Thai manufacturer Siam Compressor Industry (SCI), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric, is “fully focused” on propane (R290)-based solutions for the European HVAC&R market, according to Win Roonghiransakul, SCI’s Sales Engineer for Europe, Middle East, America and Africa.
Driven by demand from a German heat pump manufacturer, SCI first started producing propane compressors more than 10 years ago. It produces more than 200,000 R290 compressors annually, making up around 10% of its total output, Roonghiransakul told NaturalRefrigerants.com during an interview at the Bangkok RHVAC 2024 tradeshow, held September 4–6.
“Ten years ago, nobody was looking for propane,” added Sansarun Amornchai, Sales Engineer for Asia Pacific at SCI. “We were one of the first movers, and now it is very popular. Everyone is interested in propane now.”
As the market expands rapidly, SCI sees R290 as a key solution in its portfolio, aligning with its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, he added.
Following the expansion of its production line in 2022, SCI now has the capacity to manufacture more than 1 million scroll compressors and 3.6 million rotary compressors each year.
“Ten years ago, nobody was looking for propane. We were one of the first movers, and now it is very popular. Everyone is interested in propane now.”
Sansarun Amornchai, Sales Engineer for Asia Pacific at SCI
Propane’s versatility
SCI offers a wide range of R290 rotary and scroll compressors, with displacement from 17.2 to 130cc. While its scroll compressors are ideal for higher capacities, rotary compressors are typically used for smaller-scale applications, explained Roonghiransakul.
The company currently manufactures compressors that cover capacities up to 31kW (8.8TR). However, it is working on developing larger units, targeting capacities of up to 44kW (12.5TR). Multiple compressors can be used in tandem to serve larger capacities, noted Amornchai.
To ensure high performance in colder regions like Northern Europe, SCI has incorporated vapor injection technology into its R290 compressors.
SCI’s main market for its R290 compressors is the residential heat pump sector in Europe, where it is working with 20–30 manufacturers, including a leading global manufacturer. The company also has extensive experience in air-conditioning and is looking to expand its presence in other sectors, including commercial refrigeration.
“We see existing low-capacity reciprocating compressors with R290 in the [food retail] market but notice there is demand for larger rotary compressors,” explained Amornchai. “We are currently focused on our twin rotary horizontal model with propane and inverter technology that we hope to launch next year.”
The company already has a strong working relationship with a leading European supplier of refrigeration systems and expects to produce some 10,000 plug-in display cases in partnership with the Austrian refrigeration equipment manufacturer this year.
“We see existing low-capacity reciprocating compressors with R290 in the [food retail] market but notice there is demand for larger rotary compressors.”
Sansarun Amornchai, Sales Engineer for Asia Pacific at SCI
