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Mitsubishi Electric has continued its advance into the heating market with an innovative new product that offers any building with air conditioning the potential for free hot water up to 70°C.

The PWFY City Multi water heater uses advanced heat pump technology to transfer excess heat from a VRF system to offer buildings a constant supply of hot water. The new unit comes in two versions which deliver water temperatures of either 70°C or 45°C and builds on the groundwork of Mitsubishi Electric’s successful PQFY system launched two years ago.

“This is the first of its type in the air conditioning industry and is another example of how we can capitalise on the heat recovery potential of VRF systems to provide incredible energy efficiency within a building’s services,” commented Product Marketing Manager, Philip Ord.

Modern building regulations call for ultra-energy efficient, air tight premises and this, coupled with legislation on air quality and the temperatures that staff can be allowed to work within mean that air conditioning is a fact of life in almost all of our commercial buildings.

“With advances in VRF technology we can now offer incredibly efficient heat pump systems that can balance the delicate requirements of staff comfort with the need to offset the heat produced by the myriad of computer and other electrical equipment that are now an essential part of business,” added Ord.

However, even with the most modern equipment available today, there is a limit to the amount of heat recovery that can be used in this way.

The UK has a temperate climate that is ideal for heat recovery but even with the very best design, it is simply not possible to completely balance a system in an optimum way all of the time.

“That means there is further potential for heat recovery and this is where the thinking behind our new PWFY water heating units came from,” explained Ord. “What we have tried to do is look at where there are other needs for a heating load within a building and see where the excess energy from heat recovery can be used. Hot water is therefore an obvious target and we have designed a product that can even work with off-the-shelf water cylinders to provide customers with added functionality, ease and convenience.”

Figures from Defra’s Market Transformation Programme (2006) show that the provision of heating and hot water accounts for over 50% of energy consumption in non-domestic buildings. Initial modelling from the Defra study of gas and oil-fired water heating boilers and warm air and radiant systems resulted in annual carbon emissions of 10.8 MtC.

The model also shows that there is a link between gas boiler efficiency and age ranging from 50% efficiency for a pre-1979 gas boiler to 81% for boilers from 2007 onward. Providing hot water through the heat recovery process of heat pumps can offer average COPs of 4+ or efficiency levels of 400% in comparison.

“It is difficult to find accurate figures of the size of the commercial boiler market but even if the general inefficiencies of the national grid are taken into account, it is obvious that something delivering a performance of 400%+ is going to give you a better carbon reduction performance and a much more efficient delivery system than something working at 81%,” explained Ord.

Linking a heat pump water heater to an outdoor thermostat means it can be made to work either once the ambient outdoor temperature rises above 15°C or during the night, using off-peak electricity and the partial load efficiencies of a modern VRF system. At 15°C and above, most buildings will start to require some level of cooling, so heat can be recovered and this energy can be diverted to provide hot water.

Below that temperature, any system will have more of heating requirement and any heat recovery in the system will need to be utilised to ensure that the air conditioning system is operating as efficiently as possible.

In spring and autumn, there will always be some days where heat recovery is not used for hot water and others where the cooling demand means that it can be used, but if all VRF air conditioning systems were optimised in this way, we could completely replace the need for carbon-based water heating systems. Just think what that could do for the energy efficiency levels of the country – and the energy bills of hard pressed businesses!

In winter, when it is unlikely to get much above 15°C during the day, then systems will not divert any of the heat recovery to heat water and will use the water heated during the night when there is little requirement from the air conditioning system. This will still give a very efficient average COP of 3 or higher.

The flagship PWFY HWS-BU model offers a completely new design that delivers 70°C in heating. The single model works with a YHM-R2 City Multi air conditioning system and has dimensions of 300 (W) x 450 (D) x 800 (H) to also offer plant room saving capabilities. The unit has two plate heat exchangers to offer a max/min water flow rate of 0.6 – 2.15 m3/h. COPs will average 4 or higher although this will be dependent on the loading of heating / cooling / hot water.

The heat pump boiler uses the vapour compression cycle of the air conditioning system to raise the water temperature, instead of simply discharging any excess heat from the refrigerant to the air as in a conventional split type air conditioner.

“This effectively provides free hot water and is far more fuel efficient than other systems of water heating, helping to reduce running costs,” added Ord. “It is also around four times better than the most efficient type of conventional gas boiler on a kW / kW basis, leading to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.”

The PWFY-AU has been launched as an addition to the current PQFY and offers 45°C in heating and 5°C in cooling. There are 2 models in the range a 12.5kW and a 25kW offering average COPs of 3.5 – 4.3. The AU models have a single plate heat exchanger with the same dimensions as the BU unit.

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Loading and unloading equipment specialists, Thorworld Industries Ltd has published its new 2008/9 product range catalogue, packed full of materials handling solutions for specifiers, buyers and users of loading bay equipment, accessories and safety aids.

Included in the 44-page full-colour catalogue are details of its enhanced selection of mobile yard ramps – ideal for the fast and efficient loading and unloading of vehicle trailers and containers by fork truck, particularly where there is no raised loading dock.

The updated ramps range now includes Standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe (light, medium and heavy duty) models, with selected versions in 7, 10, 12 and 15 tonne capacities and available in lengths from 11 to 12.2 metres.

A ramp rental facility is also provided through Thorworld's RentARamp operation, with a sale or return option, and the catalogue includes some of the important points to consider when selecting a ramp.

For loading and unloading cages or pallets from trucks, where there is no loading dock or perhaps insufficient space for a yard ramp, is the mobile Truckloada, available in three capacities, and the Dockloada scissor lift platform which can be installed inside or outside a building.

Also featured in this latest catalogue are products to bridge and seal the gap between the truck and loading dock, including dock plates & boards, dock levellers, seals and shelters.

There are details of a wide range of Thorworld accessories and safety aids including safety mirrors, wheel risers, loading bay ladders, vehicle wheel chocks, traffic lights, trailer safety locks, locking key boxes, vehicle wheel locks, safety signs, dock lights, dock safety guards, duck bumpers, trailer landing leg and below-ground bumper supports, and bumper selections.

As well as multipurpose and wheelchair access ramps, there are restraint and protection products including sleeping policemen and speed stoppers, vehicle restraints, safety bollards, wheel guides and alignment curbs, flexi safety barriers, racking protector brackets, column protectors, paper roll protectors, protector pads and stabiliser plates.

Thorworld is firmly established as a leading, one-stop, single source supplier to the loading bay and materials handling sectors, and is recognised as both a leader and innovator in the provision of quality engineered equipment.

BSI registered with ISO 9002 accreditation since 1992, as well as CE mark certification, it was one of the first companies in the industry to achieve the ISO 9001:2002 international quality management standard.

It has numerous prestige customers in distribution, logistics, transport, retail, food and drink manufacturing and the service industries.

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Easilift Loading Systems, one of the UK's leading loading bay equipment suppliers has had its commitment to health and safety recognised by having its SAFEcontractor accreditation renewed for the third time.

The latest renewal, which covers the company's activities as mechanical engineers and for the service and repair of dock levellers, has now been extended to include its role as lift engineers.

The SAFEcontractor programme recognises extremely high standards of health and safety practices. Accreditation allows contractors to demonstrate to prospective clients that they operate effective health and safety policies. About 120 of Britain's largest businesses are committed to engaging only those suppliers who are accredited under the scheme.

Easilift was originally awarded the SAFEcontractor accolade on its first attempt in 2004, becoming one of the first loading bay equipment suppliers to achieve it. Following an in-depth assessment of all its procedures, accreditation has now been renewed until April 2009.

To achieve renewal, the company had to undergo an extensive vetting process. This was to ensure that all its health and safety documentation compared favourably against the SAFEcontractor Charter Standards, which set out specified standards to be achieved, and that it had a good track record for safe practice.

Dave Whyatt, Sales Director of Easilift Loading Systems, said: “Achieving the accreditation for the third time in a row demonstrates our total commitment to health and safety at every stage of our activities. Receiving it again is down to all the hard work put in by our team.”

He added that Easilift takes health and safety extremely seriously when developing and manufacturing loading bay equipment, “which has led to a safety record that is second to none.”

SAFEcontractor is operated by leading safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, National Britannia, a Connaught plc company. Companies that meet the high standards set are included on a database, which is accessible via the website: www.safecontractor.com.

Darran Hughes, National Britannia's operations director for SAFEcontractor, said: “In the light of tougher penalties for serious safety infringements, and higher expectations from stakeholders, businesses want to protect themselves against the health and safety risks involved when they engage contractors.

“Third party accreditation is an increasingly popular way of managing the risks, and SAFEcontractor is recognised as a scheme which demands some of the highest safety standards in the market. By continuing to achieve accreditation, Easilift has demonstrated a consistent commitment to meeting these standards.”

Easilift provides everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays. This including dock levellers, dock shelters, dock pods, dock seals, dock pods, doors, high speed doors, vehicle restraints and lifting platforms.

It also offers a complete range of accessories and safety aids, from dock plates, dock bumpers and wheel guides, to traffic lights and integrated control systems.

This is complemented by a full installation and after-sales service, which includes the provision of preventative maintenance programmes designed to avoid costly and disruptive loading bay down-time.

With an extensive customer list that is a roll call of some of the biggest names in UK manufacturing, retailing, logistics, distribution and the service sector, the company has grown to become one of the top three loading bay equipment suppliers in the UK with a turnover in excess of £16 million.

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