Kaltra, a leading manufacturer of heat exchangers, has announced the successful completion of a comprehensive testing program for its reversible microchannel heat exchanger coils. The testing, conducted across a wide range of operating conditions, has validated the performance and operational robustness of the technology, solidifying its position as the most innovative solution within Kaltra’s microchannel heat exchanger (MCHE) portfolio.
The testing campaign, which evaluated reversible coils under varying air temperatures and humidity levels, multiple evaporation temperatures, and a broad set of performance parameters relevant to reversible heating and cooling operation, has shown that Kaltra’s reversible microchannel coils are specifically engineered to operate efficiently in both condenser and evaporator modes.
The design of the reversible coils incorporates optimized refrigerant distribution, multi-pass flow arrangements, and innovative louvered plate fins, tailored for effective condensate drainage and controlled frost formation. This enables stable performance under repeated frosting and defrost cycles, making it an ideal solution for demanding heat pump applications.
The test results have shown that the reversible microchannel coils deliver performance equal to or exceeding that of comparable finned-tube coils, with equivalent frosting time and longer operating time between defrost cycles. This translates to improved system uptime and energy efficiency for heat pump manufacturers.
According to Kaltra, the findings offer clear competitive advantages for heat pump manufacturers, including longer heating operation between defrost cycles, reliable and predictable defrost behavior even under challenging ambient conditions, sustained performance over repeated frosting and defrost cycles, and reduced refrigerant charge, supporting low-GWP and flammable refrigerants while easing regulatory compliance.
In addition to the testing program, Kaltra has also expanded its MCHEdesign simulation software to fully support reversible microchannel coils. Engineers and OEM partners can now model reversible coil operation directly within MCHEdesign, enabling faster design iteration, accurate performance prediction under frosting and defrost conditions, and seamless integration of reversible coils into heat pump system development workflows.
With these latest developments, Kaltra’s reversible microchannel coils are now established as a next-generation heat exchanger solution, delivering measurable advantages over traditional finned tube designs and setting a new benchmark within the MCHE product range.
