SCM Ref Africa unveiled its first ever CO2 transcritical rack at the Frigair tradeshow in Johannesburg, South Africa last week.
The rack on display at Frigair, Johannesburg, South Africa.
In an indicator of the growing penetration of CO2 transcritical HVAC&R systems into the South African market, SCM Ref Africa (Pty) Ltd. last week unveiled a CO2 transcritical rack at the Frigair tradeshow in Johannesburg.
“This is SCM Ref Africa’s first transcrtical unit,” Greyling Wentzel, design and production manager at SCM Ref Africa, told R744.com at the Gallagher Convention Centre in the South African metropolis.
Formerly known as Phoenix Racks, the company’s name changed to SCM Ref Africa at the end of 2017 following its acquisition by the Beijer Ref Group.
“What we have on display here is a small test unit that we’re building for a customer,” Wentzel said. “It’ll be installed later this year.”
Propane resilience unit
The rack has a cooling capacity of 18 kW on the medium-temperature side and six kilowatts on the low-temperature side. It is also fitted with a propane resilience unit.
“We decided to go for propane because as we’re already using a natural refrigerant, it doesn’t make sense to fit R404A or R134a on the rack,” Wentzel said.
“ There is a huge opportunity for CO2transcritical racks in South Africa.”
– Greyling Wentzel, SCM Ref Africa
‘Huge opportunity’ in South Africa market
SCM Ref Africa is confident that the South African market for CO 2 technologies is ripe for growth.
“I think there is a huge opportunity for CO2 transcritical in the South African market,” said Wentzel.
“At the moment, there’s a bit of a skills shortage, but as soon as we can up the skills and get more people interested, then hopefully as more people use [CO2 transcritical], the costs will come down,” he said.
