Auditorium Cooling & Heating Solution - The Aurora Centre

Located in Christchurch within the premises of Burnside High School, The Aurora Centre is a modern, state-of-the-art venue with a seating capacity of 700. This auditorium is suited for live theatre, concerts, graduations, training seminars, presentations, and many other events, which calls for a large-scale air conditioning solution to ensure a comfortable environment for all occupants. 

The air conditioning solution used Temperzone products to provide an integrated custom system for on-schedule, automatic space heating and cooling. 



Three 70kW and two 40kW OPA rooftop package units and an Aquanex MWH900 77kW heat pump water heater were installed with a complete BMS system. These systems combine to provide around 300 kW of heating and cooling and an ideal system for Christchurch conditions.

The Aquanex MWH900 heat pump water heater, including a programmable control system, pre-heats the mixed return air/fresh air to achieve 10°C on temperature to the three 70kW rooftop package units. The MWH900 was applied to the system design for its reliability to maintain a supply water temperature of 40°C ~ 55°C utilising an inverter compressor range of 13.3kW ~ 91.9kW.

R32 Aquanex Heat Pump Water Heaters feature unique Inverter In-line System Technology, which allows for substantial efficiency gains over traditional installations. This is achieved through precise control of the heated water supply for optimised heat transfer by the application. 

Each rooftop package unit has a Siemens Controller fitted. The controller controls the unit and its associated return fan, motorised dampers, and heating water valves depending on the mode of operation. Each unit includes one LCD back-lit display for temperature adjustment and an after-hours function mounted on the face of the mechanical section of the switchboard.

The system provides automatic control of heating and cooling according to space demand as measured by existing space-mounted sensors. The fan speed is modulated based on the heating and cooling requirements. For heating or cooling duties below 50%, the fan speed is set to 50% (adjustable). Above 50% duty, the fan speed ramps in parallel with the heating/cooling duty. The associated spill/return air fan is controlled via a VSD match the supply fans. The units have EC Plug Supply Fans suitable for 10-V input from the controller.

The system features economisers for free cooling. Demand for cooling is measured by space temperature sensors which compare the outdoor air temperature to the return air temperature. If the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air temperature by 1.5°C, fresh air and return air dampers modulate to meet the cooling demand based on the available outside air temperature. Should the space temperature not be controlled sufficiently using free cooling, the unit shall be allowed to enter cooling mode in addition to the free cooling.

For air quality control, the system includes return air duct mounted CO2 sensor for CO2 control in conjunction with the space-mounted CO2 sensors. The fresh air damper maintains 750 ppm CO2.

The system features a Heat Up Mode where the System is on a start-up program before occupancy - 1 hour to occupancy time.

Mechanical Contractor: Hartnell Coolheat