Enhancing Commercial Heat Pumps with Advanced Diagnostic Features and Remote Capabilities

September 28, 2024
Chanelle Dupre
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With rising average temperatures hitting unprecedented levels around the world, the heat pump industry is poised to benefit from surging demand for cooling solutions. The US Energy Information Administration forecasts a 30% increase in cooling system demand for commercial buildings and a 71% rise for residential units by 2050.

rising us colling demand chart

In response, forward-looking OEMs are racing to design a differentiated product to capture that growing market segment. But those focused on building advanced products with remote capabilities and integration into complex building automation systems are likely to face increased challenges and potential issues. Commercial heat pumps, for example, face risks related to higher load capacities, faulty system controls, system freezing and firmware failures as a result of integration issues with building automations systems.

System Overloading

If a building expands its footprint or increases its occupancy, a heat pump that is insufficient to handle increased load may struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature. Adding more indoor units to an existing outdoor unit to meet new demands of an expanded footprint can lead to system capacity overload or failure. A heat pump with load calculation capabilities can ensure that the heat pump system is appropriately sized to handle current and future needs effectively.

Faulty Control Systems

Another example of system failure occurs when a commercial heat pump’s programmable thermostat malfunctions causing the system to run continuously, intermittently or not at all. Some issues may be caused by varying usage patterns or constant changes to settings. This leads to either discomfort if it fails or high energy consumption if it fails to shut off. Incorporating a feature that detects faulty components and calibrates control systems to optimize operation could prevent this issue.

System Freezing

In areas with extreme temperatures, especially during the winter months, water source heat pumps may experience system freezing issues. In commercial buildings with large heat pumps, ice buildup on the outdoor unit can impair its ability to extract heat effectively, leading to inadequate defrost cycles and operational problems. A monitoring feature can help identify this issue quickly and allows the maintenance manager to take appropriate steps to prevent premature repair needs.

Electrical Failures

Another potential system failure can be caused by electrical problems such as faulty wiring and component malfunctions resulting in intermittent operation or a complete shutdown of the heat pump system. A feature with the ability to identify and diagnose the specific source of electronic malfunction, is critical in resolving the problem quickly.

Building Diagnostic Features

With the level of market competition and the strong market demand that exists, it’s the best time to innovate and seize the opportunities. But with more advanced heat pump systems and growing complexity of integration with building automation systems, there are bound to be some challenges with product performance and reliability.

The Solution

Integrating diagnostic features into your heat pump can significantly enhance user experience by enabling rapid identification of system failures and minimizing downtime. A system that provides analytics on inputs such as water supply temperature and flow rate, while monitoring outputs like refrigerant pressure (both low and high sides) and supply air temperature across cooling, heating, and ventilation modes, offers valuable functionality. Additionally, if key parameters can be logged and wirelessly transmitted via mobile apps for remote access by field technicians, it provides convenience and facilitates swift troubleshooting, ensuring optimal performance of the heat pump. Another widely used method to transmit diagnostic data is via BACnet protocol that offers more scalability, flexibility thereby a more efficient building management system.

If you’re looking to add a diagnostic feature to your heat pump control, learn more about our product design.

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If you’re looking for a partner to help you build your electronic controls solution, contact us.

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