FEATURE
Through its advanced technologies, Danfoss aims to accelerate the green transition by promoting energy and resource efficiency.“ Heat pumps are a‘ game changer’ for converting renewable electricity into thermal energy, fostering‘ sector integration’ by building synergies between heating and cooling.” Real-world examples showcased decarbonising factories with heat pumps, utilising excess heat in production, and major building retrofits to move away from fossil fuels. Schaddach also touched upon the critical role of cold chain technology in preventing food waste, a significant global concern amplified by digitalisation ' s increasing cooling demands and urbanisation ' s contribution to building emissions. Schaddach affirmed Danfoss ' s comprehensive offerings for the refrigeration and food and beverage sectors, covering everything from controls and industrial refrigeration valves( including ammoniaspecific designs) to micro-channel heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers and a diverse range of compressors( scroll, reciprocating and Turbocor). These are complemented by electronic controls for comprehensive system management.
" A core aspect of our business revolves around condensing units, with product development heavily influenced by global regulations, particularly various ' green land plans '.
" A key driver of this shift is Europe ' s F-gas Regulation, which imposes a quota on CO2 equivalence, directly impacting refrigerant availability. Similar regulations exist in other regions like China and North America, dictating permissible refrigerants and varying thresholds for chillers, condensing units, and rack packs.” He presented a table showing that the F-gas Regulation ' s CO2 equivalent quota, which was 45.5 million tons in 2024, will be less than half by 2027.“ Given that common refrigerants like R448A and R449A have a GWP of around 1 400, continuing to use the same amount for new installations and retrofits will become ' more or less impossible,' necessitating a shift towards new refrigerants."
For centralised supermarket systems and rack packs, the market is increasingly moving towards CO2. Schaddach noted that 50 % of the food retail market in Europe already utilises CO2, driven by minimal price differences and retailers ' preference for a single refrigerant across installations. For standalone installations, particularly in the Horeca( hotels, restaurants and cafes) segment, while the market is also moving towards
CO2, options like HFOs and propane are considered. However, propane faces charge limits that restrict its application to smaller capacities( up to 2kW) and require close proximity between the condensing unit and condenser.
Danfoss offers a full-fledged portfolio of condensing units, ranging from just over 500 watts to 50kW of cooling capacity, available in both European and African markets, including South Africa. These units are designed for use with current refrigerants like R448A and R449A, but also with the next generation of HFO refrigerants, emphasising flexibility for future retrofitting.
A significant advantage of Danfoss units is their integration of microchannel heat exchangers, offering two primary benefits:
• They require significantly less refrigerant compared to traditional fin-and-tube condensers, crucial given stringent quotas
• The combination with Danfoss compressors results in superior Coefficient of Performance( COP), leading to lower energy consumption and a smaller carbon footprint
Schaddach emphasised the importance of considering the total cost of ownership, noting that units can pay off their initial cost through electricity savings alone. The reduced refrigerant charge also offers significant financial savings, as refrigerant is a substantial investment. Micro-channel heat exchangers also offer benefits in terms of cleaning and resistance to environmental factors.
Danfoss ' s design philosophy for condensing units focuses on cost reduction, resource efficiency, durability, longevity( evidenced by rigorous salt spray tests), and repairability.
EFFICIENCY AND CO2 SOLUTIONS
Schaddach introduced the Optima Plus condensing units, embodying a plug-and-play concept with enhanced efficiency. These units feature an electronic controller for simplified commissioning( less than seven steps) and optimised fan speed management. Optima Plus units are also stackable, saving installation material and space.
Variable speed inverter technology is presented as an ideal solution for applications with multiple evaporators, even those running at different temperatures.
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
This technology brings benefits of efficiency, reduced refrigerant usage and optimal performance, especially in partial load conditions.
To validate these theoretical benefits, Danfoss conducted a field test in a supermarket utilising four condensing units. After initially running a comparative digital solution, Danfoss replaced them with its Optima Inverter units. The real-life test showed 6 700 kilowatt-hours saved annually, extremely close to theoretical predictions, translating into significant operational expense reductions and a corresponding decrease in CO2 equivalents.
Danfoss ' s semi-hermetic compressors are highlighted for their " rock solid " durability, long lifetime, and full serviceability, ensuring prolonged use. Packaged condensing units featuring these semi-hermetic compressors are available with both variable speed( for energy efficiency) and fixed speed options( for longevity and serviceability). These units are particularly well-suited for high ambient conditions due to their generously-sized condensers.
Schaddach also recounted a customer-driven innovation where a serviceable semi-hermetic unit with heat recovery capabilities was customised, allowing the customer to utilise excess heat for boiling water in food service operations – a " next level of sustainability ".
Finally, Schaddach affirmed Danfoss ' s current CO2 solutions and ongoing efforts to expand their portfolio, particularly with semi-hermetic CO2 compressors. He described their smaller CO2 units as a " truly plug and play concept " similar to the Optima Plus. Recognising that installers sometimes find high-pressure CO2 systems challenging, Danfoss has designed their units with electronic controllers that simplify commissioning. A significant advantage of these CO2 units is their design for high ambient temperatures and robust infrastructure, making them an excellent solution for demanding climatic conditions.
In a brief Q & A, Schaddach clarified that Danfoss does not manufacture evaporators themselves but collaborates with manufacturers in certain markets. He noted a positive trend with more display cabinet manufacturers optimising their products for CO2, moving towards systems that can operate at 80 bar and beyond, further enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the HVAC landscape. CLA
Danfoss stand at FRIGAIR 2025.
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COLD LINK AFRICA March / April 2026
Supplied by Danfoss