Hani Nadaf, the General Manager & Partner of Qatar Electromechanical Solutions, the authorised distributor of Trane in Qatar, spoke to B Surendar about the prospects for Trane’s TVR technology in the peninsula. Excerpts…

What key factors give you the confidence that the TVR will do well in Qatar?

We have the name of the brand that is driving sales. TVR is not an unconventional system. It requires qualified technicians to sell it. Trane has an excellent after-sales-service record, owing to the Trane training culture. Also, we have 1,200 square metres of service area on the ground and with all the spare parts available. So, I would say that after-sales and the brand name are reasons for the success of TVR.

What is the potential for the technology?

The potential is definitely there in Qatar, and the consultants’ community here has embraced it. In the case of the TVR, we are able to achieve energy savings and control of capacity from 10% to 100% without loss of energy, while competitors cannot control less than 30%. We have installed the system in our office and trained our technicians and engineers. One of the clients who came visiting, liked the technology and wanted TVR in his business, Al Kuwari Hotel. I must add that the cooling quality and space-saving feature appealed to him. So we completed the job at Al Kuwari in 2012-2013, and now the project site is a reference for introducing the technology in other hotels.

What COP have you been able to achieve?

We have achieved a COP of 3.4, as per AHRI conditions we have achieved. To achieve savings, the controls should be sophisticated. The control of TVR is compatible with BACnet and is helping the consultant well.

We are now launching the T3 TVR, and it can stand up to 52C, in factory testing conditions. It will be out very soon, by the end of Q2 2013. It will be called, TVR 4G.

Speaking generally about VRF technology, consultants point out to having an issue with leakage of refrigerants, given the exceptionally long piping. How are you addressing the challenge?

When it comes to leakage, it depends on the right installation, as per the manufacturers’ recommendation. We at TVR are keen that technicians should understand the procedure in the right way.

Have you landed any retrofit assignments in Qatar?

We still do not have real jobs, but there are enquiries in that direction. At the consultants’ level, TVR is well known, but clients need to be educated on this technology.