Ensuring AC equipment health is vital for sustainability and efficiency

The HVAC industry is evolving rapidly, driven by sustainability goals and an increased focus on indoor air quality. Ayan Mitra, Director – Exports, FläktGroup, a leader in Indoor Air Quality and Critical Ventilation solutions, is at the forefront of these changes, embracing innovations and addressing industry challenges.

Please elaborate on the emerging trends in sustainability, decarbonisation, and the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants within the HVAC industry.

The HVAC industry is undergoing t transformations across various fronts. It is prompting a re-evaluation of its influence on sustainability, indoor air quality, and workforce development. The pandemic led to the emphasis on the criticality of IAQ, prompting a due focus on it. Government-backed initiatives promote energy-efficient systems to curtail energy expenses and reduce carbon footprints. However, the industry faces challenges like unorganised supply chains and needing more skilled personnel. Despite these challenges, the outlook for industry growth appears promising. We will be elaborating on the emerging trends in this domain.

Sustainability is a relevant trend in our industry, particularly with India’s commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The HVAC sector is actively shifting towards sustainability through decarbonisation, electrification, and adopting low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. Advanced control systems and building management solutions, integrating artificial intelligence, offer users a comprehensive interface for enhanced energy efficiency and simplified maintenance. These advancements contribute to India’s sustainability objectives within the HVAC industry. FläktGroup, as a prominent player in this sector, promotes environmentally friendly and energy-efficient practices, including using low GWP refrigerants.

India has implemented regulations to boost energy efficiency in residential and light commercial sectors following extensive preparation. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s enforcement of energy ratings has significantly aided in reducing energy consumption and minimising carbon emissions, resulting in tangible energy savings.

The pandemic underscored the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ), shifting its focus from a pandemic-specific requirement to a mandatory element for overall well-being. Leading HVAC manufacturers, including FläktGroup, have focused on enhancing IAQ. Awareness about IAQ has extended to investors, who are now more willing to invest additional funds to enhance IAQ and improve well-being.

Addressing the shortage of skilled workers within the HVAC industry, major players are recruiting and training their workforce to create the next generation of HVAC professionals. FläktGroup considers the need for further efforts to elevate the entire industry. As a leading manufacturer, the group recognises the key role it must play in this development by offering on-the-job training, virtual training resources, and other initiatives.

How does FläktGroup position itself as a leader in IAQ and Critical Ventilation solutions?

FläktGroup is one of the market leaders in indoor air quality and Critical Ventilation solutions. We aim to become the foremost strategic ally in delivering sustainable, secure, and intelligent energy-efficient Indoor Air and Critical Air solutions. We strive to be recognised by our customers as the technology pioneer, setting the benchmark for superior quality standards in enhancing air comfort, safety, and overall well-being.

In India, we are a leading manufacturer specialising in air handling units, precision air conditioning units, and ventilation fans, offering the latest technology to our clients. Our focused market segments include pharmaceutical and clean room environments, semiconductor industries, photovoltaic cell manufacturing, data centres, and marine and oil & gas (ATEX). We also focus on tunnel and metro infrastructure, car park facilities, industrial ventilation solutions, retrofitting, and service segments. Hence, across all the critical application sectors, our offerings comply with international standards and align precisely with each application’s specific requirements.

What are the latest developments in Data centre cooling technology?

In the data centre industry, we do talk about liquid cooling technology. Although it is promising, we are still a few years away from becoming part of the mainstream. However, the surge in demand for high-density racks has increased the need for cooling. Consequently, the industry has begun adopting ‘Fan Wall Units’ that are capable of accommodating higher heat requirements through substantial airflow at increased velocities. As load demands escalate, Fan Wall Units are gaining more market share due to their popularity.

Data centre facility designers are now looking to align HVAC solutions with the specific needs of the IT equipment. Despite this trend, most centres are currently designed with air-cooled or water-cooled chillers in conjunction with Fan Wall Units. However, managing high velocity and minimising noise within the white space remains a concern. FläktGroup, a leading Fan Wall Unit technology manufacturer, has been getting attention due to its unique features, attracting investors’ interest. These solutions are customised to meet client requirements precisely, optimising space and energy consumption. Moreover, our focus includes minimising maintenance and operational costs wherever possible.

How are data-driven solutions encouraging equipment maintenance and operation efficiency within the HVAC industry?

Maintaining optimal health for air conditioning equipment is crucial for sustainability and energy efficiency. Periodic HVAC system maintenance is key in ensuring units operate smoothly. With advancements in ICT technologies, we now leverage records and insights from industry experts/OEMs to map out maintenance needs.

Data-driven solutions use statistical models derived from measurement data to estimate equipment health. These solutions have gained much interest due to ICT advancements enabling access to real-world measurement data and strong data analytics algorithms. This empowers end users to prioritise maintenance tasks, ensuring energy-efficient operations and minimal downtime. FläktGroup provides annual and comprehensive maintenance packages, ensuring smooth operation with no downtime for end users.

What factors, including government initiatives and industry trends, are encouraging investments?

The HVAC sector in India is experiencing significant growth and attaining self-sufficiency in manufacturing HVAC products. The optimistic climate and government support have attracted substantial investments from major players in the industry. This trend continues due to the high value of quality products and services. The ‘Make in India’ initiative has succeeded under the current government, creating a positive environment that encourages manufacturers worldwide to invest and gain more domestic market share.

Government efforts to increase local product components have notably boosted the local industry. Consequently, all industry players are either looking to expand their operations or establish their own manufacturing/assembly facilities in India to capture opportunities in the market.

Why is there a surge in demand for monitoring instruments in indoor environments?

Maintaining clean and safe indoor environments has become essential, increasing demand for field instruments. These tools monitor and enable corrective actions, playing a key role alongside advanced control systems. The need for highly accurate field instruments to maintain our well-being in indoor spaces has grown significantly. CO2 and occupancy sensors and temperature and humidity sensors are increasingly used to save energy. Temperature and humidity sensors with multiple high-precision sensing points offer precise feedback, helping create IAQ-compliant environments. FläktGroup provides a range of sensors integrated into its HVAC equipment, ensuring monitoring and maintenance of designed site conditions. These sensors are designed with accuracy to cater to diverse end-user application needs.

What advantages does ACREX offer to manufacturers seeking to showcase their products and capabilities?

ACREX is the largest premier HVAC trade exhibition in Southeast Asia, allowing manufacturers to display their products and capabilities. It is a marketing platform for HVAC companies to highlight their offerings and distinctive features to industry stakeholders. Additionally, ACREX is an educational platform offering insights into the latest industry trends and technological advancements through seminars and panel discussions. It is a valuable opportunity for learning, knowledge sharing, and staying updated on cutting-edge technologies.

What strategies does FläktGroup employ at ACREX to enhance brand recognition?

We aim to increase brand recognition and promote awareness of our offerings. We emphasise why partnering with FläktGroup is advantageous for stakeholders involved in critical applications. ACREX allows the FläktGroup team to connect with key contacts and generate new accounts through live product demonstrations. It is a chance to showcase our strengths and explain why choosing FläktGroup as a partner benefits stakeholders in various critical applications.