APCN-V Variable-Speed Air-Cooled Screw Chiller
160–400 TR variable-speed screw chiller with integrated inverter drive and EC condenser fans, targeting ASHRAE 90.1-exceeding part-load efficiency.
The APCN-V brings integrated variable-speed drive technology to SKM's air-cooled screw platform: the frequency inverter is built directly into the compressor casing rather than bolted on externally, eliminating the auxiliary cooling circuit that conventional external VFD installations require. This arrangement is thermally stable even in high-ambient, dusty conditions because the inverter is refrigerant-cooled, a clear advantage in desert environments. Compressor speed and load are co-optimised through an automatic volume ratio slider that adjusts continuously to real-time operating conditions — a mechanism that delivers measurable efficiency improvements over fixed-speed machines at part load, not just at rated conditions.
The series spans 160 to 400 TR (560–1,400 kW) on R-134a. Condenser fans are electronically commutated (EC) propeller type, enabling independent fan speed adjustment that captures additional part-load savings during cooler periods and at night — conditions that represent a large fraction of GCC annual hours. Capacity modulates from 25% to 100%. A plate-type economiser cycle further improves full-load COP by sub-cooling liquid refrigerant. The unit is rated to 52 °C ambient and certified under AHRI 550/590 and 551/591 with ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and 45001:2018.
Target applications are facilities where the load profile shows sustained part-load operation: large hotels with banqueting swings, airports where terminal occupancy varies sharply between peak and off-peak periods, mixed-use developments, and any facility targeting LEED or Estidama energy credits where IPLV rather than full-load EER drives the HVAC energy budget.
Technical specifications.
| Cooling capacity range | 160–400 TR |
| Cooling capacity range (kW) | 560–1,400 kW |
| Refrigerant | R-134a |
| Compressor type | Variable-speed screw with integrated refrigerant-cooled inverter |
| Capacity modulation | 25–100%, variable speed + automatic volume ratio slider |
| Condenser fans | Electronically commutated (EC) propeller type, IP55 |
| Economiser | Plate-type flash economiser as standard |
| Ambient operating range | −4 °C to +52 °C |
| Certifications | AHRI 550/590 & 551/591; ISO 9001:2015; ISO 14001:2015; ISO 45001:2018; exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 |
| Power supply (standard) | 380–415 V / 3 Ph / 50 Hz |
Use cases.
- ›Airport terminals with high occupancy variability between peak and off-peak periods
- ›Large hotels and convention facilities targeting LEED or Estidama energy certification
- ›Mixed-use developments where part-load hours dominate the annual energy budget
- ›Data centres requiring precise chilled-water temperature control at variable IT loads
- ›Central plant upgrades replacing fixed-speed chillers to reduce peak demand charges