News


Johnson Controls delivers custom chillers to Bulyanhulu gold mine in Tanzania

August 2016 News

Bulyanhulu, a gold mine just south of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, has installed two new custom-built Frick ammonia water chillers from Johnson Controls. The chillers supply chilled water to a surface bulk air cooler (BAC) at a ventilation shaft developed to service Bulyanhulu’s extended mining operations. The installation, designed and constructed by BBE Projects, will assist the mine to ensure continued safe working conditions.

Notes Russell Hattingh of Johnson Controls: “The chillers are a repeat order for the mine. This project is Phase II of a cooling solution specified by consulting engineering firm Hatch in 2010. The first phase saw the implementation of an identical plant system for BAC on Bulyanhulu’s main ventilation shaft. Each shaft requires two BAC cells, and each BAC cell uses two chillers running in a lead-lag configuration. The pair of lead-lag ammonia water chillers supplied in 2010, and again now, completes the first cell of each of the two-cell BACs.”

The chillers are custom built ammonia units using screw compressors and plate type heat exchangers. Says Hattingh: “The chillers comprise industrial designed Frick screw compressors, medium voltage motors, SMO plate and frame type heat exchangers, piping, valves, instrumentation, electrics and controls. To meet the stringent specifications, the systems had to be modular such that they could be manufactured off-site, broken down, containerised and then re-erected in the plant room with minimal on-site work.”

BBE, were responsible for the design, procurement and commissioning of the cooling system. Notes Richard Gundersen, director at BBE Projects: “Key design requirements for the chillers were reliability, consistent performance in a harsh environment and climate, cost containment in terms of power consumption, and ease of maintenance. The JCI solution met these requirements, particularly in terms of efficiency and reliability. The Johnson Controls team also provide a good level of support.”

Hattingh concludes: “The chillers that Johnson Controls supplied were able to meet the technical challenges. It is a solution that BBE and Bulyanhulu have used before, that has proven itself and can be trusted to perform in a remote, difficult-to-access location.”

For more information contact Neil Cameron, Johnson Controls, +27(0)11 921 7141, [email protected], www.johnsoncontrols.com





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.

Read more...
Pepperl+Fuchs Channel Partner Conference
Pepperl+Fuchs News
Pepperl+Fuchs recently hosted its Channel Partner Conference. Under the theme ‘Together, Breaking Ground in Africa’, the conference served as both a celebration of partnerships and a strategic forum focused on future growth.

Read more...
ACTOM opens new training centre for apprentices
ACTOM Electrical Machines News
ACTOM has opened a new training centre facility that offers a variety of apprenticeship programmes.

Read more...
Bühler celebrates expansion, innovation and sustainability
News
Bühler has marked another milestone in its dedication to regional support with the expansion of its Cape Town Service Centre. Hosting its annual customer day, the company showcased the facility’s new offerings and highlighted its commitment to service excellence, local innovation, and sustainability.

Read more...
Galvanising Africa: the HDGASA’s bridging role in promoting hot dip galvanising in Africa
News
Africa is poised for massive expansion in the power, energy, and communications spheres, and hot dip galvanising is firmly entrenched as a preferred corrosion control technology in these sectors.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: First break it, then fix it
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control) News
      Welcome to another year with SA Instrumentation & Control. May it be a happy and healthy one where you can rise to the challenges ahead and still enjoy all the good things we have in this country.  ...

Read more...
SEW-EURODRIVE’s new service and repair centre
SEW-EURODRIVE News
As part of its strategy to ‘close the loop’ in its service offering, SEW-EURODRIVE has broken ground on a new 17 000 m2 Service and Repair Centre. The establishment of the state-of-the-art facility plugs the gap for expert repair services for gearboxes in Africa.

Read more...
EtherCAT Technology Group holds its annual Plug Fest
News
The 2024 EtherCAT Plug Fest of the EtherCAT Technology Group offered participants a valuable opportunity to test the interoperability of their 9 EtherCAT MainDevices and 10 EtherCAT SubDevices. Using the knowledge gained, they will be able to improve compatibility and optimise their products for use in the field.

Read more...
Leading the way in industrial automation and digital transformation
Iritron News
As a pioneering engineering, integration, and manufacturing firm, Iritron has built a reputation as a trusted partner in critical industries such as mining, energy and manufacturing. By embedding innovation and expertise into its four foundational pillars, the company continues to deliver tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern industry.

Read more...
Save the date for Securex 2025 Cape Town
News
Specialised Exhibitions will be launching Securex South Africa, A-OSH EXPO, Facilities Management Expo, and Firexpo in the Western Cape in 2025.

Read more...