Turbochill is carrying out a project under the μGrants for Business R&D support programme, titled Development of a high-speed centrifugal refrigeration compressor lubricated with the working fluid in the liquid phase. The aim of the project is to design, build, and test a prototype high-speed hermetic centrifugal compressor intended for use in heat pumps.
The project delivers a product innovation. Conventional compressors are typically designed for maximum heating capacity — needed only during the coldest days. According to IMGW-PIB data, in 2021 there were only a few days when temperatures dropped below −5°C. On the remaining days, the compressor operates at maximum capacity that is not fully utilised.
The prototype high-speed compressor features variable-speed operation, allowing heating capacity to be adjusted as needed, leading to significant savings in electricity consumption. The high rotor speed ensures compact dimensions and reduced noise levels compared with conventional compressors.
The compressor incorporates bearings lubricated by the liquid phase of the working fluid used in the heat pump, making the entire system environmentally friendly, oil-free, and hermetic — a highly desirable feature under current EU policy (OJ EU L 2018.150.1).
Achieving the project's innovation objective involves the development and testing of the compressor flow system operating with environmentally friendly working fluids. Given the relatively low rotor mass, the bearing system must be adapted to the compressor's operating conditions. The analyses and tests carried out during the project will determine which bearing types are best suited for the described design.
Project Details
| Project title | Development of a high-speed centrifugal refrigeration compressor lubricated with the working fluid in the liquid phase |
| Objective | Design, construction, and testing of a prototype high-speed hermetic centrifugal compressor for heat pumps |
| Start date | February 2023 |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Project value | PLN 200,000 |
| Total funding | PLN 150,000 |
| Programme | Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014–2020 |
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund, within the Pomeranian Voivodeship Operational Programme for 2014–2020, Priority Axis I: Commercialisation of Knowledge, Measure 01.01: Expansion through Innovation.
"μGrants for Business R&D" is a regional programme supporting the purchase of R&D services, under which companies from the Pomeranian region may apply for non-repayable funding for research and development services in projects with a value of up to PLN 200,000. The project is implemented by Excento Sp. z o.o. (a special-purpose vehicle of Gdańsk University of Technology) in partnership with the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Pomerania, Centrum Innowacji Medycznych Sp. z o.o. (Medical University of Gdańsk), and Univentum Labs (University of Gdańsk).
