Bitzer has continued its development of the well-known Evolution series of outdoor air cooled condensing units with the addition of the 7 and 8 series joining the existing smaller 1-6 Series units.
The Evolution Series 7/8 incorporates the latest compressor developments including Bitzer Ecoline compressors, with the option of including CRII capacity control or Varipack frequency inverters in combination with outstanding Buffalo Trident heat exchange components and world class EC fan technology to produce an extremely efficient unit.
The progressive development of this family of air cooled condensing units follows Bitzer’s global philosophy of continuous improvement, and the base Evolution concept has been scrutinised and tweaked to produce a stand-out product that addresses customer needs. Bitzer compressor systems engineering manager, Ian Suffield, headed up the project.
“For some time now Bitzer has adopted the ‘Kaizen’ principles of continuous improvement and in extending the Evolution range, we’ve strengthened the integrity of the product with design improvements including improved exterior panel sets, EC condenser fans as standard, compressor spring mounts to minimise vibration and sound-dampening components that keep the Evolution relatively quiet in comparison to the size and capacity of cooling it offers,” Suffield explained.
Bitzer national sales manager, Shannon Egan, said product development was based on market demand.
“As we serve such a wide range of customers with differing requirements, we identified a gap in the market for a product offering a higher capacity compared to the existing Evolution range, so we got to work adapting the concept for customers with higher capacity needs,” he said.
The Evolution 7/8 is a cost effective solution that offers 8 different compressor sizes and is available in three variants: basic, advanced and premium units. The advanced units offer the addition of Carel pRack and CRII infinite capacity control; while the premium units incorporate Bitzer's new advanced Varipack frequency inverter which includes an integral controller for regulating compressor and condenser fan speeds.
“The Varipack was developed in conjunction with compressor experts in Germany with a focus on matching the inverter to the compressor motor profiles whilst maintaining user-friendly operation and intuitive commissioning,” Suffield said.
“We’ve adopted the Varipack into the new Evolution models as it proved robust and effective during our product testing phase – even operating inside our test facility with temperature pushed up to over 46 degrees.”
The Varipack offers an easy 5-step setup removing the need for programming of complex motor parameters. It also features a dedicated web server, accessible via a standard Ethernet cable connection into the contractor’s laptop, removing the need to have any dedicated software installed in order to view the detailed operational parameters within the drive or a MODBUS connection for integration into many BMS platforms.
With the Evolution 7/8 newly released in October, Bitzer continues to methodically take direction from its market feedback loop and the new Evolution joins other recent innovations that have been developed in response to market shifts and the changing climate of the Australian industry.
These include products such as the EVD-ice installed into the PS Series evaporator (and now also the BBM/L Series evaporators) – a user-friendly addition that negates the need for highly skilled commissioning. Another product created in response to industry feedback is the Buffalo Trident BDC Series large condenser. Currently undergoing the final stages of testing, the condenser has been developed in response to stringent supermarket specifications.
Bitzer continues to consult with customers and key industry players to ensure new products are fit for purpose rather than simply developed for the sake of something new.
For more information on the Evolution 7/8 Series or other Bitzer products, visit www.bitzer.com.au.