MY BACKGROUND

I’m a person of Syrian origin, born in 1971 in Kuwait, where my parents lived. I grew up and finished my early schooling there. My parents thought that I would, one day, become an engineer, as I always dismantled toys to see how they worked. Evidently, I never had a functional toy as a child.

In 1990, my father expressed the idea that I should go to Canada to get better exposure to English. He also believed that the move would help me have a more structured personality. So, I went to Canada without hesitation, as his words always meant a lot to me.

I’m grateful to Kuwait, because it was a stepping stone to my move to North America. Canada played a major part in my life.

I did the final years of high school at Woburn Collegiate Institute in Toronto from 1990 to 1992. And in 1992, I joined the Mechanical Engineering programme at the University of Toronto.

CAMPUS LIFE

It was while in university that I met one of my mentors, Professor William Cleghorn, during my first year of engineering. He taught me three courses during the entire programme. He was also my Bachelor’s supervisor.

In my Final Year, I joined the Manufacturing Research Corporation of Ontario (MRCO) – a scientific research body. It was part of a programme which connected the Fourth Year Engineering students to industry to do research, and I did the programme with IMAX.

During this period, I developed a working model for a project, which was part of the Kinematics and Dynamics course meant for Third Year Engineering students, and was nominated for several awards.

After obtaining my Mechanical Engineering degree in Toronto, I returned to Kuwait and started a Master’s programme at the Kuwait University. As part of the programme, I constructed the first air filtration tunnel and conducted initial testing for it. I believe it is still there at the university. A picture of the testing facility made it to the regional ASHRAE newsletter in 2003. In April 2004, I registered for my PhD at Loughborough University in Leicester, UK.

The turning point for me, however, was in October 2003, when I went to Dusseldorf for my first international conference – Filtech Europa – a biennial event, which is a gathering of filtration professionals. It provides an opportunity for meeting people from the industry and doing research. I went there as a member of the audience, in order to learn from the experts. The event prompted me to register for courses in Filtration conducted by Professor Richard Wakeman and Steve Tarleton.

I was a great admirer of Professor Wakeman, and wanted to study under him. When I first approached him, eager to show my Master’s presentation and line of research, he started off by sparing only a few minutes of his time. But when he saw a few of the slides, he expressed interest in seeing the rest of them, as well. He, then, suggested that I should do my PhD. “I want you as a student,” he said, and I felt honoured.

I certainly learnt a lot from him. In fact, he influenced my thinking and approach to filtration problems and general engineering problems. I learnt to emulate his confidence, calmness and competence. And I also got a ‘mini PhD’ from him on how to deal with people at a personal level. He was very articulate and had the art of making you feel comfortable about not only what you knew, but also about what you didn’t know.

It was this newly acquired self-confidence that nudged me to eventually make presentations at Filtech Europa. To date, I have made presentations in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

THE DOCTORAL YEARS

Though I went to England to do my PhD, in reality, it involved three countries – Kuwait, UK and Germany. We used the environmental dust in Kuwait as the benchmark for dust levels in the GCC region to characterise the dust chemically. The research itself had global implications, because we used a full-scale filtration set-up and also a full-scale set of experiments. We used a wide range of flow rates – from the very low to the very high – covering those used in the industry, and were able to monitor the velocity effect on the filter performance from an efficiency and a pressure drop point of view.

The most challenging aspect of the PhD programme was to find a suitable place for conducting a set of experiments, and also where permission could be obtained to do so. I’d like to express my gratitude to EMW, and to Gerlide Drache, the MD of EMW Filtertechnik, Germany, in particular, for readily granting me approval and full access around the year to conduct the set of experiments needed. She also granted me full access to the manufacturing facility to accommodate the design requirements for my PhD. Here, I must explain that though the dust acquisition was in Kuwait, the UK was where the research work was done, and included conducting a set of experiments. In fact, the characterising part of the work was done there.

I was grateful to receive the Thomas Hogg Overseas Scholarship from the University of Toronto to do my PhD outside the US/Canada. The criterion for winning it was doing research in fluid mechanics on turbo machines. Fortunately, air filtration fell under fluid mechanics.

While doing my PhD, I was closely associated with the industry and working in it. The reason I preferred this setup was because I came to academics after I had recognised the technical challenges and identified the areas that had, hitherto, been untouched. Therefore, my endeavour was not merely to get a PhD but to bridge the gaps I saw in the industry and fill the lacuna in knowledge. I sincerely believed that there were many untold stories and many boxes that had been left unopened and that I had not so far been able to open. For instance, I wanted to know what the particle size for a particular application was. To gauge this, you need a particle sizer – a tool for quantification. If the tool is absent, you cannot achieve much in air filtration, as it is a crucial parameter; nearly everything depends on this. In fact, a particle sizer that went to nano scale was needed, as it would add a new dimension to the research.

If you look at research now, I realise that there was a lot of pressure on us, as we were limited by certain particle sizers. But now, with new nano particle sizers, a new area of research has opened up. However, you might get interested in going to an even lower particle size to characterise the filter performance, say in particle sizes lower than 500 nanos. This sort of invention would spark great interest among air filtration scientists. They would think: Now that we can quantify this, why don’t we conduct further experiments? With all this new technology, we can do a full-scale of experiments, for example, in terms of flow rates.”

KICKING UP A STORM!

The most interesting question is, how does a sandstorm affect us? Dust in the GCC countries is mainly silica. Inhaling a certain concentration of silica is unhealthy, and we need to achieve higher efficiencies of air filtration not just for specific places, but even for residential and commercial spaces, regardless of international standards. Some of the international standards tell us that for offices, 65% efficiency is considered acceptable. But I believe that 95% efficiency is necessary. If someone were to choose to challenge me about this, then my answer is that intelligent filter design available in the market makes high-efficiency filtration possible and accessible, in terms of energy consumption. In old designs, a 95% efficient filter would require about 170 pascals. Now with newer designs, you can achieve the same efficiency with 95 pascals.

Here, I must point out that the actual performance of absolute air filters used in HVAC and gas turbine air intake applications tends to deviate from the performance predicted by laboratory results. This is especially true in the Arabian Peninsula, as the region is prone to frequent sandstorms and known to have dust with characteristics deviating from that of commercially available synthetic standard dusts. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics of dust challenging air filters is needed to better understand, evaluate, predict and enhance the performance of absolute filters. This would prove invaluable in investigating the impact of these characteristics on filter performance. While we can use the global research using standard synthetic dust, we cannot rely on the results totally, as the physical and chemical characteristics may differ, resulting in difference in filter behaviour. The filter performance is a function of the geographical location and/or the field of application of the filtration technology.

Quantifying sandstorms is the challenge that the region faces. Sandstorms demand further research in order that we learn more about filter behaviour during dust loading. Having said that, that alone is not enough. Filter manufacturers need to adjust their filter designs to accommodate the extreme properties of the regional dust and its concentration.

Without the support of the GCC governments, it might take decades to achieve any real milestones in the field of air filtration. Meanwhile, the region will have to rely on overseas research centres and their laboratories. Therefore, I highly recommend a Filtration Research Centre (FRC) to be established in the GCC region and attract scientists and researchers who can contribute to the crucial field that has long been neglected.

I sincerely believe that government support in the GCC states will go a long way in supporting the cause of air filtration. Allocating funds for air filtration research is the first step in the right direction. It could, for instance, be used for testing tunnels, labs and measuring devices to accommodate the different types of experiments needed to better understand the filter requirements of the GCC countries under different ambient conditions. We also need to simulate the dust concentrations reached during sandstorms, which are frequent in the region.

I also think that we need to update air filtration requirements in the GCC states, especially in relation to green buildings, clean rooms and operation theatres. My question is: How can we address our aspiration to have top-notch buildings, without being willing to listen to or look at recent innovations in air filtration? I would love to hear a building winning an award for IAQ or for being with the least particle presence.

We don’t have a sticker saying, ‘This building is a HEPA-clean room area.’ We always care about things that are visible, like furniture and thermal comfort, but we don’t always consider air quality from the particulate suspension point of view, which is also important.

Everybody would like to have HEPA on air conditioning. But what about pressure drop? Fortunately, now the new design reduces the pressure drop. I, therefore, think the sector should pay heed to recent developments. International standards need to be updated. We need to change our perception of these standards and interpret them appropriately. But are there appropriate standards in place to fit the region’s harsh dusty environment? Yes, there are standards, that factor in certain type of dust with particular physical and chemical characteristics. But do these characteristics fit the types of dust prevalent in the region? The answers to these questions may not be readily available. So, we need to further investigate and update the standards. We need a regional version of the international standards to ensure that appropriate air filtration selections are made. Above all, for all these to fructify, what is needed is the support of the governments of the GCC states.

In my opinion, universities and research centres will not be able to do much if the proper tools are not present to take research on air filtration further. We cannot rely on yesterday’s selections for tomorrow’s requirements.

We need to look at what goes into Intelligent Building design. Eventually, we build to live inside. So, clean air is needed to make the building pleasant and habitable. We, therefore, need to place more emphasis on air filtration.

Due to an erroneous perception, many in the construction sector think that air filtration has to be given due consideration only if it is part of the Green Building criteria. Instead, I would like to see people striving and competing to provide clean air.

People generally associate clean air only with operation theatres and incubators or if there is a baby at home. But we forget that the child might go to a daycare centre and fall ill. We only tend to look at the teaching quality of schools. But we never consider its air quality. Do we trace the source of the air inside a building?

We need to promote air filtration to the point when it becomes an integral part of the requirement. It is unfortunate that only when there is an epidemic do we think of filters. And once it is over, so is the concern about clean air. The general tendency is to be reactive to certain circumstances, rather than being proactive.

WHAT EMW MEANS TO ME

In 2000, I joined EMW Filtertechnik, Germany, to represent the company in Kuwait. From 2000 to 2007 the model I had established proved to be successful, and in 2007, EMW asked me to be the Regional Director for the Middle East to expand their business interests in the region. But my association with the organisation, of course, goes back to my Masters Degree days. They had sponsored part of my Master’s programme. And even while working for my PhD, I was part of EMW. I think I’ve always been a part of EMW. Basically, I grew up with the organisation. I feel I’m the child of the company and that I belong to the family. I owe my success to it.

As their International Consultant, I enjoy a certain degree of independence. The company has supported me in all aspects – technical and otherwise. They are open to new ideas and are willing to listen. They are flexible and accept any design modifications to accommodate the end-users’ requirements, but within the parametres of air filtration design. Also, they respond quickly to customers’ requirements.

What I find most gratifying is their rigorous commitment to quality. The German definition of filtration implies doing textbook filtration – we play by the book. And this makes EMW special. Their eagerness to promote any filter modification that would make air filter one pascal less to save energy is really a great motivator.

MY MENTORS

My father, Mohammed Sharif Al-Attar, had a huge positive influence on me. He inspired me at several stages and in different missions of my life. He was always my counsellor, whom I consulted on almost every aspect of my life. He not only gave me valuable support, but he was also my driving force who ignited my ambition. My father was not only the greatest man I had ever known, but he is also the friend I can never remake.

The fact that I lost him makes me feel that I’ve lost my right arm. He has left a huge vacuum in my life.

My mother, Aisha, is another role model and a source of emotional support for me. She is a great believer in education. When I was young, she would always tell me, “Acquiring knowledge erases ignorance.” It influenced my belief that one can never cease to learn. Although her tears were not always visible, she supported my educational endeavours in Canada, Germany, England and Sweden, knowing that my long absences were for my own good. If there is one person I owe all my success to, it’s certainly my mother.

My wife, Hadeel, has also been really supportive, and has played an important role in me completing my PhD. She provided me the right environment to enable me to focus on my work.

Professionally, Professor Cleghorn and Professor Wakeman have been my mentors and have contributed to my success. I belong to Professor Wakeman’s school of thinking, and he is my role model.

MY INTERESTS

I love travelling and do so whenever time permits. I’ve visited 37 countries. The Rocky Mountain in Canada is a favourite destination. And I love horse riding in Normandy, France. Visiting the wonders of the world is a favourite pastime.

I love to interact with people of different cultures. Over the past 10 years, travelling has taught me to be tolerant and understanding and encouraged me to accept and learn about other cultures. I think, in the end, it’s the common denominators that bind us together as human beings. I would like to share what I’ve learnt from different cultures with others.

I think my desire to travel is also in some way, aligned to my life-long mission to promote better air filtration practices. With this as my goal, I’ve given presentations in Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain and Germany. My aim is to take my message to every city worldwide until people are better informed.

I BELIEVE …

I think I’m an eternal student. I’d like to study and learn till my dying day. I believe that learning should not be associated with age. In life, you can never say that you’ve learnt enough. It’s like breathing. It’s like oxygen to the brain.

But mere knowledge is of not much use if it’s not applied to improve the quality of our life. The mantra that constantly buzzes in my mind is: Making a difference to humanity starts with knowledge. I want to make a global difference in the field of air filtration. I realise that the first step to achieving my goal is to equip myself with appropriate academic tools in order to position myself to make an impact. This was exactly why I dedicated my professional and academic endeavours towards the study of air filtration and promote it as a science and unfold its secrets. I’m convinced that filtration can and will improve the quality of life of people in many nations by giving them access to cleaner drinking water and air – two of the most important elements in life. But do we dare to bridge the crucial technological gap between the developed and the third world countries?

MY PHILOSOPHY

I’m deeply involved in the subject of air filtration. I entered the field of air filtration to make a global impact. But we need to learn more, conduct more research and share. If I learn and don’t share it, then my knowledge dies with me. I’d like to continue to do research and understand the mysteries of air filtration.

I attended a PhD external course at the Stockholm University in 2005 in Urban Air Quality, in order to update my knowledge and interact with the world’s most experienced professors and lecturers in different fields associated with the health effects of contaminants and the urban sources of emissions.

The same year, I founded the Connections Award at the University of Toronto, for the best presentation, given to those working on a thesis from the same industrial group. I decided to institute Connections, because I wanted to give something back to the programme. The award has been running for the past 15 years. I sometimes wish such an incentive had existed during my student days. Recognition is my major driving force, and I would have been really proud to see my name engraved on the trophy. It would have spurred me to work harder and do better. I hope that the award will light a spark of interest in the coming generation.

I was recognised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto, in 2008 and 2009 for my contribution to the Connections Programme and for founding the Connections Award.

I’d like to support further research, especially in air filtration in terms of helping students with limited financial resources. This is because, there are more people studying liquid filtration than air filtration, and I strongly advocate further research in the field.

Whether we zoom in or zoom out, overlook or squint to assiduously observe, the air filtration process is part of our daily lives. As human beings, we can survive only for a few seconds without air. So, air filtration is crucial, and has its fingerprints pervading all human activities.

Dr Iyad Al-Attar is an international consultant in air filtration. He is a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Toronto and received his Masters degree from the Kuwait University in 2004, as a part of which, he constructed the first air filtration facility in Kuwait and conducted the first set of experiments on it. His Masters and PhD involved conducting research on advanced air filtration technologies with special emphasis on the physical and chemical characterisation of atmospheric and synthetic dust and air filter performance in operation during sandstorms. In 2008, the Filtration Journal, which is the official Journal of the Filtration Society in the UK, appointed him as the Editorial member from Kuwait. The American Filtration and Separation Society has appointed Dr Al-Attar as an international member of the Editorial board from Kuwait. He is a member of the Aerosol Society, UK.

Do you think green it costs money or saves money?

If you look at it from a carbon perspective, ICT is a candidate for reduction of carbon. Moving from a material environment (paper) to e-book makes sense, because production of paper and its transportation have a significant carbon footprint, and that can be replaced by downloading, so that’s one example of how ICT can help in reducing carbon emissions. Many people choose to tele-work, and that’s a huge savings on having to drive a car. ICT can also help in travel. And companies are adopting video-conferencing as opposed to travelling.

What is driving CIOs to deploy more environmentally sustainable products and services?

There is the cost factor. ICT impact can be measured. By deploying more energy-efficient network solutions, CIOs can save on operating costs. Since ICT has a central role in any enterprise, the solutions are not simple. The competitiveness of companies would depend on ICT solutions. Video conferencing would help the enterprises economically, more efficiently and strategically. For example, a focus group is working on international standards for cloud computing. And any enterprise can choose a cloud computing solution, where cooling solutions are shared among multiple users. It’s a strategic move for a company to use the latest software. And an additional element of redundancy is there.

Is this now being viewed as a core technology that delivers business value?

ICT is being viewed as core technology. For example, intelligent transport system in vehicles and sensors could save people time in traffic jams and help them use alternative routes, as opposed to idling the car, where there is wastage of energy. So there are energy savings there. Another example is smart grid for electricity distribution. Lots of renewable energies do not have stable production, so for grid distribution to balance itself out, there has to be better communication. Smart grid is about bringing communication protocols to distribute the energy better.

Do you think greater legislative pressure is needed to make companies adopt green IT?

It’s especially important to adopt green IT as an economic factor. It you look at Durban, one of the agreements was to keep the average global temperature rise below 2C. So that agreement for governments to implement, it has to trickle down, and the reduction in carbon has to be measured. So we will see some encouragement from government to private sector. Legislation can help in raising awareness. The ITU participation in Durban was all about awareness.

What are some of the obstacles to a genuine move towards sustainability?

Awareness is the biggest obstacle I see. Many policy makers know of the great impact of ICT. This should be clearly communicated, and new international standards should be implemented.

What kind of collaboration is required between governments and businesses to effectively combat carbon emissions?

We have seen real increase in government participation where standards are developed. Eleven new countries from developing countries participated this year. That dialogue between government, private sector and academia to develop standards is the way forward for significant improvement.

INTRODUCTION

Hotels the world over are faced with a balancing act between their business goals, increasing expectations of a discerning clientele and changing environmental policies. Consequently, the timeframe of technology investments is often weighted against these criteria. Boutiquehotel Stadhalle in Vienna set itself the objective of achieving these goals. With its sustainability initiatives supported by technology from Siemens, it has now become the world’s first net zero energy city hotel. Its success story demonstrates the vital role sustainability plays in the hospitality sector and the importance given to the issue by cities themselves, as they compete to attract investors, corporate visitors and tourists.

THE BACKGROUND

Boutiquehotel Stadhalle in Vienna is a three-star (3 star+) eco hotel located in the 15th district of Vienna, between Westbahnhof and Stadthalle. It originally offered 42 rooms in a renovated period town house. An extension to the hotel with the construction of a new building saw the addition of a further 38 rooms in 2009.

CASE STUDY

Ecology was already a prime focus of the hotel, before the extension work began. This was illustrated by a number of initiatives, including the use of rainwater from large cisterns located in the basement to tend the gardens and to flush the WCs and signage that generated its own electricity. But the focus of sustainability was heightened with the construction of the new building.

An important point to be noted here is that it is not a laboratory case study, but an ongoing initiative in the real world in real time, under natural conditions, with several variables coming into play at any given point of time.

Aim:

The aims of the green initiatives were two-fold:

• To make the hotel sustainable without compromising on guest comfort.
• To achieve net zero energy in 12 months by producing energy sustainably and, then, managing it intelligently.

Method employed – sustainable initiatives:

With the objective of the hotel ultimately being able to generate as much energy as it uses for its operation, it set about systematically implementing the necessary initiatives. To begin with, the use of renewable energy sources were deployed, which included solar thermal and photovoltaic panels and groundwater heat pumps.

Since heating and cooling are significant contributors to a hotel’s energy load, an in-house well was tapped to supply cooling energy and provide the heat pump system with groundwater. The power was set to be generated by 94 square metres of photovoltaic panels and 130 square metres of solar thermal panels. This is now used to heat the water for the hotel’s general areas and its 80 rooms, as well as pre-heating fresh air through a ventilation system which achieves over 90% heat recovery.

Central to the operation is a Desigo Building Automation System from Siemens, which offers intelligent energy management. Through integration of all the system components and processes,

Desigo ensures constant guest comfort and an efficient use of the hotel’s energy. It features programmable automation controllers along the needed workflow patterns, as well as flexible key performance indicators related to measurement and control technology that enable the monitoring and regulation of heating and ventilation based on actual demand or pre-defined schedules. The system also controls and monitors the concrete core activation, water heating, the solar panel system, buffer management and the geothermal heat pump. Desigo’s web-based operation enables energy data and reports to be accessed at all times, increasing energy monitoring capability, as well as consumption transparency and usage efficiency.

The hotel enjoys 83% annual occupancy rate. Recognising that the general public plays as important a role in sustainability as business organisations, the hotel has ushered in green-based guest engagement initiatives as a significant factor. Guests arriving by bicycle or by train receive 10% discount on the accommodation rate. Future plans also include the addition of two charging points to enable guests to plug in and recharge their electric cars at no cost – using energy generated by the hotel. Three proposed wind turbines are also awaiting planning permission.

CONCLUSION

With initial and ongoing sustainable initiatives, Boutiquehotel Stadthalle in Vienna has become the world’s first net zero energy city hotel.

Other positive outcomes:

For its environmental efforts, the Boutiquehotel Stadthalle was presented with the Environmental Award from the City of Vienna, which is part of Vienna’s EcoBusinessPlan. The Plan, launched in 1998 by the Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department for Environmental Protection, aims to help businesses generate ‘green and clean’ profits through ecological management practices that benefit both the environment and the enterprises. Amongst other goals, the EcoBusinessPlan aims to improve the competitive position of Viennese businesses through more efficient use of resources and to contribute to the sustainable development of the City of Vienna, thereby highlighting the emphasis put by cities worldwide on sustainability as an economic competitive advantage. The sustainability achieved by the hotel also demonstrates the relevant and indubitable fact that sustainable cities need sustainable hotels.

The Boutiquehotel Stadhalle was also the first in Vienna to receive the EU Ecolabel for tourism businesses who meet the strictest criteria by limiting their impact on the environment. Almost 20% of all EU Ecolabel licenses granted belong to the Tourist Accommodation Services category (one of 26 categories). This is a clear sign that recognition for environmental initiatives is increasingly becoming the key to generating sustainable business in the hospitality industry.

THE DEFINING MOMENT

In the late 1700s, the Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer, James Watt (1736-1819) developed the concept of horsepower to rate his steam engine’s capabilities[1]. He calculated horsepower to be 33,000 lbs ft/minute, based on deducing the horse’s speed while performing an exhausting activity and estimating the horse’s pulling force. The unit was globally implemented to measure the output of engines, turbines, electric motors and other machinery. The definition of the unit varied between geographical regions. The term “horsepower” has become a standard measurement of engine capacity, and the SI unit of power, the Watt, was named after him[2, 3].

In simple terms, “horsepower” is a measure of work done over time. Today, the term “horsepower” is commonly heard and used especially when we plan to purchase a car. The term may loosely mean anything the salesman chooses to define it as. Therefore, caution must be exercised in using the term. The mechanical horsepower is equivalent to 745.7 watts, while the metric horsepower of 75 kgf-m per second is approximately equivalent to 735.499 watts. The boiler horsepower is used for rating steam boilers, and is equivalent to 34.5 pounds of water evaporated per hour at 212F, or 9,809.5 watts. One horsepower for rating electric motors is equal to 746 watts[4].

A similar analogy can be made while considering the efficiency of an air filter. Akin to the term “horsepower”, “efficiency”, too, can be interpreted differently in the field of air filtration. A given filter could have different readings for arrestance, atmospheric dust-spot, particle size and fractional efficiencies. In fact, all these efficiencies, whether they are based on weight or particle size concept, carry the % symbol.

MINUTE DETAILS OF PARTICLES

Let’s start by considering the difference between the weight concept of the arrestance test and particle size. Let’s assume, for instance, that we have 1,001 particles challenging a hypothetical filter. The particle distribution consists of 10 particles of (10 µm) and 1,000 particles of (1 µm), as shown in Figure 1. If the filter captures only 10 micron particles, it would have 91% arrestance by weight. On the other hand, it would be one per cent efficient by particle size, assuming that all the 1 µm particles will pass through the filter.

While arrestance tests the ability of a filter to capture the largest atmospheric dust particles, it does not provide a representative performance indication in capturing finer particles. Clearly, there is no consideration of particle size in arrestance test. Therefore, it should only be considered when mass of dust in the air is the primary concern. For relatively finer particles (respirable-size range), the arrestance test fails to distinguish between filters.

“Dust Spot Efficiency”, on the other hand, assesses the filter’s ability to capture particles by virtue of the light transmission through previously evaluated target paper[5]. Another means of evaluating efficiency is “Fractional Efficiency” or penetration, where uniform-sized particles are fed into the air filter to determine the particles removed (percentage) by the air filter, using a particle counter. A sample of the fractional efficiency output is shown in Table 1 for short range of particle size and for five different flow rates.

Taking into account the implications of Table 1, the issue gains significance when giving due consideration to the FAQs: What is the efficiency of “X” or “Y” filter? What filter efficiency is appropriate for an office or home? At this point, we ought to pause to ask: Which “efficiency” do we actually refer to? Which definition of efficiency are we going to choose to represent a given filter?

It is evident from Table 1 that each filter has several efficiencies, depending on the particle size distribution challenging the filter and the flow rate used in testing. Just between a narrow particle size range of 0.065 to 0.2 µm for a given flow rate, the filter has 18 different efficiencies. The filter is rated at the Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS) where the filter scores its lowest efficiency (maximum penetration). Therefore, it is imperative that we operate this filter at the rated flow rate. When using the filter at higher flow rate than the rated one, the efficiency drops, MPPS shifts and the filter performance deviates from the test report accompanying a newly purchased filter.

NANOFIBRES IN AIR FILTRATION

Recently, the emphasis has shifted towards developing different ways to enhance filtration performance of fibrous filters. Evidently, filtration designers and manufacturers envisage ways to improve the efficiency of air filters without having to increase the pressure drop. Their dream is to reach an ideal situation of lowering pressure drop and improving filtration efficiency simultaneously. The introduction of nanofibre has given some hope to such dreams. The use of nanofibre has, in fact, proved invaluable for many industries, such as aviation (in aircraft cabins), healthcare (in hospitals) and in Space programmes (in spacecraft).

Nanoweb is a layer of very fine polymeric fibres with nominal diameter of 0.2 µm. It is important to note that nanofibre is a loosely defined term, with some definitions labeling it as a fibre with diametre less than 0.3µm, while other definitions pegging it to less than 0.1 µm diametre.[6] Nanoweb has a significantly tighter distribution of fibre diametres than for glass fibres or meltblown fibres.

An important method of enhancing the performance of the filter media is coating the surface of lower efficiency substrate media with a nanofibre layer (Figure 2). Usually, the substrate filter media have good mechanical strength and relatively modest filtration efficiencies. The newly created composite media provides good separation capabilities and good efficiency. The efficiency of a nanofibre web is achieved through purely mechanical filtration mechanisms. It does not degrade under varying ambient conditions, as charged meltblowns are expected to do.[7]

An important advantage of the nanofibre web is its extreme layer thinness, compared to a charged meltblown layer, as shown in Figure 3. This is certainly an advantage in many industrial applications. The submircon fibre diametre range provides a very high surface area, which in turn, grants an enhancement in the filtration efficiency in interception and inertial regimes at relatively negligible decrease in permeability.[8]

Although there are many advantages of using nanofibres, there are some challenges involved that would make it unsuitable as standalone filtration media. The weak mechanical strength and high density of the nanoweb makes using it as a standalone material in wide filtration applications questionable. Also, the high packing density of the nanofibre material introduces a huge permeability challenge. The increase in packing density enhances the efficiency at the expense of increasing the pressure due to permeability reduction. But the question remains: Would the rate of the increase in efficiency be faster or slower than the increase of the pressure drop, given the relationship between permeability and pressure drop of the filter? This relationship, obviously, is of critical importance. According to Darcy’s Law, pressure drop is inversely proportional to the filter’s permeability and directly proportional to flow rate, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively.

THE ETERNAL QUEST

Every time I address a different aspect of air filtration, my conviction about the quest for further development in the field is re-emphasised. Saving the horsepower of the industrial application requires utilising aerodynamic and efficient filtration technologies. Living in an era of green buildings and renewable energy, where saving every single iota of energy matters down the street and around the globe, it could be possible that, one day, a concept of filtration horsepower is developed to describe the filter with the highest efficiency and the lowest pressure drop.

The writer is Regional Director, Middle East, and International Consultant, EMW Filtertechnik, Germany. He can be contacted at iyad.al-attar@emw.de

The writer is Regional Director, Middle East, and International Consultant, EMW Filtertechnik, Germany. He can be contacted at iyad.al-attar@emw.de

References:

1. Lira, Carl (2001). Biography of James Watt. http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/wattbio.html
2. Carnegie, A. 1905. James Watt, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company
3. Marshall, T H 1925. James Watt, Leonard Parsons Ltd, and Printed in Great Britain by Morrison C Gibb Ltd, Ianfield, Edinburg
4. Weast RC 1977. Conversion Factors, pp F-313 of Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 58th Edition, CRC Press Inc, Cleveland, Ohio
5. ANSI/ASHRAE [1992]. ASHRAE Standard 52.1: gravimetric and dust-spot procedures for testing air-cleaning devices used in general ventilation for removing particulate matter. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc
6. Tarleton ES and Wakeman RJ 2008. Dictionary of Filtration and Separation Filtration Solutions, Exeter
7. Kalayci V, Ouyang M, Graham K, 2006. Polymetric nanofibres in high efficiency filtration applications Filtration, 6(4)
8. Hinds WC, 1998. Aerosol Technology, Wiley, New York

THE BACKGROUND

Keeping an open Scarcely any other issue is as omnipresent and as controversially discussed in the 21st century as climate change, along with greenhouse effect and global warming. Those who doubt that climate change is a man-made phenomenon, cite the example of various eras in the history of our planet, where the Earth has heated up or cooled down drastically even without any human intervention. In future, too, they see climate change occurring as a result of natural causes, including among others, a changed ellipsoid orbit of the Earth around the sun.

Climate researchers counter this argument by saying that the situation today is exacerbated by a not inconsiderable human contribution to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to the Earth warming up by several degrees Celsius by the end of the century. The main cause of this is seen to be industrial and technological development over the last 150 years. However, at the start of this period, climate change and carbon emissions were unknown factors. They have only gradually come into focus with increased sharpness since the 1960s.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT EMISSIONS IN REFRIGERATION

“Refrigeration and air conditioning applications fight on two fronts with their contribution to global warming,” explains Monika Witt, Chairwoman of Eurammon, the European initiative for natural refrigerants. “On the one hand, direct emissions from refrigerants containing fluorine, such as FCs and HFCs, make a major contribution to the greenhouse effect. Such emissions are caused, for example, by leaks in refrigeration systems, so that the refrigerant escapes into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the operation of refrigeration systems consumes a large amount of energy consumption and, as such, makes an additional indirect contribution to carbon emissions. Furthermore, demand for refrigeration applications is increasing. On a global scale, installed refrigeration capacity has nearly tripled since 2001.”

THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Environmental agreements, such as the International Kyoto Protocol in general, or the European F-Gas Regulation in particular, are dedicated to the issue of greenhouse-relevant substances, and look for solutions on a political level. But it is proving to be extremely difficult to bring about an understanding on shared climate protection and reduction levels, as well as elaborating generally binding regulations, in view of the numerous individual interests of the many states involved. This is the case, particularly with the Kyoto Protocol, which expires this year. Already at the Cancún climate summit in 2010, the participating countries were not able to reach an agreement on a binding structure for a follow-on protocol or on a shared approach to a new way of calculating emission values.

While the international Kyoto Protocol stipulates binding reduction targets for gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride and fluorinated hydrocarbons, the European F-Gas Regulation refers, particularly to the latter group and their use in various installations. “The Regulation is of special significance for the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors, because F-gases are used as refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning systems,” Witt explains. To reduce emissions, it regulates, for example, the placing on the market of F-gases, the monitoring and maintenance of installations in order to avoid leaks, and the initial and advanced training of professionally qualified staff.

The European Commission recently published a Review Report on the effects and adequacy of the F-Gas Regulation over the last four years. It came to the conclusion that the Regulation has had quite a significant effect on F-gas emissions in Europe. By the end of 2010, such emissions were verifiably reduced by three million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. But this is not enough in order to reach the EU’s long-term targets of reducing emissions by 80% to 95% in 2050 compared to 1990.

Only about half of all emissions forecast by 2050 could be avoided altogether, and only if all 27 EU Member States were to consistently apply the current specifications from the F-Gas Regulation and the corresponding provisions for mobile air conditioning units (MAC Directive). This would mean that the emissions would only remain stable on the current level of 110 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The crux of the matter, therefore, is: Predictions indicate that there is only very little scope for reducing emissions in the framework of applications covered by the F-Gas Regulation – in the magnitude of around three million tonnes by 2010 and around four million tonnes by 2050. “It is, therefore, not possible to reach the target simply by continuing as before,” says Witt. “Regulations are only expedient when they are adhered. As long as F-Gas consumption is not closely monitored and more important, so non-compliance is fined, it is very unlikely the consumption can be reduced as planned. Stricter controls and harsher penalties for failure to comply with the requirements are, therefore, necessary.”

NATURAL REFRIGERANTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE

The objective of the F-Gas Regulation should also be to push the development of new technological innovations and alternative technologies. One alternative to F-gases in refrigeration and air conditioning systems consists of natural refrigerants, such as ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrocarbons. “In contrast to the F-gases, these refrigerants offer the advantage of having either no or only a negligible global warming potential,” adds Witt. “As a result, their contribution to the greenhouse effect is only marginal, even in the event of leaks or when disposing of the refrigerant.”

In the framework of its involvement in the expert group reviewing the F-Gas Regulation, Eurammon drew attention, among others, to the high potential for reducing F-gases by using ammonia as a refrigerant, for example, in stationary air conditioning systems. The initiative also emphasised the good thermodynamic properties of NH3 and hydrocarbons, also for applications in the critical temperature range.

There is still a widespread notion that installations operating with natural refrigerants are always less efficient than those using synthetic refrigerants. “This statement must be revised to the effect that solutions with natural refrigerants are at least just as efficient, thanks to skilful planning and systematic installation optimisation,” states Witt. “NH3, for example, is deemed to be the refrigerant with the best thermodynamic properties, making it one of the most cost-and energy-efficient refrigerants of all.”

The Eurammon Chairwoman also envisages explicit incentives when using systems with natural refrigerants as alternative technology, either in the form of subsidies or tax deduction. Another proven possibility could be the penalty for refrigerants with high GWP.

In September, the Australian government introduced a bill in Parliament for a CO2 tax, which includes taxation on F-gas imports. In Europe, individual countries have already implemented additional measures to intensify the transition to existing, more environment-friendly technologies. The Scandinavian countries, for example, levy an additional F-gas tax. One kilogramme of R134a costs €17.50 in tax in Denmark, €35.00 in Sweden and as much as €39 in Norway. “It is important to come to harmonised European standards in order to support the safe use of natural refrigerants. Right now, there exist too many obstacles in certain countries,” Witt explains.

OPTIMISING THE USE OF RESOURCES

Natural refrigerants are low in costs, available in unlimited quantities and already cover practically all refrigeration applications today. “This must be the basis for optimising and advancing refrigeration technology,” advises Witt. “The energy efficiency of installations and components can be optimised even further by research and development. In future, it should be possible for installations to produce the energy that they need to operate.

“But there is still room for improvement to further reduce the energy consumption. The waste heat produced by installations, for example, can be used for preparing hot water or for heating. And if an installation does not have to operate at full capacity most of the time, the corresponding output and energy consumption could be regulated with speed-controlled compressors. Moreover, renewable energy sources, such as solar energy could be used for power generation and refrigeration to reduce the carbon emissions generated with fossil energy.”

Notes:
German version available at: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/docs/report_de.pdf,
English version available at: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/docs/report_en.pdf

Air conditioning is a necessity in the Middle East, given its geographical location, climatic conditions and the ever-evolving infrastructure. Product integrity, occupant productivity and humidity control are just a few reasons building owners and operators continually overspend to maintain interior area temperatures.

In recent years, improving the efficiency of air conditioning units has generated a modest amount of energy savings but lacks the major thrust needed to address the foremost concerns of sustainability and the long-term impact on climate change. Air conditioning remains an expensive and energy-consuming endeavour. This is especially true for large spaces, such as recreation facilities, distribution centres, atriums, shopping malls, aeroplane hangars and factories.

Large open spaces rely on numerous high tonnage units and extensive amounts of ductwork, booster fans, grilles and diffusers to generate and distribute conditioned air to all parts of the space. A constant temperature needs to be achieved for keeping these spaces comfortable, no matter what the outside temperature and no matter how high the cost. Although the goal of distributing conditioned air to large spaces has been achieved, air conditioning such areas has remained inefficient and continues to result in high capital and operating costs for building owners.

However, recent case studies have proved that High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans are capable of creating dramatic savings in energy consumption in large spaces where air conditioning is deployed. Energy savings is created through two main avenues – thermostat change and free cooling.

THERMOSTAT CHANGE

Let us first examine thermostat change. It is commonly accepted that wind chill factor lowers the apparent temperature, making the air feel cooler than it actually is. Thermostat change is achievable by better understanding the ‘wind-chill factor’ or Basic Effective Temperature (BET) created by HVLS fans.

Figure 1 examines the relationship between actual air temperature and the velocity at which it is moving. Armed with both these variables, we can successfully determine that at a temperature of 25⁰C with air moving at a speed of 1.5 metres per second, the BET is less than 20⁰C. This creates an environment which is too cold for occupants, encouraging the operator to increase the temperature set point and create continual savings. A savings of nearly 25% can be achieved by increasing the set point 3⁰C to 4⁰C.

Further savings can be achieved by adjusting the ‘cooling threshold’ and attaining ‘Free Cooling’. Free Cooling is the period of time just before (and after) air conditioning is required. In terms of savings, free cooling is defined by a decrease in annual usage hours created by the capabilities of HVLS fan technology.

ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS

Figure 2 shows how energy consumed is directly affected by exterior temperatures. As the temperature increases, energy costs rise. By adjusting the thermostat set point, free cooling is automatically achieved, as the cooling threshold is now adjusted to a warmer temperature, decreasing usage hours and increasing savings. Free cooling creates even more savings, as the temperature decreases from peak summer temperatures. Operating air conditioning units is, therefore, now required for a shorter period of time.

New building construction projects at the design stage can account for even more savings. Knowing what HVLS fans can do in conjunction with air conditioning systems, consultants and engineers can now make adjustments to the cooling equipment required. It translates into nearly 85% less ductwork required, as the fans handle the distribution and circulation inside the space. Also, less tonnage is now required as the air conditioning units are working less and cooling to higher than traditional temperatures. These capital savings more than offset the investment in HVLS fan technology, saving capital now and continually generating savings over a period of time.

While it is true that HVLS fans consume additional power, this load is minimal. Most HVLS fans operate on 0.75 to 1.5kw motors with variable speed drives. This indicates that a single HVLS fan consumes less power than a typical hair dryer. Utilising multiple fans increases power consumed, but only marginally. The capital investment in the technology of HVLS fans is quickly returned with a payback period of less than two years. But it can be regarded as a perpetual source of saving.

THE BACKGROUND

Keeping an open recirculation cooling water system clean assists in maintaining heat transfer efficiency, reduces maintenance costs and enhances the effectiveness of the water treatment programme, which contributes to increased cooling tower system life. Open systems are prone to fouling from airborne contaminants, waterborne contaminants and contaminants associated with a process. Air contains dust, dirt, organic matter, insects, microbiological organisms and gasses. Make-up water can contain a variety of dissolved salts, suspended solids and microbiological organisms. Systems can also produce suspended solids from within, due to corrosion, scale and microbiological growth.

Selection of filtrations:

In this context, filtration can be employed to remove contamination from the water and improve the circulating water quality. Separators, media filters, automatic screen filters and cartridge/membrane systems offer effective ways of removing material from the circulating water. However, each of these filtration technologies offer differing benefits and associated costs. Understanding the differences in these technologies is necessary for a proper selection of the method and device. Filtration and other water cleaning systems can be either in line or side-stream, and basin cleaning systems can enhance contaminant removal.

The selection of filtration system technology will depend upon:

• Quality of make-up water being added to the system
• Contaminant types
• a. Which get into the system
• b. Being generated within the system
• c. Already in the system
• Operational duty of the system
• Water treatment being applied
• Cycles of concentration at which the system is being operated

It needs to be remembered that the selection of appropriate filtration systems should be made with a specialist and a filtration system supplier.

BENEFITS OF COOLING TOWER FILTRATION

Incorporating efficient filtration into a cooling tower can extend the life of the system, including associated pipe work, chillers and plate heat exchangers, and will lower maintenance costs while improving cooling efficiencies, thereby providing a significant return on resources (ROR).

It also comes with other collateral benefits. They are as follows:

• Filtration improves efficiencies by minimising deposits on heat transfer surfaces, preventing heat exchanger clogging and maintaining efficient cooling water distribution. It is shown that 0.025 mm of fouling equates to 10% reduction in cooling efficiencies1. Solid contaminants clog small spray nozzle orifices, causing poor cooling system water distribution.
• Filtered cooling tower water prevents solid contaminants from building up in the system thereby increasing the life of the system
• A layer of solid contaminants provides an excellent environment for corrosion, bacteria and algae growth. But filtration can prevent solid contaminant from generating bacteria, including Legionella pneumophila and algae growth, which minimises the need for additional chemicals.
• Filtering the cooling tower water minimises the need for manual cleaning (including chillers and plate heat exchangers), which can result in extended downtime and significant costs. A layer of solid contaminants will eventually need to be removed from the cold water basin.

SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION

Four primary sources are responsible for most common cooling tower contaminants. They are:

• Ambient air dirt load, including windblown sand, soot and all types of organic debris
• Flaking off of calcium carbonate scale formed in the cooling tower system
• Treatment chemical residue and algae build-up in the circulation water
• Make-up water

In open-loop water circulation systems, such as those used in cooling towers, filtration systems can be sized to filter around five to 10% of the full stream, which is known as side-stream filtration. With the amount of the full stream filtered, the water gets cleaned and its particle load condition stabilised in a short period of time – typically less than two to three days. In areas where debris is more prevalent, the amount of side-stream can be increased to handle the higher particulate load.

TYPES OF FILTRATION

Filtration technologies used to filter cooling tower water include:

• Centrifugal separators
• Sand media
• Automatic self-cleaning screens
• Cartridges, bags and membrane

Centrifugal separators:

Centrifugal separators remove up to 90% of the particles that have a specific gravity greater than water and are larger than 70 microns2. Particles that are organic or lighter than water or particles smaller than 70 microns, most likely will not be removed in a single pass.

Centrifugal separators are cleaned either by purging the particle collection chamber or by allowing a continuous small flow from the collection chamber to a drain. Centrifugal separators are often an integral part of other filtration systems that use other technologies to more reliably remove smaller particles. In such cases, the separator removes the larger and heavier particles, while the other technologies remove the remaining finer and lighter particles that pass through the separator.

Sand media filters:

Sand media filters require a relatively large footprint, and their flush waste is very high compared to other filtration technologies. In a sand media system that requires 1,200 litres of waste to back-flush, the equivalent size of some self-cleaning screen filter technologies use only 30 litres to back-flush. Back-flushing sand media takes full flow for at least three to five minutes, and the tank being flushed must be completely off-line during the back-flush process.

Sand media can remove particles that are 10 microns or smaller, and is excellent for removing organic particles. However, it is difficult to back-flush heavy particles, such as dirt, sand or calcium carbonate collected from the tower without losing some of the media. The media needs to be periodically replaced, as it is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and algae growth.

Micro-filtration systems:

Micro-filtration systems may be required for specialised cooling systems. Cartridge, bag or membrane systems are available that can remove both organic and inorganic particles down to 0.5 micron without requiring back-flushing. These technologies can be expensive because the cartridges, bags and membrane might foul frequently and require manual replacement.

Automatic self-cleaning screen filters:

Automatic self-cleaning screen filters are becoming the filter technology of choice for cooling tower filtration applications. The primary reason is that the screen filtering element acts as a barrier removing all particulate – both organic and inorganic – down to the micron rating of the filter. Self-cleaning screen filters can remove particulate down to 10 micron in size and they provide the least flushing discharge or wastewater during the self-cleaning process. Some automatic self-cleaning screen filter technologies use only a few litres of water during each flushing cycle. With the lower flush volume required to clean the screen, it is much easier to show that none of the flush water is wasted, since it is a small portion of the blowdown requirements3.

Unlike media filtration, some automatic self-cleaning screen technologies provide uninterrupted screen filtration during the screen cleaning process, thereby requiring only a single filter for continuous filtration. Automatic self-cleaning screen filters are also the filter of choice for pre-filtering micro-filters, such as cartridges, bags or membrane to extend the life of the media.

It is important to note that self-cleaning screen filtration provides zero water waste. Cooling tower system bleed rate for blowdown is a requirement for scale control. It is proven that using a filtration technology that has minimal flush water requirement actually wastes no additional water than is required for blowdown. The graph below (Figure 8) shows that there is very little change in cooling tower water conductivity resulting from filtration flush water usage. This means that the filter’s flush water is not wasted, but may only extend periods between each blowdown event. Hence, no water is wasted when using self-cleaning screen filtration.

The graph below (Figure 8) shows a relatively constant conductivity (red line) over a period of two months on a cooling tower with a side-stream, self-cleaning screen filtration system. The conductivity is set to remain at 1.5 mS/cm. The blue lines represent bleed valve opening and closing, which regulates the conductivity setting. The self-cleaning screen filtration system self-cleans multiple times in one day using 30 litres per self-cleaning event to manage the cooling tower water cleanliness. It is shown that the self-cleaning screen filtration system with this low self-cleaning water usage has no effect on conductivity.

Another filtration technology with a much higher water use for self-cleaning, such as an equivalent sand media filtration system using 1,200 liters per cleaning cycle, would result in the conductivity significantly dropping outside the allowed range. Hence, using more water than is required for blowdown requirement, results in a significant amount of water waste.

Basin cleaning and agitation nozzles:

Basin cleaning and agitation nozzles prevent contaminants from the air and suspended solids in the circulating water from settling out in the cold water basin, which is the most effective location to install a filtration system.

Similar to a side-stream arrangement, water is removed from and returned to the cold water basin via the filter. Some cooling tower basins can incorporate sump agitation to remove settled solid water jets, or alternatively, agitation nozzles can be employed to create underwater currents to direct solids towards the drain or filter suction points.

The agitation nozzles are normally placed minimum 50 mm below the water surface, and are spaced for even distribution of turbulence. The nozzles are placed on a manifold pipe that is connected to the filter outlet and the suction side of the pump pulls the basin water to be filtered from the basin drain.

SYSTEM SELECTION

A filtration system can be designed to meet any level of filtration quality desired. The most important prerequisite in specifying the filtration system is to define the requirements of the cooling tower, as well as the quality of water to be filtered. Other design features that can be incorporated include:

• The ability to remove both organic and inorganic suspended solid particles
• Uninterrupted filtration during the flush or screen cleaning process
• Flush flow rates in the range of five to 10% of the filter’s total flow rate
• Lower flush flow rates compared to the total flow will minimise wasted treatment chemicals, as well as make-up water requirements
• Short cleaning cycles – cleaning cycles that last longer than 15 seconds can waste water and decrease profits

What to look for:

• Fewer moving parts and simpler controls requiring less maintenance and training of personnel
• The simplest drive mechanisms – hydraulic, if possible, since additional electrical costs doesn’t help the budget
• Efficient filtration – an 80 to 100 micron filtration degree is the most common for cooling tower water

To sum up, it needs to be remembered that the required filtration might vary depending on the tower location, local conditions and filtration objective. You need to reduce the TSS only to the desired cost-effective level – don’t over-filter. The point to be noted is that the water does not have to be of potable grade. You’re not going to drink it! Most importantly, purchase the level of filtration that will achieve the highest ROR, and thus will give you the greatest return on your investment.

Ducting demands a 360 approach, such is the vastness and all-pervasive nature of the industry. In the Middle East alone, ducting is a $400 million industry. If at all anything, the number reflects the significance of ducting in our everyday lives.

Of the $400 million, sheet metal hardware accounts for $100 million, with adhesives and insulation accounting for $150 million each.

In the coming months, we hope to look at the three facets, and more. For instance, we will be examining the manufacturing of sheet metal and its fabrication into ducts. We will be looking at installation procedures, including the crucial element of joining the ducts and the different types of ducting connections. Equally, we will be looking at the situations that arise out of extended project schedules and their impact on ducts.

A key area of focus will be insulation of ducts, including the use of adhesives, the use of insulation materials and the different types of materials, be they foam, fibreglass, rockwool or glasswool. While with insulation, we will be examining correct installation procedures from the viewpoints of vapour barrier, anti-fungal properties, mould and acoustics.

Another key area of focus will be the maintenance and cleaning of ducts, including mould remediation. And this will take us into the world of robotics.

Speaking of which, we will be looking at how robots are deployed for sealing the ducts to prevent air leakage, so very essential from an energy efficiency point of view. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 20-25% of energy is lost in old buildings owing to leaking ducts. This translates to $2 billion in energy loss a year. So cleaning and sealing of ducts helps maintain good indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency.

Parallel to all this, we will be looking at fabric ducting, and how and where it can be applied.

Articles in this campaign will take the forms of news updates, case studies, technical papers and interviews. This is your campaign, and we invite you to willingly come forward and share information. The mission is to bring about a perceptible change in the way we look at ducts and translate that into action, including best practices in manufacturing, installation, insulation and maintenance.

Norway-headquartered Magnetic Emission Control AS (MEC AS) says it has the technology to optimise combustion processes and, thus, save fuel, money and the environment, which can have ramifications for transport refrigeration. Climate Control Middle East met up with the company’s CEO, Bjørn Skjervold, for a chat …

How does your technology work?

The main focus is on combustion. Where oxygen is involved, we can give better combustion. Faster combustion increases torque in engine. With better torque, you can go to higher gear, which will reduce consumption.

What tests have you conducted?

In the last two years, we have been working hard to test and wait to have more documentation. We have been working in the US since late 2009. In Norway, we started tests on ship engines, but the early logging equipment was not accurate enough. Today, however, we have new logging machines and are able to say that we can realise good savings.

Our technology, when applied correctly, leads to increased fuel efficiency, by up to 20% and reduced emissions. This ultimately results in reduced carbon, soot and particle emissions.

These results came out of a series of ‘Engine-Dynamometer Tests’, conducted in cooperation with the Auburn University in the US. Another series of tests were conducted using the J1321 test, an industry standard developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the International Organization of Engineering Professionals) and the American Trucking Association (ATA). Both showed that MEC AS’s unique, proprietary technology optimises combustion processes and increases fuel efficiency. This, in turn, acts to reduce carbon, soot and particle emissions.

The ATA test was designed by Bob Rosenthal more than 30 years ago, and it is the most used test. For the first time ever, magnet technology has had a positive result in this test.

What specific message would you have for transport refrigeration companies?

We can lower carbon emissions due to reduced fuel consumption. We can also reduce NOx emissions and particulate matter. All diesel vehicles have particle filters. Our technology will do away with filters. If filters fill up, you need to clean or replace them; so if you do not need filters, you don’t need to clean them. Also, better fuel efficiency means longer engine life.

Technical Seminar
ASHRAE’s Qatar Oryx Chapter conducted a technical seminar on December 10. Presented by Adonis Layyous, the topic of the seminar was: Understanding pumps – sizing, selection and applications. The event was sponsored by Engineering Fluid Solutions (EFS)

Value engineering process
Value Engineering (VE) is “a creative, organised approach, whose objective is to optimise the life cycle cost and/or performance of a facility”. In the light of this, the Oryx Chapter has decided to present a clear description of its assessment of the project in terms of cost and energy usage, and has outlined the procedure to be followed for the study. According to the Chapter, multi-discipline teams will be formed to analyse the project documents utilising applicable value engineering techniques. Each team will, then, analyse its project area, assess high cost areas, recommend alternatives and estimate initial and life cycle costs, whenever significant, for the original system and for each proposed alternative. The Chapter added that, subsequently, the VE study will be organised into seven distinct phases comprising the VE Job Plan: Information phase; Function analysis phase; Creative phase; Evaluation phase; Development phase; Presentation phase; and Implementation & follow up and reporting phase.

National Day celebrations
The Chapter celebrated Qatar National Day in cooperation with the Qatar Society of Engineers on December, 20, 2011 at the Millennium Hotel, to express its sense of solidarity and belonging as a responsible part of the country. The National Day falls on December 18, and commemorates Qatar’s unification and prosperity. The Chapter’s message on the occasion was that it looked forward to seeing Qatar reach high levels of achievements, especially in the area of green buildings, energy-efficient projects and the Qatar Energy Law.

Just days to go
The 2012 AHR Expo is just days away. The mega-event, co-hosted by ASHRAE, AHRI and HRAI, will take place from January 21 to 25, in Chicago.