The terms VRV and VRF both refer to the same HVAC technology. The difference is that VRV (variable refrigerant volume) was the original technology and is a registered trademark of Daikin Industries. All other manufacturers use the term VRF (variable refrigerant flow).
What is a VRV system?
Daikin VRV air conditioning was first launched in 1982 and is still produced today. It was the first HVAC system to use variable refrigerant flow controls, offering more precise control over temperatures than standard cooling systems.
Daikin VRV systems are especially popular in medium to large commercial buildings or other large properties that require a flexible and efficient cooling solution.
What is a VRF system?
All variable refrigerant systems not produced by Daikin are known as VRF air conditioners, which is the vast majority of systems. These work on the same principles as VRV, but there’s a much wider range of options to choose from across different brands and models.
VRF systems use refrigerant for cooling rather than water, with DC inverters controlling motor speeds and refrigerant flow to minimise power consumption. Many systems are designed to be expandable, allowing more units to be added over time in a growing business or project.