Since TFD is rooted in first principles engineering, many clients have partnered with us to provide them with testing services as an independent third party.

Most tests are custom tests; however, over the years, TFD has developed significant competency in both industrial cooling, cooling tower and automotive testing.

Projects within this Service:

  • Radiator Pulsator
  • Hydrogen Compressor and Dispensing Station
  • Eskom Fouling Rig Testing
  • COCT Portable Flush Toilet Cleaning Facility
  • Climatic Test Chamber

Custom Testing

COOLING TOWER PERFORMANCE TESTING.

TF Design is uniquely equipped to perform independent Cooling Tower tests. These tests are typically done to the BS4485 standard, but a CTI test is also possible. At this stage, TFD is not CTI certified, but if a client requires this, we are appropriately positioned to obtain certification.

Our logger system has been custom-built to allow us to test multiple cooling towers at once, cutting down on the time required for tests, and side-by-side comparison of cooling tower performance at the same conditions. The test system has been developed to obtain accuracies of 0.03˚C.

Our instrumentation per tower is outlined in the table below:

Cooling tower performance testing to BS4485 standard by TF Design

We also built the largest traversing pitot tube in South Africa, allowing us to traverse up to a 3m hot water supply duct.

THE LIST OF COOLING TOWERS TESTED IS EVER-GROWING:

  • Mechanical draft towers at Alpha Olifines, SASOL Secunda, 2000
  • Natural Draft towers (45 and 245) at SASOL Secunda, 2005
  • Air-cooled HX train 1A Sasol Secunda, 2005
  • Natural Draft towers (05 and 205) at SASOL Secunda, 2010, 2013
  • Mechanical draft towers SCC at SASOL Secunda, 2011
  • Mechanical draft towers A to G at Sasol Sasolburg, 2011-2014
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power Station, ESKOM, 2014
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power Station, ESKOM, 2016
  • Mechanical Draft towers at SASOL WRG, 2016
  • Rheinmetall Cooling Tower Upgrade, 2018
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power station 2020
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power Station, ESKOM, 2021
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power Station, ESKOM, 2022
  • Natural draft towers at Matla Power Station, ESKOM, 2022
  • Natural draft towers at Duvha Power Station, ESKOM, 2022
  • Natural draft towers at Tutuka Power Station, ESKOM, 2024
  • Natural draft towers at Kriel Power Station, ESKOM, 2024
Traversing pitot tube used for airflow measurement and duct testing up to 3m

Custom data

Data interpretation can be customised to suit the needs of the client, but TFD typically prefers the graphical method as outlined in BS4485.

Contact us regarding Cooling Tower Performance Testing:

Testing data interpretation using graphical method outlined in BS4485

Custom Testing

AUTOMOTIVE TESTING

For automotive testing, TFD has delivered numerous test machines for suppliers of automotive components. These machines are custom-built to meet the needs of our clients.

SOME TESTS THAT WE OFFER AS A SERVICE INCLUDE:

  • Thermal performance testing of radiators and charge air coolers
  • Thermal cycle
  • Thermal shock
  • Pressure cycle testing
  • Salt spray
  • CASS testing
  • Aircon hose pressure cycle tests

These are all customizable to client requirements.

Contact us regarding Automotive Testing:

Custom-built automotive testing machines for component suppliers by TF Design