Our focal point in the area of cooling technology is the topic “The future of sustainable cooling systems”. In practically every technical system in the most diverse areas of application, e.g. terminals at the port, in data centers, in building services engineering etc., an air conditioning unit is at least integrated or installed. Air conditioning systems are responsible for a significant part of the worldwide Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy consumption.
Basic Principle of a Sustainable Cooling System
Today, I am working on the topic “The future of sustainable cooling systems” in the terminal area of ports as well as other areas of application, e.g. in the cooling of data centers. My personal inspiration for natural sciences (mathematics, physics, and chemistry) goes back to my school days in Kenya.
“The basic principle of the “Heat Exchanger System” (HES) is: “Warm air rises to the top and cold air falls to the bottom” and this principle is implemented in the “Heat Exchanger Unit” (HEU as a subcomponent of the HES).”
Mr. Horst Schneider
Sustainability in cooling systems could make a huge contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions, increasing efficiency, and operational safety in all areas of application.
From a technical, ecological, and economic point of view, what problems should a cooling system in an electrical switch-gear building resolve?
The general conditions inside and outside of the electrical switch-gear building (e.g. weather, movement by crane, etc.) influence the cooling capacity required for heat discharge (output) and the energy required for heat removal (input). From a technical point of view, the heat extraction should guarantee the highest possible operational safety. This should be done in such a way that, from an ecological and economic point of view, the lowest possible costs for the extraction of heat are incurred. Operational safety at the terminal means that the crane is always ready for operation and can carry out its activities without disturbance. The costs of heat removal are subject to the opportunity principle when selecting alternative heat removal options.
Which goal do terminal operators pursue when optimizing cooling systems on water-side cranes and automated stacking cranes?
Terminal operators as end-users of the Heat Exchanger System achieve higher operational safety and at the same time optimize the energy consumption for heat dissipation from summer to winter, day and night in the electrical switch house for the automated cranes. Teamwork between the various stakeholders make a major contribution to achieving the terminal operator’s goals. The various stakeholders in the implementation of the HES in the Port of Hamburg (CTB) are HHLA Hamburg and HCCR Hamburg, ABB Cranes System Västerås, Sweden, Elektrotechnik Janssen GmbH, Nordenham, KÜNZ GmbH Hard, Austria, Kampmann Gruppe/NOVA Donaueschingen, Reiss Kälte und Klima Freiburg im Breisgau.
How important are sustainability and climate neutrality for terminals?
“HHLA’s goal: a climate-neutral company by 2040” is the corporate strategy of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) AG on the subject of sustainability. HHLA’s sustainability strategy is managed under the “Balanced Logistics” brand, says Chief Executive Officer Ms Titzrath. Another example of how climate neutrality and sustainability are important for terminals worldwide is shown by AMPT’s Maasvlakte II terminal in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where the Heat-Exchanger-System (HES) is integrated in all fully automated stacking cranes and rail loading cranes. HHLA justifies its sustainability orientation by the fact that it wants to be both economically successful in its business fields and to assume its social and ecological responsibility in society. This also means that HHLA wants to create a balance between economic and ecological efficiency.
