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Heather Marshman
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2016 AHR Expo Innovation Award Winners Announced
Momentum Builds for Product of the Year Winner Announcement in January
WESTPORT, Conn., November 17, 2015 – International Exposition Company announces the
winners of the 2016 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo)
Innovation Awards.
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 at the 2016 AHR Expo, which takes
place next January 25 to 27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. A
singular 2016 AHR Expo Product of the Year award winner, selected from among the 10
category winners, will also be announced at that time.
“Over the years, the visible trends and themes across award winners have shifted, however
the innovative spirit has remained constant,” said Clay Stevens, president of International
Exposition Company. “We have seen solutions for markets that were previously
inconceivable, and have observed as the annual Innovation Award winners continue to set
the pace fast, and the bar high, for evolution across the HVACR industry. Each year’s
competition is no less fascinating than the last in this respect, and we enthusiastically
commend those who’ve earned this merit for 2016.”
Listed by category, the 2016 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners are:
Building Automation
Company: Accutrol, LLC (www.accutrolllc.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 1154)
Innovation: Accutrol AVC Fume Hood Control System
The Accutrol AVC Fume Hood Control System with Insight Graphical User Interface (GUI)
combines the low pressure drop AccuValve® AVC5000 Airflow Control Valve with a “smart”
display and a powerful, simple and intuitive user interface to deliver groundbreaking
airflow control technology. Notably streamlining installation, start-up, operation and
operational modification of Variable Air Volume (VAV) fume hoods, the AVC Fume Hood
Control System integrates a smart electronics-driven ePI® airflow measurement and
control system that provides pressure-independent performance without use of complex
and exposed mechanical components. Vertical, horizontal or combination sash VAV fume
hoods are easily configured with the intuitive Accutrol Insight, which also enables
verification of sash calibration.
Cooling
Company: Sporlan - Parker Hannifin (www.sporlanonline.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No.
2442)
Innovation: ZoomLine™ Flexible Tubing
ZoomLine™ is a six-layer, highly flexible tubing solution ideal for refrigeration and airconditioning (AC) applications, and approved for current and emerging refrigerant
technologies supporting OEM and service customers. ZoomLine’s flexibility facilitates
more streamlined installation when compared to traditional copper tubing, eliminating the
need for couplings, elbows or adaptors, or braze joints that can potentially leak.
Accommodating pressures up to 700 psi, ZoomLine is impervious to environmental,
temperature and pressure extremes, and provides long-term performance in the guidance
of refrigerant across mechanical system equipment.
Green Building
Company: International Wastewater Systems Inc. (www.iwhes.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth
No. 2997)
Innovation: Piranha Wastewater Heat Recovery Heat Pump
The Piranha is a self-contained heat pump that extracts thermal energy from wastewater
for domestic hot water production in a wide scope of commercial applications. Using a
specially engineered direct expansion heat exchanger, the Piranha has been optimized for
50- to 200-unit residential buildings and stand-alone commercial applications. The
Piranha is easily installed in new and retrofit construction projects, is attributable to LEED
credit criterion, and promotes the numerous environmental and energy-saving benefits of
an expertly engineered wastewater heat recovery system.
Heating
Company: Victaulic (www.victaulic.com / www.victaulicsteam.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth
No. 4214)
Innovation: Victaulic Grooved System for Saturated Steam Piping
The Victaulic System Solution for Saturated Steam is the first grooved mechanical piping
system for commercial and industrial saturated steam applications. The system joins 2-8inch pipes and incorporates Victaulic’s Style 870 rigid coupling, a full line of fittings, and
pipe preparation tool roll sets as a comprehensive solution for steam applications including
heating, sterilization, cooking and drying. Traditionally required welding, flanging or
threading to join distribution, process and condensate return piping, steam piping system
installation is now notably streamlined with the Victaulic System Solution for Saturated
Steam. Designed in accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, as well as
ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.9, the system is the first viable alternative to these
traditional joining methods. With a spring-energized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
composite seal capable of withstanding the temperature and pressure limits of ASME B31.3
Category D Fluid Service, the groundbreaking system performs at system temperatures up
to 366°F (186°C), and pressures of up to 150 psi (1,034 kPa).
Indoor Air Quality
Company: SEMCO LLC (www.semcohvac.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 4991)
Innovation: ASCENDANT™ conventional cooling, active desiccant hybrid system
The ASCENDANT™ Series is an active desiccant hybrid system that provides conventional
cooling and dehumidification for commercial applications requiring 100-percent outdoor
air, and low dew point temperatures/supply air humidity levels. Ideal for applications
including hospital operating rooms, archival and dry storage, hotels and multi-family
buildings, ASCENDANT operates without the need for exhaust heat recovery, and can
perform as a partial or dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), or as a true variable air
volume (VAV) unit. Compared to conventional mechanical DX or chiller systems,
ASCENDANT provides up to three times more dehumidification, achieves dew point
temperatures as low as 20°F and uses up to 60 percent less cooling capacity. ASCENDANT
promotes efficient mechanical system operation via higher coil air discharge and central
plant suction temperatures, which facilitates performance that surpasses ASHRAE 90.1
building energy, ASHRAE 170 ventilation and ASHRAE 62.1 indoor air quality (IAQ)
standards. Latent loads are, in majority, addressed by economical hot water, steam, waste
heat or direct gas-fired regeneration energy, facilitating 50- to 75-percent greater
efficiency when compared to conventional DX dehumidifiers with electric compressors.
Energy savings are further realized via integration of SEMCO's on-board, integrated direct
digital control (DDC), which optimizes system operation and space condition management
to achieve notably flexible air temperatures and relative humidity (RH).
Plumbing
Company: SEMCO LLC (www.semcohvac.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 4991)
Innovation: NEUTON controlled chilled beam pump module
NEUTON is the industry's first and only smart, plug-and-play proactive condensation
control device for active chilled beams. Factory-built and pre-tested, the controlled chilled
beam pump module package incorporates an independently powered integrated direct
digital controller, chilled and hot water connections, valves, variable-speed electronically
commutated (EC) motor pumps, smart sensors and other unique features. With cost,
condensation, and controls concerns traditionally limiting the application of otherwise
highly efficient active chilled beam technology, NEUTON can be installed at a cost similar to
conventional systems, and eliminates need for ancillary chiller, boiler and secondary water
distribution systems associated with conventional chilled beam HVAC designs. NEUTON
blends and re-circulates return water within its zone to convert typical 42°F and 140°F
primary loop water temperatures to optimal 58°F or 100°F chilled beam discharge
temperatures. This prevents cooling mode condensation and heating season heat
stratification. A single NEUTON unit is capable of controlling up to 10 chilled beams,
depending on flow rate requirements.
Refrigeration
Company: CAREL INDUSTRIES S.p.A. (www.carel.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 2257)
Innovation: HEOS Sistema – high efficiency waterloop system for commercial refrigeration
The HEOS water loop system is specifically engineered for cooling self-contained
commercial food refrigeration equipment in grocery store applications. Designed to
notably reduce total refrigerant charge by up to 80 percent, the system features small, selfcontained refrigeration circuits with hermetically sealed piping that also minimize the
chance for refrigerant leaks. HEOS includes DC compressors specifically designed to
maximize energy efficiency at partial loads, while providing a wide range of speed
modulation that facilitates better temperature control with less fluctuation. An electronic
expansion valve further elevates energy savings by efficiently modulating refrigerant flow
in the evaporator coils. A control board dynamically manages the system’s various
components (i.e. compressor, expansion valve, fans) via implementation of advanced
algorithms, with diagnostics that streamline both system startup and maintenance.
Achieving 25 percent greater energy savings when compared to standard DX refrigeration
systems, and 20 percent greater savings than ON-OFF water loop systems, HEOS systems
are also easily installed as independent plug-in units.
Software
Company: Plasma Air International (www.plasma-air.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 4410)
Innovation: PlasmaSoft 2.0 IAQ Procedure Software
PlasmaSoft 2.0 is a web-based software package that calculates and compares indoor air
contaminant levels using both ASHRAE's Ventilation Rate Method (VRM) and the Indoor
Air Quality Procedure (IAQP), which facilitates reduction of outside air intake. As a result,
commercial, institutional and industrial building owners can reduce first cost by
downsizing AC equipment, and lower energy use by reducing outside air intake.
PlasmaSoft 2.0 is an enhanced version of the first and only web-based IAQ Procedure
program, PlasmaSoft 1.0, and performs complex calculations critical to achieving decreased
CapEx and OpEx. The program contains all ASHRAE Standard 62.1 mass-balance equations,
default values for occupancy density, and outdoor air rates per person and per square foot
for all space types – proving compliance without unnecessarily conditioning excessive
amounts of outside air. Simplified and convenient, PlasmaSoft 2.0 provides consulting
engineers and other key stakeholders with a reliable program that stores project and
individual zone data in the cloud, making it easily accessible at any time.
Tools & Instruments
Company: Sporlan - Parker Hannifin (www.sporlanonline.com/zoomlock; 2016 AHR Expo
booth No. 2442)
Innovation: ZoomLock™ Braze-Free Fittings
ZoomLock™ braze-free pipe connectors quickly, easily and reliably join copper tubing in a
variety of HVACR applications, with connections that are made via exclusive crimping
technology and without need for brazing or its associated equipment, permitting and
technical training. ZoomLock braze-free fittings are engineered for high-pressure copper
refrigeration connections, and offer the first crimp technology approved for applications up
to 700 psi. Requiring no nitrogen purging, fire spotters or hot work permits, and
facilitating more flexible access to jobsites, ZoomLock’s game changing technology
translates to significant time savings for the mechanical contractor.
Ventilation
Company: Aeroseal LLC (www.aeroseal.com; 2016 AHR Expo booth No. 5859)
Innovation: Aeroseal duct sealing technology
Aeroseal provides the industry’s first alternative to traditional manual duct sealing, with an
aerosol-based duct sealing solution that works from the inside of the ventilation shaft to
“seek” and bond-seal targeted leaks. Developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, EPA and others, this duct sealing
technology enables access to leaks in exhaust shafts of existing buildings without any
deconstruction/demolition. A groundbreaking solution, Aeroseal duct sealing technology
is ideal in a wide scope of applications, including multi-family, hospitality, healthcare and
other buildings.
Additionally, the following 33 companies have been recognized with honorable mentions in
each of the 10 award entry categories:
Building automation
 Continental Control Systems, LLC (WattNode Meter Module)
 Danfoss (Danfoss NovoCon® S Digital Actuator)
 Honeywell International Inc. (RedLINK Equipment Remote Module (ERM))
 KMC Controls, Inc. (KMC Commander IoT Gateway and Cloud Service)
Cooling
 Baltimore Aircoil Company (Series 3000 Cooling Tower with the ENDURADRIVE™ Fan
System)
 Danfoss (Danfoss DSH Scroll Compressors with Intermediate Discharge Valves)
 Emerson Climate Technologies (Copeland Scroll™ UltraTech™ compressor)
Green Building
 Baltimore Aircoil Company (PFi Closed Circuit Cooling Tower)
 Metraflex Co. (LPD Y Strainer)
 NORTEC (DL Series – Hybrid Humidifier)
Heating
 Danfoss (Danfoss AB-QM™ Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV) 3rd Generation)
 GeoStar (Sycamore variable capacity geothermal heat pump)
 Heating & Cooling Products Mfg. Co (TotalSeal sealed snap-lock pipe & fittings)
 Lochinvar, LLC (CREST® Condensing Boiler)
 Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Cooling & Heating (Hyper-Heating INVERTER™ (H2i®) MSZFH06 Single-zone Heat Pump System)
Indoor Air Quality
 Distech Controls, Inc. (Allure™ EC-Smart-Comfort Room Sensor)
 NORTEC (GS Series Gas-Fired Humidifier)
 Purealizer Industries, LLC (Purealizer, Airborne Disinfection Fixture)
Plumbing
 Des Champs Technologies (N-Series Waterless Trap)
 LG Electronics USA, Inc. (LG Hydro Kit (High Temp) - ARNH763K3B2 waste heat
recovery system)
 Rheem Manufacturing Company (The Rheem Prestige Series™ Hybrid Heat Pump Water
Heater)
Refrigeration
 Baltimore Aircoil Company (Transcritical CO2 TrilliumSeries™ Condenser)
 Embraco North America, Inc. (EM3 Series Compressors)
 Honeywell International Inc. (Solstice® N40 refrigerant)
Software
 DCNE – Cool Calc Manual J (Cool Calc Manual J Software)
 KMC Controls, Inc. (KMC Connect Lite Mobile Application)
 Sporlan - Parker Hannifin (Sporlan Refrigeration Troubleshooting App)
Tools & Instruments
 AAB Smart Tools (ABM-200 Wireless Anemometer)
 Axiom Industries Ltd. (Puropal H2O demineralizer)
 Bacharach, Inc. (Bacharach Reporting App for Combustion Analyzers)
 Eaton (B-Line Series 4Dimension™ Strut System)
Ventilation
 Danfoss Drives (Danfoss VLT® DriveMotor FCM 106/FCP 106)
 Munters Corporation (DryCool™ ERV DOAS System)
 PRIHODA Fabric Duct (SquAireTex Fabric Diffuser Tiles)
For more information on the 2016 AHR Expo, visit ahrexpo.com
About AHR Expo
The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), which
began more than 85 years ago as a heating and ventilation show, has now grown into one
of the world’s largest HVACR events. The Exposition is held annually in key markets and
major cities across the U.S., hosting close to 2,000 exhibitors and bringing in crowds of
60,000 industry professionals. The Show provides a unique forum for the HVACR
community to come together and share new products, technologies, and ideas. The event is
co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, and is held in conjunction with ASHRAE’s Winter
Conference.
About International Exposition Company, Inc. (IEC)
International Exposition Company (IEC) is a Westport, Conn.-based trade show
management company. For more than 100 years, the company has built its reputation on a
track record of honesty, respect and fairness for exhibiting companies and show attendees.
IEC owns and manages three major trade show events; the annual AHR Expo (International
Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition), the biennial AHR Expo-Mexico, and
the biennial Chem Show. Attendance across the three events totals in excess of 70,000.
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