Compact, High-Efficiency
Multi-Air-Conditioner LX
MASAHIKO SASAKURA* 1
TOYOTAKA HIRAO* 2
MASASHI MAENO* 2SHIGEKI OSEKI* 2

Multi-Air-Conditioner LX for 2004 needs 52% less installation space and has a 24% improved coefficient of performance (COP), as compared with the conventional KX2 series of 20 horsepower class. The compact design and higher
COP have been realized by reduction of pressure loss in duct by four-side suction structure of the heat exchanger,
optimization of fan and duct, and DC compressor motor, and all models conform to the standard values of the Energy
Conservation Law of Japan. The maximum piping length has been extended to 160 meters, the longest in the industry, and by improved collection of running data, installation and maintenance have been made easier.

the restriction in area of installation is minimized andan outstanding compact design has been realized. In the20 horsepower class, the space required for installationis only half that of the conventional counterpart. This
improvement contributes to greening of the outdoor environment and has other added values. The depth of 720
mm is the smallest in the industry, and the unit can beinstalled on the verandah of a building. Further, the unit
width dimension has been unchanged for 13 years, andthe anchor bolt holes of former models can be used with
only minor changes. Fig. 1 shows a comparison of thespace for installation of the new model and conventionalmodel in the 20 horsepower class.
The compact design has been realized by changing
from the conventional structure of heat exchanger oneside layout + oblique upward diffusion fan of the KX2 toa new structure of heat exchanger four-side layout +straight upward diffusion fan, thereby expanding theheating area and reducing the air pressure loss. In addition to the compact design, high efficiency is also

1. Introduction
In the field of packaged multi-air-conditioners, regulation of coefficient of performance by the Energy
Conservation Law of Japan takes effect in 2007, and theLaw on Promoting Green Purchasing is also applied topromoting purchase of environmentally friendly machines and products by Japanese government offices. The
market is encouraging development of law-compliant
products and is competing to conform to the requirements
earlier than scheduled.
At the time of development of new models, the refrigerant was changed from HCFC22 to HFC407C asalternative refrigerant to prevent depletion of the ozonelayer, but as lower pressure loss and higher efficiency
are required in multi-air-conditioners for buildings, likethe air-conditioners of rooms or shops, the refrigerant isbeing changed to HFC410A with higher pressure andhigher density.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has developed the LX series using the HFC410A refrigerant insuccession to the KX2 using the alternative refrigerant
HFC407C and KX3 (8 and 10 horsepower) conforming toEnergy Conservation Law. The capacity ranges from 8to 24 horsepower, and in combination, a wide range ofmodels are available up to 48 horsepower. Features ofthe LX series are described below.

2. Features
2.1 Compact design
All models from 8 to 24 horsepower are built in an
integral module structure. Every model has a width of
1 350 mm, as in the conventional KX series, and a depthof 720 mm. Because the area of installation is the same,

100Installationarea
reducedby 52 %

500 720500 600

300

20 horsepower class

2 700

1 350

Conventional model

New Hyper-Multi LXFig. 1 Comparison of installation area of 20 horsepower class
As compared with the installation area of conventional KX 20 horsepowermodels, only about half the area is needed for the new LX 20 horsepowermodel.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol.41 No.2 (Apr. 2004)*1 Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Systems Headquarters*2 Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works1

achieved in this series. Details are discussed in paragraph 2.2.
The machine room accommodating the compressor has
also been modified by optimum refrigerant piping design in order to save space. To determine the piping
design, the strength has been analyzed beforehand by
the originally developed piping design system. By using
this system, quality engineering (Taguchi method) isapplied to take account of fluctuations of piping shapeand others, and the piping specifications are determined.
An example of the piping layout obtained by the analy2 As a result, vibrations and stresssis is shown in Fig. 2.
can be controlled to within allowable values in the entire range of rotating speed of the compressor, withcompact design.
2.2 High efficiency
The LX series satisfies the 10 horsepower standardof the Energy Conservation Law in all models including
the one-body type and combined type. In the 20 horsepower class, as shown in Fig. 33, the COP has been
improved by 24% over the conventional model. In theentire series, the 16 horsepower class shows the highest
improvement rate of COP of 35%. To achieve higher efficiency, the following points have been modified.
(1) Use of high-performance compressor
It is intended to improve the compressor performance by 4.1% in the average of heating and coolingas compared with the conventional machine for
HFC407C. This is realized by using a DC motor andoptimizing the design pressure ratio suited toHFC410A.
(2) Improvement of heat exchanger and air flow (in comparison with 10 horsepower prototype)
Increase of heat exchange area and air flow rate,
and optimization of duct structure (The improvement is realized by four-side layout of heatexchanger on the top of the unit.)
Use of DC motor for outdoor fan motor
Use of new high-efficiency fan
Improvement of the heat exchanger and duct structure is discussed together with increase of fan
efficiency and suppression of noise. To improve theair flow, this is limited by modifying the fan alone,
and it should be regarded as a total heat exchangesystem in consideration of the effects of the heat exchanger and other structural components.
As a result of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)of conventional units, it has been disclosed that thefan suction flow is biased, being accompanied by increase of pressure loss and noise level, by the one-side
layout of the heat exchanger. The presence of compressor and electricals box adds even further to theworsening tendency. In the new unit, the following
points are being studied to bring about improvement.
(a) Four-side layout of heat exchanger

Fig. 2 Piping structure of machine room
Piping structure has been simplified, and machine room iscompact.

3.5
3.26

24% higherCOP

32.62

3.07
2007 level of Energy
Conservation Law

2.52LX

Conventional model

20 horsepower class
Fig. 3 Improvement in COP of 20 horsepower class
As compared with conventional KX 20 horsepower models, COP
has been improved by 24%, reaching 3.26, which is well over the3.07 level required in 2007 by the Energy Conservation Law (10horsepower standard).

.
..

(b) Separation of machine room and heat exchangerroom(c) Higher performance of fan
Mutual effects have been investigated, and further
CFD has been attempted in a bid to solve the problems. As a result, as shown in Fig. 44, in a comparisonof the conventional unit and a new one, use of a DC
motor and improvement of fan efficiency has realizeda remarkably lower input in spite of substantial increase of the air flow rate.
A comparison of fan performance is shown in Fig.
5 , where the fan is designed in a longer chord, thevane load is decreased, disturbance on the vane is suppressed, and serration is formed in the rear edge, sothat high efficiency is realized.
By comparison of fan characteristics and unit characteristics, it is known that 20% out of 50% of reduced
input of the fan motor depends on fan efficiency improvement and the remaining 30% on the use of a DCmotor.
As a result of these improvements, the COP has
been improved by 24% in the 20 horsepower class as
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol.41 No.2 (Apr. 2004)2

Efficiency ηs (%)

Noise level LPA [dB (A)]6560554030201000.55045130150170190

Pressure coefficient ψs35110

210 230

900
800
700
600
500
400
3000.30.20.1

100

Specific noise Kpas (dB (A))

200110: New fan
: Conventional fan

0.440Input P (W)50: New unit
: Conventional unit
130150170

190

210 230

Air flow rate (m3/min)Fig. 4 Comparison of blowing characteristics of units
Substantial improvements and high performance have beenrealized in the new LX series.

035302520
1500.1

0.2

0.30.5

Flow rate coefficient φDX
Fig. 5 Comparison of fan characteristics
By modification of the fan shape, uniform distribution of heatexchange air flow, increase of suction area of the heat exchanger,
and use of a DC fan motor, the noise level has been lowered andefficiency increased.

compared with the conventional model, and the COP
of all models in the new series exceeds 3.07 (the standard value for 10 horsepower class by the Energy
Conservation Law).
2.3 Expanded range of use
It is also intended to expand the usable range of thenew air conditioner as compared with conventional units.
Points of improvement are as follows.
(1) Extension of limit of connection piping length
In very large shops, the inner and outer connection piping length often exceeds 100 meters. The
piping length of the new air conditioner has been extended from the conventional 100 meters to 160
meters, the longest in the industry, and the limiting
conditions on installation have been eliminated. The
total piping length is 510 meters, and the applicablerange has been expanded remarkably.
For extension of the piping length, it is important
to know the oil discharge amount from the compressor, conduct oil recovery, and measure the oil holding
volume in the piping. Fig. 6 shows the oil circulation
rate (oil circulation amount/oil and refrigerant circulation amount) discharged from the compressor (oilseparator) into the refrigerant route, expressing 80
Hz as 10. From this diagram, the oil discharge amount– which differs according to condition of unit operation – is calculated precisely, and execution of oil
recovery operation is determined.
The oil recovery operation is controlled specificallyto collect the oil securely and quickly in considerationof the piping diameter and head difference between
indoor and outdoor units. The control contents areverified by using the high head different testing equipment at Yokohama Building of MHI (33 stories, 151.9
meters in height).
(2) Expansion of lower limit ambient temperature of heating operation
In heating operation, the conventional lower limit
ambient temperature is -15°C. This has been lowered to -20°C, and applicable districts have beenexpanded.
To verify the application expansion, improvementof anti-frost performance was studied by using astraight fin heat exchanger. Validity was also investigated for control of compressor and expansion valve
to assure compressor oil at start, recovery operation
control of compressor oil during operation, and equal
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol.41 No.2 (Apr. 2004)

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Oil circulation amount relative ratio

131070204060

80100

Fig. 7 Seven-segment display of outdoor controller
Operation data including temperature, pressure and control statusof the unit can be checked on the seven-segment display of theoutdoor unit controller, and convenience in trial runs and servicing
has been improved.

120

Compressor rotating speed (Hz)Fig. 6 Compressor rotating speed to oil circulation
amount relative ratio
By precise analysis of the oil discharge amount from the compressor, oil recovery control is determined and high reliability
is achieved. In the diagram, the oil circulation volume at 80 Hz
is shown as 10, and the oil circulation amount ratio is shown interms of compressor rotating speed.

ized while the panel is open.
(5) Pipings of the heat exchanger have been moved fromthe rear to the front side, and servicing of the heatexchanger is easier.
(6) By means of a pump-down switch, automatic pumpdown operation has been realized by using a low
pressure sensor, and the refrigerant recovery work iseasier and shorter.

oil operation control, and reliability was confirmed.
Thus, by extending the piping length and expanding
the usable range of ambient temperature, it will be possible to apply the new system in a greater number ofbuildings.
2.4 Improvement of service
Principal items of service improvement are shown
below.
(1) Operation data can be read and checked from outdoor unit by using a personal computer.
(2) In case of trouble, the running data before outbreakof abnormality is stored automatically for 30 minutes.
As a result, the cause of trouble can be found and removed promptly, and operation can be resumed morequickly.
(3) Operation data such as temperature and pressure canbe observed by seven-segment display of outdoor conFig. 7
troller (Fig.
7).
(4) The outdoor unit is separated into machine room andblower room, and servicing or trial run can be real-

3. Conclusions
The new Multi-Air-Conditioner LX has been substantially improved, as compared with the conventional KX2,
in various aspects including structure, efficiency, usable
range, controllability and service. These improvements
result in considerable merits for end users, design offices, installation firms, service companies and others.
All models conform to the COP standard values of theEnergy Conservation Law. By reducing the piping diameter, the refrigerant amount has been decreased,packaging is wood-free, and the new series is friendly to
the global environment.
Further efforts will be concentrated on developmentof new air-conditioners to meet the needs of the market
and users in a timely and appropriate fashion.

Masahiko Sasakura

Toyotaka Hirao

Masashi Maeno

Shigeki Oseki

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol.41 No.2 (Apr. 2004)

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