In a world-first, an Australian hospital has achieved water-cooled efficiency without the downside of high water and energy consumption; and the risk of Legionnaires’ disease, through the installation of an Australian-designed replacement for conventional cooling towers.

Royal Melbourne Hospital has saved approximately 60 million litres of drinking water a year through the installation of new technology which also eliminates virtually any risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

The Australian-designed and patented 3C Coolers by Melbourne firm Muller Industries have replaced the hospital’s traditional cooling towers and are part of a multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospitals, due for completion later in 2008.

With much of Australia in the grip of an 11-year drought that has left water storages at dire levels and forced Governments to implement strict water restrictions on residents and business, Royal Melbourne Hospital has shown great leadership in the conservation of water.

The fact that the 3C Cooler also eliminates any risk of Legionnaires’ disease, unlike conventional cooling towers, makes it a winner both on environmental and health grounds.

According to Michael McCambridge Acting Director Facilities Management at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, most of the cooling towers on Melbourne Health sites have been replaced with Muller Industries’ 3C system.

“Every cooling tower we remove drastically reduces our water consumption and reduces our exposure to the possibility of Legionnaires’ disease. The 3C reduces our risk, reduces our water consumption and greatly reduces our operating costs. Overall, it’s a win/win situation,” said Mr McCambridge.

Generally, air conditioning systems either consume massive amounts of energy or water; however the 3C Cooler uses 80% less water than typical cooling tower systems, and delivers a 30% reduction in energy consumption over air-cooled alternatives, making it the world’s leading technology.

So effective has the 3C Cooler been in achieving efficiencies and reducing risk, that it has been widely sought after in Britain, France and other European countries.

Conventional cooling towers use between 5000 and 10,000 litres of drinking water per day in Australia, and with an estimated 30,000 towers operating nationally, they combine to be one of Australia’s largest water guzzlers, using a combined total of 150 million litres of drinking water per day.

On top of significant water and energy reductions, the 3C Cooler eliminates virtually any risk of the fatal Legionnaires’ disease, as well as the need for chemical water treatments, which are eventually flushed into the sewerage system, prohibiting the effective breakdown of sewage.

Melbourne Health has closely monitored the development of the 3C Cooler since its invention six years ago.

“It’s a story I feel close to, as the first 3C Cooler ever built was approved to be installed at Frankston Hospital when I was engineering manager there,” said Bruce Gilpin, who has since moved to Royal Melbourne Hospital as Project / Plant Engineering Manager.

“At that time, we had a cooling tower I wanted replaced and the Muller Industries engineers knocked on my door with a primitive sketch. It sounded great - reduced risk, water savings etcetera. Without the trial at Frankston, it may never have happened.”

Australian hospitals to have installed the 3C Cooler are the only hospitals in the world to offer water cooled efficiency, without the downside of high energy consumption and the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

“No other hospital or commercial building anywhere in the world can offer what the Royal Melbourne Hospital building will offer,” said Grant Hall, Director of Muller Industries.

“Massive water savings, no chemicals into the sewage system, removed risk of Legionnaires’ disease coupled with a strong business case. We are extremely proud – this is truly an Australian success story.”

Source: Muller Industries