Chillers, heat pumps, hybrid coolers, fans, filtration systems, furnaces, compressors, diffusers … the manufacturers who responded to this article’s slot on the editorial calendar cover a lot of ground.

The equipment types may vary, but the continued work toward ever-improved efficiency and comfort is a trait they share. Tour some of the industry’s latest efforts to enhance customer and contractor happiness through increasingly green performance that avoids the customer blues while keeping contractors in the black.

HYBRID COOLER

Baltimore Air Coil (BAC) has rolled out what it describes as the world’s first intelligent, plug-and-play, modular, hybrid fluid cooling system — engineered to simplify system design and optimize water and energy savings while lowering installation, operating, and maintenance costs.

The Nexus Modular Hybrid Cooler simplifies both the design and installation of fluid cooling systems. Its sustainability-focused features include three key components.

BAC’s iPilot™ Control System with patent-pending, embedded intelligence minimizes operating cost by balancing water and energy savings based on customer needs and preferences. The EC Fan System is designed for efficiency as well as high external static capability, with a direct-drive radial fan and a variable-speed electrically commutated (EC) motor.

The new, patent-pending DiamondClear™ Design reduces both water and chemical usage. The design provides continuous self-cleaning, significantly cutting water basin maintenance costs by reducing scale build-up and biological growth.

BAC’s patented hCore™ Heat Transfer Technology delivers heat transfer performance, durability, and longevity in a compact, corrosion-resistant package that has 65 percent less internal fluid volume and requires no passivation.

Additionally, the units are up to 8 feet shorter in height, 40 percent smaller in footprint, and 35 percent lighter in weight that traditional fluid coolers. Modules are designed to be moved with a pallet jack and fit in a freight elevator — eliminating the need for special rigging equipment. Structural steel requirements can be reduced by up to 50 percent, and permanent ladders or elevated platforms can be eliminated.

DIFFUSER

Titus touts Helios as the HVAC industry’s first digital variable air volume (VAV) diffuser powered by ambient light and direct sunlight. The Helios wirelessly connects to its control and is equipped with a rechargeable solar cell.

The control includes a solar- powered wall sensor and plug-in postmaster, allowing the diffuser to be managed with quick and easy pushbutton pairing. Installation is simplified because it doesn’t require cables or cords or line of sight between the control and diffuser(s). It also offers personalized comfort for occupants and energy efficiency.

FURNACE

With Energy Star® qualifying efficiency and up to 98 percent AFUE, Luxaire® Acclimate™ Series LP9C Modulating Furnaces provide more heat for less money. The modulating burner design continuously adjusts the heating level in small increments to match the degree of comfort homeowners need precisely, which can cut fuel costs nearly 38 percent.

The furnaces also feature built-in Charge Smart™ monitoring to provide contractors with information to evaluate the system refrigerant charge without connecting gauges, sensors, or accessories. That should result in faster system setup, more efficient routine maintenance and maximized service life.

This self-monitoring system also notifies homeowners — and their servicing contractor, if desired — of any issue that may require attention, helping to provide faster, more simplified service calls.

Having earned a Consumers Digest Best Buy Award, the unit’s robust, time-tested construction is backed by a 10-year Complete Assurance™ Warranty Pledge, offering homeowners peace of mind.

FILTRATION

The AccuClean™ Whole-Home Air Filtration System from American Standard sets the cleanliness bar high, promising to remove up to 99.98 percent of allergens from the filtered air using an environmentally friendly reusable filter.

The system catches particles down to .1 micron in size, said American Standard. Certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit is specifically designed to fall well below the 50 ppb FDA voluntary emission limit for medical devices. Related, the company reported that third-party testing indicates a home using the system has no more ozone than what occurs naturally in the environment.

PACKAGED SYSTEMS

The Inverted Ducted Packaged (IDP) system is one of three new additions to Bosch Thermotechnology’s cooling product portfolio this summer. The IDP is the manufacturer’s first release of this type, built to offer peak efficiency and the latest compressor technology packaged in a single unit. The new system’s design has a foundation in Bosch’s Inverter Ducted Split air-source heat pump system, which was redesigned to have all components located in one cabinet: a packaged system for easy residential and light commercial installations.

The IDP features a SEER 19 rating, an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 12.5, and a heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) of 10. The two-way design allows for both horizontal and down flow installations, making installation easy, as does the system’s compatibility with most standard 24 VAC heat pump thermostats.

The IDP’s two-stage electronically commutated motor (ECM) x13 blower provides enhanced dehumidification and quiet operation, and the fully modulating inverter drive precisely matches the heating or cooling load for maximum efficiency. The IDP’s inverter compressor offers 25-110 percent capacity, with modulation in 1 percent increments.

The IDP meets the requirements for Energy Star and will comply with the Department of Energy (DOE) consumer central air conditioner and heat pump direct final rule that becomes effective as of Jan. 1, 2023.

COMPRESSORS

Reflecting the increase in interest surrounding natural refrigerants, Embraco is offering a full portfolio of R-290 (propane) compressors designed for operating in low- and medium-back pressure commercial applications in the U.S.

The manufacturer outlines three reasons to consider this path to natural refrigerants. The favorable impact on emissions is not only direct (because of R-290’s very low GWP) but also indirect, due to the improved thermodynamic efficiency of the appliances using R-290.

Switching to R-290, the company said, also allows users to meet and get ahead of new or upcoming regulatory demands in this area. Another result of the design is how the low refrigerant charge and reduced temperatures and pressures translate to lower noise and enhanced system reliability.

Low service time, low risk of flammability, and the convenience of properly venting refrigerant to the atmosphere during maintenance by properly trained contractors all provide upsides to users such as supermarkets and small grocery retailers.

VENTILATION FAN

Panasonic’s ambitious intention with its WhisperGreen Select™ is “to revolutionize the ventilation fan industry with a set of features that enable customization and easier installation.” This all-purpose IAQ solution provides customers with more than 250 possible configurations, installation flexibility, and optional Plug ‘N Play™ modules.

With the built-in Pick-A-Flow™ (50-80-110 or 110-130-150 cfm) speed selector, users can select their preferred airflow with the flip of a switch, allowing a single fan unit to satisfy a range of ventilation design requirements that meet code.

Using Panasonic’s ECM motor with SmartFlow™ technology to move more air while using less energy, the WhisperGreen Select is built to provide a “total solution” for indoor air quality, code compliance, green certification, and healthy indoor environments.

COMMERCIAL CHILLERS

Quantech™ QTC3 Air-Cooled Scroll Chillers offers what the manufacturer describes as industry-leading part-load efficiencies that meet or exceed ASHRAE standards, operating at ambient temperatures up to 125°F and down to minus 10°F. Recently, the product line expanded its capacity range to cover models 40 to 230 tons. The QTC3 chiller models are outfitted with brazed-plate evaporators and microchannel condensers, allowing for more energy-efficient heat transfer to reduce the total cost of ownership. By using microchannel coils on condensers, the QTC3 chiller can utilize up to 50 percent less refrigerant charge of zero-ozone-depletion refrigerant (R-410A). The QTC3 chiller models are part of the stock program also available for quick shipment.

The York® YVAA Air-Cooled Variable-Speed Screw Chiller provides high performance while lowering energy consumption and reducing noise levels.

By using Johnson Controls’ design, the variable-speed drive is proven to perform at all design conditions, said the manufacturer. The YVAA chiller is built to lower energy costs.

In addition to using zero-ozone-depletion potential refrigerant, the YVAA chiller improves sustainability. Its advanced microchannel condenser coils enable the refrigerant charge to be reduced by as much as 15 percent. The York® YVAA chiller can be tailored and tuned to match the capacity, efficiency, sound, and footprint of a specific application.

See more articles from this issue here!