“These units feature a unique, light, compact assembly with a self-cleaning spiral condenser coil, corrosion-proof housing construction, and reliable, efficient scroll and screw compressors,” noted Mason. The condenser coil is considered to be self-cleaning, because it expands and contracts to shed scale. This feature eliminates the need for water treatment chemicals used to prevent scaling, the company said.

Champion Cooler Corp. (Little Rock, Ark.) introduced its high-capacity axial fan in its evaporative cooler models (FAD242 and FAD248). These units have long-life CELdek evaporative media, a cabinet shielded from water with plastic reservoir and plastic evaporative media shields, and belt tension with screw adjustment. The company stated that its units offer more cool air delivery per horsepower than centrifugal blower-type evaporative coolers.

Up On The Roof

York International (Norman, Okla.) unveiled several new commercial products at the AHR Expo. The company’s new Sunline Magnum single-package system for light commercial applications is available in 15-, 17-1/2-, 20- and 25-ton capacities. With EER ratings as high as 11.8 and up to 80 percent steady state efficiency on gas/electric models, the system exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 energy efficiency standards for commercial rooftop systems, the company stated.

All Sunline Magnum units come complete with factory-installed Simplicity controls, which were another new offering.

These new controls are engineered for easy setup, programming, and monitoring, the company said. One-button network addressing enables technicians to easily and efficiently set up, program, and monitor the performance of all York units. Simplicity offers two-stage independent control on all two-stage equipment and features five-minute anti-short cycle delay, alarm recall even after power failure, and three-minute minimum compressor run time, the company said.

York also introduced its new Maxa-Mi$er energy recovery ventilator, which is designed to reduce heating and cooling costs by using exhaust air to condition incoming air. Using an enthalpy wheel that contains a silica gel desiccant, the unit absorbs heat in building exhaust air and transfers that energy into the intake air, warming the air in winter and cooling it in summer.

Global Energy Group Inc. (Odessa, Fla.) highlighted its new Inventor Series 1400 packaged unit, which can be converted in the field into a side-supply unit with horizontal side-by-side supply and return ducts. Todd Van Hyfte, executive vice president, noted that the unit comes with the company’s patented E-coil technology, which allows for greater heat transfer in the evaporator coil, hence more latent heat removal. “Our specialized circuitry allows for greater moisture removal and, at the same time, we utilize this energy to increase the overall capacity and performance at full- and part-load conditions,” said Van Hyfte.

RSI Co. (Cleveland) introduced its high-efficiency Nesbitt rooftop systems for replacement or new construction. Steven Sords, president, RSI Co., stated RSI is producing the original Nesbitt rooftop multi-zone units with an improved galvanized casing. Cooling capacities range from 17 to 32 nominal tons.

The Nesbitt units are available for use with natural gas, propane, steam, or electric heating elements. The replacement Nesbitt rooftop multizone systems can be equipped with an advanced digitally controlled system to increase energy efficiency, as well as improve the ability to maintain the system, the company said.

Rooftop Systems Inc. (Carrollton, Texas) offered a new stand-alone united energy recovery ventilator for rooftop units, upflow air handlers, and split systems. The company said the stand-alone design allows higher levels of outdoor air to be introduced into the conditioned space. Static test ports are provided to verify intake and exhaust cfm.

Improved Handling Of Air

Nordyne (O’Fallon, Mo.) exhibited its upgraded 7-1/2- and 10-ton commercial air handler offerings. The new B3SM models are shipped ready for horizontal right airflow and can be easily converted to horizontal left or vertical configuration, the company stated. The 7-1/2-ton model utilizes a 11¼2-hp motor and the 10-ton unit utilizes a 2-hp motor.

Nordyne also announced it has upgraded the efficiency of its 7-1/2- and 10-ton packaged units to 10.3 EER and added a mesh hail guard. The new units comply with the minimum energy efficiency requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999, the company said. The new units will replace the current 9 EER product line, and the mesh hail guard for these units will be factory installed.

Beginning in March 2003, Nordyne will market all of its products above five tons for the commercial heating and air conditioning market under the Nordyne Commercial brand name. The name change reflects the fact that Nordyne markets a single tier of product for its commercial business.

Enviro-Tec (Largo, Fla.) introduced its Model MQL air handler. Tom Peeples, P.E., vice president of marketing and sales at Enviro-Tec, noted that the unit is IAQ-focused to meet the tough standards of schools, hospitals, and other commercial buildings. “This unit works especially well in isolation rooms,” said Peeples. He indicated that the unit is quiet for sound-sensitive applications and easily accessible for ease of maintenance.

Petra Engineering Industries Co. (Amman, Jordan) exhibited its new Comfort Maker (CM) chilled water air-handling units with selectable coils and/or electric heater. Petra offers customers the new compact air-handling units with up to two selectable coils or one cooling coil and electric heater. According to the company, once the coils are selected, they easily slide into the unit to provide the necessary coil connection.

The company also introduced its ASC Series fancoils with air-side control. The ASC Series has capacities from 280 to 1,200 cfm and offers silent operation and more efficient thermal operation, the company said.

Dunham-Bush (Harrisonburg, Va.) introduced its DC-MX-08 compact air handler. These units feature a small footprint and a high-efficiency, heavy-duty, non-overloading backward inclined fan.

The company said a precoated hydrophilic aluminum-finned coil allows higher operating air face velocity while providing maximum corrosion protection. In addition, all frames feature a thermal-break profile, combined with a sandwich-insulated panel and nylon corner piece to form a total heat-transfer isolation of the unit. This results in energy savings and prevents undesirable formation of condensation on the unit casing, the company said.

Humidity Removal

Lennox Industries Inc. (Richardson, Texas) introduced the Humiditrol system, which is a patented hot gas reheat dehumidification system designed for the company’s L Series packaged units. According to Mike Walker, commercial marketing specialist, Lennox, the Humiditrol system removes moisture based on relative humidity levels, not the thermostat.

“This unique dehumidification-on-demand model makes it simpler and more efficient to create a better indoor environment,” stated Walker.

The Humiditrol includes a reheat coil, three-way valve, and check valve. System operation is controlled by the integrated modular control unit controller with a plug-and-play add-on board. The Humiditrol maintains ASHRAE Standard 62-1999 fresh air requirements while controlling room humidity levels, the company said.

Munters Corp. (Selma, Texas) introduced its Integrated Custom Air Handler (ICA) line of full-featured, factory-built custom air handling units. The ICA incorporates a desiccant dehumidifier with other air conditioning components to treat outside air.

Chuck Campbell, vice president and general manager, Munters, noted, “This unit is not intended to replace traditional air conditioners. This is only for preconditioning the air. The unit is easy to retrofit and can be installed in a few hours by simply ducting it into the existing system.”

Munters also introduced the Humidity Control Unit, which is designed to treat 100 percent makeup air and works in conjunction with existing air-handling units or as a stand-alone system. The HCU features nominal flow rates from 1,000 to 8,000 cfm and a titanium silica gel desiccant wheel.

Semco Inc. (Columbia, Mo.) introduced its Pinnacle primary ventilation system, which the company said provides continuous ventilation while controlling humidity at any operating condition. Using a desiccant wheel, the Pinnacle offers the flexibility to consider new design schemes as a result of its ability to provide very dry outdoor air in a straightforward, energy-efficient manner.

DryKor Inc. (Fayetteville, Ga.) debuted its dry conditioning product called O.A.S.I.S. This 100 percent outside air supply system is available as a single module multi-functional rooftop package. According to the company, the O.A.S.I.S. provides up to 60 percent energy savings when compared with conventional fresh air treatment. The unit provides dehumidification, cooling and heating, active and passive air filtration, and microorganism and bacteria disinfection.

Publication date: 02/17/2003