(4 May 2015)—GI Tech, Invertek’s sales partner in the UAE, installed a series of eight Optidrive E2 Single Phase AC drives to control chilled water pumps in the Al Jahili Fort’s air conditioning system as part of an ambitious renovation project overseen by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.
Al Jahili Fort is one of the country’s most impressive, oldest landmarks and the largest mud brick fort in UAE. Built in 1891, the fort was a symbol of power and control as well as a royal summer residence, and is now a national monument.
Ali Akhaven, Director at GI Tech, said, “The Al Jahili fort is constructed of mud; installing a HVAC duct cooling system with this type of construction is a huge task, so it was decided that cooling coils would be the best option.
“Small water pumps which are operated by Optidrive E2 Single Phase Output drives under the control of the Building Management System (BMS), ensure chilled water is continuously pumped through coils installed throughout the fort to provide a comfortable environment for both workers and visitors.”
With temperatures reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius in the UAE in summer, providing an effective air conditioning system is vital for visitor attractions and places of work such as Al Jahili.
A total of eight Optidrive variable frequency drives were installed along with a small PLC used to provide a cascading sequence control. A sensor is used to measure the temperature in the area where the system is installed, connected to the BMS system.
The BMS system then relays this temperature information to the drives as an analog signal. All drives operate in PI mode, adjusting the pump speed automatically to maintain the required temperature setpoint according to the cooling requirements.
This system helps to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature throughout the entire fort and is far more cost effective solution than using fans.