Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa hosted a webinar. This article is part three of a six-part series. The industry aims to meet the evolving demands of the digital era while contributing to economic development and societal progress across the continent. Benzoix | Freepik.com Continued from part two… In a bid to explore the burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of data centres, the Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa jointly organised a webinar titled ‘AI – The driving force of future data centres’. The virtual event delved int ..read more

Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa hosted a webinar. This article is part two of a six-part series. The industry stands poised to unlock new opportunities and navigate the evolving digital landscape with confidence. Macrovector | Freepik.com In a bid to explore the burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of data centres, the Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa jointly organised a webinar titled ‘AI – The driving force of future data centres’. The virtual event delved into the remarkable advancements in data centre density and the ..read more

Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa hosted a webinar. This article is part one of a six-part series. Storyset | Freepik.com In a bid to explore the burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of data centres, the Pan African Data Centres and Cloud Solutions Africa jointly organised a webinar titled ‘AI – The driving force of future data centres’. The virtual event delved into the remarkable advancements in data centre density and the pressing need for energy efficiency and sophisticated cooling solutions. The webinar, hosted by Amy Hopkinson, confere ..read more

Edited by Eamonn Ryan The following article is derived from an ASHRAE Journal public podcast delving into the intricacies of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, presented by Kelley Cramm, an ASHRAE Life Member and mechanical engineer with Henderson Engineers. Multiple VRF heat recovery systems with a central control. Multiple Light Commercial cassettes units, high wall units and ducted units which are also connected to the central controller. Supplied by AHI Carriers The presentation explores VRF systems, proper installation techniques, and addresses common misconceptions surrounding co ..read more

By Patrick Burke, SAIRAC Fellow The following article is a follow-up to the technical article ‘A case for gas engine VRF systems’ written by Patrick Burke in the RACA Journal April issue. Patrick Burke, RPM Consulting Engineers and SAIRAC Fellow. ©RACA Journal Following the numerous warnings concerning the future long-term supply of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) in South Africa, the general interest in this type of potential energy source had grown considerably with articles now appearing regularly in several leading business news publications. While it is difficult at this stage to decipher the ..read more

Compiled by Eamonn Ryan With the current trends of Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 (4IR), all OEM air-handling-unit and chiller manufacturers are looking for intelligent components with bus-protocol communication. FUNCTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: Connect – the system connects every device within a machine and shop floor Collect – it captures critical data at every level from sensor to cloud Analyse – it converts data into meaningful analytics Act – it drives action through real-time information and business logic Through Industry 4.0, all industrial networks have been standardise ..read more

By Eamonn Ryan with technical input from Mpumzi Swana, director of product development company SAMAC In a bid to improve its energy consumption and bolster sustainability efforts, Standard Bank recently introduced an innovative energy solution, leveraging SAMAC Engineering Solutions’ cutting-edge technology – the ENRG blanket. Mpumzi Swana, chief operations officer of company SAMAC. ©RACA Journal The ENRG blanket, powered by US-based Phase Change Solutions (PCS), represents a paradigm shift in energy storage technology in South Africa – though it has been around for about a decade in the US ..read more

By Michael Young, Pr. Eng. Part 5: Operating conditions within a data centre for a DX system Things to know… The integration of variable speed compressors have improved the overall energy efficiency of a DX system when used within a data centre type of application. When considering a DX type of cooling system, operating air conditions have become the starting point of the design. Some end users require a specific entering air condition to the server and HVAC designers often need to reverse engineer to meet these requirements. Michael Young is a trainer, coach and a pre-sales engineer in th ..read more

Grant Laidlaw is currently the owner of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy (ACRA) in Edenvale. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an associate degree in educational administration. He has a National Technical Diploma and completed an apprenticeship with Transnet. He has dual-trades status: refrigeration and electrical. He has been involved with SAIRAC for over two decades and served on the Johannesburg committee as chairman and was also president between 2015 and 2018. Currently he is the SAIRAC national treasurer. Many people ask for assistance in the unders ..read more

As of 1 March 2024, Eskom has taken over control of load shedding in the City of Ekurhuleni, with consequences for businesses in the metro. Andrew Dickson, engineering executive at CBI-electric: low voltage. Supplied by CBI Electric This came after the city reportedly failed to execute power outages when required. However, the metro has negotiated with the power utility for load curtailment to be implemented instead, which will see businesses reportedly being responsible for reducing their electricity consumption by 30%. “Although this has been met with protest, it is still better than the a ..read more