BALTIMORE - Danfoss announced that it will be honored with two AHR Expo Innovation Awards at the 2009 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), Jan. 26-28 in Chicago, garnering the awards in both the Cooling and Refrigeration categories.

For Cooling, the award will be given for the Danfoss Apexx™ VSH compressor, which the company says is the first high-capacity (12 to 40 tons of refrigeration) R-410A variable speed scroll compressor for air conditioning and heat pumps. The Apexx solution offers continuous matching of cooling capacity to cooling load, resulting in high energy efficiency and enhanced cooling comfort. In each application range, a high efficiency scroll compressor and a variable speed drive are designed specifically for operation with each other and optimized for efficient performance.

“The Apexx solution results in significantly higher energy efficiency because the entire evaporator is used, even at part-load conditions that exist most of the time in air conditioning applications,” said Mogens H. Rasmussen, business development manager for the Apexx VSH project.

“High isentropic efficiency is maintained throughout the speed range. At lower speeds, below 50 Hz, oil injection to the scroll eliminates both leakage and high discharge temperature. Comfort is enhanced in two ways: First, because Apexx capacity always matches the cooling demand, tighter temperature control is possible; also, new controlling strategies for dehumidification are made feasible,” Rasmussen said.

The AKD 102 Variable Frequency Drive series, which took the Innovation Award for Refrigeration, also matches capacity to load, but is specifically designed for supermarket applications.

In response to continual load determination computed by its internal electronics, the AKD drive is used to vary the speed of a compressor, condenser fan motor, or HVAC fan motor. In all three applications, operating efficiencies and significant energy savings result, as well as improved motor life and reduced maintenance cost, says the company.

A welcome feature for installers and service technicians is the ease of setup of these drives. David Hebel, business development manager for supermarket electronics, said, “The AKD 102 speaks in the supermarket technician’s language; it was designed at every step to make installation, commissioning, and service a comfortable, efficient, and straightforward procedure.”

The drive also has a setup “Wizard” to guide the technician through setup and common tasks.

For more information, visit www.danfoss.us.

Publication date: 12/22/2008