EXINDA AURA Ceiling-Ducted All-in-One Heat Pump Systems

Heating, cooling and ducted air distribution in one indoor package—with or without integrated energy recovery ventilation

EXINDA AURA is a ceiling-ducted all-in-one heat pump system for apartments, hotels, multifamily buildings, student housing and selected retrofit projects. The packaged indoor system provides heating, cooling and ducted air distribution without a conventional separate outdoor condenser.

AURA is available in two configurations. Choose AURA with ERV when the unit must also provide controlled fresh air, exhaust air and energy recovery. Choose AURA without ERV when the building already has a separate ventilation system or an approved natural and mechanical ventilation strategy.

Although AURA does not require a conventional outdoor condensing unit, the system still requires properly designed outdoor intake and exhaust ducts, exterior louvres, condensate drainage and service access.

Product and Manufacturing Evidence

Ceiling-ducted indoor packaged heat pump platform
Available with or without integrated ERV
R32 inverter heat pump technology
Applicable configurations supported by CE conformity documentation
Model-specific third-party test reports available for technical review
Project, distributor and OEM/ODM support from EXINDA

Regional electrical specifications, performance data and certification scope vary by model. Always review the applicable technical submittal before specification.

What Is the EXINDA AURA All-in-One Heat Pump System?

EXINDA AURA is an indoor packaged air-source heat pump that combines the refrigeration circuit, heating and cooling functions, fans, controls and duct connections within one ceiling-mounted unit. Conditioned air is distributed through indoor ductwork, while dedicated exterior duct connections allow the heat pump to exchange energy with outdoor air.

This design removes the need for a conventional separate outdoor condenser beside each apartment or hotel room. It can help project teams address limited balcony or rooftop space, façade restrictions and repeated suite-by-suite HVAC layouts.

AURA does not eliminate all exterior coordination. Contractors must still design the outdoor intake and exhaust paths, louvres, air separation, duct pressure, condensate drainage, structural support, acoustics and maintenance access.

What AURA Combines

Inverter heating and cooling
Ceiling-concealed installation
Ducted air distribution
Dehumidification during applicable operating modes
Integrated controls
Optional energy recovery ventilation, depending on configuration

Why Does EXINDA Offer AURA With ERV and Without ERV?

EXINDA offers two AURA configurations because the heat pump and the building ventilation system do not always have the same responsibility.

Some apartments and hotel rooms need one local system to provide heating, cooling, fresh air, exhaust air and energy recovery. Other projects already have central outdoor-air equipment, a separate ERV, mechanical extract or a code-compliant natural ventilation strategy. Installing another ERV in those projects may duplicate an existing function.

The two AURA configurations are therefore not simply a premium model and a basic model. They are designed for two different ventilation strategies.

AURA With ERV

Choose AURA with ERV when the room or dwelling needs the unit to provide controlled outdoor air and exhaust-air energy recovery in addition to heating and cooling.

Core functions:

Heating and cooling
Indoor-air circulation
Controlled fresh-air supply
Stale-air exhaust
Sensible and moisture energy transfer through the ERV core
Fresh-air filtration
Ducted supply-air distribution

Typical project fit:

Airtight apartments and condominiums
Hotels and extended-stay suites
Student housing and assisted living
Modular and prefabricated buildings
Buildings where occupants normally keep windows closed
Projects without another whole-space ventilation system

AURA Without ERV

Choose AURA without ERV when heating and cooling are required from the indoor packaged unit, but ventilation is already handled elsewhere in the building design.

Core functions:

Heating and cooling
Indoor-air circulation
Ducted supply-air distribution
Dehumidification during applicable operating modes
No integrated energy-recovery ventilation core

Typical project fit:

Buildings with central outdoor-air or DOAS ventilation
Projects using a separate ERV or HRV
Existing homes with approved natural ventilation and local wet-room extract
Hotel or apartment projects with a separate fresh-air and exhaust strategy
Applications seeking simpler ventilation-component maintenance

The without-ERV configuration still requires exterior air connections for the heat pump’s outdoor-side heat exchange. These exterior connections should not be described as controlled fresh-air ventilation for occupants.

How Does AURA Work Without an Outdoor Condensing Unit?

AURA uses two functional air paths: an indoor conditioned-air path and an outdoor-side heat-exchange path. The packaged refrigeration circuit transfers heat between these air paths without a conventional separate condenser installed on the façade, balcony or roof.

Indoor Conditioned-Air Path

Indoor return air enters the ceiling-mounted unit.
The air passes through filtration and the indoor heat exchanger.
The inverter heat pump heats or cools the air according to demand.
Conditioned air is delivered to the occupied rooms through supply ductwork.

Outdoor-Side Heat-Exchange Path

Outdoor air enters through a dedicated exterior intake and duct.
The outdoor air passes across the heat pump’s outdoor-side heat exchanger.
The heat pump absorbs or rejects heat, depending on heating or cooling mode.
The air is discharged outdoors through a separate exhaust duct and louvre.

The intake and exhaust louvres must be positioned and separated to limit recirculation. Available external static pressure, duct length, fittings and louvre pressure drop must be checked against the selected model’s fan data.

How Does the AURA ERV Configuration Recover Energy?

AURA with ERV adds a controlled ventilation path to the packaged heat pump system. Incoming outdoor ventilation air and outgoing stale indoor air pass through separate channels in the energy recovery core. The air streams do not directly mix, but heat and moisture can transfer across the core.

During heating conditions, the outgoing indoor air helps precondition the colder incoming outdoor air. During cooling conditions, the outgoing indoor air helps reduce the heat and moisture load of the incoming ventilation air. The preconditioned fresh air is then introduced into the supply-air path, while stale air is discharged outdoors.

The exact fresh-air, exhaust-air and heat-pump airflow arrangement must follow the selected AURA model’s approved airflow schematic and installation manual.

AURA With ERV vs AURA Without ERV

Selection Point	AURA With ERV	AURA Without ERV
Heating and cooling	Included	Included
Indoor ducted air distribution	Included	Included
Conventional outdoor condenser	Not required	Not required
Outdoor intake and exhaust ducts	Required	Required
Controlled fresh-air supply	Integrated	Provided by another building system or approved ventilation strategy
Stale-air exhaust	Integrated according to model and project design	Provided separately
Energy recovery core	Included	Not included
Fresh-air filtration	Included according to selected model	Not applicable to ventilation air within the unit
Main design question	Must AURA provide ventilation as well as heating and cooling?	Is ventilation already provided elsewhere?
Typical application	Airtight, closed-window or independently ventilated units	Existing or centrally ventilated buildings
Maintenance focus	Filters, ERV core, fans and heat pump components	Heat pump filters, fans and refrigeration components

Where Is an All-in-One Ceiling-Ducted Heat Pump Most Useful?

Multifamily Apartments and Condominiums

AURA can be evaluated where each dwelling needs independent heating and cooling but conventional outdoor condensers are difficult to coordinate on balconies, roofs or façades. The ceiling-ducted arrangement can distribute conditioned air to compact multi-room layouts, subject to load, airflow and external static pressure review.

Hotels and Extended-Stay Suites

AURA can provide a concealed alternative to visible room units where the project requires ducted air distribution and apartment-level or room-level control. The with-ERV configuration is especially relevant when the room does not receive adequate ventilation from another building system.

Student Housing and Assisted Living

Repeated room layouts can support repeatable equipment, duct and louvre coordination. Project teams must still verify ventilation rates, bathroom extract strategy, acoustics, filter access and service procedures.

Modular and Prefabricated Buildings

The packaged configuration can be coordinated within a repeatable module before delivery to site. Developers and modular builders should confirm structural support, external connections, condensate, electrical supply, controls and commissioning responsibilities during the design stage.

Selected Retrofit Projects

AURA may suit retrofit projects where external condenser locations or refrigerant pipe routes are restricted. Suitability depends on available ceiling space, exterior duct routes, electrical capacity, building loads and local approval requirements.

What Should Contractors Check Before Selecting AURA?

An all-in-one heat pump should not be selected from nominal capacity alone. Contractors and consultants should review the complete air, heat-pump and ventilation design.

Design Item	Required Review
Heating and cooling loads	Confirm the room or dwelling load at local design conditions
Regional operating conditions	Compare model performance and operating limits with the project climate
Indoor supply airflow	Confirm room-by-room airflow and grille selection
Indoor external static pressure	Calculate duct, fitting, filter and terminal losses
Outdoor-side external static pressure	Calculate intake duct, exhaust duct and louvre losses
Ventilation strategy	Confirm whether AURA or another system provides outdoor air and exhaust
Outdoor louvres	Coordinate size, weather protection, separation and façade appearance
Ceiling space	Allow for unit dimensions, structural support and vibration isolation
Service access	Provide access for filters, ERV core, fan, electrical and refrigeration service
Condensate	Confirm drain route, fall, trap and any pump requirement
Electrical supply	Match voltage, phase and frequency to the regional configuration
Controls	Confirm controller, sensors and any required BMS interface
Acoustics	Review sound data, duct attenuation and equipment location
Local compliance	Confirm the applicable model, documentation and approval path

Product Performance and Technical Documentation

AURA performance is model- and region-specific. EXINDA provides technical information for the applicable with-ERV and without-ERV configurations so that the project team can evaluate the system under stated test conditions.

Technical Submittal Information：

Category	Information to Be Identified
Cooling performance	Rated and part-load cooling capacity
Heating performance	Heating capacity at stated outdoor conditions
Efficiency	Power input, COP and efficiency data under stated test conditions
Indoor airflow	Indoor supply-airflow range
Indoor ducting	Available indoor external static pressure
Outdoor ducting	Outdoor-side airflow and available external static pressure
ERV airflow	Fresh-air and exhaust-air airflow for the ERV configuration
Energy recovery	Sensible and total energy-recovery performance for the ERV configuration
Sound data	Sound power and/or sound pressure with stated measurement conditions
Refrigerant	Refrigerant type and charge
Electrical	Electrical supply and optional auxiliary heat
Physical data	Dimensions, weight and duct-connection sizes
Filtration	Filter type and service requirements
Operating limits	Ambient operating range
Engineering documents	Fan curves, wiring diagrams and control options

CE Conformity and Third-Party Product Evaluation

Applicable EXINDA AURA configurations are CE marked and supported by model-specific conformity documentation and third-party test evidence. The exact directives, standards, test organization, report references, electrical configuration and model scope should be reviewed in the applicable technical file and EU Declaration of Conformity.

CE marking applies only to the configurations listed in the relevant conformity documentation. It should not be interpreted as approval for every voltage, model or country outside the stated scope. For projects outside the European Economic Area, request the applicable regional certification and compliance status before specification.

Documents Available for Project Review

Model-specific technical submittal
EU Declaration of Conformity for applicable configurations
Applicable third-party test reports
Product dimensional drawing
Airflow and duct connection schematic
Indoor and outdoor fan performance data
Installation and service instructions
Electrical and control documentation
BIM or Revit resources where available

Why Work with EXINDA as an All-in-One Heat Pump Manufacturer?

EXINDA manufactures both heat pump and ventilation products, allowing the AURA platform to be developed around the interaction between refrigeration performance, ducted air distribution and ventilation strategy.

EXINDA’s manufacturing and project-support platform includes:

A 60,000 m² manufacturing centre
More than 1,000 employees
12 production lines, including five automated core lines
Five in-house laboratories, including an SGS-approved QTL laboratory
Product and customised HVAC solutions supplied to partners in more than 50 countries and regions
Support for distributors, mechanical contractors, developers and OEM/ODM partners

For project work, EXINDA can review the building type, loads, ventilation requirements, airflow, duct static pressure, electrical supply and regional documentation before recommending an AURA configuration.

How Should Contractors and Developers Evaluate an All-in-One Heat Pump System?

Contractors and developers evaluating an all-in-one heat pump system need to consider more than equipment capacity. The proposed system must also fit the ventilation strategy, indoor and outdoor duct resistance, exterior louvre arrangement, ceiling space, acoustics, controls, service access and regional compliance requirements.

EXINDA AURA may be evaluated for selected apartment, hotel, multifamily, student-housing, modular and retrofit projects. Product selection should be based on the applicable AURA technical submittal and a project-specific engineering review.

EXINDA can review the project schedule, layout and design conditions and identify:

Whether a with-ERV or without-ERV configuration is appropriate
Whether the available capacity matches the design load
Whether indoor and outdoor fan performance supports the proposed ducts and louvres
Whether the unit can be installed and serviced within the available space
Which regional electrical and certification configuration should be evaluated
Which drawings, test data and technical documents are required before substitution

CTA: Request an AURA Technical Review for Your Project

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an all-in-one heat pump system?

An all-in-one heat pump system contains the primary refrigeration and air-handling components within one packaged unit rather than using a conventional separate outdoor condenser. EXINDA AURA is installed indoors above the ceiling and connects to indoor supply ductwork and engineered outdoor intake and exhaust ducts.

Does AURA require an outdoor unit?

No conventional separate outdoor condensing unit is required. However, AURA still requires dedicated outdoor intake and exhaust ducts, exterior louvres, suitable air separation and condensate drainage.

What is the difference between AURA with ERV and without ERV?

AURA with ERV provides heating, cooling, controlled fresh air, stale-air exhaust and energy recovery. AURA without ERV provides heating and cooling while the building’s ventilation is handled by another system or an approved natural and mechanical ventilation strategy.

Does AURA without ERV supply fresh air?

The without-ERV configuration should not be specified as the occupied-space fresh-air system unless the applicable model documentation explicitly includes that function. Its exterior air connections are required for the heat pump’s outdoor-side heat exchange, while occupant ventilation is normally provided separately.

When should a project use the ERV version?

Use AURA with ERV when the room or dwelling requires controlled outdoor air and exhaust-air energy recovery from the same local unit. It is particularly relevant to airtight buildings, closed-window applications and projects without another whole-space ventilation system.

Can one AURA unit serve multiple rooms?

A ceiling-ducted AURA unit can distribute conditioned air to compact multi-room layouts when the load, airflow, duct design and available external static pressure are suitable. A single unit normally serves one thermal control zone unless an approved zoning arrangement is designed for the project.

Is EXINDA AURA CE marked?

Applicable AURA configurations are CE marked and supported by model-specific conformity documentation. Contractors and distributors should confirm the exact model, voltage, frequency, standards and Declaration of Conformity that apply to their market.

Can AURA be selected using nominal capacity alone?

No. AURA selection must also consider airflow, external static pressure, ventilation functions, duct connections, dimensions, controls, sound data, electrical supply, climate conditions and regional certification requirements using current model-specific documents.

What information does EXINDA need to select an AURA configuration?

Provide the project location, building type, quantity, heating and cooling loads, ventilation strategy, required airflow, duct static pressure, electrical supply, available ceiling space, layout or drawings, certification requirements and project schedule.

Request an AURA Project Review

Selecting an all-in-one heat pump begins with the building design, not only the nominal capacity. Planning an apartment, hotel, multifamily or modular building project? Contact EXINDA for AURA product selection, technical documentation and project support. Send EXINDA the project information and our team will help determine whether AURA with ERV or AURA without ERV should be evaluated.

Contact：info@exindagroup.com

Ceiling-Ducted All-in-One Heat Pump Systems Manufacturer |EXINDA|AURA