CASE STUDYVILTER HEAT PUMP

Copeland and HydroQuebec reach 10,000
hours of testing on largescale CO2 heat pumpEco-friendly heat pump solution reduces greenhouse gas emissions andimproves energy efficiency while offering load flexibility to building operators.

QUEBEC – Prominent Canadian utility Hydro Quebec
and Copeland have achieved 10,000 hours of testing
on a largescale heat pump system. Manufactured byVilter, an industrial solutions division of Copeland, theheat pump utilizes CO2 (R-744) as a refrigerant andprovides high-efficiency, simultaneous heating andcooling for large buildings such as schools, hospitals,
office complexes and industrial facilities. Leveraging
the Copeland best-in-class portfolio of automation andcontrols technologies, the heat pump can be combinedwith thermal storage to form an integrated solution
with demand response functionality, allowing building
operators to reduce energy consumption during peakdemand events.
As organizations take strides to ensure business
operations are sustainable, one of the priority areas
for improvement is within the building sector, whichaccording to the International Energy Association,accounts for 30 percent of total energy consumed
around the world, or 3100 Mtoe, including 55 percent
of global electricity consumption and 28 percent of CO2emissions. With global building floor area expected todouble by 2070, the decarbonization and electrificationof heating and cooling systems will play an importantrole in achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The Copeland CO2 heat pump in operation at the Hydro Quebec
Energy Technologies Laboratory in Shawinigan, Quebec produced
99.6 percent less Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in testing.

For 155 years, Vilter Manufacturing has provided highquality, efficient solutions for industrial refrigeration,
oil and gas, and district heating applications.
Vilter’s portfolio of sustainable technologies (heatpumps, renewable natural gas, carbon capture andsequestration) helps customers reduce carbon
emissions and improve operational performance.

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From a utility perspective, the electrification of buildings
will have a significant impact on the electricity grid, mostnotably an increase in peak demand on the transmission
system. “In the context of the energy transition, demandside flexibility has been identified as a key requirementfor the future utility grid,” said Dr. Hakim Nesreddine,Senior Researcher and R&D Leader at Hydro Quebec.
“Building space and water heating is a valuable sourceof flexibility when smart-controlled heat pumps areintegrated and combined with thermal energy storage”.
To address challenges related to grid expansion andtransmission congestion, Nesreddine believes heatpump demand flexibility can be supported with peakpricing and utility demand response programs.
The heat pump system has been in operation since2020 at the Hydro Quebec Energy Technologies
Laboratory (LTE) in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.
Copeland and Hydro Quebec have collaborated tooptimize the performance and control of the heat pumpin a simulated environment with real building loadconditions. “Thorough testing is an important part of ourproduct development process at Copeland, and the
10,000 hour milestone gives both us and our customers
confidence in the solution” said Wayne Wehber, Vice
President of Technology for Vilter. “The efficiency
advantages of heat pumps for heating and cooling offer
a significant opportunity to improve sustainability infacilities and support the global green energy transition”.
To date, the 1.3MW system installed at Hydro Quebec
has produced 99.6 percent less GHG emissions thancomparable boiler/chiller technologies for savings of2476 tons of CO2.
Designed for large commercial space heating andcooling, domestic hot water production, and industrial
process heating and cooling applications, a single
Copeland CO2 Heat Pump (See Brochure) can
simultaneously generate up to 1.70 MW of heating and1.30 MW (~370 TR) cooling. The technology utilizes
the Vilter™ high pressure low displacement (HPLD)
single screw compressor, which has a maximum designpressure of 138 bar (2000 psia) and displacementsof 128 to 243 cfm at 3,600 rpm (capable of running
at 4,500 rpm). The heat pump solution features anCopeland control system, which includes built-in
artificial intelligence and demand response capabilities.
From an efficiency standpoint, the solution can produce
a combined coefficient of performance (COP) of 6.4.
“As a leading technology innovator, we recognize thevalue of ecosystem collaboration,” said Ryan Garrah,
President of Copeland Canada.“ The partnership withHydro Quebec is an excellent example of how industry
stakeholders can combine strengths and expertise todevelop sustainable solutions.”–Wayne Wehber
Vice President of Technology
Vilter Manufacturing”

Copeland and Hydro Quebec engineers reviewing the hydronicsystem at the Hydro Quebec Laboratory in Shawinigan, Quebec.

About Copeland
Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate
solutions, combines category-leading brands incompression, controls, software and monitoring forheating, cooling and refrigeration. With best-in-classengineering and design and the broadest portfolioof modulated solutions, we’re not just setting thestandard for compressor leadership; we’re pioneering
its evolution. Combining our technology with our smart
energy management solutions, we can regulate, trackand optimize conditions to help protect temperaturesensitive goods over land and sea, while delivering
comfort in any space. Through energy-efficient
products, regulation-ready solutions and expertise,
we’re revolutionizing the next generation of climate
technology for the better. For more information, 		visit copeland.com.

Click HERE to learn more about Vilter heat pumps(10/22) ©2024 Copeland LP.

The efficiency advantages of heatpumps for heating and coolingoffer a significant opportunity to
improve sustainability in facilities
and support the global green
energy transition.