For 2019, Johnson Controls has extended the capacity range of its award-winning YORK® YZ Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller to include chillers beyond 1,000 tons (3,516 kW), now up to 1,350 tons (4747 kW) of refrigeration. In early 2018, the YORK® YZ Chiller was introduced to the HVAC market with a capacity range of 165 to 1,000 tons (580 to 3516 kW). It was the first chiller fully optimized for performance with a next generation low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant — R-1233zd(E).

After capturing the 2019 AHR Innovation Award in the Cooling Category, the Johnson Controls booth showcased an extended capacity YORK® YZ Chiller unit at the 2019 AHR Expo earlier this month in Atlanta, GA.

“In 2018, the YZ chiller set a new bar for efficiency, sustainability and energy savings,” said Bill Jackson, president of Global Products and head of corporate strategy for Johnson Controls. “Our AHR EXPO booth in Chicago was packed every day with customers, media and analysts craning to get a glimpse of the revolutionary technology that is transforming our industry. In 2019, we’re pushing the bar even higher. Expanding the capacity of the YZ demonstrates our continued commitment to delighting our customers at every turn and never resting on our past achievements.”

The extended capacity, AHRI-certified YORK® YZ Chiller uses an integral, variable speed drive and advanced magnetic bearing technology that features a single moving assembly suspended in a magnetic field that does not require lubrication. This technology requires 80% fewer moving parts than traditional oil or refrigerant-lubricated drivelines. The result is enhanced reliability, reduced maintenance and improved efficiency.

“The YZ chiller is a groundbreaking advancement in engineering that was built on decades of industry-leading chiller experience,” said Laura Wand, vice president and general manager, Global Applied Equipment, Johnson Controls. “Our engineers challenged themselves to reimagine what a next-generation chiller could be, and the result was a system that is fully optimized for ultimate performance. We’re thrilled to build on the success of the chiller and expand the line’s capacity.”

The YORK® YZ Chiller uses an optimized single stage design to provide industry-leading, real-world energy efficiency. The chiller’s system simplicity, high reliability, lower maintenance and wide operating map are all thanks to the advanced lubrication-free magnetic bearings that can handle any operating condition, and now that technology is available at even higher capacities.