Automation & Controls - News
On September 6, Hami 50MW tower CSP station developed by Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) achieved full load power generation. The outlet salt temperature of the heat receiver reached the design value of 565℃, the main steam temperature is 535℃, and the grid-connected load was 50 MWe. The project was located in Hami, western China, one of the regions with the best solar energy resources in China. Heat collection system DEC has developed for this project a concentrating heat collection syst...
ABB has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Liebherr Mining Equipment to collaborate in bringing solutions to market that will reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy machinery in mining. The two leading technology companies will explore the development of state-of-the-art equipment and digital solutions for overall electrification of mine sites, with particular focus on trolley support. Bringing together complementary areas of expertise, ABB and Liebhe...
Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy and sustainable building solutions, has announced that it has joined the Digital Twin Consortium (DTC), an association dedicated to continued development of digital twin technology. Digital Twin Consortium (DTC) The DTC association’s membership includes dozens of technology leaders, such as Autodesk, Microsoft, Lendlease, GE Digital and Northrop Grumman. Johnson Controls joins a collaborative organization that pools resou...
Fluke Process Instruments, a provider of infrared imaging and thermal profiling solutions for industrial applications, releases the latest Datapaq® furnace tracker system – complete with the TP6 data logger, thermal barriers and intuitive software. The Datapaq furnace tracker system is designed to be used repeatedly, in-process in the most hostile manufacturing environments, providing accurate and reliable through-process temperature surveys. Each system can help users improve process...
The Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs is upon us, and it will change how refrigerants are handled, transported, and stored. While a great deal of information has been shared concerning the safe use and transport of flammable refrigerants, little attention has been given to the new storage requirements. Standards and codes for the safe storage of flammable refrigerants will require more space, more sensors, and more safety protocols. Transitioning to Refrigerant technologies When the US P...
Following a year of disruption for the plumbing and heating sector, it is now more important than ever that industry professionals are doing their bit, in order to ensure gas safety is still considered first and foremost in UK homes. Gas Safety Week 2021 Marking Gas Safety Week 2021, Chris Riley, the National Operations Manager at Baxi Heating, commented “With many people making changes to their homes and servicing schedules being disrupted, it is vital that installers explain the reason...
Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Farrar Scientific, an internationally renowned company in ultra-low temperature control for biopharmaceutical and other life science applications. Farrar Scientific’s proprietary technology fills an unmet need for flexible, modular and efficient ultra-low temperature process and storage, including cooling and heating/thawing. The solutions can provide an alternative to large-scale free...
Trane Technologies plc, a global climate innovator, has been named to the Fortune 2021 list of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production. The list is based on more than 220,000 employee surveys conducted by Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture. The survey captures overall employee experience, including sentiment about growth and development, as well as company values, innovation, and leader effectiveness. Manufacturing and prioritizing safety “Ou...
ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MEDATech to jointly explore solutions to decarbonize mining operations through charging solutions and optimized electric drive systems in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for heavy-duty applications. The two companies will share expertise and collaborate in bringing solutions to the market that will reduce the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy machinery in mining. Mining customers require solutions specifically designe...
Pharmaceutical and healthcare distributor Trans-Bridge Freight Services has taken delivery of its first Carrier Transicold Vector® HE 19 MT (multi-temperature) unit, heralding the start of a more sustainable future for the company’s temperature-controlled trailer fleet. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the foremost global provider of healthy, safe, and sustainable building, and cold chain solutions. A long-standing Carrier Transicold customer, Trans-Bridge...
ABB and Södra have entered a long-term, strategic partnership to co-develop a roadmap to drive new levels of efficiency, engagement, and digitalization across Södra’s enterprise to ultimately define the next generation mill. Together, Södra and ABB will lead the way in successful digital transformation with the aim of creating a new benchmark for both the forest and pulp industry and the broader industry, globally. The contract, effective from September 2021, is designed...
After three successful Viessmann daheim shows in 2020, the company invites to the Viessmann daheim Summer Edition on September 13, 2021. The content will focus on the German Championships of the biathletes on the Arber. The show starts at 6:30 pm. Speakers on the panel As usual, moderator Tom Meiler will guide the viewers through the show. This time the guest in the studio is biathlete, Maren Hammerschmidt. Viessmann brand ambassador and former biathlete, Sven Fischer will be joining the panel...
Aircuity, the front-runner in creating healthy and sustainable buildings, announced that an upcoming presentation by the company’s CEO, Dan Diehl, will focus on how lab owners can use exhaust fan control to maximize energy savings and reduce the lab’s carbon footprint. Diehl’s presentation will take place on September 28, during his scheduled speaking slot at the 2021 I2SL Annual Conference and Technology Fair – the world’s leading international conference focused...
A report published as part of the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment assesses the UK construction sector’s efforts to build ‘COVID-secure’ workplaces. Evidence collected by the report’s authors at the Thomas Ashton Institute will be used to support efforts to keep the UK building safely as the economy unlocks. Using survey and interview data from four principal construction contractors, the Keeping the UK Building Safely report highlight...
QM Power and Purdue University announced findings from part one of a two-part study on the impact of QM Power motor technology on the efficiency (SEER) in residential HVAC systems and heat pumps. The result was a significant SEER increase of 1 on the 21-point scale. This announcement was made at the 12th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems by John Brehm of Purdue University and Dave Augustine, VP of Product Management and Engineering for QM Power. two-part study The focu...
The days of having someone knock on the door to read the meter will soon be a distant memory due to smart meters. What is a smart meter and why get one? Smart meters Smart meters send meter readings from the house directly to the energy supplier, so users don’t need to answer the door to a meter reader and readings are always up to date, meaning users can wave goodbye to estimated bills and only pay for the energy they use. In other words, a smart meter is just like a traditional gas an...
Heater power control can be performed with one of three methods: Mechanical Contactor Solid State Relay Silicone Controlled Rectifier Many are not aware of the difference between the last two methods, Solid State Relay (SSR) and Silicone Controlled Rectifier (SCR) Power Control. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Typically in a desire to have finer or more efficient control of an electric heater in a process, system owners will switch from an old-fashioned...
Frontier Service Partners (Frontier), a newly launched residential services company, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Haley Mechanical, which is headquartered in Dexter, Michigan. Haley Mechanical is one of the pre-eminent residential HVAC companies, based in Michigan and servicing the Ann Arbor area. Strategic partnership This partnership marks the inaugural acquisition for Frontier Service Partners, which was founded earlier in 2021, on the philosophy of putting people first, delive...
Pandemic recovery is top-of-mind for so many cities, but a return to the normalcy which in 2019 might not be enough to maintain secure, connected, and resilient communities in this new world. As shared during the presentation at the IoT Global Innovation Forum, cities must reimagine their current infrastructure models and envision a connected, holistic future for the community. By integrating IoT technologies and connected building solutions, cities can build environments that are...
Plymovent has received the renewed TÜV SÜD certification for some of its exhaust extraction systems. For Plymovent safety, security and sustainability are key. That’s the reason why Plymovent works together with TÜV SÜD already for a long time. To get this TÜV SÜD certificate, several Plymovent exhaust extraction systems were tested for safety and the production locations were monitored in Troisdorf (Germany) and Lamphun (Thailand). This shows that Plymo...
When the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. in early 2020, forced schools across the country to shut down including K-12 classrooms as well as colleges and universities. As students adapted to virtual classrooms, schools developed plans for reopening once it was safe to do so. With new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerging, schools must again develop and put in place higher education IAQ strategies to keep students as well as faculty safe. Prepare for the Future Even as more people get vaccina...
The new, updated Crestron driver (version 2.1) has been uploaded into the Application Market. Now, the updated driver contains: Improved compatibility with the 4th generation of Crestron controllers Improved algorithm for projects with a larger number of indoor units Improved help file for the use of the driver This module controls the CoolMaster series thermostats and CoreModule via Ethernet and is compatible with CoolMasterNet, CooLinkHub, and CooLinkBridge. Why Crestron Integratio...
CoolSys™, the refrigeration, HVAC, engineering, and energy solutions company, announced it has acquired T&O Refrigeration, one of the largest independently owned refrigeration services companies in the Southeast region. With this acquisition, CoolSys expands its market presence throughout the Southeast with significantly increased market share in Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee. “As CoolSys continues to grow its market presence across the country, we’re excited that T&...
CoolSys™, the globally renowned refrigeration, HVAC, engineering, and energy solutions company, has promoted Fred Stockert to the position of President of the CoolSys Commercial and Industrial Solutions division, where he will oversee all businesses serving the company’s commercial and industrial customers. In this new role, Fred will report directly to Chief Operating Officer, Chris Schulken. “Fred has been a part of the CoolSys family for more than 15 years and has prov...
In keeping with its purpose, Viessmann has smoothed the way for cooperative development projects in the area of smart home automation. API portal Via the new API portal (Application Programming Interface), developers can quickly and easily add heating and ventilation systems in third-party applications for example, in smart home systems. Users benefit from the seamless integration of devices into their solutions. For Viessmann, the API portal is a window on new fields of application that prom...
Tom Nugent plays a pivotal role as a leader at the Buffalo branch – and an even larger part in the community. Over the last few months, Tom and his team completed seven Habitat for Humanity installations and they walked in a First Responder Parade in Lancaster, NY. He also presented at BOCES and at a number of career fairs across the region. “It's about serving the community that gives so much to us," he says. Intensive training program In addition to his many passions, Tom is a p...
Proper air circulation in buildings helps keep employees and customers healthy and comfortable within the premises. Businesses that have reopened need to achieve quality airflow, in order to reduce the risk of airborne viruses and pollutants. This is more than a convenience, as it’s a New York State (NYS) mandate. Air circulation has two main categories: Total air circulation - The cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air moved through the HVAC system. This has a direct impact on indoor air...
Springtime is the perfect chance to get the house prepared for a hot, humid, and uncomfortable summer. Maintaining the current A/C or installing a new A/C unit could be just what one needs to make sure the family stays comfortable. Advantages of having air conditioning installed include: Greater comfort for living, sleeping, and entertaining. Maintaining a comfortable, efficient temperature. Controlling humidity – minimizing damage to vulnerable areas of the house. Reducing pollen a...
Today, the workforce looks a lot different than it did prior to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. It looks different at Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning as well. As safety regulations have changed, Isaac has adapted to ensure their customers and team members stay healthy and safe. ITEC’s sanitized classrooms Isaac takes great pride in knowing that they have extended safety precautions into their classrooms as well As everyone is ready to walk into a ‘new normal’ on the...
The warmer weather is a welcomed sight for many homeowners. After a hot and humid day in the sun, it’s a relief to walk into the cool, air-conditioned air of the home. The last thing the user wants is to find that the air conditioning has stopped working. Forgetting or avoiding the annual maintenance on the air conditioner or heat pump can lead to interruptions in the equipment working properly. The longer the user goes without maintenance, the more dirt and debris will build up in the fi...
