In more than 23 years at Purdue University, Indiana, USA, Professor Groll has led teams whose work has benefited heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industries across the globe.

Together with his colleagues and graduate students, he has developed detailed and comprehensive simulation models of hermetic PD compressors, including scroll, rolling piston, reciprocating, linear, rotating spool, bowtie and S-RAM using different working fluids, including HFCs, HFOs and natural refrigerants.

Professor Groll said: “I am very excited to receive this award, particularly considering the history of J & E Hall and the fact that the company was the inventor of the first CO2 compressor. I have worked in this area throughout my academic career at Purdue. The link is absolutely fascinating for me.”

The models have been used extensively by Professor Groll's research sponsors to improve existing compressors or develop new ones. They consider all aspects of the compressor: the geometry, thermodynamic governing equations, internal leakage analysis, suction and discharge valve loss analysis based on valve dynamics. Internal heat transfer rates based on available correlations, frictional analysis based on mechanical dynamics, and motor loss analysis based on specified motor dynamics also feature.

One of the first comprehensive models Professor Groll and his team developed focused on predicting the performance of horizontal hermetic scroll compressors. The research enabled Panasonic to successfully develop a new version of their scroll compressor, the e-scroll, in the early 2000s.

Professor Groll is currently working on achieving isothermal compression processes in linear and twin screw compressors by 3D printing internal cooling loops inside the critical compression parts to achieve hot-spot cooling.

He said: “I know many of the accomplished people who have won this award over the past decade or so and I feel I am being elevated into an elite group. I love this job. I am also educating students and this has always been at the forefront of everything I do.

“Over 23 years I have undertaken fascinating work involving technologies that have advanced the HVAC and refrigeration industries. I am most proud of the graduate students that I was able to educate through this research and being able to help gain successful positions and careers over time. For me, they become like adopted children that are all out there and doing well. That is by far the most gratifying aspect of my job.”

Around 2000 students have benefited from Professor Groll's tutelage over the years, including 25 PhD graduates and more than 70 masters students.

Professor Groll added: “I have enjoyed being able to work with a diverse group of industries. In various projects there have been more than 30 HVAC and refrigeration companies represented. They are from several countries including the US, Germany and China. The US Army and Air Force and the Department of Energy have also sponsored projects. I have been able to work with a variety of different entities and that has been very enjoyable.”