Panasonic unveils range of commercial-scale heat pumps at InstallerSHOW
Panasonic has unveiled a range of propane R290 heat pumps which it believes will open new doors for low-carbon commercial-scale heating and cooling.
The company chose InstallerSHOW to reveal its ECO-W-Aqua-G Blue range, a series of initially three models, with capacities of 50 kW, 60 kW and 70-80 kW. Up to six heat pumps can be connected to provide up to 480 kW.
The key attribute is that flow temperature of up to 70 deg C can be achieved and maintained in ambient temperatures down to minus 10 deg C, he added. The units are designed to both heat and cool, saving cost against the conventional commercial boiler and chiller combination, the company noted.
Other design features include automatic leak detection, shutting down the heat pump in the event of a refrigerant leak;,, and a ventilation system that provides safe dispersal of the refrigerant if a leak does occur; and a separator that prevents mixing of air and refrigerant in a heat exchanger failure.
Following its recent acquisition of manufacturer Systemair, Panasonic now has two factories producing its larger heat pumps and close control systems, in Italy and France, in addition to its current factory in the Czech Republic.
At the same time, the company is also expanding its range of Aquarea L Generation heat pumps with its Hydro Split All in One High Performance units.
The L Generation series also uses R290 refrigerant and, the firm says, unmatched efficiency and reliability in heating and cooling. The units are available in 5 kW, 7 kW and 9 kW capacities. The series has a SCOP of up to 5.06, and a reduced sound level, up to 8 dB(a) lower than previous models. The All in One R290 unit has a hydraulic connection between the indoor and outdoor unit, providing water outlet temperatures of up to 75 deg C down to -10 deg C.
The use of R290 refrigerant enables a significant reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) for the heat pumps, while the technology provides additional energy and temperature benefits, according to UK regional director Jose Alves:
Installers have been asking for higher temperature hot water if they are to replace boilers with heat pumps…The new series offers market leading efficiency, including seasonal efficiency and domestic hot water COP (Coefficient of Performance).
He noted that the new range aims to address face three challenges that installers face with heat pumps: the complexities of retrofitting systems; the time taken to install; and the fitting of units into current housing designs.
The heat pump design has only two cables and pipes and componentry like sensors is housed within the outdoor unit, simplifying installation, he said:
We believe that installers will now be able to install in two days or less, including one day for the removal of the boiler…With heat pumps we have become used to a lot of cables, so reducing it down to two is a game changer.
Mr Alves also noted that if it continued to train installers at its current rate, then the estimated requirement for 50,000 more heat pump installers by 2050 would be achievable :
If we are training 10 installers three or four times a week, then Panasonic alone would be able to train 25% of that target. We think with the right investment it should be an easy target.
The manufacturer offers a £500 grant to installers taking its heat pump training course.
European manager for heating and cooling solutions Enrique Vilamitjana said that the R290 range offered a major opportunity to offer a product that would previously have been the preserve of commercial boilers.:
This is a big opening for Panasonic. We do not want to stop at 80 kW but to go bigger, when the compressor technology allows.
