Background Story
The client operates a retail building located in Dubai Mall, housing a range of shops, food courts, and entertainment spaces. The total conditioned floor area of the building is 20,000 m², with 6,000 m² designated for common areas, such as corridors, entrances, and bathrooms. The retail building relies heavily on a well-maintained cooling system to ensure customer comfort and to optimize energy efficiency across different operational zones.
Ark Energy was engaged to conduct a detailed cooling load assessment. The aim was to compare the signed cooling load with the actual cooling load to help the client identify opportunities for reducing the Declared Load with the District Cooling Provider and enhancing cooling system efficiency.
Problems
The main challenge during this assessment was the varying cooling demands between retail spaces, food courts, and common areas. While retail spaces typically experience moderate occupancy, food courts and entertainment zones have high foot traffic and more heat-producing equipment, causing fluctuations in cooling requirements. The varying operational schedules across these zones added complexity, but the cooling load assessment was completed accurately using the HAP Energy Model Software.
Main Objective
The main objective of this assessment was to compare the signed cooling load against the simulated cooling load calculated using the HAP model. The analysis was based on data provided by the client, including architectural drawings and occupancy patterns. The final goal was to offer accurate thermal load estimates to support the client’s efforts in reducing the Declared Load with the District Cooling Provider.
Approach
Ark Energy followed a systematic approach to the cooling load assessment, considering the following:
Building’s architectural layout, including store sizes, food court spaces, and common areas
Internal heat gains from lighting, appliances, and high-traffic areas (especially food courts and entertainment zones)
External environmental factors, such as solar exposure and ambient temperature
Worst-case scenario conditions, including:
Peak occupancy times in retail spaces and food courts
Operating hours for entertainment zones and customer peak times
Usage of lighting and cooling equipment during business hours
Table 01
Overall plan conducted for the Thermal Cooling Load Assessment for this building
The client’s actual cooling load was 5% lower than the signed load with the District Cooling Operator.
Table 02
Deviations presented from the analysis emphasize the difference between the actual and signed cooling loads
Some of the findings from the analysis are as follows:
Retail spaces required 180 TR of cooling, which was 3% higher than the signed load of 175 TR. Food court areas required 150 TR, which was 10% lower than the signed load of 167 TR
Common areas, including corridors and bathrooms, required 70 TR, which was 6% lower than the signed load of 74 TR
The total cooling tonnage required by the retail building was calculated at 400 TR, which is 5% lower than the signed load with the District Cooling Operator
Figure 01
Actual Declared Load distribution assessment reveals that the landlord’s consumption is lower than the simulated Peak and Calibrated design conditions
A reduction in the Declared Load is recommended based on the analysis. Additionally, to further enhance energy efficiency, the following measures should be considered:
Energy efficiency improvements, such as upgrading HVAC systems, optimizing temperature controls, and enhancing insulation in food courts and retail areas
Low Delta-T rehabilitation to improve system efficiency and reduce energy wastage
Energy management digitalization to monitor energy usage across different retail zones and adjust cooling needs in real-time
Results
The results that were generated from the project include the following: