Certification

SCOPE OF THE PROGRAMME

The Eurovent Certified Performance (ECP) programme scope for Condensing units (CDU), applies to air-cooled and water-cooled stationary condensing units designed for low (LT) and/or medium (MT) temperature applications in the field of commercial and industrial refrigeration.

The certification programme is applicable to condensing units using the following refrigerants:

• R134a and list of alternatives defined in Appendix C (MT)
• R290 and list of alternatives defined in Appendix C (MT and LT)
• R448A and list of alternatives defined in Appendix C (MT and LT)
• R410A and list of alternatives defined in Appendix C (MT and LT)
• R744 (MT and LT)

The scope is limited to the following refrigerating capacities comprised between

• 0.1 and 20 kW included (LT)
• 0.2 and 50 kW included (MT)

For the full programme scope and exclusions please view the Technical Certification Rules.

CERTIFY-ALL PRINCIPLE

Whenever a company participates in the programme for condensing units, all units that are promoted by the applicant/participant to end-users, specifiers, trading companies, contractors by means of paper or electronic catalogue, price list or software within the scope of the programme, shall be certified. This is done in accordance with the Technical Certification Rules and includes all models in modular ranges. For the condensing units programme, the certify-all requirement is applicable to the European market, and is defined in the Certification Manual.

PRODUCT TYPE

Condensing units are outdoor units, designed to condense refrigerant gas into a liquid state. This state change releases latent heat, and sub-cools the refrigerant. In the cooling process, the condenser acts as a heat exchanger to release unwanted heat to the atmosphere via air or water. Condenser units are a vital component in range of HVAC applications in both buildings and processes. However, the condensing units programme focuses on commercial and industrial refrigeration applications.  

Condenser units typically include the condenser and a compressor. The compressor drives the entire refrigeration process, as it is responsible for forcing refrigerant around the system. Low-pressure refrigerant gas enters the compressor and is compressed into high-pressure, heated gas. This hot refrigerant gas then flows towards the condenser, where it is condensed into a liquid state. The condenser is defined in standard EN 378-1:2016 as a heat exchanger in which refrigerant vapour is liquefied by removal of heat. In air-cooled systems, the unit will include a fan to aid the discharge of unwanted heat to the ambient air.

In the present programme, the definition from regulation 2015/1095 applies. The product must integrate at least one electrically driven compressor and one condenser, capable of cooling down and continuously maintaining low or medium temperature, inside a refrigerated appliance or system. The condenser unit must use a vapour compression cycle once connected to an evaporator and an expansion device.

DEFINITIONS

Low temperature application (LT)

Is referred to as “low temperature application” or LT an application where the condensing unit is capable of delivering its rated refrigerating capacity at a saturated evaporating temperature of -35 °C.

Medium temperature application (MT)

Is referred to as “medium temperature application” or MT an application where the condensing unit is capable of delivering its rated refrigerating capacity at a saturated evaporating temperature of -10 °C.

Rated refrigerating capacity

Is referred to as “rated refrigerating capacity” the refrigerating capacity delivered by the condensing unit at full load and for the following temperature constraint:

• +32 °C ambient temperature (rating point A) for air-cooled condensing units.

CERTIFIED CHARACTERISTICS

The following performance items are certified:

• Rated refrigerating capacity [kW]
  • at rating point A (PA) for Air-cooled CU
  • at rating point W1 (PW1) or W2 (PW2) for Water-cooled CU
• Sound power level [dB(A)]
  • at rating point A (LW_A) for Air-cooled CU
  • and at rating point C (LW_C) for Air-cooled CU with continuous capacity control
  • at rating point W1 (LW_W1) or W2 (LW_W2) for Water-cooled CU
• Coefficient of Performance (COP) at full load
  • at rating point A (COPA) for Air-cooled CU
  • at rating point W1 (COPW1) or W2 (COPW2) for Water-cooled CU
• Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) for Air-cooled CU.

Find out how to apply for the Condensing Unit programme.