Modern fridge design has not changed that much in the last 50 years. But this is about to change, as the HVAC&R industry steps up to the plate and embraces the all-new, ever smarter world of technology.
Manufacturers of natural refrigerant systems and components have always been at the forefront of innovation. Gustav Lorentzen only developed the modern thermodynamic transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle in 1988-1991. Now it is a staple feature of the global HVAC&R market.
Fast-forward to 2016, and many players in the natural refrigerant sector have apps to help technicians to install and maintain systems and components. The apps aim to save technicians the hassle of calling a company or leafing through an operating manual.
Danfoss transforms your smart phone
Denmark’s Danfoss is leading the charge. Their Refrigerant Slider app transforms your smartphone into an intuitive pressure-to-temperature refrigerant converter. The app – available for Android and iPhone systems – covers 76 natural and other refrigerants, providing data like their global warming and ozone-depleting potential.
With the Refrigerant Slider app, you can easily switch between different pressure and temperature units. The app is based on NIST refrigerant property data and uses Antoine equations. It also informs users of the total temperature glide of refrigerant blends.
Technicians have embraced it. One American user said it is, “great with assistance in tracking down and quickly assessing the problem to identify what's wrong and what our options are”.
Danfoss offers a total of eight different cooling apps, including an app for people working with industrial refrigeration, a Site Service app that enables service technicians to remotely connect to a Danfoss control system, and a low-GWP tool for those looking to retrofit a new refrigerant.
Tecumseh help you replace a product
Tecumseh Products Company’s mobile app is also available on Android or iPhone. It helps refrigeration and air conditioning contractors to quickly and correctly identify replacement compressors, condensing units and applicable electrical components, reducing the time required to get the job done.
It serves as a ‘guidebook’ or cross-referencing tool whereby you scan the component’s serial number, bar code or QR code with your smartphone or tablet, directing you to a choice of equivalent Tecumseh parts.
You can also search for any component in the app’s database. Information about all Tecumseh’s compressor and condensing units is there, as well as info on compressor motor types, start and run motor resistance ratings, replacement start and run capacitor part numbers (where applicable) and replacement relay and overload kits for virtually every Tecumseh compressor on the market today.
Liebherr app tells you what’s in your fridge
German company Liebherr is not shy to embrace new technology, switching completely to natural refrigerants propane (R290) and isobutane (R600a) for its entire range of refrigerators and freezers for commercial use in Europe before most companies had even thought about it.
Its new range of intelligent fridges is based on Microsoft know-how. Windows 10 IoT Core software allows customers to access their fridges and freezers remotely via an app connected to Liebherr’s SmartDeviceBox.
The refrigerators are also fitted with an integrated camera that establishes an inventory of all items stored inside, which can be accessed via the application. With help of the voice recognition tool Media Intelligence Assistant, customers can add items to the inventory and prepare their shopping list.
In future, Liebherr plans to integrate a recipe comparison tool into the app, so that missing food items will be automatically added to the shopping list. Other data listed in the app include temperature, compressor runtime and door opening time. The goal is to help consumers to achieve more efficient food storage and refrigeration management.
