Trane Introduces New Hydronic Branch Conductor, Putting Electrification in Reach for Retrofits and New Builds

DAVIDSON, N.C., Feb. 18, 2025 – Trane® – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, has announced the new Trane^® Hydronic Branch Conductor that helps retrofit and new buildings achieve higher energy efficiency and zone comfort from decarbonized, electrified heating and cooling without major structural disruptions. The Hydronic Branch Conductor, patent pending, supports simultaneous heating and cooling capabilities, and in certain applications can improve heating efficiency by more than 35%.

“To advance the decarbonization of buildings, we need innovations that simplify the retrofitting process to more efficient heat pump systems,” said Oakley Roberts, Vice President of Product Management, Commercial HVAC Americas, Trane Technologies. “The Hydronic Branch Conductor from Trane is an excellent example of such an innovation, effectively addressing this challenge in hydronic-based thermal systems.”

The company is expanding its portfolio of chillers, adding efficient, sustainable process chillers. “The recent acquisition of Italian-based manufacturer MTA has strengthened our sustainable HVAC offerings and today we announce Trane’s first series of process chillers built specifically to meet the cooling needs of manufacturers, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and automotive manufacturers, among others,” added Roberts.

Trane has also announced it has transitioned Series R™ RTWD and RTHD models and the remainder of the Axiom™ Water Source Heat Pumps portfolio to low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.

Trane® Hydronic Branch Conductor Improves Building Efficiency, Sustainable Comfort

A practical path to decarbonization for new buildings and retrofits, the new Trane Hydronic Branch Conductor is a system component that enables the repurposing of existing water piping for both heating and cooling distribution, even in buildings with existing two-pipe branch systems, to help achieve sustainable comfort with minimal structural changes and installation costs.

When it is paired with hydronic heat pump systems, building owners and managers can:

• Change heating and cooling loads zone by zone multiple times a day without the need to switch from hot to cold water seasonally for the entire building.
• Replace six-way valves at each terminal unit on a branch with a single conductor.
• Convert existing buildings with 140 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit hot water (60 – 82 degrees Celsius) to a more energy efficient 105 degrees Fahrenheit hot water electrified heating supply (40 degrees Celsius).

The Hydronic Branch Conductor is ideal for education and government buildings, commercial offices, hotels, medical offices, and high-rise residential buildings with multiple thermal zones.

Purpose-Built Process Chillers for Industrial Process Cooling Available Through Trane

Following its acquisition of MTA, Trane now offers chillers purpose-built for industrial process cooling, with different cooling capacities that meet the specialized needs of pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive and general manufacturers, and more.

Fully packaged with a compact design, the TAEevo TECH and TAEevo TECH MINI are well-suited for indoor and outdoor applications that have space constraints. The TAEevo TECH has a nominal cooling capacity of 2 to 53 tons and the TAEevo TECH MINI has one ton. These models also have:

• A finned-tube evaporator to provide lower pressure drop and reduced fouling.
• Cleanable, removable aluminum condenser air filters and hail guards for added condenser protection and ease of maintenance on units from 3 tons and under.
• Pre-packaged on-boarding pump(s), coolant buffer tank, and controls for plug-and-play installation.
• An insulated, pressure-rated tank for a steady supply of cold process fluid that operates as an open or closed loop.

Series R™ Helical Rotary Screw Chillers Now Available with Symbio® 800 Equipment Controller and Low-GWP Refrigerants

Two proven workhorses known for reliable performance, the Trane Series R helical rotary screw chillers RTWD and RTHD, have transitioned to low-GWP refrigerants R-513A and R-515B. The RTWD model, with a capacity range of 80 to 250 tons (600 to 3,000 MBH), utilizes R-513A for comfort cooling and low-temperature needs, and R-515B for heating, achieving temperatures of up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). This helps make the RTWD an ideal solution for boiler replacement in a wider range of applications. The RTHD model, with a larger capacity range of 175 to 400 tons (2,100 to 5,000 MBH), now uses R-513A for all requirements.

Both chillers are now available with Trane’s Symbio® 800 equipment controller, which integrates seamlessly with building automation systems (BAS), providing improved energy management and operational insights.

Axiom™ Rooftop Water Source Heat Pumps Portfolio from 3 to 25 tons Completes Refrigerant Transition

Trane has completed the redesign of the Axiom Rooftop Water Source Heat Pump portfolio, adding 3- to 10-ton and 17.5-ton rooftop units designed to help improve energy efficiency and reach decarbonization goals. All Axiom units have now transitioned to low-GWP R-454B refrigerant and include factory-installed leak detection, when required, for peace of mind while helping to save time and costs associated with installation.

Ideal for education, warehouses, government, hotels, apartments, and condominiums, the 3- to 25-ton Axiom Rooftop Water Source Heat Pumps include standard Symbio® 700 controls to help improve system performance and serviceability, and support BAS integration.