What Is The Biggest Technology Change Happening In HVAC?

The biggest technology change in the HVAC market is the technology demand for smarter more eco-friendly HVAC systems. Technology is utilizing software and smart sensors to provide automation options for internal and exterior controls, including temperature, humidity, and sun position monitoring to ensure HVAC units operate at peak efficiency. As these systems become more advanced, there is a need for increased protection against environmental elements for the unit and its components and for regular maintenance checks to ensure the unit is operating at peak efficiency.

One of the critical steps to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the electrification of heating by replacing fossil fuel sources with heat pumps. Heat pump technology of course is not new, but we have traditionally limited its use to low-lift applications where they operate quite efficiently. Using heat pumps in high-lift applications such as space heating in very cold climates or process heating with high supply temperatures brings new challenges in reliability and operational efficiency. We should see increasing use of technologies such as vapor injection and variable speed compressors. The systems will likely also feature more artificial intelligence, with sensors and smart controls that can communicate and react to the needs of the thermal network that they are part of and/or the electric utility. 

The technology of chemistry must be considered one of the greatest drivers of change in the HVAC market today. When you think of new equipment and retrofit components rolling out of the manufacturing plants you can trace the roots of those innovations back to the labs where chemists stepped up to the challenge to, first, innovate refrigerant solutions that addressed ozone depletion then refined those solutions to maintained zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) while addressing the growing concern over global warming. The result of this hyper-focus on zero ODP, significantly lower GWP chemistry is coming into the market in the form of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants. Not only do these products deliver on environmental properties, but their chemistry works to strike the optimum balance of performance, cost, safety, and energy efficiencies. The A2L technology in particular is driving technology changes in HVACR equipment because it represents the ideal for the industry. However, unlike other HFOs, A2Ls can only be used for new equipment, which is why we will continue to see more OEMs focus on technology that works with them.

In the refrigerants space, we are seeing an increased focus on low-global-warming-potential (GWP) solutions that are also energy efficient and do not sacrifice performance. Honeywell has invested more than one billion dollars in research, development, and new capacity for its Solstice hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology, having anticipated the need for lower-GWP solutions to combat climate change more than a decade ago. The Solstice product line helps our customers lower their greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency without sacrificing end-product performance. These Solstice solutions include refrigerants for vehicles, commercial and residential air conditioning applications as well as heat pumps. The use of Honeywell Solstice technology has helped avoid the potential release of the equivalent of more than 326 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equal to the carbon emissions from nearly 70 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles per year.

From my perspective at Rheem, there are currently three big technology changes happening in the HVAC market. First, we are seeing more variable speeds (three or more speeds) in outdoor units. Second, heat pumps are steadily increasing in popularity as the industry moves towards electrification. Finally, we are seeing more and more brands moving away from the traditional top discharge design and shifting towards side discharge designs.

The Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge to accelerate the deployment of Cold Climate Heat Pump technologies and reduce carbon emissions from HVAC equipment. Midea is developing its next-generation Cold Climate Heat Pump as part of the government’s push toward building electrification. The latest advances of Midea’s EVOX heat pump system include the M-POWEVI compressor, which maintains stable and efficient heating output even under extremely cold conditions. The i-Melt Defrost Technology allows the unit to deliver warm air into a room even during the defrost cycle, providing a non-stop comfort experience to the user. Additionally, SynchroConnect technology allows multi-zone systems to self-diagnose the connection status after the installer connects the wires and line sets. The system can automatically synchronize the refrigerant lines to the wires, even when the lines are connected to the wrong ports, and vice versa making installation a breeze.

Many HVAC organizations are still transitioning from pen-and-paper systems to mobile devices. Between the pandemic dencentralizing work and continued technological advances for remote monitoring and management, the industry is rapidly changing. It's no longer feasible to rely on paper records to keep up with servicing requests, and technicians need more than new parts and a tool set to maintain today's connected systems. And for the companies that deployed mobile technology early on, they're learning that consumer mobile devices can't withstand the challenging conditions of HVAC maintenance. In demanding HVAC jobs, non-rugged devices have significant limitations on durability, battery life, screen visibility, software programs, and temperature that reduce productivity. They are more likely to be damaged, broken, or have excessive downtime. Rugged devices support HVAC servicing because they withstand extreme environments, offer multiple connectivity options, run advanced software without draining battery life, and assist in all jobs.

The Internet of Things (“IoT”) technology, and more broadly, sensor technology (such as LiDAR and advanced imaging) are beginning to revolutionize the residential HVAC sector, improving information gathering and sharing across teams. These different technologies can be leveraged across the sales, design, installation, and maintenance process with customers. Technology companies such as MeasureQuick provide a platform to support connected tools that can confirm proper commissioning, while sensor technologies like Residio or Alert Labs, can proactively monitor equipment as a means to both serve and engage customers, while gaining insights into the challenges on site. Meanwhile, LiDAR (a sensor technology that emits a laser to more accurately measure distances of surrounding objects) can be used to create floor plans, 3D models, build out load calculations, and transform the onsite experience. Together, IoT can streamline time on-site and create a better view on each job.

With Modine's focus on school products, a couple of buzz words in the current school IAQ/HVAC market are Low GWP Refrigerants and Air Cleaning technologies. 

Low GWP Refrigerants: The EPA has created a long-term strategy to develop and deploy low- to zero- global warming potential (GWP) technologies in HVAC applications. Modine is working on Indoor Air Quality products to convert to A2L refrigerant sub-systems to go to market starting in 2025. The transition from UL 1995 to UL 60335 lays the groundwork to ensure mechanical, electrical, and flammability safety is in place. Modine is working towards UL 60335 compliance for the initial January 2024 deadline, and will continue to work on safety and performace requirements to convert from R-410A to R-454b (an A2L refrigerant) for the Low GWP refrigerant conversion deadline of January 2025. The compressor and valve suppliers are currently updating their product offerings to be A2L (R454B) capable. These will be incorporated in the Modine product lines that feature refrigerant based systems.

Air cleaning technologies is another hot topic. The fires in California in the past years have lead to hazardous levels of pollution in addition to an increase in the temperatures. Modine's IAQ group also looks at the control of infectious aerosols as a critical aspect of Indoor Air Quality that affects the performance of students and the educators in the classroom. To address both the issues of infectious disease spread and external pollutants, Modine tackles these head on with solutions based on ventilation rates, dehumidification, high efficiency filtration, and air cleaning technologies that include both Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization and/or UV-C disinfection. Recently, ASHRAE announced the release of Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols. Modine is keeping tabs on the development on particulates and ventilation controls related to that standard and others that drive the healthy environments that have become expected.