FEATURE LEGISLATION CHILLERS EMBRACE THE BENEFITS OF ECODESIGN
Here, Richard Metcalfe, sales director at ICS Cool Energy, offers an overview of the European Commission’s Ecodesign Directive, the changes to the regulation, and action points for industrial end-users
T
here is no escaping the fact that manufacturing is an energy-intensive
process, with industrial cooling equipment accounting for up to 60% of a plant’s total life cost. This has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers, and as part of the latest phase of amendments to the European Commission’s Ecodesign Directive introduced on 1st January 2018, industrial cooling and refrigeration equipment is required to meet new, stringent minimum levels of energy-efficiency. In short, any new industrial cooling
equipment entering the market must now meet new minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) depending on chiller type and size. These new MEPS are set to become even more stringent in January 2021. The changes affect two product groups – known as ‘Lots’: Lot 1, which covers refrigeration and freezing equipment, including medium and low-temperature process chillers and condensing units; and Lot 21, which include high-temperature process chillers and condensing units, and comfort chillers. So, what are MEPS, and why are they
important? MEPS are split into two main categories, one for process chillers and one for comfort chillers. Process chillers: Process chillers must
meet new Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) metrics. This is calculated based on the part load efficiency levels
ICS Cool Energy’s chillers are 2018- compliant
and expressed as a ratio. SEPRs are the most relevant values for manufacturers and industrial end-users to be aware of. The minimum efficiency levels products need to achieve may differ depending on the type of chiller (air or water-cooled) and the rated cooling capacity. Comfort Chillers: Comfort chillers must
meet new Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) values. This is the overall energy efficiency ratio of the comfort chiller for the cooling season, and is calculated using the part load efficiency expressed as a percentage. Again, the minimum efficiency levels
Richard Metcalfe says the changes will bring many benefits from a financial, environmental and sustainability perspective
products need to achieve differ depending on whether it is an air or water-cooled chiller, as well as the rated cooling capacity and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) or the refrigerant used. Common refrigerants such as R410a and R134a have a GWP well above 150. How can you make your existing cooling
The information in this feature is taken from ICS Cool Energy’s Demystifying the 2018 Changes to Chiller Legislation. To download a copy of the guide, please visit
www.icscoolenergy.com
equipment more energy-efficient? When it comes to deciding whether to ‘repair’ or ‘replace’, it depends on the age and condition of the current process cooling equipment. If the chiller is fairly new, then immediately replacing it is likely to be out of the question. Here, the best policy would be to implement a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) contract to pick up any red flags and ensure the chiller is kept at maximum operational efficiency for its full working life. This will not only minimise downtime risk, but also reactive maintenance costs. However, if the chiller is reaching the
end of its operational life, it may be a false economy to implement an on-going repair and maintenance plan as the lower
STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS FOR WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
Where the going gets tough then Elesa turns to stainless steel for its industrial components, with an extensive selection of items that parallels its steel and reinforced polyamide products. The stainless options provide extra tough in service performance that one would expect of premium stainless steel construction. Good examples of the Elesa stainless steel approach include the MTC-S Latch Clamps with safety stop,
which are suitable for equipment and applications with strong vibration stresses where it is required to assure the holding of the clamp engagement against accidental opening. The clamp opening is obtained by actuating the button to disengage the safety device, thus it is possible to operate with the control lever. The company’s LMR levelling feet in AISI 304 and AISI 303 with rubber base provide high strength support
where corrosion is a concern. Spoked handwheels – GN 949 in cast stainless and DVC series vibration damping bushes for mounting of
rotating/vibrating machines or equipment isolation – are further examples of Elesa’s philosophy to produce high quality components for use throughout industry. Elesa
34 MAY 2018 | PROCESS & CONTROL
www.elesa.com
material cost of replacement parts would be offset by sustained high running costs. Is the legislation going to increase
equipment cost? There is often a perception among manufacturers that high efficiency equipment equates to a high cost, but that is not always the case. For smaller manufacturers and SMEs, accessing the necessary capital has often been difficult, however there are initiatives which provide financial support to SMEs seeking to fund energy-efficient equipment. One example is the Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund, which can offer grants to cover up to 15% of the equipment cost, up to the value £5,000. As a Carbon Trust-accredited supplier, 2018-compliant process cooling equipment – such as the i-Chiller and i- Chiller HE from ICS Cool Energy – can be purchased using Green Business Funding. Another option is to undertake an
equipment hire agreement. Contracts range from a short-term basis, to long term hire. This allows all costs to be managed through one monthly all- inclusive payment, which not only covers the cost of the process cooling equipment, but on-going maintenance costs and contingency breakdown cover. One benefit of a long-term hire agreement is that responsibility of compliance lies with the company hiring the cooling equipment, rather than the end user. However, as with a capital sales purchase, compliance only affects new products manufactured from 1st January 2018. Ultimately, the Ecodesign Directive’s
main aim is to reduce energy consumption which will directly reduce monthly operating costs for manufacturers. While the enforced changes to industrial
cooling may seem steep, there are many long-term benefits from a financial, environmental, and sustainability perspective. There is a lot of information, but the changes can be broken down in to a manageable plan of action. By working closely with a specialist such as ICS Cool Energy, UK manufacturers can navigate any uncertainty and start reaping the rewards that the new legislative changes will offer.
ICS Cool Energy
www.icscoolenergy.com
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