HVAC 4.0

Engineering HVAC 4.0 for smart buildings ​ 

Digitalization changes the way we live, work, and interact. As result it also changes the way HVAC systems are controlled. The trend to develop smart buildings changes the requirements to a buildings heating and/or cooling system as well. Danfoss is part of this HVAC transition and we call this HVAC 4.0. It is all about making buildings more intelligent to become more energy efficient, comfortable and convenient for people who spend around 90% of their time indoors. We do that by developing smart solutions that provide or use HVAC data for Active Energy Management (AEM). Via Building Management Systems (BMS) or Cloud-based solutions. Ultimately the data allows remote commissioning, predictive maintenance and optimized heating, ventilation and cooling systems.

This is where HVAC 4.0 starts

The transition to HVAC 4.0 requires a close cooperation between many stakeholders. And in the end all of them benefit.
- End users experience personalized comfort and improved productivity
- Building owners experience operational excellence with lower costs, higher energy efficiency and increased ROI
- Specifiers and builders provide innovative solutions and reduce liabilities
- Service and maintenance turns into a fact-based, easier manageable process

Terminal units such as fan coil units, chilled beams or radiant panels, provide heating and/or cooling in each room of a building. They require hundreds up to thousands control valves and actuators for the temperature control. Using smart, digital actuators and Pressure Independent balancing and Control Valves (PICVs) provides the buildings’ BMS with real-time HVAC data while the dynamic hydronic balancing ensures optimal energy-efficiency.

Air Handling Units provide the buildings with fresh air. The heating or cooling coils distribute a large amount of water. Optimizing the flows with large dimension PICVs equipped with smart digital control of supply and/or return temperatures, combined with AC-drives makes the units perform much more efficient.

Domestic Hot Water systems are a challenge to keep safe from legionella. Thermal balancing valves provide a safe and reliable solution. Equipped with electronic disinfection controls and connected to buildings’ BMS the data is easy to use for remote monitoring and preventive actions.

Energy meters and corresponding electronic monitoring solutions can provide accurate data about flows and energy consumption from various parts of a buildings’ HVAC system. Being able to fairly allocate energy costs over different users in a building becomes increasingly important, e.g. via European EED regulations.