Daikin completes first R32 chiller installation
Daikin has overseen the completion of the first UK applications of its EWAT-B air-cooled scroll chillers running on lower GWP refrigerant R32.
The installation at Astor House, a two-storey office building in Newbury, Berkshire, was carried out by Isleworth-based Daikin D1 partner Klimatec.
Two EWAT-B units were used to replace R407C chillers serving chilled water fan coil units and air handling units in the building.
Klimatec will be monitoring the performance and operating cost of the R32 chiller system against a similar installation in a neighbouring building which was fitted with Daikin R410A units before the R32 chillers were available.
The R32 EWAT-B units, introduced last year, are said to improve SEER by 10% in comparison with the previous R410A range. They are available for cooling only and heat recovery applications from 80kW up to 700kW cooling capacity at nominal conditions. Daikin offers two efficiency versions (Silver and Gold), and three sound configurations (standard, low and reduced) – as well as full customisation on project-specific requirements.
The R32 chillers for Astor House were delivered to site and craned into position over a weekend to minimise traffic disruption on the business park’s entrance road. The chillers are in a services enclosure that is fenced and partly screened by foliage beside the building.
The chillers were connected to Daikin on Site cloud-based platform, which offers a number of advanced remote monitoring functionalities, enabling system optimisation and preventive maintenance.