MicroGroove Technology Gains Market Share among Chinese OEMs

Shanghai, China (April 7, 2011) — The International Copper Association (ICA) today announced that residential air conditioning products are increasingly being fabricated using smaller diameter copper tubes, especially among OEMs based in China. 

Speaking from ICA’s MicroGroove exhibit at the “China Refrigeration Expo” (CR-2011) in Shanghai, China, ICA’s Deputy Director of Technology Wenson Zheng said, “The International Copper Association has been cooperating with OEMs on design strategies for increasing the performance of evaporator and condenser coils. The most spectacular gains in heat transfer efficiency have been realized by decreasing the diameter of the copper tubes in these coils.”

Coils from five different OEMs, including Gree, Haier, Midea, Chigo and HiSense Kelon are on display at the MicroGroove booth E2D51 at CR-2011. The samples are representative of both condensers and evaporators, for window-type air conditioners as well for split units.

“Most of these coils are taken from actual production models of residential air conditioners,” said Mr. Zheng. “We are proud of the accomplishments of the small-tube-copper consortium in China, yet research continues on the design and manufacture of coils with even smaller diameter copper tubes.”

The coils on display at CR-2011 are listed in the attached table along with the corresponding air- applications, cooling capacities and OEMs. 

For more information about heat exchanger coils made with small tube copper, 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.