New Telefonica communicaton centre
Daikin Europe N.V. (19/10/2005)
Daikin is in the process of fulfilling a major order for its largest chiller/VRV installation ever, the new communication centre for Telefonica, the largest telecommunication company in Spain.
Daikin rises to the challenge at new Telefonica headquarters 
Telecoms giant Telefonica, the largest telecommunication company in Spain and a top player in the European telecoms market, is building a new communication centre in Pau de las Tablas, north of Madrid. Daikin Europe is in the process of fulfilling a major order for the project, its largest chiller/VRV installation ever.
Distrito de la Communicacion: the concept
The new building complex, “District C,” is designed to centralise all Telefonica staff and provide them with a full range of amenities: retail outlets, nurseries, restaurants, gyms, medical care as well as good access to road and rail networks.
The requirements are considerable. The complex will house 14,000 occupants and cover a surface area of 1.5 km². Total surface area to be air conditioned is 200,000 m².
Two types of systems are required: a centralised chiller-based installation feeding no less than 38 km of chilled beams, and a direct expansion VRV system. In addition to efficiency, operating hours and maintenance requirements are also demanding.
New challenges for Daikin
The project presented Daikin with exciting challenges. Technically, the chiller technology being implemented – a joint development project between Daikin Europe and parent company Daikin Industries Ltd. – was new to the European market.
Daikin will be providing 30 chiller units for a total of 27 MWs of cooling capacity. The chillers use a stepless single screw compressor, with flooded evaporator, for high efficiency with R134a refrigerant (average EER of 5.45). The chillers are controlled by the Daikin DIII network. The system also includes a VRV II system running 24 hours a day, feeding some 300 indoor units.
Introducing Airnet
In winning the contract, Daikin had to prove its worth in a competitive market. Key to the project’s success is the combination of local and international support in designing, installing, and maintaining the equipment. Total service, preventative as well as corrective, will be provided by an excellent local presence and permanent remote monitoring via the new Airnet Service System.
The Airnet Service System feeds operational, predictive and fault information to local and remote sites using phone and Internet lines. When needed, local service personnel can be dispatched immediately.
Daikin’s commitment to applied systems and total solutions
Construction is occurring in four phases, with work already started on phase three. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2006. The Telefonica project represents the largest combined chiller/VRV project for Daikin ever, and confirms the intent of Daikin Europe NV to be a major player in the applied systems market in Europe.
