Chiller Upgrade for Extraordinary London Venue

LONDON, UK - Oct. 21, 2024

Carrier Commercial HVAC recently completed a chiller replacement project at one of London’s most extraordinary venues, the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Carrier Commercial HVAC is part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

Designed by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is one of the most striking and enduring visual legacies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is the UK’s tallest sculpture and at the summit, offers a 360-degree view of London.

The project involved replacing an inefficient chiller that had come to the end of its life with a Carrier AquaSnap^® 30RB 160R air-cooled liquid chiller, with scroll compressor, plus an added De-Superheater heat recovery option. The 30RB chiller also has refrigerant leak detector, compressor soft starter, super enviro-shield anti-corrosion protection, and water exchanger frost protection.

Carrier was commissioned by ParkServe, on behalf of London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), to undertake the project, and enlisted the support of local contractor L&B Technical Services Ltd to complete the challenging installation. Given the height and location of the ArcelorMittal Orbit's roof plant area, at the top of the 114-metre-tall structure, securing a crane permit was costly and complicated. However, the only access to the roof plant room was through a 1m x 1m hatch.

To overcome this challenge, Carrier’s service technicians recommended and performed a strip down and rebuild of the 30RB unit. The chiller was dismantled off-site, packed into a ‘kit-of-parts’, and then transported to the roof plant area through the narrow access hatch. The unit was then meticulously reassembled on-site, eliminating the need for a crane and significantly reducing the overall cost. This method was not only cost-effective but also ensured that the chiller was installed without compromising the warranty, maintaining Carrier's high standards of service.

"This was a great project to work on. Squeezing a chiller through a 1m x 1m hatch isn’t something we do all that often," said Rob Moffat Contracts Manager, L&B Technical Services Ltd. "The crane option was quoted for but, the cost for a Carrier strip and rebuild service was a fraction of the price. We are proud of our partnership with Carrier and this project exemplifies our abilities to deliver complex and innovative HVAC solutions even under challenging circumstances."

"The project presented several logistical challenges, particularly with the limited access to the roof plant area, but Carrier's innovative strip down and rebuild was the best approach," said Hannah Barclay, Head of Contract Management, London Legacy Development Corporation. "This new modern chiller not only helps meet the current climate control needs inside the ArcelorMittal Orbit but the addition of a heat recovery De-Superheater provides a sustainable solution for years to come."

This project at the ArcelorMittal Orbit exemplifies Carrier’s ability to deliver complex and innovative HVAC solutions even under challenging conditions. The combination of a high-quality product, a tailored approach to overcoming logistical challenges, and the strong partnerships with trusted contractors like L&B ensured the success of the project.