New Modular Water to Water Heat Pump: System Flexibility & Performance

Daikin Unveils New Modular Water-to-Water Heat Pump Range: EW*T-Q-X-A1

Daikin has introduced its new range of water-to-water heat pumps, the EW*T-Q-X-A1 series, featuring Daikin-designed scroll compressors. Available from April 2024, this innovative range adopts a modular system design, offering enhanced flexibility in configuration. Unlike traditional packaged solutions, the modular approach enables the required capacity to be achieved by combining smaller units piped together and controlled as a single system. This construction ensures easier transport, handling, and installation, delivering a fully plug-and-play solution when used with the Daikin Manifold Kit and Pump Module.

Extensive application flexibility

The new water-sourced EW*T-Q-X-A1 heat pumps can ensure heating or cooling operations under many conditions. Hot water can be produced up to +60°C, while chilled water is supplied from -15°C (water-glycol mixture) to +30 °C evaporator, leaving water temperature.

Hence, the range of applications that can be covered is broad, including comfort heating, space and process cooling, and heat recovery.

The range features Daikin scroll compressors and is composed of three base modules offering 100, 125, and 160kW capacities. It is available in two sound versions, including a reduced-sound variant suitable for outdoor installation and noise-sensitive applications such as condominiums, hotels, and hospitals.

Unit configurations by type include:

• Water to the Water heat pump with inversion on the waterside
• Water to the Water heat pump with inversion on the refrigerant side (100 kW only)
• Condenser-less

The five benefits of modularity

Scalability

Thanks to its modularity, the new EW*T-Q-X-A1 offers the potential for scalability, reducing initial investment costs while opening up the possibility for future expansion with additional modules installed as building occupancy increases. Introducing a familiar scroll layout ensures excellent compatibility, helping to promote system longevity and making future system upgrades effortless.

The modules can be combined as a side-by-side array or stacked to minimise space requirements, which is especially useful for retrofit applications.

Compactness

Each module is compact, easily transported, and positioned in the installation space. A single module 120 centimetres wide, 130 cm deep, and 100 cm high can be easily handled with a forklift without needing a crane to move an entire package chiller.

Plug & play installation.

Installation can be further simplified by employing the Daikin Manifold Kit, designed to connect modules on the water side, including the piping between the units. Each manifold is also standard with manual isolation valves for all connections. This allows each module to be excluded from the circuit in case of maintenance without stopping the entire system.

Moreover, a dedicated Pump Module can be easily added to the array of modules. It is equipped with inverter pumps for complete flexibility and includes an expansion tank of 18 litres volume.

Lower operating costs

Thanks to its modular design, the new EW*T-Q-X-A1 can closely follow the building's cooling and heating load profile. This is particularly relevant, as it ensures low operating costs for the HVAC plant at part load conditions, representing most of the working time. The same is not valid for traditional package chillers, as in part load conditions, the package chiller cannot deliver the required load according to EN14825. This means that the chiller would have to perform a series of on-off cycles, introducing inefficiency in the operation.

Delivering outstanding energy performance with limited environmental impact

Daikin is committed to continuous design improvement to reduce the environmental impact of its cooling, heating, and refrigeration solutions. Daikin BLUEVOLUTION chillers use R-32 refrigerant, which has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 675, just one-third of R-410A. This, in conjunction with high energy efficiency, has the potential to substantially reduce a building’s carbon footprint. The reduction in required refrigerant charge enabled by using R-32 offers further efficiencies while reducing installation and service costs.