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ACR Blogs

Keeping your skills up to date

2/5/2018

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross of Mitsubishi Electric
​Ben Bartle-Ross of Mitsubishi Electric looks at the value of keeping your skills up to date.

​We are in what I see as a really exciting period for the HVAC sector at the moment, with new technologies, refrigerants and new equipment regularly coming onto the market – and at the same time, legislation is focusing attention on the equipment that engineers are installing as never before

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When should you pressure test an air conditioning system?

10/10/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross looks at when it is appropriate or even necessary to pressure test an air conditioning system.

As a trainer covering our complete range of air conditioning products, I am amazed at how many engineers I see coming through my training courses who have been told by an (often) older colleague that when they are servicing air conditioning, they have to put a pressure gauge on a system to ‘test the pressures’.

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Does R32 need new tools?

15/9/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross of Mitsubishi Electric looks at what R32 systems mean for air conditioning installers.
 
R32 systems are now available in the UK and, if the experience we’ve had with our MSZ-LN units is anything to go by, then they will become common very quickly – especially with businesses who want the stylish new designs, or corporations that want to demonstrate their adoption of aircon with a lower GWP.

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Effective controls and intuitive Building Management Systems

20/7/2017

 
airedale BMS energy carbon efficiency
Richard Burcher of Airedale International Air Conditioning suggests simple, cost-effective tactics to cut carbon emissions and energy costs.

Much is written about marginal gains, the small incremental improvements which can be made to any process, where the cumulative gains would end up being hugely significant. Energy saving is one process which can benefit marginal gains. Ensuring lights are off when an office is not in use, for example, can turn small changes into big savings.

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Tooling up for R32

7/6/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross, a trainer at Mitsubishi Electric, looks at what the introduction of R32 systems means for air conditioning installers.

I was pleased to get some comments on the ACR Journal website in response to my previous post about R32.
​
However, I am not going to answer them here because I think the subject of R32 and safety is more than adequately covered by the F-Gas Regulations which are in place for a reason. It’s also why you have to qualify to handle refrigerants. Like just about anything in modern life there are dangers involved, but with correct training and handling, we seek to mitigate the risks and minimise the danger.

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Training videos: step by step by step

1/5/2017

 
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For this month’s column, I’d like to ask two direct questions and would welcome your thoughts and answers either by writing to the editor, or by emailing me directly.

I’ve been asked by my marketing colleagues whether videos would help me in my role as a trainer, whether that is for air conditioning or for heat pumps.

Whilst I believe that videos can be a very useful learning tool, I still believe in a hands-on approach so I’d really appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

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Time for an R32 debate

4/4/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross of Mitsubishi Electric
These columns allow me to focus on things that I think are important for the industry – and that I come across when meeting engineers on the training courses I run.

So, it is always great to get a comment, which at least shows that someone, somewhere is reading the column.
In my last post, 32 reasons to get ready for change, I focused on the fact that the Aircon industry is dealing with R32 refrigerant that is starting to appear in new models.

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32 reasons to get ready for change

14/2/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross of Mitsubishi Electric
Most of us don’t much like change and seldom want to be pushed outside our own comfort zone.

Yet change is coming and if you haven’t been paying attention, then it’s time to get up to speed, so that you can quickly feel familiar with the new.

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Chiller maintenance: don't get left in the cold

8/2/2017

 
chiller maintenance top tips
​With chilly weather upon us, now is the time to ensure you don’t get caught out by having planned, preventative maintenance on your HVAC Chillers. Here are five key preventative chiller maintenance tips from Airedale’s UK Service Manager, Adrian Trevelyan, to help maintain high efficiency, maximise resilience, uptime and improve the longevity of your air conditioning system during the winter months.

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Are we an 'Appy' industry?

13/1/2017

 
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Ben Bartle-Ross
Ben Bartle-Ross, a trainer at Mitsubishi Electric, asks if we are being smart enough with some of the latest technology available.

In my last column, I talked about the various Apps that manufacturers, such as Mitsubishi Electric, are developing for engineers when they are out on the job. These can help with things like fault codes, pipe runs, wiring details, etc and are designed to help you get the information you need, when you need it.

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Energy Efficiency in Food Retailing: The need to address it is now greater than ever

28/10/2016

 
​Reducing energy consumption remains high on the agenda for our UK food retailers, not just to meet obligations under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme, but also to reduce costs in an increasingly competitive retailing sector.
​Ian Wood, co-founder and Managing Director of refrigeration innovator, Adande, examines the impact of rising energy costs, post Brexit implications and the options for food retailers seeking to improve their energy efficiency.

​Retail Electricity Demands

​The UK food retailing sector is made up of some 6,578 supermarkets or superstores and a further 50,000 convenience stores. It is estimated that these outlets account for 3% (10.75 TWh) of the UK’s total electricity demand in 2015, which was approximately 358 TWh. Total national electricity consumption has continued to reduce in recent years, with the final consumption of electricity down by 0.3 per cent to 83.0 TWh in 2016 Q1, compared with 83.3 TWh in the same period for 2015.
Ian Wood Adande

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The advice you need in the palm of your hand

27/10/2016

 
​As a responsible manufacturer, we provide extensive training on our equipment and have a technical help desk available to advise engineers when they are on site.
​This dedicated team is based in our Manchester office and one of the things I’ve noticed when speaking to them about areas I should focus on in the training I give, is the number of calls they get from engineers who could have found the information quicker than the time it takes to make a phone call.

​We have developed a number of Apps and Tools designed to provide answers to the more straightforward questions that you as an engineer will face on site.

​Our ME Engineer App is designed specifically to resolve straightforward questions about installation, dip-switch settings, thermistor values, etc. and because you carry it round with you on your smartphone, it can get you the answer you need far quicker than needing to call the help desk.
ME Engineer App

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Kigali Kicks HFC Ass

25/10/2016

 
HFC Greenhouse Gases
Photo courtesy of Kevin Dooley via Wikimedia
A few days spent in Kigali, Rwanda by government officials from around the world in October made it to the front page of media outlets. And, why?
​They agreed to phase-down HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) in their countries at various stages to get rid of these greenhouse gases. 

​It was not a perfect agreement, in that some commentators wanted more phase-down faster. But, developing countries said they needed more time to wean themselves of HFCs. But, the fact is that it was an important moment for the planet and humans. ​

​​The Kigali agreement means businesses and organisations will have to adopt new refrigerants with low global warming potentials (GWP). And, they will probably have to invest in new systems when their old units break down. That is good for our industry.

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Nominate now for the IOR Lifetime Achievement Award

17/10/2016

 

Deadline for nominations 1st December 2016

Roy Dearden with Graeme Maidment, Past President of the IoR
Roy Dearden with Graeme Maidment, Past President of the IoR
​Does your organisation have a service engineer that goes above and beyond and gives exceptional service to your customers? Have they been a service engineer for more than 15 years?
​If you answered yes to these questions make sure to nominate them for the Institute of Refrigeration Service Engineers’ Section Lifetime Achievement Award. The winner will receive industry recognition for their contribution as a role model with a cash prize of £400, a pewter beer tankard and an invitation to meet the industry at the IOR Annual Dinner on 16th February in London.

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Young engineers and researchers take centre stage at natural refrigerants conference

7/9/2016

 
Young Engineers at Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference
Young and Senior Engineers at the Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference
Over 250 people from no less than 31 countries took part in the 12th International Institute of Refrigeration Gustav Lorentzen Natural Working Fluids Conference in Edinburgh in August this year.

​The event, organised by the Institute of Refrigeration, attracted a higher than usual number of student delegates 52 of presenters and attendees were young researchers, students or engineers new to the industry.

Andy Pearson, IOR Technical Committee Chairman and Chair of the Conference, remarked:
“I was impressed with all the students that attended. Currently, refrigeration is an area where problems are becoming more difficult to solve and it is great to see the students beginning their journey and participating in tackling these issues.

​"The industry is dependent on students coming through, moving forward and taking on roles of responsibility in the years to come. We have to develop and help these young people along, because in twenty years it will be them on the stage encouraging the next generation of researchers and engineers.”

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Introducing Captain Cooling

22/7/2016

 
Captain cool Thumbsup
Say hello to the latest member of the ACR Journal, namely our virtual friend, Captain Cooling!

​You are going to see him in the journal, on our website and e-newsletters helping to point out events, competitions and opportunities for readers. 

​​What's his back-story

​Captain Cooling is a man of mystery right now. We need your help in working out who his arch-enemy might be and his weakness. 

We know he hates inefficiency and poor standards. He loves helping tough, hard-working air conditioning and refrigeration engineers and professionals. Let the ACR Journal team know your ideas about his nemesis and we will design more characters for Captain Cooling to form alliances with, and to battle against.


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CryoHub Technology

19/7/2016

 
​– A step change in energy saving for food cold stores and food processing factories
CryoHub Technology
​For designers, owners and operators refrigerated food cold stores and food processing plant; energy is big business.

​In an attempt to look at how the food processing and chilling industry use energy in a new way a team of engineers and researchers under the title of CryoHub are looking at using energy storage techniques which allow power to be supplied back into the grid as well as providing cooling for cold stores and food factories.

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How Will Brexit Affect You?

27/6/2016

 
How Will Brexit Affect You?
If you have not noticed the 'Brexit' result from the EU Referendum last week, where the hell have you been?

The outcome has raised more questions than it has answered, such as 'Now that you have won, what's your plan?'. For the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, questions about the rules and regulations we have to follow are bound to be raised.


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A Brave New Britain

24/6/2016

 
Brexit
Who expected a Brexit vote? Clearly, not many expected the UK to vote to leave the European Union. But, here it is.

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New RACHP Apprenticeship Programme Starts this September

17/6/2016

 
Businesses of all sizes should be thinking about taking on apprentices now. 

Not only is Government funding available that will cover two thirds of the training costs, but there is a completely new industry-led Apprenticeship programme coming on board that is designed to ensure trainees have the skills to deal with both today’s and tomorrow’s industry needs.
RACHP Apprenticeship

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