With the rising need for prevention of global warming throughout the
world, CO2 emission reduction in the business and household sectors
has become a challenge to be tackled with the highest priority.
Among various air-conditioning systems, multi-split direct expansion
type air-conditioning (or variable refrigerant flow (VRF)) systems
have received attention as a potential energy-saving solution.
However, VRF systems involve tighter limitations on piping when they
are installed in a high-rise building compared to chiller systems or
turbo refrigerators. There are still many challenges to be overcome
in order to meet future demand or allow installation in various
types of buildings.
Toshiba currently provides the Super Module Multi Series (SMMS) as
part of its VRF system lineup. In addition to the SMMS, the company
will release the SMMS i that can deliver even higher energy-saving
performance and permit longer piping, with a view to substituting
existing counterparts such as chiller systems. The SMMSi was
released to the Japanese market first (in June 2010), and
manufacture of the product for the European and Asian markets
started in September 2010.
The SMMSi is an advanced series of the existing SMMS. The high-end
model of the SMMSi has a unit capacity of 16 HP, while that of SMMS
has 12 HP. The "full inverter" technology, which has gained favor
with the SMMS, has been further improved and incorporated in the
additional 14HP and 16HP high-power models of the SMMSi. These
models have three internal compressors that can be individually
driven by their own inverter control to help reduce energy
consumption. As an energy-saving-oriented product, the SMMSi also
focuses on the improvement of equipment efficiency during stable
operation that may substantially affect the energy consumption of
air-conditioning systems.
Major Features
(1) Full-inverter system pursuing energy-saving
The Toshiba proprietary high-efficiency DC twin rotary compressors
and vector control inverter technologies, which are also used in the
SMMS, have been further improved. The 8 HP model achieves the
industry's top class energy-saving with a coefficient of performance
(COP) of 4.52. At 50% capacity, the same model shows a COP of 6.41
*Note 1, achieving higher efficiency during stable operation.
The 14HP and 16HP models are equipped with three high-efficiency DC
twin rotary compressors, each of which can be controlled by a
separate vector control inverter with Toshiba proprietary
technology.
(2) Substantially higher freedom of piping design
The longest allowable piping distance between indoor and outdoor
units is the industry's top level of 235 m (SMMS: 175 m). The
maximum height difference between indoor and outdoor units, which is
always a matter of concern for installation in high-rise buildings,
is 70 m *Note 2 (SMMS: 50 m). With these advantages, New-SMMS
outdoor units can be installed on even higher floors of buildings
than before. The maximum height difference between indoor units has
also been raised to 40 m (SMMS: 30m). Thus, the SMMSi offers a
substantially higher freedom of piping design than the existing
product series.
(3) Industry's top class compact units
The 16 HP model achieves the industry's top class space-saving,
allowing an installation cost reduction of about 40% *Note 3 from
the existing SMMS level. For the SMMSi, multiple outdoor units can
be combined to provide an integral output up to 48 HP. While four
units of the existing series are needed to make up a 48 HP system,
only three units of the SMMSi need be combined.
These are part of the features of the SMMSi. The new product series
is scheduled to be shipped from the Fuji Plant in Japan to the
European market from the end of September 2010.
Note 1: Under test conditions of an outdoor air temperature of
7℃DB/6℃WB and indoor air temperature of 21℃DB
Note 2: In cases where outdoor units are installed on a level higher
than indoor units (if the height difference between indoor units is
3 m or more, the maximum height difference between indoor and
outdoor units is 50 m).
Note 3: When compared to a system consisting of two SMMS 8HP units.
Email:
marketing.uk@toshiba-ac.com