Research and Innovation are two distinct elements of the LU-VE Group philosophy. A major strength of the company is its enormous investment in research and development which has led to the creation of a notable range of innovative products. These products have become a benchmark for the major constructors of heat exchangers throughout the world.

LU-VE has the biggest Research and Development laboratories in its sector in Europe and has collaborated closely for many years with the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan). Numerous other prestigious collaborations have taken place with the Universities of Grenoble, Padova, Chemnitz, Ulster and the Danish Institute of Technology in Århus. The LU-VE laboratories have already been carrying out experiments for several years using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) codes for the study of thermofluid dynamic processes in heat exchangers.

The use of CFD codes applied to finned exchangers increased the understanding of the fluid dynamic phenomena and the processes of heat exchange. As a consequence, it was possible to further enhance the already high exchange performance of the various designs used, continuously renewing the air streams in contact with the special fins and increasing the turbulence caused by them.The smoother airflow obtained thanks to this study of evaporator fins produces less humidity deposition on the fins and therefore less formation of frost, reducing dehumidification. The results of the CDF analyses have consistently been confirmed in experimental tests.

Path lines - CFD output

LU-VE was the first company in the world to apply the following features to commercial and industrial refrigeration:

• grooved tube technology (1988)
• specialized exchange surface technology (1988)
• performanance certification (1989);
• innovative materials and colours;
• advanced design.

These innovations have generated very high efficiency products which dramatically improve the traditional relationship between performance and price.

Chronology of innovations

1961 - Electric defrost

1965 - Double fin space

1967 - Air evaporators with internal and external turbulators

1969 - ALUPAINT® protection system for aluminium fins

1971 - STF “tubeless” condensers with oval tubes

1988 - HITEC® unit coolers with TURBOCOIL® tubes with internal helical grooving and TURBOFIN® fins

1991 - HITEC® condensers with internal helical grooved tubes and louvered fins

1997 - SUPERHITEC® unit coolers with TURBOCOIL® tubes with internal helical grooved tubes and TURBOFIN®2 fins

1999 - SAFETUBES SYSTEM® tube protection system for condensers and dry coolers

2000 - WATER SPRAY SYSTEM® hybrid system

2001 - JET-O-MATIC® refrigerant distributor for air evaporators

2003 - WET AND DRY® hybrid system

2006 - SMART® innovative structure system

2006 - DRY AND SPRAY® hybrid system

2008 - JETSTREAMER^® directional grill