Modular Scroll Air Cooled Chillers with Natural Refrigerant

The introduction of modular full inverter scroll air cooled chillers provides an alternative for commercial comfort and demanding process cooling environments. Utilizing R290, a non ozone depleting hydrocarbon refrigerant with an ultra low global warming potential, the system aligns with decarbonization strategies without reducing operational limits. These units operate across a broad thermal range, delivering chilled water temperatures between 25°C and -12°C, which allows for stable year round performance under fluctuating thermal loads.

In comfort cooling configurations, the technology achieves a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 5.4. For industrial manufacturing setups, the equipment registers a Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio for High Temperature environments of 5.9. This efficiency profile lowers energy consumption and operational costs during continuous process operations.

Modular Scale and Mechanical Integration
The mechanical architecture of the chillers utilizes a modular design to maximize space utilization in dense mechanical footprints. Up to six individual modules can be positioned side by side with minimal clearance gaps, allowing the collective cooling capacity to scale up to 750 kW. The individual units are available in nominal cooling capacities ranging from 64 to 125 kW.

To facilitate deployment, the modules integrate quick hydraulic connections and group control systems that streamline physical installation, system commissioning, and ongoing maintenance. Designers can select from four distinct acoustic configurations and specify integrated hydraulic modules equipped with medium or high pressure pumps, bypass kits, protection panels, grilles, and metal mesh coil filters.

Safety Systems and Automation Architecture
Operating with R290, which is classified as an A3 highly flammable refrigerant, necessitates dedicated safety mechanisms to ensure regulatory compliance and operational security. The units incorporate an integrated safety package featuring an ATEX leak management system, shared interlock shutdown capabilities, and an optional high efficiency gas water separator to mitigate risks associated with potential refrigerant migration.

System automation and monitoring are managed via a field programmable controller. This application specific platform supports industry standard protocols such as BACnet IP and Modbus TCP, facilitating seamless integration into broader building automation systems and supporting remote digital diagnostic services.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement.

The adoption of R290 in commercial scroll chillers is an accelerating trend driven by the European Union F-Gas Regulation phase down timelines. Manufacturers are shifting away from hydrofluorocarbons like R410A and hydrofluoroolefins like R32 toward natural refrigerants. R290 possesses a global warming potential of 3, compared to approximately 2088 for R410A and 675 for R32, substantially minimizing direct emissions.

In the 50 to 150 kW capacity range, this modular platform competes with established R290 scroll chiller lines, such as the AquaSnap 30RQP series from Carrier and the eSeries from Mitsubishi Electric. Performance benchmarking indicates that while R290 provides excellent thermodynamic properties and high heat transfer coefficients, it requires meticulous safety engineering due to charge limits imposed by safety standards like EN 378. Competitors manage this by utilizing highly optimized microchannel heat exchangers to minimize total refrigerant charge per kilowatt of cooling. The inclusion of ATEX certified components and localized leak detection systems is standard practice across these premium industrial low global warming potential offerings to ensure safe operation within compact urban or indoor installation envelopes.

Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.

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