In the ‘Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry, innovation is a continuous process since very beginning. However, in due course with passage of time, the process of innovation has been more individualistic but its focus has been more versatile. The concept of compartmentalization of the overall machine design has further added to the enrichment of the technologies being used in the industry. Although some industry experts arguably split the HVAC and the R section, there are several common threads that amass the logic behind stitching them together.
Many innovative modification works are simultaneously being done at different parts of the world. Considering today’s competitive business arena, most of the companies are now spending hefty amounts to strengthen their respective R&D wings targeting cost reduction, energy saving, better compliance with the environment and safety of the people around. Several governments are also taking up initiatives to uphold the process. As including every such instance is not possible in a small article, let us see some of the recent positive developments in this direction in the United States.
Approach of the most technologically advanced country
Last year (2015), the US Department of Energy (DoE) invested nearly $8 million to develop next-generation HVAC systems for buildings to advance research and development of next-generation heating, ventilating, and air conditioning technologies, supporting the administration’s goal of saving money by saving energy, and phasing down the use of chemicals that have a devastating effect on the global climate.
It was estimated that: HVAC systems are the largest energy end-use in buildings, using almost 14 quadrillion British Thermal Units (quads) of primary energy annually, or nearly 30% of all energy used in the U.S. commercial and residential buildings. Non-vapourcompression HVAC systems have the potential to use as much as 40% less energy than current systems.
DoE decided to support advanced vapour compression technology and non-vapour compression technology. Advanced vapour compression systems will use highly efficient versions of the technologies that currently drive HVAC systems, but uses refrigerants that will have a minimal effect on the environment. Non-vapour compression systems will employ new technologies that use refrigerants that don’t affect the environment.
DoE’s goal is to develop next-generation heating and cooling technologies that leapfrog the existing vapour compression solutions and result in dramatically improved efficiency while utilising near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants or non-vapour compression approaches.
Application of internet in remote control
Recently, Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration, a well known provider of commercial and industrial refrigeration components, systems and service solutions, has released the Mohave Remote Refrigeration Control (RRC), an innovative internet-based control system that allows end-users to manage their refrigeration systems using any web browser, from anywhere in the world. Round the clock remote monitoring capabilities allow end-users to control box temperatures, change configuration parameters and receive alarm notifications – if any system issues occur, all from the convenience of an internet connection. A wireless mesh network provides increased reliability and significantly reduces installation time.
“The Mohave Remote Refrigeration Control system enables owners/operators and maintenance engineers in large cold storage and processing facilities to improve refrigeration space efficiency by remotely addressing issues that may have traditionally required a service call. End-users will quickly benefit from the convenience of logging in from anywhere and, with immediate system access, they will be able to detect issues before they become a problem,” says Russ Jones, Product Manager, for Heatcraft.
The Mohave RRC can process input parameters and monitor output activities for multiple Mohave Hot Gas systems. This webbased system allows for continuous monitoring and is also capable of sending commands directly to multiple Mohave Hot Gas units. The remote troubleshooting functionality allows for quick and accurate system diagnoses and corrective action planning, which could result in more efficient resource allocation – and decreased administrative costs. By eliminating the need for wiring between electronic devices, Heatcraft has reduced installation time, resulting in lower start-up costs.
“We are on the leading edge of controls innovation. The Mohave RRC is just one of the many control solutions offered by Heatcraft and is a part of our strategy to continue to deliver value-added products and services to our end-users. We have utilised the newest technologies to innovate a complete portfolio of refrigeration controls that enhance commercial refrigeration performance for a wide range of applications, from cold storage to foodservice”, says Sophia Bellos, Director of Marketing for Heatcraft.
Multiple benefits from innovation
Right now in Milan, at the Mostra Convegno 2016 trade fair, ebm-papst is introducing innovations for refrigeration, air conditioning, and ventilation technology at two stands. In the refrigeration sector, the company is presenting the expansion of the successful ‘AxiCool’ axial series for evaporators and air coolers. The new 500, 630 and 800 mm sizes are designed for high-performance evaporators and air coolers for commercial and industrial refrigeration. This clever plug & play system solution offers many advantages. The integrated combination of diffuser and discharge vanes increases the efficiency by 30% – and allows an increase in air performance by up to 12% and a reduction of the noise by up to 3 dB(A).
As per ebm-papst, with the NiQ, it is introducing the next generation of energysaving drive motors – for use in refrigerated display cases and bottle coolers, among other applications. The compact motor combines the well-known properties of the iQ motor series with a new design – inside and out. The developers have been able to make the next iQ generation even more efficient and especially more economical. Based on the typical low speeds for the applications, the motor has been optimised to 800 to 2,000 1/min and the corresponding torque. The aluminium housing has been replaced with plastic, which makes approval possible for areas with indirect contact with foodstuffs, such as in open vegetable display cases.
ebm-papst is also showing new solutions for heat pump applications. With continued optimisation of the peripheral parts in combination with the integrated diffuser, their reliable HyBlade axial fan offers enormous advantages in terms of efficiency and acoustics. On the one hand, it allows the air performance to increase by up to 10%, and on the other hand, a reduction of the noise by up to 3 dB (A). Thus, this new plug & play system solution offers the best conditions for an even more efficient and quieter heat pump.
Yet another innovation from them is the G3G 315 gas blower. For the first time, heating outputs of up to 2 MW are possible with a single compact blower – enough to heat highrise buildings or entire housing developments, for example. Now planners have completely new options, such as decentralised heating solutions that minimise construction expenses and heating losses from long pipes. In combination with their GreenTech EC technology, enormous savings are possible.
Solid-state cooling and heating technology
“Finding sustainable and energy-efficient cooling and heating solutions is critical. Americans consume an astounding 189 billion kWhr/year to cool our homes, primarily using compressor-based appliances requiring global warming refrigerants that can leak into the atmosphere,” says Tony Atti, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Phononic.
Phononic, the semiconductor company, which is revolutionising cooling and heating, has been named in the prestigious 2015 Global Cleantech 100, produced by Cleantech Group, whose mission is to connect corporates to sustainable innovation through its i3 Connect platform and global events.
The company’s solid-state innovation has led to launch their SilverCore technology that offers an efficient and convenient way to cool and heat. SilverCore actively moves particles of heat, known as phonons, to create products that cool faster and quieter compared with compressors, fans and water-based systems. The potential benefits of such applications are seemingly endless.
Final Remark
Innovation has been an integral part of the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry. Whether it is a component-wise approach or an overall attempt, or phasing-out of the GWP-increasing refrigerants, the interlying spirit of innovation is ever-growing. Sooner or later solid-state refrigeration will see tremendous growth and drastically reduce energy consumption and offer quite environment-friendly cooling. Internet will be an effective tool to control the temperature anywhere and everywhere from anywhere and everywhere.
