TOKYO :  On September 1 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning & Thermal Systems Corporation, a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), will launch eight new 2015 models into its lineup of “roomiest” humidifiers for the Japanese home market. Among the new offerings, two fan-powered steam type units, both featuring a humidifying capacity of 350 milliliters per hour (ml/h), have undergone a complete model change for the first time in eight years. The six other models -three fan-powered steam type and three hybrid evaporative warm-mist models – are renewed, succeeding features of current models.

The new fan-powered steam type humidifiers have undergone significant improvements in design, operating facility and maintenance ease. Design changes include slimmer width dimensions and the addition of two new colors: white and pink. Operating ease has been improved through the addition of retractable handles – convenient for carrying the unit, replenishing or removing water, etc. – and the adoption of a larger display panel. Maintenance facility has been enhanced through adoption of a new structure that reduces protrusions inside the unit and a standard-equipped ion filter that curbs scaling.

Other three new fan-powered steam type models – two with a humidifying capacity of 600ml/h and one with a capacity of 1,200ml/h – have been newly upgraded with the addition of an ion filter as standard equipment. As earlier, all models feature “double plasma bacterial removal” functions: one suppresses viruses and airborne bacteria through the release of plasma ions, and the other uses a special filter to capture bacteria and mold.

All fan-powered steam humidifier models adopt MHI’s proprietary system in which vaporization is achieved simply by heating the water absorbed by the vaporization cloth, so there is no worry of possible scalding even in the unlikely event the unit were to topple over. All systems kick in swiftly: only about 1 minute after operation start. Also, because with this type of system humidifying capacity is minimally affected by temperature or humidity, dependable moisturizing is provided even in low-temperature ambient environments normally difficult to humidify. The humidifiers also consume minimal energy and are outstandingly quiet: 27-29 decibels (dB).

MHI’s three hybrid evaporative warm-mist humidifier models offer humidifier capacities in a range from 500 to 850ml/h. They integrate two systems: a vaporizing system in which a moist humidifier filter is fanned to induce humidification, and a warm-mist vaporizing system in which a moist humidifier filter is placed in a warm air current to induce humidification. When humidity is low, humidification is swiftly achieved by warm-mist vaporization; then, when the preset humidity level is reached, the unit switches to vaporization mode and adjusts the amount of humidification. As changeover between the two modes is automatically carried out depending on the humidity level, unnecessary electricity costs can be significantly curbed. When the unit is set to “ECO” operating mode, the heater is shut off and power consumption is reduced by roughly 90% compared to during normal operation.

All hybrid evaporative warm-mist humidifier models are equipped with a function enabling sequential operation with MHI’s SRK-SS Series room air-conditioners. Employing a humidity sensor on the air-conditioning unit, signals (ON/OFF) are sent to the humidifier to control the preset humidity level. A light-emitting diode (LED) display is provided on the front panel that flashes red when water replenishment or cleaning is required.