Could chemical cleaners be used to clean microchannel coils? This is a common question among HVAC equipment owners and service teams. Many rely on recommendations found online instead of following manufacturers’ guidelines, frequently resulting in coil damage or destruction of its topcoat or progressive corrosion of the coil.
Aluminum is a cornerstone material in microchannel heat exchangers, valued for its lightweight and corrosion-resistant characteristics. However, safeguarding its longevity is crucial. This is where advanced nanoscale coating technology, newly deployed by Kaltra, emerges as a groundbreaking solution, providing unparalleled protection and extending heat exchangers’ performance life.
Kaltra has announced the expansion of its manufacturing facilities to meet rapidly growing global demand for its microchannel heat exchanger (MCHE) products. This strategic move aims to enhance production capacity, optimize lead times, and support innovation in heat exchanger solutions.
Kaltra has recorded 12.5% growth in sales, with its core operating income up by as much as 24.0% in Q3 2024, probably underpinned by its continuing expansion in the US microchannel coil market, which accounted for 80% of growth this quarter. This success underlines the strong positioning and strategic focus of Kaltra in high-demand sectors and indicates that it is well-placed to make the most of market opportunities.
Protective coatings, being widely used for protection against unfavorable environmental exposure of heat exchangers, have raised many questions concerning their influence on thermal performance of coils and increased air resistance.
In October 2024, Kaltra has announced yet another milestone in the development of new products-the start to supply microchannel heat exchangers, which are manufactured with tubes of a new aluminum alloy AA3F05 developed. This new alloy boasts further enhanced strength and corrosion resistance, making it just the perfect material for high-performance heat exchangers intended to operate in the most diverse applications.
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing engineering services and providing innovative solutions, Kaltra is excited to announce an upcoming update to its performance simulation tool for microchannel heat exchangers, MCHEselect. This updated version will be made available online, significantly improving accessibility and usability for engineers and customers alike.
This week, Kaltra released an updated manual for its microchannel condensers. The new manual details the general design of Kaltra’s microchannel condensers, the materials used in their construction, and the protective coatings available. It also provides comprehensive guidance on handling and installation procedures, coil charging, and maintenance instructions.
Adiabatic cooling solutions offer superior thermal performance and allow operation at ambients higher than process fluid temperatures. However, the downsides of adiabatic systems are substantial water consumption and high initial costs.
Continuing its research on reducing quality-induced maldistribution in microchannel evaporators, Kaltra introduces the vapor/liquid separation method combining flash gas bypassing (FGB, discussed in the previous article) and vented inlet manifolds.
Kaltra’s new Evo platform has been complemented by air-cooled chillers with scroll compressors that run on refrigerants R410a, R452b, and R454b. The units with refrigerant R32 are also expected to be available for orders in Q4 2024.
Kaltra delivered remarkable Q1 and Q2 performance and is expected to continue growing through investments in R&D and manufacturing processes.
Kaltra, well known for its microchannel heat exchangers, including ones with low volume and low refrigerant charge, installed and commissioned new fin machines, which made it possible to design and manufacture high-capacity coils with the exact small charges.
Following the launch of Lightstream Screw Evo air-cooled chillers in April, Kaltra announced the imminent launch of an inverter-driven lineup.
Kaltra completed the pilot study for a new, highly corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, AA3F05, temper H112, to be used in its microchannel heat exchangers. SWAAT (Sea Water Acetic Acid Test as per ASTM G85 Annex A3) tests performed during the deployment phase demonstrated that AA3F05’s lifespan is more than double that of the currently used HA9153 alloy.
Kaltra’s most innovatively engineered and efficient air-cooled chiller range, Lightstream Screw II, remains to date one of the top-selling products, as reflected by recent massive supplies.
In the light of growing South and Eastern African sales, Kaltra strengthened its regional presence in cooperation with MTCA – one of the regional leaders headquartered in Port Louis, Mauritius. MTCA is well-experienced with installing, commissioning, and servicing Kaltra chillers and has a strong background in the maintenance of chillers of other brands, including replacing microchannel condenser coils.
Kaltra completes its portfolio of air-cooled units with third-generation Lightstream Screw Evo — an air-cooled chiller based on semi-hermetic screw compressors and running on green refrigerants. These chillers significantly exceed EcoDesign 2021 efficiency levels (Directive 2009/125/EC) owing to several innovations incorporated in their design.
