UPDATING A LONDON LANDMARK
The Royal Albert Hall, with its distinctive domed roof, is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the distinguished concert venue has played a leading role in the cultural life of the UK capital. From its annual Promenade Concerts of classical music to appearances by the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Adele, it has long showcased artists from across the musical spectrum. Not for nothing has it been tagged ‘The Nation’s Village Hall’.
However, by the 2010s, the Hall had gained an unwelcome reputation for stifling indoor temperatures during the summer months: one social media user described conditions during a visit it as “as hot as Hades”. Its ageing cooling system was not only leaving audiences perspiring but also adversely impacting performers – the heat could affect the pitch of their instruments. “Due to the scale of our building and the radiant heat generated by 6,000 people within the venue and outside temperatures exceeding 28 degrees, it can be a challenge to manage,” said a spokesperson at the time.For this reason, in Autumn 2013, work began on installing a major new cooling system to replace the previous condenserless chiller and four standby temporary chillers. But this was by no means a straightforward project – the Royal Albert Hall is a Grade I listed building, and any changes, both internal and external, are strictly regulated.
“They didn’t want anything that could be seen, so anything we installed had to be tucked away,” says Justin Scofield, Managing Director of Güntner in the UK, who provided the new system. After careful planning and consultation with major bodies such as English heritage, it was decided to locate the new equipment in a tight space close to the Hall’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Steps. Time was also in short supply: the installation needed to be completed quickly to fit in with major events, and also to limit any impact on residents living close by.
Güntner provided a system consisting of six Vertical VARIO Dry Coolers that had been customised to fit into the confined space. They were also retrofitted with an adiabatic spray system and associated controls. The system now cools a large section of the building including the lower section of the auditorium and the stage, maintaining them at a comfortable temperature and providing a high degree of controllability.
In order to avoid the risk of Legionella and other waterborne diseases, the adiabatic cooling system incorporates a number of safety features. Water supplied to the spray system is set to drain for a fixed period prior to spraying to avoid the risk of stagnant water. The water is also exposed to a powerful Ultraviolet lamp, which is lethal to pathogens. Should the system develop a fault, such as UV lamp failure, the system automatically shuts down and a fault signal is generated.
The system has now been operating successfully for two decades. “We go back twice a year to provide maintenance and support on the units, and they’ve been performing really well,” says Scofield.