FAQs

What is TORAD?

TORAD Engineering is a privately held development stage company located in Cumming Georgia, just north of Atlanta. The company develops its patented spool machine technology to enable economical near-zero global warming air-conditioning and refrigeration systems across a broad range of applications.

What is TORAD’s goal?

To win the race to zero GWP commercial AC products easily and more cost effective.

How does it work?

The spool machine is a type of restrained vane device with several novel features that make it more efficient and able to scale to larger capacities than a rolling piston of sliding vane compressor.

Is the technology patented?

TORAD has multiple utility patents in the US and strategic countries and regions around the world.

Are there test units available?

Beta units are being lab tested by strategic air-conditioning packagers. If you would like to be considered for lab testing please contact TORAD.

What type of application is it suitable for?

TORAD’s spool compressor is viable across a broad range of applications. The current focus is on commercial air-conditioning between 7.5 tonR (22 kW) and 100 tonR (350 kW).

What type of refrigerants is it compatible with?

The spool compressor is compatible with a broad range of low-high pressure refrigerants. TORAD’s recent development focus on air-conditioning applications with low-GWP refrigerants such as R513A and near-zero GWP refrigerates such as R1234ze. TORAD has done substantial development and testing using R134a as it is easily available and low cost. TORAD also tests using R1234ze.

When is the next availability of field samples?

Limited field samples will be available Q1 of 2020 and general field samples will be available in late 2020.

What about price?

The spool compressor will be very competitive to scroll and screw compressors when applied in similar applications with similar refrigerants.

How are you going to production?

TORAD Engineering plans to produce the compressors independently or through a joint venture. TORAD will consider other paths to commercialization that may better maximize the value of its intellectual property.

What does performance look like so far for production?

TORAD has been testing its spool compressor mechanism as an open frame compressor for many years. We are currently testing the first-generation semi-hermetic compressor. Testing on R134a at air-cooled conditions the results are within 2% of an R410A scroll compressor. TORAD analysis indicates that there are significant opportunities to improve the semi-hermetic performance through friction reduction, porting and valve optimization.

Will it be easy to manufacture vs. legacy technology?

The spool compressor is easily manufactured on standard legacy machine tools. There are no components that require 2D or 3D interpolation like the scroll or screw compressor. Additionally, the spool compressor has excellent displacement density. These facts combined result in a lighter weight compressor with lower material cost and reduced cost in feature generation and complex metrology.

Why is it orange?

Orange indicates strength and endurance, so naturally we chose this color.