2017 AHR Expo Innovation Award Winners
The 2017 AHR Expo, held this year in Las Vegas has announced its annual Innovation Award winners in ten separate HVACR categories. Winners are selected by a panel of ASHRAE judges based on innovative design, creativity, application, value, and market impact. Below is a complete list of the winners.
BUILDING AUTOMATION
Danfoss Enterprise Services for System Performance Measurement
Danfoss Enterprise Services is a cloud-based service platform for supermarket and other food retail applications that collects alarm information and other operational data to provide complete insight into a store’s HVACR performance, energy management and usage, benchmarking, and food safety.
COOLING
Daikin Applied Pathfinder® Air-Cooled Screw Chillers with Variable Volume Ratio (VVR) Technology
Daikin’s unique VVR compressor technology optimizes chiller performance around the clock by adjusting compression ratio to meet real-time load demands. Pathfinder chillers are the world’s first 100%-configurable chiller units in the HVAC industry.
GREEN BUILDING:
Carrier Dual Stage Relief Economizer (DSRE)
Carrier’s DSRE is a light commercial rooftop unit upgrade that combines traditional functions of an air economizer with an added non-powered means to relieve building pressure. The DSRE features a new dedicated air chamber that provides relief regardless of damper positions or indoor fan status. A typical 10-ton DSRE unit can yield between $189 and $389 per year in energy savings.
HEATING
Nortiz Combination Boiler
Noritz’s innovative new boiler delivers hot water to both plumbing and hydronic heating application. The compact wall-mounted CB Combi operates at a 95% efficiency, earning the highest Energy Star rating, while providing nearly twice the flow domestic hot water compared to similar units.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Nortec GS-Series CS Model Humidifier
Direct building management integration allows Nortec’s gas-fired humidification system to quickly meet required humidity set points by simultaneously delivering steam to both inside duct systems and directly into a space. At more than 93% total efficiency, the economical GS CS humidifier promises payback in less than 3 seasons.
PLUMBING / WINNER AHR EXPO PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Taco, Inc. SmartPlug Smart Hot Water Recirculation Control
Taco’s SmartPlug system, also named AHR Expo’s Product of the Year, upgrades any existing domestic hot water recirculation pump system to a “smart” system. By learning hot water usage patterns, the SmartPlug delivers hot water when it is typically needed, effectively making a circulator up to 94% more efficient and extending the life of the water heater. Installation is easy – simply plug the unit into a 110V outlet, then plug the hot water recirculator power cord into the SmartPlug. No programming is required.
REFRIGERATION
Danfoss CTM (Electrical Controlled Transcritical Multi Ejector)
The Danfoss CTM Ejector, designed for warm climate operation of transcritical CO2 systems in commercial refrigeration applications, improves energy efficiency by 20 percent on average by employing recovered energy from the gas cooler to reduce overall compressor load.
SOFTWARE
Nidec Motor Corp./U.S. Motors Rescue Select Programming App
This year’s best new HVAC product in the software category is an app designed to streamline programming of the Rescue Select Truck Stock aftermarket motor for residential and light commercial blower motor replacement applications. The app can identify an original motor’s HP ratings and other operating parameters, enabling service technicians to program replacement motors to mimic the original performance profile.
TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
Pexology Inc. PEXGUN
The PEXGUN is a compact hand-held tool that attaches PEX pipe to rebar or wire mesh three times faster than plastic staples and five times faster than zip ties.
VENTILATION
Titus Helios Digital Diffuser
The Titus Helios is a wireless digital VAV diffuser features a wireless solar cell powered completely by ambient light or direct sunlight. The Helios is energy efficient, easily installed, and can be used in a wide variety of HVAC applications.
MSC - Mechanical Service Corp.
http://www.mscnj.com
