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Patrick Burke ( FSAIRAC ) of RPM Consulting Engineers .
and oil fields in our southern African region continues unabated , with the general consensus that new untapped fields exist off both the east and west coasts . “ The big question is : How economical will it prove to produce ? Only time will tell , I suppose .”
He says that at the HVAC & R Japan exhibition in 2016 , it is reported that one leading manufacturer unveiled a so called ‘ hybrid ’ VRF system , that connected to a gas-engine VRF system
and an electric VRF system to the same refrigerant circuit , thus allowing one product to operate on two energy sources . “ The hybrid can switch its energy source to take advantage of the available unit costs of both electricity and natural gas , as applicable . In my opinion , this could well be a possible answer to South Africa ’ s unique energy supply situation ( in the event of both potential energy solutions becoming more difficult to source ) thereby providing a semblance of choice for the end-user .
“ In any event , as previously stated , only time will prove this to be possible , as all indications are that new local gas fields will only be operational from 2030 ,” says Burke .
AHI CARRIERS ' INNOVATIONS LEAD THE WAY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE HVAC SOLUTIONS In a presentation last year by AHI Carriers at a supplier event titled ‘ Feel the Change ’, a bold vision for the future of HVAC technology was unveiled , emphasising a shift towards more environmentally friendly products and solutions . Harris Prousalogou , product and solutions development manager at AHI Carrier Fzs , presented a number of project case studies whereby Toshiba products and methodologies had resulted in radically enhanced energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact within the built environment . The following relates to a VRF installation .
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RACA Journal I February 2025 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za