Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems has introduced a central controller that can manage up to 256 air-conditioning and commercial heat-pump units in medium and large buildings.
The Japan-based air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment developer will roll out the SC-SL5 in its home market and the SC-SL5-E internationally, with launches taking place in stages.
The SL5 allows facilities teams to monitor operating conditions and adjust settings for multiple units from a single location. It also provides a mapped view of their operating status across the property.
Compatible indoor units connect through SUPERLINK, MHI’s communication system for air-conditioning devices. The controller integrates into a building’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
Connection limit rises to 256 devices
The SL5 follows the company’s SL4 range, which can control up to 128 air-conditioning units. The higher limit enables central management of more equipment in properties with numerous rooms, communal areas, and floors.
Some earlier SL4 models could also control up to 16 Q-ton commercial water heaters via a separate interface. Q-ton uses heat-pump technology to extract heat from the surrounding air and produce hot water.
The previous controllers provided remote access via a computer or tablet, operating schedules and downloadable records. The SC-SL4-BE2 could calculate per-minute charges for air-conditioning use in leased buildings. Documentation for the later SC-SL4-BE3 also describes daily, monthly and annual energy-use histories for most connected groups.
MHI Thermal Systems has not confirmed which of those functions will be available on the SL5. Its announcement focuses on increased connection capacity, new area categories and changes to the physical controller.
Controls arranged by building area
The SL5 introduces a ‘Floor’ category alongside the existing ‘Block’ and ‘Group’ options, enabling facilities teams to arrange equipment according to the building’s layout.
Block can be assigned to communal spaces such as lift lobbies. Group covers individual offices and meeting rooms, while Floor brings together equipment serving an entire storey.
These categories help operators find and control units based on the areas they serve.
Larger touchscreen in a thinner unit
The controller has a 10.4-inch screen, replacing the previous model’s 9-inch display. It uses a capacitive touchscreen, which detects changes in electrical charge when touched and works much like a smartphone screen.
MHI Thermal Systems has reduced the controller’s depth from 90mm to 50mm and applied a monochrome finish.
The company says the central display and area-based controls can reduce the routine work involved in managing air-conditioning systems and improve operating efficiency. It has not released measured energy-saving figures for the SL5.
Images: Courtesy of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
