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Feature
IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATION Independent certification by organisations like CTI is vital for maintaining consistency and reliability across products from different manufacturers . Van der Merwe emphasises that this certification is crucial for ensuring that cooling towers perform to the standards set by their manufacturers . This is particularly important for large systems where the performance of cooling towers directly affects the overall efficiency of the entire system , including chillers and other components .
Evapco takes pride in being a market leader in CTI certification in South Africa . This commitment to certification helps clients and consultants trust that they are purchasing reliable and highperforming products . It also ensures that systems designed with these cooling towers meet their intended capacity and stated performance criteria .
Prior to the 1960s all cooling towers were erected on site – there was no such thing as a factory-assembled product . That has been a major evolution of the market in the years since . However , transporting cooling towers , especially large units , poses significant logistical challenges . Van der Merwe explains that factoryassembled or packaged products are limited by transportation constraints , such as the size of lorries or shipping containers . For larger projects , cooling towers need to be field-erected on site .
To address these challenges , Evapco has developed containerised ranges of products that can be shipped in standard 20 or 40-foot containers . This approach has proven successful , especially for exports to regions where road transport is not feasible . Containerisation minimises the risk of damage during transit and ensures safe delivery of products to their destination . This approach has been particularly successful for projects where road transport is not feasible , such as those in Nigeria , Ghana , Kenya and Tanzania .
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS Looking ahead , Van der Merwe emphasises that the future of cooling tower technology will be driven by a focus on water and energy consumption , as well as cost effectiveness . The industry is dedicated to developing products that are both efficient and environmentally responsible . This commitment is evident in the R & D efforts aimed at creating new materials , construction methods , and technologies that reduce the environmental impact of cooling towers .
One of the promising areas of research at Evapco is microchannel technology , which allows for more efficient heat rejection in a smaller footprint . While still in the experimental stage , microchannel technology has the potential to revolutionise
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RACA Journal I September 2024 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za