EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Presenters Dr Joy Leaner (left) and Maragaret Molefe.
associated with ammonia. The development
of CO 2 since the 1940s was delayed due
to its poor performance in high ambient
temperatures. In the last decade, major
strides have been made in the development
and design of CO 2 systems and trans-critical
systems are now performing well in high
ambient temperatures in South Africa and
other countries.
Katharina Arndt of GIZ, GmbH went
on to say that natural refrigerants are
the ultimate solution to save energy and
mitigate the emission of greenhouse
gases (GHG) from RAC systems. She
quoted sustainable climate friendly
refrigerants for nearly all applications
such as: CO 2 in mobile air conditioning,
HC in domestic refrigeration, CO 2 and
HC in foam blowing and ammonia in
industrial refrigeration.
COLD LINK AFRICA •
SEPTEMBER 2019
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Training and skills development were
being realigned to better equip
refrigeration and air-conditioning
mechanics to handle all refrigerants
safely and with the minimum impact
on the environment. Grant Laidlaw of
ACRA training academy outlined the
revised curriculum for the training of
technicians. The curriculum will include
modules and trade tests for ammonia,
hydrocarbons (R290 and R600a) and
CO 2 . Laidlaw called on industry to get
involved in the revision of standards,
a greater policing of compliance
with safety standards and the
implementation of a new national trade
test. He concluded, “Qualifications are
in place; we need to embrace natural
refrigerants and move forward.”
Bhawoodien Parker (DEA&DP) with Elisabeth Dusik (right) of the Bavarian Environment Agency
visiting the South African Weather Services Global Atmospheric Watch Station at Cape Point.
The watch station is one of 31 situated globally that monitor for a range of climate-change-
relevant trace gases including CO2 and fluorinated gases.
As part of the collaboration between
the Western Cape Government and
Bavaria, Laidlaw visited Bavaria to
become familiar with the training
standards and methods adopted in
Bavaria. “After my visit I am confident
that our local training methods are on
the right track,” he said.
Most low GWP alternatives have
characteristics that require extra
training. According to Edgar Timm
of HEAT GmbH, the training should
embrace all levels of activity, such as
the technicians doing the installation,
maintenance and end-of-life
decommissioning. Design engineers
should also undergo training specifically
for low GWP refrigerants. Many of the
low GWP refrigerants have a high level
of flammability level or high toxicity.
Presenters enjoying a refreshment break, from left: Dr Werner Reifenhäser (head of
department, Bavarian Environment Agency), Elizabeth Dusik (Bavarian Environment Agency),
and Jaco Wagenaar (Frigoglass).
Piet van Zyl (DEA & DP) of Western Cape
Government delivered the opening address
of the two-day technical workshop.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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