R32 Hybrid VRF - Simultaneous Heating and Cooling

Water Based Technology

Water is at the Heart of the Indoor Units

Water, rather than traditional refrigerant is at the heart of the indoor units. This means there is minimal risk of refrigerant leaking into small confined spaces. Hybrid VRF minimises the need for leak detection, reducing the total cost of the system and on-going maintenance of the leak detection system itself.

Minimise the Need for Leak Detection Systems

In commercial buildings, additional leak detection systems specific to air conditioning are often installed to safeguard occupants due to increasing safety regulations. This affects hotels in particular, where air conditioners are installed in the room space and occupant safety is critical.

A leak detection system is designed to trigger an alarm if refrigerant was to leak into the room space and shut down the system to try and prevent harm to the occupants. These systems can be expensive and add to the cost of design, build and maintenance.

Realise Significant Maintenance Cost Reductions

Throughout a system’s lifetime, annual testing and the recalibration of leak detection sensors adds significant cost to a VRF system. Using Hybrid VRF instead, minimises this need and could provide as much as 30% in maintenance savings over 15 years.

* Based on a real project using costs from a Mitsubishi Electric Business Solutions Partner in the United Kingdom.

Hybrid Branch Circuit (HBC) Controller

Industry First Patented Technology

NB: Image for representation only

A. Plate Heat Exchangers

This is the point where the refrigerant circuit transfers its energy to the sealed water system. There are two sets of Plate Heat Exchangers, both placed at opposite ends in the HBC. Both sets provide hot water in heating mode or cold water in cooling mode. During mixed mode, one set provides hot water while the other provides cold water to its respective flow header.

B. Pumps

Each set of Plate Heat Exchangers has a water pump. This circulates the closed loop water system between the HBC and indoor units. The discharge flow rate from the pump is controlled by the Valve Block.

C. Valve Block

A Valve Block is connected between each flow and return port of the HBC.
This Valve Block has two features;

Firstly, it has the choice of selecting between the two flow headers.
Secondly, it controls the flow of the water sent to the indoor unit, defining the capacity.