|
Galvanic corrosion
causes discolouration problems in 305 meter high building
Problems with discolouration of the water supply in the third tallest
hotel in the world and the tallest building in the Middle East and
Europe – the Emirates Towers in Dubai – have been cleared thanks to the
installation of a new cold water and drinking water pumping system. The
problems resided in galvanic action between the pump sets and the system
pipework.
The water was coming out of the taps almost coffee-coloured. M&E
consultants DSSR/Mitchell partnership, brought in to solve the problem,
discovered galvanic action between the pump sets and the system
pipework. The problem affected both towers, the 305m high 400-room hotel
as well as the adjacent 350m office block.
Stainless steel
Working with the consultants associated with the project, the
specialist UK pump set designer and manufacturer Allan Aqua-Systems
Limited provided a solution calling for completely new bespoke pumping
systems with all wetted components in 316 stainless steel, including
separate, dedicated pump sets to serve the high level draw-off points.
Allan Aqua-Systems selected Lowara high efficiency vertical multi-stage
units. Says Allan Aqua-Systems’ Ian Burke; “Lowara were the only
manufacturer to provide DPS units with large enough capacity in 316
stainless steel to satisfy the overall flow rate requirement of the
biggest set.” Ian Burke continues;”Important criteria for us in choosing
the vertical multistage pumps were quietness and efficiency. Our
criteria in choosing a supplier were; ability to supply all the pumps on
the sets, ie no mixing and matching of pumps from different suppliers,
reputation, reliability, and re- presentation in the geographical area.”
Drinking water service
Six pump sets power the cold water and drinking water service: four
three-pump and two four-pump sets. Four booster sets are assigned to the
hotel and two for the office block. All of them are installed in low
level plant rooms. DPS units serve the very high pressure systems and
SVS units serve the lower pressure systems. One pump in each of the
booster sets operates on a continuously running lead pump basis to meet
the normal off-peak demand. The support pumps are sequenced in and out
according to system demand under pressure switch and timer control. The
sets serving high level outlets operate at 28 bar of head. As a
precaution all equipment was tested at up to 50 bar.
Third tallest hotel in world
With 56 floors and 400 rooms the hotel is the third tallest in the
world. It includes a 10 floor lower atrium and 31 floor upper atrium,
five panoramic lifts, eight other lifts, a swimming pool, health club,
and an 880 –seat function room and restaurant. In total it has 400m3 of
water storage. Emirates Towers Hotel provides a dramatic backdrop to
Dubai’s skyline. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, ornamental lakes and
waterfalls the hotel is situated in the central business and commercial
district. It is an ideal location, within walking distance of the World
trade Centre, Dubai’s financial markets and the International Exhibition
hall.Also with 54 floors, the office building is the tallest in the
Middle East and Europe, and the ninth tallest in the world. The tower
has 47 floors of rented space based on a triangular layout. An average
floor has a net usable area of 810m2 with a floor to ceiling height of
2.85 metres.
Contractor for the office block is Aster Limited of the U.A.E.Linking
the two towers is the Emirates Towers Shopping Boulevard. This retail
plaza features spacious walkways linked by sky-lit courtyards, exclusive
shops, theme restaurants and coffee shops. <<
|
