Equipment and Technology

Energy-Using Equipment

Twin Turbine Refrigeration Compressor
Turbocor Inc., Quebec
Roger Richmond-Smith
514-421-0523

A Breakthrough in Compressor Technology

Turbocor Inc. has created the world's first oil-free compressor specifically designed for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC). Since HVAC accounts for fully 30 percent of all electrical power consumed in North America, this innovation – if widely adopted – could have a dramatic impact on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Turbocor's TT300 compressor, which has 12 patents and numerous software copyrights, is the product of nearly a decade of research and development. The compressor sets a new efficiency standard for middle-sized commercial HVAC applications. In fact, chillers equipped with the TT300 are more than 30 percent more energy efficient than comparable equipment that uses traditional compressors.

For all it delivers, the TT300's most striking feature is its compact size: it's less than half the size and one fifth the weight of a traditional compressor. The key is what's missing: the compressor has no gearbox and contains no oil. Roger Richmond-Smith, Turbocor Executive Vice-President, attributes the innovation to the company's fresh approach to compressor design.

"A technician who evaluated our machine described it as a computer that pumps," Richmond-Smith says. "We achieved this by incorporating recent breakthroughs in electronics and engineering to create a sophisticated machine that takes advantage of simple mechanical principles."

These principles include magnetism and friction. In a traditional compressor, a rotor shaft connects directly to a system of gears. Metal-to-metal contact creates friction, which causes wear and generates heat. A typical compressor requires a lubricant and a cooling system to counteract these effects.

The new compressor avoids friction altogether by eliminating physical contact between moving parts. The rotor shaft is held firmly in place by magnetic bearings and bears two impellers that drive a centrifugal compression system. A sophisticated digital electronic controller ensures that the machine always runs at optimal efficiency.

"All those who've studied our compressor describe it as simple, yet ingenious," says Richmond-Smith.

While the new compressor is often touted as the next wave in the industry, attracting buyers has not been easy. Although Turbocor has several clients around the world, including McQuay – the fourth-largest HVAC manufacturer in the United States – Richmond-Smith claims that the industry is notoriously risk-averse.

"Our challenge," he says, "is to take the novelty and the fear out of it – to demonstrate reliability, field support and cost-effectiveness."

The new compressor often costs slightly more than traditional units, but its operating efficiency enables it to pay for itself quickly. It also offers many environmental advantages: Turbocor's compressor uses fewer materials and less electrical power than conventional machines and relies on an environmentally benign refrigerant.

The primary market for Turbocor Inc.'s compressor is manufacturers of chillers and rooftop package units, although tremendous potential for the technology exists in other applications, such as generators and air compressors. With an already impressive record for energy efficiency in HVAC, the new compressor could make a significant contribution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors.