Trane releases vertical-stack heat pumps for multi-story buildings

Ireland-based heating technology manufacturer Trane has released an updated version of its Axiom vertical-stack water-source heat pumps for hotels, apartments, dormitories and other multistory buildings.

The principal addition is an optional factory-installed energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) that preconditions incoming outdoor air.

Trane said the ERV can reduce heating and cooling demand while improving indoor air quality. Energy-recovery ventilation transfers heat between outgoing conditioned air and incoming fresh air, reducing the load placed on the heat pump.

The company has also introduced a 1.65-meter cabinet for projects with restricted installation space. The updated refrigerant chassis remains backward-compatible with Trane’s legacy vertical-stack units. According to the company, this will allow building owners to replace existing equipment with less disruption and without replacing the complete cabinet and riser arrangement.

The Axiom GET range is available in capacities from 0.75 tons to 3 tons. Trane’s current product specifications list efficiencies of up to 16 EER, R-454B refrigerant, and a choice of Deluxe 24 V or Symbio 400-B controllers.

The floor-mounted units are designed to be enclosed behind drywall. In multistory installations, units on successive floors can be vertically aligned and connected to common supply, return and condensate risers, reducing the amount of field-installed piping, the company said.

Ducted and non-ducted versions are available, alongside different supply-air arrangements. Options include electronically commutated fan motors, sound-attenuation packages, factory-mounted flow controls, isolation valves and preassembled risers.

The heat pumps can be used with boiler-and-cooling-tower water loops or ground-source systems. Their removable chassis provides front access for servicing and can be exchanged without removing the cabinet from the wall.

Trane provides a parts-only warranty for 12 months from startup, with coverage limited to a maximum of 18 months from the shipment date. The compressor carries a five-year warranty, and extended warranty options are available.