Much like the heart in the human body, HVAC pumps are central to powering the smooth operation of buildings. Although they remain out of sight, pumps help supply and transport water for heating and cooling throughout a building, playing a crucial role in creating safe and comfortable indoor environments that support sustainability and occupant health.

Kevin Laidler

As our world becomes more urbanised, global energy demands increase and are projected to grow by 55% in the next 10 years. In the Middle East region, energy consumption has grown faster than the GDP since 1980. Fuelled by population growth, infrastructure developments and the growth of energy-intensive industries, the energy consumption rate of countries in the Middle East are amongst some of the highest in the world, and energy demand is only projected to increase.

Given the region’s future energy demand, now is the time for countries in the Middle East to explore solutions to improve energy efficiency and, ultimately, to reduce the region’s carbon footprint, helping to support wider national and regional sustainability goals. This is where innovative pumping technology can make a real difference.

In my experience working in the field of pumps and helping customers operate buildings more efficiently, adopting a more holistic approach is the key to improving energy efficiency. When selecting pumping systems, it’s important to consider more than just the pump itself; indeed, it is crucial to ponder over its role and relationship with other systems in the building. In the last decade, technology for HVAC systems has been enhanced to deliver enormous energy savings compared to traditional systems. Many of these energy savings start with pump selection and sizing itself. New pump technology can incorporate demand-based control to ensure system flow and indoor temperatures are provided only as needed.

One example of leading technology is Parallel Sensorless pumping technology, which enables pumps to be installed in parallel configurations, and which adjust automatically according to system load. Innovations such as these enable pumps to operate at optimum levels to consume as little energy as possible while still providing the required system flow.

Another example of innovative pump technology that saves energy is variable-speed pumping. In the Middle East, cooling systems work particularly hard to counteract the warm climate. Upgrading or enhancing cooling systems is a key opportunity to improve energy efficiency. In these cases, variable-speed pumps are an effective solution. These pumps optimise system performance and respond to real-time system conditions to dynamically adjust equipment operation and match system demand. The result is highly efficient cooling systems that deliver substantial energy savings and costs compared to conventional fixed-speed pumps.

Variable-speed technology, combined with Parallel Sensorless technology, is capable of achieving savings of up to 90% compared to traditional, constant[1]speed systems. The pumps are designed for long life and ease of maintenance. Each pump has split coupling, which enables all mechanical seal components to be withdrawn for servicing without the need to disturb other pump components.

For one project, in the three-month period after the installation, the facility saved 118,355 kWh of energy, for a cost reduction of USD 14,633 using this pump technology. In this three-month period, the facility was also able support sustainability to deliver about 30,000kg of CO2 savings.

The pumps were integrated into West Al Shorouk, a large-scale housing project in Cairo, Egypt, carried out by the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces. The facility – which contains 1,000 five-storey buildings, 860 villas and more – accommodates Egyptian military personnel and their families. The scale of the project required a thoughtful and efficient solution that would reduce the risk of failure. This is where off-site build for pumping systems can be particularly effective.

Factory assembly ensures that all system components are integrated exactly as required for performance and long-term reliability. To fit the domestic requirements of more than 1,000 residents at West Al Shorouk, pumping systems were build off-site, fully integrated and tested prior to delivery. This method eliminates performance risk, reduces maintenance requirements and makes installation easy.

The benefit of using pre-packaged pump systems also means that on-site operators have a single point of responsibility for the entire system, including pumps and controls. This single-sourcing approach, as opposed to using multiple vendors, ensures that all components work in harmony. It makes maintenance or sourcing additional parts easier, as building operators will only need to coordinate with a single vendor. Another innovative way to enhance pump performance is through the use of smart technology. Integrating pumps using advanced control and automation technology allows operators to use data to inform decisions regarding HVAC equipment. Accurate flow data allows for learnings and optimisation to enhance system performance.

Higher performing systems not only lower energy consumption but also require less maintenance. The overall result is a productive and comfortable indoor environment for occupants and an efficient, lower-cost facility for operators. Simple payback on these systems is usually reached within five years. Energy savings can continue for the life of the system, delivering up to 40% savings on consumption related to HVAC operation.

Pumping systems play a vital role in enhancing energy efficiency and supporting our buildings and our wider community. In order to truly drive energy efficiency across industries, what countries in the region need is an integrated energy efficiency strategy. We must look at long-term benefits, rather than just short-term costs, to select solutions that better support people, and our planet. To truly change industry behaviour, strategies must unite individual sectors, and their supply chains around a single set of objectives, which all focus on driving energy efficiency, enhancing sustainability and improving occupant comfort.