www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I April 2024 33
Project
date – all for UFS . The previous projects were Cluster Two and Vishuis residences .
Reflecting on the project , Esterhuysen says it was an honour to work with the professional team of SHC as well as Mitsubishi , with both of whom it has a long-term relationship based on trust . “ Working alongside seasoned professionals and leveraging cutting-edge technology exemplifies our commitment to delivering quality solutions .”
“ We bought the units from Mitsubishi and they were also involved in their commissioning and set-up . During with project they were also involved in the set-up of the controls and the BMS installation . The entire plant room communicates with the university ’ s BMS system .”
The installation of the heat pump system at UFS stands as a testament to effective collaboration , meticulous planning and technological innovation .
of effective communication and co-ordination among all stakeholders , given the tight timeframe of approximately four months . “ A seamless administration of the project was ultimately more challenging than the installation itself ,” he explains .
For Esterhuysen , the notable feature of the actual installation project was its size – the installation of nearly 80 000l of water storage capacity across multiple residences and auxiliary buildings . With approximately 550kW of heating capacity , the system was designed to meet the diverse heating needs of the university campus efficiently – and he describes the UFS project as large by Bloemfontein standards .
“ The project had to be completed without disrupting the hot water supply to the student residences which were occupied throughout . Reticulation was required from the plant room to each of the buildings being supplied , involving working inside the residences as well as digging trenches for the piping crossing roads .”
Another challenge that was surmounted was logistical : the massive 19 000l tanks and other equipment had to be rigged and hoisted into the newly-constructed plant room . This was DATEC ’ s third heat pump installation though its largest to
MITSUBISHI AND OTHER SUPPLIERS Mitsubishi Electric ' s area manager for Free State and Mpumalanga division , Deon Kotze , was the driving force behind the project for Mitsubishi Electric . He explains : “ We ' ve been a preferred supplier of air conditioning at UFS for quite some time now and with our history of providing highly efficient HVAC systems identified the hot water project as an opportunity to significantly reduce their energy consumption ."
The decision to partner with Mitsubishi Electric was not arbitrary . Kotze cites UFS ’ s use and experience of Mitsubishi Electric ' s inverter technology as a pivotal factor in their selection . “ The Building Management System ( BMS ) components are partially supplied by MASD and our sister company Belimo compatible with our HVAC offerings ," he explained . " We ' ve essentially created a closed-loop system , where the entire university operates solely on IP addresses , ensuring unparalleled efficiency and control .
" They decided to upgrade five student accommodations , for which they were given a strict mandate by the University Council ," Kotze explains . " It was costing them a fortune to keep their current hot water system going as student accommodation is hugely hot-water dependent ."
The urgency of UFS ' energy drive was underscored by its interaction with the local municipality . " The university made a commitment to significantly reduce their overall power consumption by at least one megawatt , thereby reducing their frequency of loadshedding .”
With an eye towards sustainability and self-sufficiency , UFS had already begun generating solar power but recognised the need for additional measures to meet the municipality ' s demands . Embracing Mitsubishi Electric ' s energy-efficient solutions was a strategic move to reduce dependence on the grid and mitigate the risk of load shedding .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I April 2024 33