On-demand control ventilation and improved IAQ for better productivity

We have a diverse mix of green refrigerants with most of them being almost zero GWP and ODP but some are mildly flammable.

Talking about further augmentation in requirement with Data analytics and AI playing a major role in further optimising the efficiency for the product ranges, Dipankar Bhattacharya, Country General Manager – India, DB-Aire India Pvt. Ltd., shared his views with Thermal Control Business Update. 

The HVAC Industry has changed over the years, your opinion. 

We have seen a quantum shift in the industry in the last couple of decades. From the first cost-based product until the 90s we saw baseline efficiency being introduced as decision making criteria in the early part of the 21st century for HVAC products where ASHRAE and AHRI did a phenomenal job in preaching the importance of efficiency in the industry, fast forward 2010 and next decade saw industry experts talking about life cycle cost which gained popularity and the current trend is demand-based performance, optimised plant room operation through extensive use of electronics and BMS. This trend is here to stay and we are expecting further augmentation in this requirement with Data analytics and AI playing a major role in further optimising the efficiency for the product ranges. Indian regulatory authorities also did a remarkable job introducing star rating and IS standard, that is meant for validating the performance in Indian weather conditions and pushed the bar every 2-3 years, I am sure customers will be immensely benefited from these initiatives. 

What views do you hold for HVACR industry outlook in 2022? 

We are extremely bullish about the growth prospects in this industry for the next decade or so, simply because of the uptick in the demand side. We are seeing exponential growth in urbanisation and also infrastructure growth is very heartening, the latest budget also is a strong testimony of the infrastructure push that govt is planning, with that in the horizon I think investment cycles will be back for large corporates as well. Factors like demographic dividend, industrial growth will also fuel the demand for air-conditioning and refrigeration. Looks like we have a long runway ahead of us. 

Product range that edges out the competition 

We have plenty in our comprehensive portfolio that gives customers options, quality and efficiency and our simple recipe for success is to build quality products at competitive prices with customers’ requirements in mind. We operate globally with the same philosophy with the uniform product range and that has been the reason for our success for us in many matured markets including the USA. 

Upcoming trends in smart HVACR systems?

As I mentioned earlier, the whole approach is changing from equipment level efficiency to plant level efficiency to ecosystem efficiency in the building environment. Complex control architecture is being put in place to track the exact building load with respect to internal and external conditions and then precisely operate the air-conditioning system in a manner that delivers optimised efficiency by talking to each other. This proves to beneficial since A/C loads keep varying due to multiple factors like external/ internal load variability due to occupancy, intra-day and seasonal changes, so going forward we are expecting usage of VFD and BMS system to gain more traction as the same can make world of difference in life cycle cost. 

Top priorities for the HVAC fraternity 

I think the top priorities would be to deliver efficiency through sustainable product ranges, greener refrigerants, and also occupants health and safety so in the days to come we will see major innovations around these areas, Covid 19 has been an eye-opener for many of us that taught us to take special care of the quality of air inside the building. Other factors like on-demand control ventilation, improved IAQ simply makes business sense since they improve employee productivity. 

When the whole world is staring at job displacement due to newer technologies, will upskilling be of use for the HVACR industry? 

Every industry in a way is evolving or being disrupted and HVAC is no different, even our industry will need serious upskilling at various levels. There is no risk as long as technology is being used in a complementary way alongside human expertise which is a must for value-based decision making. I am more concerned about the ground-level workforce that will need to be reskilled due to changes in the refrigerant landscape. We have a diverse mix of green refrigerants with most of them being almost zero GWP and ODP but some are mildly flammable and some work in different pressure ranges. 

The correct and effective way of handling this equipment in its market life will be imperative so that they deliver the efficiency that it was meant for in a sustained manner. Also, the system architecture in both plant and airside levels are changing, becoming more complex to meet the evolving requirement, this will also need upskilling of the workforce and Industry leaders should have a robust plan around this to avoid a shortage of skilled manpower or job displacement.