10 News
From the Top
Are energy savings efficient?
By Colin Goode, product and specification manager at Fujitsu
AS AN ENGINEER, I watch with some concern the changes led by environmental issues that can, sometimes, cure one problem and exacerbate another. As utility costs increase at an alarming rate the quest for more energy efficient equipment increases. Everything from fuel consumption, power consumption of TVs, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and air conditioning/heat pump systems is ever more regulated with lower power limits and higher efficiencies prescribed by regulations. There are also tax incentives associated with higher efficiency equipment. Alterations to building
regulations are driving efficiency gains as well as carbon emission reductions. This takes the form of changes to building structures, higher insulation levels, more efficient mechanical services that employ heat recovery and smarter control systems. Some improvements are logical and long overdue. Others require considerable time and investment in new technology to develop them into a viable product or system. In the comfort air conditioning sector huge efficiency gains have been realised over the last ten years. Cooling and heating efficiencies have more than doubled as a result of new refrigerants, improved heat exchange technology, the introduction of variable speed inverter compressors, better controls and improved product design. However, as with most things in life, the large efficiency gains realised early on have been replaced by the law of diminishing returns to the point where any more tangible gains requires a totally new concept, technology or a new approach. An example of this was when refrigerant HFC R410a was first introduced in 2006 to replace R407c and R22 based systems. The higher pressure, more efficient R410a refrigerant coupled with the use of inverter compressors led to much more
ACR News August 2015
compact equipment that consumed much less power than previous generations of the same models.
However, the requirement for higher efficiencies has now started to reverse the physical size gains made on the original systems which are getting larger again to achieve higher efficiency and lower power consumption. Increasingly, environmental issues are now driving the development of new technology and in some cases this may be to the detriment of any efficiency gains, which could actually decrease.
Although R410a has a zero ozone depletion factor its high(ish) global warming potential (GWP) means it will be phased out and a new, more environmentally friendly, refrigerant is needed to replace it.
For small capacity air
conditioning systems with a small refrigerant charge, R32 appears to be the preferred option, since it has a GWP approximately 66% less than R410a.
This pure refrigerant (already a component in R410a) is more efficient. However, R32 is also ‘mildly flammable’ which presents problems for higher capacity systems with larger refrigerant volumes. Refrigerant leaks from larger capacity systems containing any flammable refrigerant will be highly regulated and will not be commercially viable in most cases due to the flammability counter measures required.
We are now at a crossroads in terms of the next generation of refrigerants that are needed for the mass market larger capacity air conditioning sector. Balancing the need for higher efficiency with the need for an environmentally friendly and safe substance is no easy task and, unlike the days of old, where R12, R22 and R502 were your only choices, no ‘one size fits all’.
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BIG FOOT SYSTEMS has taken part in a charity bike ride from Eastbourne Pier to Paris and back in one weekend.
The 255-mile bike ride raised more than £4,000, including sponsorship from Big Foot’s Belgium distributor Linum, for Macmillan, Parkinson’s UK and Sussex Air Ambulance. In total 12 people took part, including Big Foot’s technical marketing manager, Joe Rose, and Miles Hardy, the firm’s commercial support coordinator.
Along the way they battled through torrential downpours, a couple of pile- ups, Parisian traffic chaos and more than their fair share of punctures, but eventually they made it back to Eastbourne in one piece.
Joe Rose said: “The bike ride was fantastic and it’s always nice to combine a fun event with raising some money for some really great charities. We’d also like to thank our Belgium distributor Linum Europe for their generous support of the event.”
Waterloo restores cannon
News Pedal power from Big Foot
WATERLOO AIR
PRODUCTS is supporting this year’s bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. By collaborating with the Royal Armouries the company is helping to preserve one of of the six surviving cannon from the battle, which form an important part of arms at the Tower of London. ‘Le Guebre’ – The Fire Worshipper, was originally cast in 1813 in Metz and bears Napoleon’s monogram on the barrel. Waterloo’s sponsorship has enabled a complete restoration of the cannon which was re-displayed outside the Waterloo block at the Tower of London, for the official Anniversary on the 18th June. “The battle was a pivotal event in the 19th century and
is associated with the laying of foundations for European co-operation. Waterloo has a like-minded approach with the way it runs its business by collaborating and developing relationships, we ensure that projects run smoothly and add benefit for our customers,” explains Rick Edmondson, chairman of Waterloo.
“Waterloo is proud to play a part in the centenary commemorations. Most of the soldiers came from Kent and the fact that our company is headquartered here is a poignant reminder. We are delighted to have made a contribution to preserve one of the few remaining cannons, which can be enjoyed by future generations.”
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