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News
ANSWR™ CO 2 Heat Pump
Chiller .
" This technology is a game-changer . Whether it ' s for hospitals , hotels , agriculture , abattoirs , district cooling , or any other site that requires heating and cooling applications , the ANSWR unit provides a sustainable solution ."
On the factory tour HC Group operations director David Nurden provided an in-depth look at the ANSWR ' s capabilities and its transformative potential for various industries . The first customer ANSWR is under production for a dairy in America , which is to be completed by end-July .
THE ANSWR HEAT PUMP CHILLER “ The unit is designed with a compressorised compartment housing compressors and plate heat exchangers for the waterside connections . The ANSWR is engineered to operate efficiently in a wide range of environmental conditions , thanks to its advanced gas cooler and control logic . This component allows the unit to maintain high efficiency in both extremely hot or cold climates ,” says Nurden .
HC prides itself on creating customised solutions to meet specific client requirements . " We engineer the product to meet the customer ’ s application ; the ANSWR is available in a range of capacities with customisable features to choose from . The ANSWR machine was first conceptualised in collaboration with Flow Environmental Systems , who were referred to us to design and engineer a solution . On the back of significant design and engineering work , a proof-of-concept prototype was built . With the proof-of-concept up and running , the Flow team and a selection of their agents flew out to SA to witness the successful operation of the unit . Given that many larger international companies said it couldn ’ t be done , there was much celebration as the ANSWR delivered results as expected .
A full-sized unit was then commissioned and shipped to Minnesota last year and has been operating successfully at the Flow showrooms where it serves as a demonstration unit for potential clients .
Nurden explains that notwithstanding its advanced technology , the real key to the ANSWR machine ’ s success lies in its proprietary software . " We ’ ve spent over two years developing the software and logic that runs the system . As the system operates at very high pressures and temperatures , which required a responsive and reliable control system . The software is what truly makes the ANSWR unique ."
The ANSWR is equipped with four thermal outputs — two for heating and two for cooling . This versatile setup makes it suitable for numerous applications . For instance , in a dairy facility , the machine can simultaneously manage medium and low-temperature cooling for cold rooms and freezer rooms , while providing hot water for cleaning and domestic use at temperatures up to 85 ° C . Similarly , in a hospital , the machine can provide cold water for cooling systems , medium temperature water for air conditioning , hot water for bathing and high temperature water for cleaning .
The ANSWR offers significant cost savings and efficiency improvements over traditional systems . Standard heat pumps typically only heat water up to 60 ° C , but the ANSWR can reach temperatures close to 90 ° C . Moreover , when used for simultaneous heating and cooling , the machine achieves a coefficient of performance ( COP ) of over six , compared to the three or four COPs of typical heat pumps and chillers . This high efficiency translates into a rapid return on investment , making the ANSWR an economically attractive solution for various applications .
“ The machine ' s design includes up to four thermal outputs , allowing for customised temperature settings . For example , it can deliver water / glycol at -18 ° C , 5 ° C , 60 ° C and 85 ° C all from the same unit . This flexibility makes it ideal for various environments like hospitals , abattoirs , hotels and process facilities where different temperature requirements exist for simultaneous heating and cooling systems .
The ANSWR is particularly relevant in markets like the US and Europe where recent legislation has mandated the replacement of boilers and HFC heat pumps in buildings . Traditional heat pumps often fail to meet the high-temperature requirements previously fulfilled by boilers . The ANSWR machine , however , can reach the necessary temperatures , providing a seamless transition from boilers to more sustainable heat pump systems . Additionally , the machine operates using CO 2 as a refrigerant , complying with environmental regulations that prohibit the use of synthetic refrigerants due to high GWP ’ s and PFAS content . " The Americans came to us because the feedback they got from major players in the market was that such a machine couldn ' t be built quickly or effectively , if at all ," explains Nurden . HC accepted the challenge . The prototype phase was a collaborative effort , with both HC and Flow co-funding the development . The prototype was tested extensively at HC ' s facilities , and upon proving its capabilities , led to a full-scale production order . The first full-sized unit was successfully shipped to Minnesota , where it has been operational for over a year , demonstrating the machine ' s reliability and efficiency in realworld conditions . RACA
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RACA Journal I September 2024 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za