Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new HVAC controller

Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new control platform to provide more monitoring and reporting, deliver an increased amount of immediately accessible data, and enhance overall functionality to building operators and facilities managers. The new tool also supports the configuration, monitoring and pre-emptive maintenance of HVAC systems.

MELCloud Commercial is an IoT (Internet of Things) platform that collects data and sends signals to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and allows these systems to be operated and monitored remotely from mobile devices, anywhere in the world.

The platform has been designed for commercial installations, such as those used in offices, hospitals, shops and hotels, where cooling, heating and ventilation are all essential.

“There is a big focus on decarbonising buildings, but you can’t reduce what you don’t measure,” explains Manohar Lal, Product Manager for Controls and Innovation, “our new platform will improve and simplify building management for any organisation.”

Mitsubishi Electric has undergone extensive field trials of MELCloud Commercial, with corporate customers throughout Europe and the UK, to build a system that has moved it from an onsite diagnostic tool to a cloud-based ecosystem.

“With feedback from our trial customers, we’ve built a solution that optimises occupant comfort, increases energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions, and streamlines service and maintenance operations,” adds Graham Jones - National Service Manager.

MELCloud Commercial allows building operators to remotely manage, monitor and control HVAC systems in multiple buildings from one central location. The control and monitor function can show an entire estate or an individual room, delivering dynamic, real-time information on the systems and their performance.

For service and maintenance professionals, the platform can deliver refrigerant flow diagrams and graphical representations of equipment performance, system operational data, all live online.
Up to 50 Mitsubishi Electric devices including four MODBUS energy Meters are connected to MELCloud Commercial through a single gateway via a 4G SIM card or LAN Ethernet connection, with multiple gateways able to link up centrally to provide a global overview.

MELCLoud Commercial is not restricted to working only with Mitsubishi Electric’s HVAC systems. In addition, other non-HVAC systems can also be monitored and controlled. Just like the HVAC equipment, alerts can be sent to the building manager if there is an alarm.