First UK Installation of Carrier’s Ultra-Low GWP HFO Chiller Lands at Gatwick Airport

The first UK installation of Carrier’s new ultra-low Global Warming Potential (GWP) AquaForce® 30XAV chiller operating on the company’s PUREtec®  HFO R-1234ze refrigerant has been completed at Gatwick Airport Ltd. Selected as a replacement for an ageing air-cooled screw chiller, the project is part of a major upgrade at Jubilee House, the administrative offices of Gatwick Airport Ltd.

Carrier, a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, is a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.

Carrier’s AquaForce 30XAV with Greenspeed® Intelligence was selected by Gatwick Airport Ltd as a solution to help meet the airport’s strict environmental policy, set out in its Decade of Change vision and Cooling Strategy beyond 2020. The new policy includes goals to transition away from high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants and targets to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent, energy consumption by 20 per cent, and securing 25 per cent of its energy from renewable sources.

The chiller uses refrigerant R-1234ze with a GWP rating of less than 1, has low sound output and high resilience due to its dual refrigeration circuit. Carrier’s Greenspeed® Intelligence system delivers high efficiency by precisely matching cooling output with the load using a fine-control inverter. This optimises efficiency particularly at part load conditions, which represents the majority of the time in the UK. The chiller’s excellent efficiency results in a significantly lower carbon footprint and lower running costs over its operational lifetime.

Jack Hartland, principal mechanical engineer at Gatwick Airport, said: “We have set ambitious targets for the environmental performance of all aspects of Gatwick’s operations, and the energy efficiency and carbon status of our buildings are key elements. Based on ultra-low GWP refrigerant R-1234ze, the new Carrier chiller delivers in relation to both efficiency and carbon, and has helped us achieve the outstanding environmental performance our strategy requires.”

The chiller is designed for flexibility in such replacement projects, with a compact footprint and variable configurations of water pipework that can be matched to existing connections. At Gatwick, the built-in chiller control interface was linked into the building management system, giving high-level control and helping to minimise energy consumption.

The chiller was installed by SPIE UK, which carried out the crane lift and chiller replacement at night due to ongoing activities within the building and surrounding busy airport during the day. The chiller is protected by Carrier’s Super Enviro-Shield condenser coating, and includes a five-year extended warranty.

About Carrier
Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier is a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy-efficient products, building controls and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and food service customers. Carrier’s HVAC business is a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. For more information, visit www.carrieraircon.co.uk or follow @Carrier on Twitter.

Gatwick Airport’s buildings are on the way to becoming carbon neutral

The chiller was selected due to its outstanding low GWP, low sound output, and resilience due to its dual refrigeration circuit, reliability and energy efficiency.

The chiller is protected by Carrier’s Super Enviro-Shield condenser coating, and includes a five-year extended warranty.*

*under CARRIER’s terms and conditions.