Dual-fuel Heat Pump Includes Furnace for Year-round Use

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning today introduced the new Hitachi air365 Hybrid dual fuel system, which combines a heat pump and furnace to provide efficient, economical comfort to homeowners year-round, while reducing carbon emissions. The air365 Hybrid system features an innovative, dual fuel module that attaches to a gas furnace and is paired with an external, Hitachi Mini VRF heat pump as the primary heating and cooling source. Depending on the outside temperature, it automatically uses the most efficient heating source to provide comfort, save energy, and reduce emissions and utility costs.  

When temperatures are extremely low, most heat pumps must rely on energy-intensive, electric resistance “strip” heating, which can significantly increase utility costs and strain the electric grid. To maximize efficiency, a smart sensor in the dual fuel module monitors outdoor ambient temperature. If it reaches a temperature where the heat pump cannot efficiently meet the indoor heating demand, the system automatically switches to the furnace, ensuring the system is operating at peak efficiency. For example, when pairing a Hitachi Mini VRF heat pump with a YORK® YP9C Modulating Gas Furnace as part of a dual fuel system, homeowners can cut utility costs by up to two thirds compared to conventional heating systems. 

The Hitachi Mini VRF is available in 3-, 4- and 5-ton models and offers an extended operating temperature range, as low as 23 F outdoor ambient temperature in cooling mode and as low as -4 F in heating mode. Depending on the model, the rated cooling capacity is 36,000 to 60,000 BTU/h and the heating capacity is 40,000 to 64,000 BTU/h. All models feature Night Shift, which allows the outdoor unit to operate as quietly as 44 decibels. The Dual Fuel Module features a mounted electronic expansion valve that provides extremely accurate modulation and greater efficiency.  

There are currently many federal, state and local tax incentives encouraging homeowners to upgrade to energy efficient heat pumps, greatly reducing the upfront cost of new equipment.  

The air365 Hybrid system is simple to install, with fast placement and setup:  

• Best-in-class piping length of up to 984 feet allows for greater installation flexibility and makes the system suitable for a wider application range.  
• Compatible with most furnaces available in the market, the Dual Fuel Module easily mounts onto the furnace cabinet using common opening sizes.  
• Prepackaged wiring harnesses, relays and control parts and point-to-point connection between outdoor unit and furnace streamlines wiring.  
• An electronic expansion valve (EXV) kit and controls are pre-installed to the surface of the Dual Fuel Module.  
• The system is compatible with any 5-wire thermostat, with no adaptors required for third-party device integration.  
• Homeowners will be able to remotely access their dual fuel system thanks to its cloud-based smart phone application