Feature
for hours. The blanket is easy to install above drop ceilings,
behind sheetrock, or under roofing. In both retrofit and new
construction applications, installation can often be completed in
a single evening, avoiding disruption to business operations.
The sheet comes in 1.2m by 60cm. A bio gel is used in the
blanket to avoid potential corrosion and fire hazards that may
be a consequence of using products that are salt or petroleum
based.
“Because we are using a bio gel, it is a green product. It
also has a 100-year life span, and there is no maintenance or
replacement required until the product has reached its lifespan,”
Swana says.
The energy blanket works well during peak periods when
HVAC equipment can be switched off for approximately three to
four hours during periods when electricity is more expensive.
“The model we use in South Africa can maintain a chosen
temperature in any room of a building. For example, if you
want to keep a building at 22°C or 23°C, you can get the
energy blanket for that temperature. During certain periods
of the day such as peak tariff periods you can switch off your
HVAC and the building will be maintained at the desired
temperature by the blanket. The blanket can accommodate
a temperature range of between -50°C and 125°C,” Swana
explains. This makes it ideal for office parks, and other
commercial buildings. Warehouses that do not have an
HVAC system can also use the blanket to maintain a constant
temperature in the building. The blankets can also be used in
server rooms and cold rooms as back-up.
With this system, building operators can switch off their
HVAC systems for about four hours at a time. If they know the
HVAC size and tariff charged by the municipality, they can easily
calculate exactly how much money they can save.
“Another application is maintaining server-room
temperatures where it is important that equipment does not
over-heat. We are also currently experimenting with refrigerated
trucks that travel long distances at, say -10°C, by lining the truck
with the blankets on the sides. We have seen that the blanket is
able to maintain a refrigerated container for about nine hours.
The science behind the energy blanket.
www.hvacronline.co.za
This obviously saves on diesel costs due to reduced engine power
required for the refrigeration system.
Furthermore, the blanket can be used in hot or cold
applications. Fast-food chains can maintain temperature of
food delivered to customers by lining the inside of delivery bags
with the product. “In this instance, the gel can be adjusted to
the required temperature to suit different temperature needs,”
Swana says.
Samac Engineering’s agreement with Phase Change Energy
Solutions is still new, but they are already planning to set up a
manufacturing facility in South Africa as soon as the product is
sufficiently established. He is optimistic that this will happen in due
course considering the responses he has received from progressive
companies that are aiming for net zero and energy efficiency.
“The African Continental Free Trade Agreement that
has recently come into effect will benefit us as we look into
branching across the continent. International corporations like
Microsoft, AT&T and Google are some of the organisations that
have used the product over the years in America. It has also been
used in universities, high schools and hospitals.
“Working with engineering consultancy firm Solid Green, we
have been able to launch a few pilots with local businesses in the
corporate space. We are also working on pilots in banking and
retail space,” he adds.
The blanket
being installed
by a contractor.
Continued on page 51
RACA Journal I January 2020
49