Automation and connectivity have played a large and growing role in the research and development ( R & D ) of the tool and instrumentation sector of HVAC & R , driving efficiency improvements , and making up for the growing skills deficit .
FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Tool connectivity is here to stay
Refrigeration and HVAC systems consume a significant amount of energy . There has consequently been a growing need for tools and instrumentation that can improve the energy efficiency of these systems as well as to go off-grid with battery power – and this is being achieved by intelligent , digital tools .
By Eamonn Ryan
Automation and connectivity have played a large and growing role in the research and development ( R & D ) of the tool and instrumentation sector of HVAC & R , driving efficiency improvements , and making up for the growing skills deficit .
TECHNICIANS STILL WEDDED TO ANALOGUE TOOLS – BUT CHANGE COMES THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH
Clement Steenkamp , Testo South Africa sales and market manager ( instrumentation ) notes a distinct trend for the market to increasingly supply connected devices in the field of tools .
“ These are tools . The fact they ’ re digital doesn ’ t make them any less a tool . They ’ re often mistakenly called instruments in South Africa , with a consequent preconception of being fragile – but they remain robust tools for technicians just as much as a set of wrenches or screwdrivers ,” he explains . Service technicians need tools to check and calibrate parameters such as airflow , humidity , temperature , CO 2 levels , light intensity , and sound level . These tools are part of a technician ’ s toolbox .
“ This is not just about live monitoring . Having a device connected to an app allows more math to be done in the background . In terms of efficiency , many complex calculations that would have had to be performed manually , are now automated via a smart phone .”
Image by pvproductions on Freepik
There have been considerable improvements in simple hand tools commonly used when working on a plant .
Testo produces its own sensing technology : it offers firmware and software updates with new features that can be pushed to devices and to the app without needing to buy a new tool , which can include updates as well as entirely new tools . This gives customers lifetime value , explains Steenkamp .
One example of this is with refrigerants , he says : “ Testo produces a digital refrigeration manifold for checking refrigerant systems . There are many different gases that refrigerant systems operate on , and the world is moving towards new , environmentally friendly gases . When a new gas comes out , your app updates and it pushes to your manifold so you can carry on working . With older analogue technology , the scale was physically inscribed on the dial so you would
Rothenberger have to throw your gauges away and buy new ones for different gases .”
The app enables easy communication and sharing of recorded data . The connectivity feature is common among most devices , even those with displays . When installing the app , there is no need for pairing : the app automatically detects compatible devices . The devices offer various readings , such as temperature and air speed , with more advanced tool options available for use with large ducts and outlets common in specific industries like pharmaceuticals and manufacturing . Steenkamp describes Testo ’ s tools as being general contractor tools for use among clients such as warehouses which want the benefit of data logging temperature ,
ROTHENBERGER products are used only by qualified technicians and semiskilled people , not unskilled .
humidity and pressure . There ’ s a wide range of instruments for testing various things in different industries . For thermal imaging cameras for fault finding in electrical systems , the app acts as a second screen , allowing users to view camera footage remotely . Previously , everything was highly manual and labour intensive .
“ These devices are measurement instruments . They have connectivity to an app to record data and do advanced calculations . An example of this is an anemometer which can measure wind speed and velocity in a grill – but it also does the math relating to that rather than just give the measurement . For a technician who does this manually every day , this seemingly basic device replaces a lot of his work and also eliminates the factor
24 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2023