Daikin, one of the world’s leading air conditioning manufacturers, in partnership with Nikken Sekkei, selected as a Winner in the Global Cooling Prize

Daikin, a global leader in air conditioning that manufactures air conditioners, refrigerants, and compressors, launched the first VRV™ air conditioning system in 1982. Daikin also launched the world’s first residential-use air conditioner using R-32 refrigerant. Nikken Sekkei is one of the foremost architecture and engineering design companies based in Tokyo.

Technology Description

The cooling system adopts the following two innovative methods to achieve higher efficiency and lower climate impact: First, a multi-split method is used to connect two indoor units with one outdoor unit. This method helps optimize refrigerant flow rate for each of the two indoor units depending on ever-changing cooling load and uses refrigerant control technology to closely modulate the capacity. Second, evaporative cooling improves the system’s efficiency by using the heat of vaporization to lower the temperature of the air that the outdoor unit takes in. The system uses control technology that measures the outdoor temperature with sensors and applies the control system to automatically spray water when under high ambient temperature conditions where cooling load seems particularly high.

As part of Daikin’s research and development initiative, the use of low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerant HFO-1234ze(E) is proposed based on the criteria of the Global Cooling Prize. As per Daikin’s current refrigerant policy, R-32 is considered to be the most balanced refrigerant, and Daikin will continue to proactively promote it. Daikin believes that reducing the environmental impact of room air conditioners can only be achieved by disseminating equipment with the best possible efficiency and low environmental impact throughout the life cycle of all equipment all over the world. In line with Daikin’s Environmental Vision 2050, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, Daikin continues to work on the quest for new refrigerants and equipment taking into account safety, energy efficiency, climate change, and affordability. This proposal is part of that research initiative.

*VRV is a trademark of Daikin Industries, Ltd.