ASHRAE Journal - February 2009 - 7

Güntner adopted microchannel technology used in the automotive industry for its air conditioning and refrigerating products. “The highlights were introduction of our new Microox® technology, which uses an aluminum heat exchanger with microchannel, and the integration of EC fan technology into a control system with Güntner Motor Management.” Güntner’s new GVX condensers are constructed entirely of aluminum and incorporate Güntner’s Microox technology. Microox is an enhanced version of the microchannel technology used in the automotive industry. Güntner says its offers several advantages: protection against galvanic corrosion by using one material, low weight due to a smaller heat exchanger and the use of aluminum, and reduced refrigerant charge. The units can be mounted easily, and their modular design allows for expansion at a later date. The new GVX series is said to reduce operating costs due to precise control of minimum condensing temperature. Güntner also showcased the combination of its heat exchangers with a new intelligent system for controlling the EC fan motors of condensers and dry coolers. The company says its Güntner Motor Management (GMM) for EC fans regulates fan speed depending on the pressure or the temperature controls processes and provides more safety and transparency for an improved plant operation. Commissioning time is considerably reduced, Gantner said, due to the simple setting of the controller and the automatic EC fan management. “The parameters of the fans are automatically set by the controller. No hardware, software or special knowledge is required.” February 2009 ASHRAE President William A. Harrison told representatives of the German building industry that ASHRAE is taking steps to create a national building energy labeling program to promote the value of energy efficiency in the real estate market. “Taking a cue from Europe, we are striving to provide motivation for reducing energy use in commercial buildings by expressing the energy performance of buildings in a tangible way,” he said. Germany has long led in introducing energy-efficient technologies, which is a trend that German manufacturers say will make their products in even greater demand globally. Citing forecasts by the International Energy Agency predicting that China’s and India’s energy requirements will double by 2030 and that Russia’s requirements will increase by a third, German companies point out that their country’s energy consumption is less than 6.2 GJ for every €1,000 of gross domestic product (GDP). In 2007, the country’s primary energy consumption reached its lowest level in 25 years, although GDP more than doubled during the same period. One company at the forefront of energy efficiency is Bock, a manufacturer of compressors. The company’s EFC /EFCe system provides a solution for energy-optimized compressor control, which it says can reduce energy consumption by 25%. By adding the system to its frequency converters, Bock offers an efficient way of adjusting capacity to current cooling requirements. 2002 to 135,000 sold in 2007. It still only amounts to around 10% of the markets in Italy or Spain. • The sale of VRF air-conditioning systems in Germany rose from 2002 to 2007 by more than 500% to almost 10,000 outdoor units. • Refrigerating and air-conditioning plants in Germany consume approximately 14% of the country’s electrical energy. A study by the Refrigeration Research Council estimates this can be reduced by 40% by optimizing plant performance and replacing outdated components. • In September 2008, the German Ministry of the Environment initiated a support program to reduce the electrical energy requirement of commercial refrigeration plants by 11,000 GWh a year. To qualify for support, existing plants must have an annual energy consumption of over 150,000 kWh. An expert assessment of the plant must show potential savings of at least 35%. If these conditions are met, energy modernization can be supported with grants of 15% of expenditure (if synthetic refrigerants are used) or 25% (if natural refrigerants are used). The support for new plants is limited solely to plants operated with natural refrigerants. • In 2008, Germany implemented the Chemicals & Climate Protection Act stipulating regular leak tests of refrigeration plants based on the refrigerant charge and year of plant manufacture. • Germany began implementation of EU Regulation 303/2008 in summer 2008, introducing certification for all persons and companies installing or maintaining refrigeration plants. The regulation distinguishes between the type of activity (installation, leak tests, removal of refrigerant, service/ maintenance) and plant size. • There is an acute shortage of engineers, technicians and other experts in Germany, particularly in the refrigeration and air-conditioning segment. ASHRAE Journal 7

ASHRAE Journal - February 2009

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