E+E Elektronik

Claiming that it has been specially developed for OEM applications and high-volume production, E+E Elektronik has launched CO2 sensor module EE892, which it says consumes less power. It supports this claim by saying that features, such as an adjustable measuring interval, enable optimum adaptation to specific applications while maintaining an average current consumption of less than 60μA.

This, says the manufacturer, makes the EE892 CO2 sensor module the ideal battery-operated, energy-saving device.

E+E Elektronik lists the following product features and advantages:

• The digital interface and compact design facilitate clear-cut integration in mobile and energy-sensitive applications such as, data loggers or demand-controlled ventilation.
• The CO2 load cell is based on infrared technology (NDIR) and, thanks to the patented E+E autocalibration process, it is maintenance-free.
• Ageing effects are compensated automatically to guarantee outstanding long-term stability.
• The measuring accuracy and the large measuring range of up to 10,000 ppm make the EE892 an ideal tool for universal and flexible applications.
• E+E also provides corresponding application notes to enable easy integration of the CO2 sensor module in specific customer applications.

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

Las Vegas, Nevada, the expo organiser has announced. 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 have 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                     

For further information: Visit the AHR Expo website at http://www.ahrexpo.com or contact 2032219232 or email to info@ahrexpo.com.

Claims that future-oriented metering is basis for smart grids

At this year’s Metering Europe conference and exhibition in Vienna, Siemens presented, what it called ‘a holistic smart metering solution’ as a key component for setting up smart grids. The announcement was made by the Energy Sector, Power Distribution Division of Siemens. The solution consists of an AMIS automated metering and information system and an Energy IP metering management system, it said.

Siemens explained that a data hub Energy IP integrates existing utility IT systems via a SAP-certified interface into the smart metering infrastructure. Utilities can thus utilise smart metering across their business – from metering to billing and from operations control to network planning. The smart metering solution provides a future-oriented basis for tomorrow’s smart grid applications, which will help handle the increased feed-in of renewables-based power, Siemens claimed.

The core tasks, according to Siemens, include remote reading and management of all meters in a supply area. Gas and water meters communicate bidirectionally via smart Siemens AMIS meters. It added that existing ripple control systems can be replaced with the new technology. Furthermore, utilities can utilise the system to record network parameters such as over and undervoltage, short-term and long-term failures, and power quality indicators from the medium-voltage network and to the end-customers, the announcement said.

It further claimed that network operation, as a whole, can, thus, be optimised on the basis of detailed information, such as, ground-fault and short-circuit displays, and measurable asset indicators. Additional services, such as gas and water metering are also possible, along with a range of solution modules that support network-wide process automation. This, said the announcement, includes integration of the meters, data concentrators and transaction servers of the AMIS automated metering and information system, and the linking up of utility IT systems to the Energy IP data hub – the metering management system of Siemens’ partner eMeter. Solutions for telecontrol of the low-voltage network, monitoring of network quality and support for mass installation of electronic meters complement the portfolio, it added.

According to the announcement, at Metering Europe in Vienna, a demonstration showed how Siemens integrates the Energy IP metering management system as part of a holistic smart metering solution via the SAP-certified MDUS (Meter Data Unification and Synchronisation) interface into an existing corporate IT environment. The announcement further explained that it applied both to Siemens AMIS smart meters and to the meters supplied by other manufacturers.

Siemens added that with its network planning tool Sincal, it was able to demonstrate in Vienna, how the metering management system can use cumulative measured data, instead of statistically postulated consumption data as real consumer load profiles for network planning and simulation in order to provide a more precise basis for computations. The use of actual consumption data will become even more necessary, the more the renewables-based power fed into the grid and increased amounts of energy are drawn at night, for example, to charge electric vehicles, explained Siemens.

A round-up on the recently concluded Chillventa in Germany

Chillventa 2010, the International Trade Fair for Refrigeration, which took place from October 13 to 15 in Nürnberg, Germany, drew nearly 900 exhibitors, nearly 63% of them international.

“The increase in the number of exhibitors to currently 880 international companies shows me how important our exhibition is for the international refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pump sectors,” said Gabriele Hannwacker, the Exhibition Director of the event. “I am also pleased about the large international share of exhibitors.

The Cleanroom Village

A highlight of this year’s event was the Cleanroom Village – a highly specialised presentation of cleanroom technology. Walter Ritz, Senior Consultant Pharma, TÜV SÜD Cleancert, said: “The Cleanroom Village is an ideal extension to the existing range of products at Chillventa and gives visitors and exhibiting companies a special platform for dialogue. I see the Cleanroom Village as a cross-industry expert forum that also appeals to the broad base of Chillventa visitors as well as to the cleanroom professionals,”

Running parallel to the Village was a forum, where top cleanroom experts gave presentations and discussed current issues. The forum focused on cleanroom fundamentals, current technology trends, certification requirements and necessary measures for staff training.

Energy efficiency and high-tech

The Industrial Heat Pump Village, in Hall 1 focused on heat pumps for the second time. Here, 19 companies presented their products and solutions for heat pumps.

Congressing

Another key attraction at the event was the Chillventa Congressing programme, which ran parallel to the exhibition. It supplied information covering all segments of refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pumps.

Chillventa Congressing started the day before the exhibition with an IEA-HPP workshop on Industrial Heat Pumps and the established ASERCOM + EPEE Symposium. The symposium on “Air-Air Heat Pumps for Heating and Air Conditioning of Commercial Property” was organised under the technical direction of Prof Franzke of ILK Dresden. ESaK – the European Academy of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning – started a new approach with its “Presentation by Trainees”, at which students presented their study projects and theses. Due to current developments in refrigerants, an additional symposium on “Refrigerant – Sustainable Future” was included, which allowed an up-to-the-minute overall survey of activities concerning new refrigerants. All the major manufacturers were involved in this event, which was under the technical direction of Prof Ullrich Hesse from the Bitzer Endowed Professorship for Refrigeration and Compressor Technology at Dresden University. ASHRAE rounded off the day before Chillventa with a workshop on “Reducing Energy Use in Data Centres”.

On October 14, eurammon offered its series of presentations on “Applications with Natural Refrigerants – Country Situation and Experiences”, with four lectures in English.

Visitors to the event also had the opportunity to source extensive information at forums on refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, heat pumps and cleanrooms. The forums focused on topics, such as energy efficiency of refrigeration plants and components, industrial refrigeration, supermarket refrigeration, refrigerant development, energy efficiency, regulations, power control, energy-optimised components and solutions for phasing out R22.

Claims Vestolen range is sustainable and cost effective material for pressure pipe applications

According to an announcement, SABIC, manufacturer of plastics, polyethylenes, polypropylenes and chemical products, introduced its Vestolen range, termed ‘A RELY’ portfolio, at the Plastic Pipes XV Conference in Vancouver, Canada. SABIC described it as a bimodal high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material for pressure pipe applications, and claimed that Vestolen offers converters energy savings and enables environmentally responsible pipe installation. The term ‘RELY’ referred to the material’s reliability, which is critical for transporting potable water, gas and other liquids, explained SABIC.

It stated that the first two grades in the Vestolen A RELY portfolio are Vestolen A RELY 5924R and Vestolen A RELY 5922R, and elucidated that one is designed for low sagging and the other is engineered for high resistance to slow crack growth. It claimed that this would enable developers and contractors to select trenchless pipe installation, such as guided boring and horizontal directional drilling, which reduce impact on the environment. The materials are classified as PE100 grades, demonstrating compliance with the highest industry standards for HDPE pressure pipe, SABIC added.

According to the announcement, the company also presented a new strain hardening method for evaluating the slow crack growth resistance behaviour of HDPE. The method avoids the use of detergents that can pose an environmental hazard and also avoids the use of drinking water, the manufacturer claimed.

“Our new SABIC Vestolen A RELY products in combination with the strain hardening method – that measures their performance – are key deliverables in SABIC’s global strategy to supply the pressure pipe industry with breakthrough technologies,” said Jean Engels, Business Manager, HDPE SABIC. “SABIC takes great pride in proactively developing materials and methodologies that meet current and emerging industry needs, particularly in the areas of sustainability and cost effectiveness. We also welcome new partners who can help us drive development of new pipe solutions utilising our high-performance HDPE materials and extensive technological resources and expertise,” he added.

As per the announcement, Vestolen A RELY 5924R and Vestolen A RELY 5922R are now available globally, and additional grades within the product line are due for release in the near future.

Will supply products to infrastructure projects

Systemair, the Sweden-based company, has announced that it has received three orders valued at a total of approximately SEK 14 million for the supply of its products to major infrastructure projects in India. The first project is Kolkata Airport, one of India’s largest, to which Systemair will deliver about SEK five million worth of ventilation products, beginning in November, said the announcement.

The other two projects are Delhi Metro Rail Cooperation and Delhi Airport Metro Express Line, where the company will be delivering about SEK nine million worth of ventilation products. According to Systemair, the Delhi projects now in its kitty, are linked to the company’s involvement at Delhi Airport last year, which came as its first breakthrough in India.

Commenting on the orders, Gerald Engström, CEO, Systemair, said: “There are a number of major infrastructure projects in India, where we see a great potential to contribute and deliver our products. These are three prestigious orders that clearly strengthen our position in India.”

Engineered solution provides low-temperature application for ATK and NASA

Aggreko, which deals in rental power, cooling, heating and oil-free compressed air, announced that it is working with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to test Development Motor-2 (DM-2), NASA’s second fully-developed Ares five-segment solid rocket motor. Aggreko’s low temperature chillers were used to execute the DM-2 ‘cold motor’ test – supporting ATK’s objective to meet NASA’s specification to cool the motor to 40°F to measure solid rocket motor performance at low temperature and verify design requirements of new materials, the announcement added.

According to Aggreko,the temperature of DM-2 was controlled by the atmospheric conditions within the removable building housing, the test motor. It explained that to achieve this scope of work in a controlled and repeatable manner, Aggreko process engineers and temperature control experts used specialised temporary utility equipment to cool the structure to target temperatures of 20°F. It added that its engineered solution for the cold motor test consisted of temporary generators to power the system of low-temperature chillers; specially designed low-temperature air handlers; a customised air conditioning duct system; and a suite of temperature control and electrical distribution equipment.

Describing the operation, Aggreko claimed that it designed a first-of-its-kind low-temperature air handler configuration to manage climate control for the mobile building – three stacks of two air handler units with a custom-made defrost unit. One of the air handlers drew air from inside the building, cooled it to 20°F, then recycled it into the building, while the remaining unit was on standby or defrost mode, enabling continuous cooling of air, Aggreko explained. A seventh air handler was installed to provide fresh air and positively pressurise the mobile building to eliminate infiltration of warm, moist air.

Aggreko said that prior to the live test, it detached the equipment from the building, and the structure was rolled away, and that it continued to cool the rocket motor section joints with a custom air conditioning duct system up to an hour before the rocket was fired.

“This project was unique due to its many special requirements,” said Steven Bukoski, Project manager for Aggreko Process Services, a process engineering group within Aggreko. “Aggreko’s specialised, large-capacity portable equipment and skilled technicians were critical factors in successfully achieving freezing temperatures under challenging environmental conditions, such as hot summer temperatures, cooling 1.6 million pounds of propellant, and working with a movable structure.”

“Reliable equipment and working closely with ATK on all critical issues enabled our team to meet NASA’s temperature cooling requirement and support this important milestone for NASA’s space flight programme,” he added.

Sharjah-based green company gives a thrust to green e-learning

Bee’ah, the Sharjah Environment Company, on October 6 launched the Bee’ah School of Environment, which thanks to an e-based learning approach, will feature innovative teaching tools on the environment.

Bee’ah is an integrated environment and waste management company.

Speaking at the launch, at the Expo Centre Sharjah, Bee’ah General Manager, Khaled Huraimel, said that the virtual eco-school was in response to appeals from educators for innovative tools. The programme involving the eco-school, he added, would be implemented in over 145 schools, educating some 100,000 students.

The Bee’ah School of Environment is a comprehensive, bilingual (English and Arabic) education programme that consists of a range of engaging, fun and interactive environmental activities and lesson plans that are designed to be applied in classrooms and/or eco-clubs.

Event throws light on maintaining hygienic standards with energy efficiency

On September 28, Euroclima, which manufactures air-handling units and double-skin fan-coil units, and an associate of Faisal Jassim Trading Company, conducted a seminar on best practices in AHUs, at Hilton Abu Dhabi. The speaker, Bernward Ruegenberg, Technical Director at Euroclima, made a presentation highlighting hygiene-related requirements for AHUs.

Drawing attention to the need for complying with hygienic international health standard in AHUs, Ruegenberg said that it was of prime importance, as biological contaminants like bacteria, mould and other of micro organisms can breed in air conditioning systems and form a biofilm, which can get suspended in indoor air. This could pose a health hazard in the form of respiratory infections, lung diseases, mainly for people with weak immune system, especially children and the elderly. Other possible health problems, he said, were allergic illnesses, irritant effects and toxic effects.

Under the rubric of Hygienic Requirements and Energy Efficiency Testing for AHUs, Ruegenberg spoke about why hygienic air conditioners are a must in central AHUs and decentralised /domestic air conditioners, and put forward 10 hygienic requirements for good air quality. He also gave guidelines for technical measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of unhygienic conditions in AHUs.

The 10 requirements he dealt with comprehensively were regarding:

1. Casing materials (metal parts)
2. Non metallic parts
3. Construction details
4. General accessibility
5. Coils
6. Droplet separators
7. Condensate trays/drain pans
8. Filter sections
9. Drain trap/siphon
10. Fan motor sections

Under the topic, General AHU applications and hospital sector, he discussed European hygiene standards and hygiene requirements for ventilation and air conditioning systems and units. Ruegenberg supported and demontrated his presentation with visuals and graphs.

Ruegenberg also added that all parts in contact with the air flow should be made of materials which do not emit any substance harmful to health or provide a nutrient substrate for micro organisms – from the ceiling to the floor.

In conclusion, Ruegenberg said that for air conditioning units to provide good air quality, we need to ensure that hygiene conforms to AHU execution, there is proper maintenance and cleaning and that there are regular hygiene inspections.

Explaining how to ensure hygiene standards to conform to AHU execution, he listed the following:

1) Specify AHU execution to be according to actual and sophisticated hygiene standards, treating this matter specifically:

• VDI 6022 – part 1 – or all HVAC applications

• DIN 1946 – part 4 – for hospital applications

2) Ask for manufacturer’s declaration of conformity for the delivered units

3) Specify manufacturer to provide third party-certification of conformity from independent accredited laboratory, specialised in tests such as ILH – Berlin or equivalent

4) Specify material quality, suitable for environment and use

Experts talk of how buildings can be made to consume 29% less energy, at little or no cost

Buildings account for about 40 per cent of all energy consumed on Earth, and making even small changes, or retrofitting existing structures, can triple savings in energy and water costs, as well as create healthier environments for residents, experts at the ‘Green Retrofitting’ forum said. The forum took place on October 6 in Dubai.

The panel of speakers

The second in a series of Green Brunch events, organised by The Energy and Environment Park (ENPARK), a sustainable community model for commercial and residential use and a member of TECOM Investments’ Sciences Cluster, the forum gathered several regional experts who shared their insights with the delegates.

Countering the misperception that retrofitting is a costly, laborious and, hence, a dispensable process in the backdrop of economically strained times, speakers at the event underlined that making a building green need not be expensive, and for every minor retrofit the returns on investment can be tangibly significant –  ecologically, economically and socially. As much as 29% of energy consumed by buildings can be reduced at little or no cost, the experts pointed out, quoting the fourth assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Ahmed Lootah, Senior Business Development Manager, ENPARK, said: “It cannot be sufficiently emphasised that retrofitting remains an attractive proposition even in a tough economic scenario, and ought to be seriously considered by owners and residents of all buildings, whether residential or commercial. Here is one activity where the return on investment is guaranteed to be significant in terms of saving maintenance costs and improving the living conditions for the tenants.”

Ahmed Lootah

Jagath Gunawardena, Manager-Projects, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke on the topic, ‘Is Greening an Existing Building Costly?’ The headquarters of Dubai Chamber, on Dubai Creek, was the subject of an extensive retrofitting exercise. In 2009, it became the first LEED-Certified Existing Building (EB) in the Arab world.

Gunawardena noted that initiatives, such as capturing condensate water from the building’s air-conditioning systems; installing smart CO2 sensors, which regulate and maintain the ideal flow and quality of fresh air into buildings; and optimising elevator design went a long way in saving water and power. Capturing condensate, he said, if practised by malls, airports and factories, would result in the recycling of substantial amounts of water. Likewise, changing the thermostat by one degree would impact an energy bill by nine per cent, he added.

Sougata Nandi, Executive Director of Asset Management and Sustainable Development for TECOM Business Parks Operations, spoke on the topic, ‘Making Green Retrofitting Work: A Developer’s Perspective’. He said, “Making a building green is no more a technical challenge but increasingly a leadership and commercial one, as we are required to provide an economic justification for doing the right thing.”

The ‘Green Buildings’ Green Brunch follows the first of the series, themed ‘Energy Efficiency’, which ENPARK conducted in July 2010. The third and the fourth events will discuss water and waste management. The ‘Green Brunch’ series features presentations and open debates to help raise awareness of new energy and environment-related technologies and solutions available in the market.