Challenge
A leading producer of high-end medical dental technology in Germany was seeking to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by switching from gas heating to the use of sustainable heat pumps. In common with many manufacturers across Europe, the customer was concerned about gas shortages and wanted to guarantee there would be sufficient power to continue operation, particularly over the coming winter. The customer’s power requirement was very high - 1.5MW of heating capacity with 70° output – which would involve the implementation of a large cascade system involving multiple units.
As well as ensuring power security, the customer was also keen to pursue its environmental goals and reduce carbon emissions.
Limited space on site presented further challenges which needed to be overcome.
Solution
Despite an increasing demand for heat pump solutions in Germany, Trane remains the only supplier in the country capable of designing and implementing large-scale “super boiler” installations as required by the customer.
The new system was designed to replace gas heating in several areas of the company’s headquarters, with the customer needing rental provision for at least 26 weeks. Cascade systems typically comprise two stages: the first stage consists of air or water-source heat pumps (or heat recovery chillers) that can produce water at intermediate temperatures (25-50°C) while the second stage consists of water-source heat pumps to producehot water at higher temperatures of up to 120°C.
Four CXAF 165 Sintesis Advantage CXAF Air-to-Water Heat Pumps providing intermediate temperatures were installed at the site together with four City™ RTSF 100 Water-to-Water Heat Pumps providing high temperatures. Trane’s rental team and sales engineer were supported throughout the project by a highly-qualified core technology team, controls team and equipment support team. Although a rental project, the complex system required multiple site visits and very detailed planning.
Results
The customer was delighted with Trane’s large heat pump “super boiler” solution. Depending on how high demand reaches over the winter, the customer may well choose to extend the initial 26-week rental period which started in October 2022.
Despite the challenges presented by this large-scale rental project, Trane’s can-do attitude resulted in a very efficient new system for this customer. Trane’s large network right across Europe also made it possible for the regional teams in Germany to benefit from equipment provision from other regions, ensuring that all the units could be supplied in good time.
The project also demonstrated that Trane is able to devise even very large and complex energy solutions for rental clients. Thanks to the standardisation of units and ancillaries right across Trane’s equipment portfolio, Trane is also able to design rental solutions that can be promptly and efficiently deployed to provide customers with quick turnaround solutions.
Trane is committed to helping its customers find more sustainable solutions than gas-dependent boilers to fulfil their heating requirements. Cascade systems ensure high performance by facilitating the use of ambient air as an alternative energy source. By sourcing energy from ambient air as well as natural water, geothermal and waste energy sources, cascade systems offer unrivalled flexibility and achieve significant reductions in energy consumption.
Trane’s Sintesis™ Advantage CXAF provides best-in-class efficiency levels at Eurovent Class A full load performance. CXAF models comply with ErP 2021 efficiency thresholds, using the most innovative technology on the market. CXAF uses ambient air as its heat source, resulting in a substantially lower carbon footprint and no emissions compared to fossil fuel boilers.
