Samsung Electronics is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility, to develop next-generation heating technologies.
The project, titled “Development of Vapor-Compression Heating and Multi-Solution Technologies for Cold Climates,” aims to deliver efficient, reliable heating performance in temperatures below -30°C.
At the heart of the research is vapor-compression technology, which compresses and circulates refrigerant to transfer heat from outdoors into indoor spaces. The technology can enable highly energy-efficient HVAC systems capable of heating, cooling, and supplying hot water.
Samsung plans to continue the research through the first half of next year, then validate the technology's performance and reliability in Alaska's extreme conditions. The company intends to apply the technology across a range of heat pump HVAC products.
The goal is to advance vapor-compression technology to ensure stable heating performance below -30°C using a single-compressor system.
Vapor-compression technology is an energy-conversion process that relies on refrigerant repeatedly changing between liquid and gas states to absorb and release heat.
After absorbing heat from the outdoor environment, the refrigerant passes through a compressor, where it is compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. The heat generated in this process is transferred to indoor air or water through a heat exchanger.
Once it releases heat, the refrigerant returns to a liquid state and absorbs heat from outside again. By repeating this cycle, the system can provide heating, cooling, and hot water.
However, vapor-compression systems generally lose performance as outdoor temperatures fall. This is a particular challenge in cold regions such as North America and Northern Europe, where sub--30°C conditions can persist for long periods.
Samsung therefore sees it as essential to secure next-generation vapor-compression technology with higher heating capacity and reliability for extreme cold.
The company also plans to improve performance by using rotary scroll compressors. Unlike conventional piston compressors, which compress refrigerant through linear piston motion, scroll compressors use two interlocking scrolls that rotate to compress the refrigerant.
This design reduces energy losses and improves operational stability, making it well suited to heating systems that must operate continuously for extended periods in cold climates.
Samsung will also apply “flash injection,” a refrigerant-control technology designed to prevent compressor overheating and optimize performance. The system detects declining thermal efficiency during prolonged operation and injects additional refrigerant into the unit when needed.
Samsung plans to demonstrate the technology developed through the project at the field-test laboratory of Rocky National Laboratory (NLR) in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Fairbanks is an exceptionally cold region, with average monthly low temperatures hovering around -40°C and record lows falling below -50°C. These conditions make it an ideal location to evaluate product performance and reliability under extreme environmental conditions.
During the winter season, researchers will comprehensively assess heating performance, energy efficiency, long-duration operating stability, and hot-water supply capability to determine whether the systems can operate reliably in real residential settings.
Through the research, Samsung aims to strengthen its leadership in vapor-compression heating technology while responding proactively to the global shift toward electrified heating.
The company plans to expand the technology to a range of HVAC products, including system air conditioners with heating and cooling functions and heat pump boilers.
“This will be an important opportunity to demonstrate Samsung's differentiated high-efficiency technology and equipment reliability in extreme cold,” said Lim Sung-taek, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Digital Appliances Business. “Using the research data, we will introduce heat pump products to global markets that reduce carbon emissions while maximizing performance and energy efficiency.”
