Panasonic and Hitachi add R32 units
1st November 2013
JAPAN: Panasonic and Hitachi have joined Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric in announcing the introduction of air conditioning units running on the low GWP HFC refrigerant R32.
As R32 pioneer Daikin prepares to introduce the first air conditioning unit running on this “mildly flammable” refrigerant into Europe this month, its Japanese competitors are following suit with R32 product launches in Japan.
At the beginning of September the Cooling Post revealed that Mitsubishi Electric was to introduce 11 Z series room air conditioning models in Japan this month running on R32. Now we have learned that Panasonic and Hitachi are also to launch models Japan running on R32.
Panasonic’s X Series (above) was released on November 1 in Japan in sizes from 2.2kW to 7.1kW. Almost simultaneously Hitachi introduced its own R32 unit using a specially designed Hitachi scroll compressor.
Having lead the market with R32, introducing it into Japan a year ago, Daikin is set to introduce its R32 Ururu Sarara split system into Europe this month.
Designed to replace R410A, R32 is a single component, zero ODP gas with a GWP of around 650, significantly less than R410A’s 1,980. It is classified as A2L, or mildly flammable, under ASHRAE classifications. It is one of the two components – R125 being the other – that form R410A.
Also read:
Daikin Japan to launch R32 in commercial ac October 2, 2013
Mitsi to launch R32 units in Japan September 3, 2013
