COVER STORY
R32 VRF air conditioning designed for the future
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Mitsubishi Electric has just launched what we believe is the future of R32 VRF air conditioning with our new City Multi range
e’ve already had R32 models in smaller sizes, and our fantastic designers have spent time carefully focusing on the market requirements
for larger VRF systems and the special opportunities and challenges that using R32 brings. The result is a carefully considered and beautifully engineered series with a host of unique and outstanding features and benefits, all designed to deliver a more sustainable way to heat and cool commercial buildings.
Improved performance
The new City Multi R32 YXM delivers improved performances over existing City Multi models with a 20% reduction in both running costs and operational carbon, and a 10% improvement in energy efficiency (Based on a 30kW outdoor unit). We’ve listened to customer feedback so the new range builds on what the market already trusts, with the electrics and DIP switches now moved to chest height so that they are easier to work on.
The modular system is designed to be ultra-compact and offers outdoor units with a 6% smaller footprint than the market average. It also comes with a 30- year lifespan on the BS EN378 compliant low-level leak detectors, compared to the industry average of just 10 years. This means that R32 can be used in systems with capacities from 12kW to 112kW in both Heat Pump and Heat Recovery versions and can future proof both retrofit and new-build projects.
This new range of City Multi R32 VRF air conditioning comes packed with a host of outstanding features and benefits, all designed to deliver a more sustainable way to heat and cool commercial buildings. “The future of R32 VRF is now here,” says Jobin Varghese, VRF Product Manager. “This range is designed to satisfy projects that need innovative, flexible solutions for cooling and heating that are also energy efficient as well as affordable and sustainable.”
The City Multi R32 YXM can support up to 50 indoor units from a single outdoor unit. Market- leading low noise levels and a 5-step low noise mode also ensures a comfortable experience for both building occupiers and neighbours.
“We’ve worked closely with the engineers in our factories to produce a high-quality, competitively priced product range, chock a block full of all the design features and flexibility that has made City Multi the market-leading VRF system,” adds Varghese. explains Varghese. “Adding these units to our lineup means we now offer the broadest VRF solution, with the most versatility, scalability, and quality.”
Re-engineered completely
The outdoor units have been completely re- engineered to include a unique patented vertical flat tube heat exchanger – which maximises performance, a new defrost technology and market-leading levels of seasonal efficiency.
The newly designed heat exchanger has aluminium flat tubes with the flow of refrigerant from the main distributor now done vertically. This means that, when the system is in full heating or majority heating, the mixture of liquid & gas is directed from a horizontal distributor and fills the coil evenly, thereby using every section of that heat exchanger and improving the phase change.
In addition, thinner and more closely packed tubes increase the heat exchanger surface area, improving cooling efficiency through a higher density arrangement. City Multi has long been appreciated in the market for its familiarity and versatility and the new R32 models offers even more flexibility of configuration, as it is engineered for high efficiency, compactness, and low environmental impact. This means that the new City Multi R32 YXM range builds on the VRF system that the market already knows and trusts, but takes it to the next level with smarter, more sustainable features.
Featuring Mitsubishi Electric’s unique patented 2-pipe design and using lower global warming potential (GWP) R32 refrigerant, the range delivers powerful, scalable performance with reduced refrigerant volume and simplified ‘plug and play’ installation.
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2026
The 2-pipe design throughout the layout significantly reduces the number of brazing points and saves on riser space which are generally packed with other mechanical equipment. It is also simple to design, with only basic height and length limitations between the outdoor and the indoor units, which helps to streamline and shorten the design process. The advanced components in the outdoor unit’s include next-generation compressors and heat exchangers, to ensure reliable operation, lower energy consumption, and optimal comfort across diverse building types. These compact units, combined with an advanced control and communication network, further enhance the systems efficiency – enabling smart features that lower operational costs and reduce carbon emissions. We’ve built the system so it’s simple to install, commission, control and maintain but also carefully designed it to comply with BS EN 378 Part 3. It features a low-level Sensor and Alarm Kit which comes with its own power supply and a 30-year lifespan.
If a leak is ever detected, an audible and visual alarm sounds, and the respective shut- off valve closes. The indoor unit affected stops operating immediately, while the remaining indoor units continue to operate. These detectors also have a 30-year lifespan, thus reducing long-term maintenance costs. The system’s centralised controller also
provides streamlined, building-wide management of the entire VRF system. It allows users to monitor and control multiple indoor units from a single interface anywhere in the world and enables advanced scheduling, energy optimisation, and system diagnostics. The intelligent controls also allow for a seamless integration with centralised building management systems We proudly believe that this combination of innovation and practicality makes our new VRF solution truly exceptional.
To find out more about the new City Multi R32 VRF system, visit:
CityMultiYXM.com
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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