1932-09-08 — Page 9

DAILY AT 2.30, 5.10, 7.15 & 9.30 P.M.

TITE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1932.

· BOOKING AT THE

THEATRE TEL. 25313.

THE KING'S

110

OUT

KNOCKS THE

THEATRE OF THE THEATRE

THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND

THE AIR-RECONDITIONING SYSTEM IN

THE KING'S THEATRE.

HONGKONG.

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

moisture

In the temperature zones, where variations of temperature during the year may vary between zero weather in December and torrid days in June, provisions must be made for both heating and couling the inside air. In the tropics, varia- tions in temperature are not so great but the troublesome factor is the humidity.1 All air-reconditioning systems are designed to control the per cent. of or the humidity of the air wherever the system sing's Theatre, a study was made as well as the temperature. In inying out the air control system of the prevailing cliuracteristics of Hongkong climate over a long period of time. Data secured from the local weather bureau records over twenty years indic that the temperature range in Hongkong could be expected to vary between 94°F and 78F, with

general

80 F.

The relative humidity or moisture average of of the air expressed in a convenient 81% at the average temperature of RO" P.

ratio

content

indicated

is the

Nowage was found to be about

relative humidity of the actual amount of moisture contained in a unit volume of the mixture to the amount of water this volume holds at the same temperature if it were saturated. In other words, if the air were "wringing" wet the humidity would Partiall

saturated air is cooled at constant pressure, until a certain low tempera.. ure la reached, the water will condense out of the air, just a *loudless

does during a night in the temperate zones when we say the "ew falla." This explanation of the theory is essential in urder in explain away the popular misconception about air is to

about air cooling for public gathering places. The primary object provide a means of controlling the humidity of the entering air, as well as the actual temperature, Cold wet nir would provide a most disagreeable atmosphere but dry even a little below outside temperature is most enjoyable.

The equipment

installed in this theatre is designal to supply clean air throughout the house so that, when it is fillet with people, the average tempera- ture will be about 79" to 80°F and the relative humidity about Gur. This means that the air inside will have only about one-third as much moisture in it as that contained in the outside nix, provide liticky dy cool dry atmosphere in which one can refresh himself even on a

day. To accomplish these three results, viz., purification, drying and cooling of the air, a complete Plant has been installed. The

essential units are the ammonia compressors, condensor, Erine cooler, air washer and circulating fan all electrically controlled. In practice, cold brine is rapidly circulated thigh a series of tubes over which the incoming air is drawn by the fan.

Jets of water spray on this air, washing out of it ali dust and impurities. Its passage 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 installed above the ceiling of the main portion of the house and above the seats under the balcony. The cool air is displaced as the warmer air rises and is finally returned to the washer through the outlets or "Mushrooms under the senta on the floor. After repeated changes and washings the entire atmosphere inside the theatre will be brought to about the same temperature and humidity. Sudden changes in the outside air, some of which is constantly being introduced into the system, such as increase in moisture content or rise in temperature, will allowances made in the system

be 100%, measured in pounds of

of water vapour per cubic foot of air. Now, if

be taken into account and the here

to again establish a uniform Inside

Some facts about the equipment

may

of interest. When nearly 1,100

people are together in a single large room, a very definite amount of heat and products of breathing are given of. Each individual must be supplied with a certain amount of pure fresh air per minute, otherwise, the room soon becomes "stuffy.' In this design a total of 39,000 cubic of reconditioned air will be supplied to the ducts overhead which will give every person in the house about 88 cubic feet of air per minute, na amount entirely sufficient for perfect atmospheric comfort.

To purify and cool this amount of air requires the circulation of a very large amount of chilled brine. This is accomplished in a twelve feet horizontal brine cooler. The brine eirculates through the brine pipes in the air washer and back through the cooler. The cooling of the brine is accomplished by liquid ammonia evaporating inside the cooler around the brine tubes. As the antonia evaporates, taking away the heat from the brine, the vapour is drawn into one or two vertical armonia compressors of the latest design, driven by direct- connected synchronous moters taking power from the incoming lines at 350 Tolts. The compressors are single acting machines, 8" X 8" and 9" x 9". running at 300 R.P.M. The Smaller compressor is driven by a 76 11.P. Motor

and the inrger by 100 II.P. Molor.

The brine circulating pump is rated at 500 C.P.M. against a 50-feet head, thus giving about 25 lbs. pressure through the brine cooler and coils of the washer, It is direct-connected to a 10 I.P. Induction motor running at 1450. R.P.M.

The water used in the spray aystem for purifying and cooling the air in circulated by pumping unit similar to the brine pump described above. This

This is pure water drawn from the Colony's water system. horizontallylating fan for the huuse is A positive

mounted and running at 876 ft.P.M. It is driven by three "y" type acting low pressure blower rubber belts from a 20 II.P., 8 pinso 850-volt, 1450 R.P.M. motor.

The

The connected cooling of the ammonia vapour in the ammonia condenser requires П relatively large amount of cold water. Study was first made to aco if water from the local moins could be used and then re-copied by means of a cooling pond or tower, but it was found that the amount required and the cooling area necessary entailed prohibitive costa. It was, therefore, decided to use SEA water for cooling the condenser. A pump house was bullt near Blake Pier, A direct-connected contrifugal pump rated at 400 G.P.M, at a 66-feat head, driven by a 20 H.P. moter pute sea water through 1100 feet of 6 pipen to the condensor from whence it flows back to the sea through the nullah which under Pedder Street.

runs

Besides the air-conditioning apparatus described above, the refrigerating room, also contains the main control switchboard for the entira theatre and

whower and offices.

THE

THE ONLY AIR-CONDITIONED THEATRE IN HONGKONG

COMMENCING SATURDAY

must come

over!

You

French

They meet a girl! She shows them

0

hol time in

The old

Paris Town! You, too,

must come OPEN

THIS

IS THE

NIGHT

a Paramount Picture

with

LILY DAMITA

CHARLIE

RUGGLES ROLAND YOUNG

THE KING'S

AIR-CONDITIONING

ESSAY COMPETITION

RECENTLY HELD

ATTRACTED ENTRIES FROM THE PRINCIPAL COLLEGES OF THE COLONY.

THE FIRST THREE PRIZES WERE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS:—

FIRST

- TSE SHUI MAN,

St. Paul's College. SECOND-CHAN KIM YING,

Munsang College,

(Following the recent Essay Competition, which proved most popular, the Prizes will be distributed by the Hon. Dr. S. W. Tso, at the King's Theatre, at 5 p.m. on September 10th. The First Prize, is a gold medal, the Second Prize a silver medal, while a book will be awarded as the Third Prize. In addition. Complimentary Tickets will be awarded to the competitors who secured the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth places).

THE FIRST-PRIZE ESSAY.

To-day the popularity of Cinema Theatres cannot be denied. The number of theatres throughout the world is increasing daily, and they are, becoming

sa popular that the people now prefer patronizing them to attending the ordinary theatres.

Not only do the proprietors of Cinema theatres provide their patrons with the productions of the most famous screen stars, but the greatest attention is paid to ways and means for ensuring the comfort of their customers, particularly during the hot and sultry Summer months of the year.

In order that patrons may sit and enjoy the masterpieces of the leading screen artists in comfort, the most up-to-date methods are being tried and - adopted for cooling and purifying the air inside the Cinema Theatres.

In the majority of 'existing thentres the atmosphere is hat, unhealthy and saffeenting, and the only methoils of couling in use are ventilating fans. Owing to the crowded state of the theatre, the air remains hot and polluted till the audience dispersen.

The air, which we breathe is the source of life and serves as a carrier of heat and moisture to or away from our boilies; and the heat of humid surround- inge is most uncomfortable and depressing, as everybody who has experienced a Hongkong Summer well knows.

In the past, litle was known of the evil of breathing "used-up" air, and Huck a state of the atmosphere was termed "musty" by theatre-goers of those days and was suffered by them without complaint. However, more recently, theatre owners began to realise the importance of ventilating theatres by allowing the foul air to exenpo and fresh air to enter. Another method of purifying the atmosphere was the drawing out of the foul air by means of centrifugal fans in the roof of the building, fresh alr entering through the doors and windows.

Later came the idea of cooling the air. The first system tried was the Carrier System, which cooled the atmosphere by means of ice. There are, however, certain drawbacks to this method, as the building must necessarily be kept air-tight and if fresh air be allowed to enter it interferes with the cooling process, which must then be repeated, and besides, there is as much moisture in the atmosphere as before and the relativo humidity is higher.

The latest method of air-conditioning, as installed at the King's Theatre, provides for a constant temperature and constant state of humidity, besides ensuring a continuous supply of pure, cool and well-oxygenated air. This now system keeps the air inside the theatro relatively pure and wholesome and at a temperature of about 78 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of 85% to 65% in Summer, and at a teraperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of 35% to 40% in Winter.

The fresh outalde air is drawn through an opening by a fan and then passed into the Spray Chamber, where it is washed and cooled to the desired temperature by jots of water from the "refrigerator" of the Spray Chamber. The air, having been cooled to a temperature of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit, is passed out of the Spray Chamber to the Mixing Chamber where 75% of conditioned air is allewed to mix with 25% of the warm air from the theatro. The air is now correctly cooled and conditioned to a temperature of approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit and is allowed to pass into the body of the theatro in a "blanket" from the calling and other points of the theatre, providing a continuous apply of pure, fresh, cool air, till the performance is over and the audience dispersos. Under every seat in the theatre there are perforated openings, through which the used air inside the theatre is continuously being drawn off and passed out of the theatre.

After each performance, and after the floor has been swept and cleaned, all exits are thrown open and the old air is entirely removed in about two minutes by starting the small "exit" fans and the three big centrifugal fans which are installed in the roof of the building for this purpose. This ensures a supply of pure, fresh and cool air at övery performance, under most sanitary conditions.