Mini VRF and Standard VRF Systems

With the increasing advances in existing air conditioning systems in the UK, innovation in the mini-split market is the latest trend this season. Mini VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) has been recently introduced in this sector, which offers all kinds of benefits that a standard VRF system provides, with an output of about three to seven horsepower and four to seven indoor units from a single unit.

A Mini VRF is cheaper than the standard VRF system, with a cost difference of 20 percent on average that the former even more competitive. Whatever the standard VRFs and multi-splits cannot provide is provided by the mini VRF.  VRFs are also surpassing chillers in terms of their increasing market share.

With the increasing number of suppliers introducing this range of Mini VRF systems, it is bound to become more popular. In its initial six months, the systems fetched sales revenue of 10 percent of the entire VRF segment.

There is a shift towards mid-sized systems from small systems in the chiller market, with multi-compressor systems sold mainly in modular forms. This results in improved part-load operations, enabling end users to attain cost savings through higher efficiency levels at low outputs. In addition, end users do not seem to be inclined towards spending more in air conditioning systems, which is also a driving force towards using Mini VRF systems.