Aspen compressors have been selected by the U.S. military for use in one of their most demanding applications for vapor compression cooling; that is, for protection of electronic transit cases. These cooling systems will be installed in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles. MRAP vehicles are a family of armored fighting vehicles designed for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps with the goal of surviving improvised explosive devices (IED) attacks and ambushes, prompted by U.S. deaths in Iraq. The Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and General Dynamics C4 Systems provide transit cases for the MRAP vehicles being manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, which will be sent to Afghanistan starting in 2011. Aspen compressors will be installed in over 1300 transit cases.

Somerset, Ky. --- The Department of Defense awarded a follow-on contract for Aspen Compressor to further enhance its production capability of rotary compressors for government and commercial markets. The contract valued at $3.249 million was intended to provide additional equipment to produce machined parts in-house and to produce UL listed compressors. Most commercial refrigeration systems require UL or CE certified compressors to validate their electrical safety and their ability to withstand high pressures safely. Aspen compressors will be designed to meet these stringent standards and to carry the UL label.

Researchers at the Cooling Technologies Research Center presented a paper entitled “EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF A MINIATURE ROTARY COMPRESSOR FOR APPLICATION IN ELECTRONICS COOLING” at Purdue University. The compressor tests were performed with refrigerant R134a for varying suction pressures, pressure ratios, and rotational speeds. For each test, the refrigerant mass-flow rate, power consumption, and suction/discharge pressures and temperatures are measured. Using the experimental data, the compressor volumetric and overall isentropic efficiencies and COP were determined. The volumetric efficiency ranged from 73% to 90% and the overall isentropic efficiency varied between 44% and 70% for pressure ratios between 2 and 3.5. For this range of pressure ratios, the estimated cooling capacity and COP varied from 163 to 489 watts and 2.1 to 7.4 respectively. The Aspen compressor tested here outperformed two other compressors that were also being evaluated for electronics cooling applications.

Somerset, Ky. --- The Department of Defense today awarded a follow-on contract for Aspen Compressor to further expand its production capability of rotary compressors for government and commercial markets. The contract valued at $2.345 million was intended to provide the necessary equipment to produce precision machined parts in-house rather than outsourcing them from vendors. This capability is expected to provide two major benefits to Aspen, one being the close control in the making of precision parts, and the second benefit in cost reduction.

DoD considers the mini-compressor developed by Aspen to be a ‘critical military component’, which must be produced domestically. There’s been a growing need within the Defense and Homeland Security Departments for body-mounted Personal Cooling Systems to complete critical missions in thermally stressful environments and for thermal management systems for high power electronics. Aspen’s mini-compressors fill a vital role in these areas.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Cabinet for Economic Development officials today joined community leaders from Pulaski County to celebrate the opening by Aspen Compressor LLC of a mini-compressor manufacturing plant in Somerset. Governor Ernie Fletcher congratulated the company in a statement. “The location of Aspen Compressor will have a significant economic impact on the Somerset community, bringing high-quality employment opportunities to the region,” the Governor said.

The technology-based company, which manufactures miniature compressors for defense and civilian use, plans to supply its state-of-the-art products to original equipment manufacturers. The 19,400 square-foot plant, on Chappells Dairy Road, houses both manufacturing and lab space for research and development.

Aspen Compressor is an affiliate of Aspen Systems Inc. (ASI), which develops advanced technologies and products for energy, environmental and defense applications. ASI and its affiliates are global technology companies providing leading-edge solutions for defense, aerospace, law enforcement, chemical, oil and gas, and health care industries.

“The Somerset plant will be mass-producing the world’s smallest refrigeration compressor, which was developed over the past 10 years by the parent company, Aspen Systems Inc., of Massachusetts,” said company Chief Executive Officer Kang P. Lee. “These miniature compressors will become the basis for energy-efficient distributed cooling in contrast to space conditioning that we are used to today. Our products will be used in compact and often portable cooling systems for soldiers, chem-bio-nuclear cleanup crews, steel mill workers, law enforcement personnel, medical patients; microprocessors and electronics; and various small appliances, to name a few.”