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Supplied by Airotech Supplied by Two Oceans Air Conditioning
York Water cooled screw chiller – capacities from 400 – 2000kW.
remote African projects, where onsite support can be difficult. A well-managed chiller plant, monitored digitally, saves both money and risk for the client.”
Artificial intelligence is set to accelerate this trend, making chiller operations even more efficient, reliable, and data-driven.
CHOOSING BETWEEN AIR-COOLED AND WATER-COOLED CHILLERS South Africa’ s water scarcity has pushed many clients toward aircooled chillers.“ Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ ve seen a major
swing away from water-cooled systems. Water-cooled chillers are inherently more energy-efficient, but in our context, water is simply too precious to waste.”
That said, water-cooled chillers still have a place, particularly for very large plants where energy efficiency is critical.“ It’ s always a trade-off. We engage consultants and end-users to weigh the balance: saving electricity with water-cooled systems, or saving water with air-cooled systems. Every chiller installation must be assessed case by case,” says Bands.
University of Stellenbosch chiller, a project featured in our August issue.
RACA Journal I November 2025
Despite the strong growth potential, hurdles remain in bringing chillers to more facilities. The most pressing is upfront cost.
“ Chillers represent a significant capital expense, and South African businesses are cost-conscious,” says Bands.“ Our role is to help them see the bigger picture. A slightly higher investment upfront in a more efficient chiller can yield major savings in energy and operating costs over the next 10 or 15 years.” Here, education is key.
Maintenance and servicing are also challenges, especially in remote areas. Here again, remote monitoring of chillers provides a solution, allowing Service First to diagnose and even resolve issues without delay.
“ The chiller market in South Africa is dynamic,” Bands concludes.“ Yes, upfront cost and regulation are challenges. But demand is growing, technology is advancing, and clients are more aware than ever of efficiency and sustainability. Trane and Service First are well positioned to deliver chillers that meet today’ s needs and tomorrow’ s expectations.”
AI AND IOT TRANSFORM HOW CHILLERS ARE MAINTAINED As manufacturers and data centres continue to spend more on energy each year, chillers – being major energy consumers – have become a focal point for cost-saving and performanceimproving strategies. Older systems tend to be inefficient and prone to failure, while newer chillers with smart controls and variable speed compressors offer better performance, reduced energy use and enhanced reliability. Real-time monitoring and data-driven adjustments allow facility managers to fine-tune operations and identify issues early, helping to lower operational costs and prolong equipment life.
Companies are actively seeking low-globalwarming refrigerants and energy-efficient designs to meet environmental goals and comply with regulations. Eco-friendly chillers, such as those using natural refrigerants like CO₂ and propane( R290), are gaining popularity. These options significantly lower carbon emissions and improve efficiency. R290, for instance, offers 7 % higher performance and nearly 100 % fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional refrigerants like R404A. www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za