Company showcases sustainable high performance building solutions at its Abu Dhabi conference

Carrier introduced innovative new products and services during its Middle East HVAC Engineering Conference, with a focus on sustainability and high-performance building solutions. The conference took place in September. Sixteen speakers presented solutions for improving energy efficiency to an audience of nearly 300 building professionals, demonstrating how to drive sustainability forward in the Middle East.

In his welcoming remarks, Carrier President, Geraud Darnis discussed Carrier’s intent to work with owners, design consultants and contractors to tackle the issue of energy consumption. “Few innovations shaped modern life more dramatically than the ability to control indoor climate, with buildings and cities throughout the Middle East made possible by this invention,” said Darnis. “As remarkable as Willis Carrier’s invention of modern air conditioning is for our society, today we are presented with a challenge and a new reality. We must all work together to shape the sustainable buildings and cities of the future.”

At the event, Carrier formally launched the latest addition to its portfolio of water-cooled chillers, the Evergreen 19XRD, Carrier’s largest single-piece chiller employing non-ozone depleting refrigerant HFC-134a. The company also launched Aquaforce 30XW, a new generation of water-cooled liquid chillers, which according to the company, offers flexible, energy-efficient solutions for commercial building owners in high-ambient conditions.

During the conference, Carrier also organised a series of 12 engineering workshops, focusing on the application of new products and technologies to achieve the Middle East region’s goal of sustainable development.

The company said that with a strong focus on sustainability, it is committed to developing new products, technologies and resources to help the HVAC industry satisfy the growing demand for environmentally-responsible, high-performance buildings. John Mandyck, Carrier’s vice president for Sustainability & Environmental Strategies, explained, “At Carrier, we believe green products must start at a green company, which is why we have incorporated environmental stewardship into our products, services, operations and culture over the past two decades.”

A natural evolution of Carrier’s approach to sustainability is the AdvanTE3C Solutions Center, a new global group of Carrier Experts in Efficiency and Environment focused on developing sustainable building solutions. Michel Grabon, director of the Center, introduced the new AdvanTE3C engineering capability, which applies today’s technology in an innovative fashion to achieve even greater energy efficiency and environmental benefits for sustainable buildings.

Speaking on the occasion, Paul Fraipont, Managing Director of Carrier Middle East, said: “We see governments, customers, and industry stakeholders across the Middle East paying increasing attention to the sustainability of buildings and communities. Carrier shares this environmental commitment and is bringing to the region new high- technology products consistent with this vision.”

Acquisition of second company on the cards

Drake & Scull International (DSI) has signed a Letter of Intent for the acquisition of a Saudi-based Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) company.

“We made a commitment to our shareholders when Drake & Scull International was listed on the Dubai Financial Market, and are pleased that we are now in a position to deliver on that promise,” commented Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI, “Our first acquisition in the Kingdom is a key milestone for DSI, which will significantly contribute to our momentum as we venture forth in our growth strategy,” he added

According to the announcement, further details of the acquisition will be announced soon, once the Sales Purchase Agreement has been signed.

DSI said that it intends to finalise the acquisition of a second company in Saudi Arabia, specialising in civil construction, before the end of the year.

Concludes that accurate energy analysis tools are needed

On September 23, Trane hosted and conducted a seminar, titled ‘A closer look at chiller ratings’, at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai. W Ryan Geister, Global Portfolio Leader, Centrifugal Chillers, Trane, Ingersoll Rand, was the key presenter in the first session, while Mike Thompson, Director of Environmental Affairs, Trane, Ingersoll Rand, was the key presenter in the second session.

Geister’s presentation, in keeping with the theme of the seminar, was called, ‘A closer look at chiller ratings’, and dealt with the right approach to evaluate the performance of central chiller plants. It was based on a seminal review of the topic, written by the keynote speakers, which appeared in the December 2009 issue of the ASHRAE Journal, and was reprinted in the ISHRAE Journal and Climate Control Middle East, in the July and September 2010 issues, respectively.

Thompson’s presentation, called Energy, the Environment and HVAC, dealt with how the growing concerns and pressures of the environment, economy and society would impact the HVAC industry, and how the industry would adapt. The presentation touched upon LEED/green buildings, refrigerants and energy efficiency.

Mike Thompson

In his talk, Geister asked whether chillers were part of the problem or part of the solution, and said that for years, the HVAC industry has struggled to find easier ways to evaluate the performance of central chiller plants, and noted that the urgency had led many to use single number evaluation methods, such as IPLV. He questioned the validity of the approach.

Against this backdrop, Geister stated: “Using less comprehensive evaluations is enticing and may seem logical, as IPLV was created by the AHRI, and is often promoted by some manufacturers as the method to analyse chiller performance. However, as acknowledged by AHRI, IPLV or NPLV (non-standard part load value) does not accurately represent a chiller plant’s operating characteristics.”

Stating that decisions based on incomplete data often resulted in poor predictions of equipment energy use, he emphasised, “So, it is important to use accurate energy analysis tools to ensure optimal economic and environmental solutions.”

Ryan Geister

Thompson, in his talk, summarising the developments in the steadily changing landscape of refrigerants, said that the message was that existing refrigerants would be available for the life of all existing equipment but that new refrigerants were already on the near horizon, and the industry needed to be prepared for change. Thompson believed that such transitions were something that the industry had successfully managed before, and, therefore, he saw no reason why the next evolution would not be achieved just as smoothly and efficiently, as before.

According to Trane, the presentation, which was well-received, was part of a multi-city tour that Thompson will undertake to Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, throughout October and November, to spread this message.

Will present case study on its actuation solution for district cooling

SIPOS Aktorik has stated in an announcement that it will support the Second Annual District Cooling Summit being held in Doha from 28 to 30 November, with a premium gold sponsorship package. It said that it will also have a presence in the exhibition area through its local agent, Torento Energy Systems.

Apart from this, according to the announcement, a case study on the implementation of SIPOS 5 variable speed actuators in district cooling plants in the UAE, is listed as a topic during the summit. Steffen Koehler, International Sales Manager, SIPOS Aktorik, will present a paper on the subject on the first day of the programme, highlighting how its actuators control cooling water flow and protect hydraulics from water hammer, the announcement added.

The summit has been designed to attract delegates from a range of sectors, including, district cooling owners/operators, EPC/MEP and maintenance contractors, along with water re-use/conservation companies and WwTW and power utility organisations.

The November 7-9 Doha event will focus on greener buildings, smarter grid

Qatar Cool, the district cooling provider for the Pearl Island of Qatar, is gearing up for the build-up to the International District Energy Association’s (IDEA) 5th International District Cooling Conference and Trade Show in Doha, from November 7 to 9 (see related stories in supplement: DCQ). Qatar Cool is the host of the show.

This is IDEA’s first event in Qatar and its fifth in the Middle East, with last year’s conference being held in Dubai. Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with IDEA business partners during the trade show, where vendors and suppliers will showcase the latest district energy technologies and equipment, the announcement added.

According to the organisers, the theme of the 2010 conference – District Cooling: Greener Buildings, Smarter Grid – emphasises the advantages of district cooling systems, which improve building energy efficiency while reducing the economic and environmental strain on the regional power grid.

The agenda for the conference’s technical session includes a combination of panel discussions, addresses, and peer-to-peer exchanges, providing multiple outlets for district-cooling industry leaders to gather and share insights on the growing role of district cooling in building greener communities and smarter electric grid, said IDEA. Key session topics include, Modelling, Managing, and Maximising Energy Efficiency of District-Cooling Systems, Cooling Water Strategies, Sustainability, and Stewardship, and Master Community Planning, Infrastructure Design and Implementation, IDEA added.

Also included in the conference programme is a luncheon address by the Honourable Joseph Evan LeBaron, the US Ambassador to Qatar, who will also present the Export Achievement Award, stated the announcement.

Through the news release, the principal host and sponsor of the conference, Qatar Cool, has invited conference attendees to attend the inauguration of, what it claims to be the world’s largest district cooling facility, in Doha, on November 9.

Qatar Cool’s plant will supply 130,000 tonnes of chilled water daily to cool more than 15,000 structures and provide comfort to the 40,000 Pearl Island residents, the announcement elaborated.

For additional information about the conference and trade show, visit http://www.districtenergy.org/.

Company says order is the largest in its history

As part of the biggest expansion plans ever undertaken for the Holy Mosque in Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al Salem Johnson Controls announced that it would be supplying 16 OM Chillers of York equipment for the Shamiya Central Utility Complex (CUC), located 1.35 kilometres from the Holy Mosque. According to the company, the plant, when completed, will reportedly be one of the foremost facilities in the world to help provide a quality environment for visiting pilgrims, in keeping with the Makkah expansion project.

Basil Abdulaziz, Managing Director, Al Salem Johnson Controls, Saudi Arabia, confirmed that the contract includes 16 York multi-stage industrial centrifugal OM chillers, of 5,000 TR each, with a cooling tower. The equipment will use HFC-134a refrigerant, which the company said, is environment friendly and does not contribute to ozone depletion.

According to Johnson Controls, the plant will help conserve water by processing Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), acquired from ablution water. It further added that it would also reduce electricity consumption through the use of eight Solid State Starters (SSS) and eight Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), which, the company said, would be integrated seamlessly with BMS systems.

Arif Hussain, National Products Manager (LTC & STC), explained that there would be reduced pumping and piping costs by using many specialist equipment, such as 13.8kV TEWAC motors, thicker gauge 90-10 Cu-Ni tubes of condenser, 90-10 Cu-Ni cladding on tube sheets, sacrificial zinc anodes, vibration monitoring system, automatic tube brushing system, 0.71 kV/TR at very harsh design conditions and very high evaporator temperature split of 24°F design T. “By using OM ETC water-cooled centrifugal chillers, there would be huge savings on power consumption,” Hussain said. This would, thus, reduce the carbon footprint and, indirectly, global warming for every year the plant is operational, he added.

Abdulaziz added, “We are delighted to be suppliers for a noble initiative such as the Holy Mosque in Makkah.”

According to the company, the order was won due to the support of Shaikh Saleh M Binladen, who is a board member of Al Salem Johnson Controls Joint Venture.

Said Binladen, “It was a great honour for myself and for our joint venture partners at Johnson Controls in Saudi Arabia, to contribute in serving the greatest and highest place, where we strive continuously to provide the greatest efficiency and quality of Johnson Controls products.”

B Surendar

So much water has flowed under the bridge since January 2007, when the International District Energy Association (IDEA) grandly debuted in the Middle East with its first ever show, in Abu Dhabi. The mood at the Emirates Palace Hotel (the venue of the show) was buoyant, then, and the focus of the discussions was on how to meet the tremendous projected demand for district cooling in the region, estimated at the time to be 15 million tonnes of refrigeration by 2015. While some thought the figure to be ludicrous even then, several believed it as a fair estimate, which led them to the next question, ‘How will the large chiller manufacturers gear up to meet the demand?’

Truly, it was heady times, then. The buzz was in the air, not just in that IDEA conference but also in the subsequent one, held in Dubai in 2008. Ditto for the monthly meetings conducted by the ASHRAE Emirates Falcon Chapter.

Cut to the present, and the clear shift in focus of discussions cannot be more obvious. At the recent MEED conference (see the cover story on page 54), a substantial period of time went to discussions on issues like regulation, finance and risk management. It was as if an industry, chastened by the downturn, had woken up to the need for a regulatory authority to weed out the excesses, which seem even more unpalatable in these most constricting of times.

While the downturn has played it part in sprouting nay-sayers of district cooling – this is a fact and not a figment of the imagination – the end-users, so routinely ignored during the boom time, are becoming more audible by the day. And their questions and convictions cannot any longer be sidelined. The industry cannot afford to.

The sentiment change towards district cooling is most pronounced in the UAE – understandably so, considering that the country was the first to invest in the new paradigm, risks, warts and all. This does not mean that the country’s neighbours are immune to the situation. True, Qatar has its gas reserves to bank on, and Saudi Arabia has always been the region’s looming financial giant. In addition, the Kingdom has a pent-up demand for housing. According to various sources of information, the Kingdom will need in excess of one million new houses by 2015. With the cost of setting up new power stations not getting any lesser and with power subsidies not a sustainable option, district cooling is it. While these factors may seem as robust factors for boundless optimism, there is no better time than now to talk of regulations and the need for an authority body to anticipate and prevent bad practices. No one wants plants overdesigned to capacity. No one wants kilometres of pipelines lying buried in the sand and waiting for chilled water to flow through them.

– B Surendar

HVACR event being held for the first time in Las Vegas

The 2011 AHR EXPO (International Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) is slated to be held from January 31 to February 2, at Las Vegas Convention Center, in the US state of Nevada.

The HVAC/R’s event, which is produced and managed by the International Exposition Company, attracts exhibitors and attendees from all facets of the industry around the world, and will include contractors, engineers, dealers, distributors, wholesalers, OEMs, architects, builders, industrial plant operators, facility owners and managers, agents and reps, the organiser claimed.

The announcement has listed the following features and attractions of the expo:

• More than 1,800 exhibitors from every segment of the HVAC/R industry
• More than 360,000 net square feet of exhibition space
• More than 40,000 visitor and exhibitor personnel
• More than 100 Seminars and educational sessions
• Building automation and control showcase
• AHR Expo Innovation Awards presentation
• New product technology theatre presentations

For further information, visit the AHR Expo website at www.ahrexpo.com, contact +1 203 221 9232 or e-mail to info@ahrexpo.com.

Bellenger to speak on the topic, ‘Modelling a sustainable world’

ASHRAE Society President, Lynn G Bellenger, will be visiting Doha on October 5, the Qatar Oryx Chapter revealed yesterday.

Bellenger will be giving a technical presentation, titled ‘Modelling a sustainable world” on the same date at the SinSima Hall at Doha Millennium Hotel.

For information on the presentation, contact rgabrial@gmail.com