Welsh hospitals take a third off air-conditioning costs

Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust is on course to increase the efficiency of chiller plant by 30 to 40% and reduce wear and tear following the installation of a liquid-pressure amplification system from Excalibur LPA. The system has been installed in the University Hospital of Wales site at Heath Park and Llandough Hospital on Penlam Road. The plants serve critical areas and represent a comparatively high proportion of electrical consumption and load. Jonathan McGarrigle, the trust’s energy manager, explains, ‘The trust has very challenging energy-consumption targets set by the Government and has implemented an energy-management strategy and action plan, which includes an investment programme.’ Excalibur provided, installed and commissioned the system and inverter controls for the refrigeration system and associated condenser plant. Full bypass facilities were specified to enable the original mode of operation to be re-instated should there be any operational difficulties. The project was undertaken in the winter months, when the cooling load was lowest, and the plant could be shut down. The benefits are said to have exceeded the trust’s expectations. A side benefit has been the reduction of noise levels.

Related links:

• www.excaliburlpa.co.uk