Danfoss, a leading global manufacturer of solutions to the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry based in Denmark, recently expanded its portfolio of heat exchangers with the introduction of the company’s own range of microchannel heat exchangers through its joint venture, Danfoss Sanhua.
As fuel and copper prices continue to soar and legislators pass stricter legislation to protect the environment, energy efficiency, reliability and economy have become increasingly important for customers and manufacturers alike.
Microchannel heat exchangers have been used for more than 20 years by automotive manufacturers who wanted efficient heat exchange in a compact design. Today, the advantages of microchannel systems are beginning to challenge traditional fin-and-tube exchangers in the HVAC&R industry.
With the introduction of the efficient and reliable range of microchannel heat exchangers, Danfoss underlines its commitment to developing efficient solutions that both make financial sense and protect the environment, especially due to lower refrigerant charges and recyclable materials.
Steve Gugliotta, director of sales, is enthusiastic about being able to offer Danfoss’ customers high-performance microchannel heat exchangers.
“With the microchannel heat exchangers, it is possible to build systems that reduce refrigerant charges by as much as 40%. Also, we must not forget that high efficiency makes it possible to achieve the same effect in a smaller system, and thereby reduce total system costs. Finally, all heat exchangers are the result of a manufacturing process that is adapted from the automotive industry, offering consistent high quality and reliability,” he says.
Featuring a compact design and superior efficiency, the heat exchangers offer compelling arguments for choosing microchannel exchangers over the bulkier and more inefficient fin-and-tube exchangers.
The main material in the new range of heat exchangers is aluminum, a material that is easily recyclable and also boasts improved corrosion resistance compared to exchangers that use copper. Producers can be confident that the risk of leakage is extremely low. Furthermore, superior fin design with a short airway through the exchanger reduces airside pressure drop, cuts noise and increases efficiency.
“Compared to traditional fin-and-tube solutions, microchannel heat exchangers can boost overall efficiency by up to 30%, depending on the application in question and the performance of the rest of the system,” says Gugliotta, who adds that there is an extra benefit for Danfoss’ customers.
“One of Danfoss’ main strengths is that we are present all over the world, and can offer the needed application support to our global customers. As we develop optimized controls valves and other components for heat exchangers, it will be even easier for customers to harvest the benefits of what we are confident is an extremely strong solution.”