Danfoss has been named a winner of three 2020 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems, and technologies showcased at the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in the categories of building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation.

Winner: Danfoss Interlaced Micro Channel Heat Exchangers

In the Cooling category, Danfoss will receive an Innovation Award for its Interlaced Micro Channel Heat Exchanger, or iMCHE. The iMCHE integrates multiple circuits into a single coil with shared air heat transfer area, controlling each one independently by a multi-circuit system. The compact, all-aluminum iMCHE uses whole air side heat transfer area when operating under partial load conditions to improve system efficiency by more than 20 percent. It also offers 30 percent higher heat transfer efficiency, and lower refrigerant charge.

Through its innovative tube bending structure and passage setup, as well as multi-row compact structure and high-tolerance distributor solution, iMCHE enables design flexibility, modularity, customizability, and extensive flow arrangements that allow chiller and rooftop manufacturers to meet unique challenges. 

Winner: Danfoss Turbocor® TG490 Compressor 

In the Green Building category, Danfoss will receive an Innovation Award for its Danfoss Turbocor® TG490 compressor. Designed for air- or water-cooled chillers, the Danfoss Turbocor® TG490 is the world’s first oil-free, variable speed, magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor qualified for the use of R-515B. R-515B has an AR5 GWP of 299 and an ASHRAE A1 safety classification for lower toxicity and no flame propagation. As an extension of the existing Danfoss Turbocor® TG series of compressors, it also is qualified to use HFO-1234ze, an environmentally-friendly refrigerant with a GWP less than one.

This new compressor delivers the industry-leading efficiency with no performance degradation expected of all Danfoss Turbocor® oil-free compressors, along with an environmentally friendly, non-flammable refrigerant that enables compliance with refrigerant regulations and safety codes.

Winner: Danfoss CO₂ Adaptive Liquid Management Solution

In the Refrigeration category, Danfoss will receive an Innovation Award for its Danfoss CO₂ Adaptive Liquid Management solution. The Danfoss CO₂ Adaptive Liquid Management (CALM) solution combines Danfoss’ liquid ejector and adaptive liquid control case controller algorithm to fully utilize the evaporator surface in display cases and cold rooms—providing, without equipment change, up to 10 percent greater energy efficiency on top of the energy savings inherent in CO₂ refrigeration.

Danfoss’ liquid ejector uses expansion energy from the gas cooler to efficiently remove liquid from the suction side. Its adaptive liquid control case controller algorithm then safely injects more refrigerant into the evaporator, increasing evaporation temperature and raising controlling superheat close to zero. Together in the CALM solution, these components optimize evaporator performance, increase suction pressure, and decrease compressor energy consumption.

Finalist: Danfoss VLT® Condition-based Monitoring

Danfoss also was named a finalist in the 2020 AHR Expo Innovation Awards’ Building Automation category for Danfoss VLT® Condition-based Monitoring. A licensed software function for the Danfoss VLT® Drives platform, it allows users to utilize a drive as a smart sensor to monitor the condition of a motor and application, to detect early issues, and to find solutions before an impact occurs on the process. 

“Danfoss is committed to bringing innovation and next-generation solutions to the market to help our customers and industry improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and meet climate regulations,” said John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America. “We are honored to have been recognized again this year in the AHR Expo Innovation Awards program. In total, Danfoss has been recognized more than 30 times over the past 17 years—a true testament to our investments and dedication to innovation over our entire broad portfolio of technologies. We look forward to working with our industry partners to deploy these solutions in the HVACR market.”

Winners of the AHR Expo Innovation Awards program are selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges who evaluate all award entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value, and market impact.

This year’s award winners will be recognized in a formal ceremony during the 2020 AHR Expo, which takes place February 3-5, 2020 in Orlando.