1932-09-09 — Page 4

DAILY AT 2.30 6.10

'7.15 & 9.30 P.M.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1932.

BOOKING AT THE THEATRE TEL. 28313.

THE KING'S

KNOCKS THE

OUT OF THE THEATRE THEATRE

THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND THE ONLY AIR-CONDITIONED THEATRE IN HONGKONG.

THE AIR-RECONDITIONING SYSTEM IN

THE KING'S THEATRE, HONG KONG

Modern theatre design includes some kind of system whereby the interior air is properly treated to warm, cool, or purify it as circum- stances require.

In the temperature zones, where variations of temperature during the year may vary between zero weather in Deceniber and torrid days in June, provisions must be mado for both heating and cooling the inside air. In the tropics, variations in temperature are not so great but the troublesome factor is the humidity. All air-recondition- ing system are designed to control the per cent. of moisture or the humidity of the air wherever the system is used, as well as the tem perature.

To accomplish these three results, viz., purification, drying and cool- ing of the air, a completo plant has been installed. The ossential units are the ammonia compressors, con- denser, brine cooler, air washer and circulating fan áll electrically controlled. In practico, cold brine is rapidly circulated through a series of tubes over which the incom- ing air is drawn by the fan. Jets of water spray on this air, washing out of it all dust and impurities. Its passago over the chilled coils cools it to a point where the water. vapour condenses out. It is then drawn through the fan and forced into the duct system, which is iu- stalled above the ceiling of the main portion of the house and In laying out the air control above the seats under the balcony. system for the King's Theatre, a The cool air is displaced as the study was made of the provailing warmer air rises and is finally re- characteristics of, Hong Kong turned to the washer through the climate over a long period of time. outlets or "Mushrooms" under the Data secured from the local wea-seats on the floor. After reposted ther bureau records over twenty changes and washinga the entire rears indicated that the tempera- atmosphere inside the theatre will ture rango in Hong Kong could be be brought to about the same tem- expected to vary between 94 deg Fperature and humidity. Sudden and 8 deg. F, with a general changes in the outside air, some of average of 80 deg. F. The relative which is constantly being intro- humidity or moisture content of the ducod into the system, such as in- air expressed in a convenient per-croase in moisture content or rise contage was found to be about 81 in temperature, will be taken into per cent. at the average tempera account and the compensating allow tare of 80 dog. F. Now, relativo ances made in the system to again humidity is the ratio of the actual establish uniform insida atmos amount of moisture contained in aphere.

unit volumo of the mixture to the Soma facts about the equip

When amount of water, this volume bolda ment may be of interest.

air

at the samo temperature it were nearly 1,000 people are together saturated. In other words, if the in a single large room, a very de

"wringing " wors

wet the finite amount of heat, and products humidity would ba 100 per cent., of breathing are given off. Each measured in pounds of water vapour | individual must be supplied with a per cubic feet of air. Now, if certain amount of pure fresh air per partially saturated air is cooled at minute, otherwise, the room soon constant pressure, until a certain becomes stuffy." In this design low temperature is reached, the total of 30,000 cubic feet of recon- water will condense out of the air, ditioned air will be supplied to the just as it does during a cloudless duets overhead which will give night in the temperate zones when every person in the house about we say, the "dew falls." This ex-38 cubio feet of air per minute, an planation of the theory is essential amount entirely sufficient for peri in order to explain away the popular fect atmosphere comfort misconception about air cooling

Tho

COMMENCING SATURDAY

must come

You

meet a

Franch

They girl! She shows them a hot time in the old

Paris town! You,ico.

musí come oreti

THIS

IS THE

NIGHT

A Paramount Picture

THE

LILY DAMITA CHARLIE BUGGLES

ROLAND YOUNG

over!

KINGS

AIR-CONDITIONING ESSAY COMPETITION The first three prizes were awarded to-

1ST

2ND

3RD

TSE SHU MAN-St. Paul's College: GOLD MEDAL CHAU KIN YING-Munsang College: SILVER MEDAL TSOI MONG YUK-St. Paul's College BOOK

THE prizes will be distributed by the Hon. Dr.

S. W. T'so at the King's Theatre on September 10th at 5 p.m.

The competitors whose essays were placed 4th, 5th and 6th by the judges will be presented with compli

mentary tickets to performances at the King's Theatre.

The essay which won

THE

FIRST PRIZE

To-day the popularity of Cinema The latest method of air-condi Theatre cannot be denied. The tioning, as installed at King's a constant number of theatres throughout the Theatre, provides for world is increasing daily, and they temperature and constant state of are becoming so popular that the humidity, besides ensuring a con- people now prefer patronizing them tinuous supply of pure, cool and to attending the ordinary theatres. well-oxygenated air. This new ays- Not only do the proprietors of tem keeps the air inside the theatre cinema theatres provide their relatively pure and wholesomé and patrons with the productions of the at a temperature of about 78 de- most famous screen stara, but the grees Fahrenheit and a humidity of greatest attention is paid to ways 55 per cent. to 65 per cant. in and means for ensuring the comfort! Summer, and at a temperature of of their customers, particularly durabout 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a ing the hot and sultry summer humidity of 36 per cent. to 40 por months of the year.

tent in Winter.

In order that patrons may sit and The fresh outside air is drawn enjoy the masterpieces of the lead-through an opening by a fan and ing screen artista in comfort, the then passed into the Spray Chan- most up-to-date methods are being ber, where it in washed and cooled tried and adopted for cooling and to the desired temperature by jets purifying the air inside the cinema of water from the refrigerator theatres.

of the Spray Chamber, The "air, In the majority of existing having been cooled to a tempera theatres the atmosphere, is hot,uture of about 46 degrees Fahren healthy and suffocating, and the heit, in passed out of the Spray only methods of cooling in use are | Chamber to the Mixing Chamber ventilating fans. Owing to the where 75 per cent. of conditioned crowded state of the theatre, the air is allowed to mix with 28 per air remains hot and polluted till cent of the warm air from the the audience disporace.

thentre. "The air is now correctly The air which we breathe is the cooled and conditioned to a tem- * source of life and serves as a carrier, perature of approximately 76"-de- of heat, and moisture to or away grees Fahrenheit and is allowed to from our bodies; and the heat of pass into the body of the theatre humid surroundings is most uncom-in a "blanket" from the ceiling fortable and depressing, as every- and ather points of the theatre, body who has experienced a Hong providing a continuous supply of Kong summer well knows,

pure, fresh, cool air, till the per In the past, little was known of formance is over and the audience the evil of breathing used-up" disperse

air, and such a state of the atmos: Under every seat in the theatre phere was termed "musty! by thero are perforated openings, theatre-goers of those days and was through which the used air inside. suffered by them without com the theatre is continuously being To purify and cool this amount of

plaint. However, more recently, for public gathering places. The air requires the circulation of a

theatre owners began to realise the drawn off and passed out of the

theatre. primary object is to provide a very large amount of chilled brine..

importance of ventilating theatros

Alter cach performance, and means of controlling the humidity of This is accomplished in a twelvo the entering air, as well as the feet horizontal brine cooler.

The brine circulating pump is The connected cooling of the from whence it flows back to the by allowing the foul air to escape actual temperaturs. Cold web air brine circulates through the brine rated at 500 G.P.M. against a 50 ammonia vapour in the ammonia sea through the nullab which runs and fresh air to enter. Another after the floor has been swept and under Pedder Street.NA method of purifying the atmosphere cleaned, all exits are, thrown open would provido a most disagreeable pipee in the air washer and back feet head, thus giving about 25 lbs. atmosphere but dry oven a little through the cooler. The cooling of pressure through the brine cooler condenser requires a

Besides the air-conditioning appa was the drawing out of the foul air and the old air is entirely removed 2 relatively below outside temperature is most the brine is accomplished by liquid and coils of the air washer. It is large amount of cold water. Study ratus described above, the refrige by means of centrifugal fans in the in about two minutes by starting enjoyable"

ammonia-evaporating-inside the direct-connected to a 18 hp. indar was first made to see if water from rating room also contains the main roof of the building, fresh air enter the small exit fans and the "The equipment "installed in this cooler around the brine tubes. As tion, motor running at 1,150 rpm. the local mains could be used and control switchboard for the entire ing through the doors and windows three big centrifugal fans which are Later came the idea of cooling installed in the roof of the "build- theatre is designed to supply, clean the ammonia evaporates, taking The water used in the spray system then re-cooled by means of a cool theatre and adjoining rooms and

the air. The first system tried was ing for the purpose. This ensures air throughout the house so that, away the heat from the brine, the for purifying and cooling the air, ing pond or tower, but it was found offices, E

The general contract was given tho Carrier Bystem, which cooled a supply of pure, fresh and cool air when it is filled with people, the vapour is drawn into one or two is circulated by a pumping unit that the amount required and the average temperature will be about vertical ammonin compressors of similar to the brine pump described cooling area necessary entailed pro- to Yock Shipley Inc., of Shanghai, atmosphere by means of ice. There At every performance, under most 70 to 80 deg. F and the relative the latest design, driven by direct altove. This is pure water drawn bibitive costs. It was, therefore, agents in China for the York Co. are however, certain drawbacks to sanitary conditions.

After having inspected the work- humidity about 60 per cent. This connected sychronous motors taking from the Colony water systero.dooided to use sea water for cool-Arrangement and erection were this method. as the building must means that the air inside will have power from the incoming lines at The circulating fat for the houses ing the condenser. A pump house done by the Jardine Engineering necessarily be kept-tight and if ing of this cooling plans in company. only about one-third as much mois-1.350 volts. The compressors tune is a positive acting low pressure was built near Blake Pier. A Corporation: Ltd, local representa fresh air be allowed to enter it with my classmates and under the tura in it as that contained in the single acting machines, Sin. by 8in. blower horizontally mounted and direct-connected centrifugal pump tive of the York Co. This depart interferes with the cooling process, guidance of the Engineerin outside air, providing delightfully and in by sin., running at 300 running at 875 r.p.m. It is driven rated at 400 g.p.8. at a 65-feet ment also completely designed, which must be repeated, and be consider it to be admirable in cool dry atmosphere in which one p.m. The amniter compressor is by three "y" type rubber bolts head, driven by a 20 hp motor fabricated and installed the over-sides, there is as much moisture in respect and a proof of the can refresh oneself even on a hot, driven by a 75 hp motor and the from a 20 h.p., 3 phase 350 volt, puts sea water through 1,100 feet bead duct system and supplied the the atmosphere se before and the priso and foresight of the propr tors of this popular cinems theat aticky day:

Jurger by a 100 hp motor.NTI

relative humidity is bigher. 41,450 r.p.m, motor.

def of an inch, pipe to the condenser floor outlets.