Danfoss' new PSH scroll compressor with vapour injection could be a game changer for heat pumps. Its ability to operate over a wider range of ambient temperatures allows an efficient and productive heat pump to be used in colder climates. Extending the operating range of heat pumps is essential to achieving planetary decarbonisation.
Optimized for R454B, the dedicated heat pump compressor with higher discharge gas temperature tolerances, the PSH compressor with vapor injection can also handle multiple refrigerants R410A and R454B and simplifies the transition to R454B, which has a lower global warming potential (GWP). It is designed for medium to high temperatures (up to 65°C) and low ambient operation. A wide range of compressor capacities from 7.5 to 40 tons of refrigeration is already available, and individual compressors can be combined together to further increase system capacity.
To continue to grow the heat pump market and expand its use in colder climates, this type of compressor combines the ability to use both liquid and vapor injection in one product. The same compressor can be used for both R410A and R454B, as well as in different liquid and vapor injection modes. They can be combined in a manifold and used with a single economizer heat exchanger. Tandems and trios can also be used with a single economizer heat exchanger, simplifying the system design and providing greater flexibility.
It is available in all required voltages and frequencies, allowing it to be used both in the United States and around the world. The PSH compressor with vapor and liquid injection can be used in heat pumps in temperate zones in areas where very cold climates are the norm. By increasing this operating temperature range, it will further encourage wider adoption of heat pumps, thereby reducing the need to burn fossil fuels for heating.
“The PSH compressor with vapor injection is a game changer on the path to electrification,” said Nick Mislak, regional director of HVAC segment marketing. “By allowing heat pumps to operate efficiently in cold climates, coupled with low GWP compatibility, PSH provides the technology needed to transition to clean heat sources while maintaining customer comfort.”