I found this article to be quite interesting, going over details of this year announcements from WaterFurnace and ClimateMaster on their new product announcements.

Key points I learned include:

1.) WF's new 7 Series is their variable capacity (speed) inverter technology compressor offering.  ClimateMaster named their same technology offering Trilogy 40.  Indeed, both product offerings show a significant jump in efficiency over previous 2-stage compressors.  These units offer AHRI certified EERs exceeding 40.  With the high being about 30 the past few years, this is about a third again as efficient for cooling as the most efficient commercially available GHP, and more than twice as efficient as some Energy Star qualified GHPs.

2.) COPs for heating are at 5 for the new units.  This is also a significant increase, with many GHPs in the Energy Star list at around 4.

3.) Published 'spot' efficiency ratings are clearly not the defining factor in determining the effectiveness of a GHP system.  The ground loop, air distribution system, and overall system design easily have greater impact on system efficiency.

4.) GHPs are already so efficient that the additional savings may not be enough to justify higher up-front cost for the new variable speed compressor models.

5.) WF now has a 5 Series, which directly replaces the Envision series (2-stage compressors).  The price point of the 5 Series is slightly lower than the Envision product it replaces - all features and efficiencies of the Envision line have been maintained.

6.) WF HVAC professionals will be required to obtain factory training before being allowed to sell Series 7 product.

7.) These variable speed compressor GHPs, being priced at a significant premium, will cause price sensitive customers to stay with installing 2-stage GHPs.  And, variable speed pump motors further add to the price premium.

8.) The most important factor for HVAC professionals will be dealer support.  While both companies have simplified installation with the new models, dealer support is much more a local issue, and is significantly determined by the professionals' relationship with their distributor.

9.) WF also announced a new zone controller, the IntelliZone2, for use on Series 5 and 7 products.

10.) Installers can easily mess up the rated efficiency of a GHP with the wrong system design and installation.

11.) WF's 7 Series is generally more efficient that the Trilogy 40 for heating.  The Trilog 40 is generally more efficient than the 7 Series for cooling.   All of these units operate at about a 50% higher efficiency under partial load.  Two stage HPs show only 5 - 15% efficiency gains at partial load.  The Trilogy 40  operates at lower fluid flow rates than the 7 Series, possibly allowing for some energy savings from pumping.

12.) Based solely on efficiency, ClimateMaster's Trilogy 40 should have an edge over WF's 7 Series in cooling climates, while the 7 Series should have an efficiency edge in heating dominated climates.

13.) Still, factors other than efficiency will probably dominate decision making amongst all parties.

14.) For example, WF expects exclusivity from it's HVAC professionals.  This makes it nearly impossible for a residential customer to compare WF vs anything else without having to weigh other factors, including confidence in the HVAC professional, who can make or break a GHP installation.

15.) For another example, ClimateMaster's Trilogy units offer hot water year round, something WF doesn't offer.

16.) Overall, the comparisons are not clear cut.  And thus, as always emphasized here at this forum, customers should focus most on finding an HVAC professional who can deliver the best system design and installation possible.


Just FYI. I found all of this interesting, and thought I'd pass it along.

Best regards,

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for the post.

I wonder if I will see the new units at the SEBC trade show in Orlando this week?

Alton, I would think so.  I think most, if not all of the WF 7 and 5 series are now available.  Not sure about it's Intellizone2 Controller though.  Think ClimateMaster may be verge of making product available, and thus I'd think that at a trade show it would definitely be available for viewing.

Best regards,

Bill

Thanks Bill

Here's some more stuff on what the future holds for geothermal, at least from WaterFurnace (and I'm sure its major competitors).

After reading this: http://www.docslide.com/aurora-cont...-controls/ it sure looks to me that all of the geothermal variable speed compressor control systems are going to a digital platform.  Pretty significant change.  I can see why WF, for example, is requiring HVAC professionals to attend mandatory factory training before WF will allow the professionals to sell WF 7 Series product.

Here are some summary comments:

1.) The Aurora Control System is what's replacing the control systems (Premier2) used up through the Envision model series.

2.) MODbus communication protocol is what is used to communicate between everything - tstats, control boards, etc.

3.) The single control board, as known today in the Envision, which is now called 'Aurora,' will provide exactly the same control as has been present in the Envision.  Additionally, blower fan ECM PWM has been moved from the existing Intellizone to the Aurora Base Control board.

4.) A service tool, with an RJ45 MODbus connection port, is now available to plug in to the board.

5.) MODbus tstats will connect to the Aurora board via 4 wire communications cable.  Fancy ones are available, with background screens that change color to red when there's a fault, to others that allow for photographs and scenes to be displayed.

6.) An expansion board, optionally specified, provides energy monitoring, Comfort Alert current sensing, and water loop pump control.  Connection to main board is via MODbus.

7.) A Web link is available via another optionally installable board, this one providing ZigBee communication or wired Ethernet to a communications unit that connects to a LAN, making possible energy and performance monitoring.  Additionally, all data can be stored to a flash card, including refrigeration performance.  Data includes refrigeration pressures and temperatures.

8.) Two modular boards are added for models with variable speed compressors - one board to direct connect to the VS compressor and another board to direct connect to VS water pump(s).  All again communicate amongst each other via MODbus.

9.) Utility Smart Metering is supported.

10.) Intellizone2 again is MODbus connected.

11.) Sensors can be optionally specified/added such that SuperHeat, SuperCool, Heat of Extraction and Heat of Rejection are all measurable, and available via the service tool and internet and on the flash card.  Same comment for energy monitoring down to the component level (fan, compressor, aux heat).

12.) Service tool (about the size of a small iPad) screen will display DIP switch settings, allow for switch overrides, show ECM settings, show tstat and other inputs, and will display sensor inputs if pressent (refrigerant pressures/temps, compressor current, SH, SC, HE, HR, etc.)


My overall observation is that technicians in particular are eventually going to have to make the transition to being comfortable with digital control systems.

Hope you find this interesting.

Best regards,

Bill

Lastly, if you're interested in looking at an incredible amount of detail on WF's implementation of variable speed compressor products, look no further than here:
http://www.waterfurnace.com/products.aspx?prd=700A11 .

Here' you'll find available PDFs for the 7 Series' Specification and Installation documents, along the the general brochure.

Best regards,

Bill

Bill, do you know where the parts are built for WF and CM?

Posted By robinnc on 23 Jul 2012 07:37 PM
Bill, do you know where the parts are built for WF and CM?

No.

Best regards,

Bill

I've been eyeing both CM and WF variable capacity offerings.

WF docs indicate system can drop to just 20% of rated capacity and support up to six zones. That's huge for me since most of my high end systems are heavily zoned. Conventional two stage systems only drop to 67% capacity, complicating multi-zone systems.

Trane 20i (air source) uses a two compressor scheme that drops 50% of capacity - makes 3-4 zone systems easier to duct

I'm in the midst of my first Carrier GreenSpeed project. Carrier uses a Copeland compressor able to drop to 40% of rated capacity, and their infinity zoning system is well-regarded.

Asian minisplits can drop down to 25% of rated capacity using inverter drives, so I guess that is driving American innovation (finally)

I echo Bill's remarks about 'digital platforms" - True variable capacity compressors will be the death knell of 24 Vac control logic. Controls (zoning and thermostats) will become proprietary rather than open platform (unless an industry-wide digital standard emerges and takes hold). That will severely reduce consumer's ability to hop from company to company in search of the lowest price for a repair. It should also weed out many of the unlicensed, uninsured servicers that collectively dominate my AO.

We live in interesting times.

Posted By engineer on 23 Jul 2012 09:53 PM
... WF docs indicate system can drop to just 20% of rated capacity and support up to six zones. That's huge for me since most of my high end systems are heavily zoned. Conventional two stage systems only drop to 67% capacity, complicating multi-zone systems.

... True variable capacity compressors will be the death knell of 24 Vac control logic. Controls (zoning and thermostats) will become proprietary rather than open platform (unless an industry-wide digital standard emerges and takes hold).  ...

We live in interesting times.

Curt, I think number of zones stayed at 4 for 5 Series, although, with 2 stage systems, as I'm sure you've realized too, it's really tough to get the airflow right when you go up to 4 zones.  In fact, most of the time it requires adjusting the damper motors to allow air bleed through on zones that are supposed to be off.

I agree that what's coming is fascinating.  I think we're seeing the very beginning of a wholesale changeout from analog to digitally controlled HVAC equipment in the residential market (already been happening commercially), and not just for geothermal.  The unknowns are affordability of the early digital units, how problem free the first generations will be, what kind of support's coming from the manufacturers for the HVAC professionals willing to proceed with the next generation digital stuff, and how affordable will maintenance & support be to the end customer.

Additionally interesting to see is the coming availability of energy monitoring, performance monitoring, and direct interface to utility smart meters, all done via a built-in, proprietary manner.  WF even offers thermostats now that have all of the performance and energy monitoring display.  None of this is actually new, it's just the manner of how it's going to be done, i.e. via the manufacturers now on a built in basis.  It's not difficult to do this today with a WEL unit today, and get really nice monitoring and early warnings to avoid otherwise significant repair situations.  But, it costs about $800 to do so (everything, including monitoring compressor currents, temperatures, Heat of Extraction, Heat of Rejection, EER in non-zoned situations, COP, air supply and return temps, and water loop temps - everything except supercool and superheat). 

I think too that manufacturers / HVAC professionals are seeing the possibility of revenue streams coming from monitoring services, much like what's done today residentially for intrusion and fire.  I.e., I see coming the day where the HVAC professional shows up, unscheduled, to fix something, i.e. replace an evap coil, based on monitoring performance data available via an Internet connection.  The customer's pleased because the repair's being done proactively, before an outage occurs, and the HVAC professional is pleased because he/she has an additional revenue stream coming in now from monitoring.

Yes, interesting times!

Best regards,

Bill

The same happened with automotive controls - plug in and the computer tells you what went wrong - at 4pm yesterday.

And, after enough time goes by, the actual ability of people to work on and diagnose the system seems to go down. Like the "Diesel Specialist" at the local dealership. He can't do anything with your truck until it throws a code.

The customer's pleased because the repair's being done proactively...

Good luck with that...

Posted By Bill Neukranz on 23 Jul 2012 08:15 PM

Posted By robinnc on 23 Jul 2012 07:37 PM
Bill, do you know where the parts are built for WF and CM?

No.

Best regards,

Bill

That's what bothers me these days. I had to replace my heat pump 4 yrs ago, replaced with Trane. The old unit(GE) was 27 yrs old, it was 4 yrs old when we bought this house. NEVER a single problem the whole time. Have had 2 problems with the Trane in 4yrs......part was made in........CHINA!.....

While it has always been fashionable to bash products made overseas....first it was Japan, then Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, now China.....the truth is that Trane (and any other company) sets the specifications for the parts made there and then accept or reject the product as it comes in. Note that the iPhone is made deep in the heart of China.

Many pros out there already believe non pressurized is the way to go and here CM wants to integrate a pressurized flow center.
Two stage units saved my customers less than $100/yr vs single stage, it's only when the price difference combined with tax credit dropped the payback for price difference to less than 10 years that I started to push them. I wonder what the payback for additional expense on the variable GSHPs will be.

I just run a comparison between a new 3 ton 7 series and the 5 series (dual stage envision successor), in our climate, new built, with a 46800 BTU/h heatload and a 50000 BTU/h cooling load (peak load numbers).
7-series I got $620 for heating, $97 cooling and $181 hot water (incl. DSH portion). Total was $898 annually.
5-series was $794, $144 for cooling and $188 for hot water, totaling $1,126 annually. $228 annual savings is not bad, roughly 20%. All of this was at 11 cent/kwh winter and 13 cent/KWh summer. List price for the 3-ton 5 series was $8735 without any options, the 7-series was 13,395 an increase of $4,660. The variable speed flowcenter is another $600 more, the larger systems come with 2 circulation pumps, (1) 26-99 and and one variable speed, which does not make much sense to me so far, since the run time will likely more than double, eating up some of the savings.
Plus more efficient heatpumps might mean larger loopfields because of lesser compressor heat.

Still $3682 more for the material after 30% tax credits (off list price). Dynamics might change with larger systems where the heatpumps are only marginally more expensive and provide larger savings (4-5 tons).
It is up to the customer to decide wether a this is a good ROI or not.


Exciting technology, but I cannot help myself to look at this like I look at my coffee maker.


A few year ago I got myself a $2500 super expresso, cappuccino, chrome plated etc machine. It never worked well and needed a lot of maintenance and cleaning, I got rid of it after a year, each cup of coffee was probably $15 over its lifetime. Then I got myself a coffee maker with also had a clock, and alarm clock, a radio and was programmable, with a nice digital display. that thing broke after a year, the display went dead, it sometimes made the coffee when programmed, or sometimes not, so I threw it out again.. Now I have for the last 3 years a very simple machine, with one switch (on/off), which does one thing, and one thing only: It makes coffee.
I call that progress!

Doc, $3682 / $228 = 16 year payback???

Check your PM regarding coffee makers. :-)

Dual compressors are common with dual circuits in commercial apps. Every mainstream manufacturer has abandoned them in resi geo. Products still employing them are using 30 year old technology instead of reliable ultratechs. No thanks.

Coffee MAKER? Way too complex! I grind beans every morning and use an electric kettle to boil water that I manually pour over the grounds. That's as simple as it gets, other than buying coffee at 7-11

I'm a fan of variable capacity systems since they promise great flexibility with respect to variable airflow and zoning.

That said, I'm a "closet" single stage system owner. My Envision 038 is locked in single stage (via an override switch added to the zone board). I enable Y2 only when we return home after a vacation and want to heat up / pull down the house after the system has been off. Four years on, hourmeters read 9000+ hours in Y1 and 57 in Y2.

Despite being locked in single stage, four zones are well served with little duct noise and humidity in the low to mid 40s

Man J suggested 30k, heating and cooling and sometimes I wish I had spec'd an 026, which would need to be in Y2 much more often. That said, an 038 in Y1 beats an 026 in Y2 for efficiency.

Done right, true variable speed systems should yield good part load savings

While complexity has its own problems, I'm going to guess that fewer starts, slow start and the exponentially reduced friction with slower speeds will improve compressor life.