LG And University of Alaska Anchorage Open Heat Pump Labs for Cold-Climate HVAC Research
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By News Reporter
Award-winning Heat Pump Delivers Advanced Efficiency and
Heating Performance in Extreme Cold Conditions
SEOUL, Oct. 29, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG), a leading global player in air conditioning technologies, has been honored with the 2025 AHR Innovation Award in the Sustainable Solutions category for its advanced LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump. The award was decided by an independent panel of ASHRAE member judges, who assessed product entries based on their design, creativity, application, value and market impact potential.
The LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump, which will be showcased at the AHR Expo 2025 in Orlando, Florida next February, offers opportunities to reduce energy consumption, contributing to climate change mitigation while improving inhabitants’ comfort.
Designed specifically for cold regions, LG’s heat pump operates effectively at temperatures as low as negative 35 degrees Celsius (negative 31 degrees Fahrenheit). It retains full heating capacity at negative 25 degrees Celsius (negative 13 degrees Fahrenheit) and functions at 70 percent capacity at negative 35 degrees Celsius (negative 31 degrees Fahrenheit). Additionally, the innovative heat pump incorporates a refrigerant cycle that prevents frost accumulation on the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby enhancing heating performance. The impressive solution is also equipped with a high-capacity, high-efficiency twin rotary inverter compressor that uses low Global Warming Potential (GWP) R32 (GWP 675) refrigerant, available with HSPF2 13.4 Btu/Wh and 13.6 kBtu/h.
“The recognition from ASHRAE and AHR reflects LG’s ongoing dedication to HVAC technological innovation and electrification,” said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “The Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump is a solution that can withstand extreme cold weather conditions and help improve energy efficiency in homes. Our focus remains on creating more environmentally responsible solutions that align with consumer needs while simultaneously reducing our global environmental footprint.”
LG’s comprehensive suite of heating and cooling solutions for commercial, light-commercial and residential applications continues to receive industry recognition. This is largely due to LG’s consistent efforts to provide innovative HVAC solutions leveraging the company’s advanced core technologies, which elevate performance and support the move to electrification.
LG prioritizes heat pump advancement as a key component of the U.S.’s climate improvement efforts. Several states have committed to improving decarbonization, setting a goal for heat pumps to constitute at least 65 percent of all new HVAC and hot water heating systems by the end of the decade.
LG’s commitment to these broader goals is further demonstrated by its leadership of the Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research, founded in collaboration with the University of Alaska to establish an Advanced Cold Climate Heat Pump Laboratory in Alaska. LG has also set up a global R&D triangle connecting North America, Europe (Oslo, Norway) and Asia (Harbin, China), with the aim of accelerating the development of high-performance heat pumps for regions that endure extreme cold.
“We understand the need to develop and validate products under extreme cold conditions, and the award-winning LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump is a testament to our ongoing efforts in this important area,” added Lee. “By minimizing reliance on fossil fuel-driven heating systems and cutting down on any supplementary back-up heating, the heat pump reduces environmental impacts and supports the larger decarbonization and electrification movements.”
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By News Reporter
A Joint Effort Between LG and Top Research Universities, Consortium to Accelerate
the Development of Next-Generation Heat Pump and Establish Industry Standards
SEOUL, Sep. 24, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is hosting the first-ever meeting of the Global Heat Pump Consortium in Seoul, South Korea, from September 23-26. A cooperative venture between LG and a growing number of international universities, the consortium is focused on developing new, more efficient heat pump technologies, including solutions designed to handle harsh climatic conditions. The event brings together LG personnel and academics from participating universities to introduce heat pump technologies and discuss industry-academia projects being conducted by each of the consortium’s regional clusters.
The Global Heat Pump Consortium comprises LG-led heat pump R&D consortiums established in Alaska, USA (November 2023) and in Oslo, Norway and Harbin, China (June and August of 2024, respectively). The consortium also includes a South Korean cluster, with LG working collaboratively with respected universities in Seoul and Busan to drive heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) innovation.
On the first day of the event, LG introduced key heat pump technologies and products from its industry-leading lineup of high-efficiency HVAC solutions. Each regional consortium then provided an update on its specific research tasks and shared its current progress in evaluating high-performance heat pump tech for challenging climates. The inaugural meeting of the global consortium is also offering attendees valuable learning opportunities, with seminars and discussions on topics, including the latest HVAC industry and market trends, and future technologies for region-specific heat pump solutions.
Through cooperating with universities known for their top-tier HVAC research programs, LG is strengthening its own R&D capabilities and accelerating the development of the next generation of heat pumps. The company anticipates that the groundbreaking work being carried out by the consortium will also help strengthen its competitiveness in the global heating and cooling solutions market.
Internationally, the demand for high-efficiency, low-carbon-emission heat pumps is rapidly increasing, in large part due to the worldwide electrification and decarbonization trends. Solidifying its status as a technology leader and responsible corporate citizen, LG is leveraging its cutting-edge heat pump technology to deliver region-specific heating and cooling solutions for the North American, European and Asian HVAC markets.
At an investor forum in August, LG highlighted “B2B acceleration” as one of its four key strategies for business portfolio innovation. The HVAC business, a major component of the company’s diverse B2B portfolio, has become a market leader based on the strength of its advanced, highly-efficient core technologies, such as inverter compressors, heat exchangers and AI engines.
Around the globe, LG is enhancing the capabilities of its HVAC business through creating locally complete systems encompassing R&D, sales, manufacturing and maintenance. In addition, the company currently operates five Air Solution Research Labs – with facilities located in Korea, North America, Europe and India – and has a network of HVAC academies spanning 43 countries and training over 30,000 engineers annually.
“We are committed to accelerating our HVAC business, with heat pump innovation as the cornerstone of our vision,” said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “Through the Global Heat Pump Consortium, we aim to lead the HVAC industry with decarbonization solutions aligned with the global electrification trend.”
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By News Reporter
Partnership to Enhance Company’s High-performance Heat Pump Solutions for Cold Climates,
Lay Groundwork for the Development of Next-generation Technologies
SEOUL, Sep. 3, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is completing its global R&D triangle with the establishment of the Chinese Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research (CCAHR) in Harbin. The consortium, which joins existing LG-led initiatives in North America and Europe, will develop next-generation core technologies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions capable of providing strong, dependable performance in extreme cold conditions.
To mark the official launch of CCAHR, LG held a signing ceremony on August 31 (local time) at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China. Prominent members of the consortium include the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Xi’an Jiao Tong University (XJTU), all of which are actively researching HVAC technologies and systems designed for cold climates. The consortium will operate new research facilities in Harbin and Mohe City to develop strong and reliable HVAC solutions, helping LG to deliver products customized to local needs, and strengthen its presence in the Chinese market.
Harbin, known for its harsh winter conditions, and Mohe, where temperatures can drop to below minus 50 degrees Celsius, provide ideal settings for advancing LG’s research into heat pump technologies that can maintain high efficiency in severely cold climates. CCHAR will conduct tests on the company’s HVAC solutions, including residential air conditioners, at two facilities: a university-owned building at the Harbin Institute of Technology campus, and a residential site in Mohe. The consortium will gather comprehensive operational data to improve the heating performance, energy efficiency and overall reliability of LG’s HVAC products.
CCAHR is a significant addition to LG’s growing international program of heat pump R&D collaboration, complementing LG-led consortiums established in Korea and the U.S. last November, and in Europe this June. With its trio of consortiums, LG has built a robust R&D infrastructure spanning North America, Europe and Asia, and will be able to develop technologies suited to the unique demands of each region’s climatic and housing conditions. The R&D triangle will play a major role in further solidifying the company’s global leadership in HVAC technology.
Moreover, during a recent CEO-led
link hidden, please login to view, LG outlined four key strategies for business portfolio innovation, including the acceleration of its B2B capabilities – particularly in the area of HVAC. By leveraging its advanced inverter, heat pump and chiller technologies, LG aims to lead the market in high-efficiency HVAC solutions, while actively targeting the growing demand for cooling systems, especially in AI data centers. Additionally, in key markets, LG’s HVAC business is establishing a locally self-sufficient operation system encompassing the in-house production of core components and the creation of production bases optimized for regional supply. This system, which covers everything from R&D to sales and maintenance, greatly enhances LG’s B2B capabilities and is expected to support meaningful long-term growth.
“We are committed to developing next-generation heat pump technologies tailored to diverse climates,” said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “Through our R&D initiatives, we will strengthen our ability to provide differentiated solutions for each region, and reinforce our product and technology leadership in the global HVAC market.”
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By News Reporter
LG is rooted in the philosophy of open innovation – an open approach to innovation and facilitating collaboration to create a better life for all. These collaborative partnerships involve LG affiliate companies and extend to government, universities and research labs, with the goal to establish an open ecosystem of innovation that will benefit and empower all involved.
Recently, the LG Toronto AI Lab welcomed 30 graduate students from various universities in South Korea to the
link hidden, please login to view (CARTE) at the University of Toronto. The event – initiated and organized by the Toronto AI Lab in collaboration with CARTE – brought these talented students together to explore applied research partnerships in Canada and introduce them to career opportunities at LG. Sponsored by the South Korean government and managed through the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the 6-month CARTE program accommodates students from a wide range of disciplines, including technology, engineering, and the natural and mathematical sciences and aims to inspire students to leverage AI innovatively in their respective fields.
The selection for this program was competitive, drawing participants from among South Korea’s brightest. These selected students will engage in 10 industry projects, including three spearheaded by the LG Toronto AI Lab.
Kevin Ferreira, Senior Director and Head of the LG Toronto AI Lab, shared, “Our collaboration with the University of Toronto and the South Korean government on the CARTE program aims to enhance our research capabilities and strengthen our talent pool. This event enabled us to present the extensive work undertaken at the LG Toronto AI Lab to an exceptional group of Korean students, laying the groundwork for deeper research collaboration.”
Showcasing some of the Toronto AI Lab’s recent work, Manasa Bharadwaj, Senior AI Research Scientist, presented on behalf of the LG Toronto AI Lab’s Conversational AI team and their research into Responsible Conversational AI. The talk covered the motivation, technical details and results of the team’s 2023 published research titled ‘COUNT’ and ‘GPT-Detox’. The two paraphrasing approaches leverage unlikelihood training and prompt-based approaches respectively to convert unsafe text into safe text.
Mathieu Tuli, AI Research Scientist, presented on the work that the LG Toronto AI Lab Digital Human team conducts, highlighting FlowFace, the team’s recent CVPR) 2024 accepted paper. The talk provided detail on why FlowFace is an important innovation for the community at large, and how it affects the rest of the Digital Human pipeline.
Thi Ha Kyaw, Staff AI Research Scientist, presented an introduction to quantum computing and quantum algorithms in general, and why quantum is worth pursuing in the current quantum utility era. He also presented his team’s recent result on super-exponential catastrophe of quantum algorithms in noisy quantum hardware.
During their time in the program, students will participate in graduate-level intensive courses in Machine Learning and AI, delivered by the University of Toronto’s Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. They will also benefit from tailored AI support services provided by CARTE, including research and training in AI for academic and industry partners.
Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to attend several applied AI seminars at the University of Toronto and engage with AI and machine learning projects across various sectors, including industry, government, and non-profits. A dedicated workspace will also be available to them, fostering collaboration and allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills within Toronto’s thriving AI ecosystem.
The program will conclude in late June, where selected students will present their projects to industry partners, showcasing their achievements and the potential for future innovations in AI.
Contributed by LG Canada
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