Feature
Continued from page 49
SAVING THE OZONE LAYER
Samac Engineering is a member of the Green Building Council of
South Africa (GBCSA) and Swana says their solution can support
the GBCSA’s drive to go net zero, especially in buildings. They are
also members of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
“With air conditioning, it becomes very tricky to reduce
energy consumption with the current technology. This is one
technology where buildings can significantly reduce their energy
costs and carbon emissions,” he says.
Switching off the HVAC system in a building during peak
tariff periods during the day and allowing the ENRG Blanket to
maintain building temperature setpoint means less costs on
maintenance, reduced electricity consumption and increased
shelf life of the air-conditioning unit, considering that it will
operate for shorter periods of time.
SAMAC ENGINEERING
Having a strong passion for research and development, Swana
has worked in various engineering and research companies. He
is especially passionate about industrial product development
focused on either energy generation, energy management or
energy efficiency.
“Developing air-conditioning systems was a natural progression
for me,” he says. Although there has been a lot of focus in the
industry on the inability to make HVAC energyefficient, Swana sees
this as an opportunity to find solutions.
Mofokeng says that it was through a partnership with Swana
that the company has trail blazed research and development in
technological innovation related to renewable energy. “We own
another patent for a mobile thermal-storage air-conditioning unit.
The unit is a hybrid and works similarly to the energy blanket,
reducing electricity costs from air conditioning of industrial
buildings by up to 30%. Charged overnight with ice, the unit can
cool down an area or space without being plugged in,” he says.
GOING FURTHER
Samac Engineering has received funding from different
institutions, such as Invotech and the Technology Innovation
Agency (TIA).
“The lack of research and development in the industry is
challenging, especially considering the amount of money needed
to do research,” Swana says. The thermal energy storage or
ice storage unit was recently installed at one of the buildings of
Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban.
On top of working towards having a local manufacturing
plant, Swana and Mofokeng want to expand what they can offer
to households and other sectors.
www.hvacronline.co.za
Samac Engineering with the Phase Change Material Energy
Solution representatives. From left: Mpumzi Swana; Scott Queen,
vice president of Sales; Jeremy Mabe, director of Sales; and
Thabang Mofokeng.
“Business is evolving and dynamic. Over the next few months or
so we will start our product assembly line. This will create jobs
and help to stimulate the economy,” says Mofokeng.
Swana says there is a lack of innovation in the local industry
and looks to harness an ecosystem of innovators. “The industry
offers so many opportunities and if I can be involved in helping
others in innovation that would make a difference.”
BENEFITS OF THE ENRG BLANKET
The ENRG Blanket encloses a plant-based, non-toxic, rapidly
renewable and sustainable material, stored between two
rugged, multi-layer films (polymer and /or aluminium). The
resulting ‘blanket’ is:
• Tear-resistant;
• Long-lasting;
• Reduces HVAC run time by 15 – 20%;
• Maintenance-free and requires no servicing;
• Moisture and humidity resistant, mould growth
resistant;
• Sustains building comfort for hours after conditioning;
• Lowers demand on fossil fuel energy and carbon
footprint;
• Life expectancy of more than 100 years; and
• Can be used for peak tariff charge targeting. RACA
RACA Journal I January 2020
51