HOT|COOL NO.2/2016 - "District cooling in the Middle East"

P19

By Daniel McCabe, Editor, Kamstrup Etihad Towers, home to one of the tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi (above), stands as a shining example of the potential of district cooling solutions. The famous five-tower complex, which featured prominently in the latest installment of Hollywood’s Fast and the Furious franchise – Furious 7, is equipped with 935 of Kamstrup’s intelligent cooling meters. The meters operate throughout four of the five towers, ranging from 218 to 305 meters tall and spanning 244 floors in total. They are all connected in a wireless, radio-frequency solution. From the site’s control room, the organisation has complete control over the operation of its entire cooling network with detailed information that enables them to optimise performance. Not only do they get consumption data, they can also monitor the supply temperature coming out of the cooling units. In the event of power failures, leakages, bursts, or performance issues - like if the cooling units do not produce enough cold water to provide adequate cooling, info code alerts are sent to the head-end system in the control room so that the issue can be resolved quickly. This innovative solution and the benefits it has brought to Etihad Towers is just one example of how Kamstrup’s advanced district cooling technology is being utilised the Middle East. The Danish company is one of the world’s leading providers of intelligent metering solutions for district cooling. Having had a local office in the Middle East for over a decade now, this article will look at what it takes to penetrate the district cooling market in the region.

Local insight Kamstrup errs on the side of caution when using the blanket term Middle East. As Danish Fareed, the company’s general manager for heat, cooling and water meters in the Middle East, explains: “The Middle East covers such a large area and a lot of very different countries and regions, each with their own unique needs.” Kamstrup has had an office in Dubai since 2006. During this time, their local sales team has gained a deep, first-hand understanding and appreciation of the challenges and needs facing district cooling clients across the Middle East. The demand for cooling meters is greater in some areas than others and growth varies significantly throughout the region. At present, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are the fastest growing markets. Success in these regions rests on the ability to provide a long-term solution that has both flexibility and interoperability, according to Danish Fareed. Long-term solutions “In the UAE, most of the population lives close to the shoreline where it is very hot and humid. So they need meters that are built to last and can withstand the high pressure and humidity,” explains Danish Fareed. Kamstrup’s flow sensors for cooling are resistant to humidity and condensation as the signal converter is placed in the bottom of the calculator. With no moving parts, the flow sensors are resistant to wear and tear and are maintenance free. Furthermore, the meter’s battery can last up to 16 years, which ensures a cost-effective and long-term solution.

www.dbdh.dk

J O U R N A L N 0 . 2 / 2 0 1 6

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online