Karratha Airport Control Tower

The Project

"Ashburner Francis was chosen to design new mechanical and electrical equipment for a 15-20yr operational life to the existing Karratha Airport Control Tower. A new air conditioning plant incorporating Energy Efficiency features such as inverter technology, all in compliance and above the BCA Section 5, was adopted . Local saline conditions required Ashburner Francis to obtain ample technical information to attain the viability of special coating on the Air Conditioning Plant to extend the life of the equipment. Local conditions such as humidity, cyclonic condition and saline levels were all factored into our design.

The tower has five (5) controllers working across two (2) shifts and the hours of operation are 0645 – 1915. The overall tower height is 17.5m"

Munter's Contribution

Munters were engaged by Haden Engineering and Ashburner Francis to provide an Evaporative Pre-Cooler (EPCC) for the air intake of the packed DX air conditioning units that serve the Control Tower. The units fit onto conventional single- and double-stage condensers and also roof-top units. It pre-cools the air entering the condenser system, which in most cases improves condenser heat rejection performance with lower energy consumption. The EPCC has been designed as a natural addition to new air cooled condenser systems thus making a positive contribution to running costs, extension of condenser life cycle and helping conserve energy and the environment. These unit also act as air washer thereby mitigating the effects of the saline air present at the site, which was an important design consideration.