Trane Adds Water-Source VRF Systems to Growing Ductless Portfolio

Trane water-source variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems use water as the energy exchange medium to heat and cool the system’s condenser. Using adjacent water or geothermal sources, water-source VRF can draw upon stable water temperatures to dissipate heat during peak cooling periods and act as a heat source when in heating mode. Alternatively, systems can be connected to a cooling tower to reject energy from the building or a boiler to add heat in colder climate applications. Water-source VRF retains its heating capacity even as entering water temperatures fall because the drop is not as dramatic as it is with low ambient air temperatures. As a result, water-source VRF delivers up to 30.1 integrated energy efficiency ratio, 27.4 simultaneous cooling and heating efficiency, and up to 48 tons of capacity.

“The growing portfolio of ductless products gives Trane one of the most comprehensive equipment, control, and tool offerings in the industry,” said Jeff Peters, ductless portfolio leader at Trane. “Trane has the people and expertise to partner with contractors and engineers to help deliver intelligent solutions for every customer and any building.”

Water-source VRF allows building occupants to adjust the temperature in individual spaces for increased comfort. It also enables building managers to calculate the actual energy use of each leased space for more accurate tenant billing. Building managers have the flexibility to turn off airflow to unoccupied areas, which may result in significant energy savings.

Trane design experts can help specify VRF solutions for tall and historical structures, which often present unique challenges. Tall structures and buildings with large amounts of floor space require long piping runs and it is common for historical buildings to lack adequate ductwork. Water-source VRF uses small diameter piping instead of ductwork, helping to preserve the historical appearance of the building. The system can serve more than 984 feet of piping and has electronic expansion valves to efficiently heat and cool these spaces

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