Danfoss, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, industrial, and water systems, has been recognized by a panel of ASHRAE members in the 2016 AHR Expo Innovation Awards program. Four Danfoss products have received Honorable Mentions: DSH scroll compressors with Intermediate Discharge Valves in the Cooling category; AB-QM™ pressure independent control valves in the Heating category; VLT® DriveMotor FCM106/FCP106 in the Ventilation category; and NovoCon® S digital actuator in the Building Automation category.

“We are honored to again be recognized in the AHR Innovation Awards program,” said John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America. “Danfoss has now been recognized 23 times over 13 years of the program’s history. We consider this a testament to our global Engineering Tomorrow promise—engineering innovative, reliable energy efficiency, climate, and infrastructure solutions that enable our customers to meet the challenges of today and look toward the standards of tomorrow.“

Honorable Mention: DSH scroll compressors with Intermediate Discharge Valve

Recognized as an Honorable Mention in the Cooling category, Danfoss DSH scroll compressors with Intermediate Discharge Valves are designed for the next generation of rooftop units and chillers by saving energy and improving system part-load efficiency, enabling systems to meet energy regulations and standards with minimal redesign or retrofit costs.

Equipped with built-in Danfoss Intermediate Discharge Valves (IDVs) that avoid over-compression and extra effort by the motor during part-load operation—thus reducing energy consumption by up to 9 percent, Danfoss DSH scroll compressors are backward compatible for the retrofit or new design of relevant rooftop units and chillers with fixed-speed scroll compression technology, meaning minimal redesign and implementation costs are necessary.

Based on Danfoss’ experience with rooftop and chiller applications, DSH compressors with IDVs include an extension of the operating map; improved liquid handling capability; and a patented, more robust oil management method in manifolding applications, among other upgrades. The DSH compressor range includes units from 7.5 to 40 tons and can be manifolded together to reach up to 120 tons in a single circuit.

Honorable Mention: AB-QM™ pressure independent control valves

As an all-in-one balancing valve and differential pressure controller, the Danfoss AB-QM™ pressure independent control valve (PICV) has been named an Honorable Mention in the Heating category. AB-QM™ provides 100 percent valve authority, accurate flow limitation, and precise control of hydronic systems, contributing to substantial energy savings, improved overall system efficiency, and enhanced indoor comfort.

In fact, the AB-QM™ has been third-party verified to offer balancing and control accuracies of ±5% of setpoint—leading to increased energy savings of 20 to 50 percent. And, compared to traditional balancing valves, the Danfoss AB-QM™ PICV eliminates the need for authority calculations and will save time on installation and commissioning.

Available in a full range of sizes from ½“ to 10” with a compact design able to handle any size application, the AB-QM™ is ideal for small spaces such as fan coil units and VAV boxes,  as well as large buildings like offices, universities , hospitals, and buildings where accurate temperature control is critical, such as laboratories and research facilities.

Honorable Mention: Danfoss VLT® DriveMotor FCM106/FCP106

Named an Honorable Mention in the Ventilation category, the Danfoss VLT® DriveMotor FCM106/FCP106 combines a high-efficiency motor with a Danfoss drive, providing a lower cost, high-efficiency drive-motor solution for air handlers, rooftop units, and pumps.

As the only drive-motor combination developed specifically for HVAC applications, the VLT® DriveMotor FCM106/FCP106 incorporates either a super premium efficient IE4 motor or a permanent magnet motor to achieve high levels of energy efficiency, but can weigh 50 percent less than a similar super premium efficiency NEMA motor combined with a frequency inverter—reducing space and stress on the equipment. Plus, the motor-drive combination eliminates the need to separately mount a drive and motor and the wiring between them, resulting in reduced installation time.

The VLT® DriveMotor FCM106/FCP106 includes a removable memory module that enables the user to quickly access and store the motor database, drive software, parameters, SIPV files, error log, and sensorless data. It also features MCT21 software that can assist in monitoring and programming the drive.

Honorable Mention: Danfoss NovoCon® S digital actuator

An intelligent 4-in-1 digital actuator, bus communication device, flow indicator, and data logger, the Danfoss NovoCon® S is the first digital actuator to provide precise control and communication between a hydronic system and a Building Management System, and has been recognized as an Honorable Mention in the Building Automation category.

The NovoCon® S digital actuator connects to the Danfoss AB-QM™ pressure independent control valve and is ideal for installation in fan coil units, chilled ceilings, air handling units, VAV boxes, induction units, and baseboards.

By enabling remote control of the system, the Danfoss NovoCon® S minimizes commissioning and maintenance time and provides real-time, intelligent feedback about the system—simplifying data collection to track energy consumption and make ongoing efficiency improvements.

The 2016 AHR Expo Innovation Awards recognize the most creative, effective, and ingenious HVACR products and technologies on the market. The annual competition is jointly sponsored by ASHRAE; the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); and the International Exposition Company (IEC), producers and organizers of the AHR Expo. Winners are chosen in each of 10 product categories based on innovation, value, and impact on the market and will be honored at a special ceremony during the 2016 AHR Expo in Orlando, Fla.