With industrial processes placing an ever-increas- ing demand on the environment, it is imperative for equipment manufacturers to streamline product development processes with energy conservation, energy management and the preservation of natural resources to ensure a sustainable future, says US-based heat transfer specialist Evapco.

Evapco sales manager Ivan Loader says the company’s newly launched Eco Hybrid ATWB-H and ATC-DC range of wet/dry closed-circuit coolers and condensers reflects its commitment to energy conservation and environment-friendly design.

He adds that the design of the coolers and condensers offers improved system efficiency, environmental responsibility by reducing water and electricity use, a low carbon footprint, reduced yearly operating costs and operational reliability, as well as ease of use and convenient maintenance.

“This new range of products is designed to provide increased water savings at higher dry-bulb switchover temperatures, while maintaining favourable chiller coefficient of performance,” Loader adds.

Switchover temperatures refer to the point at which the cooler can switch from evaporative mode to full dry mode using no water. The higher the dry bulb switch- over point the better and more time spent in dry mode, while still maintaining a high system efficiency, he explains.

Evapco’s Eco Hybrid range of wet/dry closed-circuit coolers and condensers enhances latent and sensible heat transfer to save water. This is accomplished by incorporating a dry-cooling section coil bundle in series with an induced draft closed-circuit evaporative cooling coil, outlines Loader.

The cooler and condenser unit is designed and selected to operate in wet and dry mode, depending on load and outside ambient conditions, he adds.

At peak ambient temperatures, when the wet and dry modes are in operation, about 30% of the heat is still rejected through the dry-cooling coil. This decreases the overall water consumption, compared with conventional evaporative coolers, and offers additional cost savings in water use, bleed off and water-treatment costs, notes Loader.

Further, the new range comprises Evapco’s unique Ellipti-fin pakspiral-fin coil and the Arid-fin pak dry-cooling coil, which contribute to additional cooling capacity, ensuring increased energy and water savings, compared with conventional closed-circuit coolers.

The Eco Hybrid range has also been designed for higher “switchover” temperatures, says Loader.

He adds that the Eco Hybrid range can be run in full wet mode or dry mode, depending on the cooling temperatures that need to be achieved.

Loader says clients have several solutions to choose from, depending on the cooling capacity required, and the cooler and condenser unit can be selected depending on the site and project requirements.

The Eco Hybrid range, which is developed in the US and manufactured and assembled at Evapco South Africa’s manufacturing facility in Isando, Johannesburg, can be exported to sub-Saharan Africa countries, concludes Loader, adding that only the Evapco closed- circuit hybrid cooler currently on the market uses this unique coil technology.