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:
- The COP of the system is improved by the increased subcooling from the economizer unit.
- 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 |