Location: Underwater World Langkawi

Duration: 10.30 - 13.00

Date: 29 OCT 2010

OBJECTIVE

To study the system of air conditioning and refrigeration regarding to control the
climate of marine life.

OVERVIEW

Underwater World Langkawi (UWL) is the largest aquarium in Malaysia houses a

large collection of over 4000 aquatic lives. There are more than 500 species of animals
and sea creatures in more than 100 specially designed tanks being exhibited here.
Various animals, birds and inhabitants of the sub-Antarctic, Temperate and Tropical
Rainforest regions are also on display here. More than 100 species of seashells from
various parts of the world are grouped together in a unique display.

VISIT ACTIVITIES.

On that particular day, we have arranged to visit the chiller plant system
of Underwater World Langkawi. With the beautiful weather day we managed to
reach destination in scheduled. We have been informed that our visit will be
guided by Mr. Zaki on earlier stage. While waiting for him, we did took some
pictures at the entrance area.

After a few minutes, we start our journey to explore Underwater World

Langkawi system. We start with a simple system to cater 3 different species of
fish in a different tank. This is at the Tropical Rainforest regions. That system is
consist of 4 main components with additional filtration system to filter particle,
UV light to kill germ and bacteria and oxygenizer to provide oxygens. These 3
tanks is control by stand alone system. The reason they did that because each
species need different requirement and to reduce the risk of lost.

This is the view of pump in the system for tropical

region.
 This is the filtrations tank use to filter sea water
that been directly taken from the sea.

Then, we proceed to temperate region area of low temperature species

which is sea lion and penguins. Here is our main priorities, since all of us were
very interested in how they managing the climate of these special species. Each
species has different requirement surrounding and all of this is using stand alone
system which is not depending on a single system. All of the specifications are as
follows:

Air Water Relative

Species
Temperature temperature Humidity
(C) (C) (RH)%
Sea lion(southern fur
22 20 56
seals)
African penguin 22 20 50
Rock hopper penguin 20 17 50

For the penguin and sea lion tank, there is temperature and RH sensor to make
sure the right temperature and humidity is achieved. The ceiling panel is made
from polyethylene. The view panel is made from
acrylic material. We have been told by En.Zaki
that the cost to set up the display tank is from
RM22000-RM23000.

Temperature and RH sensor

Sea Water Distribution System

Before the sea water being transferred into the display tank, the water need to
be treated to ensure the health of marine life is in good condition. Firstly, the raw
sea water will be transfer to the filtration system, that consist of filter, oxygenize
and UV light treatment. This will make sure the sea water will be clean from
particles and dangerous bacteria and germ as well. Then the sea water will go
through a protein skimmer bottle. This process will remove the protein inside the
sea water and also amino acids. The removal of the organic compound will make
the sea water can be seen clearly. The sea water will be cool by the chillers at
20C. There is also a plate type heat exchanger that located before the
distribution tank. The sea water will be changed for only 20-30% of the whole
water inside the tank. This will be done

This is the UV light treatment

This is the protein skimmer

The view of distribution

tank after plate type HEX

Air conditioning Distribution System

 From sea water distribution system, we move on to air conditioning
distribution system. They differentiate this system by using different term that is
life support and building system. This system is located outside of the building.
To cater the chilled sea water and AHU, they were using cooling tower as their
heat rejection components.

Chiller Dunham Bush Cooling

Tower King Sun

All of the pictures above are describing the cooling tower plant for the
marine life support. Previously, they were using air cooled condenser to reject
heat but as time flies, the components are facing a critical situation as it fins
corrugated due to its location. Sea water is the main reason for the aluminium fin
to corrugate. Instantly, this problem can be avoided by using a certain type of
paint which will prevent this syndrome to appear. Hydrophilip is one of the paint
types that can be used by coating the aluminium fins.
 The picture of corrugated aluminium fins.

The outside view of cooling tower.

The view inside the cooling tower.

After that, we move to building system chiller at the below level. This chiller is to
cater the chilled water supply for the building air conditioning system of UWL.
The chiller is manufactured by Carrier.

The refrigerant used is R-134a. The capacity of chiller is around 90-100

refrigerant tonnes. The chilled water supply is 7C.
Chiller Plant for building system Piping of the
chilled water supply

and chilled
water return.

The control system of the chiller.

We continue our visit to the last section where there is many exotic and very
large fish at this section like Garoupa, Shark, Eeel, Sting ray, Starfish and so on.

For the smaller tank there is a few species of the marines life need a specify
control climate like a sea horse and jelly fish. So the UWL have proposed the use
of the small chiller unit system to cater this small type of display view tank.

Small chiller Unit. Sea horse need low

temperature condition.

CONCLUSION.
From this visit, we all have managed to learn the system of air conditioning and
refrigeration in specify to control the climate condition of the marines life. We
have gain knowledge on how the UWL running their sea distribution system as
well. Because the chiller need to run 24 hours the energy that have been used is
costly. Its such a great idea if they could implement new idea to reduce the use
of energy such thermal energy storage and so on.

It such an informative visit for us since all of us did not have any working
experience. We highly appreciate to our lecture Mr. C.K Chang and the
maintenance officer, Mr. Zaki for all the guidance and explanation during this
visit. Thank You Very Much. Merci....Its a memorable , enjoyable, adventurous
and not to forget informative journey. (THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. C.K. CHANG
and well all apologize for any offend for the whole exploration.....=) )