ASHRAE Journal - June 2010 - 6

Left: Every two years crowds gather in Milan for the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort trade fair. Before the 2010 edition ended, 157,447 visitors passed through the turnstiles. Right: Industrial boilers from ICI Caldaie based in Verona have burner controls that use modulating control and variable-speed fans to save up to 30% electric energy.

MILAN, Italy—When it comes to trade fairs for heating, air disposal that can be acted on unilaterally in Italy to stimulate conditioning and water use in buildings, Mostra Convegno demand,” one official said. Expocomfort in Milan, Italy, is arguably the world’s largest. The EU is certainly a factor. New regulations from Brussels MCE 2010, held March 23 – 27, was true to form, attracting are called 20/20/20: 20% reduction in carbon dioxide, 20% 157,447 trade visitors to view products of 2,300 exhibitors. increase in energy efficiency, and 20% increase in renewable Exhibits covered 325,000 m2 (3.5 million ft2). But big was not sources. Member states are required to present national plans the story at this year’s fair. In fact, visitor attendance was off by for renewable energy by June 30, 2010. some 10,000. Rather, it was how the Italian AC industry plans Among renewable energy sources are heat pumps, recognized to turn around a roughly 20% sales decline. because they take heat from the environment With a stagnant economy and a national and, when powered by electricity, reduce electric debt that is Europe’s largest, manufacturers consumption. Heat pumps, like other cooling were cautious at best. Some quietly confided equipment, are subject to EU requirements they have reduced research and development that establish Season Performance Factors for spending by 25%, likely one reason why MCE units. The calculations assume unit operation crowds thinned out sooner than expected. There at part load for considerable periods of time. were not as many new products to be viewed, To promote use of heat pump renewable energy, one contractor said. It was not like a few years Italy offers a 55% tax incentive for installations. ago when heat waves captured the public’s atOne of the MCE exhibitors offering a solutention and AC sales were center stage. tion to improve cooling efficiency especially The government can do more to improve the suited for heat pumps was Carel. “Sophistisituation is the view of Alessandro Durante. Sales staff for Evco explain its cated controls are required to ensure effective He works for Italy’s mechanical engineering programmable controllers are de- control of refrigerating units at part loads,” associations. “There needs to be a better con- signed for modularity, flexibility said Luigi Nalini, Carel Group CEO. Visitors nection between the manufacturers, designers and communication efficiency. stood three or four deep around its pCOand contractors, and operators,” he said. “The government sistema+ display. “dc inverters integrated into the pCOsistema+ needs a unified approach that addresses each of the industry’s modulate compressor speed and, consequently, cooling capacity. segments. While the Italian government pushes for environ- Improving control of variable speed compressors and electronic mental quality, it needs to consider the cost of implementing expansion valves enables variations in load to be precisely manregulations. Because Italy does not have its own fuel sources, aged, ensuring an efficient and effective response to different the price of operating equipment is already high.” climatic and different thermal loads throughout the year,” Nalini Several industry analysts noted that one obstacle to mounting said. Savings of 25% to 35% have been achieved. Carel, long a recovery is monetary limits placed on member countries by the recognized in the field of humidification, also displayed a new EU. “With the Euro, we no longer have economic tools at our generation of high pressure atomized water humidifiers. The
6 ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org June 2010

It’s Wait and See at MCE

ASHRAE Journal - June 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - June 2010