Danfoss named Edison Awards finalist for its Turbocor® VTT compressor

Monday, February 13, 2017

Danfoss has been named a 2017 Award Finalist in the Energy & Sustainability category by the internationally-renowned Edison Awards™ for its new Turbocor® VTT range of compressors. The distinguished awards, inspired by Thomas Edison’s persistence and inventiveness recognize innovation, creativity, and ingenuity in the global economy. 

Intended for water-cooled chillers and with capacities of 350 tons per compressor, Danfoss Turbocor® VTT (Variable Twin Turbo) compressors are oil-free, variable speed, magnetic bearing centrifugal compressors ideal for commercial air-conditioning or process cooling chillers reaching up to 1,000 tons or more. The Turbocor® VTT series introduces IntraFlow™, an innovative and patent-pending technology that improves efficiency and provides an extended stable operating range while simplifying capacity control. IntraFlow™ eliminates the need for inlet guide vanes or mechanical variable geometry diffusers, allowing VTT compressors to offer both superior full-load and part-load performance and enabling chiller manufacturers to achieve the latest efficiency standards.

The compressors also feature an exclusive new drive technology, which is the result of integrated R&D efforts blending Danfoss’ extensive expertise and capabilities in high-efficiency compressors and variable frequency drives for the HVACR industry. The VTT drive offers the superior reliability and performance that has come to be expected from Danfoss, in a small frame size made achievable only with refrigerant-controlled heat removal. 

Because the compressors are oil free, end users experience lower maintenance costs associated with traditional systems that can suffer from repair chronic lubrication problems. 

Danfoss Turbocor® VTT compressors were previously named the 2015 AHR Expo Product of the Year. Danfoss was also awarded in 2015 the Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency by the Alliance to Save Energy for its innovative Turbocor® technology.

“Buildings today consume as much as 40 percent of our total energy use, primarily for heating and cooling,” remarked John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America. “For more than 80 years, Danfoss has been dedicated to engineering—and is continuing to invest in—innovative technologies that improve the efficiency of some of our most energy-intensive processes and equipment. We are honored to be recognized as a finalist in the prestigious Edison Awards for this truly impactful technology.” 

Ricardo Schneider, president, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, said, “Over the past 12 years, Danfoss has saved US energy users more than $630 million in energy costs through our Turbocor® compressors alone. We are very passionate about improving energy efficiency and believe the Turbocor® VTT range of compressors will only continue to amplify the impact we, along with our customers, are making in the US and around the world.” 

“It’s exciting to see companies like Danfoss continuing Thomas Edison’s legacy of challenging conventional thinking,” said Frank Bonafilia, Edison Awards’ executive director. “Edison Awards recognizes the game-changing products and services, and the teams that brought them to consumers.” Award winners will be announced April 20, 2017 at the Edison Awards Annual Gala, held in the historic Ballroom of the Capitale in New York City.

Edison Award nominees are judged by more than 3,000 senior business executives and academics from across the nation whose votes acknowledge the Finalists’ success in meeting the award’s stringent criteria of quality. The voting panel includes members of:

  • Chief Marketing Officer Council (CMO)
  • Design Management Institute (DMI)
  • American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Georgia State Marketing Roundtable (GSU)
  • Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) 
  • Assoc. of Technology Management & Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
  • BPI Network
  • Past Edison Award winners
  • Marketing professionals
  • Scientists
  • Designers
  • Engineer 
  • Academics

The Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to fostering future innovators.

Learn more about the Edison Awards