In our world, water is king. We know that hydronic systems are hands-down the best choice for heating comfort. Water has a high specific heat capacity so it can hold and carry more heat than virtually any other substance. But there are other options available for design engineers, contractors and building owners.
One of those options is known as either a VRF (variable-refrigerant flow) or VRV system. These systems use heating and cooling terminal units that have refrigerant flowing through them.
It can be tough for designers and end-users to decide what option to use when it comes to heating and cooling buildings. John Siegenthaler, P.E. the author of Modern Hydronic Heating, broke down the subject in the 2016 print edition of Supply House Times. The article, originally entitled "Water trumps refrigerant," outlines ten different ways that hydronic systems outperform VRF/VRV systems.
Click below to read the article.