Mumbai, 18 June, 2014 - International Copper Association India (ICAI), a part of Copper Alliance, organised a special workshop on MicroGrooveTM Copper Tube Heat Exchangers in Mumbai. The objective of the workshop was to showcase how smaller-diameter tubes can be used to increase the rate of heat transfer through coils in numerous applications, thereby improving the energy efficiency of appliances, including air conditioners.

This workshop was addressed by a panel of dignitaries comprising Mr Sanjeev Ranjan, Managing Director, ICAI, Mr Mayur Karmarkar, Director Asia - Sustainable Energy, ICAI, Mr Cooper Zhao, Project, ICAI, Dr Ren Tao, Industry Expert, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dr R K Malhotra, Chairman, Spirotech Heat Exchangers and Mr Liu Tao, Golden Dragon Group. The event was attended by various professionals in large numbers representing the research and development team of room air conditioners manufacturers and coil manufacturers from across India.

"MicroGroove has a key role to play in the design of sustainable ACR products. It is now used to make refrigeration equipment, heat pumps and air conditioners that are more energy efficient. Such products could be powered more easily by sustainable energy sources. MicroGroove is one piece of the sustainability puzzle for cooling and refrigeration," says Cooper Zhao, Project Manager, International Copper Association China. "In addition, it is suitable for use with many eco-friendly refrigerants."

Use of 5 mm MicroGroove copper condensers helps reduce cost, create higher energy efficiency, less refrigerant, comes with higher durability and demands low investments. Coils made with smaller diameter and inner grooved copper tubes enable efficiently removing heat from the refrigerant in case of the condenser coil or evaporator coil. This higher heat transfer efficiency increases the overall energy efficiency of the system. The use of smaller tubes also improves the air-flow outside the tubes because of the reduced form factor.

"Copper is a proven tube material for ACR application. Indian Room Air Conditioner Market has shown 10% year-on-year growth in 2013 and it is poised to reach from current 3.8 mn units in FY13 to 6.6 mn units by FY17. Increased infrastructure activity, urbanisation, high standard of living, soaring temperature and rising disposable income has made air conditioners more of a basic necessity than a luxury product," says Avinash Khemka, Chief Manager HVAC, International Copper Association India.

MicroGroove technology is widely used in the global market by manufacturers of residential air conditioners, including split-type as well as window air conditioners. For commercial systems, it has been adopted by such companies as Daikin, Hitachi, Haier and Fujitsu. This technology is well suited for use with new eco-friendly and natural refrigerants as a smaller diameter tube can withstand higher pressures. Another reason is that coils can be made with less refrigerant volume, an important consideration for systems using flammable refrigerants such as propane.

International Copper Association India (ICAI) is the Indian centre of the International Copper Association Limited (ICA), the leading organisation for the promotion of copper worldwide.