Residential HVAC

Today's Trends

The residential air conditioning systems market is expected to grow by 4.5% every year over the next few years. This will be fueled by consumers choosing more energy-efficient models. So manufacturers need to find innovative solutions to increase efficiency while maintaining the comfort that consumers demand from their system. And of course, they also want to reduce noise and costs.

Meeting Market Demands of Residential HVAC Customers

At Saint-Gobain we are helping manufacturers meet the needs of this changing marketplace by collaborating on their specific requirements. The compressor is the heart of an air conditioner, and consumes 90% of the system's energy. That makes it the main target for efficiency improvements. A 1 to 3% gain in Coefficient of Performance will translate into significantly better compressor efficiency.

Traditionally, manufacturers have used metal bearings that require a regular injection of oil to achieve a permanent fluid film. However, when a system runs under variable speed the fluid film can collapse; also if the compressor is turn on or off, metal-to-metal friction occurs, reducing efficiency and component life. By using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lubricated NORGLIDE^® Bearings, we eliminate the need for metal-to-metal contact, reducing wear to ensure a long life.

Meanwhile the spring-like quality of RENCOL^® Tolerance Rings enables manufacturers to alter stiffness and create the optimum vibration to reduce noise during operation.

Component Fit & Assembly Solutions for the Residential HVAC Market

The compressor is the heart of an Air Conditioning unit. Within the compressor, a bearing provides a controlled coefficient of friction surface between a rotating shaft and its housing.

We work alongside manufacturers to optimise the bearing in the Air Conditioner's compressor, creating NORGLIDE^® Bearings with a unique product structure using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which has the lowest coefficient of friction of all known solid materials.

The PTFE layer compensates for any misalignment during fitting, enabling a Perfect Fit every time. By choosing Saint-Gobain, we can work with you to optimise the assembly process and cut manufacturing time and costs.

Noise & Vibration Solutions for the Residential HVAC Market

Air conditioning units are required to operate continuously for extended periods of times. Even minor noise within these systems can irritate end users. Minimising noise at source is crucial in delivering a quality end product.

Our solutions can solve the issue of noise in air conditioning units. For example, attaching the AC compressor frame to the casing using plug welding deforms the two parts – leading to operational noise and vibration.

RENCOL^® Tolerance Rings are shrink-fitted between the frame and the casing, eliminating plug welding, and their radial protrusions are designed to alter and isolate noise and vibrations. Irritating noise during operation is significantly reduced – good news for manufacturers and end users alike.

Friction & Longevity Solutions for the Residential HVAC Market

Saint-Gobain work with design engineers to provide solutions which increase the efficiency and reliability of the HVAC compressor over the life of the system.

Friction Control

The compressor is responsible for 90% of an AC system's energy consumption. To make gains in efficiency, engineers must pay attention to this system. By choosing NORGLIDE^® Bearings in the compressor smallest PTFE particles bring down the friction of the rotating shaft. This movement delivers a measurable increase in compressor efficiency.

Long Life Assured

Conventional AC compressors feature metal bearings that require a regular injection of oil to achieve a permanent fluid film. However, when a system runs under variable speed the fluid film can collapse; also if the compressor is turn on or off, metal-to-metal friction occurs, reducing efficiency and component life. Workings with our costumers, we created NORGLIDE^® Bearings optimized for mixed friction conditions especially at initial start-up to reduce wear effect, increased efficiency and enhanced reliability throughout the compressor's lifetime.