United States. The AHR Expo announced the winners of the 2021 AHR Expo Innovation Awards in ten industry categories.
Event administrators, co-sponsors ASHRAE and AHRI, and the Innovation Awards judging panel wanted to recognize and honor the 2021 award winners despite the event's recent cancellation. Usually, award winners are formally recognized at a ceremony held on the second day of the annual show.
"The Innovation Awards are an exciting part of the AHR Expo and we are disappointed that we cannot honor them in the same way we would in a Live Show," said Show Director Mark Stevens. "Despite the challenges 2020 has presented, we are committed to recognizing the incredible innovators in our industry."
The submissions were collected over the summer and then reviewed by an outside judging panel comprised of distinguished ASHRAE members. Participants are evaluated based on the overall innovative design, the creativity of the product or service offered, the application and the potential impact on the market.
Winners:
Building Automation
Winner: Infinitum Electric - Infinitum Electric IEq, a high-efficiency silicon carbide VFD
Innovation: Infinitum Electric's IEq is an alternative solution to replace VFDs based on insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) from 30 years ago. The high-efficiency silicon carbide (SiC) VFD offers a smaller, smarter, cooler, and more efficient motor controller with IoT capabilities built into a single unit.
Cooling
Winner: Emerson - Copeland ™ ZPK7 Fixed Speed Scroll Compressor
Innovation: The Copeland ™ ZPK7 scroll compressor developed by Emerson is the most efficient fixed-speed compressor ever produced in Copeland's 100-year history. The innovative next-generation Copeland compressor, now in its seventh generation, is available in 1.5-5 tonnes and can be applied in both residential and commercial applications. In addition, it supports the HVAC industry with optimized efficiency by providing efficiency improvement of up to 5% in SEER2 B rating point condition and key HSPF2 part-load operating conditions. With regulation-ready performance, the compressors are optimized for use with R410A refrigerant, but will also offer a line optimized for low GWP refrigerants, such as R32 and R454B.
Green Building
Winner: Advanced Cooling Technologies: Pump-assisted split-loop energy recovery heat exchanger
Innovation: Advanced Cooling Technologies' pump-assisted AAHX recovers energy from exhaust or supply airflow during all seasons, allowing AUUs to consume less energy. It works by combining traditional air-to-air heat piping technology with two-phase pumped systems that take advantage of both operating modes. In passive mode, which is activated when the hottest air stream is physically below the colder air stream, the heat exchanger works like a heat pipe without the need for electrical input. When the seasons change and the relative temperature of the two air currents is reversed, a small pump is used to maintain energy transfer.
Heating
Winner: Viega LLC - Automatic Radiant Balancing System (RABS)
Innovation: The Automatic Radiant Balancing System (RABS) introduces the ability to control the temperature of each return circuit in a radiant system. Along with monitoring the air temperature of each zone through wireless thermostats, the control activates the flow of conditioned water to each circuit using a learning algorithm to increase the efficiency of a radiant installation.
Indoor Air Quality
Winner: Des Champs Technologies - PLP Air-Trap Series
Innovation: Des Champs Technologies' PLP Air-Trap ™ series offers a new concept in condensate trap design that allows the removal of condensate from AC or other condensation equipment while blocking airflow year-round and requires only 2 7/8" in height for a positive WC of 0-40" pressure. The trap can never "dry" or freeze because it does not depend on water to seal, only the pressure of the fan.
Plumbing
Winner: Caleffi Hydronic Solutions - AngleMix™ Angle Style Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Innovation: The Caleffi AngleMix ™ 520 Series thermostatic mixing valve precisely controls the temperature of mixed water in residential and commercial domestic hot water systems. It is a thermostatic mixing valve with an angled body. This geometry minimizes the number of elbows needed, reducing the total cost of installation. In addition, AngleMix is the only thermostatic mixing valve in the industry that can close its hot and cold ports to 100% tightness, preventing the temperature from dropping or falling.
Refrigeration
Winner: Officine Mario Dorin Spa - CD600 Range
Innovation: The CD600 range of Officine Mario Dorin Spa is the largest transcritical CO2 compressor platform available worldwide. The CD600 range is UL and CSA approved. Based on a 6-cylinder design, this platform includes models up to 100 hp and 2200 cfh with maximum efficiency levels and premium reliability standards.
Software
Winner: Willdan - NEO Net Energy Optimizer Energy Modeling® Software
Innovation: The NEO Net Energy Optimizer® is a SaaS platform that provides customized, real-time financial and energy ROI analysis in seconds. Energy modeling software streamlines complete building analyses of HVAC systems and energy conservation measures for commercial buildings with the versatility to support product comparisons, energy audits of existing buildings, and new construction from initial design to construction. NEO uses default inputs from examined industry standards (ASHRAE, COMNET, RS Means) to automate the modeling process. All entries are customizable where additional details are known. NEO supports more than 40 types of commercial buildings (including mixed-use and multi-family) and more than 250 operational and capital improvement measures along with the automated ASHRAE 90.1 standard and IECC baselines.
Tools and instruments
Winner: INFICON - Refrigerant Leak Detector D-TEK® 3
Innovation: INFICON's D-TEK 3 refrigerant leak detector is the latest in a line of time-saving service tools for HVAC/R. This leak detector provides a sensitivity to finding the smallest leaks for all common refrigerants, the maximum uptime of your long-lasting fast-charging lithium-ion battery, and unmatched versatility thanks to the ability to use multiple sensors. D-TEK 3 is designed to use INFICON's next-generation infrared sensors, allowing you to search for leaks of classic refrigerants, CO2, and flammable refrigerants with just a quick sensor change.
Ventilation
Winner: Aldes - CAR3® - Next generation in precise airflow
Innovation: Aldes' CAR3® constant airflow regulators feature a state-of-the-art design with industry-exclusive double-sided airflow adjustability and increased airflow ranges for a variety of applications. Patent-pending airflow technology allows you to configure or change airflow quickly, in supply or exhaust applications, without removing the CAR3 from the duct.
