Modular installation shaft for Mijnwater

Modular riser shaft for My water

Design brief

Mijnwater B.V. supplies a profitable operation The company develops and constructs an innovative infrastructure for the distribution of mine water heat through the ground in the municipality of Heerlen. A particular challenge is how mine water heat can be used for the many apartment buildings in Parkstad. These flats need to become ‘gas-free’ in a way that causes as little inconvenience as possible for residents during the conversion and keeps costs manageable. To achieve this, all building parts and components will be industrially pre-produced.

The Solution

Columns or shafts are placed against the galleries of the apartment building – per vertical block of apartments – through which mine water heated by the mine is pumped. Within the shaft, located one above the other per apartment are: a boiler for hot tap water, a heat pump to produce sufficient heat for the tap water, and a ventilation system with heat recovery. If additional heat is required, the freshly drawn-in outside air is passed along the warm mine water via a booster after the heat exchanger. This mine water transfers its heat to this air, allowing warm, fresh air to be blown into the dwelling. In the summer, ‘cool‘ mine water from a different ground layer can be used for additional cooling in the dwelling.

Building's water installation shaft, apartment block

Stackable units versus apartment block

Stackable

WeLLDesign has developed the installation column so that it consists of energy modules: floor-to-ceiling stackable shafts. WeLLDesign has designed a product for this that can be manufactured industrially and fully assembled in the factory.

Installation shaft stacked top view

Gio recognition

GIO Recognition 2019

WeLLDesign and Mijnwater have received a GIO recognition for the Installation shaft. On saturday October 5th 2019 an independent, professional jury consisting of Jan Siebers (chairman), Zuzanna Skalska and Hans Robertus assessed our Installation shaft and nominated it for Recognition Good Industrial Design 2019. The Installation shaft of Mijnwater is included in the special exhibition ‘Good Industrial Design Award 2019’ during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.