Winners of Innovation Award AHR Expo 2017

2017 Awards Ceremony & Product of the Year Unveiling Scheduled for January 31 in Vegas

 

The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo in the categories of: building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation. Winners were selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges who evaluated all award entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. Award winners will be recognized in a formal ceremony during the 2017 AHR Expo, which takes place next January 30 to February 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.  Additionally, one 2017 AHR Expo Product of the Year award winner, selected from among the 10 category winners, will be announced at that time. “This year’s AHR Expo Innovation Award winners have shown, once again, that the parameters for HVACR advancement are truly ever expanding,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company. “We congratulate those who have been recognized as 2017’s pioneers from across all areas of the industry, by proving there is always more to be achieved, and farther to be propelled, when it comes to HVACR innovation. This is the spirit that makes each year’s competition so fresh and exciting, and is what we are proud to see, year after year, as a cornerstone of inspiration for the HVACR industry’s ongoing creativity and advancement.” Listed by category, the 2017 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners are:

Refrigeration

Company: Danfoss (2017 AHR Expo booth No. C4506) Innovation: Danfoss CTM (Electrical Controlled Transcritical Multi Ejector) The Danfoss CTM is an electrically controlled multi-ejector designed specifically for the warm climate operation of transcritical CO₂ systems in food retail applications.  Capable of recovering energy while controlling the high pressure of the transcritical application, the CTM ejector delivers value to the application through significant (20 percent or greater) improvements in energy efficiency.  This is achieved by employing energy recovered from the gas cooler and transferring it to increase the pressure of gas being compressed by parallel compressors, thus reducing overall compressor load.  As the first commercially viable solution engineered to overcome energy penalties associated with operating transcritical CO₂ systems in high ambient temperatures, the CTM ejector also eliminates need for redundant, cascade refrigeration systems.  In cooler and more temperate climates, it can deliver even further energy saving benefits, with ejectors that create a low pressure at high velocities to optimize operational efficiency in a wide range of load conditions. Finalist

• CAREL INDUSTRIES S.p.A. (EVD Ice Electronic Valve Driver)
• Chemours (Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) Refrigerant)

 

 Cooling

Company: Daikin Applied (2017 AHR Expo booth No. C2509) Innovation: Pathfinder^® Air-cooled Screw Chillers with Variable Volume Ratio (VVR) Technology The new Daikin Pathfinder AWV air-cooled screw chiller features an industry-first Variable Volume Ratio (VVR) technology which allows the chiller’s compressor to adjust its own internal compression ratio as water and air temperatures fluctuate. With VVR technology, its compressor senses the amount of lift needed and adjusts the compression ratio automatically to provide optimal efficiency under any operating condition, equating to reduced energy use, cost of ownership, and carbon footprint. The Daikin Pathfinder AWV air-cooled screw chiller also features VVR slides that operate on the discharge side of the screw to control the refrigerant compression ratio without altering the per-stroke refrigerant volume, unlike typical capacity control slide valves.  Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are used in conjunction with the VVR slides to control motor speed, and subsequently compressor capacity.  This results in superior performance under AHRI-standard conditions, and in real-world scenarios in which air and water temperatures can fluctuate greatly.  Finalist

• Danfoss (Danfoss Turbocor^® TG Compressor)
• Yaskawa America, Inc. (Z1000U HVAC Matrix Drive)

 

Tools & Instruments

Company: PEXOLOGY, Inc. (2017 AHR Expo booth No. C6618) Innovation: PEXGUN The new PEXGUN from PEXOLOGY is an automatic, lightweight and compact hand-held tool that attaches PEX pipe to rebar or wire mesh in less than one second.  Ideal for use in radiant heating and cooling, and snow and ice melt applications, the PEXGUN facilitates affixations that are three times faster than plastic staples, and five times faster than zip ties.  With typical radiant system installations requiring thousands of ties, PEXGUN can notably reduce overall installation time, while minimizing repetitive strain on the installer.  An optional extension arm provides further installer relief, enabling affixations without bending or kneeling. Finalist

• Mestek Machinery (Pro-Fabriduct^® Manufacturing System)
• Milwaukee Tool (M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tool)
• Triatek (Stable Vortex II^® Fume Hood Conversion Kit)

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