Second generation Replacement using Daikin VRV
Posted on Monday, January 2, 2012
Europe N.V. announces the second generation of its Replacement VRVIII, the Daikin upgrade solution for systems based on the banned R-22 refrigerant. VRVIII-Q provides a cost-effective upgrade path for existing R-22 heat pump or heat recovery systems to a state of the art R-410A system. Because existing piping – and in many cases also the indoor units – can be retained, the installation requires a minimum of downtime and investment. The second generation of VRVIII-Q consists of larger capacity units with a compact footprint now allowing a one-for-one replacement of outdoor units.
Time to upgrade
In 2015, a total ban on the use of R-22 refrigerant will come into effect. The use of virgin R-22 has been banned in the European Union since 2010, which means that over time, supplies will become scarcer and more expensive, and longer downtimes can result when reclaimed R-22 is not available.
R-410A’s zero ozone depletion potential and improved efficiency combined with the inverter-based heat pump technology of Daikin’s VRVIII-Q solution result not only in increased energy efficiency and lower CO2 emissions but also in decreased operating costs.
Cost effective and easy
From the onset of the R-22 ban, Daikin presented the market with a cost-effective solution. Already with first generation VRVIII-Q systems, existing piping could be kept and in many cases also the indoor units. With the second generation, larger capacity outdoor units (up to 48 HP) with a reduced footprint (smaller than corresponding R-22 outdoor units) allow a one-to-one replacement of outdoor units. Hence, existing power supply connections can also be retained.
VRVIII-Q has been designed to operate at lower pressures suitable for existing R-22 piping while maintaining high energy efficiency. And thanks to an automatic charging and cleaning feature, new piping – required in the past for system upgrades due to oil and contaminants in existing piping – is no longer needed, even in the case of previous compressor breakdown. In many cases, only the outdoor units need to be replaced, which allows phased replacement, the spreading of investment costs and a minimal disruption to business.
VRVIII-Q is available in configurations of 5 to 48 HP in heat pump and 10 to 30 HP in heat recovery models. All existing Daikin R-22 and R-407C VRV® installations can be replaced. Moreover, many non-Daikin R-22 or R-407C installations can also be upgraded with Daikin’s Replacement VRV. In addition to possible efficiency gains of more than 40%, system capacity can be increased without changing the refrigerant piping, allowing adaptation of the system to increased cooling and heating demand.
For more information on Daikin Europe N.V.’s VRV solutions for new and existing constructions, visit www.daikin.eu