GEA to Unveil CO₂ Heat-Pump Compressor at Busworld

German manufacturer GEA’s “StarCO₂mpressor" for heat pumps will be unveiled this month at the Busworld Europe exhibition, where it has been nominated for the 2019 Busworld Innovation Label Award.

The Busworld Europe exhibition, dedicated to bus and coach technology, will take place at the Brussels Expo from October 18 to 23.  GEA will be in hall 1, booth 163. 

The StarCO₂mpressor, for heating and air conditioning in electric buses as well as rail, features a star-shaped cylinder arrangement and a very compact system design. The units offer “the industry’s lowest overall height and the lowest weight,” according to Ulrich Frey, Product Manager for Mobile Applications at GEA.

“The uniquely low overall height of just 22cm (8.7in) and the light weight of just 83kg (183lbs), which is at least 25% lower than other commercial compressor of this performance class, offers perfect conditions for space-saving roof installation in electric buses and railways,” Frey added. These qualities will help increase the range of electric buses by up to 40%, according to a press release from GEA.

The StarCO₂mpressor also features a welded steel housing and a high-performance oil pump. It has a wide speed range and is able to meet the requirements of heat pumps ranging from 12.5Hz to 75Hz (750rpm to 4500rpm). 

“Its practical suitability has been proven in advance in extensive field tests with renowned manufacturers," said Frey.