Vaillant aroVAIR pro VA 2-100 KN – cassette fancoil 10 kW

Product detailed description

Vaillant aroVAIR pro VA 2-100 KN – the most powerful cassette fan coil unit in the aroVAIR KN range

The Vaillant aroVAIR pro VA 2-100 KN is the top, most powerful model in the cassette (ceiling-mounted) aroVAIR KN fan coil range, designed to cover the heating and cooling load of large rooms, open-plan living room-kitchen layouts, open-space offices, showrooms, restaurant premises or larger apartments. Like its smaller sibling VA 2-050 KN, it works on the principle of a hydronic (water) heat exchanger built into the cassette body, which is installed into a false ceiling and draws in air from the room, blows it through a hot- or cold-water heat exchanger and distributes it evenly back into the space through a decorative cover panel (ordered separately, code 8000018476, shared by both the 5 kW and 10 kW body versions). Since the only medium being transported is water (or a water-glycol mixture) from a shared source – most commonly a Vaillant aroTHERM or aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump – there is no refrigerant handling anywhere inside the building, which is an advantage over classic multi-split air conditioning systems both from a safety and legislative (F-gas) point of view.

The VA 2-100 KN model achieves a cooling capacity of up to 11.55 kW at high fan speed (dropping to 9.24 kW at low fan speed) and a heating capacity of up to 12.46 kW at high fan speed (9.95 kW at low fan speed), at a nominal air flow of 1,950 m³/h on the high setting, 1,450 m³/h on the medium setting and 950 m³/h on the low setting. This output corresponds to covering spaces with a typical heat loss in the range of roughly 90–130 m² of floor area (depending on the building's thermal insulation properties, orientation and amount of glazing), or use across several smaller rooms connected to a single central air distribution. The high output combined with a relatively compact cassette design makes the VA 2-100 KN an attractive alternative to installing two smaller fan coil units in cases where the layout of the space allows for a single central air outlet.

Construction and operating principle

The VA 2-100 KN unit body is installed above the false ceiling on suspension rods anchored to the ceiling structure. Inside is a multi-row finned heat exchanger, through which water flows via two pipe connections (supply and return), and a centrifugal (radial) fan with a DC motor providing smooth air flow control across three basic speed settings (MIN/MED/MAX) with the option of automatic switching (AUTO) based on the current deviation from the target temperature. In cooling mode, moisture from the air condenses on the cold fins of the heat exchanger and drains by gravity through an attached drain hose into a condensate collection tray (recommended part for this capacity class – code 8000022078) and from there onward to the sewage system or to a condensate pump if a gravity gradient is not available. The decorative cover panel, which is attached to the underside of the body once all connections are complete, contains air discharge louvers with adjustable air flow direction (SWING function when used with a compatible controller) and an intake grille with a replaceable air filter.

Technical parameters of the Vaillant aroVAIR VA 2-100 KN

Installation in large spaces

When designing an installation with the VA 2-100 KN, proper sizing of the piping network and circulation pump is essential, given the higher nominal water flow compared to smaller models in the KN range – the pressure drop across the heat exchanger at full output is higher, so a correspondingly larger pipe profile and circulation pump capacity should be planned, especially if the unit is part of a branched system with multiple fan coil units. The service opening in the false ceiling should be at least the size of the cover panel (950 × 950 mm) to ensure access to the filter, collection tray and service points even after construction work is completed. The 230 V power supply and data/control wiring to the room controller run alongside the water piping, and when multiple units are installed in a single zone, central control via a shared controller or a building management system (BMS) is recommended, with the option of setting different modes for different times of day.

For spaces exceeding the output capabilities of a single VA 2-100 KN (for example large open-space offices or industrial showrooms), it is common design practice to deploy multiple units of this capacity class, dividing the space into smaller heating/cooling zones, which also increases comfort adjustability (different parts of the space can have slightly different temperatures depending on occupancy or the sunny side of the building).

Compatibility and related accessories

The VA 2-100 KN is fully compatible with the cover panel code 8000018476 (the same part as for the 5 kW VA 2-050 KN version), with the condensate collection tray code 8000022078 designed specifically for the 5 and 10 kW capacity classes, with the VA 2-AWC DK controller (code 8000022076) offering Auto/Heating/Drying/Cooling/Fan operating modes, a time program, the SWING function and three fan speed settings, and with the 3-way switching valve set VA 2-3VW 050-100K (code 8000022077) if the unit is connected to a system where switching between the heating and cooling circuit is required directly at the fan coil. As a heat and cooling source, we recommend Vaillant heat pumps from the aroTHERM and aroTHERM plus range with active cooling function, or flexoTHERM for ground-source heat, or a combination of an ecoTEC condensing boiler (heating) with a separate chilled water source for summer operation.

Maintenance

As with the smaller model, the most important regular task is checking and cleaning/replacing the air filter – on the higher-capacity unit with greater air flow (up to 1,950 m³/h), the filter may clog somewhat faster, so under intensive operation (for example in commercial spaces running all day) we recommend checking it every 3–4 weeks. The collection tray and condensate drain pipe need to be checked for clear flow especially before the start of the summer cooling season, when the unit produces the most condensate. An annual professional service inspection, including checking the heat exchanger, the tightness of water connections and fan operation, is recommended to be carried out together with servicing of the connected heat pump or boiler.

Why choose the VA 2-100 KN

If your room or open-plan space is too large for the VA 2-050 KN model, the VA 2-100 KN offers almost double the cooling and heating output within the same installation platform and with the same accessories (cover panel, controller), simplifying the design of larger installations without the need to combine multiple different unit types. Combined with a Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pump, it represents one comprehensive solution for heating, cooling and partial dehumidification of larger spaces without the need for a refrigerant-based air conditioning circuit inside the building.

Energy efficiency and operating costs

Since the VA 2-100 KN fan coil unit does not generate heat or cold itself, but only distributes energy prepared by an external source, its own electricity consumption is limited to driving the centrifugal fan (DC motor, which is significantly more efficient than older AC motors, especially at partial output on the medium and low settings). The actual energy efficiency of the entire solution therefore depends primarily on the seasonal performance coefficient of the source – with a Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pump featuring a high SCOP (seasonal heating coefficient) and SEER (seasonal cooling coefficient), the combination of a heat pump plus aroVAIR fan coil units represents one of the most economical combined heating and cooling solutions available on the market, since a single source covers both functions without the need for separate air conditioning with split units. The fan coil system also allows for easy zoning of the building (independent temperature control in different rooms or zones) without the need to build separate air-handling ductwork, saving both design and operating costs compared to central air conditioning with a single large air distribution system.

When designing multiple VA 2-100 KN units, or a combination with smaller models from the KN, WN, CSN and CN ranges in a single building, the heat pump must be sized to handle simultaneous operation of all connected fan coil units at design (extreme) outdoor temperatures, or be equipped with a bivalent source for peak loads. Such a system should be designed by a qualified heating and cooling engineer, who will take into account the heat losses/gains of individual rooms, design temperature spreads and hydraulic balancing of the whole system.