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UPPING QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
Transporters and body builders are urged to make full use of the chamber, not because of legislation, but to benchmark their quality standards and performance. Every litre of diesel saved to maintain temperatures improves profitability and reduces carbon emissions for the good of humankind.
To ensure consistency and the accuracy of tests done in the chamber, a standard— SABS 1744— has been drafted and published. Enforcement of this standard will also ensure that any locally tested vehicle can safely be sold to foreign buyers with the assurance that the thermal performance meets international standards.
INTRODUCING R290
The conversion of a transport refrigeration unit charged with R404A( GWP 3260) to a natural refrigerant R290( GWP 3) was another element of the GIZ project. A locally produced Transfrig model MT450 unit was chosen for the pilot project. Bill Wilson, technical director of Transfrig, presented an
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overview of the project and the potential commercial benefits.
The refrigerant charge of the unit was reduced from 3.5kg to only 600g, the coefficient of performance( COP) improved between 25 % and 30 %( depending on the duty), and some of the piping reduced from 10mm to 7mm( evaporator) and from 10mm to 5mm in the condenser.
Being a class A3 refrigerant with a high level of flammability, the biggest challenge was to meet all the requirements to prevent an explosion. The tests were extensive and inclusive for all possibilities of leakage from the system.
The testing and design changes were done with the guidance of consultant Daniel Colbourne of the UK.
The unit is undergoing field trials on a 4m body for the local distribution of ice cream in Johannesburg. The performance thus far is encouraging, which indicates that the unit could become a standard production model.
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS
As of 23 May 2017, the thermal chamber was handed over by the German Embassy to the SABS. On opening the 5m-high doors of the chamber, Herman Strauss, senior manager of the SABS, was keen to explain the layout and functioning of the chamber.
“ For the commissioning of the chamber, a sample body, which had been tested in the Cemafroid chamber in France, was tested in our chamber. The results were almost exact; in fact, our time to achieve stable conditions was slightly better than those in France,” he said.
The chamber is now fully commissioned and ready to accept vehicles for testing. The chamber will be operated by Constant Pretorius, with the measurements and calibration of instruments done by registered petrologist, Joshua Msimanga.
GETTING TESTED
When asked, Pretorius indicated the charges for testing.“ The charge for a test to determine the K factor is estimated at
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R45 000, and the time required will vary from two to five days. My advice is that interested parties contact me and I will discuss the tests and charges in detail.”
A NEW ERA
The unveiling of the SABS thermal test chamber has been recorded as a milestone and the beginning of a new era in refrigerated transport in South Africa. The industry salutes GIZ on such a magnanimous initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of refrigerated transport in South Africa. CLA
The unveiling of the SABS thermal test chamber has been recorded as a milestone and the beginning of a new era in refrigerated transport in South Africa.
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