United States. The future of HVAC/R will be on display in January when there is an increase in new and updated products for the industry, at the 2018 AHR Expo in Chicago, which will be held January 22-24 at McCormick Place.
Exhibitors are expected to present a variety of new products or related product enhancements in every facet of the industry, from complete systems designed for large commercial and industrial buildings to labor-saving tools and profit-generating services for residential contractors.
With more than 2,000 exhibitors, more than 100 seminars and product presentations and more than 65,000 attendees, the Show offers a unique forum for the entire HVACR industry, from product designers and engineers to installers and end users, to meet and share ideas, discover new products, and finding solutions to technical problems.
Some of the exhibits that contractors, engineers, and other attendees can expect to include:
- VFDs (variable frequency drives) for HVAC applications, specially designed for building automation applications, helping to minimize energy costs and maximize occupant comfort
- Thermostat technology with enhanced Wi-Fi connection that allows control via iOS or Android apps, plus email notifications and advanced voice control.
- A digitally controlled mixing valve that provides fast and accurate temperature control for domestic hot water applications
- New bionic rotor technology with a special blade design, modeled after a whale's tubers to ensure an optimized airflow angle and reduced flow separation on the blade surface
- A self-contained HVAC system for hazardous sites, designed to prevent an explosion using only non-arc components installed in a small, safe, increased illumination enclosure
- An oscilloscope to test motor shaft stresses, allowing contractors to determine if motors are at risk of premature bearing failure due to bearing currents
- New electrical test measurement technology for reliable and true RMS measurements in boxes filled with connections or along conductors with inaccessible extreme points, saving time, minimizing possible errors and considerably reducing the possibility of electric arc
- Software that allows engineers and designers to create air systems including both air handlers and roof units, including the tools to design complex hydronic, steam, plumbing and VRF systems along with control schemes
- A number of tools, including heavy wire scrubbers built with the durability of pliers and the sharpness and precision of a wire separator; Thermal imaging technology with Wi-Fi that uses a thin infrared camera with an integrated touchscreen; a manual particulate counter for indoor air quality investigations; and a copper line cleaning tool that removes contaminants from existing refrigeration and air conditioning lines
