Economizers

The economizer is a type of subcooler where part of the refrigerant, typically 10-20%, is evaporated at a higher evaporation temperature than in the main evaporator, while subcooling the remaining refrigerant flow substantially. 

The economizer function requires a compressor with an economizer port for respiration at an intermediate pressure level, such as the COPELAND ZH Vapor Injection models.

An economizer contributes two benefits to the system:

  1. The COP of the system is improved by the increased subcooling from the economizer unit.
  2. The economizer port provides efficient compressor cooling during compression.

These two factors increase the capacity of the compressor by around 10% while offering a larger operation envelope for the compressor.
Operating a heat pump with a compressor with a large envelope results in higher seasonal COP because the heat pump may operate without auxiliary power, also at very low ambient temperatures.

Recommended economizers with COPELAND vapor injection models

R410A Economizers   Soldering connections   
      Vapor injection  Liquid 
      Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet
Compressor BPHE NoP F3 F1 F2 F4
ZHI08K1P B8T 10 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZHI11K1P B8T 10 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZHI14K1P B8T 10 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZHI18K1P B8T 14 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZHI26K1P B8T 14 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZHI31K1P B8T 20 9.65 16 12.8 12.8
ZHI35K1P B8T 20 9.65 16 12.8 12.8
ZHI39K1P B8T 20 9.65 16 12.8 12.8
R407C Economizers  Soldering connections 
      Vapor injection Liquid 
      Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet
Compressor BPHE NoP F3 F1 F2 F4
ZH09KVE B8T 10 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH13KVE B8T 10 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH18KVE B8T 14 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH24KVE B8T 14 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH33KVE B8T 20 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH40KVE B8T 20 6.5 12.8 12.8 12.8
ZH48KVE B16 20 12.8 22U 12.8 12.8