Providing Cost Effective Services Is Crucial to Ease Financial Burden on Businesses
The National Training & Productivity Centre’s (NTPC) short courses in the Refrigeration and Air Condition Industry are tailor made to meet up with the growing demands within the industry.
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, various initiatives of providing cost effective services have been bought into prominence so the financial burden on businesses and industries are lessened. Refrigeration and air conditioning carries a fair chunk of energy costs of any businesses so the specialised training provided at NTPC can be a benefit both students and their prospective employers due to the efficient refrigeration and air conditioning related training with a focus on providing cost effective and clean applications to Fiji’s businesses and industries.
This is based on some of the feedback received during industry visits that NTPC staff routinely carry out.
Refrigeration and Air Condition
Refrigeration and Air Condition is defined to be a process of removing heat from a substance and pumping it to the surroundings.
It also includes the process of maintaining and reducing the temperature of a body below the general temperature of its surroundings.
All types of industries and businesses have some level of refrigeration and air conditioning applications and proper installation followed up with regular and consistent maintenance is a must in order for these applications to properly function.
Legislations on environmental protection
There are also stringent legislations relating to environmental protection that refrigeration and air conditioning technicians need to adhere to as many of the products may have chemicals and coolants that are harmful to the environment.
NTPC refrigeration and air conditioning courses trains students to pay special attention to the changing and disposal of used chemicals and coolants.
The three main aspects of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning industry
These are appliance servicing, refrigeration industry and air conditioning industry.
■The appliance industry covers domestic refrigeration and freezing, air conditioning, and washing, cooking and heating appliances.
■The refrigeration industry covers commercial and industrial applications, for example merchandising cabinets, cool rooms, freezer room, icemakers, beverage coolers, etc.
■The air conditioning industry covers mechanical services in office buildings, shopping centers, hospitals, as well as industrial processes such as printing, textile and drug manufacturing.
Air conditioning is the simultaneous year-round control of temperature, humidity, air purity, air movement and noise, within an enclosed space here are very specific set of skills and knowledge that a technician needs to have to be successful in his/her role.
These includes the abilities to:
■I■sta●●, troubleshoot and overhaul entire air conditioning and refrigeration applications
■Measure and cut piping, and connect piping using welding equipment
■Test air conditioning and refrigeration applications for leaks
■Repairi■g and replacing components for air conditioning and refrigeration
■Perform routine maintenance
■Work with hand tools to install air conditioning and refrigeration systems
■Patie■ce and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
■I■sta●●, maintain and repair equipment in refrigerated trucks
■Prepari■g work estimates
Once you attain these set of skills at NTPC, you are able to land a job within any of the vast businesses and industries that offer Refrigeration and Air Conditioning related work.
With adequate experience, you could become a refrigeration engineer, designer of cooling systems, you could also set up your own business.
There are many opportunities in the field and with some perseverance, many a former NTPC Refrigeration and Air Conditioning student has become their own bosses and now own their own businesses.
What do Refrigeration and Air Conditioning technicians do?
Refrigeration and air conditioning technicians manufacture, install and maintain the systems used to store and transport perishable items such as food and medicine. Your work environment can change one day to the next from a shipping container to residential buildings. A typical day normally consists of an eight-hour shift; sometimes working longer may be required. As a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning technician, your work conditions may vary from one project to another.
You may work indoors or alone or with a team of
Refrigeration and air conditioning technicians are trained to work safely and wear special equipment to protect against injury. outdoors, professionals.
You are likely to work in many different locations from day to day.
What to expect in your NTPC Refrigeration and Air Conditioning course
You will be specifically trained in competencies to develop systems, select equipment, and commission, maintain and diagnose faults/malfunctions of refrigeration systems and equipment that apply to commercial food storage and preservation and air conditioning and air distribution equipment and special applications.
It includes regulatory requirements for purchasing and handling refrigerants.
The development of cooling techniques makes the preservation of perishable food possible in the first place.
Likewise, the production of highperformance plastics would be inconceivable without the possibilities of process cooling.
And the air conditioning of buildings and vehicles has become indispensable due to the legitimate desire for comfort.
Although air-conditioning technology and refrigeration are closely related, they are two independent sub-disciplines.
With the tropical weather Fiji experiences, a temperate temperature is very necessary for comfortable working and living environments and to preserve our foods and medication.
Air conditioning technology, which describes a sub-area of supply technology (HVAC), covers the regulation of room temperature, air humidity and air quality. An air conditioning system can heat, cool, humidify, dehumidify and filter.
Refrigeration system
The central element of an air conditioning system is always a refrigerating plant.
This shares commonality with the refrigeration system used to cooling of materials and products, e.g. to protect food from spoiling. A commonly used refrigeration system is the so-called compression refrigeration system.
In this system refrigerant flows through four main elements: compressor, condenser, expansion element and evaporator.
The refrigeration system uses the fact that the refrigerant has a low boiling point at low pressure.
This means that evaporation takes place on the low pressure side. During the evaporation of the refrigerant heat is removed from the environment and it is cooled.
In view of the growing demands in terms of the energy efficiency of refrigeration and air conditioning systems, the more complex regulations and new system concepts, it is essential that prospective refrigeration and air conditioning technicians and skilled workers acquire in-depth knowledge.
NTPC’s range of educational products is characterised by a practical focus and high standards of quality.
NTPC is currently designing refrigeration and air conditioning courses to be delivered online with the practical aspect to be scheduled once the COVID 19 lockdowns subside.
Keep an eye out on our NTPC Facebook page @ntpcfiji for more information.