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When A La Mer Hotel in Swakopmund decided to expand, they approached CTS with a unique challenge: to create a functional laundry that was both energy and water efficient, and would also fit into a small space, while being whisper quiet, so as not to disturb any guests. In addition, the laundry has to perform excellently, producing quality wash, tumbling and ironing results. Only one brand came to mind: Miele.

Miele recently launched new bench mark machines, which have short program cycles, excellent spin performance, a redesigned patented honeycomb drum and have low consumption values. A La Mer Hotel was the first in Namibia to purchase these new machines.

CTS installed washer extractors with water recovery units, as well as automatic dosing systems, to ensure the best quality wash, every time. The tumble drier has an air recycling system, saving up to 60% of energy. And with a matching drying ironer, optimum finishing results are achieved. Small accessories made this laundry a complete turn key solution.

CTS has electrified two schools in remote northern Namibia funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation with the aim to provide electricity for lighting, thus extending learning hours for learners well into the night. Both systems are based on BlueNova 4kWh lithium ion batteries, Victron Energy charge regulators and inverter technology. Remote monitoring is possible via the integrated Colour Control GX from Victron. Special attention has been given to the system configuration to prevent total battery shutdown. This is achieved by switching the inverter off at a predefined battery state of charge (typically 20%) and only reactivate the inverter once the batteries are charged beyond a predetermined threshold.

The systems where officially inaugurated by the Ambassador of Germany in June 2018.

Central Technical Supplies (Pty) Ltd. – Geiger Engineering (CTS) was approached by Farmers Meat Market Mariental to design, supply and install a solar water heating system with the aim to reduce the monthly diesel consumption as two diesel boilers are operated to heat water up to 82 deg. C for production purposes.

The water requirements of the abattoir are as follows:

1. 2,000 liter/hour @ 45 C°
2. 3,000 liter/hour @ 60 C°
3. 500 liter/hour @ 82 C°

This adds up to a total daily water requirement at 60 deg. C of roughly 25,000 liter.

The system is design such as to preheat water from 18 deg. C to between 50 deg. C and 60 deg. C before supplying the diesel boiler system, thus reducing runtime and diesel consumption of the diesel boilers. A 20,000L stainless steel tank (non pressure tank) manufactured locally according to CTS design, acts as the buffer tank for the daily water requirement. A total of 120 flat plate collectors supplied by Solsquare Namibia with a total surface area of 300 m2 are connected by means of a 450kW Alfa Laval flat plate heat exchanger to the water tank.

A set of two Calpeda circulation pumps connected to Danfoss variable speed drives and a timer circuit guarantees at all times that the heat from the collectors is effectively transported to the water tank. Flow as well as temperature monitoring on all four ports of the heat exchanger make it possible to determine the instantaneous as well as accumulated kWh produced from the collector field.

Furthermore additional heating energy is obtained from the ammonia refrigeration plant. A heat exchanger is installed on the ammonia discharge side before the existing cooling towers to be able to heat the water during night time as well, as this is the time when the refrigeration plant runs at full capacity to cool down the newly slaughtered meat in the cold rooms. Again flow control and temperature monitoring on the hot water side of the heat exchanger accurately indicate heating energy obtained from the refrigeration plant.
A total of four pump sets have been installed and pumps are cycled on a 24 hour basis in automatic mode. Should at any given time a pump fail, the system can be switched to manual mode to be able to repair the pump without system down time and a resulting increase in diesel consumption.

All systems components are sized such as to allow for future heating capacity upgrades should it be required.

After a year of operation, the plant is performing better than expected and the client is able to safe nearly N$ 60,000 per month on diesel costs, bringing the payback period of the entire system down to below two years. This clearly shows that solar energy, be it for heating or for electricity production, surely is the way forward for a cleaner and greener future for generations to come. CTS is proud to be part of making Namibia and the world a better place for our grandchildren to live in.

CTS was successful in winning the tender for the refurbishment of the transformer oil storage plant at the van Eck Power station. The project included the following:

1. Cleaning and painting of all oil tanks
2. Automating the entire plant
3. Installation of oil filtration system

Old as well as new transformer oil is stored in different tanks. Color codes on the tank clearly indicate what type of oil is stored in each tank. Old oil – oil removed from transformers during service – is stored until enough has been collected before it is sold.

Clean/new oil is stored in the other thanks that will be used for refilling transformers during routine services. Humidity tends to form inside the oil when it is stored for longer periods. This humidity as well as other dirt particles are removed my means of the Alfa Laval Oil Filtration plant. The process is fully automated and PLC controlled. The operator merely is required to enter the quantity of oil that is to be filtered.

Radar level sensors are installed in each tank to monitor quantity on hand. Maintenance free breathers on each tank prevent access of water moisture into the tank and the buildup of dangerous gases.

A Coriolis custody transfer meter accurately indicates the quantity of old oil the is transferred to third party tankers for selling purposes.

An off gird PV system with generator back up was installed at the Gcwatjinga clinic south east of Rundu. The system comprises of the following components:

• 6.24 kW PV array
• 2x Victron BueSolar 150V/70A MPPT regulator
• 600Ah Battery capacity
• Inverter/Charger, Victron Multi, 48V/8000VA
• System Monitoring (BMV700, Color Control GX)

The clinic was connected to the grid, which at time of system design and installation the grid connection plans were unknown to the engineer. As the clinic has PV installed, the existing system has been configured such as to allow for grid connection once the batteries reach a predefined SOC. This guarantees a continuous supply of power to the clinic and nurse houses.

In addition to the grid, a backup generator is incorporated in case PV as well as grid failure occur.

The University of Hamburg approached CTS directly with the request to quote and subsequently manufacture and install 3 automatic weather stations at:

• Khorixas
• Kaoko Otavi
• Okangwati

Once again, satellite communication has been chosen, this time not because of GSM not being available, but to reduce future cost of the stations as satellite communication for these stations has got no costs associated.

In addition to the basic data measured:

• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Humidity
• Air Temperature
• Irradiance
• Barometric pressure
• Ground Temperature
• Rain
• Leaf wetness

The stations are equipped with a WLAN interface. This allows the connection of 49″ SmartTV to be connected to each station to display the current weather inside close by offices.