The Toolshed

1 Heavy goes big

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) has introduced a 10kW unit to its Bronte range of split systems. Designed for extra-large spaces, the 10kW Bronte is available with both single-phase and three-phase options. “The Bronte range now features five capacity sizes ranging from 6.3kW to 10kW in both cool only (7.1kW only) and reverse-cycle models,” MHIAA says. “With a range of convenient functions and features, the Bronte 10kW unit is suitable for both residential and commercial installs, and is the largest wall-mounted split system available from MHIAA. “The unit also incorporates advanced fan blade technology to efficiently deliver 19m+ long reach airflow in cooling conditions, making this an ideal installation for large open-plan spaces.” “With the 10kW Bronte range, the end consumer was at the forefront of each development stage,” says MHIAA managing director Yuji Ito. ■

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2 IAQ to go

Panasonic has launched the Portable nanoe X Generator as part of an initiative with flex space provider Hub Australia to champion the topic of indoor air quality and facilitate a new way for workers to return to the office. The initiative incorporates Panasonic’s nanoe X technology, which is designed to inhibit indoor pollutants and odours in the air and on surfaces through the release of nano-sized, atomised water particles, and which is now featured across the company’s air conditioning range. “Nanoe X is technology that we are incredibly proud of – and it hasn’t come about overnight,” says Panasonic Australia Managing Director Paul Reid. “Backed by 25 years of dedicated research and development, the latest generation of nanoe X is proven by more than 140 independent laboratory tests across a range of use cases.” ■ 3 Reliable pivot to the FLEXair

Reliable Controls has introduced a new generation of building controllers following the launch of the RC-FLEXair advanced VAV controller. The freely programmable RCFLEXair is a BACnet building controller designed for a wide range of variable air volume and room control applications. According to the company, it is the culmination of two years and tens of thousands of hours of research and development. Reliable Controls’ James Puritch says he had lofty goals when he began developing the new family of products. “The RC-FLEXair is the first of our RC-FLEX products, all built around dual Ethernet connection architecture and multicore processors,” says Puritch. “We’ve taken our 30-plus years of technology and embedded it into this new hardware and firmware platform. The RC-FLEXair is highly performant for today’s building automation system needs and built to accommodate tomorrow’s advancements.” ■

4 Standalone purification

Clean-Air Australia is now supplying and installing Aura Air Purification units as standalone devices for business or domestic use.

The units feature UVC as well as patented HEPA Ray-Filter technology. They provide real-time IAQ data via a smartphone app or API, which can be integrated into a BMS (building management system). The first layer of the device is a pre-filter that targets large particles, including dust, pollen, insects and animal hair. This is complemented by Ray Filter technology, which consists of three unique antibacterial layers that target fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), germs, odours, bacteria, viruses, fungus, and mould spores. The “Sterionizer” is the next layer, which is designed to create “pure air”. Finally, UVC LEDs have been included to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites by destroying their integral membrane protein. ■

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5 Filtration excitation

Mitsubishi Electric Australia has introduced the Plasma Quad Connect, a high-grade filtration system designed to inhibit airborne influenza virus particles, dust, mould and other inhalable particles down to PM2.5. The new system is suitable for both new and existing installations, including selected units from Mitsubishi Electric’s range of wall-mounted, cassette or ducted air conditioning systems. “The system’s high-performance two-stage plasma technology … significantly improves indoor air quality by inhibiting six key indoor pollutants; Influenza virus, bacteria, PM2.5, allergens, mould and dust,” the company says. Mitsubishi says the system works as an electrical curtain, using an electrical discharge to filter and reduce even microscopically small particles in the air, including the capture of PM2.5 particles. Because the unit is electrically charged and connected via mounting brackets, it must be installed by a qualified technician. For more information, go to www.mitsubishielectric.com.au ■ 6 Daikin’s ‘streaming’ service

“Daikin is dedicated to ‘Perfecting the Air’ by delivering innovative and effective climate control and purifying solutions,” the company says. “Daikin’s Streamer Technology is a market-leading advancement in integrated air purification. The streamer discharge is a plasma discharge that generates high-speed electrons to continuously purify the air. Streamer Technology effectively removes bacteria, odours, indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde and more than 99.6 per cent of pollen, mould and allergens. Daikin says Streamer Technology consists of three Cs to decompose these harmful substances: • Clash – Harmful substances are trapped by the High Efficiency Particulate Filter. • Cycle – The deodorising filter decomposes odours in the air. • Clean – Bacteria is removed from all filters for maintenance-free operation and increased longevity. Streamer Technology is integrated into Daikin’s Alira X and Zena split systems and air purifiers. Go to daikin.com.au/streamer ■

7 Top-level access

Australian company Astro Ceiling Access Panels has launched its line of manholes for commercial properties, offices, hotels and more. “After being in the air conditioning industry for more than 35 years, we distinctly remember the frustration of a particular job in a specialist’s office,” the firm says. “Trying not to make a mess over the receptionist’s desk added time to the job.

Feeling in the way and knowing that it was inconvenient for the staff made it a lot harder than it should have been.

“By creating a product never seen before in the marketplace, we help make accessing ceilings safer and easier for you or your workers, while creating less mess and disruption for your customers.” Designed, engineered and made in Australia, the ceiling access panels have a two-year warranty. Go to astroceilingaccesspanels.com.au ■

8 A tough pump

The CRCP-76-IP65 Commercial “Slide-Under” Refrigeration Cabinet Pump has been designed specifically for Australia’s humid conditions.

A rugged-use cabinet pump, at 76mm height it has an Ingress Rating of “IP65.” “The CRCP-76-IP65 has sealing effectiveness against dust and moisture and all the creepy crawlies that get into the electrical,” Pumpmates says. “It’s versatile and can be installed either ‘Top’, ‘Back’ or ‘Side’ entry, all in one cabinet pump unit.” Pre-fitted with power and alarm cables, the unit now comes with lock-down seal catches, facilitating any maintenance. It comes with a Little Giant Pressure pump, IP65 splash-proof enclosure and a one-year warranty. “Whether in a busy, well-lit supermarket in the city, or an outback dusty track petrol convenience store,” Pumpmates says, “the CRCP-76-IP65 is designed to tackle the toughest locations … for years.” Go to www.pumpmates.com.au ■

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9 Senva makes TotalSense

Senva, a sensor manufacturer partnering with AB Controls in Australia, has released the TotalSense Series indoor environmental and air quality sensor. “As building occupancy begins to recover and we return to work after COVID-19,” says Senva CEO Kent Holce, “it puts the focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) for safety and peace of mind. The unique TotalSense Series utilises eight different technologies and a very wide range of options to ensure tenant comfort and prove efficacy of air purification and ventilation strategies, particularly in high-occupancy areas such as classrooms and auditoriums.” According to Senva, many industry professionals and politicians have shifted their focus and budgets towards implementing better filtration and purification methods such as UV lights and HEPA filters. Yet the importance of measuring the effectiveness of these methods is often overlooked.

“Senva aims to remedy that with the TotalSense,” says the company. “It monitors indoor conditions and provides valuable information to building owners about the effectiveness of their filtration.” ■

DO YOU HAVE A NEW PRODUCT TO GO IN THE TOOLSHED? Email mark.vender@airah.org.au All submissions received will be considered, though publication cannot be guaranteed.