LAS VEGAS, NV — The Danfoss Turbocor VTCA400 compressor received the prestigious Product of the Year award at the 2022 AHR Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges selected the winning product from this year’s ten AHR Expo Innovation Award winners. The VTCA400 had previously been named the winner in the cooling category.

The VTCA400 is the world’s first oil-free, variable-speed, magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor utilizing a hybrid compression design that is optimized for use with low-GWP refrigerant R-1233zd. The 400 ton/1400 kW nominal capacity rating provides unparalleled performance for water-cooled chiller applications. 

The patent-pending design uses a combination of mixed flow and radial impellers, enabling both high performance and a compact footprint.  As a result, the VTCA400 reduces footprint and weight by up to 50% compared to traditional designs, giving users the advantage of a more compact chiller design and more mechanical room space along with the ability to incorporate multiple compressors in a single chiller for built-in redundancy and improved part load performance. 

The compressor’s innovative oil-free, magnetic bearing compressor technology offers the benefits of  efficiency, reduced maintenance, and simplified design through the elimination of the traditional oil management system. Oil-free, magnetic bearing technology also incurs no performance degradation or mechanical wear over the life of the compressor. 

“The new Danfoss Turbocor VTCA400 compressor represents a significant evolution in oil-free compressor technology that gives customers not only industry-leading performance but also the most compact footprint of any low-pressure compressor design,” said Ricardo Schneider, president and CEO of Danfoss Turbocor. 

Winners in the AHR Expo Innovation Awards program are selected based on innovative design, creativity, application, value, and market impact. Danfoss has now been recognized more than 30 times over the 18-year history of the Innovation Awards program, including multiple Product of the Year recognitions — most recently in 2020 for the CO2 Adaptive Liquid Management solution. This year’s award ceremony was held on January 31 during the 2022 AHR Expo.