Danfoss Turbocor® high-lift compressors awarded by a panel of ASHRAE members for innovation, value, and impact among green building products.

Danfoss, the pioneer of oil-free, magnetic bearing, variable speed technology, has been named a winner in the prestigious 2018 AHR Expo Innovation Awards, green building category, for its Turbocor® TTH/TGH high-lift compressors.

Featuring the award-winning oil-free, variable speed, magnetic bearing operation of other Danfoss Turbocor® compressors, the new Danfoss Turbocor® TTH/TGH high-lift compressors offer outstanding full- and part-load efficiency, low vibration and sound, a small footprint, and reduced maintenance — while providing an expanded operating map suitable for high-lift applications like air-cooled chillers and heat recovery.

In air-cooled chillers, Turbocor® TTH/TGH compressors can support operation at high ambient temperatures with pressure ratios as high as 6.2, which facilitates a greater operating range in hot climates while still being able to support applications such as air-to-water heat pump chillers.  The compressors can also support high-lift applications such as heat recovery in water-to-water heat pumps, enabling additional operating cost savings by utilizing waste condenser heat to heat water.

Danfoss Turbocor® high-lift compressors are available in two versions — a nominal 325-kW (90 ton) model using R-134a or R-513A (TTH325) and a nominal 250-kW (70 ton) model using low-GWP HFO-1234ze (TGH250).

“We are thrilled to have been recognized once again by ASHRAE for our commitment to innovative engineering that pushes boundaries on energy efficiency and looks toward meeting future challenges,” said Jose Alvares, vice president, sales and marketing, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors. “This marks the 27th time Danfoss has been recognized in the Innovation Awards program — the fifth time for Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, including having won Product of the Year in 2015 for our Turbocor® VTT compressor series.”

“The new Danfoss Turbocor® TTH and TGH compressors give chiller manufacturers a new, high-efficiency, oil-free compressor option for use in air-cooled chiller, heat recovery, and water-to-water heat pump applications,” said Ricardo Schneider, president and CEO, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors. “Up until now, positive displacement compressors have been the commonly-used compressors in these applications. But now for the first time, chiller manufacturers have an oil-free option that can significantly boost full- and part-load efficiency by 25 percent and lower sound by as much as 8 dBA in an oil-free platform with no performance degradation over the life of the product. Plus, the available low-GWP R-513A and ultra-low GWP HFO-1234ze refrigerant options on the Turbocor® TTH and TGH models provides a future-proof, environmentally-friendly solution today that complies with evolving refrigerant regulations and standards around the world.”

The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) in the categories of: building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation.

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.