Cooling Stadiums at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
A collaboration between Free Running Buildings and Qatar University has lead to the companies pioneering technology FREECOOL being installed at the newly renovated 40,000-seat Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, to keep players and fans cool at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar
Although the football competition has been moved from the summer to November and December, the average temperature during this time ranges between 25° – 29°.
Using passive cooling methods, air towers will capture the air before it is pumped over pipes of cold water, cooled, and delivered stabilised and conformable to the pitch, stand and through the concourses.
The low-energy environmentally friendly cooling system is more sustainable than conventional air conditioning.
In addition to funding received from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), this project was made possible by a National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) award from the Qatar National Research Fund, a member of the Qatar Foundation.
Managing Director Prof Ben Hughes, explains:
The stadium is located in Doha Sports City complex
The main aim of our work is to help maintain sufficient heat recovery and ventilation rates without compromising air-tightness requirements, so we can achieve an energy-efficient system within a building with enhanced thermal comfort for its occupants. Creating a building which is warm, cool or well ventilated is easy but creating one which does this naturally takes skill and expertise.
