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ABN AMRO ‘Chills Out' With Alldales' Energy-Saving Drives

In a bid to off-set increases in energy bills arising from the climate change levy at its prestigious banking Headquarters in London, ABN AMRO has upgraded its HVAC plant by fitting energy-saving inverter drives from Alldales Drive Systems Limited to the building's chilled water systems. By varying the speed at which motors or fans are run to match flow requirements, the installation of inverter drives is expected to achieve up to a 22% reduction in overall speed. Potentially this could mean savings on running costs of between 40 - 50%.

An international organisation involved in commercial and investment banking and other related financial activities, ABN AMRO is the 13th largest bank in the world

The Bank's Bishopsgate Headquarters building is typically occupied by staff from 8am in the morning until 8pm at night. Computers play a huge part in day-to-day transactions, so ensuring cooler systems work in the building's IT suite to protect vital servers is paramount.

The extended day, combined with 24/7 running in the IT suite, meant that water cooler systems in the building were constantly running. At the same time, fuel bills have increased with the addition of the Climate Change Levy, which came into effect last April

Explains Facilities Manager Matthew Withey: “Having had inverter drives fitted elsewhere in the building, we were aware of the potential benefits. At the same time, Alldales Drive Systems were offering Danfoss products, tried and tested technology from a leading manufacturer that we were already familiar with”.

Having carried out a preliminary energy survey of the water cooler system, Alldales recommended installing inverter drives to a number of pumps and fan motors where the survey had identified potential for energy savings and increasing the efficiency and running of the various systems. As a result, inverter drives are being fitted to the main plant room as well as rooftop plant and cooling tower fans.

In changing the existing starters to inverter drives in the congested main plant room, Alldales Drive Systems' experience has proved a bonus, with careful planning required in positioning the new drive to ensure easy access and operation in use

Alldales' drives are manufactured especially for the company by Danfoss, a global name in the production of drives and controls for HVAC systems. Technically advanced, the drives utilise the fastest digital processing hardware available together with sophisticated mathematics. With a dynamic speed accuracy that is eight times better than any open loop AC Drive and comparable to a DC drive using feedback, Alldales drive inverters switch power to the motor 40,000 times a second to optimise flux, with a resultant increase in energy of up to 22%.

In addition to the energy savings to be gained by fitting drive inverters, there are other benefits in taking prompt action to upgrade HVAC plant now. Variable speed drives are one of a range of technologies currently qualifying for the Government's Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs), aimed at encouraging greater energy efficiency. Under the terms of the scheme, users are able to offset the purchase cost against corporation or income tax in the year of purchase.

Released May 2002

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