www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2024 5
Associations
WATER AS A REFRIGERANT : USE WATER TO SAVE WATER
The following SAIRAC Cape Town centre tech talk presentation by Barry Leuverman , Netherlands-based export director at OXYCOM , is on sustainable cooling using water as a coolant , edited by Eamonn Ryan .
All images supplied by Rozelle Steenkamp | SAIRAC Cape Town Centre
Most of us are familiar with cooling towers and adiabatic cooling , but our method at OXYCOM is slightly different . We have developed unique material and patented the entire process and product . Our company has been in operation for approximately 20 years , and while we are not a large manufacturer , we specialise in producing these material panels . The other activities involved in the manufacturing process are outsourced and we oversee the assembly of the final product . Additionally , we also provide a range of supplementary products .
Our system is designed to operate efficiently even with limited energy supply . We have tested our system using a normal generator , with the largest generator producing four kilowatts , and our system still provides sufficient cooling power of up to 35 kilowatts . For larger-scale applications , our system can provide up to 190-200 kilowatts of cooling .
A well-attended event in Cape Town .
Barry Leuverman , Netherlands-based export director at OXYCOM .
Indirect evaporative cooling systems have a media component located inside our equipment , and an external heat exchanger . Cold water passes through the heat exchanger , creating indirect contact between the water and air . This extra step enhances the cooling process and improves efficiency .
The cold water passing through the exchanger indirectly cools the air , resulting in even lower temperatures . This is the essence of our innovative approach .
Our evaporative cooling system works by keeping the air separate from the water . This means that we are able to lower the temperature and decrease the humidity in the air , which allows us to create a more comfortable environment .
To achieve this , we use a two-part system : PreCooll which functions by direct adiabatic cooling , and IntrCooll which works with free cooling and ventilation with outside air . The first part ventilates the water supply , ensuring that the water does not get warm – This is important because warm water is not effective for cooling purposes . We cool down the water in the first half of the system to ensure that it stays at an optimal temperature .
A supply fan ensures that the water remains cold and creates a high rate of evaporation . The material used in our system helps the water stick to the surface , increasing the evaporation process . The reflective surface of the system helps to maintain cool temperatures .
When working on a project , we take into account various factors , including the weather data of the location . This helps us calculate the cooling power required and make the system more efficient . Water availability is also considered , as we aim to limit water usage while maintaining optimal cooling performance .
DATA CENTRES AND FREE COOLING Data centres with free cooling can achieve higher efficiencies , resulting in significant energy savings . By leveraging lower temperatures , these data centres can run for longer periods and operate more frequently . There are two main paths for free cooling : direct and indirect . In a direct free cooling system , the outside air is filtered and brought inside without any additional influence . However , in situations where there is a lot of heat load inside a facility , it may be necessary to install a heat reclaim
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2024 5