Engineered Systems NEWSHVAC Engineering News

EPA Awards Trane CenTraVac™

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 25, 2007) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Trane CenTraVac™ from the field of past Strategic Ozone Protection Award winners to receive its prestigious “Best-of-the-Best” Award. Trane’s CenTraVac is the world’s most energy efficient large chilled water system, supplying cooled air for occupants and residents of some of the largest office towers, manufacturing facilities, universities and other multi-use buildings around the world. Some of the most prestigious installations include: Credit Suisse headquarters in New York City; the Burj Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the world’s tallest building; the Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and the U.S. EPA’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This award recognizes the Trane CenTraVac’s contribution to the protection of the ozone layer and to the control of climate change. The EPA noted: “Through both managerial leadership, and technological innovation, Trane has drastically minimized the environmental impact of their centrifugal chillers by developing numerous technologies to detect and prevent refrigerant emissions, developing technologies to maximize the energy efficiency of centrifugal chillers…”.

In naming Trane as Best of the Best, the U.S. EPA acknowledged Trane’s commitment by stating that “Trane and the CenTraVac chiller have continued the tradition as the technological and environmental leader in the HVAC industry.” Trane’s creativity was also recognized by U.S. EPA for “implementing technologies and strategies to integrate chillers into buildings in efficient and sustainable ways, and taking a balanced approach to minimize impact on both ozone depletion and global warming.”

Fifteen years ago, the Trane CenTraVac won the Stratospheric Ozone Protection award for its groundbreaking energy efficiency for large tonnage air conditioning chillers, and for its superior performance in minimizing refrigerant emissions. Since winning the first award, Trane has continued to lead the industry in technical innovation working to define superior environmental performance in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. Trane’s industry-leading, large tonnage chiller product line uses R-123 refrigerant promoting a balanced approach to minimizing environment impact in both ozone depletion and global warming.

The HCFC-123 chillers have significant environmental benefits including:

Minimal contribution to global warming properties (GWP= 76).
Low operating pressure ensures minimal leakage in its hermetically sealed application (leak rate documented to be less than 0.5% per year).
Lowest atmospheric life of all current refrigerant options for large chillers.
The most efficient centrifugal applications today with options that are 13.5% better in both full- and part-load operational performance than competing offerings.