Our Projects

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CASE STUDY 1 Bangkok Aquatic Centre - Providing Pool Heating and Cooling The Asian Games is the world's second largest sporting event, second only to the Olympic Games. The games were held in Bangkok in December 1998. Three 135KW reverse cycle heat pumps were installed. With the games held in summer, the units operated as chillers to ensure the maintenance of pool temperature to FINA requirements.
CASE STUDY 2 Muswellbrook Hospital - Integrating heat pump, heat recovery and solar The summer hot water load of the hospital is in essence fully met by heat recovery from the large scale Trane compressors of the main air conditioning plant. The 60 ton and 80 ton desuperheaters transfer heat rejection from these compressors to water via a heat exchanger. Some high temperature heating is still required at the hospital for hydronic heating and the final temperature rise is achieved by an LPG boiler.
CASE STUDY 3 Royal Hobart Hospital - Hot Water in cold climate This project is possibly Australia's largest air to water HPWH installation, with total capacity of 546KW installed to provide the hot water needs of this major hospital. The project was completed as a Performance Contract between Honeywell and the Tasmanian Government. HPWHs were introduced to replace redundant electrode boilers and site-wide heating water reticulation. The guaranteed reduction in energy costs was some $300,000 per annum.
CASE STUDY 4 Lone Star Restaurants - Commercial hot water The Lone Star Restaurant group adopted HPWHs for hot water supply on the basis of strong commerical returns in preference to conventional gas or electric element. For example, the Warwick Farm Restaurant (Sydney) which has a capacity of 420 guests, incorporates a number of energy efficient initiatives including the use of a 20KW HWHP and three heat recovery units (HRU) which transfer waste heat from air conditioning and refrigeration plant to water heating. Hot water storage of 2,000 litres was also introduced. The HPWH operates at an average COP of around 4.2 with a tank temperature of 60°C. Peak water consumption is around 4,000 to 6,000 litres per hour. The HPWH achieves around a 50% saving in energy costs compared with gas, giving a 1.6 year payback on added capital costs.
CASE STUDY 5 National Exhibition Centre, Canberra - Environment control from water-to-water HPWH This project again demonstrates the versatility of the HPWH. A single 240KW unit provides reverse cycle operation for building environment. The HPWH provides heated water (to 55°C) and cooled water (to 7°C) to closed loops, where the water transfers its energy for space conditioning via fan coils.
CASE STUDY 6 Cable Beach Resort, Broome - Pool heating and cooling with heat recovery Economic evaluation clearly favoured the use of heat pumps for pool heating at this luxury resort. However, the key driver in the selection of HPWHs was the dual benefit of reverse cycle operation. During summer, the free form outdoor pool (total area 405m2) had become uncomfortable for guest use, reaching temperatures above 35°C. The two 50KW heat pumps are designed for manual change-over to chilling, maintaining 28°C. Refrigerant desuperheaters were added to the compressors of each heat pump. These units capture the heat in the refrigeration circuit and transfer this to the hot water storage tanks serving the laundry. While the heat pumps are in cooling mode, there is no impact on their cooling output. When in heating, there is a marginal reduction in output efficiency. The energy value of the heat reclaim (in terms of reduction in gas hot water heating costs) covers the estimated cost of heat pump operation for pool heating and cooling.
CASE STUDY 7 Australian Army, Singleton - HPWH integrated for space cooling This project was again driven by the achievement of significant energy efficiencies. Running cost savings of some $39,000 per annum (75%) were gained with the replacement of LPG boilers with 150KW HPWH capacity. As shown, the dehumidified and cooled air expelled by one of the HPWHs is ducted into the gymnasium. The energy value of this by-product is some 32KW. Computerised refrigeration analysis testing showed the HPWHs to be achieving an output of between 51.5KW to 54KW at a COP of between 5.03 to 5.23 at an air-on temperature of 19°C.
CASE STUDY 8 North Sydney Olympic Pool - HPWH water-to-water for pool heating This project showcases a combination of HPWHs and solar panels. Some 1,100KW of HPWH is installed, using Sydney Harbour as the heat source, with individual units up to 375KW nominal output. The use of sea water represents unique issues in terms of the management of the incoming line to ensure fouling or marine life growth is avoided. This water is drawn through the HPWH heat exchangers and returned to the harbour.
CASE STUDY 9 Alpine Training Centre, Thredbo - HPWH water-sourced in alpine areas This lake sourced water-to-water HWHP system provides some 360KW of heating capacity to the Alpine Training Centre for its main pool, environmental control and building heating. Two HPWH units are attached to the existing passive heat recovery system, converting it to an active heat recovery system. This system also recovers heat from vent exhaust air from the pool building.
CASE STUDY 10 Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra - Simultaneous Pool Heating and Cooling A single HPWH provides simultaneous pool heating (to 39°C) and chilling (to 13°C) to separate pools. When the HPWH is cooling the plunge pool, the excess heat is directed to the spa. When the spa reaches its set point, the heat is dispersed to atmosphere via a fan coil. Both Case Study 9 and 10 were designed and installed by Geo Thermo Dynamics of Thredbo. Further information on this project and other applications in cold climate locations can be gained by visiting the company web site at www.geothermodynamics.com
CASE STUDY 11 Sea World Polar Bear Shores, Gold Coast - Water temperature maintenance Two 150KW HP units designed as chillers are installed to maintain the polar bear pond at 15°C year round.