Mitsubishi announces European R32 launch

EUROPE: Mitsubishi Electric has announced the introduction of its first R32 air conditioners into Europe.  

The Japanese manufacturer’s M Series MSZ-LN range, first previewed at Italy’s Mostra Convegno show last year, will the first to offer the new lower GWP refrigerant. The launch of further R32 units are promised throughout the year.

The Cooling Post first revealed Mitsubishi’s intentions last year. At that time the UK company revealed plans for R32 in its residential M Series and commercial P Series air conditioning ranges and Ecodan heat pumps. An R32 version of the company’s City Multi HVRF water/refrigerant hybrid this year was also hinted at.

Commenting on today’s announcement of the M-Series launch, Donald Daw, UK commercial director, said: “This is a major product evolution which will show the market exactly how air conditioning using R32 can perform.

“R32 units have been available in Japan for over two years now and we have taken that knowledge and experience and refined it into this stylish and efficient offering, including our first ever red unit,” he added.

The MSZ-LN range offers a choice of four sizes from 2.5kW to 6.1kW, with four distinct indoor wall units which are available in red, Onyx Black, Pearl White and Natural White colours. A matching, colour co-ordinated room controller is also available.

It features a built-in Wi-Fi interface enables full control and monitoring via the company’s MELCloud app, and an i-see Sensor, which automatically monitors room occupancy, position and body temperatures to deliver customised comfort.

Double vanes on the indoor unit operate independently to distribute airflow evenly throughout the room and the MSZ-LN offers a whisper-quiet operation as low as 19 dB(A). A Plasma Quad Plus filter also uses powerful plasma technology to filter out even microscopic particles, whilst the dual-barrier coating on the heat exchanger, fan and air duct prevents dust and grease accumulation.

The line-up also includes Mitsubishi Electric’s Replace technology which can utilise existing pipework, making it ideal for office and retail refurbishments.

“We see this model as ideal for high-end, stylish situations and have already had a lot of interest from our customers,” Daw added. “R32 is expected to quickly become the standard for split type air conditioning systems and we have more products lined up for the UK market in the coming months.”

Mitsubishi Electric, like many of its rivals, has introduced air conditioners using R32, the non-ozone-depleting lower GWP alternative to R410A, in the Far East and Australasia but, until now, the Japanese manufacturer has remained silent on its intentions for Europe.

It has now been revealed that it is to challenge its main rival Daikin, the R32 pioneer, with new products across its main product platforms from 2017. This will include a move to R32 on Mitsubishi Electric’s residential M Series and commercial P Series air conditioning ranges and Ecodan heat pumps.

Only Mitsubishi Electric’s VRF products will remain on R410A for the time being, although an R32 version of the company’s recently relaunched City Multi HVRF water/refrigerant hybrid will be launched in 2017.

Speaking at yesterday’s Hampshire Refrigeration Society breakfast meeting, Martin Crawford, Mitsubishi Electric’s wholesaler VAR manager, said: “R32 will be the predominant refrigerant within our business in the coming years.”

He described it as the next generation refrigerant and a good substitute for R410A, despite its slightly higher pressure and mild flammability.

For those concerned about the new gas, he said: “There are millions of R32 units already installed in Japan and Asia, so you here in the UK will not be guinea pigs.”

On the plus side, he told the audience that R32 benefits from being a single component refrigerant, making it easier to reuse and recycle, easier to handle, won’t separate, has no glide and exhibits higher efficiency than R410A.

With limits on charge sizes due to its “mild flammability”, R32 is currently proving a challenge for VRF, which is why Mitsubishi has developed its hybrid HVRF solution.

“The timing for R32 VRF will be advised in due course,” a Mitsubishi Electric UK spokesman later told the Cooling Post. “Our plans are about offering a harmonised solution for customers because we need to avoid the situation where as an industry, we are using different refrigerants on different systems in the same buildings.”

The spokesman also indicated that limited use of CO2 is being considered especially for heat pumps where the predominant load is on hot water.

It seems likely that Mitsubishi Electric will roll out similar R32 introductions across Europe but, so far, there have been no announcements of timings for individual countries.