Johnson Controls Pushes Boundaries for Green HVAC&R Technologies

SHANGHAI – (April, 2015) – Johnson Controls showcased its Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) technologies using green refrigerants for a wide temperature range of -55℃ to 150℃ at the China Refrigeration Expo 2015. The company also shared the latest trends and technological developments in the industry with participants at the Ozone Climate Industry Roundtable 2015 held during the exhibition.

The HVAC&R technologies from Johnson Controls use refrigerants with low Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The comprehensive range includes SABROE® HPO/HPC high-pressure reciprocating compressors, YORK® scroll air-cooled heat pump/water chiller, YORK® magnetic centrifugal heat pumps, YORK® RWFII series of screw compressors, YORK® RWKII series of screw compressors, SABROE® HeatPAC high temperature screw heat pumps, as well as oil-free centrifugal high temperature heat pumps. Notably –

• HPO/HPC high-pressure reciprocating compressor units for industrial refrigeration can reach temperatures as low as -55℃ and exceptionally high condensing temperatures of up to 70℃ using natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide or ammonia. Launched in Europe, this series of compressors is favored by clients in the frozen food industry due to their reliability and efficiency.
•  Oil-free centrifugal high temperature heat pumps supply temperatures of up to 150℃ using steam and environmentally-friendly refrigerants with zero ODP and low GWP. It is the result of Johnson Controls’ research and is currently very new in China.
• Johnson Controls is one of the first companies in China to research and develop products using R32 refrigerant, which has zero ODP and low GWP. By using R32, the performance of YORK® Air-Cooled Scroll Chiller or Heat Pump can be increased by up to 8 percent, compared to R410A. The optimized system, coupled with the advantages of R32, ensures that air conditioners and heat pumps can provide hot water between the temperature ranges of 45℃ to 85℃ all year round. The optimized system can also provide hot water at temperatures of 45℃ even when the environmental temperature is as low as -25℃.

To create a safer, more comfortable and sustainable world, Johnson Controls is committed to providing HVAC&R products that use green refrigerants, leveraging its more than 100 years of experience in the application of ammonia (R717) and carbon dioxide refrigerants. Johnson Controls has in place a stringent refrigerant charter for best practices to ensure that the following five areas are addressed: safety, efficiency, life cycle cost, availability, and reliability.

Johnson Controls proactively shares its expertise and research with other industry players. The company has participated in many forums, such as the President’s Climate Action Plan roundtable discussion in the White House, where it has promised to invest more than $50 million over the next three years to develop and expand its low GWP product portfolio. Johnson Controls also discussed zero ODP and low GWP RAC technologies with industry stakeholders at the 11th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants held in Hangzhou, China. In addition, Johnson Controls has published several white papers on topics such as ‘Optimization of Design by Utilizing R32 Refrigerant’ and ‘A High Temperature Heat Pump Using Water Vapor as Working Fluid’.

Johnson Controls has strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities in China. Its Wuxi plant in China is one of the largest facilities in the world for the manufacturing of water chillers. The Building Efficiency Asia Engineering Center (AEC), established in 2004, is also located in Wuxi and employs about 500 R&D engineers focused on developing the next generation of products and technologies for air conditioning, industrial refrigeration and building controls. Notable innovations by the AEC include the R32 Air-Cooled Scroll Chiller and Heat Pumps on display at China Refrigeration Expo 2015.

“We are delighted to be part of the China Refrigeration Expo 2015 to share our extensive range of refrigerant products, innovative technologies and R&D expertise. We believe that it is crucial to push the boundaries on research for environmentally friendly HVAC&R technologies to address pressing environmental issues like climate change,” said Song Wu, vice president and managing director, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency China. Johnson Controls is committed to helping customers achieve their goals and meet energy conservation and emission reduction targets in line with China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.”

Inaugurated in 1987, China Refrigeration Expo is one of the most influential exhibitions in the HVAC&R industry. The tradeshow is organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Beijing Sub-council), Chinese Association of Refrigeration, as well as China Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry Association.