Magnetic Centrifugal Chiller

Johnson Controls Introduces the YORK Magnetic Centrifugal Chiller

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Johnson Controls introduces the YORK Magnetic Centrifugal Chiller (YMC²), which offers superior efficiency and sound performance.

Magnetic-bearing technology is utilized to eliminate mechanical-contact losses in the driveline. The OptiSpeed variable-speed drive has been improved, and efficiency of the evaporator has been enhanced with an advanced “falling-film” design. In addition, the efficiency features have been retained, including the optimized centrifugal compressor that takes advantage of low-temperature cooling-tower water to save energy.

Magnetic-bearing technology eliminates nearly all driveline vibration, and the YORK OptiSound control further reduces noise at off-design conditions. As a result, the YMC² chiller operates at a maximum of 73 dBA at full-load standard conditions, per AHRI-575. The human ear perceives the YMC² chiller as about half as loud as other magnetic-bearing chillers.

The YMC² chiller features a sustainable design that uses refrigerant HFC-134a, which has zero ozone-depletion potential. The 10-% efficiency improvement dramatically reduces indirect global warming caused by greenhouse-gas emissions generated by electric utilities. In addition, 57% fewer refrigerant-piping connections drastically reduce the potential for direct global warming caused by refrigerant leakage.

The YMC² chiller also increases uptime and reduces maintenance costs. The magnetic-bearing drive has fewer moving parts and eliminates the oil-lubrication system. The driveline is field-serviceable, which means a back-up driveline is not needed. The chiller’s permanent-magnet motor has an inherently longer life than traditional motors, and the OptiSpeed drive’s soft-start sequence further extends motor life.