We are all looking for ways to reduce costs within our businesses in order to maximise profits. A large part of annual business expenses are taken up with maintenance and repairs, planned or otherwise. One way to reduce such costs is with the use of District Cooling Lines.
In countries such as Dubai, extremely high temperatures are a regular occurrence. Combined with the heat generated from equipment, computers and other electrical equipment, offices without air conditioning or traditional water-cooled air conditioning systems will quickly become too hot to be used productively. Put simply, in this climate, some form of air conditioning or cooling system is a must.
The development of the central cooling plant, which was designed to distribute chilled water through the pipework of local businesses thus cooling the interiors, much reduced onsite maintenance, repairs and costs, such as dealing with leaks, rising electricity bills and constant monitoring.
These cooling plants work from a centralised chiller plant being built in the locale of a town or city and generating chilled water (often taken from nearby lakes, rivers or oceans and cleaned) which is then distributed via underground pipes to surrounding offices and businesses. Through their plumbing, this water cools the interior of the buildings, after which it is pumped back through the pipes to the plant to be chilled and redistributed. A continuous cycle of chilling water and pumping this resource out to customers.
It is estimated that a business can save approximately 25-30% in expenses by utilising a centralised district cooling plant compared to having their own air cooling/conditioning facility. However, a leaking district cooling pipe is a cause for concern for both the plants and their customers. Wasted water and the damage it can cause can be costly and profits for both parties could be reduced if a leak occurs.
Leaks can be caused by a variety of factors including poorly fitted pipework, faulty seals, corrosion or general wear and tear. Leaks can remain undetected for months or even years, as much of the pipework that they stem from is hidden in wall cavities or underground. If there is a delay in finding a leak the water can cause damage to structures, footings and cause instability in the surrounding grounds.
The question that arises therefore is what can we do about it? How can the chiller plant or the customer know if they have a leak and if so, where it is located? The pipework from the chilling plant may cover miles and miles of ground – searching for a leak might be an impossible task.
The answer lies in our new, innovative technology that has been specifically developed to assist with these sorts of problems. Specialist equipment utilising infrared and thermal imaging can scan the building’s structures and all of the pipework both in the building and underground at the customer’s premises and the chiller plant. The scan will detect any areas that are wet or show damp, pinpointing the location of the problem and allowing a repair to take place. In addition, as a proactive approach to leak issues, sensors can also be installed into the pipelines to detect for any abnormal damp or wet areas alerting you to the problem when it arises. So, if you’re feeling the heat – get your cooling lines checked and bring your temperature back down to normal!
For information on how we can help if you suspect a leak, consult LeakDTech’s professionals now!
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