Press Release Back Number(2006)

New High Eff Heat Pump Air-Cooled Heat Pump Chiller Developed for Performance Features industry-leading efficiency with COP 5.5

May 15, 2006
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc.
Kansai Electric Power Co., Ltd.

Kobe Steel, Ltd., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. and the Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. have jointly developed the High Eff Heat Pump (528kW cooling capacity), an air-cooled heat pump chiller*1 to provide heat and cool air to factories and office buildings and featuring industry-leading energy efficiency with a COP*2 of 5.5 (during cooling). Kobe Steel, Ltd. will begin selling the High Eff Heat Pump in October of this year.


Two main types of air conditioning heat pumps exist: water-cooled heat pumps for cooling only, and air-cooled heat pumps for both heating and cooling. In May 2003, the four companies working together developed the water-cooled High Eff Mini, which customers have endorsed for its high efficiency and compact size. However, customers still require air-cooled heat pumps that both heat and cool.

The newly developed High Eff Heat Pump provides the heating function, and when in cooling mode yields the industry's highest efficiency with a COP of 5.5.

The new product achieves its industry-leading efficiency by applying the technology of the High Eff Mini, using a newly developed fan and other advances to lift air heat exchanger performance, and further improving heat exchange efficiency by spraying water onto the air heat exchanger to enhance its function.

The product lineup also includes a model without the water spray function (during cooling, COP is 4.3).


The major features of the High Eff Heat Pump are as below.


1. Running costs reduced 40%!*3

The product's high COP minimizes energy consumption and can cut running costs by 40% over the course of the year (comparison vs. earlier model from Kobe Steel)

2. Cuts CO2 emissions by 25%!*4

The new product reduces CO2 emissions by 25% over a year (comparison vs. earlier model from Kobe Steel)

3. Improved partial load efficiency!

The product is the first air-cooled heat pump in the 500kW class to come with a standard inverter compressor. In addition, optimized control of the air heat exchanger fan's rotation can boost COP in low output mode to a level up to three times greater than before*3 (comparison vs. earlier model from Kobe Steel)

4. Module construction for wide range of loads!

Multiple units can be connected together to build a system to cope with a wide range of heating and cooling needs


The power companies serving the Tokyo, Chubu and Kansai regions will be holding "solution fairs"*6 to introduce the new High Eff Heat Pump prior to its release.


*1 Air-cooled heat pump chiller:

A device that makes hot and cold water used to control the temperature in office buildings and factories. It includes a heat exchanger for venting heat exhaust to the outside.


*2 COP (coefficient of performance, heating or cooling capacity divided by power consumption): Higher figures correspond to better energy conservation

The COP values of 5.5 and 4.3 for the respective models were found under test conditions prescribed by JIS B 8613 (water temperature at chilled water inlet and outlet 12°C and 7°C respectively, dry bulb air temperature 35°C and wet bulb air temperature 24°C).


*3 Running costs reduction of 40%

Full year running cost equivalent (units: 1,000 yen / year)

  Tokyo area Nagoya area Osaka area
Previous Kobe Steel model (A) 10,075 9,859 10,127
High Eff Heat Pump (B) 6,164 6,126 6,302
  (Electricity) (6,018) (5,859) (5,898)
(Water) (146) (267) (404)
(A - B) ÷ A × 100 39% 38% 38%

Weather and other conditions vary in the three areas


*4 CO2 emissions reduction of 25%

Full year CO2 emissions equivalent (units: ton-CO2 / year)

  Tokyo area Nagoya area Osaka area
Previous Kobe Steel model (A) 124 149 119
High Eff Heat Pump (B) 95 113 88
(A - B) ÷ A × 100 23% 24% 26%
CO2 emissions coefficient
(kg-CO2 / kWh) 		0.381 0.450 0.356

The CO2 emissions coefficient based on demand-side results from FY2004

Weather and other conditions vary in the three areas


‹ Calculating conditions for *3 and *4 ›
  • Building size: Total floor area: 7,500 sq. meters
  • Use: Office space

  • Equipment composition: Two air-cooled heat pumps
  • Previous Kobe Steel model (A) Model number KHS2005A (50Hz region) / KHS2006A (60Hz region)
  • Operating time:
    Cooling: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, weekdays, April - November (162 days)
    Heating: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, weekdays, December - March (79 days)
  • Calculating procedure: calculations based on testing results with actual equipment operating
  • Weather conditions: Average outdoor temperature and humidity for each month in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka areas Fee menu:
  Electricity Water
Tokyo
area		 Tokyo Electric Electric power for commercial use Tokyo Bureau of Waterworks Within 23 wards (central Tokyo) Water: General Sewerage: General wastewater
Nagoya
area		 Chubu Electric High tension commercial power FR Plan A Nagoya City Waterworks & Sewerage Bureau Water: Commercial useSewerage: General wastewater
Osaka
area		 Kansai Electric High tension power AL Osaka City Waterworks Bureau

*5 Up to three times COP in low output mode:

See Attachment 2: Fig. 3: Partial load properties (when cooling with outside air temperature at 10°C)


*6 "Solution fairs" presented by electric power companies


  1. (1) Kansai area: Energy Solution & Thermal Storage Fair 2006
    May 17 - 19, 2006, 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
    Intex Osaka, Hall 2
    Sponsored by: Thermal Storage Fair Executive Committee
    Admission fee: Free
  2. (2) Kanto area: Energy Solution & Thermal Storage Fair '06
    July 26 - 28, 2006
    Tokyo Big Sight (planned)
  3. (3) Chubu area: ENE-WAY 2006
    August 23 - 25, 2006
    Nagoya Trade & Industry Center, Fukiage Hall (planned)