Amana (www.amana-ptac.com) introduced its B Series package terminal air conditioners (PTACs) and heat pumps with bent coil technology. Conventional slab-coil designs sling condensate mostly onto the condenser shroud, while the bent coil technology curves around the slinger ring, adding 25 percent more primary coil surface area, the company said. This maximizes condensate evaporation and minimizes the chance of water overflow. The company said this is why the new PTACs have higher EERs; for example, the 9,000-Btuh unit has an EER of 11.5. The units are said to be easier to service, as well, as the entire top of the bent coil shroud is easily removed, so the whole condenser coil can be cleaned. The new pull-out filter is also designed to be easy to clean or replace.
American Power Conversion (www.apcc.com) introduced the NetworkAIR FM Series of air cooling systems. These modular, floor-mount precision air-conditioning systems are designed to offer economical cooling for a variety of data environments, including computer rooms, data centers, and technology spaces.
The systems are available in 35-, 40-, and 50-kW modules, and up to three units can be connected together to add cooling capacity as needed. The FM can be configured in compressorized systems that are air-cooled, water-cooled, or glycol-cooled, with economizer and multicool options. All systems are available in upflow or downflow discharge air patterns. An innovative coil design offers high efficiency and low operating costs through the use of a dedicated dehumidification cycle.
ARES (www.marsair.com) highlighted its CEV Series of evaporative cooling units. These units can provide up to 24,000 cfm of cooling and can be configured as a stand-alone duct cooler, furnished with a blower, or packaged with an ARES make-up air unit, the company said. The units are up to 98 percent efficient and feature a 2-inch inlet air prefilter and single point electrical connection. Easy-access doors with recessed handles are located on both sides of the unit.
Bard (www.bardhvac.com) displayed its Q-Tec QA Series self-contained packaged air conditioners, which are designed to be installed inside a building structure against an exterior exposed wall. Spokesman Bill Metz said the units work especially well in schools and the telecommunications industry because they are extremely quiet. The air conditioners are available in four air-to-air and water-to-air models and provide independent individual room control, thereby eliminating the need for a central duct system connection, he said.
Bard also introduced UVC light packages for its wall-mount air conditioners and heat pumps. The light systems, which can be field installed, mount inside the unit, delivering a dose of UVC light to the evaporator coil and the drain pan, where mold and bacteria can grow. The light is downstream of the air filter, helping to keep the lamp clean.
According to the company, this cycle uses a unique plate-wetting and channel system that captures the potential energy available from evaporation to produce cooling temperatures within a few degrees of the dew point of the intake air. The four-step process requires half the amount of water as that used in a traditional evaporative cooler, said president Rick Gillan.
"Our cooler also uses one-quarter the energy of a traditional vapor compression system, and we can build the equipment to any size," he said. The cooler has a SEER of 40 and has been independently tested by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Data Aire (www.dataaire.com) displayed its Data Temp Series, which are process cooling systems designed for small and mid-sized data centers, telecommunication sites, or where access and/or floor space is limited. These units are available in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-nominal-ton capacities with upflow or downflow air distribution in air-cooled, water/glycol-cooled, or chilled-water models. Spokesman Ed Kaye noted that an R-410A unit will be available later in 2004.
Dectron (www.dectron.com) introduced its Ecosaire ceiling-mount precision air conditioning series. The CM Series is designed for all high-technology rooms that have limited floor space.
Available in eight ducted models ranging from 1 to 13 tons, the CM Series has a low profile, ranging from 24- to 28-inches high for low ceiling clearances, or to fit into voids above dropped ceilings, the company said. The CM Series comes standard with air, water, and glycol cooling, plus dual-cooling/free-cooling systems. A proprietary control system, called the Supervisaire, is compatible with most building automation products.
Fedders (www.fedders.com) introduced its high-efficiency series of wall-mount air conditioners and heat pumps. All models are constructed of rugged, commercial-grade, 20-gauge G-90 galvanized steel and are protected by a 1,000-hour salt spray, baked-on polyester finish.
The units have permanently lubricated indoor and outdoor motors, with an indoor blower assembly designed for quiet operation in ducted or nonducted applications. A versatile condensate disposal design allows condensation to be evaporated by the outdoor coil (eliminating field drain lines) or drained from the unit in the case of low-ambient application. All models have efficiency ratings of up to 10.2 SEER and are designed for ducted or nonducted applications. Models are available from 12,000 to 72,000 Btu.
Friedrich Air Conditioning Co. (www.friedrich.com) featured its Wall-Mount units, which spokesman Ronald Koehler said work well in schools, telecommunications buildings, and commercial office buildings. Wall-Mount units are available with four different ventilation system packages.
The manual fresh air damper, which is standard, provides up to 15-percent outside air. The motorized fresh air damper (optional) provides up to 30 percent of the total airflow rating. The commercial room ventilator (optional) provides up to 100 percent fresh air and has an adjustable damper and built-in exhaust system. The economizer (optional), which schools often utilize, can introduce 0 percent to 100 percent outside air. It can provide free cooling under favorable outside conditions.
Ice Energy (www.ice-energy.com) introduced its Ice Bear 50, which is a low cost, off-the-shelf distributed energy storage module that provides 50 ton-hours of cooling capacity.
The Ice Bear 50, which won the AHR Expo Innovation Award for energy management, complements existing refrigerant-based cooling systems. It stores 500 gallons of water in a long-lived, corrosion-free, insulated tank, and a standard 5-ton condenser is used to freeze the water during off-peak hours when electric energy is plentiful and less expensive. In the ice melt mode, refrigerant is cooled when it is pumped through coils in the ice. The company estimates the Ice Bear 50 can reduce the life-cycle cost of air conditioning by up to 50 percent without sacrificing comfort.
Components include a heavy-gauge G-90 galvanized steel cabinet with a two-layer paint finish and scroll compressors. Four evenly divided compressor circuits mean just the right amount of cooling is provided to meet the comfort need, the company said. The 10.5-EER unit utilizes R-410A, and serviceability features include hinged access panels with easy access to components and straight condenser coils, which are designed to speed maintenance and reduce associated costs. The S-Class is one of the shortest rooftops in its class, the company said.
Lennox also introduced the S-Class commercial split systems, which have efficiency ratings up to 17.25 SEER. These split systems have two operating stages, so a single-compressor unit performs like a two-compressor unit, using a Copeland Scroll UltraTechâ„¢ two-stage compressor. The units utilize R-410A and offer easy-to-clean coils, while the isolated compressor compartment and refrigerant service valves are de-signed to reduce costs of installation and maintenance.
Walker noted that the S-Class systems remove more moisture than many other systems, especially on mild days, when the systems can shift into a lower capacity stage to match the heat load in the room. "This allows the unit to run long enough to reduce the temperature and the humidity level," said Walker.
Nordyne (www.nordyne.com) announced that Mammoth will join Nordyne's list of current air conditioning and heating brands, which include Frigidaire, Westinghouse, Tappan, Maytag, Philco, Gibson, Kelvinator, and Grandaire. The newest Mammoth products include single packaged gas/electric units, which are available in 3- through 15-ton capacities. The 3- through 10-ton units are currently available for purchase. The 12.5- ton units will arrive in May 2004, the 15-ton unit is scheduled to debut this fall, and the 20- and 25-ton units will be available in 2005. Also currently in production are Mammoth three-phase, high-efficiency split system air conditioners in 3-, 4-, and 5-ton capacities.
Rheem (www.rheemac.com) highlighted its high-efficiency commercial package units. The B-Series gas/electric and cooling-only units are available in 15- to 25-ton sizes and feature two-series gas valve and multiple inducers, which allow for 81-percent steady-state efficiency, the company stated. Two-stage cooling is provided for quiet comfort control at minimum operating cost, and the units are equipped with four scroll compressors.
The B-Series gas/electric, cooling-only, and heat pump package units are available in sizes ranging from 7.5 to 12.5 tons. These units feature two-stage scroll compressors and condenser coils made of copper tubing and aluminum fins. All B-Series units feature removable cabinet panels for easy service access, as well as slide-out blower assembly for easy access or service.
Publication date: 02/16/2004
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