Daikin Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV)

The spread of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, continues to pick up pace globally and is increasingly a key priority and in view of the growing concern Daikin Applied (UK) Ltd and Daikin Applied Service would like to reassure the customers that they have adopted a risk-minimization approach to ensure minimum disruption to business.   Unfortunately, the onset of the Coronavirus has caused many industry implications, this is a brief update on Daikins supply chain, operations and the measures undertaken to ensure the continuation of the business and support to customers.  Precautionary measures  They have issued their employees with information to take precautionary measures as advised by the government and NHS and will monitor any changes and advise accordingly.  As a business, they have implemented further precautions:  Business trips to and from Category 1 countries and regions are prohibited until further notice. Travel to other countries should be avoided unless deemed essential and approval given by Senior Management.  Meetings where possible to be conducted via video conferencing, Skype, GoTo Meetings etc.  Communal areas are being given extra cleaning, e.g. rest rooms, canteens, door handles etc.  Staff are being asked to self-isolate in accordance with government guidelines if they have been in direct contact with someone with the virus or travelled to a category 1 country within the last 14 days.  Daikin is considering the introduction of temporary smart working arrangements to allow more flexibility and to help reduce risk.  Everyone should practice good hygiene to protect against infections.  AHU and Chiller orders  Currently their factories both in the UK and Italy are working at normal capacity and they are taking steps to ensure this continues. However, it is possible that the current situation will affect business in the coming weeks and they will keep all customers updated if the situation changes.  At present, Daikin has not seen any reduction in the level of service they get from their suppliers with this under constant review and their procurement department is in regular contact with the factories and suppliers, checking lead times and supply issues.   Daikin Applied Service  Remote workers such as their engineering teams have mobile phones and all have access to office servers via their tablets and laptops.  As Daikin’s in-field engineers are generally lone workers, they would consider that their contact with the office and other engineers will be limited and, they will continue to monitor the situation.   Daikin on site  The frequency of virtual visits may increase, and actual visits decrease Clients with chillers capable of supporting the Daikin On Site remote monitoring, and with maintenance contracts already set up to utilize this, will continue to be monitored regularly.   To reduce site attendance however, should faults occur where generally a call out may be required, then these faults will be reset (where possible) via the DoS system and monitored accordingly by one of the remote monitoring team. The frequency of virtual visits may increase (and actual visits decrease) should a reduced workforce through self-isolation occur.   Monitoring workforce health  As well as Daikin’s own locally stored spares they source spares from their factories across Europe, they purchase spare parts and materials across a range of suppliers who will in turn, purchase materials from across the globe. They will continue to monitor the health and wellbeing of the workforce along with the supply chain.  

Daikin presents the Rebel Applied™ rooftop heating and cooling system at AHR Expo, the pioneer heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) technology showcase. Rebel Applied is the only packaged system to meet ASHRAE’s latest standard for performance in airflow design. Ideal for building retrofits due to its compact and customizable design, Rebel Applied delivers superior comfort, indoor air quality and energy savings.  Fabrication And Automation Technologies We believe that quality design needs quality construction to deliver ultimate value" “We believe that quality design needs quality construction to deliver ultimate value,” said Mike Schwartz, CEO of Daikin Applied Americas. “So, we opened a new manufacturing facility in southern Minnesota dedicated to the production of Rebel Applied. With advanced fabrication and automation technologies, we can tailor the build to meet specific customer needs, optimize production and deliver products that will perform at the highest levels.” The rooftop system’s efficient footprint is up to 37 percent shorter in length and 30 percent lighter than legacy rooftop units. It is highly configurable as well; contractors can add or remove sections to adjust the length of the unit to fit on old or existing roof curb, saving time and expense for facility updates and upgrades. Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller Along with Rebel Applied, Daikin previewed two new ultra-high-efficiency chillers — the Magnitude® Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal Chiller and Aptitude™ Oil Bearing Centrifugal Chiller — at the exhibition. R-1233zd is the only option that offers low toxicity and non-flammability (ASHRAE Class A1) Designed for easy installation and reliable operation, both chillers feature the smallest footprints in the industry compared to equipment with the same cooling capacity utilizing the ultra-low GWP, ASHRAE class A1, R1233zd refrigerant, making them ideal for retrofits where real estate is limited or at a premium cost. As noted, Magnitude and Aptitude use R-1233zd, the next-generation, low-global warming potential (GWP) HFO refrigerant for centrifugal chillers. R-1233zd is the only option that offers low toxicity and non-flammability (ASHRAE Class A1). Lowering Climate Impact “We’re continuing the push to maximize comfort, performance and efficiency while lowering climate impact,” said Kirk Thorne, executive vice president at Daikin Applied. “The Magnitude and Aptitude chillers strike that balance for engineers, contractors and building owners. And they follow closely on the heels of our move to R-32, another low-GWP refrigerant, for rooftop units and other HVAC equipment.” The Magnitude can perform at full load efficiencies as low as 0.49 kilowatts per ton The Magnitude chiller builds on Daikin’s latest magnetic bearing technology, which eliminates oil, seals, gears and wear surfaces for longer machine life. This allows the equipment to run at peak levels, up to 40 percent more efficient than standard centrifugal chillers. The Magnitude can perform at full load efficiencies as low as 0.49 kilowatts per ton (kW/ton) with part load values as low as 0.29 kW/ton. Mission Critical Applications Plus, the RapidRestore® capability, which ensures quick restart times, and high temperature of water leaving the evaporator make the technology best suited for mission critical applications like data centers and hospitals. Ideal for comfort cooling applications, such as offices, hotels and stadiums, the Aptitude product line uses traditional oiled bearing technology, along with the reliable bench grinder design with one stage on each side of the motor to deliver leading efficiency and performance that matches the Magnitude chiller. The Magnitude and Aptitude chillers will be available later this year.

What is the cost of “rolling a truck” to service an HVAC system, and how can you maximize the efficiency of such a call while minimizing the cost? On the second day of AHR Expo in Orlando, several companies mentioned the benefits of various diagnostic and analytics systems that can be accessed remotely and that provide information for a technician about the nature of a problem, and what parts are needed, before he or she leaves for the call. It’s an example of how technology can make life easier for HVAC companies. Technology can help HVAC companies in other ways, too. For example, AHR Expo exhibitor Jobber offers software to help small businesses, including HVAC companies, to be more successful. The company focuses on providing software for various home and field services industries — there are more than 50 of them in all. The software is designed for any small- to medium-sized company, from a sole proprietor up to a company with 50 employees. The cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) offering can be accessed through a web app or a mobile phone. Implementing Technology Several companies mentioned the benefits of various diagnostic and analytics systems that can be accessed remotely and that provide informationWhen a service request is received, whether by phone or over the internet, the Jobber software “takes over” and guides the process through quoting to scheduling to dispatching crews to invoicing and collecting payment. "The HVAC market is in the early adopter stage for implementing the technology, and demand is increasing", says Shawn Cadeau, Jobber’s Chief Revenue Officer. Jobber currently focuses on the North American market and is available in English only. Monthly fees start at $29, and a larger system might cost up to $249 per month. Some of the equipment on display at AHR Expo is also designed with contractors in mind. Rheem is announcing more models in its Renaissance line of light commercial products designed to be installed on the Carrier footprint. The equipment is designed for the contractor. Rheem brings contractors into the design process, so the “service mentality” that helps contractors do their jobs is included in the design. Minimizing Energy Consumption Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG), the refrigeration business of Rheem, is showing off their EcoNet-enabled controller that minimizes energy consumption in critical cooling applications by monitoring the compressor to eliminate excessive runtime. One trend is away from mechanical components and toward more One trend is away from mechanical components and toward more electronicselectronics. For example, an electronic expansion valve provides more control and eliminates the need for mechanical thermal expansion valves.“People are excited about electronic control solutions,” said Raleigh Thompson, HTPG Marketing Manager. For medium and large-size systems, HTPG will launch new platforms in April, in anticipation of new Department of Energy efficiency standards. Daikin announced the Rebel Applied Packaged Rooftop System that combines high performance and a compact, configurable footprint. It features a casing design for ultra-low air leakage, which can save thousands per year, and Copeland ZPKZ scroll compressors. Reducing Costs and Staying Ahead Emerson makes the compressors, designed for superior part load efficiency and to reduce customer costs. Technology innovations of the compressor include a new hermetic motor, a scroll discharging value to optimize performance and oil-injection to mitigate heat. The Daikin Rebel system far exceeds minimum efficiency requirements through 2023. Emerson also highlighted the Sensi smart thermostat, the Multiple Thermostat Manager for property-wide comfort control, and the Sensi Predict 10-sensor system that analyzes the HVAC and displays how the system is performing so technicians can stay ahead before failure occurs. Detailed monthly performance summaries are provided, and real-time alerts are generated in the event of system of decline or failure — more information to help HVAC contractors. Missed our Day One review? Catch up here.