Danfoss, the pioneer of oil-free, magnetic bearing, variable speed centrifugal compressors and a leading manufacturer of other high-efficiency components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, industrial, and water systems, announced that Smardt Chiller Group Inc. is the winner of its seventh annual EnVisioneer of the Year award in recognition of its Smardt Solar Integrated Chiller (SSiC).

Launched in 2010, the EnVisioneer of the Year award competition recognizes North American end users, municipalities, building owners, or original equipment manufacturers that have introduced a new product, opened a new facility, or invested in a building or system upgrade using Danfoss products or solutions to realize significant energy or environmental savings.

Smardt's SSiC integrates the energy-saving potential of Danfoss Turbocor oil-free magnetic bearing compressors with solar-driven condenser fans into its air-cooled centrifugal chillers. The new chillers utilize a direct connection of a solar array mounted above the chillers to AC/DC condenser fans through Smardt's patent-pending Smardt SolarLogix controller. The number of fans run by the sun is based on the size of the solar array.

The EnVisioneer of the Year award was presented to Smardt's Vince Canino, global chief operating officer, and Greg Tutwiler, chief technology officer, by John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America, and Ricardo Schneider, president, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, in Tallahassee, Florida, prior to the inaugural ceremony of the first Danfoss Application Development Center test chamber.

“At Smardt, we see customer-focused innovation as our core competence. SSiC came together as a result of integrating several emerging technologies in one novel step. Outstanding teamwork between Smardt and our collaborators at Danfoss, EBM, Solar World, and SunModo was the key to bringing this new product to market so quickly,” said Canino. “Smardt's core values as a global energy pioneer include technical rigor, focus on the customer experience, and creative collaboration with emerging technologies to improve and enhance that customer experience.”

The EnVisioneer of the Year competition is judged, and the winner is chosen, by an independent third party judging panel.