China CME Group Successfully Launches Multi-Head Parallel Magnetic Bearing Chiller

Recently, CME Group’s independently developed multi-compressor parallel magnetic-bearing chiller successfully rolled off the production line. This milestone marks a major breakthrough for the company in the field of high-efficiency, energy-saving refrigeration technology, injecting new momentum into the industry's transition toward greener and smarter operations.

The unit utilizes magnetic-bearing technology to replace traditional mechanical bearings, enabling the compressor rotor to operate in a contactless, suspended state. This effectively eliminates energy losses caused by mechanical friction and successfully achieves completely oil-free operation for the entire unit.

This technological breakthrough not only significantly reduces operational noise and vibration but also substantially enhances equipment reliability and service life: compressor lifespan has been extended by 40%, and the system's Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) has improved by 30%. While lowering maintenance and operational costs for users, the technology also provides strong support for the implementation of the nation's "Dual Carbon" strategic goals.

During the R&D phase, the CME team faced a series of technical hurdles, including multi-compressor load distribution, energy regulation sequencing, and—most notably—the coordination of parallel control systems.

Rising to the challenge, the CME Group Technical Center swiftly mobilized a "Party Member Task Force" and a "Youth Innovation Team," comprising key engineers, to maintain a continuous presence at the test bench. Through repeated testing of control valve actuation points and compressor operating frequencies—and by integrating PLC-based automatic control technologies—the team successfully resolved these technical challenges. Furthermore, they innovatively adopted a parallel throttling and independent suction/discharge scheme, successfully eliminating the issue of airflow backflow causing adverse impacts on the system when only a subset of compressors is active. During the critical commissioning phase, R&D personnel worked in tandem with the PLC automatic control system to continuously optimize the alignment between the control software and the refrigeration hardware, ultimately achieving perfect synchronization within the multi-compressor parallel magnetic-bearing system.

These sustained efforts to overcome technical obstacles have laid a solid foundation for the product's exceptional reliability and efficiency. Testing results confirm that the unit's COP (Energy Efficiency Ratio) and IPLV (Integrated Part Load Value) both meet the requirements of the new national "Grade 1" energy efficiency standards, marking a new breakthrough for the company in the integration and intelligent control of core magnetic-bearing chiller technologies.

CME Group’s multi-compressor parallel magnetic-bearing chiller is built upon a core design philosophy defined by three key principles: "Extreme Simplicity, Extreme Efficiency, and Extreme Intelligence." Specifically, the oil-free magnetic levitation technology achieves "extreme simplicity" by streamlining the system structure, minimizing auxiliary components, and reducing maintenance complexity. The unit maintains high-efficiency operation across its entire operating range—significantly lowering energy consumption—thereby achieving "extreme efficiency." Furthermore, the intelligent control system enables adaptive regulation, remote monitoring, and fault pre-warning capabilities, delivering a more convenient and efficient user experience for customers and realizing "extreme intelligence."

The successful rollout of the multi-compressor parallel magnetic levitation chiller series not only enriches CME Group’s portfolio of refrigeration products but also powerfully accelerates the industry’s transition from high energy consumption toward green and intelligent operations. CME Group will remain firmly anchored to the "Dual Carbon" goals, leveraging independent innovation as its driving force to contribute its unique wisdom and strength toward building a green, low-carbon industrial ecosystem and a sustainable, brighter future.