Clivet launches VRF air-to-air heat pumps with inverter-free PV integration

Italian heat pump manufacturer Clivet, a subsidiary of Chinese appliance group Midea, has launched a new range of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) outdoor units for residential and commercial applications that can be directly integrated with photovoltaic systems without the use of conventional PV inverters.

The new CVT9 series is based on the company’s V9 platform and, according to Clivet, is fully compatible with indoor units and controls from its previous V8 generation.

The range comprises five single-module models with cooling capacities of 25.2 kW, 28 kW, 33.5 kW, 40 kW and 45 kW. Two modules can be combined to provide capacities from 50 kW to 90 kW. The largest configuration provides 90 kW of nominal heating capacity and up to 100 kW of maximum heating capacity.

The units use difluoromethane (R32) refrigerant, measures 940 mm × 1,760 mm × 840 mm and weighs either 207 kg or 224 kg, depending on capacity.

One of the main features is an integrated PV management function that can regulate grid power consumption from 0% to 100% according to electricity production from the PV array. The system uses a PV Box to provide a stable DC supply at a variable voltage of 400 V to 600 V, eliminating the need for a PV inverter, according to the manufacturer. A Smart Monitoring Box connected to the outdoor unit measures electricity consumption. Clivet said the integrated PV control system will become available in 2027.

The CVT9 units use DC inverter compressors with enhanced vapor injection (EVI) and a secondary microchannel heat exchanger. Clivet said this configuration allows the units to operate at outdoor temperatures as low as -30 C and maintain nominal heating capacity at -5 C. The compressor can modulate down to 7% of capacity, which the company said improves efficiency under partial loads.

The units have an operating temperature range of -15 C to 55 C in cooling mode and -30 C to 30 C in heating mode. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) values for the five individual outdoor units range from 8.00 to 8.58, while seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) values range from 4.78 to 4.89.

For two-module configurations, SEER ranges from 8.01 to 8.53 and SCOP from 4.82 to 4.93. The values are calculated according to EN 14825.
Airflow ranges from 12,600 m3/h to 15,800 m3/h, while sound power levels span from 78 dB(A) to 85 dB(A). The units use a 380 V to 415 V, three-phase, 50 Hz power supply and provide up to 120 Pa of external static pressure.

The electronic components are housed in Clivet’s SafeBox2 system, which the manufacturer says provides protection equivalent to an IP68 rating against corrosion, sand and moisture. The circuit boards are cooled through the refrigerant circuit to maintain an operating temperature of around 30 C.

Other features include an integrated digital ammeter for real-time electricity consumption monitoring, Modbus RTU connectivity for integration with building management systems, and a Bluetooth module with a USB Type-C port for diagnostics.

For installations with constrained electrical capacity, the units offer 60 capacity-limiting settings, adjustable from 40% to 100% in 1% increments. The settings can be activated through a centralized controller or dry contact.

In two-module configurations, the system can automatically redistribute the load if an alarm occurs on one of the outdoor units. It can also alternate operating hours between the modules to balance usage and extend equipment service life.