TOKYO, December 3, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems), part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) group, received the Minister of the Environment’s climate award Action (WA:) 2024 to develop the JHT-Y/JHT-YI series of large capacity centrifugal chillers using the low GWP(1) refrigerant HFO-1234yf. The award, sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, was awarded in the Technology Development and Commercialization category. The awards ceremony was held in Tokyo on December 2.
The Environment Minister’s Award for Climate Action program was renewed in 2020 to reflect recent trends in climate change action and succeeds the Environment Minister’s Awards for Global Warming Prevention Actions, which have been awarded since 1998. The awards are presented annually to individuals or groups making a significant contribution to climate mitigation change (measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation to climate change (measures to prevent or reduce the impact of climate change). This 2024 award is the third to date for MHI Thermal Systems: in 2019, the company received an award from the Minister of Environmental Protection for its high-efficiency ETI-Z series of centrifugal chillers that use a low-GWP(2) refrigerant; and in 2021, the company won an award for the development and promotion of an air-to-water heat pump that uses a low-GWP refrigerant(3).
JHT-Y with constant speed and JHT-YI with inverter are new series for large capacity centrifugal chillers launched in June 2022. Both models in the series use HFO-1234yf refrigerant with extremely low environmental impact (GWP below 1) and capacity in ranging from 300 to 5400 refrigeration tons (RT)(4). JHT-Y and JHT-YI are the first centrifugal chillers up to 5400 RT to be commercially offered in Japan with a low GWP refrigerant. The newly designed compressor achieves outstanding efficiency: the constant speed model achieves a maximum nominal COP(5) of 6.4, the inverter equipped model achieves an IPLV(6) of 8.8 and a maximum partial load COP of 24.9. The smaller size of the compressor, together with the optimized layout of the centrifugal chiller structure, also contributes to efficient use of space, allowing for smooth installation from existing equipment. Replacing existing equipment using higher GWP HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant with JHT-YI can reduce annual energy consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 65%(7), significantly contributing to environmental mitigation. The JHT-Y and JHT-YI models are also adaptable to a wide range of applications: air conditioning, heating, as well as low temperature and heating processes in beverage plants, etc.
HFO-1234yf refrigerant, which is also used in automotive air conditioners and vending machines, has a GWP below 1 and an ODP(8) of zero, and is categorized as a non-freon refrigerant under Japan’s Revised Fluorocarbon Recovery and Destruction Law (9 ). For these reasons, it is not subject to this Law, which regulates fluorocarbon emissions into the atmosphere, recovery and destruction after use. As for equipment with higher GWP HFC refrigerants, including HFC-134a, which were widely used before the revised legislation came into force, it has become mandatory to reduce their production and volume of use as they have a significant impact on global warming. In 2025 and beyond, it is planned that regulations on the market supply of equipment with higher GWP refrigerants will be further tightened in the Japanese market, so currently the requirements for equipment with low GWP refrigerants, e.g. series JHT-Y/JHT-YI, is growing and the market needs an earlier upgrade.
MHI Thermal Systems is a leading Japanese manufacturer of centrifugal chillers, which has supplied numerous units for district cooling/heating, factory air conditioning, etc. In the future, the company will continue to focus on the development of high-performance products using low-GWP refrigerants that cover – together with the ETI-Z series of small and medium capacity – the capacity range from 150 to 5400 RT, as a way of contributing to the environmental protection of global level.
(1) GWP: global warming potential. CO2 has a GWP of 1. The lower the GWP factor, the lower the impact on the environment.
(2) For additional information, see the following press release: https://www.mhi.com/news/191203.html
(3) For additional information, see the following press release: https://www.mhi.com/news/21112502.html
(4) Capacity above 2700 RT requires two compressors (parallel type).
(5) COP: coefficient of performance calculated based on Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The higher the COP, the higher the level of energy savings.
(6) IPLV: integrated partial load value, an indicator of the efficiency of the air conditioner during partial load operation. The higher the IPLV, the higher the level of energy savings.
(7) Compared to our previous model (20 years ago)
(8) ODP: ozone depletion potential, a coefficient expressing the relative amount of ozone depletion compared to trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), a previously widely used refrigerant with a fixed ODP of 1.0. The lower the ODP, the lower the destructive impact on the ozone layer.
(9) This revised law, which entered into force on April 1, 2015, prescribes rules for the rational use and proper management of fluorocarbons.
About MHI Group
The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, which includes energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aviation and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help realize a carbon-neutral world, improve quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories at spectra.mhi.com.
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