Cidade Administrativa Presidente Tancredo Neves
IMI Hydronic Engineering’ know-how in hydronic systems and HVAC optimisation helps meet ambitious efficiency targets at the new state government office complex in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Designed by famed architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Cidade Administrativa Presidente Tancredo Neves state government complex in Minas Gerais is an architectural landmark. It’s also impressive from a sustainability standpoint, built to comply with the Kyoto and Montreal protocols on climate change and environmental protection.
The complex covers a total area of over 270,000 m2 and sustainability is emphasised throughout – from energy efficiency and innovative waste processing and water recycling systems, to accessibility, FSCcertified furniture and protection of the surrounding countryside.
When it came to HVAC efficiency in one building at the complex, the consultant in charge turned to IMI Hydronic Engineering for help in realising the potential benefits.
The Hydronic Challenge
The state government wanted to maximise the building’s efficiency and the consultant knew that an optimised system design could help reduce the energy required to pump chilled water though the building.
The task required a partner who was experienced in looking at systems as a whole, and applying know-how and solutions for design optimisation to achieve efficiency gains.
It was clearly a job for IMI Hydronic Engineering, who in addition to having the required expertise, already had close working relationships with the consultant and the contractor from successful cooperation on previous projects.
The Solution
To reduce energy costs, the consultant wanted to lower velocity and power levels and raise the temperature of the chilled water in the system from 5.5ºC to 7ºC.
The IMI Hydronic Engineering team in Brazil worked closely with the consultant from the design stage right through to commissioning.
IMI Hydronic Engineering provided expertise and support to optimise the hydronic system, including in-depth technical discussions and advice on how to achieve a solution that would meet the consultant’s and the owner’s objectives. The IMI Hydronic Engineering team also performed all the calculations needed to select and size valves and determine the optimal presettings – with each individual choice enhancing efficiency further.
During the installation and commissioning phases IMI Hydronic Engineering visited the site frequently, providing installers with instructions and troubleshooting advice to ensure correct product installation, reduced commissioning time and trouble-free operation right from Day One.
IMI Hydronic Engineering delivered a solution that helped the consultant meet the ambitious energy efficiency targets, and the resulting optimised system enabled the state government to achieve an impressive 21% savings on pumping energy consumption.
Today, the system continues to operate as intended, and state government employees are now enjoying both outstanding workplace comfort and efficient, trouble-free operation.