Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning unveils residential dual-fuel heat pump system

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning developed a residential dual fuel heat pump system that combines an air source heat pump and a gas furnace. The manufacturer says the furnace is designed to ensure there is no compromise in heating performance, even when temperatures are extremely low.

By combining a heat pump and furnace, the new air365 Hybrid dual fuel system from Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning improves energy efficiency and minimizes utility costs all year long.

Image: Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning

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From pv magazine global

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning has launched a new residential heat pump system combining an air source heat pump (ASHP) and a gas furnace.

“When temperatures are extremely low, most heat pumps rely on energy-intensive, electric resistance ‘strip’ heating, which can significantly increase utility costs and strain the electric grid,” said the U.S.-based cooling and heating specialist. “To maximize efficiency and not compromise heating performance, it’s often more sustainable to use the furnace as a backup heat source during the coldest days of the year.”

The company said the new air365 Hybrid system uses a Hitachi Mini VRF electric heat pump as its primary heating and cooling source.

“When the air365 Hybrid system is in heating mode, a smart sensor monitors the outdoor temperature,” the company explained. “If it reaches a temperature where the heat pump cannot efficiently meet the indoor heating demand, it automatically switches from the heat pump to the furnace.”

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning offers three versions of the dual fuel system, weighing from 67.46 pounds (30.6 kg) to 84 pounds (38.1 kg). The smallest system has a rated cooling capacity of 36,000 British thermal units (BTU)/h and a rated heating capacity of 40,000 BTU/h. The largest system has a cooling capacity of 60,000 BTU/h and a heating capacity of 66,000 BTU/h.

“The Mini VRF heat pump offers reliable performance across a wide range of temperatures – as low as -5 C [23 F] outdoor ambient temperature in cooling mode and as low as -20 C [-4] in heating mode,” the manufacturer said. “All models feature night shift, which allows the outdoor unit to operate very quietly, as low as 44 decibels, or 10 decibels less than the average household refrigerator.”

The dual fuel system also features the Affinity Gas Furnace from US manufacturer York, which is a subsidiary of Johnson Controls.

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