Panasonic launches gas/electric Hybrid VRF
2nd June 2018
EUROPE: Panasonic has announced the European launch of its Hybrid VRF, combining electric and gas-driven heat pump technology.
The new Hybrid VRF is designed to reduce energy costs by automatically switching between its gas-driven (GHP) and electric (EHP) technologies. It also provides a free supply of domestic hot water, said to be ideal for high demand applications, such as hotels and apartment blocks.
The Hybrid VRF comprises a master GHP unit, an EHP unit and a specialised intelligent controller. This controller monitors usage, energy demand and air conditioning load to calculate if GHP, EHP or a combination of both working simultaneously, will deliver the best savings. It will then switch between the two to optimise efficiency.
The result is a significant reduction in electrical demand during peak times when the air conditioning load ratio is high. The GHP system consumes less than 10% of the electricity that the EHP system does at full capacity.
For times when the load ratio is low – for example when hotels are at low occupancy during the daytime – Panasonic’s Hybrid VRF can switch to EHP to save energy. As the EHP can operate at a much lower capacity than GHP during off-peak periods, heating or cooling can be directed to the precise areas it is required with minimal energy wastage. In addition, the ability to switch to EHP when demand is low, helps to extend the life of the GHP engine, so it’s not in constant operation, delivering savings on maintenance costs too. Installation and maintenance requirements are further reduced due to the unit’s unified refrigerant cycle.
Another significant benefit of Panasonic’s Hybrid VRF is that it can provide a free supply of DHW. This is achieved by capturing the waste heat generated by the GHP engine during operation and using it to heat water.
Related stories:
Panasonic debuts gas/electric hybrid ac – 29 February 2016
JAPAN: Panasonic has debuted Japan’s first hybrid air conditioner, integrating gas and electric air conditioning systems into one refrigerant system. Read more…
