade, on the energy consumption of the buildings

 The higher the insulation level, the less TSr value of the coating influences reduction of energy  Higher TSr reduces the gap b/w energy consumption in highly insulated and non-insulated windows  At higher TSr values, the need for thermal insulation is less dominant for ME and SEA climate conditions.

Energy saving effect of heat reflective coatings on non-insulated window frames Energy Requirements for Various TSR Values Location: Doha

Energy Requirements for Various TSR Values Location: Doha

2,600,000

3,000,000

2,550,000

2,000,000

Heating Requirements in [kWh] Cooling Requirements in [kWh] Total Energy Requirements in [kWh]

Energy Requirements in [kWh]

Energy Requirements in [kWh]

2,500,000 2,450,000 2,400,000

Impact of Envelope in [kWh] Impact of Window Frames in [kWh]

2,350,000

Total Energy Requirements in [kWh] 2,300,000 2,250,000

1,000,000 2,200,000 2,150,000 2,100,000

0 TSR 5%

TSR 5%

TSR 10%

TSR 30%

TSR 50%

TSR 70%

TSR 10%

TSR 30%

TSR 50%

TSR 70%

TSR 90%

TSR 90%

 The study showed that coating opaque parts of the façade with Cool Shades Cherry (TSr 44.6%) instead of Conventional red (simulated reference TSr 30%) could bring ~3 per cent overall energy savings and ~ 4.5 per cent lowered cooling demand.

 Overall window frames coated with heat reflective products contribute higher to the entire energy savings than other parts of the façade, given their small share of the surface. Using Jotun’s ‘Birch’ colour from The Cool Shades Collection (TSr 30.7%) instead of a standard ‘dark grey’ colour (TSr 9 per cent), for example, can reduce the annual energy requirements by more than 33,000 [kWh] or 1.3 per cent.

to formation of ozone, a constituent of photochemical smog. The increasing presence of VOCs in indoor and outdoor environments can be attributed to the fact that they have become essential

across many types of surfaces.

In fact, it is now actively specified for plant treatment of aluminium extrusions, claddings and steel elements that are used on façades, roofs and inside buildings.

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ingredients in many products and materials.

Efficacy of powder coatings To counter this, powder coatings are now widely used

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

These products have been developed primarily for corrosion protection and for adding decorative effects to the metal components of buildings.

Powder coatings make use

of a dry factory application process and contain no solvents releasing negligible amounts of, if any, VOCs into the atmosphere, making powder coatings a highly environmentally friendly technology.

Aside from corrosion protection and adding aesthetic value, powder coatings also deliver functional benefits with heat reflection being one of the features. Heat reflective coatings can be produced in both powder and liquid form; they contain special pigments that improve Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) of the coated components – a fraction of solar energy reflected by the surface. In concept, the higher the TSR, the more heat is reflected and the cooler the surface remains. When applied on roof elements, external walls and on low-insulated window systems (typical solution in the Middle East region), TSR paints and coatings reduce heat transfer inside the building. In hot climates with the dominance of cooling requirements, it results in lowered energy consumption.

By reducing the temperature of exterior surfaces, TSR materials can assist in lowering air temperature due to heat-transfer effect, which in turn helps to mitigate UHI effect.

Recent studies show that the application of heat reflective coatings on aluminium window frames can bring up to two per cent overall annual energy savings in the Gulf and South East Asian regions, while only adding a fraction to the overall project cost. Across hot climates, where typically low-insulated window systems are used, metal frames absorb enough solar energy to heat interior parts up to very high temperatures. Cases when human skin comes in contact with such hot surfaces for a prolonged period of time can lead to serious burns and skin

one common path that the industry is looking to follow is the reduction of the amount of materials used in the coating process itself, while still achieving a high quality finish damages. The use of heat reflective finishes helps in minimising such risks.

and reworks. Architectural powder coatings with enhanced durability and corrosion protection for example, are gaining increasing popularity in commercial, residential and infrastructure projects.

Sustainability remains a driving force in our quest to be green and reflects the industry’s commitment to making construction and the Earth itself a cleaner and environmentally safer place to live in.

Assuming greater responsibility

In conclusion, being part of the paint and powder coatings industry has given us the realisation that our products are used in construction projects and their impact on the environment, human health and economics, can be quite substantial. With this in mind, we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure the continuous development of solutions and technologies that support Green Building initiatives and standards.

The writer is Global Product Manager, Jotun Powder Coatings.

Quest for innovation

Liquid coating producers have placed strong focus on the efforts to reduce VOCs. While they are striving to move towards solventfree products, they are also working to advance performance of waterborne systems to provide similar or even better corrosion protection than solvent-borne coatings. Another important direction they are taking is to reduce the use of aromatic solvents, which are dangerous for health and have a high negative impact on the environment.

One common path that the industry is looking to follow is the reduction of the amount of materials used in the coating process itself, while still achieving a high quality finish. The principle behind this direction is that the use of fewer materials helps reduce carbon footprint.

Another important drive towards sustainability in the industry is to increase durability of the material – to prolong the life time of the coated surface, avoid repairs March 2014

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facevalue PaINTS

Coat... uncoat The paint sector constantly endeavours to counter the dual effects of harmful chemicals and wear and tear caused by the region’s environmental pressures. Mustapha Selim, Brand Manager, Caparol paints, throws light on a few of the high-tech solutions to hit the market.

T

he governmental push towards making the build -environment more ecofriendly has encouraged the paint and coatings industry to develop new technologies that provide healthier living and working environments. These new technologies allow for less power wastage, comfortable interior climates, increasingly durable and long lasting coatings that save time and money and lead to creating a sustainable-minded consumer.

In the Middle East, extreme weather conditions make these new technologies even more necessary than in other parts of the world.

Excessive heat adds to the wear of coatings. Fortunately, however, there are solutions designed to withstand environmental pressures and simultaneously be lightfooted on the environment.

Moreover, products are being added to and redeveloped all the time. We are, therefore, likely to see a continuous flow of high-tech products hitting the market.

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the efficacy of EtICS/EIfS

Poor or non-existent insulation in old buildings is one of the biggest carbon footprint culprits, especially in the Middle East, where air conditioning is a necessity.

Good thermal insulation is, therefore, crucial to prevent heat from seeping in through the exterior building envelope to the inside living spaces.

ETICS/EIFS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems/Exterior Insulation and Finishing System) play a key role in maintaining temperatures within buildings and, thereby, lowering power consumption. In this regard, new technologies are adding to the efficacy of ETICS/EIFS by combining black and white expanded polystyrene beads, which together create the right mix of insulation and flexibility.

To insulate well, it is not necessary to have thick walls.

New technology uses products that are thin and light weight, incorporating a carbon fibre base coat that reinforces it, making insulation systems 20 times more impact-resistant and, thereby, more durable.

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

poor or nonexistent insulation in old buildings is one of the biggest carbon footprint culprits, especially in the middle east, where air conditioning is a necessity ETICS/EIFS is longer lasting, needs less labour to install, and can easily be painted over. Yes, there is a marginal difference in cost when installing good insulation. However, in the long run, there are enormous savings to be made. Proper ETICS/EIFS installation has been known to cut building energy consumption by up to 40%.

uV-resistant paints In the heat of the Gulf sun, surfaces expand and contract continuously. Unless a coating can move with and accommodate this expansion and contraction, it will generally become brittle and crack, failing prematurely and no longer doing the job of beautifying and protecting the substrate. To solve this problem, there are paints made from pure acrylic resins that help ensure that the products not only cope well with the expansion and contraction movements of surfaces, but also stand up to the degrading effects of UV radiation, thus ensuring a system that lasts the maximum time.

These high-tech paints also incorporate film preservatives which offer special protection against algae and mildew growth.

Low VoC paints

Some paints and coatings on the market contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are toxic chemicals that evaporate easily into the air, where they are inhaled by humans and animals. These chemicals also go up into the atmosphere, where they contribute to global climate change.

The reason companies continue to produce paints containing VOCs is because they allow for quicker drying time and easier application in

terms of viscosity and flow.

One can usually identify high VOC paint by the intense smell that can linger for weeks or even months after application.

From an environmental

perspective, VOCs have the potential to create photochemical smog, contributing to the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. As VOCs are evident long after application, both the applicators of the paint and those living and working in the newly painted area are affected. Therefore, the best way to avoid exposure to the potential health hazards is to choose an appropriate product with lowest VOC content.

Products with almost zero VOC content are now

available, and are becoming increasingly popular amongst homeowners in the Middle East, who are becoming better educated about domestic toxins and the potential impact of exposure to them.

Conclusion

The paints, coating and insulation industry has stepped up in terms of sustainability. Now it is just a case of getting the construction industry to take up these new technologies and reap the long-term benefits therein.

The writer is Brand Manager, Caparol Paints. He can be contacted at mustapha.selim@ caparol.ae

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.

March 2014

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Climate Control Middle East March 2014

THE

PROCESS

COOLING

REPORT

A CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST MAGAZINE QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENT ON INDUSTRIAL COOLING

March 2014

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55

THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT

Benefits of CO2 (R744) as a refrigerant With global pressure on phasing out environmentally harmful refrigerants, the HVACR world has rediscovered the efficacy of CO2.

Hasan S Al-Harahsheh enumerates its many advantages and applications.

Rediscovering CO2

Over the last 20 years, legislation has prohibited the use of ozone-depleting CFC refrigerants. However, the use of the HFCs is still legal and commonplace. In recent years, natural refrigerants have been proposed as an environmentally friendly solution for the refrigeration industry. These refrigerants, which include ammonia, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, do not contribute to ozone depletion and have low global warming potential.

R-744 operates at a far higher pressure than standard refrigerants. However, this is not excessively high compared to similar engineering applications

T

he average global temperature is predicted to rise by between 1.5 and 4.5K in the next 100 years.

The principal cause of global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases into the 56

Earth’s atmosphere.

Directly, greenhouse gas emissions occur through the leakage of HFC refrigerants used in refrigeration systems for display and storage of food. These refrigerants have very high global warming potential. CO2 has very low global warming

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

potential compared with conventional HFC systems, which significantly reduces direct emissions.

Indirect emissions are also much reduced as the system efficiency is much greater than achieved using conventional HFC refrigeration.

Carbon dioxide offers a long-term solution suitable for many applications in refrigeration and heating, from domestic applications utilising heat pumps to provide hot water and heating to commercial applications for supermarket refrigeration and in industrial refrigeration for many applications.

R-744 has been used in refrigeration for many years.

Figure 1 shows a timeline detailing its proposal and discovery, decline in the 1930s, to its rediscovery in the 1990s.

Characteristics of R-744 R-744 has 10 noteworthy characteristics: 1. Non-toxic 2. Non-flammable

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Environmentally benign Low triple point Low critical point High pressure High refrigeration volumetric capacity 8. High heat transfer characteristics 9. Inexpensive 10. Readily available Like most natural refrigerants, R-744 is regarded as being environmentally benign. It has an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero, and has a very low global warming potential (GWP = 1). The main benefits of R-744 compared to other natural refrigerants are that it is non-toxic and non-flammable – characteristics which often limits the application of other refrigerants. The main characteristics of R-744 as a refrigerant are the critical and triple points.

The critical point is a relatively low temperature at 31°C, although at a high pressure of 73 bar. The triple point occurs at -56.6°C with a pressure of 5.2 bar, which is the only common refrigerant to have a triple point above atmospheric pressure. In order to remain below the critical temperature of 31°C it is necessary to use a cascade system to provide a sub-zero condensing temperature. The system restrictions in relation to temperature and pressure can be seen in Figure 2.

refrigerants. Consequently, refrigeration compressors using R-744 are six to eight times smaller than those of R22 systems. This can be seen in Figure 4, where the same Sabroe CMO 28 compressor at the same conditions has a far greater capacity when using R-744.

Further, benefits of high volumetric capacity can be seen when applied to pipework. Figure 5 shows the reduction in pipe sizes when using R-744. This will result in a significant reduction in suction line valving costs.

The improved heat transfer properties of R-744 allow the evaporator to be operated at a higher temperature than competitive R-404A evaporators. The literature [4] suggests evaporators may work at 2K higher than conventional R-404A evaporators. The improved heat transfer properties thus result in increased capacity in heat exchangers. The comparisons made in Figure 6 demonstrate a 10% increase in the capacity for the same coil geometry.

Figure 1: The history of R-744 as a Refrigerant 1, 2

Figure 2: Simplified PH diagram

Applications and advantages

R-744 operates at a far higher pressure than standard refrigerants. However, this is not excessively high compared to similar engineering applications. Figure 3 demonstrates the differences in operating pressures of standard refrigerants and R-744.

R-744 systems have a high volumetric refrigeration capacity, as a result of their very high vapour density when compared to other

References

Figure 3: Pressure Temperature Relationship for Various Refrigerants

1 Danfoss (2002) CO2 Phase Changes Danfoss [CD Rom] 2 Pearson SF, Development of March 2014

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THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT improved secondary refrigerants Proc Institute of refrigeration Vol. 89, pp65-80 1993 3 Danfoss. CO2 Refrigerant for industrial Refrigeration, Danfoss 2002 Arhus 4 Visser K, Carbon Dixoide for the food processing and cold storage industries AIRAH Natural Refrigerants Conference.

Melbourne 2002 5 Palladio software Ver. 3.62 2004 Alfa Laval 6 Sabroe Refrigeration Ltd, 2005

Figure 4: Comparison of Volumetric Capacities for the same compressor

Why is there renewed interest in “old” refrigerants, Sabroe X’s Vej Christian, Hojberg, Denmark.

7 VanRiessen G, NH /CO2 3 Supermarket refrigeration systems with CO2 in the cooling and freezing section. The IIR Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference.

Glasgow. 2004 8 Campbell, A, Maidment, GG and Missenden, JF. A Natural Refrigeration System for Supermarkets using CO2 as a Refrigerant. CIBSE National Conference 21-22 March 2006

Figure 5: Comparison of required pipe sizes at 30°C saturated suction temp and 10°C saturated condensing temp3

The writer is Regional Business Development Manager, Industrial Refrigeration, ME, Johnson Controls Inc. He can be contacted at: hasan. al-harahsheh@jci. com Figure 6: Heat transfer comparison (same coil)5

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Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Prelude to a long saga

Prelude, Shell’s floating liquefied natural gas project, will set sail on a 25-year mission, heralding new engineering records. Passively cooled purpose-built cabinets will protect sample conditioning and process analyser instrumentation on the vessel. We bring you the details.

S

hell’s Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project is designed specifically for extended service life in hazardous areas. Due to enter service in 2017, the vessel will be towed to the Prelude and Concerto gas fields in the Browse Basin near Timor, about 200 kilometre off the northwest coast of Australia, where it will permanently be anchored for about 25 years. After this time, it will be inspected, overhauled and possibly moved to a new location, where it will be expected to provide a further 25 years of service.

Already setting new engineering records, the vessel has been designed to liquefy natural gas extracted from subsea wells by chilling it to -162 °C, and to then store the liquid until it is offloaded to large LNG carriers. The vessel is claimed to be the largest in the world, with a length of 488 metres and a width of 74 metres.

The hull of the vessel was reportedly constructed in South Korea and launched in December 2013.

Apart from the intrinsic high points of the project, it is also of interest to the HVACR world, as it requires highperformance environmental protection cabinets. Intertec, designer and manufacturer of enclosures, has revealed that much of the on-line process analysis instrumentation on

and are some of the most stringently specified instrumentation protection solutions that it has ever produced, the company has claimed.

The company gave some of the interesting highlights of the cabinets:  The cabinets are required to be capable of withstanding severe Category 5 tropical cyclones with wind speeds in excess of 252 km/h (157 mph), and to have a minimum service life of 25 years, with 50 years as a design aim.

The vessel has been designed to liquefy natural gas extracted from subsea wells by chilling it to -162 °C, and to then store the liquid until it is offloaded to large LNG carriers

Custom instrumentation protection cabinets that Intertec is producing for Shell’s Prelude FLNG project are designed to withstand Category 5 cyclones

the Prelude FLNG vessel will be housed in purpose-built environmental protection cabinets supplied by it. The company says that in total, it is supplying 90 cabinets for sample conditioning systems and 30 cabinets for process analysers, each designed

to precisely match the instrumentation content and layout in order to optimise thermal performance.

Designed specifically for extended service life in hazardous areas, the shelters incorporate innovative semipassive cooling technology March 2014

 Additional requirements include a high degree of resistance to corrosion being caused by the saline environment and the presence of sour or acid gas, and the ability to cool electronics equipment without using explosionproof air conditioning systems, which incur high capital and operating costs.  The cabinets are constructed from a proprietary composite material comprising sandwich walls of longfibreglass reinforced polyester (GRP) sheets, enclosing a core of polyurethane foam. The material has a similar strength to that of stainless steel but is about four times www.climatecontrolme.com

59

THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT lighter, making it ideal for use on offshore platforms and floating structures.  Other advantages of the material include:  A low thermal conductivity  An inherently high resistance to corrosion caused by salt or aggressive chemicals such as sulphur or chlorine  External surfaces further protected by thick layer of UV-resistant gel coat  Each cabinet is equipped with special built-in mountings, which are external to the thermally insulated parts of the enclosure, to secure the top and base to Prelude’s deck structure.  All external metal components are fabricated from 316 grade stainless steel with a corrosion-resistant protective coating that is specified for the ship’s use.

From a cooling point of view, which is the main focus, the cabinets reportedly offer interesting details.

Each of the cabinets is said to incorporate a unique form of semi-passive cooling technology. The size of each cabinet depends on the power dissipation of the contained sample conditioning or process analyser system, which ranges from 140 W to 900 W. Confirming this, Hans Geiger, Intertec’s Commercial Director, reveals, “Only three of the 120 cabinets that Intertec is supplying for this project are the same size.”

The internal face of the cabinets’ rear walls are fitted with a high-efficiency heat exchanger, comprising one or more aluminium cooling plates and stainless steel coolant pipes connected to Prelude’s cold water supply system, which obtains cold water from the deep sea by a 150-metre-long pipe below 60

Heat dissipated by the equipment in the cabinets is absorbed by the water and transferred to the vessel’s main water cooling system, where it is, in turn, dissipated into the environment the vessel, the company elaborates. Heat dissipated by the equipment in the cabinets is absorbed by the water and transferred to the vessel’s main water cooling system, where it is, in turn, dissipated into the environment. This form of distributed cooling, says Intertec, has enormous technical and economic advantages, especially in hazardous areas or where space and weight are at a premium. It provides a very efficient means of removing heat from the cabinets

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Semi-passive cooling technology is fitted into each instrumentation protection cabinet that Intertec has produced for Shell’s Prelude fLNG project-avoiding the need for expensive and large explosion-proof air conditioning equipment

without requiring local air conditioning systems, which would necessarily need to be explosion proof and, therefore, expensive, the company highlights.

Furthermore, transferring heat from individual air conditioners of below-deck cabinet installations to the ambient environment would be a major challenge and would involve significant amounts of space-consuming air ducting, the manufacturer asserts, and points out that the semi-passive cooling system is inherently safe for use in a hazardous environment. At the cabinet level, it requires little or no electrical power of its own and is virtually maintenance-free, making it ideal for long life-cycle applications, it adds.

Intertec, as is Shell, are not unaware of the significant challenges the intended operating environment

for Prelude poses for instrumentation protection.

The Browse Basin is admittedly very close to the Equator, which means that it has a tropical climate with an average temperature of about 32°C. This moist and hot environment, combined with a salt-laden atmosphere, is highly conducive to rust formation. In light of this, non-metallic protection cabinets is a sensible design choice, believes Intertec.

In some of Prelude’s more confined spaces, the ambient temperature could reportedly reach more than 50°C. Even under these extreme conditions, the company claims it is confident that all of the passively cooled cabinets that it is producing for the project are designed to keep their internal air temperature below 35°C. Only time – or more precisely 25 years – will tell.

Johnson Controls

Leading the refrigeration industry in the Middle East

Our Vision

A more comfortable, safe and sustainable world.

We help our customers achieve by providing a single source of responsibility for the design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of uniquely efficient and environmentally sustainable refrigeration plants.

Industrial Refrigeration on all 5 continents As one of the world’s largest & most technically advanced supplier of industrial refrigeration systems, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency interfaces with companies in many different industries and at many different stages in the overall supply chain.

Johnson Controls serves both end users & contractors in the same professional way, focusing our efforts and resources on meeting the exact needs of each.

• More than 3,000 refrigeration specialists • More than 500 branch offices • Sales & Operations on all 5 continents • 5 Factories & 2 distribution centres

...with broad experience in almost every market segment

1999: Sabroe becomes part of YORK Int. 1999: Acquisition of IMEF

2004: Relaunch of the Sabroe brand name 2005: Novenco sold 1874: Foundation of YORK Manufacturing Co.

1997: Acquisition of Novenco 1997: Acquisition of ABB Stal Refrigeration

1897: Foundation of Thomas Ths. Sabroe & Co.

1981: Acquisition of the Luxaire brand 2005: YORK International sold

1995: Acquisition of Gram Refrigeration

1987: Acquisition of the Frick Company 1987: Acquisition of Bristol, a manufacturer of small compressors

Engineering & Design • A strong experienced team of refrigeration specialists advices in the best design & solution for different industries & applications.

• Solutions that add value to our customers' business • In-house manufactures • Profound knowledge of customer business • Strong motivation to find better solutions • Thorough process knowledge

Our broad experience in all process & applications • • • • • • • •

Meat & Poultry industry Dairy industry Ice rinks Fish industry Bakeries Refrigeration Systems for Oil & Gas Beverage industry Pharmaceutical industry

Typical Process • • • • •

Freezing Carcass cooling Cooling Air chilling Shock freezing

Johnson Controls Middle East  Head Office: P.O. Box 31065, API World Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Tel: +9714 309 9999  Fax: +9714 309 9973  E-mail: be-meref@jci.com 

www.johnsoncontrols.com

THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT

AIR Limitation and all that...

 Gas turbine cooling  Air-cooled motor cooling  Shutdowns – temporary power and cooling for labour camps, auxiliary power for critical areas, cooling down vessels, reactors, etc.

ambient conditions. In light of this, Imran Ali highlights issues involved in process cooling and suggests solutions.

It is possible to cool large volumes of air and deliver or introduce chilled air into the intake on the regenerator’s main blower, thereby simulating springtime conditions.

Air limitation problem due to ambient conditions

This is one of the most common situations, especially in the Gulf region. This is We can cool large volumes of air and deliver or introduce that chilled air into the intake on the because of the five months of high-ambient regenerator’s main blower, thereby, simulating springtime conditions. In a closed-loop system conditions when all types of industrial process air cooled water chiller circulates 7°C water through an air-handler equipped with a high-static struggle to cope. However, these issues blower, ambient air is normally cooled to 15°C, the cooled air is forced through temporary duct can be tackled on a proactive or even reactive work which is directed at the intake to the air blower, the 15°C air is then mixed with ambient air basis, in case of emergencies, in whatever quantities to give the desired effect, remember the basic concept of ifcooling is with the basic one is armed concepts of “remove heat to make the area cool”, once dense air enters it pushes hot air out and that’s why thermodynamics.

Suggested Solution

all the extractor fans are installed close to the ceiling as hot air (which is lighter in mass) travels Suggested The oil and gas industry needs efficient cooling, given the region’s solutions upwards while dense air (which is heavier in mass) does the opposite of it.

Process Diagram ….

Closed loop system:

In a closed-loop system, aircooled water chiller circulates 7°C water through an airStudies show that the handler equipped with a highstatic blower. Ambient air is range of increased temperature within the normally cooled to 15°C. The cooled air is forced through plant room is always temporary duct work which 10°C to 20°C in surplus is directed at the intake to to the machine’s actual the air blower. The 15°C air rated conditions from is, then, mixed with ambient air in whatever quantities, to OEM give the desired effect. where the aforementioned Here, it needs to be noted Process diagram problems could occur are: that the basic concept of  Petrochemicals cooling is to remove the  Refineries heat to make the area cool.

Summarized Study …

Introduction  Process industries and support. However, it Thus, once dense air enters The importance of the  Power plants is not uncommon to come the area, it pushes hot air O&G industryplant cannotroom be where  Off-shoreare rigsnormally & platforms In a typical the issues motors, turbines rated out. at 40°C across related with or generators This to is, in fact, the understated, as it is the performance deration, reason why 45°C and will always be on the threshold of their optimal performance (during peak summer extractor fans are backbone of the world’s Typical process cooling efficiency limitation and loss installed close to the ceiling, season), while will start effecting All thethese performance as soonare: as temperatures as creeps economy and the deration future applications of productivity. hot airup (which is lighter in of industrial development  Dense air injection are, undoubtedly, travels upwards, while and goes beyond the rated factors temperatures, the other important factor is that within mass) the plant and growth in the region.  Condenser cooling very significant, given the dense air (which is heavier room the temperatures are magnitude always onofthe higher side then the outdoor ambient (conditions) Due to its complex and  Reactor cooling the projects. in mass) does the opposite. mainly the thermal Typical heat rejection and improper ventilation, water the study shows thatsee thethe process sensitivebecause nature, it of demands  Supplemental cooling related sectors Please high standards of service  Lube oil cooling within the O&G industry diagram, below. range of increased temperature within the plant room is always 10°C to 20°C in surplus to the

actual machines’ rated conditions from OEM, so it doesn’t reflect the true picture to gauge the 62

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

chilled water for air conditioning within the plant for an effective ambient and/or to use it for any other process cooling requirement, the best part is without using additional fuel and reducing emissions to the environment it makes a win-win situation.

Typical Tri-Generation diagram: requirements. It is, in fact, a win-win situation, as it does not use additional fuel, while at the same time, reduces emissions.

A typical tri-generation

and process it into steam InWe a typical room,more process cooling issues withand, then,solutions cool it through will plant discuss their in our next issue Theand writerelaborate is motors, turbines or generators an absorption chiller. It will General Manager more efficient, affordable and speedy remedies to tackle them. are normally rated at 40°C subsequently use the chilled at Argonaut Rental to 45°C, and will always be water for air conditioning Division – GCC on the threshold of their within the plant to create Region. He can be Temporary cooling optimal performance during an effective ambient contacted at imran. ali@argo-naut.com modules like peak summer season. In this condition and/or use it Imran deration Ali will start scenario, for other process cooling chiller+AHU or DX/ affecting the Manager performance @ Argonaut packaged units can – GCC Region General Rental Division as soon as the temperature be used to supply rises, and goes beyond the(Falcon Chapter) ASHRAE Member dense air injection to rated temperatures. The improve efficiency to other important factor is that within the plant room, bring it back to the the temperature is always optimum condition on the higher side than the ELIMINATES BIOFILM outdoor ambient conditions, mainly because of the thermal IMPROVES COOLING consuming the same amount heat rejection and improper of operational costs (ie, fuel, ventilation. Studies show maintenance, manpower that the range of increased INCREASES CAPACITY and repairs) required to temperature within the plant produce 10MW. The effect room is always 10°C to 20°C BUILDS REVENUE of not reaching the required in surplus to the machine’s performance will obviously actual rated conditions result in higher cost ($/ from OEM. Therefore, it KW-Hr) and reduced profit does not reflect the true ($/KW-Hr). However, the picture that will help gauge MIOX Mixed Oxidant Solution for cooling tower and VAULT™ cooling loop water disinfection improves safety, lowers cost comparison to recover the performance, while 15 to 60 gallons/day general corrosion rates, increases performance, and this performance loss is considering only the outer Mixed Oxidant saves money. Using just salt and water to generate Solution very minimal, as temporary ambient conditions. oxidants on-site, MIOX systems improve workplace MIOX Mixed Oxidant cooling modules like In a typical scenario where safety by eliminating the handling and storage of Solution (MOS) chemical the outdoor ambient condition chiller+AHU or DX/packaged hazardous chemicals. generators are engineered for maximum units can be used to supply reaches beyond 45°C, it may disinfection efficacy result in an additional 10°C to dense air injection to improve through proprietary efficiency to bring it back to 20°C overheated plant room, electrolytic cell design, control of power and cell the optimum condition. duration, which will be in geometry. See the full the range of five per cent to range of MIOX systems at 20%, while in most cases, www.miox.com.

TRI-GEN: an average 10% deration is CoolTech Energy Water Treatment Services LLC A good solution would be to observed. For example, if a Tel : +971 4 340 4190 Fax : +971 4 340 4192 install a small CCHP (tri-gen) plant room has a generating www.cooltechgulf.com info@cooltechgulf.com capacity of 10MW, it will only on a permanent basis. This will recycle the exhaust air be producing 9MW, while

SummaRISEd STudy

March 2014 MIOXCoolingTowerAd_qtr2.25.14-od.indd 1

www.climatecontrolme.com 2/26/14 63 7:56 AM

THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT

SCALING THE

COOLING TOWERS Peter Tracey gives a broad outline of process cooling for industrial manufacturing operations and offers a few thumb rules to combat challenges encountered in its path.

O

ne of the common uses of water in industry is that of process cooling. It is, however, not the only use, as water is obviously used for steam generation, which is used in many process industries, either as part of the process or for power 64

generation. Most people are also familiar with cooling water in HVAC applications, which is strictly speaking a process. But process cooling in manufacturing industry presents a whole set of different challenges, a few of which will be discussed here.

If we define process cooling, in this case to be industrial process cooling water, it can be used either directly

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

(as in the steel industry), or indirectly through heat exchangers (as in the industrial gas industry).

Direct cooling is a subject on its own and is not discussed here.

Some relevant defenitions:

Scaling This is the deposition of sparingly soluble salts on heat

It is important to realise that scaling/ fouling, corrosion and microbiological activity are all inter-related and cannot be considered in isolation

exchange surfaces, which lead to, at best, inefficiency and, at worst, loss of production.

This can cost millions of dollars in process cooling.

Fouling This is also deposition, but of suspended matter. In this region, we experience a lot of environmental dust, which is scrubbed from the air by the action of cooling towers.

The effects of this are similar to scaling, and often the two phenomena are confused.

Corrosion This is an electrochemical process that leads to metal loss. Once lost, metal cannot be replaced, and an entire

asset can be lost due to corrosion. Corrosion products can also cause fouling.

Some control approaches CHEMICAL APPROACH

OUTCOME

Microbiological activity Bacteria, algae and fungi are found in process water systems. These are naturally occuring phenomena, but their growth can be influenced by the conditions they encounter, such as elevated temperatures and contaminants. Their control is vital to an efficient process.

The control of Legionella is also of importance to those who live and work in the immediate environment.

It is important to realise that scaling/fouling (ie deposition), corrosion and microbiological activity are all inter-related and cannot be considered in isolation.

statutory limit on temperature is usually applied.

Methods of process cooling

Recirculating cooling water:

Once-through seawater cooling: The sea is a source of “free” water, and once-through seawater cooling can be employed where the process is of sufficient size to justify the capital cost. As seawater is very corrosive, titanium or copper nickel heat exchange tubes are employed. One problem encountered is that of molluscs infesting the heat exchangers with resultant loss of its efficiency. To counteract this, seawater hypochlorite generators are used to kill the young molluscs, thus preventing infestation.

Sometimes, cooling towers are used either for conventional recirculating or for temperature reduction.

This can lead to scaling of the cooling tower packing.

In such an event, a scale inhibitor needs to be used.

It needs to be noted that there are restrictions on the quality of the seawater returned to the sea and temperature is of critical importance. Too high a return temperature will affect marine ecology, and, therefore, a

Scale control

Fouling control

Corrosion control

MECHANICAL APPROACH

Scale inhibitor Acid dosing

Reverse osmosis Ion exchange

Dispersant Antifoulant

Multi-media fitration Centrifugal seperation Disc filter

Corrosion inhibitor

Cathodic protection

Oxidising biocides Chlorine, bromine, chlorine dioxide, mixed oxidants Microbiological control

Non-oxidising biocides Isothiazalone, quats

On-site generation of oxidising biocides

Biodispersants

A more common kind of process cooling is where the process is on one side of a heat exchanger and cooling water on the other. These heat exchangers take various forms, such as shell and tube, double pipe, plate and frame.

Some heat exchangers have water on the shell side.

These systems often utilise cooling towers to reject unwanted heat. They are often quite complex, with an array of heat exchangers being served by one central cooling tower system. They are usually “critical”, too, with efficiency being the central issue. Plant integrity is also a key issue, as loss of assets is unthinkable. Potable water is usually used in cooling towers. But we are seeing demands to use lower quality water, such as recycled water from elsewhere.

Care must be taken to avoid deposition and corrosion and microbiological activity must be controlled. Questions need to be asked, such as: Would filtration be beneficial and cost effective? If so, do we use sidestream or full stream?

Fortunately, we are blessed in this region with lots of sunshine.

Evaporation ponds can, therefore, be used where space allows

Issues to be addressed

Zero liquid discharge (ZLD): This is a process where no liquid is allowed to be discharged by a particular plant. It requires that only the solids are allowed to be removed from the plant by a licensed operator.

Fortunately, we are blessed in this region with lots of sunshine. Evaporation ponds can, therefore, be used where space allows. In cooler climates plants have to use thermal evaporation to acheive ZLD. Increasing environmental demands: The use of chemicals as scale and corrosion inhibitors as well as biocides are typically being squeezed by tighter environmental legislation.

Leading water treatment companies are, therefore, constantly upgrading their chemical products to meet new legislation.

Conclusion

The design of a water treatment regimen is a blend of the right mechanical equipment with an appropriate chemical regimen. As situations evolve, this approach should be under constant surveillance to ensure that it is still fit for use.

There are issues to be addressed by industries using water for process cooling Use of lower quality water: As constraints on the supply of potable water increase, there is a need to consider the use of lower quality sources of water. This water, as stated earlier, may come from elsewhere in a process stream, and may be considered polluted. However, modern membrane processes place this water within economic reach. We have already seen this in the District Cooling sector, where using TSE in cooling water system is now mandatory.

March 2014

The writer is General Manager, CoolTech Gulf. He can be contacted at: ptracey@ cooltechgulf.com

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THE PROCESS COOLING REPORT

How to optimise industrial process and data centre cooling

Saying that design engineers owe it to end-users to offer optimal cost and efficiency benefits, Jean-Marc Marchand suggests ways to work around challenges.

W

hen it comes to designing process cooling systems, engineers have the responsibility and obligation towards end-users to take advantage of the latest innovations available to minimise energy costs and water consumption. In order to do this, they must be familiar with the process load profile, seasonal climate conditions, geography and water availability of the specific location.

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Low lift cooling applications

Some industrial processes and most data centres have unique cooling requirements in that they require higher cooling water temperature for heat removal. While one would immediately assume that making warmer cooling water is much more energy efficient and cost effective, it comes with its challenges.

Typical water-cooled chillers are designed for lower temperature – higher lift conditions, as you would typically see in comfort

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Chiller manufacturers are limited in the way they can minimise the negative effect of low lift, either by the type of refrigerant they use or by the design of their machines

cooling applications. The lift on a chiller is defined as the difference between the condenser refrigerant pressure and the evaporator refrigerant pressure. It can also be defined as the difference in their temperatures.

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) standard conditions for comfort cooling are 44°F, leaving chilled water temperature (LCHWT) and 85°F entering condenser water temperature (ECWT).

In data centre cooling and some process cooling applications, these AHRI standard conditions do not apply, because the LCHWT is typically much higher than 44°F. In fact, we can see LCHWT’s as high as 60°F to 75°F. During these conditions, the ambient wetbulb temperatures are similar to those of comfort cooling applications and, therefore, require the chillers to operate at lower lift conditions compared to conventional comfort cooling conditions.

When a chiller experiences lower lift conditions, the compressor has to do less work and, consequently, consumes less energy. This remains true when the load remains constant. But the wet-bulb conditions change and, therefore, the ECWT becomes lower at constant LCHWT. These conditions are very desirable up to a certain point (when the chiller lift becomes too low to maintain stable operation of the chiller). Chiller manufacturers are limited in the way they can minimise the negative effect of low lift, either by the type of refrigerant they use or by the design of their machines. It is up to the design engineers to work around the limitations that low lift imposes on system performance.

Free cooling and partial free cooling One unique feature of a higher temperature process

chilling application is that the return chilled water is usually at a higher temperature than what the cooling tower is supplying to the condenser.

Therefore, engineers have the benefit of taking advantage of partial or full free cooling throughout the major part of the year, with the use of plate and frame heat exchangers.

Partial free cooling is achieved by flowing the return chilled water through the hot side of the heat exchanger and flowing colder cooling tower water through the cold side of the heat exchanger, in order to remove as much heat as possible from the chilled water loop before returning it to the chiller’s evaporator. Full free cooling is achieved by flowing the return chilled water through the heat exchanger and dropping the temperature all the way down to the design process water temperature, thus eliminating the need to flow the water to the chiller’s evaporator. A bypass around the chiller is utilised for this mode of operation.

Switching from these modes of operation is typically achieved by the use of automated valves, as shown in the figure above.

When engineers are tasked with designing a process

One unique feature of a higher temperature process chilling application is that the return chilled water is usually at a higher temperature than what the cooling tower is supplying to the condenser cooling system with free cooling, several factors must be taken into consideration.

Firstly, consider what the first cost with respect to the size of the heat exchanger and cooling tower is. This will need to be weighed against payback duration. If a heavy emphasis is placed on cooling tower capacity and heat exchanger surface area, then the first cost will be high. However, tighter heat exchanger temperature approaches and wet-bulb approaches will be achieved, and, subsequently, there will be more hours of free cooling throughout the year. This results in significant energy savings, especially during summer, and shoulders the

burden of seasons when wet-bulb temperatures are typically higher.

In some process cooling applications, it is not uncommon to design a system where the process water is pumped directly from a common cooling tower sump, eliminating the need for a plate and frame heat exchanger to achieve free cooling.

Without the inefficiency of the heat exchanger, you can achieve lower process water temperatures.

If the wet-bulb temperatures are above the point where the cooling tower cannot cool the process water down to the design temperature, then the water can be pumped through the chiller’s evaporator in order to achieve the required process water temperature.

Typically, three types of pumps are required for this application. Condenser water pumps are required for the heat rejection in the chiller, process water pumps to pump the water directly from the cooling tower sump to the process, and chilled water process pumps to pump the water from the sump, through the chiller’s evaporator and to the process. All three pumps can be located together at the common cooling tower sump.

March 2014

This pumping arrangement makes the layout more efficient and eliminates the footprint requirement for chilled water pumps in a building. It also simplifies the electrical requirements for the system, as it keeps all the pumping electrical loads in one location, as opposed to being spread out across the site.

The main drawback of having an open cooling loop is that the heat exchange equipment will be exposed to open cooling tower water, this can lead to fouling and clogging of heat transfer equipment, if not treated properly. It is very important that adequate filtration equipment is utilised in the cooling tower sump to keep the amount of solids within safe limits and protect all the heat transfer surfaces in the system. The filtration system should be coupled with a good water treatment programme in order to prevent scale build-up and biological growth in the system. Scaling up of heat transfer surfaces impedes performance of the system and shortens the life of the equipment. This also increases the consumption of water and energy, which is incongruous to the environmental and economic benefits of free and partial free cooling.

The writer is from Stellar Energy. He can be contacted at: jmarchand@stellarenergy.net

www.climatecontrolme.com

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perspective

COOLING TOWERS

Why temporary cooling towers in the Middle East?

Arguing that cooling towers are prone to troubles that can throw an entire plant into turmoil, or worse, shut it down altogether, Daniel B Coday lists the benefits of temporary cooling towers and makes a case for them in the region.

T

he thermal performance and capacity of an evaporative cooling tower tends to decrease over time.

At the same time, a plant’s need for colder water tends to grow. Couple these factors with today’s stringent capital constraints and the challenge of expanding an existing cooling tower’s footprint, and one quickly sees why industrial plants of all shapes and sizes

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limp along for years with insufficient cold water, especially during highdemand times and during the hot summer months.

It is a rare thing indeed to find an industrial plant that doesn’t need more cold water than its existing towers can supply.

Worst case scenarios Catastrophic failure afflicts more cooling towers than is commonly known.

Several factors contribute to

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

failure. Towers containing corrosive materials fail decisively at the most inconvenient moments, especially when they are located near the ocean and at low latitudes, where salt and ultraviolet light wreak havoc. Collapse comes at the hand of a strong wind, or fire, earthquake, poor maintenance, and, in extreme northern climates, when ice accumulates in the fill media and air inlet louvres. When a cooling

Temporary cooling towers are an expense of the O&M budget and, as such, can sometimes enable a plant to avoid an exhaustive capex approval process tower comes down, some or all of the plant that it serves also comes down.

Catastrophe visits to cooling towers more than most other industrial equipment.

Advantages of temporary cooling towers In addtion to load replacement following a failure of an existing tower, augmentation of an existing tower and avoidance of maintenance outages, below are some advantages afforded by temporary cooling towers: Reduction of thermal pollution: Many large processes use once-through cooling using water from lakes, rivers or oceans to cool their process before returning warm water to the lake, river or ocean. The resulting algae blooms pose a grave threat to the natural ecosystem and aquatic life. Environmental agencies are imposing ever stricter regulations on discharge temperatures. A temporary cooling tower

helps ensure that the process is able to run at capacity year-round by cooling the process water before it flows back into the lake, river or ocean.

Compensating for a lack of cap-ex funding: A new permanent cooling tower requires a capital expenditure that can be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain, especially on short notice. Temporary cooling towers are an expense of the O&M budget and, as such, can sometimes enable a plant to avoid an exhaustive cap-ex approval process.

Augmentation tower

Routine maintenance of the temporary equipment is performed by the temporary equipment supplier.

Satisfying short-term cold water requirements: Delays in delivery of new equipment, short-term testing of new equipment and other short-term events, such as the Olympics, World Expo and World Cup, can all be assuaged by temporary cooling towers.

Option for DC plants: Some plants are designed with excess cooling tower capacity (n+1) to minimise downtime and its associated costs. However, for a District Cooling plant, the n+1 approach increases initial cap-ex requirements, grows plant size and civil costs and even increases the real estate requirement, since the size of most District Cooling plants is dictated by the space requirements of the cooling towers installed atop their buildings. Temporary cooling towers, on the other hand, give District Cooling plant designers another option if the n+1 approach negatively impacts a new plant’s economic feasibility.

Value addition with temporary cooling towers: Temporary cooling tower companies usually design the temporary equipment layout and supply the cooling towers, pumps and

A case for cooling towers in the region

Despite an ever-growing base of large, already impaired, permanent cooling towers serving life sustaining and other critical operations in coastal regions throughout the Middle East, there are very few temporary cooling towers available in the region. By contrast, North America has more than one million TR of temporary cooling towers, all of which experience heavy utilisation, with many deployed on a year-round or multi-year basis.

Fallen tower

Refining unit

pump controls, piping, tower motor controls, and installation and removal services. They focus on providing value-added service to customers that are usually simultaneously dealing with myriad other business issues,

especially during an emergency. Temporary cooling tower equipment is typically supplied for a minimum term of three months, although many temporary installations remain for much longer, sometimes many years.

March 2014

The writer is Sales Manager-Offshore FRP Towers & North US Region, Tower Tech, Inc. He can be contacted at dcoday@ towertechinc.com

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

The filtration compass

Dr Iyad Al-Attar warns us of the abyss of truth we confront when we deviate from the roadmap for providing clean air and take the fast track to filtration bankruptcy.

I If there are people that still question the need for air filtration in our daily lives, then we should remind them of irritation of the nasal passages caused by pollen, dust and its soiling effects, and consider their unpleasant manifestations, such as hay fever and asthma, experienced by many.

Truth be told, the case against dust and air pollution is not confined to mere irritation or mild unpleasantness. Silicosis, caused by inhalation of minute particles of silica, and other forms of pneumoconiosis

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Fair cost of filtration

What is the price tag for clean atmosphere, air, water, the environment, and the sea?

caused by inhalation of dust including, for example, asbestos, coal, metallic particles, decaying organic matter from vegetation or bird droppings, are serious pulmonary diseases. In short, many airborne particles are the source of disabling or fatal illnesses.

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Conducting textbook air filtration can improve the health of human occupants that would, in turn, reduce the loss of productivity [1].

If some argue that improved air filtration incurs additional cost, I invite them to read studies by Fisk and Rosenfeld, where they have estimated that financial benefits resulting from enhancing air quality by virtue of utilising more efficient filtration, may exceed the costs of filtration by a factor of 20 [2]. While highly efficient filters have higher-pressure drop, consequently signifying higher energy costs, the additional cost may be deemed negligible when compared to salaries, rent or health insurance costs [3].

Here, it is important to highlight the positive impact of enhanced air quality on

protection of different HVAC and gas turbine segments.

Furthermore, the reduction in productivity losses and employee absenteeism due to improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) are not to be underestimated. Some other studies [4] have considered filtration economics and highlighted several costs associated with enhancing IAQ via air filtration. A few of them are: • Filters • Installation frames, racks and housings • Appropriate air handling unit upgrades to accommodate increased static pressure as a result of additional filtration stages and/or improved filter class • Energy and maintenance

Value versus price It appears to me that we have lost our sense of value in appreciating

what is indispensable to humanity. The evidence of climate change owing to human activity is overwhelming. The signs are all around us: Rising temperatures, melting ice, rising sea levels, more droughts, fires, floods and severe storms. If we don’t change our course of action swiftly and sharply, the consequences are going to be terrible. Simply put, what is the price tag for clean atmosphere, air, water, the environment and the sea? We are always ready to pay more for a fashion item. But when it comes to innovation that may not necessarily be visible, yet enhances our quality of life, such as advanced filtration technologies, we tend to regard them as unnecessary.

We look down upon filters as expensive items with a simple cleaning function to remove pollutants. Our minds cease to grant air filter the “value” it deserves. We miscalculate the cost by equating price to value, and overlook intellectual properties, technological know-how, research time and capital investments. By doing so, we reinforce the view that filter craftsmanship, quality and performance are peripheral to the selection criteria. We, thus bluntly declare that such critical factors are on the wrong side of our balance sheet. Perhaps, Oscar Wilde was right when he said, “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

When pockets are not fully exposed to the air stream, their permeability reduces and the pressure drop of the filter rises accordingly

Figure 1: Disintegrated pocket air filter left in operation

Figure 2: Collapsed pockets (right) of filter compared to relatively reinforced pocket filter (left)

Filtration bankruptcy

Cost of filters is admittedly not getting any lower, with filter media and frame material, whether metal or otherwise, are increasingly becoming more expensive. The only reduction in price, then, is to perhaps rely on altering performance parameters or extending the lifetime of the filter by any means. When

I say any means, it includes doing the unthinkable and washing the disposable filter, as shown in Figure 1, where a pocket filter is left to reach filtration bankruptcy.

Figure 2 shows collapsed pockets, as they were unable to sustain the flow rate (on right side of the figure) compared to reinforced pockets (on the left side of the figure). When pockets are not fully exposed to the air stream, their permeability reduces and the pressure drop of the filter rises accordingly.

Figures 3 and 4 show different stages of dust-loaded fibrous filters in an air handling unit, where in the latter, the fibrous media can barely be seen.

In fact, certain studies have shown that dust-loaded filters can be a source of potential re-introduction of particles/ pollutants, which negatively impact filtration performance and IAQ [5-9].

Lack of communication– designing in isolation

Figure 3: Scanning electron microscopic image of dust load fibrous filters

March 2014

I get very excited when I hear people talking about “Green” buildings and the advanced methodologies used to optimally achieve it. But how can we achieve such superior objectives when dust and other pollutants are invading our

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Spotlight

buildings from different directions? Are designers from different departments communicating effectively with each other or are they at all communicating?

Are they granting each design parameter its full consideration relative to the others? Who pays for the damage caused due to lack of communication? Why is it difficult for all designers to sit around one table?

If the yardstick to measure success matches the physical reality of design to its process, shouldn’t architects, engineers and consultants work jointly to provide designs that are more accommodating to occupants? It is essential to realise that every building element influences the performance of others is an inescapable fashion. No one is suggesting placing either more or less emphasis on architectural design, engineering fundamentals and/or material selection.

They are all equally important. However, the integration of various design parameters is also critically important.10 This requires careful examination of the implications for HVAC equipment selection, ventilation, lighting, thermal control, energy and IAQ. Early considerations of the following parameters are keys to providing a healthy indoor environment and play a significant role in saving capital and operating costs: 1. Physical and chemical characteristics of the outdoor air 2. Indoor polluting sources 3. Appropriate filter selection I do not blame building owners if they panic when surprises are sprung upon them at the commissioning stage of their building.

Now, everybody is forced to sit around the table with blaming fingers ready to

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2 Fisk WJ, Rosenfeld AH. Estimates of improved productivity and health from better indoor environments. Indoor Air 1997; 7:158–72.

3 Fisk WJ, Faulkner D, Palonen J, Seppänen O. Performance and costs of particle air filtration technologies. Indoor Air 2002; 12:223–34.

4 Bekö G, Clausen G, Weschler CJ. Is the use of particle air filtration justified?

Costs and benefits of filtration with regard to health effects, building cleaning and occupant productivity. Building and Environment, Volume 43, Issue 10, October 2008, Pages 1647–1657 5 Pasanen P, Teijonsalo J, Seppänen O, Ruuskanen J, Kalliokoski P. Increase in perceived odor emissions with loading of ventilation filters. Indoor Air 1994; 4:106–13.

Figure 4: Scanning electron microscopic image of barely seen dust loaded fibrous media

point at each other. In the midst of all this, imagine the number of design conflicts and tedious revisions that need to be addressed. And just imagine, in such a stressful discussion environment, how many designers are willing to address whether or not the pre-designed air filtration requirements have been met and what would be the air quality inside the building.

Typically, it seems there is no room in the priority list of such a meeting to accommodate air filter requirements. The only practice that is well rehearsed is conducting meetings to fiercely discuss substantial discounts for filter acquisition.

But when considering an air conditioned indoor environment that we spend most of our time in, we all strive for thermal comfort, regardless of the air quality, unless of course, it triggers lung irritation. Therefore, I urge all individuals concerned that before they conduct that “Green Building” meeting, they ought to pay a visit to the air handling units of the concerned building and have their cameras ready, because quite simply, a dusty building cannot be “Green”, can it?

Now, let’s confront the truth, shall we? How can we be morally obligated to

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

Certain studies have shown that dustloaded filters can be a source of potential re-introduction of particles/pollutants, which negatively impact filtration performance and Indoor Air Quality prevent people suffering from air pollution when air filters are left to reach the stage of filtration bankruptcy? How can we allow dust to reach air diffusers, human occupants, operating theatres and incubators, and still claim that we have done our filtration homework? How can we wash disposable filters (pockets, minipleat and absolute) and re-install them to attempt to save costs, where we should actually be saving lives? All of the aforementioned symptoms are indicators that we have not only deviated from the roadmap to provide clean air but have also lost our filtration compass.

References: 1 Dockery DW, Pope III CA, Xu X, Spengler JD, Ware JH, Fay ME, et al. An association between air pollution and mortality in six US cities. New England Journal of Medicine 1993; 329(24):1753–9.

6 Pasanen P. Emissions from filters and hygiene of air ducts in the ventilation systems of office buildings. Doctoral dissertation, Kuopio University Publications C. Natural and Environmental Sciences, vol.

80; 1998. Pages 1–77.

7 Clausen G. Ventilation filters and indoor air quality: a review of research from the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy. Indoor Air 2004; 14(S7): 202–7.

8 Bekö G, Halás O. Clausen G, Weschler CJ. Initial studies of oxidation processes on filter surfaces and their impact on perceived air quality. Indoor Air 2006; 16:56–64.

9 Hyttinen M, Pasanen P, Björkroth M, Kalliokoski P. Odors and volatile organic compounds released from the ventilation filters. Atmospheric Environment 2007; 41(19):4029–39.

10 ASHRAE, 2009. "Indoor Air Quality Guide, Best Practices for Design, Construction, and Commissioning" ISBN: 978-1-933742-59-5

NOTE: Unless otherwise referenced, the images used in this article are copyright of the author.

Dr Iyad Al-Attar is an Air Filtration Consultant.

He can be contacted at: iyad@iyadalattar.com

endpoint

M Rajkumar

The man from extremes M Rajkumar, CEO and Director Engineering of BESTPRO & AHRGLOBAL, has clocked 37 years of HVAC experience across geographical extremes – from Moscow to the Middle East – with a stint in the United States. A firm believer in sustainability, he talks of wanting to contribute to the region through cuttingedge technologies.

March 2014

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Education

I earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India, and worked for a German company, which manufactured highly specialised synthetic resins.

Warming to HVACR

I wanted to move into the field of Mechanical Engineering as a Chemical Engineer. In terms of career opportunities, I was looking at several countries. As a student of Chemical Engineering, I had studied heat transfer.

Heat transfer in Chemical Engineering is a major subject – heating and cooling of vessels to make sure chemical processes are done the right way. Also, air conditioning was also one of the subjects we had to study. So, I thought that if not the oil industry, the air conditioning industry seemed the obvious choice.

Playing a stellar role

I joined Blue Star Ltd in March 1981, as Manager – AC&R Projects. K R Sankaran, whom many people in the Middle East know, owing to his days spent here with Carrier and JCI, was my boss. My annual target was 60 lakhs, but I did 40 lakhs in six months.

Voltas, Blue Star and Batliboi were top companies in India then. Blue Star was No 2, because Voltas was in a tie-up with Carrier. So it required greater effort to sell Blue Star products.

The company gave me plenty of opportunities to handle design-and-build projects. During my tenure there, I worked on the ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle) project in 1984. The project involved 100,000 clean rooms.

Also, there were a number of works with the nuclear reactor project in Kalpakkam.

Owing to the radiation, the HVAC was highly specialised.

In 1985, I worked on yet 74

At the end of 45 minutes, Martin Morris pulled me over to Dubai to work on the Burj Al Arab project

another Government of India project as an employee of Blue Star. This was with the Tamil Nadu Explosives factory, where it was needed to control the relative humidity (RH). They were manufacturing hot gelatin capsules. We had to maintain RH to make sure the factory was safe. We had to maintain 24% RH and 20°C. A normal air conditioning system would

Climate Control Middle East March 2014

not be able to handle the assignment. At the time, there were no sophisticated and accurate controls, so we had to customise the system. I got a lot of experience by working on the project.

In 1986, Carrier snapped ties with Voltas in a bid to go it alone. In 1989, Carrier Air Con came to India. They picked me to handle the southern region.

The work involved setting up the business for them in the South. At the time, the concept of distributors did not exist. It was Carrier that introduced the concept, through selecting dealers, training them and effectively making dealers into contractors. And with that the European style of business model came to India.

While at Carrier, I got intensive management training in Australia on Distribution Management.

The training programme involved Carrier employees from 28 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The training was conducted through management

simulation games and was very interesting.

After two years in southern India, I moved to Mumbai, where Carrier was facing some technical issues. This was in 1989-1990. I ran the Mumbai operations for a year to clear the issues.

Sunny side up

During my Mumbai days, I saw the sun set into the Arabian Sea and wanted to see the sun rise, so I moved to the other side of the pond, Oman in January 1992 and joined the Bahwan Group.

At Bahwan, I was the first from a Blue Star background.

Bahwan gave its engineers very intensive training. They don’t compromise. They have the highest integrity and the highest standards in engineering and contracting.

While in Oman, in the 1990s, I heard of the Burj Al Arab project. It sounded exciting. I called up Martin Morris at WS Atkins from Oman, and he interviewed me for 45 minutes, and at the end of it, pulled me over to Dubai.

That was in January 1996.

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M Rajkumar

Frigid moscow

Mumbai, India

After the Atkins experience, which was a little over two years, in 1998, I joined AHI Carrier as Senior Manager.

And among my early assignments was a stint in Moscow. I arrived in the Russian capital in February with a colloquial knowledge of the language and with the winds howling and chilly at minus 25 degrees centigrade.

In addition, there was the old Communist mindset among the management in the office. They did not seem overly concerned about how to market a product, which obviously is a necessity in a capitalist economy. Anyway, we succeeded in turning things around. Carrier looked at the success of AHI Carrier in the CIS countries and gave us 15 countries in Africa.

At that time, Africa was the

lowest-performing region, with business to the tune of USD 500,000. Within two years, though, we managed to achieve USD two million.

The American sojourn

In 2003, Blue Star Infotech got an order for five to USD six million from York. (It was called York, then; it was only in November 2005 that JCI bought York.)

Roy S Hubbard of York, who is a large-tonnage chiller expert, a technical genius and the brain behind York’s energy simulation program with chillers, called Blue Star Infotech and asked, “Find out somebody to help me with calculations and with low-side (AHUs), etc.”

In response, Blue Star looked around and saw I

March 2014

had experience in hot-ambient conditions in the Middle East and in cold conditions, like Russia. I was familiar with engineering terminology and the flow of the sequence of software and how the software should communicate in selecting the equipment.

That’s a complex part to select, plus design for highambients. And so they chose me and asked me to join. I accepted and settled down in York, Pennsylvania for three years.

I went there as an employee of Blue Star Infotech. My role was to make the energy simulation software. It involved doing the basic cooling load, doing alternative equipment within the same brand. The point of the exercise was that the software would tell the owner the annual utility cost and how much damage it will do

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to the environment (in terms of NOx, SOx). It would also tell the payback period to the owner. The program was tailored with North America in focus. In 2006, I completed 99% of the project and came to the Middle East.

Back to Dubai – going it alone

Dubai was going through a boom period, then. I started BESTPRO, along with my partner, Venkatesh Rajan, and ever since, have been running it independently.

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BESTPRO is the culmination of my career. Since I had touched every aspect of HVAC and had a passion for HVAC, with a majority of the time spent with leadership companies, I wanted to do justice to the field and, specifically, to give the right equipment to support the cause of energy and environment.

This last mission – working for the cause of energy and environment – was most profound while with the team of York specialists. I had had

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Ice is better than chilled water storage, because ice has very high latent capacity

the opportunity to go deep into software programming and simulation. The entire experience was an eye-opener.

To be able to arrive at the right equipment and connect them most harmoniously was a great feeling. It was system engineering in the most harmonious way to benefit from the standpoint of energy and environment.

During those three years, I had to study lot of books on concurrent topics. Many thanks to Roy Hubbard, my guru.

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M Rajkumar

How I wish to contribute to the region

Skyscrapers of Moscow

My business philosophy

In BESTPRO, I decided to take equipment from suppliers with strong R&D and look for futuristic products. That became my philosophy to doing business. EVAPCO was the first major brand that I set out to represent in the region. At that point in time, Evapco was not doing well in the market – their equipment was in a couple of towers here and there. And there was

also the perception that they were expensive. But people were missing the point. Every product of Evapco’s is CTI certified.

Evapco has been carrying the maximum number of patents in evaporative cooling in the last 10 years. These patents – scientific breakthroughs – involved reducing water losses, improved thermal efficiencies and the design (sloped drain pan, to name one) to avoid legionella.

BESTPRO represents the route for me to contribute to the region. I want to contribute through cuttingedge technologies and those that will make a substantial difference in terms of sustainability. For instance, I wish to promote ice-thermal storage in the UAE. The country can definitely benefit from it. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are fully into icethermal storage. For instance, the King Abdulaziz University in KSA is one of the largest ice-thermal storage projects in the region.

If you were to have a 1,000 TR plant, for example, you have to use 800 kW. With ice-thermal storage, a 1,000 TR plant in peak conditions can be brought to 600 TR and to a power consumption of 500 kW. Through this way, the entire power generation activity can become manageable. So, I strongly feel that ice-thermal storage should catch up in the UAE. In the case of ice-thermal storage, the coils can be buried in the sand, and so there are no space issues, no footprint issues. There are fantastic global examples of ice-thermal storage that do not intrude on valuable real estate footprint. In the US, for example, a school wanted to increase its air conditioning capacity, and so they installed ice thermal storage beneath the basketball court.

Ice is better than chilled water storage, because ice has very high latent capacity – ice in small volume can have high cooling effect – stored refrigeration effect.

Overall, we are trying to promote ice-thermal storage to optimise power generation in the UAE. Also, the installed capacity of cooling equipment can be reduced.

If we have the thermal load profile, we can do peak shaving for the UAE. The thermal load profile March 2014

changes from application to application, building to building. That’s why it’s a challenge to arrive at the data.

I would imagine a body like DEWA would be most happy to get its hands on the data.

I feel the government should sponsor the initiative.

To put things into further perspective, the Dubai International Airport has a cooling capacity of 110,000 TR. They can bring peak demand down by 30%. They are facing a challenge with the demand. So, ice-thermal solution is the best solution in cramped spaces. Cooling tower size comes down owing to ice-thermal storage.

I wish to contribute to the region also through promoting the liquid desiccant air conditioner technology – the system uses liquid desiccant and gives out dry air. I believe it is the first system to remove moisture and simultaneously cool the air. This can be commercially viable for public buildings as well as any level of stringent humidity conditions, be it food or pharma. For example, they use the technology in the meat processing industry in the USA. The system we promote increases the COP of any air conditioning system and kills 91% of the viruses in the air, contributing to the indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

Speaking of IEQ, I also want to encourage the use of fabric ducting in the region through the product I represent, which is Durkeesox. Fabric ducting is cleanable and washable on a weekly basis. Of course, one must not forget that the ducting material should have fire-retarding capacity.

Anything that is fire-retardant coated loses its coating and is dangerous – without the coating, the fabric rapidly spreads the fire. The product we promote blends fireretardant component in the raw material of the yarn, and then the yarn is produced.

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endpoint M RAJKUMAR

Home base... Dubai

after washing. I can say this with absolute conviction, because the testing at our end was done after 50 washes, and the property was intact. That is why we are able to give 15year product warranty.

Traditionally, there has been a limitation with fabric ducting in that they have to be installed below the false ceiling, owing to the risk of condensation. Now they are coming up with thermal insulation, though, which probably can allow it to get into the false ceiling.

I do firmly believe that fabric ducting has widespread applications in the food industry, in the high-end warehouses.

Since we at BESTPRO are a full-fledged systems engineering company, and are ASTM certified, to boot, we have the capability to put the ducting properly in place, as 78

They are coming up with thermal insulation which can allow fabric ducting to get into false ceiling

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if we were consultants. We will do the shaft drawings and are confident we can go to the fullest extent possible to have the ducting installed in a proper manner.

1989, he said he wanted to see computers on all tables.

He used the Internet as early as 1989.

Mentors in life

My family consists of my wife and son. My wife is a chemistry graduate, but has made her mark in graphic design. Her work came in for much appreciation during her stint in the United States.

My son has got a bachelor’s degree in Computer Hardware Engineering.

After a stint with Akamai in the US, he is now working towards an HEC MBA in Paris.

At one time, my interests revolved around flying. I was a private pilot during my college days in India. I don’t fly anymore. I’m more grounded today and content with practising yoga.

I think I was lucky to work with leading companies.

When it comes to mentors, Roy Hubbard of York (JCI) comes to mind immediately.

His hard work and passion for engineering clearly stood out, and his presence was a source of inspiration. K R Sankaran, was another major influence in my life.

His energy and memory for details were astounding; little wonder, then, that he had a distinguished career.

Ramesh Sarin of Carrier India was another phenomenal personality. He was incredibly forward thinking and a bluechip manager. Way back in

My family, my interests