Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

through a condenser, which is much like a car’s radiator, to cool it back down. However, instead of letting that heat dissipate into the air, a heat exchanger can be added on to heat water for use in heating. McCarry said the heat that can be captured from a refrigeration system is considered “low-grade heat,” which can be used to heat rooms, or be run through radiant heating systems beneath the seats in an arena, but wouldn’t be the most efficient source for, say, heating domestic hot water. McCarry added the challenge is to balance the size of the heatrecovery system with the size of the attendant ice plant. Operators have to remember that the plant is there primarily to make ice, and would become inefficient if they were to make the plant bigger than needed just because they want to use it for heating the building. “Your ice surface and ice quality is your primary reason for being,” McCarry said, “as The system’s piping, embedded in concrete, absorbs heat into its subzero temperature “brine” well as selling tickets.” However, other heat-recovery opportunities have the potential to capture bigger chunks of energy. A system being installed to capture heat from Whistler’s sewage treatment plant for the Whistler Athletes’ Village will heat water to 65˚C. McCarry said that is still not high-grade heat, but it is hot enough to heat hot water. McCarry’s firm is also working on the recovery system being put into the Hillcrest curling rink, which will have a geothermal feature allowing excess heat to be stored in the ground beneath the facility that can be drawn and used later. Stantec is also working on the heat-pump system for the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion, which will draw warmth from sea water in Burrard Inlet during winter, and put heat into the water from cooling the building in summer. There is one problem with widespread adoption of heat-recovery technology, however. Switching to heat pumps to wean a building off natural gas requires more electricity. McCarry said this is occurring at the same time BC Hydro is pushing energy conservation as a way of coming up with electricity B.C. needs for a growing population. That creates “a bit of tension,” McCarry added, but he thinks it is worthwhile to pursue more heat recovery projects, and there are more products capable of drawing energy from different environments all the time. ©Pacific Newspaper Group Inc. (The Vancouver Sun/The Province), a CanWest Company. Provided for information only — no endorsement is made or implied. Westburne has FLUKE so you can Find it, Fix it, FAST Rugged and reliable test tools to keep your world up and running. Thermal Imagers, Air Flow and Quality Testers, Insulation Resistance Testers, Digital Multimeters, Clamp Meters, Thermometers, Earth Ground Testers and more. St Boniface Winnipeg 204-954-9900 Dauphin Brandon 204-571-2333 Flin Flon Thompson 204-778-7041 Estevan Regina 306-721-2500 Prince Albert Saskatoon 306-933-2992 Kenora Thunder Bay 807-344-3100 www.westburnedirect.ca 204-954-9901 204-638-5328 306-688-2023 306-634-7225 306-922-4545 807-548-4266 WORKSHOPS TO GO! We have the best trade packages for Contractors. Organizing van interiors since 1974 with efficient shelving, bins, cabinets, partitions, and aluminum ladder racks 1-800-668-7942 www.vanterior.com 56 Mechanical Contractors Associations of Alberta, B.C., Manitoba & Saskatchewan 2008 http://www.westburnedirect.ca http://www.vanterior.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008

Mechanical Piping Plumbing Journal 2008 Contents MCA Canada Chairman MCA Alberta MCA British Columbia MCA Manitoba MCA Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Demographics & Management Employees Insurance – The Pros & Cons of Subguard® Construction Sector Council Data Richmond Olympic Oval Uses the Ice to Heat Things Up B.C.’s Hydrogen Highway™: The Hydrogen + Fuel Cell Alternative The Manitoba Hydro Tower Project Index to Advertisers

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