Compressors star in AHR awards

USA: Air conditioning and refrigeration compressors were star performers in this year’s AHR Expo Innovation Awards.

Emerson’s Copeland Scroll two-stage compressor and Danfoss’ Turbocor TTH/TGH high lift compressor were two of the winners from 10 award categories: Building Automation, Cooling, Green Building, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Plumbing, Refrigeration, Software, Tools and Instruments, and Ventilation.

The awards recognise some of the most inventive HVACR products, systems and technologies to be featured at the annual AHR Expo exhibition, which next takes place in Chicago in January.

The winners were selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges who evaluated all award entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. The outright Product of the Year will be chosen from the ten product categories winners and announced at the show.

Chemours Opteon XP44 Refrigerant, otherwise known as R452A, won the Refrigeration category. Sold by Chemours as an alternative to R404A and R507 in commercial refrigeration applications, this refrigerant has a GWP of around 2141, which, although high, is a substantial reduction on R404A’s 3922.

Finalists in this category were Carel and its HEEZ control and management solution and Emerson for its fractional horsepower low-temperature Copeland Scroll compressor.

Although beaten in the Refrigeration category, Emerson was victorious in the Cooling category with its Copeland Scroll two-stage compressor. This latest generation of compressors from 1 to 10 tons has been redesigned for improved performance and reliability in residential and commercial air conditioning systems.

The Delta anti-microbial cooling tower from Delta Cooling Towers, Johnson Controls’ York Affinity YXV variable capacity air conditioner and Ziehl-Abegg’s ZAvblue centrifugal fans were runners-up.

The latest Danfoss Turbocor TTH/TGH high lift compressor for air-cooled chiller and heat recovery applications was adjudged the winner in the Green Building category. Beaten finalists included the Smardt solar integrated chiller form the Smardt Chiller Group

“Each year, our winners set the bar higher for innovation in HVACR, and this year is no exception,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, the producers of AHR Expo. “We congratulate each of these leaders from across the industry and look forward to seeing their inventive solutions in action at the 2018 AHR Expo.”

This year’s show, co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, will be held from January 22-24, 2018 at McCormick Place, Chicago, and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.

https://ahrexpo.com/awards-winners-2018/