ASHRAE Journal - December 2019 - 6

INDUSTRY NEWS

AAON Opens Lab, Sound Test Chamber
tures, HVAC equipment can be put through the ringer at
AAON's new laboratory.
AAON celebrated the grand opening of its Norman
Asbjornson Innovation Center (NAIC) in October. The
65-foot (19.8 m) tall and 134,000 ft2 (12 449 m2) lab has
10 testing chambers specializing in both acoustics and
thermal performance. It can test up to a 300 ton (1055
kW) air-conditioning system, up to a 540 ton (1899 kW)
chiller system and up to 80 million Btu (19 GJ) of gas
heating test capacity, according to AAON.
AAON says this is the only lab in the world that measures the supply, return and outside sound testing at
actual load conditions
It is home to the largest sound test chamber in the
world, which is the only one that can test for both sound
and thermal performance, said Mark Fly, P.E., Fellow
ASHRAE, executive director of the NAIC.
"This is a very unique test facility," he said.
The lab's environmental application testing capabilities span -20°F (-28.9°C) to 140°F (60°C), up to 8 in./h
(203 mm/h) rain testing, up to 2 in./h (51 mm/h) snow
testing and up to 50 mph (80 km/h) wind testing. The

ASHRAE JOURNAL/ MARY KATE MCGOWAN

TULSA, OKLA.-From snow to high winds to freezing tempera-

The sound chamber at AAON's new lab tests sound and thermal performance. AAON
says it is the largest sound test chamber in the world.

testing chambers allow AAON to meet and maintain
AHRI and DOE certification, according to the company.
At the grand opening event, Norman Asbjornson, P.E.,
Member ASHRAE-the founder of AAON and the namesake of the new facility-said AAON has used the lab
already to test products for prospective clients.
"That's going to give us further insurance and viability
for AAON now and in the future," he said.

ASHRAE, UNEP Announce Low-GWP Awards Projects

ROME-From a CO2 transcritical

refrigeration system in Thailand to
packaged chillers with integrated
air-handling units in Saudi Arabia,
the 2019 ASHRAE-UNEP OzonAction
Lower GWP Refrigeration and AirConditioning Innovation Awards
project selections exhibit innovation
and advancement.
ASHRAE and UN Environment
Programme announced the project
selections in November. The award
program recognizes innovative
design, research and practice of
those who have developed or used
lower global warming potential
refrigerants in refrigeration and airconditioning applications in developing countries.

6

ASHRAE JOURNAL

ashrae.org

Meet the Winners
Residential Applications
Project Team | Rajesh Kumar N, D. Mohan Lal and Kamalakannan: Low Charge
Ammonia Vapor Compression Refrigeration System for Residential Air-Conditioning
implemented in India
Project Team | Zhang Jianjun, Guo Zhikai, Zhang Lei, Zhang Mingjie and Xie
Pinzan: HFC-161 Application Technology Development for High Cooling Capacity
Household Air Conditioners implemented in China

Commercial/Industrial Applications
Project Team | Samir Hamed Alfetiany, Husam Quedan and Samer Hamed
Alfetiany: Packaged Chillers with Integrated Air Handling Units Using HFC-32 and
HC-290 implemented in Saudi Arabia
Project Team | Warot Lamlertpongpana, Wallop Lamlertpongpana, Jittakorn
Sukjareon and Kittitach Chumnarnwat: The Crocodile Project CO2 Transcritical
Refrigeration System for a Hot-and-Humid Region implemented in Thailand
Project Team | Rogério Marson Rodrigues, Ivair Lucio Soares Junior, Gustavo
Galdi Heidinger, Cassio Lucio Simonetti and Edgard Soares Pinto Neto: Low
Charge Propane Chiller for a Supermarket Commercial Refrigeration System implemented in Brazil.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 19
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ASHRAE Journal - December 2019

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