EKA has provided the design of new air handling systems (dehumidification and ventilation) for the 6 200-spectator ice arena Scaniarinken in Södertälje, Sweden. The arena was built in 1970 and a major part of the air handling systems were of the same age when EKA came into the picture in 2016.
The temperature gradient decreased to a 2 K difference!
The project aim was both to improve the energy efficiency and comfort. For example, previously an 8 K temperature difference existed between the bottom and top rows of the spectator stands. When the new design was taken into operation in September 2018 the temperature gradient decreased to a 2 K difference! This was achieved thanks to the two rings of textile ducting, locally known as “socks”, that were designed to distribute 30 m3/s of air over the stands. These two rings are connected to two air handling units each, which are capacity controlled based on the arena room temperature and CO2-concentration. Furthermore, by placing the two rings on the outer side, they fulfil their function by supplying tempered air to the spectator zone without adding unnecessary convective heat load to the ice sheet – thanks to their particular nozzle design.
The dehumidification function is provided by an independent third distribution ring, placed in the ice rink zone supplying the dry air. The dehumidification process air is then returned from the resurfacer’s exit corridor. Two new hot water reactivated sorption dehumidifiers are used for the dehumidification process, where the idea is that the reactivation heat in the future could be fully covered by heat recovery from a modern refrigeration system.