United States. The winners of the 2018 AHR Expo Innovation Awards, the annual competition that recognizes some of the most innovative HVAC/R products, systems and technologies to be presented at AHR Expo 2018, were announced.
The winners were selected by a panel of ASHRAE member judges who evaluated all award entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. The winners will be recognized at a formal ceremony during the 2018 AHR Expo, which will be held Jan. 22-24 at Chicago's McCormick Place. AHR Expo will also announce the winner of the highly anticipated Product of the Year Award at this ceremony.
"Every year, our winners set the maximum for innovation in HVACR, and this year is no exception," said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, the producers of AHR Expo. "We congratulate each of these leaders from across the industry and look forward to seeing their ingenious solutions in action at AHR Expo 2018."
The winners and finalists in the categories of building automation, refrigeration, green buildings, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, cooling, software, tools and instruments and ventilation are as follows:
Building Automation
Winner: Setra Systems, Inc.
Innovation: Setra FLEX, a room control and monitoring solution. It is used to ensure environmental and ventilation control conditions in safe and energy-efficient environments for operating rooms, isolation rooms, biosecurity laboratories, clean rooms and all pressurized critical spaces. The visual and audible alarms are configurable and fully compliant with the ASHRAE Standard 170, as well as US Pharmacopeia 797 and 800.
The finalists in this category were: Belimo Americas (6-way independent electronic pressure valve); Cielo WiGle Inc. (Breez: Intelligent Controller for Ductless Air Conditioning Systems); and Emerson (Site Supervisor's facility control platform).
Cooling
Winner: Emerson.
Innovation: Copeland Scroll, a two-stage compressor. The latest generation of Copeland Scroll two-stage compressors from 1 to 10 tons has been redesigned to improve performance and reliability in residential and commercial air conditioning systems. The third-generation technology is optimized for the mid-level comfort and efficiency discounts with improved full-load and part-load performance of up to five percent.
The finalists in this category were: Delta Cooling Towers, Inc. (Delta Anti-Microbial Cooling Tower); Johnson Controls, Inc. (York Affinity YXV 20 SEER variable capacity air conditioner); and Ziehl-Abegg, Inc. (ZAvblue centrifugal fan).
Green Building
Winner: Danfoss
Innovation: Danfoss Turbocor TTH/TGH High Lift Compressor, a compressor optimized for air-cooled chiller applications and heat recovery. Designed for high elevation applications, including air-cooled chillers and heat recovery, Danfoss Turbocor TTH/TGH models feature oil-free, variable-speed magnetic bearing operation for excellent full and partial load efficiency, low vibration and sound, small footprint and reduced maintenance, while providing an expanded operating map suitable for air-cooled chiller and heat recovery applications.
The finalists in this category were: International Wastewater Systems Inc. (Piranha HC thermal energy recovery hot water production system); Nexus Valve, Inc. (pressure step decelerator); Regal (NovaMAX ™ engine - 600 RPM); and Smardt Chiller Group Inc. (Smardt Solar Integrated Chiller (SSiC)).
Heating
Winner: Calefactio
Innovation: The ONE, a three-in-one expansion tank, air separator and dirt separator. The ONE innovates by eliminating a significant number of joints, thus limiting the possibilities of leaks; using less space and taking less time to install compared to installing the three devices separately; reducing costs; it's much less expensive to buy The ONE than it is to buy all the devices separately.
The finalists in this category were: Cleaver-Brooks, Inc. (Cleaver-Brooks ClearFire-CE hydraulic boiler); Johnson Controls, Inc. (York® Affinity YZV 20 SEER variable capacity heat pump); and WaterFurnace International, Inc. (Versatec variable speed water source/geothermal heat pump).
Indoor air quality
Winner: Spartan Bioscience
Innovation: Spartan Legionella Detection System, the world's first Legionella DNA test to prevent outbreaks. Spartan's Legionella detection system fully integrates DNA collection, extraction and analysis in a compact format. Spartan's technology enables unprecedented portability without sending samples to an external laboratory and without technical expertise requirements. In addition, the system provides results in 45 minutes.
The finalists in this category were: AAF Flanders (Sensor360 filtration monitor); Addison (Linear Capacity, dedicated outdoor air system); and Johnson Controls, Inc. (Glas smart thermostat).
Plumbing
Winner: AquaMotion Inc.
Innovation: AquaMotion Aqua-Flash, a hot water recirculation system under the sink. The Aqua-Flash by-pass valve provides: an improved bypass design that prevents hot water from entering the cold line when the hot water tap is opened; a bimetallic coil element that closes the by-pass port of the internal shuttle on the valve when hot water reaches the valve; a bimetallic element that is calibrated to supply the desired hot water temperature; and more than twice the diameter of the pipe to prevent calcium buildup.
The finalists in this category were: Caleffi Hydronic Solutions (Legiomix® electronic mixing valve with disinfection); and John Guest USA, Inc. (JG ProLock Turn-to-Lock Adaptation System).
Refrigeration
Winner: Chemours.
Innovation: Opteon XP44 Refrigerant (R-452A), an HFO-based refrigerant substitute that does not deplete ozone and is low in GWP for R-404A/507. It offers an approximately 50 percent reduction in global warming potential compared to R-404A/R-507, while providing the closest ratio to the compressor discharge temperature of any other low-GWP solution on the market.
The finalists in this category were: Carel Industries S.p.A. (HEEZ control and management solution); and Emerson (Copeland Scroll low-temperature braking power compressor).
Software
Winner: Regal
Innovation: Browning Toolbox Technician engine efficiency calculator, for Apple and Android platforms. This mobile application calculator module allows the user to identify efficiency differences between different generations of full-power electric motors. This application not only identifies the potential efficiency gain, but also allows the user to adapt the engine usage parameters to reflect their application or the overall use of the installation, so a projected return on investment can be shown.
The finalists in this category were: Coolfront Technologies (Coolfront Mobile flat rate pricing app); LG Electronics USA, Inc. (LG (LATS) Revit plug-in air conditioning technical solution); and SuperCool Slide Rule (SuperCool HVAC app).
Tools and instruments
Winner: Fluke Corporation
Innovation: Fluke T6 electric tester, an electrical tester that takes simultaneous voltage and current measurements without test wires. T6 testers now make it possible to take reliable true measurements in crowded junction boxes or along conductors with inaccessible endpoints, saving time, minimizing potential errors, and greatly reducing the possibility of arc flash.
The finalists in this category were: GrayWolf Sensing Solutions (GrayWolf's DirectSense II Smart Probes/Sensor); Milwaukee Tool (102 x 77 Spot Infrared Imager); and SuperCool Slide Rule (Line Saving Cleaning Device).
Ventilation
Winner: Triatek
Innovation: Stable Vortex II extractor hood, a dynamic, low-flow, high-performance extractor hood that protects chemicals from harmful dusts and vapors during experiments. It provides a safer environment for the user than the average smoke hood, while providing substantial energy savings. The stable Vortex II passes the ASHRAE 110 test manufactured, installed and used because the superior design explains how people actually use extractor hoods, to keep them really safe.
The finalists in this category were: Regal (UlteMAX Axial PM Motor); Titus (TJD, OMNI diffuser) and Ziehl-Abegg, Inc. (bionic ZAbluefin, high efficiency impeller).
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