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Project
HEAT PUMP SYSTEM FALLS WELL WITHIN ACKERMANS PHARMACY ’ S ELECTRICITY CONSTRAINTS
By Eamonn Ryan with technical input from Naas Massyn Toshiba HVAC Sales Manager - Inland from AHI Carrier ; Graham Bloom , owner of HVAC contractor Cool Reactions ; and project manager Derrick Kuun of Ackermans Pharmacy .
Ackerman Pharmacy celebrates 75 th anniversary with expanded premises – cooled by Toshiba .
All images by © RACA Journal
When Ackermans Pharmacy relocated to larger premises across the road in Primrose , Johannesburg , the move was hampered by the constraint of a maximum electrical capacity of 150 amps . It found a solution with Toshiba ’ s SMMSu heat pump that falls well within its electricity supply .
The retrofit was project managed by Derrick Kuun of Ackermans Pharmacy ; Graham Bloom , owner of HVAC contractor Cool Reactions ; and Naas Massyn Toshiba HVAC Sales Manager - Inland from AHI Carriers .
Kuun emphasises the challenge of finding a system that could operate within this restriction while meeting
“ The façade of the recently relocated Ackermans Pharmacy in Primrose , Johannesburg .”
The team . the demands of a modern pharmaceutical facility . Bloom explains that Toshiba was selected for providing the most cost-effective price that met all the criteria – and had stock available . Toshiba developed the design .
" We opted for the most energy-efficient system available suited to open plan conditions and falling within the 150 amp threshold ," explains Massyn , referring to the Toshiba heat pump system . As the largest heat pump installation to date that Toshiba has been involved in , the system boasts an energy efficiency rating of A4 . The system utilises a high-efficiency DC twin-inverter compressor and operates with R410A refrigerant . It offers outstanding energy efficiencies at partial load conditions , which represent most of the operation conditions . It achieves a Coefficient of Performance ( COP ) of 4.25 under certain conditions .
The renovated building was equipped with solar panels to improve the store ’ s energy efficiency during daylight hours .
The transformation of Ackermans Pharmacy has not been without its hurdles . Bloom sheds light on the challenges faced and the innovative solutions that paved the way for the pharmacy ' s modernisation . " One of the biggest challenges was the electrical requirement . We had to find a solution that could operate within the limited 150-amp constraint ." This led them to opt for Variable Refrigerant Flow ( VRF ) 64 horsepower ( two X 22 hp and one 20 hp ) condenser banks over traditional split units , despite a higher initial capital outlay . In fact , says Bloom , the system is currently drawing less power than had initially been expected , once the operating temperature is reached .
Collaboration played a crucial role in overcoming challenges . " We worked closely with the pharmacy management and Toshiba to design a system that met both energy efficiency and operational needs ," Bloom says . This collaborative effort ensured that every aspect of the installation was meticulously planned and executed , addressing concerns such as security and operational reliability .
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RACA Journal I November 2024 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za