News
ACRA HELPS STUDENTS TO BE
WATER WISE WITH NEW CLEANING TECHNIQUES
By Eamonn Ryan
Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ) is in the process of developing a module of an HVAC maintenance course whereby air conditioning coils can be cleaned without using water .
The technology has been developed by O 3
Chemicals using hygienic , non-corrosive , non-toxic chemicals which remove mould and bacteria and facilitate the better performance of AHUs .
This new ACRA course is designed for the new generation of air conditioning and refrigeration technicians who will become South Africa ’ s frontline aircon contractors .
The course aims to address the fact that when servicing evaporator and condenser coils , the current use of acids and chemicals corrodes the coils and fins . The corrosion results in thousands of tiny holes in which mould and bacteria live and grow . Over time these small holes continue to corrode and enlarge to the point where the unit has to be replaced .
In addition , large amounts of water are used to clean off the coils and neutralise the chemicals . Currently , after applying the chemicals , the technician rinses them off using a hosepipe utilising approximately 80l of water a minute for around 30 minutes , for a total of 2 500l .
Along with new chemicals , a new way of applying them has been developed . New compressor technology is being utilised which is oil free and allows pressure to be maintained at a pre-determined level . An ordinary compressor , set at eight bars , quickly drops to two bars when applying chemicals . The new compressor is set at five bars to maintain that level of pressure . When used on AHUs it will halve cleaning times , cut chemical usages dramatically and allow users to eliminate water completely , substituting O 3 chemicals .
While the new course is currently still under development , ACRA owner Grant Laidlaw explains that the course will cover the background to the fact scientists have confirmed that , while air conditioning has upgraded living conditions in homes , offices , shopping malls and more , they are also breeding places for mould and bacteria which can make people ill .
• The four reasons that mould thrives in air conditioners are :
• They enjoy the dark spaces in an aircon
• There is plenty of oxygen
• There is sufficient moisture
All photos by Eamonn Ryan / RACA Journal
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1 and 2 : ACRA ’ s offices and student workshops .
Students learning the maintenance course .
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www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2023 5