Major Manufacturers Choose MicroGroove Copper for ACR Products, Says International Copper Association
OEMs Realize the Benefits of Efficient Heat Transfer through Smaller Diameter, Inner Grooved Copper Tubes in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Products
Beijing, China (April 11, 2012) —According to the International Copper Association, the improved performance of new products from Haier, Gree, Midea, HiSense, Kelon, Chigo and other major air conditioner manufacturers is explained in part by the use of smaller diameter copper tubes in the evaporator and condenser coils of their products.
"Major advantages accrue from the smaller diameters and inner grooves of the copper tubes," says Nigel Cotton, MicroGroove Team Leader for the International Copper Association. "The improvements are driven by engineering fundamentals. Heat transfer is improved for smaller tubes with enhanced surfaces."
According to Cotton, manufacturers are typically interested in using less material. "It sounds impossible but the heat transfer capacity per unit of copper actually increases as the tube diameter shrinks," he explains. "That’s why so many manufacturers are adopting this new technology."
The consumer benefits because the final product weighs less and takes up less space yet the performance is the same or better than larger products. Manufacturers benefit because they can reduce material costs and still increase performance, while still enjoying all of the advantages of copper and familiar manufacturing production lines and equipment.
New products on display under the MicroGroove banner at the China Refrigeration Exposition this year are the indoor evaporator unit of a split system from Chigo; a window air-conditioning system from Haier; and a split-system from Kelon, including outdoor condenser as well as the indoor evaporator.
These products represent the first generation of MicroGroove products to reach the global markets. Improvements are being made continually to the product designs. For example, new fin designs tailored to smaller tubes could bring about further improvements in performance and new refrigerants benefit from the smaller tube volumes. "We are at the threshold of a new era in product design based on smaller diameter inner grooved copper tubes," says Cotton.
For more information, visit www.microgroove.net.
About ICA
The International Copper Association, Ltd. (ICA) is the leading organization for promoting the use of copper worldwide. ICA’s mission is to promote the use of copper by communicating the unique attributes that make this sustainable element an essential contributor to the formation of life, to advances in science and technology, and to a higher standard of living worldwide. Visit www.copperinfo.com for more information about ICA.