An all-electric future

An all-electric future

What does the changing nature of our energy mix mean for HVAC&R engineers?

By Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH

As we wrestle with the various issues around climate change, one trend has become clear. We are now on an inevitable drive for an all-electric HVAC&R future.

Our industry will require better skills in electrical engineering aspects associated with mechanical services. And there will be a greater demand for HVAC&R engineers to become more competent with electrical services design and specification.

Traditionally, many HVAC&R engineers have depended on their electrical engineering colleagues to provide support. Moving forward, HVAC&R engineers will be expected to have these skills.

So, what is a mech-elec future, and what does it look like? Discussing this with one of our respected members, Lasath Lecamwasam, F.AIRAH, he thinks that if words such as, “discrimination”, “diversity”, “segregation”, “maximum demand”, “fault level”, “earth-loop impedance”, “arc flash”, “fibrillation” and the like are a puzzle to you, then it is time to unravel the secrets of electrical engineering for our members.

“Due to misunderstandings between the disciplines, sometimes the integration between the two systems is sub-optimal,” Lecamwasam says.

“And apart from potential safety issues, this could lead to additional costs to the client for unnecessary infrastructure, and additional strain on utility companies to provide larger electricity sub-stations and network augmentation.”

Focus areas

These issues have already been raised by several of our members, who have shared some examples of what our industry’s future education needs will be in this area. These include:

  • An appreciation of AS/NZS 3000 (wiring rules) with regards to electrical safety. There is a lot of misunderstanding in the industry, even among established practitioners, who sometimes do not realise the demarcation between the rules that apply to the fixed installation versus the equipment itself. They are complementary but different sets of rules, and include EMC-RFI and harmonics.
  • Understanding the relationship between thermal energy, electrical power, Amps drawn, maximum demand, diversity factors, etc. Without the need to convert our members into fully-fledged electrical design engineers, HVAC&R engineers should have sufficient confidence and knowledge to effectively communicate and coordinate with electrical engineers and contractors.
  • A better understanding of “big picture” issues including diversity factors such as duty stand-by, lead lag, and the like; load management; load shedding; contributions from solar PV and the like. This should reduce misunderstandings between mechanical and electrical engineers, and the potential for conservative overdesign in our industry, which can have repercussions all the way from money being wasted on bigger‑than‑necessary switchboards, utility sub‑stations and even power stations.

Next steps

To facilitate the next steps, I would like to hear from our members on these issues and how to best address this potential skills gap. In particular, I see the potential need for development of:

  • A series of peer-reviewed articles in Ecolibrium
  • Production of a Design Application Guide for electrical services for HVAC&R
  • Development of a detailed certificate or diploma program.

Because electrical aspects of HVAC&R are also very important to installers of equipment, I hope we will get responses from our valued members who are installation technicians, contractors, and representatives from TAFEs and other training providers.

Have your say

Those interested in commenting or contributing to the above please contact me at ceo@airah.org.au

This article appears in ecolibrium’s April 2022 issue

Want to read more?
 

AIRAH MEMBERS

Click here to view our archive of issues and features.

NON-MEMBERS

Become an AIRAH member or subscribe to Ecolibrium.

Mair takes top Testo job

Mair takes top Testo job

Testo has appointed Jason Mair as its new managing director, and says the team is looking forward to continued success and partnerships utilising his leadership and extensive experience.Mair was formerly head of sales for SICK Pty Ltd, responsible for sales across...

ASHRAE issues global agenda

ASHRAE issues global agenda

The final report from the ASHRAE Global HVAC&R Summit held in Istanbul, Turkey last October has been released by the US‑based engineering association.“The Summit was designed to create an environment of collaboration and strategic dialogue to address the critical...

WRAP artist – meet Robert Holovka, M.AIRAH

WRAP artist – meet Robert Holovka, M.AIRAH

Ecolibrium shoots the breeze with the Melbourne-based director and founder of WRAP Engineering, Robert Holovka, M.AIRAH.Specialty Multi-discipline engineer, specialising in mechanical engineering. Passions The initial concept phase of any building design – when...

Wood that it could

Wood that it could

By embracing the Passivhaus standard, a new apartment building in Palma, Spain, classifies as an nZEB (nearly zero energy building).   Paseo Mallorca 15 is a 10-apartment block in the main thoroughfare of Palma, capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca), not...

The comfort of family

The comfort of family

The development of a sophisticated control system for an iconic home in Melbourne’s leafy suburbs has not only provided greater comfort to its occupants but broken new ground in predictive climate control systems. Sean McGowan reports on a house that has been home to...

Trish Hyde named as new AIRAH CEO

Trish Hyde named as new AIRAH CEO

A seamless transition to the Institute’s new Chief Executive is in place. Following a detailed recruitment process, the AIRAH Board has appointed Trish Hyde to the role of AIRAH Chief Executive. Hyde replaces Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH, who announced his impending...

Reliable Controls advertisement

Advertisement