Carrier developed an ultra-slim fan coil unit

Carrier has developed an ultra-slim fan coil unit (FCU) designed to maximise living space in high rise residential buildings, boosting return on investment (ROI) for developers. 

At just 150mm high, Carrier’s new Idrofan 42EP range of ducted horizontal FCUs is the slimmest of its kind available. It can be installed in buildings with very low-height ceiling voids and under-floor applications, saving space and enabling developers to maximise property and rental values.

The unit is very quiet, with noise ratings as low as NR22, making it particularly attractive for use in residential and hotel applications. It is also ideal for use in commercial offices, where similar space constraints and expectations for high performance increasingly apply.

“The 42EP can be used to enable higher ceiling heights within a building to give a premium feel to residential apartments,” said Matthew Maleki, Carrier’s FCU product manager. “It also gives developers the opportunity to add extra floors within a given permitted building height, again significantly increasing return on investment.”

The unit requires around 30% less void height for installation compared with standard units, creating significant additional useable space within a building envelope. Alternatively, space saved can be used to add additional stories within a given permitted building height. In the case of a 50-storey building, for example, where each floor is equipped with 42EP units, this equates to 5 meters of extra vertical space, creating an opportunity to add an additional floor within the permitted building height.

The ultra-slimline profile was made possible by a number of design innovations, including a new patented internal lay-out that incorporates a split supply and return chamber before the cooling coil. This enables use of a compact plug fan, which is perfectly positioned to minimise the use of internal space within the unit, instead of a standard bulky centrifugal fan.

To ensure high quality indoor air is maintained for building occupants at all times, there is an optional carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor which links to fresh air valves. If CO2 concentrations exceed acceptable limits, fresh air is drawn into the living space to maintain air quality.

On the controls side, a completely new approach to the mounting system was required since, when placed side-by-side with the fan coil unit, the controls are effectively taller than the unit is high. The new design gives optimal space efficiency and performance.

Options include two-pipe and four-pipe versions, offering heating between 1kW to 4.3kW and cooling 0.8kW to 2.5kW. Water valves are available as two-way, four-way and auto-balancing. Control options include basic electro-mechanical, water terminal controller (WTC) BACnet and third party controls.

“We believe the new ultra-slim 42EP FCU opens up new opportunities for developers and installers,” said Maleki. “Despite its svelte design, it delivers the highest levels of performance required by today’s premium residential and commercial applications, all in a compact package that enables developers to significantly boost ROI on projects.”