Centrifugal chillers

The York model YK centrifugal chillers from Johnson Controls used falling-film technology to accomplish refrigerant reduction, improving efficiency.

January 14, 2011

Johnson Controls has announced a refrigerant-charge reduction of up to 40% in its York model YK centrifugal chillers. Falling-film technology is used to accomplish the refrigerant reduction. This technology improves the efficiency of chiller evaporators by spraying refrigerant over the tubes instead of covering the tubes in a refrigerant bath. Because of the efficiency improvement, less refrigerant is needed. When equipped with an OptiSpeed variable-speed drive, the chillers can reduce energy usage to as low as 0.20 kW/TR at off-design conditions.