Emicool bags Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2024 for groundbreaking leak detection system

Before this innovation, detecting leaks and pinpointing their exact locations posed significant challenges.

Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) LLC, one of the UAE’s leading district cooling companies, proudly secured the Water Management Technology - Utilities category award at the prestigious Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2024. This recognition was earned for the successful implementation of its Raman Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) technique, which enables real-time leak detection and response across its extensive 300,000 km underground network of chilled water pipes.

The OTDR technique operates by detecting sudden changes in temperature along the fibre optic cables, which indicates potential leaks. When a leak is detected, the system immediately signals its location to the command control centre. This real-time information empowers the Operations and Networks teams to swiftly respond and take necessary actions.

This approach also repurposes existing communication lines that run through the chilled water network instead of extensive excavation, proving to be more cost-effective than installing traditional sensors that would have required significant capital investments.

Emicool has integrated this system with SCADA and centralised the monitoring and detection of leakage through their in-house command control centre. This strategic approach has significantly enhanced operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

Resolving such issues previously took over six hours. Now, leaks are addressed in just 20 minutes, thanks to the new system. The Networks team quickly isolates the affected valves and excavates the precise location, minimising disruption to the community.

Meanwhile, the OTDR solution aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): promoting responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) by minimising water loss and reducing operational disruptions, and supporting industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) through technological innovation in infrastructure management, enhancing system resilience and efficiency.

It also contributes to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), ensuring sustainable practices in managing its district cooling operations and ensuring the conservation of freshwater availability in a water-scarce region.

The company's adoption of the Raman OTDR technique has revolutionised its approach to managing and maintaining the integrity of its chilled water network.

By leveraging existing infrastructure for real-time leak detection, Emicool has not only minimised operational costs and environmental impact but also enhanced customer satisfaction through reliable service delivery. This proactive and innovative solution exemplifies Emicool’s commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and customer-centric service in the district cooling industry.

The Middle East Technology Excellence Awards honours pioneers of technological innovation in the region, having significantly contributed to the pursuit of excellence within the industry. It celebrates companies, initiatives, and leaders that have utilised advanced technologies to improve business outcomes.