Delivering comfortable cooling in petrol stations amid harsh desert conditions

Emarat is a multi-channel power and energy company with a much-loved network of service stations and fuel depots across Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The company is committed to meeting millions of people's daily petrol and LPG needs while also helping keep the engines of Industry running with fleet solutions, aviation fuel and commercial fuel services. The stations are located across the country, meaning it faces harsh temperatures during peak summer conditions.

Systemair had a strong working relationship with the clients, and the project benefited from having strong collaboration and cooperation from design until the execution of the project.

The requirement was for solutions for petrol stations in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain with good performance and strong reliability. The main objective of creating an air barrier at the entrance of the petrol stations' retail stores is to maintain excellent indoor conditions. There was also a special requirement on colour to meet the interior's aesthetic and to be able to fix the product on the wall without disturbing surrounding components.  

The solution offered a fire alarm and reliable controls that seamlessly manage frequent door openings throughout the day. The control system integrates seamlessly with the BMS to be easily used and adjusted as needed. 

Systemair provided a mock-up sample for one station to check the performance to showcase the solution's reliability. The air curtains performed well and met the requirements, creating a thermal barrier with an acceptable noise level.

The project had a strict timeline and must be delivered in six months.  

Overall, Systemair delivered the following solutions:

Frico PAFEC3520A and FCDA Controllers.

In total, Systemair delivered almost 150 Frico air curtains with performance to meet the requirements of the Middle East region’s harsh climactic conditions The solutions were chosen as they provided 10%-20% of energy savings, offering better indoor air quality and comfort to the customers. The solutions offered good controls and were proven by the CFD by comparing the solution with and without air curtains.