The Brazilian expert for hermetic compressors held a technical seminar on innovations using natural refrigerants including Embraco’s new hydrocarbon compressor lines at the China Refrigeration 2010. With own R&D and manufacturing facilities in China, the company is now ready for the growing Asian market and sees hydrocarbons as the most efficient and green alternative to replace chemical refrigerants.
At the China Refrigeration, Asia’s leading HVAC&R trade fair, Embraco presented its new market strategy and confirmed rising markets in China, Southeast Asia and beyond for different applications using hydrocarbon refrigerants. The company’s Senior Researcher Fabian Fagotti pointed out that up to 3% of the company’s total income are invested in R&D. This mainly includes new developments and product improvements using natural refrigerants, including isobutane, propane, as well as CO2 compressors.
Main reason for the decision to switch to hydrocarbons is proven higher efficiency and capacity performance of the natural refrigerants for specific applications. Independent test results evidenced the high competitiveness of R290 comparing Embraco’s NEK2125GK compressor model using R-404A with the NEK2125U model that uses R-290. Results showed a COP improvement of up to 12% when using the hydrocarbon refrigerant.
European market for hydrocarbons
To show what the company is aiming for, Fagotti presented the share of hydrocarbon compressors from the total of Embraco’s products in Europe: Overall, it rose from 0% in 1992 to over 60% in 2009. Also for light commercial application the market in Europe has gained market share when it comes to hydrocarbon refrigerants in the last ten years although it is still dominated by HFC refrigerants.
R290 trend in China
Fagotti emphasised the fact that a clear trend for hydrocarbon refrigeration can be seen in China. He explained that Chinese OEMs are already implementing R290 technology and that the development of large plug-in freezers for supermarkets has started. As an example he added that Besco, a joint venture between Embraco, Beijing Snowflake Electrical Appliance Group Corp, and US home appliance giant Whirlpool, has propane compressors for LBP/MBP applications in mass production. The Chinese-based company has not only the technology but also offers the technical support as well as training in the field for the Chinese engineers.
Natural refrigerants worldwide with Embraco’s EM series
As one of the global leaders in the field of compressor technology Embraco is also prepared to expand the natural refrigerants network worldwide. All manufacturing sites in Brazil, Slovakia and Italy are producing natural refrigerant compressors. Now the Chinese plant has started with the production of the compressor series EM using R600a and R290. The EM series has a cooling capacity range from 50 to 205 W for household appliances, light ice cream freezers and GDMs using R600a. For applications such as walk-in rooms, horizontal and vertical freezers the EM series uses R290 and has a cooling capacity ranging from 185 to 300 W.
Main reason for the decision to switch to hydrocarbons is proven higher efficiency and capacity performance of the natural refrigerants for specific applications. Independent test results evidenced the high competitiveness of R290 comparing Embraco’s NEK2125GK compressor model using R-404A with the NEK2125U model that uses R-290. Results showed a COP improvement of up to 12% when using the hydrocarbon refrigerant.
European market for hydrocarbons
To show what the company is aiming for, Fagotti presented the share of hydrocarbon compressors from the total of Embraco’s products in Europe: Overall, it rose from 0% in 1992 to over 60% in 2009. Also for light commercial application the market in Europe has gained market share when it comes to hydrocarbon refrigerants in the last ten years although it is still dominated by HFC refrigerants.
R290 trend in China
Fagotti emphasised the fact that a clear trend for hydrocarbon refrigeration can be seen in China. He explained that Chinese OEMs are already implementing R290 technology and that the development of large plug-in freezers for supermarkets has started. As an example he added that Besco, a joint venture between Embraco, Beijing Snowflake Electrical Appliance Group Corp, and US home appliance giant Whirlpool, has propane compressors for LBP/MBP applications in mass production. The Chinese-based company has not only the technology but also offers the technical support as well as training in the field for the Chinese engineers.
Natural refrigerants worldwide with Embraco’s EM series
As one of the global leaders in the field of compressor technology Embraco is also prepared to expand the natural refrigerants network worldwide. All manufacturing sites in Brazil, Slovakia and Italy are producing natural refrigerant compressors. Now the Chinese plant has started with the production of the compressor series EM using R600a and R290. The EM series has a cooling capacity range from 50 to 205 W for household appliances, light ice cream freezers and GDMs using R600a. For applications such as walk-in rooms, horizontal and vertical freezers the EM series uses R290 and has a cooling capacity ranging from 185 to 300 W.
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Apr 07, 2010, 17:42
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