Overview
- A partnership announced Sunday between Samsung Electronics and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory launches research to make vapor‑compression heat pumps operate reliably at temperatures below −30°C.
- The research, running through the first half of 2027, will develop systems using a scroll compressor and flash injection to keep refrigerant flow stable and prevent compressor overheating during sustained cold operation.
- Planned field tests at DOE facilities in Fairbanks, Alaska will measure heating capacity, energy efficiency, long‑term operating stability and hot‑water performance under real extreme‑cold conditions.
- If tests confirm performance, Samsung says it will adapt the technology for its global HVAC and heat‑pump water‑heater products, a move that could cut household fossil‑fuel use in very cold regions.
- Oak Ridge’s prior work has shown vapor‑compression systems can run as low as about −34°C, so the joint project builds on an existing technical baseline while aiming to meet the reliability and efficiency metrics needed for commercial rollout.