International News
DAIKIN UNVEILS
FRESH HVAC SOLUTIONS
aikin unveiled rooftop HVAC innovations, cooling
performance and efficiency to commercial buildings at the
AHR Expo in February.
The conglomerate shared that this extends Daikin’s
commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing
climate impact.
Daikin presented the Rebel Applied rooftop heating and
cooling system at AHR Expo, the world’s largest heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR)
technology showcase. Rebel Applied is the only packaged
system to meet ASHRAE’s latest standard for performance in
airflow design. Ideal for building retrofits due to its compact and
customisable design, Rebel Applied delivers superior comfort,
indoor air quality and energy savings.
“We believe that quality design needs quality construction
to deliver ultimate value,” said Mike Schwartz, CEO of Daikin
Applied Americas. “So, we opened a new manufacturing
facility in southern Minnesota dedicated to the production
of Rebel Applied. With advanced fabrication and automation
technologies, we can tailor the build to meet specific customer
needs, optimise production and deliver products that will
perform at the highest levels.”
The rooftop system’s efficient footprint is up to 37% shorter
in length and 30% lighter than legacy rooftop units. It is highly
configurable as well; contractors can add or remove sections to
adjust the length of the unit to fit on old or existing roof curbs,
saving time and expense for facility updates and upgrades.
Along with Rebel Applied, Daikin previewed two new ultra-
high-efficiency chillers — the Magnitude Magnetic Bearing
Centrifugal Chiller and Aptitude Oil Bearing Centrifugal Chiller —
at the exhibition.
Designed for easy installation and reliable operation, both
chillers feature the smallest footprints in the industry compared
to equipment with the same cooling capacity utilising the
ultra-low low-global warming potential (GWP), ASHRAE class
A1, R1233zd refrigerant, making them ideal for retrofits where
real estate is limited or at a premium cost. As noted, Magnitude
and Aptitude use R-1233zd, the next-generation, low GWP HFO
refrigerant for centrifugal chillers. R-1233zd is the only option
that offers low toxicity and non-flammability, according to
ASHRAE Class A1 specifications.
“We’re continuing the push to maximise comfort, performance
and efficiency while lowering climate impact,” said Kirk Thorne,
executive vice president at Daikin Applied. “The Magnitude and
www.hvacronline.co.za
photos
D
The Magnitude
chiller.
The Rebel
Applied
system.
Aptitude chillers strike that balance for engineers, contractors and
building owners. And they follow closely on the heels of our move
to R-32, another low-GWP refrigerant, for rooftop units and other
HVAC equipment.”
The Magnitude chiller builds on Daikin’s latest magnetic
bearing technology, which eliminates oil, seals, gears and wear
surfaces for longer machine life. This allows the equipment to run
at peak levels, up to 40% more efficient than standard centrifugal
chillers. The Magnitude can perform at full load efficiencies as low
as 0.49 kilowatts per ton (kW/ton) with part load values as low
as 0.29 kW/ton. Plus, the RapidRestore capability, which ensures
quick restart times, and high temperature of water leaving the
evaporator make the technology best suited for mission critical
applications like data cents and hospitals.
Ideal for comfort cooling applications, such as offices, hotels
and stadiums, the Aptitude product line uses traditional oiled
bearing technology, along with the reliable bench grinder design
with one stage on each side of the motor to deliver leading
efficiency and performance that matches the Magnitude chiller.
The Magnitude and Aptitude chillers will be available later
this year.
For more information on the Rebel Applied rooftop system,
and the company’s current lineup of commercial HVAC equipment
and services, visit their website, www.DaikinApplied.com. RACA
RACA Journal I May 2020
15