MechChem Africa November 2017

⎪ Heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning ⎪

Call for move to fourth generation refrigerants While the bulk of the mining industry uses HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) in their refrigerant systems, these are on the cards to be phased-out in accordance with the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Agreement to minimise the use of ozone-depleting substances. and application, especially in underground conditions. For example, a pipe may burst, resulting in the refrigerant being contami- natedwithwater. Ahighmoisture level will increase the acidity, which in turn, will cor- rode the copper elements of the system leading to the failure of motors and pumps followed by the equipment in its entirety,” Labacher warns.

While chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)were usedthepast,thesewerephased-outbythe Montreal Protocol in the late1990s, paving the way for the advent of HFCs. Now the Kigali Agreement is looking to the future phase-out of HFCs, too, and their replace- ment with HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins), the fourth generation fluorine-based refriger- ant gases. “Whenmines’reachthestageofneeding to invest in new refrigerant systems, or to refurbish existing ones, our suggestion is to opt for the latest technology and move straight to HFOs, rather than go through the interim HFC stage, as this will prove much more cost-effective and environ- mentally friendly in the long run,” says A-Gas South Africa national sales manager Michael Labacher. A-Gas South Africa’s role in ensuring compliance in major industrial sectors such as mining encompasses a range of services and product offerings. A-Gas Health Check is an easy-to-use test kit that can be sup- plied, consisting of a refrigerant sample cylinder, an oil sample bottle, and all of the necessaryhosesinordertotakethesamples, all packaged in a robust box. A Certificate of Analysis is then supplied in compliance withAHRI 700standards, which reveals the maximum contaminant levels permissible for re-use, without causing systemdamage. “Mining is an arduous environment

Therefore, it is recommended that mines conduct a refrigerant analysis at least once or twice a year. This is critical in terms of preventativemaintenance, which will prevent safety-critical equipment breaking down and impacting on mine productivity. Since the establishment of A-Gas South Africa in 1996, the company has seen a steady increase in its involvement with the mining industry. “Especiallywith shafts be- ing closedandmines decommissionedonce they reach their end-of-life, it is imperative that systems be purged of all refrigerant, cleanedand renderedsafe.” This refrigerant can thenbe returned toA-Gas SouthAfrica and restored to specification for reuse. In terms of future developments, Labacher reveals that the company is looking to launch a newproduct to recover refrigerant out of systems farmore quickly in order to reduce downtime and boost the recovery rate. “What we are looking at it is vacuum-sucking system for evacuating refrigerant out of a system directly into drums, which will eliminate the danger of any blow-off to atmosphere. This will be far more environment-friendly, our mining customerswill receive an improved service, and we will be able to more efficiently re- cycle the refrigerant in question.” q

toprovide clientswithup-to-date information and optimal delivery turnaround times. “We are currentlymoving towards becom- ing compliant with the relevant legislation applicable to the various countries we are targeting. This includesmaking the necessary amendments to fan components such as mo- tor types, fan sizes, safety specs, performance specs and operating frequencies,” Erasmus explains. This is not the first time that either compa- ny has supplied ventilation solutions to clients in this region but the move places emphasis on a focused approach with more efficient distributionmodels and solutions tailored for the market – both in terms of product design and delivery. “We have already shipped and installed both surface fanandauxiliary fan solutions for themining industry inZambia andZimbabwe. We are nowaggressively targeting expansion into theWest African markets, including new mining projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Mali, as well as mining ventilation opportuni- ties in theDRC. Inaddition to thesewearealso pursuing services and refurbishment oppor- tunities in the power, cement and processing industries in the above countries. This is very encouraging as together both companies seek to offer a complete product range from the smallestfantothelargestventilationsolution,” concludes Erasmus. This move forms part of a larger company objective to be shipping 80% of all products internationally by 2020. q

Lennox Ngeshe at A-Gas South Africa, a leader in the supply and lifecycle management of speciality chemicals. When mines need to invest in new refrigerant systems, A-Gas South Africa recommends moving directly to HFOs.

November 2017 • MechChem Africa ¦ 29