ASERCOM (the Association of European Refrigeration Component Manufacturers) certified a total of 32 Bitzer compressors and condensing units in 2015.

This means that the high coefficients of performance and the efficiency of the products made by the compressor specialist have now been confirmed by a neutral party.

The performance data of 12 models in the proven series of Bitzer ECOLINE reciprocating compressors have now been certified by ASERCOM – including those developed for use with the new low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants R448A and R449A.

Bitzer was the first compressor manufacturer to completely test, document and integrate both refrigerants in the Bitzer software. Users can employ it to choose the best compressor and refrigerant for their systems.

Furthermore, 15 LHE condensing units can now carry the ASERCOM seal of approval for use with the R134a refrigerant. The air cooled condensing units are almost infinitely adjustable and are thus particularly energy efficient, thanks to their integrated capacity control and electronically commutated fans. In addition to this, the mini-channel condenser has been further developed to improve the eco-efficiency of the condensing units even more via small temperature differences at the heat exchanger and a reduction in the refrigerant charge.

By including five additional reciprocating compressors, ASERCOM has now in turn checked the performance data of all Bitzer series for subcritical and transcritical CO2 applications and has added them to its list of certified compressors.

In the multistep certification process, experts from the 25 ASERCOM members as well as independent specialists (including experts from TÜV SÜD) assess the performance data of the compressors and condensing units. The two certification committees for compressors and condensing units first assess the submitted data. There is then a plausibility check. The experts select the units to be checked, which are then tested in independent laboratories or in a competitor’s laboratory. They then compare the results with the catalogue data and with the permissible tolerances using the standards EN 12900  and EN 13215 .

In several expert groups, specialist teams then discuss the results and certify the Bitzer devices as ASERCOM approved.

The complex process limits the amount of performance data which may be submitted, so that not all compressors, not all condensing units and not all refrigerants are included in the ASERCOM certification.