Resourceful Wash Park modernisation by TOP-100 Innovator Christ - New heating unit utilizes solar energy
The owner of a DIY Wash Park in Moessingen invests in new Wash Park technology from Christ AG. The new heating unit utilizes solar energy: 20 solar panels generate warm water for washing vehicles.
Vehicles are primarily washed during the warmer months of the year; precisely the time of year in which the sun shines the most. It seemed quite obvious that energy available free of cost should be taken advantage of for producing warm water. The owner, Bernd Brielmann, incorporated heating technology based upon regenerable energy components into the comprehensive modernisation of his DIY-Wash Park in Mössingen. Now, a thermal solar unit with 20 high-perfomrance flat collectors from Buderus generate the required heat for warming the wash water. For times where solar energy is not able to be subtly produced, a new oil condensing boiler goes into operation.
Following 27 years of operation, the wash unit was technically and visually speaking no longer up-to-date and the old heating unit no longer worked efficiently. "Therefore, we chose to modernise", says Bernd Brielmann.
Otto Christ AG, Buderus and the heating company Binder in Mössingen collectively devised a concept for the upgrade. The operator, as well as, the customer profits from innovative wash bay technology that reduces the consumption of electricity, water, wash agents and regenerating salt and leaves customer vehicles with an exceptionally high shine.
Limited space in the plant room
Installing the modern unit technology in a very narrow space was challenging to arrange. The warm water buffer reservoir with a volume of 3.000 liters and three integrated heat exchangers were welded on-site due to restricting door measurements. Space-saving high-pressure pump cabinets were installed for supplying the wash bays. High-pressure pumps with frequency converters were combined for a cost optimized operation.
The entire modernisation had to be completed very quickly, in order for the Wash Park to be put into operation again as soon as possible. The modernisation was completed within 3 weeks. Now the vehicle owners are excited to offer an upgraded array of programs and top wash results. Warm water preparation has also become visibly "cleaner": Until now, about 120 000 kilowatt hours per year were required for electricity. In the future, Bernd Brielmann plans to use solar energy for producing a large part of the required heat and in doing so save approximately 30 percent on operational costs.
Bernd Brielmann is highly satisfied with the results of his wash unit modernisation: "The interaction of the entire modernisation team was an all around smooth performance". The new wash bay partition walls made from safety glass allow more light to flow in and innovative technology enables increased savings potential, which is environmentally and financially advantageous. Customer resonance has been abundant and without exception 100% positive.