Systemair Launches Packaged Air-Handling Unit with Integrated R290 Heat Pump

Global HVAC supplier Systemair has launched Geniox HP DFN, a new packaged air-handling unit (AHU) with an integrated propane (R290) heat pump.

Systemair positions the R290-based unit as a future-proof solution that complies with relevant EU environmental regulations; it meets strict f-gas requirements and is PFAS-free under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), the EU’s chemicals regulation. It adds that the use of R290 reduces total equivalent warming impact (TEWI), including direct and indirect CO₂e emissions, by 30% compared with an equivalent AHU using an integrated R410A heat pump.

“The HVAC landscape is shifting, with new regulations, rising energy costs and increasing sustainability demands,” Systemair said. “Our Geniox AHU with an integrated heat pump is built for this transition.”

Already available in Denmark and the U.K., the Geniox HP DFN will be introduced in additional European markets later this summer, Systemair said on LinkedIn. The largest unit in the range has a 6.5kg propane refrigerant charge, the company told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

The package: The integrated reversible R290 heat pump supports HVAC heating and cooling in ambient conditions ranging from −22 to 36°C (−8 to 97°F).

• For safety, the R290 Geniox unit incorporates “highly sensitive” leak detection sensors, Systemair said. “In the event of a leak, the system intervenes and flushes the unit before the lower flammability limit is reached,” the company added.
• The plug-and-play design simplifies installation, according to Systemair, with no external condenser or on-site refrigerant work.
• Intended for comfort ventilation, the Geniox HP DFN is best suited for commercial buildings, public venues, retail spaces and similar applications.

Performance measures: Alongside the reversible heat pump, the AHU features high-efficiency heat exchangers, EC fans and intelligent controls to optimize performance across all seasons, according to Systemair.

• In heating mode, it delivers COPs of up to 16, while in cooling mode, it achieves EERs of up to 9.
• The design supports up to 90% heat recovery efficiency through a combination of the heat pump and a rotary heat exchanger.
• “With the integrated R290 heat pump, Geniox HP DFN reduces operating cost by up to 40% compared to an AHU with an external condenser,” Systemair said.

CO₂ news: The company recently launched an AHU with an integrated CO₂ (R744) heat pump for dehumidification and heating in public swimming pools. The first units are scheduled for delivery in August, according to Anton Zupančič, CEO of Systemair Slovenia.

• The CO₂mpass unit, developed by Menerga, a subsidiary of Systemair, has a 20kW (5.7TR) cooling capacity and a 25kW (7.1TR) heating capacity, with outlet water temperatures of up to 65°C (149°F).
• The next phase of development includes adapting the unit for space heating and cooling in commercial buildings using a reversible CO₂ heat pump, Zupančič told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
• “Our objective is to introduce the next generation of products to market by the second quarter of next year,” Zupančič said, adding that Systemair plans to test the units at its Slovenia factory over the coming months.

Quotable: “Geniox HP DFN is a significant milestone towards a sustainable, zero-carbon future,” Systemair said. “R290 is light on the planet and best-in-class in performance. This proves that comfort and sustainability actually go hand in hand.”

“With the integrated R290 heat pump, Geniox HP DFN reduces operating cost by up to 40% compared to an AHU with an external condenser.”

Systemair