Industries
CFW Environmental’s main focus is on large-scale industrial solutions. The CFW group is active in most industries that require fans or blowers. We supply heavy industry with equipment for processes with demanding requirements, providing the equipment, services and experience needed to design systems with the optimal performance for the given circumstances.
Systems can be designed according to the needs of the particular customer. Any application where air emissions control is necessary can be provided for. We provide fans designed for use where extensive ventilation is critical, such as in the mining sector.
Click on one of the links provided to find out more about CFW Environmental’s services for particular sectors.
Power Generation
CFW Environmental provides air moving equipment to the power generation industry. CFW has a history of reliability. Our past performance has demonstrated our ability to provide fans and related equipment which can meet the heavy demands made on power plant equipment.
CFW’s diverse range of products includes
- boiler air systems (PA fans, ID fans, FD fans, sootblowers and seal air fans and accessory equipment) (see the CFW Fans website for more information on specific fan products;
- CTIC evaporative cooling equipment;
- general ventilation;
- scrubbers and cyclone separators;
- dehumidifiers for non-operational equipment such as boilers.
About Power Plant Air Technology Equipment
CFW products create the right environment for power station equipment by optimising airflow, temperature, pressure and humidity in various areas.
Temperature and Humidity Control in the Plant
Humidity control is most important during the maintenance and storage of equipment. Many of the items present in a power station operate at elevated temperatures, preventing condensation from forming. However, maintenance periods or seasonally low demand can lead to temporary shutdowns during which moisture can cause rust or corrosion. This can lead to high maintenance and replacement costs and, in some regions, penalties for non-delivery. The affected items may include pumps, gas turbines, boiler flue tubes and electrical circuitry.
Since these problems seldom occur unless the humidity is above 50% RH, a simple and cost-effective solution is to ensure that the air is dry enough. This will result in more predictable and faster start-up after outages. A dehumidifier eliminates the use of corrosion inhibitors that may be toxic or nitrogen, which can cause accessibility issues. In addition, coating procedures become simpler and less problematic.
A boiler may use either forced draught or induced draught fans or, in balanced draught systems, both. Balanced draught systems use airflow control to maintain a constant slight negative pressure and ensure proper, even inflow and outflow. This prevents fly ash from leaking from the furnace into the housing while minimising the entry of cold air, which reduces the energy efficiency of the boiler. In general, the pressure controller is used to change the setting of the furnace pressure controller, while the airflow controller manages the FD fan damper.
Industrial Processing
CFW’s equipment is used in many mass production environments to supply airflow, material handling, drying and product conditioning. The fans we manufacture and supply are designed for durability with low lifetime costs. We provide a great variety of options for the best integration of air process equipment with the production line. Custom products for high temperature applications are available.
Our customers deal with a range of products that include textiles, foods and beverages, animal feed, packaging, paper and cardboard, electrical parts and pharmaceuticals. We understand that consistent, high production rates with minimal downtime are critical to any processing operation.
A wide range of processes are safer and more productive when a controlled environment is created to establish the right proper airflow, temperature, relative humidity and pressure. Some of them additionally require that contamination with dusts, other particulates and bacteria should be minimised.
We also provide some of the process technologies for certain kinds of production. These include drying and curing, cooling and product conditioning.
CFW’s engineers thoroughly acquaint themselves with the conditions in which the equipment will operate. Having the electrical systems, controls and monitoring, and ducting done by CFW greatly simplifies any future servicing of the system and ensures that the system is correctly integrated with the rest of the production line.
Axial fans are common in process exhaust and cooling applications. Centrifugal fans and blowers are also used for cooling, but provide higher pressure, making them suitable for a wide variety of industrial processing. Single-stage centrifugal blowers are used when a constant airflow is needed, while multi-stage blowers are common when a constant pressure is needed, as in convection drying. Multi-stage blowers often use heavier-duty impellers constructed from steel or cast iron.
Dried air can also be provided by means of dehumidification. We provide heat pump as well as desiccant dehumidifiers.
Mining
CFW’s durable and cost-effective equipment for the mining industry includes dust collector fans and other air pollution control equipment. We can also supply the ventilation and cooling fans for certain mining applications. A comprehensive range of accessory equipment is available.
CFW is a well-reputed manufacturer of air pollution control systems. The mine industry makes use of dust control systems to control emission in numerous operations. These include processing (e.g. rock crushing, mill grinding and drying) as well as many material handling operations (e.g. conveying, loading, bin venting and packaging). Dust control is used to recover product, remove fines and prevent workplace and environmental problems. CFW offers dust control equipment that includes baghouses, small dust collection units, cyclones and wet scrubbers.
Large amounts of abrasive dusts – up to several tonnes per hour – can be emitted in mining and quarrying operations. These dusts require particularly robust filters for acceptable equipment life and can cause blockages when loads are high. In some cases, particularly where the main part of the collector is close to the source, water and oil in the dust can be harmful to filter media.
Environmental regulations set strict limits on the allowable concentrations, particularly for hazardous dusts (containing large amounts of free silica, for example).
CFW offers custom solutions for heavy-duty dust collection together with the required industrial fans. Our equipment includes cyclones, baghouses and wet scrubbers.
While wet scrubbers are often neglected in mining because they are not able to handle a large range of flow volumes, wet scrubbers can have lower operating costs if recycled water is available or where it is possible to recover wet material. Since the inlet conditions and required emission level reductions are important, it is advisable to consult CFW to determine which kind of dust control system is most suitable.
See also:
Agriculture
CFW has provided the agricultural sector with a wide variety of air equipment since it was established in 1966. The equipment we supply includes ventilation fans and turnkey ventilation systems for buildings with human occupants or livestock, aeration for aquaculture and crop conditioning and storage, forage drying, meat and/or crop drying for the consumer or industrial market.
CFW Environmental is part of the CFW group, notable for its contribution to farmers and processors of agricultural products over the years. The products we have supplied include:
Agricultural Ventilation
Drying Equipment
Climate control and evaporative cooling systems
Aeration
Dust collectors: A large number of crop and forage processing activities produce dust which needs to be controlled, and some of which can be usefully collected. Generally, those that produce involve material handling such as includes flour milling; conveying, loading and packaging processes (involving silos, bins or trucks, for example), grain drying and venting. Because of the large number of handling activities involved, dust loads can be increase through the chain of grain processing. This must be taken into account when considering the appropriate dust collector. Dust loads from seeds will tend to be lower because more care must be taken when handling seeds. However, custom solutions may be needed in seed processing because they contain oils and heating is often involved.
Drying systems: We make many kinds of drying system suitable for projects of any scale. Our drying systems include seed and nut dryers, fruit / vegetable dryers, alfalfa (lucerne) dryers, pellet drying systems for feeds and chicken compost drying.
Crop aeration: CFW provides aeration for seed and grain silos and for crops such as onions and potatoes.
Ventilation systems: Heat stress is a common problem with various kinds of livestock in hot climates and particularly affects cattle. Both effectiveness and efficiency is often impeded by poor selection of fan size and location. Since it is often recommended that at least one fan should run constantly, efficiency is of particular concern. CFW has provided ventilation systems to farmers for decades. We can provide solutions for any agricultural ventilation needs, including ventilation of feedlots, piggeries, dairy farming facilities and poultry hatcheries.
Commercial
CFW offers a versatile array of solutions for managing the air quality, temperature and humidity of your shop, office building or other commercial environment. CFW has serviced the HVAC and air pollution control sectors since being established over 50 years ago.
We can also provide the associated ducting, electrical work and monitoring and control systems. A number of installation options are available. If necessary, CFW will custom-design the system according to customer requirements. This generally results in simpler upkeep and a better integrated and sized system.
Apart from offering high-quality products, CFW is known for its dependable service, including repair and maintenance.
CFW’s products include:
About Commercial Sector Air Technology
Office workers are more motivated to work in an environment in which they are not distracted by uncomfortably dry or humid air, extreme temperatures, draughts or poor air quality. Likewise, customers are more inclined to consider products and services when they are made comfortable.
Commercial buildings have ventilation needs that differ from those of residential buildings. Long running time and high energy loads are common. Offices, conference rooms and shops may have widely varying occupancy and cooling requirements dependent not only on the people in the building, but heat-sensitive items such as food, electronic equipment and computers. In large buildings, different areas may need different levels of ventilation at different times in order to fulfil demand without increased energy costs. Individual zones, however, may still require consistent temperatures and airflow distribution.
The climate control equipment and ventilation systems must be efficient and able to handle the load while being unobtrusive. Not only do these factors have an impact on the profits and costs of the business, but energy-efficiency is increasingly important as part of environmentally responsible business conduct. We offer the equipment and advice necessary to ensure that fans are correctly sized and that pressure drops are minimised for more efficient operation. Air curtains, heat recovery systems and variable-speed drive fans are some potential energy-saving solutions.
For more on CFW’s dehumidifiers, humidifiers and air purifiers, visit www.dampcontrol.co.za.
Building
CFW manufactures and supplies a variety of equipment for the construction industry. Our products include local exhaust and smoke control ventilation, spot cooling fans, ducting and dust collection equipment. We can also provide a number of ancillary items such as the required electrical systems and controls, dampers and other equipment.
As in any other industry, construction workers need fresh air for health, comfort and productivity, making ventilation an important part of working life. However, construction also involves a number of more specific pollution-related occupational hazards. Concentrations of respirable quartz dust in building environments are often higher than occupational exposure limits. Exposure to quartz over time is linked to lung cancer and silicosis. The risk is particularly high where grinders, drills and electric saws are used to work with material containing quartz.
While respiratory protection such as masks is often used, it may not always be sufficient on its own. Dust suppression with water is possible in some areas of a construction site but cannot be applied everywhere. For this reason, dust collectors may be used. Since the finer particles are more dangerous, it is crucial to choose a dust collector with adequate filters.
Exposure to arc welding fumes is another hazard. Because the position in which welding is done can vary, it is usually more difficult to manage this challenge in the building industry than in many others. Toxins to which welders may be exposed include hexavalent chromium and manganese.
A combination of measures may be needed, and Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) has been shown to be effective when correctly used. Portable and fixed LEV systems can substantially reduce exposure to dust and fumes compared to natural ventilation.
It is important to position the hood correctly and to ensure sufficient air volume movement when using an LEV system. CFW offers a complete array of after-sales services and advice for the use of our LEV systems.
Marine / Fishing
The complexity and cost of marine HVAC mean that it is crucial to deal with experienced air technology professionals. Different kinds of ships have different ventilation demands depending on their size and purpose. CFW undertakes revamping and repair of ship HVAC systems and supplies fans, ducting and accessories such as cowls. CFW’s equipment is designed for reliability and to minimise the total cost of ownership while ensuring safety and effective performance.
Managing ships and boats means constantly contending with a damp ambient environment where the risk of corrosion is always present. Therefore, marine equipment makes high maintenance demands. CFW provides drying solutions for marine equipment to keep relative humidity levels low. With levels of below 50% RH, the risk of corrosion is greatly reduced and less frequent and costly maintenance is required. Desiccant dehumidifiers are often used for this purpose. Contact CFW Environmental or see www.dampcontrol.co.za for our dehumidifiers.
High humidity levels can also damage cargo by encouraging corrosion and mould growth. Using dehumidifiers in holds can prevent these problems. Passengers and crew will benefit from a more comfortable and healthy environment when humidity levels are moderate and the air is not too dry or moist.
Temporary dehumidifying can also be advantageous during ship construction and maintenance, which often requires blasting, stripping and reapplying surface coatings. Coating life will also be extended, as paint will not peel because of moisture under the surface. Using dry air makes it possible to avoid condensation problems and complete projects on time regardless of weather.
Humidity control is also important for long-term storage where it is not desirable or feasible to undertake regular maintenance. Electrical and electronic systems are particularly susceptible to corrosion in these conditions because the electrical current and ambient sources of heat present during operation do not help to dissipate moisture.
Dry air storage makes it possible to ready the equipment for use in a shorter amount of time.
HVAC
CFW produces fans, ducting and ancillary equipment for the HVAC industry. We have provided ventilation systems for many large buildings in the commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors. We also undertake retrofitting for marine HVAC systems and supply cowls and other components.
Our systems are designed to provide sufficient airflow for a safe, healthy environment while minimising the lifetime costs involved. We also make systems that are engineered for the more demanding constraints imposed by process-critical HVAC applications.
CFW Environmental does not design or manufacture refrigeration equipment, elements or compressors, but such equipment can be supplied for turnkey projects if it is required.
See also:
About the HVAC Industry
HVAC requirements vary widely depending on building size, construction, purpose and occupancy. Certain applications may require large safety margins because ventilation is critical for cooling or oxygen supply, whereas the relative importance of efficiency is greater in others. Ventilation serves to remove pollutants and provide airflow, pressure, temperature and humidity control. It can also be important for visibility in commercial kitchens where there might be steam or smoke or in fires. Factors that must be considered in specifying ventilation capacity include possible increases in future ventilation capacity requirements and measures to be taken in the event of a fire or possible exposure to hazardous materials. Consequently, capacity is usually designed for the most extreme situations and part load conditions are the norm.
HVAC plays a critical role in certain cases, such where cleanroom and pharmaceutical production is taken place. However, the system may not be able to compensate for all spillages and will not perform as expected where procedures and maintenance are not carried out appropriately.
With modern lifestyles often requiring more time spent indoors, higher population densities and more ambient air pollution, the HVAC sector is more important than ever. Better insulated buildings have also decreased the role of natural ventilation.
Wood Industry
CFW has extensive experience of supplying air moving equipment to the wood industry. We have provided dust collection and sawdust conveying equipment to sawmills and woodwork shops. CFW can provide the equipment only, supply solutions according to customer specifications or analyse the precise needs of the application. We offer fans and motors resistant to sparking and fire for improved safety.
Most people are aware of the dangers of fine dust to the human respiratory system. Sanding and shaping produce the largest amount of dust. The finer the dust, the greater the potential harm. Local exhaust ventilation using extract systems and dust collectors are the usual solution.
Working with wood also releases volatile organic compounds that may cause health problems in the long term. A wide range of activities can lead to elevated VOC levels. These include drying, sawing, pelleting, industrial barking, and storage in certain conditions. The levels of potentially harmful chemicals depend on the type of wood being worked with, ambient conditions and many other factors. Chemicals used in wood preservation and finishing also present safety concerns.
The solution is to purify the air with cyclonic separators or filters or to exhaust all contaminated air. The ideal solution will depend on the situation and costs involved.
Since sawdust and woodchips are potentially marketable products or can be processed into pellets, it is often best to collect the sawdust. In a large factory, an enclosed conveying system such as an auger system or pneumatic conveyor is often used to reduce the time and labour put into handling the sawdust.
CFW’s range of services provide a complete solution for the repair, maintenance and upgrading of our systems.
The equipment we provide includes:
- Extraction fans for wood dust and chips, paint overspray and boiler exhaust gases;
- Wall-mounted and mobile dust collection units;
- Cyclones;
- Dehumidifiers and cooling fans for controlling working and processing conditions;
- Pneumatic conveying systems for sawdust; and associated material-handling equipment.
- Seasoning equipment for wood kilns, including heat pump dehumidifiers and fully reversible fans.
Contact Us
Address
Cape Town, South Africa (HQ)
3 Parin Road, Parow Industria, 7500, Western Cape
Johannesburg, South Africa
4 Chilworth Road, Founders View North, Modderfontein, Edenvale, 1645, Gauteng
Phone
Cape Town, South Africa (HQ)
T +27 (0)21 931 8331
F +27 (0)21 931 3165
Johannesburg, South Africa
T +27 (0)11 452 5830 / 5146
F +27 (0)11 452 5132
Cape Town, South Africa (HQ)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1542, Parow, 7499, South Africa