AHR Expo names 2018 Innovation Award winners

Winners of the 2018 AHR (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration) Expo Innovation Awards were announced today for the awards ceremony that will take place during the AHR Expo, January 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Still to come is a “Product of the Year” recognition, which will be announced at the event.

Each year a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges vets the most novel products, systems and technologies in the HVAC&R sector. The finalists in the following categories are awarded Innovation Awards: building automation, cooling, green building, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software, tools and instruments, and ventilation.

Finalists, and winners, in the cooling, green building, and refrigeration categories specifically represent companies that have made environmental and sustainability commitments.

Award winners:

In the cooling category, Emerson won an award for its Copeland Scroll two-stage compressor, covering from one to 10 TR. The compressor is a third-generation technology that was redesigned for more performance and reliability in residential and commercial air conditioning systems. The Copeland Scroll, according to the announcement, offers up to 5% greater full-load and part-load performance.

Finalists in the cooling category were: Delta Cooling Towers, Inc. (Delta Anti-Microbial Cooling Tower); Johnson Controls, Inc. (YORK Affinity YXV 20 SEER Variable Capacity Air Conditioner); and ZIEHL-ABEGG, Inc. (ZAvblue centrifugal fan).

Danfoss took home the award in the green building category for its Turbocor TTH/TGH High Lift Compressor – which is optimized for air-cooled chiller and heat recovery applications. The Turbocor TTH/TGH models, said the announcement, feature oil-free, variable speed, magnetic bearing operation for full- and part-load efficiency; low vibration and sound; a small footprint; and reduced maintenance.

Finalists in the green building category were: International Wastewater Systems Inc. (PIRANHA HC thermal energy recovery hot water production system); Nexus Valve, Inc. (Pressure Step Deaerator); Regal (NovaMAX Motor - 600 RPM); and Smardt Chiller Group Inc. (Smardt Solar Integrated Chiller (SSiC)).

An HFO-based refrigerant replacement for R404A/R507 – Opteon XP44 (or R452A), produced by Chemours – won the refrigeration category award. The refrigerant was picked, the announcement said, because it “offers an approximately 50% reduction in global warming potential compared to R404A/R507.”

The GWP of the award-winning HFO – Opteon XP44 (R452A) – is 2,141. That is higher than HFCs R407A and R407C – which have GWPs of 2,017 and 1,774 respectively. It is also higher than R22 (GWP 1,760), which, by order of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will be phased out by 2020. Additionally, in California a statewide HFC reduction proposal would ban refrigerants with a GWP over 1,500.

Finalists in the refrigeration category were: CAREL INDUSTRIES S.p.A. (HEEZ control and management solution); and Emerson (Fractional horsepower low-temperature Copeland Scroll compressor).

The AHR Expo has taken place yearly since 1930. This year the event – with an expected 2,000 exhibitors and more than 65,000 attendees – will be co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI and take place concurrently with ASHRAE’s winter conference.