88 — April/May 2015 — Build 147
Departments/Innovation
A SYSTEM DESIGNED and implemented by Beca uses the artesian water flowing underneath Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains to both heat and cool Christchurch’s new international airport.
By tapping into wells to access ground-water, the airport is provided with a sustain-able, reduced-cost energy-efficient source.
Many benefits
The benefits are huge. LPG, diesel and cooling tower requirements are eliminated,
Tapping intonature’s gift
A pioneering, award-winning artesian heating and cooling system developed for Christchurch International Airport is already being used in
other large-scale projects here and has scope internationally.
By Dael Climo, Build Deputy Editor
maintenance costs are reduced, and as the same energy is used for both heating and cooling, it is five times more efficient than standard systems. For every 1kW that is put in, 5 kW of energy is transferred.
Chillers, acting as geothermal heat pumps, provide both mechanical cooling and heating, and 12°C artesian water is used for direct cooling. Apart from enabling artesian water to heat or cool the building at any one time, the system can also recover and redistribute heat energy.
Has huge potential internationally
Beca Business Director Keith Paterson says the model is already being applied in other large-scale commercial buildings throughout New Zealand, and other coun-tries are expected to follow.
‘It has changed the market – people worldwide are recognising that this is the most energy-efficient system, and they are following our lead.
‘There are great benefits in terms of reducing pressure on recurrent costs and
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moving forward. I think it will be the system of choice for all temperate countries. If arte-sian water is not available, then seawater is a good alternative.’
Peer recognition
The project won the building and con struc-tion category in the 2014 New Zealand Engineering Excellence awards and, recently, the international project of the year at the Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) 2015 building performance awards. The CIBSE
is an international professional engineering society based in London.
Beca Technical Director and Christchurch Building Services Manager Justin Hill says Beca was proud to be involved in the project.
‘This project epitomises excellent engi-neering in almost every aspect of the design and construction.
‘I believe Beca’s holistic approach to the system design played a major role in the project’s success. Cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and future flexibility were high on the priority list.’
HEAT EXCHANGER
6–17.5°C WATER FOR COOLING
40°C WATER FOR HEATING
COOLING WATER LOOP HEATING WATER LOOP
HEAT EXCHANGER
WATER–COOLED CHILLERS
WELLS EXTRACTING 12°C ARTESIAN WATER FROM
AQUIFER
7–20°C ARTESIAN WATER RETURNED TO AQUIFER
WATER–COOLED CHILLERS
CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL