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Products of Interest from AHR 2010

There were a number of new and interesting products demonstrated at AHR 2010. This is a review of the products that caught my interest. My areas of product interest included energy conservation, alternative energy, and sustainability. Not surprisingly, hundreds of exhibitors were featuring energy-efficient solutions.

Wireless BACnet MSTP

AIC Wireless demonstrated the WBT900 that won an AHR 2010 innovation award. The WBT900 provides wireless transmission of BACnet MSTP information over 900 MHz RF. The plug-and-play unit requires no network setup, and baud rate changes can be configured through HyperTerminal. Point-to-multipoint configuration allows multiple devices or entire building networks to be shared from one location. It ranges up to several miles. www.aic-wireless.com/WBT900.htm

Eagle WMAC

Eagle WMAC demonstrated wireless sub metering and control devices for street lights and other outdoor lighting, implemented with the Tridium Sedona architecture. The unit can be wired into a light or an industry standard NEMA twistlock version is available to take the place of the traditional photo sensor on light fixtures. The units communicate over non-regulated radio frequency using 802.15.4 mesh networking with a proprietary wireless protocol. In addition to monitoring status and sub metering, the system can control lights on/off and set light levels if dimming is available. www.eaglewmac.com

Wireless Controller

SCL Elements introduced the CAN2GO new line of wired and wireless controllers. These controllers support wireless mesh communication and serial link, and can manage wired and wireless (EnOcean, Zigbee) end-devices at the same time. The display included Room, VAV, Plant and Touch controllers. They automatically convert all end-devices into BACnet objects and host a complete building automation web interface.

Each unit supports two-way wired and wireless mesh communication, in-node multi-protocol integration, programmability and BACnet IP server functions. www.can2go.com

EnOcean

The EnOcean Alliance (www.enocean-alliance.org) had a large display demonstrating products from various members. The companies exhibiting products at the EnOcean Alliance booth included Verve Living Systems (a MASCO company), Echoflex, AdHoc Electronics / Illumra, EnOcean Inc., Kieback & Peter, and BSC Magnum Energy Solutions. In addition, companies demonstrating EnOcean-based products in other areas of AHR Expo included Distech Controls, Functional Devices, Spartan Controls, LonMark, Spartan Peripheral Devices, Tridium, Reliance, Beckhoff, Can2Go, PSG, S4 Group, Intesis, Regulvar. The EnOcean Alliance is a consortium of 130 companies.

The EnOcean Alliance also is partnering with other organizations, BACnet, LONmark, and Greenlink Alliance.

Tridium

Tridium continues to grow and they were showing the latest software applications and hardware. Demonstrations included the latest NiagaraAX 3.5 software version, new JACE-700 embedded controller, new 7” WiFi Touchscreen Display and several new devices that have been developed using the Sedona Framework™.

Tridium introduced the Sedona architecture in 2008. At this show there were five companies displaying products based on the framework. Tridium states that Sedona is the industry's first, open source software development framework that provides a complete platform for developing, connecting and managing small, low level embedded devices. More details on Sedona.

Companies displaying Sedona products were Contemporary Controls, Solidyne, infocon, AIC Wireless and Eagle Wireless. www.tridium.com

Contemporary Controls’ Sedona-based Remote

The new version 3.0 BAS Remote is a controller incorporating the Tridium Sedona virtual machine. Application programs developed on either Tridium’s Niagara Workbench or Sedona Workbench will execute on the BAS Remote. The BAS Remote’s resident I/O can be controlled by Sedona Framework and attached Modbus devices as well. Other features include the ability to serve up custom web pages, support for Web Services, and the ability to create virtual objects. www.ccontrols.com

Echelon Pursues System Integrators

Echelon is aggressively seeking system integration partners with the new Solutions Partner Program. Qualified partners need to make a financial commitment and will be provided with training, marketing support, sales incentives, and product access to Echelon’s family of products including i.LON SmartServers. More Information.

Eaton

Eaton displayed electrical solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry.

Eaton introduced its new H-Max Series of adjustable frequency drives with electronics that offer 80 percent less power loss, which equates to 20-60 percent less energy consumed, depending on speed. The drive has integrated electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filters and meets Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 508C requirements. It includes two PID controllers and embedded PLC functionality.

The product features a high short circuit current rating and direct current (DC) choke design and is available in both open and IntelliPass configurations. The H-Max Series supports major HVAC&R communications protocols, including: RS-485/Modbus, N2, FLN Siemens APOGEE & BACnet. The drive also includes Ethernet-based communications BACnet/IP & Modbus/TCP.

The Motor Insight product provides solid-state motor protection, control, and monitoring capabilities that includes: thermal overload, ground fault detection, power voltage and current monitoring with communications. Adjustments can be made to overload settings without disconnecting power. It also features an enhanced capacity to withstand surges, an IP20 rated terminal block location – minimizing shock hazards, and a user interface with a bright LED display and easy to understand settings. www.eaton.com

Dynamic Noise Control

Silentium demonstrated one of the cleverest applications of technology I have seen recently; active noise control using sophisticated noise canceling. It is based on Silentium's proprietary "Silence in a Chip" noise control solutions for spatial Active Noise Control (ANC). Silentium’s unique noise reduction solutions deliver more than 10dB noise reduction across the entire audio spectrum. Silentium’s Active Noise Control solutions can be applied to wide range of applications including IT, HVAC, medical equipment, white goods, and more. The demonstration used two miniature microphones and a speaker. The unit basically monitors the sound and emits audio output to cancel noise.

The Active Silencer duct can be attached to any new or existing air exchange unit or imbedded near the air device without adding resistance to airflow. It automatically calibrates to its environment, eliminating more than 10dB of broadband noise at the source.

Silentium has development kits for OEMs to test and prototype the technology for products. www.silentium.com

HMI for BAS

Two industrial HMI companies demonstrated solutions for building automation and facilities applications. These companies have years of experience refining software applications for industrial applications including HMI, alarm management, data logging, historians, handling multiple protocols, corporate database interfaces, and enterprise computing interfaces.

ICONICS

ICONICS demonstrated their FacilityWorX software that includes an HVAC symbol library, calendar-based scheduling, and campus-wide alarm management. FacilityWorX communicates via BACnet, Modbus, JCI N1, SNMP, LonWorks and OPC with other major control systems. Russ Agrusa, Founder and CEO of ICONICS, informed me they are the only company that has a Johnson Controls N1 driver.

Invensys Operations Management

Invensys Operations Management demonstrated the Wonderware Industry Application for Facilities Management. The Wonderware Industry Application for Facilities Management is able to manage heterogeneous building automation system environments by supporting open industry communications standards such as BACnet, i.LON ,Modbus and OPC.

As part of the Invensys Operations Management activities in the building controls industry, Echelon (www.echelon.com) and ConneXSoft (www.connexsoft.com) are now members of the Wonderware Innovation Partner Network. Wonderware has announced their commitment to working closely with these companies to develop new solutions and participate in joint business development and marketing activities.

The specific endorsed software applications include the ConneXSoft CXSiLink integration package for the Echelon i.LON SmartServer, the communication Data Access Server and related application objects. They are designed to be integrated into Wonderware Facilities Management software solutions. Also included is the ConneXSoft CXS BACnet Integration Package, which includes the BACnet Data Access Server and BACnet Application Generator. The BACnet server and generator enable customers to integrate the building automation communication standard, BACnet, into the Wonderware Facilities Management software applications. www.wonderware.com

Honeywell

VFD

Honeywell demonstrated its next generation of variable frequency drives (VFDs), SmartVFD HVAC and BYPASS. Key features include keypad and graphic interface, communications (BACnet, N2 and Modbus), and PC software wizards for commissioning, programming and troubleshooting. The SmartVFD BYPASS is available in several configurations, including fused disconnect, and two and three contactors. More information.

Touchscreen

Honeywell demonstrated the Reveal touchscreen display which measures just 6” by 3.5”. The display interfaces with the entire WEBs-AX™ product family. The unit has up to 150 configurable display screens and the ability to reference up to 150 points from one or multiple controllers networked on any data bus in the system. Configurable permission levels limit access to system functions based on user’s role and three data points can be selected for continuous display. More Information

More on AHR 2010 at: Review and Highlight from AHR 2010.

Automation.com Real-time Information for the Automation Professional Feb. 03, 2012

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