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Daikin VRV Air Conditioning Keeps Guests Cool When the Going ‘Gets Hot' at Old Orleans ‘Riverboat' Restaurant
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Diners and revellers at Regent Inns’ much loved Old Orleans ‘floating’ restaurant can now enjoy the colourful heritage, spicy Cajun/Creole food and highly charged atmosphere of America’s ‘deep south’ in air conditioned comfort provided by Daikin VRV heat pump systems.
Moored alongside the 'Boardwalk' at the Lakeside retail complex in Thurrock, Essex, the restaurant reopened recently after an in depth refit aimed at broadening the appeal of southern American cuisine in surroundings that faithfully reproduce the environment of a Louisiana riverboat.
The restaurant, resplendent in fancy wrought iron work and bold colours and offering a mouth watering selection of authentic New Orleans dishes and cocktails, is the flagship of the attractive Old Orleans brand and the first to be refitted in a £4 million makeover of the entire chain.
An important component of the project’s new mechanical and electrical services, designed and specified by consultants, The Jones Partnership, Swansea, is the top of the range Daikin VRV heat pump air conditioning, installed by Summit Design Ltd, Wooburn, Bucks.
Conditioned air for both the lower deck bar and middle deck restaurant areas is provided by 16 Daikin FXLQ floor standing indoor fan coil units (8 per deck) with nominal capacities of 4.8kW(cooling) and 5.9kW (heating), located around the perimeter walls of each area. A comfortable year round internal temperature is maintained at 220C at 50% RH with airflows between 0.20 and 0.27m3/sec and sound levels between 35 and 40dBA. Energy efficient supply and extract ventilation for the lower and middle deck toilets is provided by Daikin VAM heat recovery ventilation units located within the false ceilings on each deck.
Two RXYQ16 VRV heat pump outdoor condensing units with nominal capacities of 45.0kW (cooling) and 50.0kW (heating) and EERs and COPs of 2.81 and 3.79 respectively, are located in the ‘wheel house’. Overall VRV system control is maintained via a Daikin BACnet Gateway interface with the restaurant building management system with local temperature control via room temperature sensors.
According to the consultants, “Daikin VRV equipment was chosen for this attractive project primarily for its quality, reliability and trouble free installation characteristics. The choice of floor mounted FXLQ indoor units reflects the relatively low ceiling height of each deck, whilst the combination of heat pump and heat recovery units helps to offset the energy used by the decorative lighting sources and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the venue.”
