Winning products make a good show
USA: Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump products make a good showing at the AHR Expo Innovation Awards, just announced for the forthcoming exhibition in Chicago.
Winners have been announced in ten industry categories. They represent the most innovative products and technologies from exhibitors taking part in the exhibition, which takes place at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center from 22-24 January.
The winners have been selected on the basis of overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology real-world application, as well as overall potential market impact.
The ten categories are Building Automation, Cooling, Heating, IAQ, Plumbing, Refrigeration, Software, Sustainable Solutions, Tools & Instruments and Ventilation.
One overall Product of the Year winner, decided from amongst the category winners, will be announced and awarded at the show.
Winners for the 2024 AHR Expo Innovations Awards include:
Building Automation
Winner: 75F
Product: HyperStat Split
Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, 75F is a predictive and proactive IoT-based building automation system that addresses HVAC, lighting, and equipment control needs.
It enables contractors to upgrade rooftop units with advanced rooftop control with unprecedented ease. Using only two existing wires from the RTU to the thermostat, HyperStat Split provides dual enthalpy economiser, demand-control ventilation, and VFD control. In addition, an onboard PIR occupancy sensor enhances energy savings with auto away.
Cooling
Winner: Danfoss
Product: DSG Compressor
The Danfoss DSG compressor has been specifically designed for low pressure refrigerants such as R1234ze with low global warming potential. Applications include chiller systems, with a wide range of compressor capacities available to support unit design requirements.
Heating
Winner: Ephoca
Product: Nextac
Often considered a cheap, low-end product, US installers have favoured packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) for their affordability and ease of installation but, for many years, PTACs have seen minimal advancement.
The Nextac is described as the next generation of PTAC, transforming the PTAC into a tour-de-force of total comfort control. R32, twin rotary inverter compressor, heat pump performance to -10°F, integrated ERV, MERV13, zero air leakage, self-cleaning coils, 27dB(A) operations, STC of 40, sleek, all-metal, paintable cabinet.
Ephoca is the US subsidiary of Italian manufacturer Innova SRL
Indoor Air Quality
Winner: WellStat
Product: WellStat
WellStat is an indoor air quality and energy management software platform used by property and facility management teams to assure healthy air quality conditions, lower operating costs, and increase operating revenue.
FCC tested and UL listed, WellStat provides data beneficial for achieving various sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL, RESET certified, US Energy Policy Acts).
Refrigeration
Winner: AirGreen
Product: BMIL brine-based DX cold room heat pump
The AirGreen-BMIL brine-based DX refrigerant system simultaneously cools and dehumidifies, essentially creates a low dewpoint “heat pump” for cold room applications – providing <26ºF dewpoint supply air in a single process step.
Sustainable Solutions
Winner: Midea Residential Air Conditioning
Product: Packaged window heat pump (PWHP)
Designed for DIY installation, the Midea PWHP offers 9,000 Btu/hr heating and cooling, with the category’s highest CEER of 16.0, a COP of 2.35 at 17ºF, an SEER2 up to 21.8 and HSPF2 of 11.6.
