Ductless Systems Expand Market Potential
Sanyo unveiled its Eco Multi Series, a new individual air conditioning system that combines a power control compressor and an electronic refrigerant control valve. The new product will be available in May, said Tom Crock, Sanyo’s hvac national sales manager.
“We believe it will do real well,” said Crock. “Instead of the inverter-driven compressor used for conventional multizone air conditioning systems, Eco-Multi employs a revolutionary Power Control compressor to control the total capacity for optimum operation.”
According to Crock, it is possible to connect multiple outdoor units with a capacity of up to 150% of the outdoor unit rated capacity. Assuming that the minimum capacity of an indoor unit is 12,000 Btuh, it is possible to connect eight units to one outdoor unit, said Crock.
“Sanyo’s Eco Multi system is truly revolutionary,” he said. “While it works for large buildings and stores, it’s still wonderfully economical, serving the needs of the new millennium.”
Crock said the combination of a power control circuit with newly designed structural parts contribute to a major reduction in running costs. At the same time, it uses a proprietary power control compressor without an inverter control, “thereby reducing harmonic current emissions and benefits the ecology while complying with EMC standards.”
Features of the Eco Multi Series include a refrigerant control with a 16-bit microprocessor automatic restart function for power failure and a self-diagnosing function. It offers three fan speeds with automatic fan operation, an air sweep (direction) control, an on/off timer, a “hot start” heating system, a built-in drain pump, and an auto-flap cooling or heating comfort control.
Serviceable Ductless
At the Mitsubishi Electric booth, the company touted its new vertical air discharge condensing units, which can provide energy ratings up to 12 SEER, according to Mike Smith, marketing manager for the Hvac Advanced Products Division. Smith said its PUG/PUGH condensers, when combined with the company’s Mr. Slim P-Series indoor units, “makes for one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective ductless systems on the market.”According to Smith, top features of the PUG/PUGH include:
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“This adds value to the contractor by giving him a system that he is more comfortable with installing and servicing,” said Smith of the “American-style” condensing unit design. “We want more contractors to consider ductless, and this new series with higher efficiencies and a style he’s used to helps draw him into the ductless fold. This new PUG system helps the contractor land more sensitive projects like schools and churches.”
In other announcements, Smith said the company would soon begin an aggressive marketing campaign targeting business-savvy contractors interested in growing their business in the profitable and growing ductless arena.
“The campaign will refer to the price reductions that Mitsubishi Electric has made across its product line and specifically calls out the new high-efficiency series,” said Smith.
Also down the line, he said, are a national incentive program from Mitsubishi Electric and a national training program.
“Not only is doing business with us a more profitable arrangement, it now pays in dividends in the form of merchandise awards for all units bought and installed,” said Smith. “Participating dealers will be added on our company’s web page [www.mrslim.com] to receive leads from consumers that respond to our advertising. Closure rates on these leads is around 80%.”
Exhibitor Roundup
At other booths:At the booth, Taylor showed independent performance test results of its DVM vs. a competitor’s system, which he referred to only as “Company D.” At various settings, Taylor said the DVM produced a better EER.
“DVM shows better energy efficiency than inverter during a whole range of operation,” said Taylor. “By adopting its digital scroll compressor, Samsung can provide its DVM systems at a competitive cost to general inverter multi systems.”
“Our basic product line, which contains cooling and heating models from 3¼4-ton to 2-ton, has been expanded to include larger and more specialized systems up to 3 tons,” said a company spokesperson. “Additional models include a universal air conditioning system, which can be mounted on the wall, floor, or ceiling; a ceiling-suspended unit; and a space-saving ‘dual-zone’ system.”
According to the company, the dual-zone system allows for two separate rooms to be cooled simultaneously yet independently through one connection to a single, outdoor condensing unit.
Featured at its booth was the MC/MH multizone system. All told, the AmericaSeries multizone systems offer over 75 combinations of capacities in two-, three- or four-zone straight cool or limited range heat pump systems.
“Within a MC/MH multizone system, each circuit operates independently; there is no mixing of refrigerant and each circuit is independently controlled,” said Vivirito. “It is possible to mix AmericaSeries air handler styles as well as capacities within a single MC/MH multizone system.”
Regarding its EnviroAir single-zone high wall ductless systems, they are available in three capacities as either straight cool or heat pump.
In addition to the ductless split system offering, EMI displayed its VPAC, a vertical stack, new construction through-the-wall unit, and the RetroAire replacement ptac chassis line.
“Unlike typical ductless a/c systems that require an outside condensing section, waste heat is conveniently ducted to any outside wall,” said the spokesperson.
Publication date: 02/19/2001
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