SMC industrial temperature control
Process efficiency, thermal precision and refrigerant selection are becoming increasingly interconnected in the design of industrial cooling systems. With the HRSC, HRZC and HRSF150/200 series, SMC offers solutions designed to meet different application requirements and the evolving regulatory framework for fluorinated gases.
Temperature can directly affect the quality and continuity of numerous production processes. For this reason, a chiller is not simply an auxiliary component, but an integral part of the overall reliability of machines and systems.
At the same time, the progressive phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants is making it increasingly important to assess the most suitable cooling technology from the design stage. SMC addresses this transition with industrial chillers that use CO₂ as a natural refrigerant or fluorinated refrigerants with a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
F-Gas Regulation and industrial chillers: what is changing
The new European regulatory framework on fluorinated gases is accelerating the reduction of HFCs and introducing progressively stricter thresholds for refrigeration equipment.
The EU Regulation 2024/573 includes, among other measures, new restrictions affecting stationary chillers. From 2027, restrictions are foreseen for equipment above 12 kW using fluorinated gases with a GWP equal to or above 750, and for equipment up to 12 kW using refrigerants with a GWP equal to or above 150, except for specific exemptions provided by the regulation.
For OEMs, machine builders and industrial users, this means that refrigerant selection must be considered within a broader assessment that includes not only current performance, but also the expected operating life of the machine, maintenance requirements and the future availability of the technologies adopted.
In this context, solutions based on CO₂ R744, with a GWP of 1, and low-GWP refrigerants such as R454C make it possible to address the evolution of industrial temperature control with greater awareness.
SMC CO₂ chillers: a solution for reducing system GWP
CO₂ used as a refrigerant, identified as R744, has a GWP of 1 and is classified as A1. It is also a non-flammable refrigerant.
SMC has introduced CO₂ into several temperature control solutions, including the HRSC and HRZC series, designed for different industrial requirements.
SMC HRSC series: industrial cooling with CO₂ refrigerant
The SMC HRSC series includes recirculating fluid chillers designed for industrial applications requiring stable temperature control and the use of a natural refrigerant.
The range offers cooling capacities from 1.3 to 11.5 kW, while the inverter system adjusts energy consumption according to the actual load required by the process.
Why choose the HRSC series
- CO₂ R744 natural refrigerant with a GWP of 1
- Cooling capacity from 1.3 to 11.5 kW
- Temperature stability up to ±0.1 °C
- Inverter control according to the actual load
- Non-flammable refrigerant
- Suitable for air transport
The HRSC series can be used in a wide range of production environments:
- laser cutting and laser welding machines;
- packaging lines;
- arc welding applications;
- injection moulding systems.
The combination of thermal control, energy modulation and CO₂ refrigerant makes HRSC a solution worth considering both for the development of new machines and for the upgrade of existing cooling architectures.
SMC HRZC series: thermal precision for semiconductors and electronics
When the process requires particularly accurate temperature control, SMC offers the HRZC series, a CO₂ thermo-chiller also developed to meet the needs of the semiconductor industry.
The configuration integrates the pump and heat exchanger inside the unit and uses CO₂ with a GWP of 1.
Main data of the HRZC series
- Cooling capacity: 10 kW
- Heating capacity: 6.5 kW
- Temperature stability: ±0.1 °C
- CO₂ as a non-flammable refrigerant
- Integrated pump and heat exchanger
- Compliance with SEMI S2, S8 and F47 standards
In the electronics and semiconductor industries, the HRZC series can be used in etching processes, CMP, deposition and development, testers, cleaning systems and temperature control of process chamber electrodes.
Its applications also extend to general industrial production, including laser machines, machining centres and injection moulding systems.
For machine builders working with demanding thermal requirements, HRZC therefore makes it possible to combine process precision, integration and the use of a natural refrigerant.
SMC HRSF150/200 series: high cooling capacity with R454C refrigerant
The transition towards lower-GWP refrigerants does not necessarily mean adopting the same technology for every application. When higher cooling capacities are required, the HRSF150/200 series offers a solution based on low-GWP R454C refrigerant.
Available in air-cooled or water-cooled configurations, the range reaches cooling capacities of up to 20.5 kW.
Features of the HRSF150/200 series
- Cooling capacity: 15.7 or 20.5 kW
- Heating capacity: 3 or 5.5 kW
- Operating fluid temperature: from 5 to 35 °C
- Ambient operating temperature: from -20 to +45 °C
- Temperature stability up to ±0.1 °C
- Air-cooled or water-cooled versions
The touch panel provides self-diagnostic, display and communication functions, making it easier to monitor the chiller and manage operating conditions.
Accessibility has also been designed with maintenance in mind: electrical components can be accessed from the front and a dedicated connection is available for topping up the circulating fluid.
How to choose the right SMC chiller for your application
Cooling capacity and operating temperature are only two of the parameters that need to be assessed.
The selection of an industrial chiller should start from the actual process conditions: thermal load, required precision, fluid to be controlled, environmental conditions, available space, maintenance requirements and the characteristics of the machine in which the system will be integrated.
HRSC
CO₂ chiller range from 1.3 to 11.5 kW for industrial and automation applications.
HRZC
CO₂ thermo-chiller for high-precision processes, with particular focus on electronics and semiconductor applications.
HRSF150/200
Chiller with low-GWP R454C refrigerant for applications requiring cooling capacities of up to 20.5 kW.
The availability of different technologies makes it possible to configure the temperature control system according to the actual requirements of the application, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach for processes with very different characteristics.
Integrating temperature control into machine design
The evolution of refrigerants makes it increasingly important to consider temperature control as part of the overall machine design rather than as a choice to be made only at the end of the project.
Assessing thermal performance, energy consumption, regulatory requirements, maintenance and future refrigerant availability in advance allows OEMs and industrial users to develop solutions that are more consistent with the expected lifecycle of the system.
Technology BSA supports companies in selecting SMC temperature control solutions, providing technical expertise to identify the chiller best suited to the operating conditions and application requirements.
Which SMC solution is right for your process?
Contact Technology BSA to analyse the cooling requirements of your application and evaluate the most suitable configuration among CO₂ chillers and solutions using low-GWP refrigerants.
