Sanyo Gas Heat Pump (GHP) technology has been installed at the new luxury five-star Fota Island Hotel, Fota Island Resort, Cork, Ireland. Sanyo installer Kelly Refrigeration of Ennis, County Clare, worked closely with the appointed consultant engineers – E.G Pettit & Company – to devise the most appropriate heating and cooling solution for this prestigious hotel.
The options of either a gas or electric air conditioning solution were put forward, but it quickly became clear that a GHP system was the most suitable, because of its environmental benefits. The GHP system specified for the project provides 504kW cooling capacity via 139 concealed indoor units with nine rooftop GHP VRF outdoor condensing units providing simultaneous heating and cooling.
Alastair Howard of E.G Pettit & Company, Cork, explains: “We reviewed a number of alternative solutions for hotel air conditioning. A natural gas operated heat pump system was identified as providing energy saving heat recovery, automatic heating and cooling change-over, simultaneous heating and cooling, BMS and reception desk controls interface, a low running cost, as well as a short-term payback. On the basis of our analysis for this project, we recommended the natural gas heat pump system from Sanyo, which was installed.”
Sanyo’s GHP range uses a new heat reclaim heat exchanger, allowing a system in cooling to supply waste heat from the engine into the hot water system, improving overall efficiency and COP. The ECO G is the only GHP range in Europe to use mains gas or LPG as its main power source, and single-phase electricity for start-up and fan operation. It provides the ideal solution for operators facing a short-fall in power. Due to its advanced technology and design Sanyo GHP requires no defrost cycle which enables it to provide continuous 100% heating performance even in severe weather conditions, while consuming less gas and electricity than comparable air conditioning systems. This was obviously a huge benefit when considering the correct system for the hotel.
Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort and Spa, is twenty minutes drive east from Cork, with 131 rooms, and a further 280 lodges are in development in the grounds. The spa’s features include a pool and well-designed gym, 18 treatment rooms and hydrotherapy suite. The nearby Fota Wildlife Park offers visitors the experience of seeing giraffes roaming the Irish landscape.