6 HVAC Trends

February 12, 2016 5:19 pm

An overview of few trends that will drive the HVAC industry in 2016
  The cooling industry is evolving multifold in the country with the opportunities created by the increasing government initiatives and this year brings with it a number of innovations and industry developments that will benefit the direct and indirect stakeholders of the industry.
1. Fixed speed screw compressors show higher relative part load efficiencies Previously, fixed speed multi stage centrifugal compressors were the unanimous choice in the early days of large capacity water cooled chillers. These fixed speed compressors, both single and two stage, experience a dramatic efficiency penalty at lower head and lower flow part-load operating conditions. This drop in off-design efficiency is stronger than that of screw compressors. As a result, fixed speed screw compressors show higher relative part load efficiencies than fixed speed centrifugal compressors. However with the onset of variable speed compressors, efficiency of compressors has increased dramatically.
“Shifting mindsets towards energy efficient technology is Danfoss Turbocor technology which is the pioneer and world leader in the oil-free centrifugal compressor product category. The enterprise is dedicated to the design, manufacture, marketing and support of the world’s most efficient commercial refrigerant compressors. It is specifically designed for the HVAC industry,” says Rajesh Premchandran, Vice-President, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Division, Danfoss India.
Danfoss Turbocor’s innovative technology redefines the lifetime operating costs for chiller applications. Magnetic bearings, two-stage centrifugal compression, a variable speed permanent magnet motor and intelligent electronic controls combine to create a sustainable energy efficient solution that is compact, lightweight and quiet. Outstanding sustainability and long service life because there are no mechanical wear surfaces due to frictionless magnetic bearing technology.
2. Close temperature approach saves energyWith more and more high rise buildings coming in metro cities in India, pressure breaker systems are becoming more critical, especially when focus in on reducing utility bills. Close temperature approach is more popular and having benefits since it saves energy. Heat exchangers which work with 1 to 1.5 degree LMTD (Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference) have an advantage. For low LMTD heat exchangers, design becomes more critical although capacities can be same.
Amit Goliwar, Business Leader, (EIE), Industrial Equipment, Alfa Laval (India)Ltd explains with an example, “LMTD of 2 degree will need say X area; with 1 degree LMTD area can go upto 2X. Low LMTD will be met with taller heat exchangers easily. With low LMTD, temperature stretch of 9 degree celsius in single pass can further reduce operating cost, will make system more compact saving space and can be easy to maintain the system. This will reduce load on pumps.”
For thermal storage applications where electricity is available at lower rates than peak hours, 1.5 to 2 degree LMTD is preferred. This will generate cooling energy at much lower operating cost. Heat exchangers operating at 1 degree LMTD are also becoming popular for condenser protector interface applications.
“For critical designs, third party approved products are better since performance is tested by independent agency. Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has stringent design and performance norms which guarantee the performance of equipment. This will ensure long life of system for investors and system designers. In fact few manufacturers are offering extended performance warranty for AHRI certified products. This certification is anyway followed worldwide will be soon become popular in India as well,” states Goliwar.
National focus should be on waste heat recovery and using more renewable energy. For this it is important that usage of auto modulating solar and heat pumps used with low LMTD where maximum possible solar or geo thermal energy will be utilised and fossil fuel can be saved. Packaged systems with all necessary controls mounted on the machine itself will make a system more usable and will have very less manual intervention.

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