AAON has announced significant advancements to its groundbreaking Alpha Class line of commercial air-source heat pumps, introducing three distinct performance tiers that redefine industry capabilities.
These innovations were made possible through AAON's strategic partnership with Copeland, leveraging their cutting-edge variable-speed compressors and refrigerant injection technology.
Since launching Alpha Class in October 2023, AAON has continued to innovate beyond its initial achievement of reliable heat pump operation at ambient temperatures as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit.
The next generation of Alpha Class now features ECO, PRO and EXTREME Series to meet diverse market demands.
The flagship EXTREME Series represents the most significant advancement, delivering unprecedented ultra-low-ambient performance down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit while maintaining 100 per cent heating capacity at five degrees—a market first in commercial rooftop heat pumps.
AAON president & COO, Matt Tobolski, said Alpha Class EXTREME Series represents the most innovative commercial rooftop unit ever created.
"By leveraging partnerships with technology leaders like Copeland, we've achieved what was previously considered impossible in air-source heat pump performance while maintaining our commitments to energy efficiency and sustainability,” he said.
EXTREME Series utilises refrigerant injection technology from longtime partner Copeland to increase mass flow rate and maintain safe compressor operation in extreme environments.
AAON engineers developed an intelligent refrigeration system that automatically switches between multiple operating modes to deliver peak efficiency across an extended operating range without significantly increasing building electrical load or equipment footprint.
PRO Series features variable speed compressors that enable operation down to zero degrees, which represented the previous industry benchmark. ECO Series offers AAON's traditional heat pump technology with options for 2-step or digital compressors, delivering industry-leading performance at an exceptional cost-to-value ratio.
This advancement comes as AAON continues its work with partners like Copeland to meet the US Department of Energy's Better Buildings Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator challenge, furthering the industry's shift toward electrification and decarbonization. Copeland has been a trusted partner of AAON for over three decades.
This long-standing relationship has been critical in advancing HVAC technology to meet evolving industry demands.
Copeland vice president and general manager of commercial HVAC, Mark Bills, said the collaboration with AAON is grounded in a shared commitment to innovation.
“Together, we're pioneering solutions that not only meet the current challenges but set new standards for the future,” he said.