Vapor Compression Cooling and Heat Pump Chillers
ASHRAE Technical Committee 8.2

The ASHRAE Handbook is published in a series of four volumes, one of which is revised each year, ensuring that no volume is older than four years.

TC 8.2, along with TC 8.1, is responsible for the following handbook chapters:

HVAC Systems and Equipment: Compressors
A compressor is one of the four essential components of the basic vapor compression refrigeration system; the others are the condenser, evaporator, and expansion device. The compressor circulates refrigerant through the system and increases refrigerant vapor pressure to create the pressure differential between the condenser and evaporator. This chapter describes the design features of several categories of commercially available refrigerant compressors.

HVAC Systems and Equipment: Liquid Chilling
Liquid-chilling systems cool water, brine, or other secondary coolant for air conditioning or refrigeration. The system may be either factory-assembled and wired or shipped in sections for erection in the field. The most frequent application is water chilling for air conditioning, although brine cooling for low-temperature refrigeration and chilling fluids in industrial processes are also common. The basic components of a vapor-compression, liquid-chilling system include a compressor, liquid cooler (evaporator), con-denser, compressor drive, liquid-refrigerant expansion or flow-control device, and control center; it may also include a receiver, economizer, expansion turbine, and/or subcooler. In addition, auxiliary components may be used, such as a lubricant cooler, lubricant separator, lubricant-return device, purge unit, lubricant pump, refrigerant transfer unit, refrigerant vents, and/or additional control valves.

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Technical committees develop and sponsor technical sessions at the winter and annual conferences. Information about their future technical program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Program Subcommittee meeting

ASHRAE publishes papers and transactions from presentations at its conference events. In addition, ASHRAE records most of the seminar sessions from its conferences on DVD. These DVDs are ideal for use at chapter meetings, in university courses, or company lunch and learns. Products available from the most recent conference may be found here.

TC 8.2 co-sponsored the following technical sessions at the Las Vegas 2026 meeting:

 

SEMINAR 39
Decarbonization for Different Applications Such as Waste Heat Harvesting and Data Center

Chair: Aida Rezaei

The first speaker will discuss the Multi-Connect Oil-Free DX Cooling System, highlighting its ability to connect multiple evaporators to a single oil-free compressor. This innovation simplifies maintenance and enhances thermal efficiency, particularly at part-load conditions, while showcasing real-world case studies.

The second speaker will address sector coupling as a strategy for decarbonization in the building sector. By integrating energy systems to recover waste heat, this approach improves efficiency and reduces costs. Attendees will learn about enabling technologies and successful applications in HVAC&R systems, promoting sustainable practices across Data Center and building operations.

 

Technical Committees are responsible for identifying research topics, proposing research projects, selecting bidders, and monitoring research projects funded by ASHRAE. Information about their specific research program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Research Subcommittee meeting.

 ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test (MOT), Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development. Standards may be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore.

TC 8.2 is cognizant for the following standards:
Standard 30: Method of Testing Liquid Chillers
Standard 184: Method of Test for Field Performance of Liquid-Chiller Systems

TC 8.2 is co-cognizant for the following guideline:
Guideline 22: Instrumentation for Monitoring Central Chilled-Water Plant Efficiency

TIP: If MTG involvement add here otherwise leave blank.

TC 8.2 participates in the multidisciplinary task group, MTG.LowGWP.

Lower Global Warming Potential Alternative Refrigerants
MTG.LowGWP is established to coordinate TC/TG/TRG technical activities to help transition the HVAC&R industry to sustainable lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternative refrigerants. The MTG will further request participation from US EPA and AHRI. The MTG responsibilities include suggestions for research, development and presentation of technical programs of all types on alternative lower GWP refrigerants, suggestions for Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) systems evaluation for different applications, development of lower GWP solutions for different applications, and a special publication detailing aspects of LCCP applied to the HVAC&R fields. 

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. Technical questions not addressed may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net.