Oct. 6, 2014: New Compressor Design Said to Cut Energy Usage up to 50 Percent

‘Advanced Linear Refrigerant Compressor’ Has a Variety of Applications

NEWTON, Ala. — Ray McKenzie and Mac Chaney of Dothan and Madison, Alabama, have developed a new compressor that they claim has the potential to revolutionize the HVAC and refrigeration industries. The unit is said to be up to 50 percent more efficient than conventional equipment, and is also small, lightweight, and quiet. In addition, the “advanced linear refrigerant compressor” has a variety of applications, including HVAC, heat pump water heaters, refrigerators, geothermal systems, window air conditioners, and food preservation coolers.

Called the RayMacCompressor (RMC), it has only one moving part, eliminates much of the energy lost to friction in rotating motors, and uses virtually no copper, reducing cost and weight, said McKenzie and Chaney. Other features include:

• Variable stroke that enables differing workloads and conditions.

• No cycling, which eliminates start-up power-surges and significantly reduces power consumption.

• No start or run capacitors, to increase reliability.

“We call it the lean, green pumping machine,” said McKenzie. “With rising energy costs over the years, it makes more sense to conserve energy than to produce more. Our RayMacCompressor can save an enormous amount of energy while also being versatile enough for multiple applications.”

At the present time, the RMC is reportedly operating at an efficiency level that is 30 percent higher than typical units. McKenzie and Chaney are confident that, with additional research and testing, the unit can achieve up to 50 percent greater efficiency.

The main developmental hurdle at this point is funding, which is needed for further testing and development as well as production equipment, agency approvals (UL, CE, and FCC), and marketing. In order to generate this capital, McKenzie and Chaney have launched a Kickstarter campaign.

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