Not so ‘chill’ industry

Dubai, UAE: Harsh climatic conditions in the Middle East mandate the use of cooling systems almost round the year. With the United Arab Emirates being a tourist destination, the hospitality industry is required to maintain a certain temperature at all times to create a pleasant experience, and therefore, is in much need of an efficient and effective cooling system. As preparations for Dubai Expo 2020 and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar are in full-swing, the demand for chillers is expected to increase. However, in addition to the market slowdown, the chiller industry is facing a number of challenges. Magdy Mekky, CEO at GAMI, names a few:

• The cost factor – Even though the running costs are much less for high-efficiency chillers, their market acceptance is comparatively low due to the high initial costs involved.
• Climate issues – Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the region, chillers must operate up to 52 degrees C at full load and up to 55 degrees C at reduced capacity.
• High Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV) – This is the design aspect of manufacturing that indicates the chiller’s running efficiency at part-load conditions.
• BMS connectivity – Integrating BMS with chillers remains a challenge.
• Noise and vibration – Noise and vibration from chillers are ongoing issues.