Sensors augment thermal management of HVACR and Data Centre

Mohit Agarwal, Regional Sales Manager, Mass Market, remarks that Texas Instruments delivers advanced power management, sensing and connectivity solutions that optimise HVACR and data centre thermal management. TI’s portfolio increases energy savings and reliability and reduces costs by integrating motor control, sensing, intelligent fault detection and IoT-enabled adaptive cooling

What market growth do you see for sensors?

Sensors are a key technology supporting the continued trend of electronics applications for automation, efficiency and electrification across automotive, healthcare, manufacturing and smart cities. In the automotive sector, sensors are integral to advancements in autonomous driving, electric vehicles (EVs) and safety systems. In healthcare, sensors support diagnostics, patient monitoring and personalised medicine. In manufacturing, sensors enable functions for automation, predictive maintenance and supply chain optimisation. Additionally, the burgeoning trend of smart cities in India is partly enabled by sensors in applications like traffic management, smart grids and environmental monitoring.

What role do TI’s temperature sensors play in thermal management for HVACR applications?

TI’s temperature sensors help enhance the thermal management of HVACR systems while maintaining affordability. For example, temperature sensors, such as the TMP61 PTC linear thermistor, provide accuracy and reliability compared to traditional NTC sensors. These sensors enable precise temperature monitoring, helping optimise the system for performance, energy efficiency, and preventive maintenance. By offering stable and consistent readings, they help improve overall HVACR system reliability and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, TI’s humidity sensors are used widely in HVACR applications. These sensors further help with reliability and thermal management.

Please discuss a range of products for HVAC systems and thermal management solutions that help reduce operational costs in data centres.

Texas Instruments (TI) offers a comprehensive portfolio that enhances HVAC systems and thermal management solutions, which can ultimately reduce operational costs in data centres. Their high-efficiency motor control solutions help improve overall system performance while lowering energy consumption. TI incorporates vibration compensation technology for outdoor unit compressor drives, integrating power factor correction with dual motor drives to boost air conditioning efficiency. In refrigeration applications, TI’s DRV7308 GaN intelligent power module (IPM) sets a new benchmark for efficiency, outperforming traditional IGBT-based solutions.

TI also enables intelligent fault detection capabilities that facilitate early motor fault identification, paving the way for predictive maintenance and reduced system downtime. Their advanced sensing systems support real-time diagnostics and performance monitoring, ensuring systems operate optimally. Further, TI’s mmWave radar technology allows for precise people detection within air conditioning systems, enabling adaptive cooling strategies and energy savings based on occupancy.

To enhance efficiency, TI provides humidity sensing through the HDC3020, which allows dynamic adjustments in air conditioning systems based on real-time humidity levels. Temperature sensing is also elevated with the TMP61 PTC linear thermistor, delivering greater accuracy and reliability than traditional NTC sensors. Supporting the smart home ecosystem, TI’s technologies are also Matter-enabled and compatible with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Thread, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee, enabling connectivity and automation.

These innovations improve HVAC performance and contribute to significant energy savings and operational cost reduction in data centres.

How do Texas Instruments’ power management solutions contribute to energy efficiency in HVAC systems?

At Texas Instruments, we are pioneering advancements in power management, sensing and motor control technologies to drive energy efficiency in HVACR systems. For example, our 250W motor inverter reference design, TIDA-010273, utilizes our latest 650V integrated GaN intelligent power module (IPM), the DRV7308

This solution drastically reduces the size of the overall system and power consumption, enhancing system performance, increasing efficiency, and improving the reliability of HVAC and refrigeration systems.

Additionally, our partnerships with local stakeholders in India focus on developing energy-efficient products that balance both technical performance and cost-effectiveness.

What advantages do TI’s hot-swap controllers and power converters offer for smooth HVAC operation?

TI offers various protection solutions, including hot-swap controllers, E-fuse devices, load switches, ESD diodes, TVS diodes, and the recently launched Zener diode family. These solutions can help protect and enable continuous operation at various points of an HVAC system. The ultimate result is greater system reliability, decreased downtime, and safeguarded sensitive equipment, which reduces maintenance costs.

How do TI’s signal processing and connectivity solutions enhance the integration of IoT and smart HVACR systems?

TI’s signal processing and connectivity solutions play a key role in enhancing the integration of IoT in smart HVACR systems. Our solutions, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Matter, Thread and Zigbee, enable seamless cloud connectivity, allowing HVACR systems to communicate and optimise real-time performance. This integration leads to smarter, more efficient systems that can be remotely monitored and controlled, which reduces energy consumption and improves overall system reliability.

One innovation that we are additionally driving in this space is based on TI’s mmWave technology. These advancements are used for people counting in space, which helps improve dynamic cooling and energy savings.