Leading the field in cooling technology

Daikin is a global leader in the design and manufacture of refrigeration and air-conditioning products. Philip Yorke takes a closer look at the company’s latest innovative products and its ongoing commitment to sustainable production.

Daikin Europe NV is based in Belgium and is the sales and manufacturing headquarters responsible for the sale of air-conditioners in Europe and EMEA. The company was founded in Ostend in 1973 and today operates the most advanced air-conditioning plant in Europe covering more than 150,000m2. This extensive, modern facility produces equipment for markets as diverse as Norway and South Africa. The recent addition of two new European production facilities in the Czech Republic has added capacity and optimised lead times for its markets worldwide. The company also has a number of wholly owned affiliates in Spain, Germany, France, Belgium Portugal, Greece, Italy, Poland and South Africa, as well as in Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands.

Innovation and super-efficiency

Daikin Europe offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of air conditioning and refrigeration products and systems anywhere in the world. These products cover commercial, residential and industrial applications and include split air conditioners, heat recovery units, sky air units, air and water cooled chillers as well as state-of-the-art VRV systems and packaged units. In addition, the company produces a range of home-heating units, air purifiers and a complete suite of user-friendly, air conditioning management and monitoring control systems.

Diakin has always been a pioneer of heat recovery technology and by combining its new REYAQ-P VRVIII model with an HXHD hydrobox it has become super-efficient, whilst at the same time significantly extending the advantages of the heat recovery process. The resulting free, recovered heat can also be used to produce hot water to satisfy the demand for domestic hot water and the provision of heating to radiators and under-floor elements. The company’s innovative hydrobox includes all the connections, pumps, filters and valves to connect to any water circuit. Furthermore, intelligent control of the water temperature eliminates the need for a mixing valve by producing the exact water temperature required.

Daikin places a high priority on maintaining its global reputation for quality and reliability. As a result, quality is implicit throughout its product supply chain and all units are rigorously tested as part of the company’s determination to avoid any possible equipment failure in the field. Compliance with ISO 9001 and EUROVENT product test requirements is supported by 24 hour monitoring under simulated field conditions, which in turn is underpinned by the full, technical backing of the company’s Japanese parent company: Daikin Industries Ltd. It is worth

noting that Daikin is the only air-conditioning manufacturer that produces both its own compressors and refrigerants.

Optimised success

Today the company’s focus is on energy efficiency, noise reduction, compactness, ease of installation and simplicity of operation. In this respect, Daikin’s Altherma Flex products are no exception.

Building on the success of its Altherma Flex series, Daikin has announced the expansion of the range to cover large-scale commercial applications, where space heating and hot water production are a priority.

Thanks to the Daikin Altherma ‘cascade’ technology, large volumes of hot water, with temperatures of up to 80°C, can be produced reliably and efficiently, making this system ideal for applications where space is at a premium. With water-leaving temperatures ranging from 25°C to 80°C, the system is designed to optimise hot water production for all types of heat emitters, such as radiators, under-floor heating systems, fan-coil units and heat-pump convectors. Typical applications for this product include hotels, fitness centres, spa facilities, hospitals, libraries and schools. The high water-leaving temperatures of the Daikin Altherma Flex type also make it ideally suited for the upgrading of existing heating systems.

Furthermore, when used in combination with the inverter control of the compressors and weather-dependent temperature controls, extremely efficient operation can result. For example, running costs can be up to 36 per cent less than with comparable oil or gas installations, with up to 35 per cent less primary energy use and up to 71 per cent less CO2 emissions.

Other new flexible, energy efficient solutions from Daikin include its latest water chiller, the new EWWD-H range which boosts CLWT (condenser leaving water temperature) to 65°C reliably and efficiently. A heat pump version is also available for the supply of hot water and this is perfectly suited to geothermal applications. In addition, there is a long list of optional extras, making these advanced chillers ideal for a broad range of comfort and cooling applications.

Focus on sustainability

Daikin’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainability is matched only by its dedication to innovation and quality. The company is a global leader in its field for energy conservation and often pre-empts international and local legislation in these areas.

In 1988 it became the first European airconditioning manufacturer to achieve ISO 14001 certification and all its affiliate companies are expected to meet these stringent requirements within the next few years.

Geert Opdedrynck, assistant director of Daikin Industries Czech Republic (DICZ), said, “Environmental issues are high on our agenda. DICZ has had the ISO 14001 certification since 2006 as well as holding a number of other environmental accreditations. As a company we are at the forefront in applying all the many environmental regulations, even before they become a legal requirement. For example, our complete range of products was fully compliant six months before the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) came into force.” Daikin said that they will continue to make significant investments in energy conservation and look to a fully sustainable future. n