MIRAI INTEX Expands Propane Turbocompressor Capabilities With Wider Operating Envelope

BRNO, Czech Republic — MIRAI INTEX has expanded the operating capabilities of its propane turbocompressor and introduced an updated engineering performance calculator for OEM refrigeration manufacturers. The company, known for developing advanced refrigeration systems including the ultra low freezer Mirai Intex, focuses on natural refrigerants, oil-free compressor technology, and high-efficiency cooling solutions for demanding industrial applications.

The latest development gives refrigeration system designers more flexibility when evaluating R290-based equipment. Engineers can now model additional operating conditions, including systems equipped with economizers and installations running under part-load conditions.

Alongside the calculator update, MIRAI INTEX has expanded the operating envelope of its propane turbocompressor. The broader range enables OEMs to assess compressor behavior across more evaporating and condensing conditions before finalizing system designs.

Together, these updates aim to make engineering calculations more practical, improve equipment selection, and reduce the time required during the early stages of refrigeration system development.

Updated Performance Calculator Supports More Operating Conditions

Industrial refrigeration systems rarely operate under one fixed set of conditions.

Cooling demand changes throughout the day based on production loads, ambient temperatures, process requirements, storage conditions, and equipment utilization. Engineers therefore need reliable performance data across multiple operating points.

MIRAI INTEX's updated calculator allows OEM partners to evaluate a wider range of system configurations before moving into physical testing.

Engineers can use the tool to:

• Calculate operating parameters for refrigeration systems with economizers.
• Evaluate compressor behavior under part-load operation.
• Compare performance at different temperature conditions.
• Assess suitable compressor configurations during system development.
• Reduce repetitive manual calculations.
• Evaluate possible designs before committing to prototypes.

The addition of part-load calculations is especially important for industrial refrigeration systems.

Compressors often spend a significant amount of operating time below maximum capacity. Designing equipment based only on full-load performance can therefore provide an incomplete picture of real-world energy use and system behavior.

By including part-load conditions, engineers can better understand how a proposed refrigeration system may perform across typical operating cycles.

Wider Operating Envelope Provides Greater Design Flexibility

MIRAI INTEX has also expanded the operating envelope of its propane turbocompressor.

A compressor operating envelope defines the range of evaporating temperatures, condensing temperatures, and other conditions under which the equipment can operate.

A wider envelope gives refrigeration manufacturers greater flexibility when developing systems for different applications.

Instead of evaluating a compressor only within a narrow set of conditions, OEM engineers can now consider additional operating points when designing refrigeration equipment.

This can be valuable for systems where cooling requirements vary considerably or where equipment must operate efficiently across different seasons, temperatures, or production loads.

A broader operating range may also help engineers identify suitable compressor configurations earlier in the development cycle.

That can reduce the need for redesigns after prototype testing and make it easier to match compressor capabilities with the intended application.

Propane Compressor Designed Around Oil-Free Technology

The MIRAI INTEX propane turbocompressor uses R290 propane as its refrigerant and incorporates an oil-free compressor design.

Traditional compressor systems often depend on lubricating oil to protect bearings and other moving components. That requirement introduces additional equipment and maintenance considerations.

Oil management systems may include separators, pumps, filters, return lines, and monitoring components.

MIRAI INTEX uses gas-dynamic bearing technology instead.

The approach allows the compressor to operate without traditional lubricating oil.

According to the company, important characteristics of the compressor include:

• 100% oil-free operation.
• Gas-dynamic bearings.
• Reduced maintenance requirements.
• Strong efficiency under part-load conditions.
• Low vibration and noise levels.
• Soft-start capability.
• Fast restart functionality.
• Integrated compressor control and protection.
• Operation with R290 natural refrigerant.

Removing oil from the compressor architecture can also simplify refrigeration system design.

Without oil circulation, engineers may avoid several components normally required for oil separation and return.

The result can be a simpler system architecture with fewer oil-related maintenance requirements.

R290 Supports the Shift Toward Natural Refrigerants

R290 propane is increasingly considered for refrigeration applications because of its environmental characteristics and thermodynamic performance.

Propane has a very low global warming potential compared with many fluorinated refrigerants historically used in cooling systems.

It also has zero ozone depletion potential.

These characteristics have made natural refrigerants increasingly relevant as governments and industries introduce stricter requirements regarding high-GWP refrigerants.

The European Union, for example, continues to reduce reliance on fluorinated greenhouse gases through its updated F-gas regulation.

For refrigeration manufacturers, this means refrigerant selection is becoming a longer-term engineering decision.

OEMs must consider not only current equipment performance but also regulatory requirements, system efficiency, refrigerant availability, and future serviceability.

Technologies designed around natural refrigerants can help manufacturers address these considerations during product development.

MIRAI INTEX Focuses on Sustainable Refrigeration Engineering

Founded in Switzerland in 2015 and headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic, MIRAI INTEX develops refrigeration equipment for industrial applications that require reliable temperature control.

The company's engineering approach focuses heavily on natural refrigerants and compressor technologies designed to reduce maintenance requirements and environmental impact.

Its product portfolio includes refrigeration systems based on the air-cycle principle.

These systems use air itself as the refrigerant, eliminating the need for synthetic refrigerants in applicable installations.

MIRAI INTEX technology is used across several industries with demanding cooling requirements, including:

• Pharmaceutical production.
• Biomedical storage.
• Plasma and biological material freezing.
• Food processing.
• Lyophilization.
• Semiconductor production and testing.
• Metal processing.
• Climate testing.
• Chemical processes.
• Gas liquefaction.

The company has also received recognition within the refrigeration industry for its technology.

Its MIRAI X CRYO system received Refrigeration Innovation of the Year at the 2024 RAC Cooling Industry Awards.

Better Engineering Data Can Reduce Development Time

Accurate compressor data plays an important role throughout refrigeration system development.

Engineering teams must often make decisions about heat exchangers, controls, compressor sizing, piping, cooling capacity, and expected energy consumption before building a working prototype.

If initial assumptions are inaccurate, manufacturers may need to modify equipment during testing.

That increases engineering time and can delay production.

Performance calculation tools help teams test assumptions earlier.

Engineers can compare multiple operating points digitally before deciding which configuration should move into physical validation.

The updated MIRAI INTEX calculator expands that process by giving OEMs more options for evaluating economizer-equipped systems and part-load operation.

The broader compressor operating envelope provides another layer of flexibility.

Together, the updates can help manufacturers evaluate more refrigeration system configurations within the same engineering workflow.

New Propane Turbocompressor Model Planned for Chillventa 2026

MIRAI INTEX is also preparing to expand its propane compressor portfolio.

The company plans to present a new propane turbocompressor model during Chillventa 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Chillventa is one of the major international exhibitions for refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, and heat pump technology.

The 2026 exhibition is scheduled to take place from October 13 to October 15.

MIRAI INTEX will exhibit in Hall 4, Stand 4-540.

The new compressor model is expected to expand the range of integration options available to refrigeration equipment manufacturers.

Visitors will also be able to discuss compressor operating characteristics, engineering requirements, and potential system applications with the MIRAI INTEX team.

Supporting the Next Generation of Industrial Refrigeration

Refrigeration manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve energy efficiency while transitioning toward refrigerants with a lower environmental impact.

At the same time, industrial customers expect equipment to remain reliable, efficient, and practical to maintain.

That combination makes compressor engineering increasingly important.

By expanding the operating envelope of its propane turbocompressor and improving its engineering calculator, MIRAI INTEX is giving OEM manufacturers more information during the design process.

The updates allow engineers to evaluate additional operating scenarios before committing to a final system configuration.

For manufacturers developing refrigeration equipment around R290, oil-free compressor technology, and natural refrigerants, broader performance data can help turn early engineering decisions into more predictable real-world performance.