Knorr Bremse Rail Systems Budapest has upgraded the HVAC system in its main office building at the Helsinki Street site in Hungary. The 12-room building serves up to 50 people, and the project replaced an older system described as unreliable and costly to maintain.
The new installation is a Haier MRV 5 30 HP 3-pipe VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system with 19 indoor units. Indoor unit configurations include 4-way cassettes and medium static pressure duct-type units, with capacities ranging from 2.2 to 7.1 kW (approx. 7,500 to 24,200 BTU/h). The outdoor unit consists of two modules—one 14 HP and one 16 HP—and the system is controlled by 17 Haier HW-BA 316 AFK units plus a central control unit, HC–SA 164 DBT.
Knorr Bremse replaced a previous setup consisting of a scroll compressor chiller with fan-coils manufactured by TRANE. The company said the previous units were more than 10 years old, experienced frequent reliability issues, had escalating maintenance costs, and were increasingly difficult to support due to spare-parts availability.
The Haier system was designed for an estimated thermal load of about 70–80 kW (approx. 239,000–273,000 BTU/h) for both heating and cooling. The source states that summer ambient conditions can reach 35°C (95°F) at 40% relative humidity, while winter conditions can drop to -13°C (approx. 9°F) at 90% humidity. Indoor units were installed above offices in the utility and financial departments within the false ceiling, and the outdoor units were placed on the roof nearby for maintenance access and reduced noise impact.
Knorr Bremse cited cost-benefit considerations, a 6-year warranty, spare-parts availability, and service support among reasons for selecting the system, along with the equipment’s stated SCOP and SEER values. The installation also accounted for building constraints such as high ceiling heights, the placement of pipeline and valve boxes outside offices, use of a manlift, and crane lifting logistics for outdoor units.
