GOING GREEN IS COOL
This phase down is being achieved through the introduction of quota allocations and sectorial bans on high-GWP HFCs as well as multiple governments taking further steps to reduce the use of refrigerants with a substantial impact on the environment.
Bitzer has expanded their range of compressors to meet this need for environmentally sustainable refrigeration. The Bitzer Ammonia Compressor Pack (ACP) does just that. Bitzer’s ACP is designed for a wide range of operations in high, mid and low temperature applications in industrial refrigeration and process cooling.
Technical specifications
- Available with a capacity range of 100 to 450 TR
- Modular compressors units comprise up to 3 compressors
- Compressor packs can be connected (up to 9 compressors) and connected to a single controller
- Equipped with frequency inverter
- Common oil separator
Advantages
- Optimal part load performance
- High efficiency: individual compressors can be turned on and off depending on requirements
- Maximum redundancy for high operating reliability: system has multiple ammonia screw compressors which increases its reliability over single industrial compressors
- Bitzer advanced oil management system
- Reduced installation costs
- Durability
- Fast availability for all replacement parts
For more infoamtion . . .
What does “Approach” mean in heat exchangers?
Bitzer Compressors and Ammonia Seminar
Following the success of last year’s Roadshow Bitzer South Africa offered another Road Show event in Durban yesterday, covering Bitzer compressors and Ammonia applications.
The event was held at the Durban Country Club. And was a great success. Thank you to all who attended, and to Bitzer South Africa for hosting.
If you are interested in the information discussed at this seminar . . .
What is “Bubble Point”?
The bubble point is the temperature at which a liquid forms bubbles (usually the lowest boiling point of one of the constituents of a mixture like R407C).
BITZER REFRIGERANT RULER
By BITZER
Description
The BITZER REFRIGERANT RULER Work out refrigerant data – quickly and easily – with the free BITZER REFRIGERANT RULER from BITZER. The BITZER REFRIGERANT RULER, developed for iOS, covers all of the common refrigerants and contains data on their relevant physical properties. It offers an intuitive user interface with which it is quite simple to work out temperature and pressure for various refrigerants. The tool is one of the few applications which enables the use of imperial and metric units at the same time. It is available in both English and German. The main functions On the start screen, the user is shown all of the relevant information about the selected refrigerant, such as its dew and bubble point depending upon the pressure, as well as information about the best type of oil to use, the refrigerant’s global warming potential (GWP value) and its safety group. A ‘Refrigerants’ menu at the top-left edge of the screen gives you an overview of all available refrigerants as a list. When you select a refrigerant from the list, you are then shown its details page which contains more valuable information. By swiping to the right or left on the start screen, you can also switch directly to another refrigerant. Settings and filter functions can be found at the top right. The filter functions make it possible to restrict the refrigerants shown by their GWP values or to just show natural refrigerants. The settings allow you to switch between metric and imperial units. Additional advantages of the BITZER REFRIGERANT RULER The extra functions to select for natural refrigerants and for GWP values are two new and convenient options. Moreover, you can also access BITZER’s latest refrigerant report directly from the app!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitzerus.refrigerant.ruler
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bitzer-refrigerant-ruler/id373683792?l=de&ls=1&mt=8
10′s of thousands of LPA® pumps have been installed as a simple retrofit means of getting liquid refrigerant to the expansion valves when minimum head pressure controls are set to reduced head pressures, thereby saving energy and increasing capacity at mild to cold outdoor temperatures.
The LPA® pump eliminates the usual problems of capacity loss and poor oil return due to operating with low head pressure.
Improved performance and efficiency of a system that has flash vapor in the liquid line. This is especially apparent if flash vapor is a serious problem, as in systems with excessive liquid line pressure drop, elevation gain in the liquid line, or if the air surrounding the liquid line is warmer than the outdoor temperature.
Reduced scaling problems on water-cooled systems when a small amount of high pressure liquid from the pump outlet is injected into the discharge line, reducing the vapour temperature.
The LPA works by boosting liquid refrigerant through the system…
The LPA works by boosting liquid refrigerant through the refrigeration system. By increasing the liquid’s pressure, the associated saturation temperature is raised, while the liquid temperature remains the same. The liquid becomes sub-cooled; reducing the potential for flashing prior to the expansion valve. With LPA, your business will enjoy higher efficiency, lower power draws and substantial cost savings.
Taken from: http://www.hysave.com/technology/lpa-systems/
AFCON CUSTOMER PROFILE
Alvin Brown
Alvin, owner and manager director of Thermal Dynamics & Engineering and JNC Thermal Systems, has been working in the HVAC&R for 20 years. He has gained much experience allowing him to specialise in chillers, so we sat down with him to discuss how he began his career, where it has taken him and what he feels helped him get where he is today.
What is your general background?
Why did you go into this industry originally? My father was the Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Engineer at Beacon Sweets for 23 years, this naturally drew my interest to the trade from my young high school days. He started teaching me to repair small scale refrigeration equipment in our garage from the time I was in grade 10. After matriculating, I did my apprenticeship at York International, qualified, then slowly moved my way up in the Industry, ultimately to opening Thermal Dynamics & Engineering in 2009.
Where did you study or do your apprenticeship?
I studied at UNISA, did my apprenticeship, and many plant specific training courses, at York International.
Where have you worked over the years?
Started off at Million Air Services(about 2 years), spent 4 years at York International, spent a short 7 months at Combined Air Services, spent 6 years as a service manager and share holder at DJ Thermal Engineering, opened Thermal Dynamics & Engineering beginning of 2009 until present.
Where did you gain your chiller experience?
Fortunately, I was well trained on chillers from York International days, grew and gained experience throughout my career, actually still learning now, you never stop learning.
How long have you been working in the industry and how long specifically with chillers?
Been in the industry for 20 years and have been exposed to chillers since the beginning.
What do you enjoy about working with chillers, which led to your specialisation in them?
I like to specialize in a field, you tend to always be needed in the industry.
What plants have you worked at in the past? Or do so currently?
Eskom Power Station in Drakensburg, Boxmore Plastics (Harrismith, CPT, Bloemfontein & Mauritius, Zambia), Coca Cola (PE, Mozambique & Mauritius), St Augustines Hospital, Sasko Bakery, Boxer Meats Factory in Ballito, just to name a few. All the plants at the above sites are chillers for production purposes. We also work on several cold storage facility plants which run on screw compressors (low temperature and medium temperature), a few ammonia screw sets used for food production blast freezers and many air-conditioning systems from chilled water to standard DX split systems.
Which fouling factors does Onda suggest for the selection of shell and tube heat exchangers?
The fouling factor is important for the selection of an evaporator. The value Onda suggest to input in selection software are:
For evaporators: - Normal water in closed circuit: 0,000043 m2K/W; -
Water in open circuit: 0,000086 m2K/W; -
Solutions with glycol <40%: 0,000086 m2K/W; -
Solutions with glycol >40%: 0,000172 m2K/W.
For condensers: -
Normal city water: 0,000043 m2K/W; -
Treated tower water: 0,000043 m2K/W; -
River water: 0,000086 m2K/W; -
Solutions with glycol <40%: 0,000086 m2K/W; -
Solutions with glycol >40%: 0,000172 m2K/W.
SAIRRAC Golf Day
The SAIRRAC Golf Day took place on Friday the 2nd of September, where Afcon had both a 4 ball participating as well as sponsoring the 11th hole.
Tarryn Ching did a fantastic job of organising and ensuring that the day was a success, and as always the HVAC&R industry support was outstanding. The supplier support was excellent, with multiple suppliers sponsoring holes, which added to the festive atmosphere. As well as lots of suppliers and contractors participating in the golf day. All golfers, pro or amateur, could be seen enjoying the day, lots of fun was had and many beers drunk.
Is it always lovely for industry members to get together, share camaraderie and swop war stories.
Afcon has sent compressors to Bitzer Green Point Johannesburg to be assessed, quoted on and subsequently overhauled with great success. The over all experience has left us very pleased with the availability of this service, and we look forward to utilising it in the future.
Bitzer’s “Green Point” Program was set up in Johannesburg in 2015. The program is part of a global network of service centres, which boasts a reliable service and overhaul for your reciprocating and screw compressors. The technicians have been trained at the Bitzer Green Point international training centre in France and receive constant support from Bitzer as well as are updated with its latest developments. Green Point employees maintain, overhaul and repair BITZER compressors.
Dave Nicholl’s was recently involved in an interesting installation involving CO2 at a large retail store in KZN and here’s what he had to say about it...
AFCON Industrial Equipment are Bitzer agents in KwaZulu Natal. We hold a large range of stock in spare parts at our office in Durban & can identify parts that you may need.
AFCON has been Bitzer agents since 1999 and have a wealth of experience in Bitzer products.
