News and Resources: Article

HVAC-R, November 1999

Federal program will support combo system development - Incentives offered for combine space heating, DHW and ventilation systems

Can Canadian manufacturers create new integrated natural gas space, domestic hot water (DHW) and mechanical ventilation packages within a year? Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) believes they can.

The market for such products with low initial cost is estimated at 2.2 million installations within 25 years. The short-term goal is 280,000 units valued at $200 million ($715 each) in just 10 years. The systems are aimed at reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the multi--unit and smaller home markets.

NRCan officially launched its program at the HRAI conference in Halifax in September. The goal of the Advanced Integrated Mechanical Systems (AIMS) project is to market six new small residential combo systems within three years.

Invitations to more than 50 manufacturers in Canada were issued in September. They were asked to submit proposals for research, design and manufacturing of such integrated systems.

NRCan and Environment Canada will provide $3.6 million in support funding for the estimated $14 -- million project with the remainder coming from industry.

The Heating Refrigeration & Air conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) will administer the project. HRAI will also provide future training programs.

The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) will provide $240,000 for design and development of the new systems. NRCan will give $475,000 and the Climate Change Action Fund's Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM) program will provide $2.9 million.

The project will also help manufacturers overcome such obstacles as lack of field trial data (about 150 field trials are planned), performance ratings, safety certificates and procedures and comparisons to existing products.

Combine with ventilation

"The program is aimed at developing more energy efficient packaged systems and specifically bringing the full ventilation component into the package," Jamie Glouchkow, NRCan project leader, told HVAC/R magazine.

"That includes eliminating two of the duplicated energy users, two burners and potentially two fan motors, where separate DHW tanks and HRVs are installed," he said. "Those systems can use 500 Watts where one EC fan motor can run on less than 100 Watts. Because the fan will run continuously, reducing electricity usage is critical to achieve the required performance of 250 Watts or less," he explained.

"These new systems will be targeting the conversion markets -- specifically electric (or oil) to gas with a compact unit. They are also for the retrofit markets where multiple appliances can be replaced by one. New standards may also be necessary if the technologies do not fit current standards," he added.

One underlying goal of the project is to help develop an AIMS industry by building a critical mass of commercial products. The AIMS project is similar to the one used to support the development of the Canadian heat recovery ventilator (HRV) industry, now a world leader.

Updates on the AIMS project can be seen on the aims-net.com webSite, or contact Gord Arnott at HRAI, 1-800-267-2231, E-mail: garnott@hrai.ca.

Combo warning labels

Heating contractors are required to apply a warning label on water heaters integrated into combo heating systems. The Unified Canadian Guideline of Integrated/Combo Systems states: 'A warning label must be installed in plain view of the consumer by the installer identifying that the water temperature controls should not be adjusted or tempered with by the consumer.'

Labels are available from HRAI, 1-800-267-2231. HRAI also launched its newest certification course, 'Residential Integrated Heating Systems', this fall.

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