There are many hot water generation systems that service the South African industrial sector. The geyser (or geysers) is one of the highest electricity consuming products in most factories that depend on hot water source for production and or need to service their in house bathroom and shower facilities for staff. Other water heating products are production specific and may include steam to water systems or gas fired thermal exchange units.
This section concentrates specifically in electric powered geyser hot water systems but be well aware that the new South African standard requirements for all new building specifies ‘a minimum of 50 % by volume of the annual average hot water heating requirement shall be provided by means other than electrical resistance heating, including, but not limited to, solar heating, heat pumps, heat recovery from other systems or processes’ SANS204 clause 4.5.2.1
What You Need To Know:
New regulation specifies that geysers and tanks shall be insulated with a material achieving a minimum R-value of 2,0. NOTE To achieve this value, insulation in addition to the manufacturers’ installed insulation may be required ie geyser blanket
Geyser temperatures should be set to a maximum of 60 degrees to ensure optimal economy
There are a number of energy saving products available to factory owners/managers who do not wish to go the solar route or the existing lifespan of their current geyser still has some years to run. These products include Load Control Units (Relay or Timer) and Geyser Blankets amongst others
A new geyser will cost you anything from R2500.00 upwards depending on size
South Africa has many reputable geyser manufacturers. Most manufacturers do not deal with the public directly. For example a manufacturer like Kwikot does not sell directly to the homeowner. Instead, geyser manufacturers rely on various middlemen which include wholesalers, retailers and intermediaries like accredited plumbing companies
Gas Relay Timer
If you are using a standard geyser to supply hot water needs to your factory and /or factory office, then consider installing a Relay Timer. It is a cheap, quick and easy way to regulate the amount of electricity directed to your factory geyser. The device allows your geyser to operate more efficiently by turning it off during the periods of the day or weekends when hot water is not required and then switching it on for peak hot water demand periods. A relay timer or load control unit can be customised according to your own factory needs by simple programming.
What You Need To Know:
This energy saving option can be fitted to your existing geyser
The relay timer can also be used in conjunction with other energy saving technologies like solar water heating.
A saving of up to 60% of your geyser energy consumption is achievable depending on your hot water usage and up to 25% savings on your overall electricity bill
Expect to pay between R500 and up to R2000.00 for the device (excluding fitting)
Payback period: between 6 to 12 months depending on which device is purchased and hot water consumption
Latest models also include remote energy management of multiple geysers offering multi-function management via satellite monitoring.
