In an AC, the heart of the system is the compressor. The job of the compressor is to increase the temperature of the refrigerant gas (It does that via increasing the pressure, hence the name compressor). This increased temperature is what causes the heat exchange to take place at the condenser which is the reason why your AC can cool the room.
We are not adding energy into the system. We are simply replacing the work, which was supposed to be done by the compressor, by the heat of the sun. The overall cooling capacity and the energy in the system remains the same. Hence it causes no issues.
There is no electrical connection between the HTS Panel and the compressor so there is no direct command between the two. However, once the HTS Panel starts adding heat, the VRV/VRF/Chiller with its own internal sensors is aware that the HTS Panel is adding heat and hence slows down. This is made possible since all these types of ACs are in itself “Smart” and hence have the capability to slow down when needed.
There's a very straightforward reason why our HTS Panels aren't used to pre-heat the refrigerant gas before it enters the compressor.
The compressor runs at very high RPMs. During its normal running it produces a lot of heat due to friction. Hence the compressor requires cooling for it to run smoothly for long hours.
The refrigerant gas entering the compressor is at a much lower temperature relative to the compressor and hence acts as a coolant for it. If we add the HTS Panel before the compressor, we will pre-heat the gas which cause it to stop acting as a coolant for the compressor and result in failures.
Hence, we cannot add the HTS Panel before the compressor
The HTS Panel causes the compressor to slow down and hence results in an increased life of the compressor. The reduced RPM of the compressor leads to fewer failures and improved life.
Imagine your car engine never going above 80 kmph. In the long run its hugely beneficial for the engine since its always run at the ideal RPM.
Since the HTS Panel is doing the work of the compressor, it always runs on partial load. This reduced RPM in the long run results in enhanced life of the machine
The HTS Panel has multiple sensors inside the system which constantly read the temperature in and out of the refrigerant gas. If the temperature increases beyond a certain point, the controller moves the reflectors away from the sun causing the panel to turn off.
The HTS Panel also has LED lights for error coding so anybody can understand if there is an error in the system and can rectify it.
The HTS Panel can be connected to any HVAC system which has inverter /modulating compressors. This is true for all VRV/VRFs and most chiller systems. The same can also work if there is a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) installed in the AC to make it modulating.
Yes, The HTS Panel system can be installed in most chiller systems. The compressor needs to modulate for the HTS Panel to work hence any chiller with modulating compressors or with a VFD Panel will work with our HTS Panel
One HTS Panel which is fit for a 10HP VRF/VRV AC takes ~40 sqft of space. If there is not enough space on the roof the HTS Panel can be installed on top of the VRF outdoor unit using an MS structure. The heat from the exhaust of the AC will not affect the working of the HTS Panel.
VRV/VRF technology use HP as a unit. Chillers and other ACs use Ton / TR as a unit. In the US and UK they usually use BTUs (British thermal unit). The conversion is simple:
1 HP = ~0.8 TR (Ton)
1 Ton = ~12,000 BTUs
PV Panels | HTS Panel |
Generates electricity | Uses heat/ thermal energy from the sun to reduce electricity consumption of an AC |
Not preferred for Air-conditioners since: - ACs require very high power which requires a lot of PV Panels - Enough space is not available on rooftops where AC is located | Ideal for Inverter VRV ACs as it: - Reduces electricity consumption by upto 40% - Requires ~12 times less space than conventional PV Panels - Increases life of AC due to reduced RPM of compressor - Improves cooling during high ambient temperature |
8ft x 4ft PV Panel generates ~250 watt of electricity | 8ft x 4ft HTS Panel saves energy equivalent to ~3,500 watts (Generated by ~14 PV Panels) |
The glass tube thermal technologies which are available in the market use the same concept as our HTS Panel. The construction of the product is very different though.
The HTS Panel uses copper pipes and 6 vertical aluminium reflectors in a parabolic shape which rotate with the sun using actuator motors to heat the refrigerant gas of the HVAC system. There are sensors in the system which feed data to the controller which rotates the reflectors.
If at any point too much heat is added in the system which can happen in summers. The sensors signal the motors to switch off the heat from the panel. This is why, till date, the HTS Panel has had almost no failures in all our installations across the country. The safety systems in the HTS Panel ensure no harm is caused to the system.
By comparison, the glass tubes are much more fragile and can break. The glass tube panel also does not have any way of controlling the heat added to the system thus can fail. Hence, no safety system is present in these panels
To give an analogy, the glass tubes technology is iPhone 1 from 2011 and the HTS Panel is iPhone 13 Pro Max. Same concept, very very different technologies.
Yes, the concept of the HTS Panel is same as in solar water heaters. We use the same thermal energy that the sun provides to heat a medium up. The difference here is, water can be heated up without the worry of causing any harm. The temperature of water does not need to be regulated in a water heater. However, in the case of an HVAC system an uncontrolled amount of heat cannot be added to the system. There needs to be sensors which detect the temperature and a way to stop the heat in case required. The HTS Panel is the only such product in the market with such features.
The HTS Panel weighs ~90kg and is completely made up of Aluminium, Copper, Glass, Stainless Steel, Brass, EPDM Rubber, Teflon etc. All these components have an individual life of more than 15 years.
As seen in the case studies tab, the savings the HTS Panel gives can range from 25-40%. These readings were taken for varied time durations. Some being a few days to even one year. Hence on an average over the year, we have seen the HTS Panel saves ~35% in electricity.
The HTS Panel is made completely in our factory in Rabale, Navi Mumbai in line with the vision of our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s: Make in India Mission.
The HTS Panel takes ~4-5 hours to install in a retrofit installation and a little less time for a fresh installation. Any HVAC technician with a few hours of training can install the HTS Panel with ease. It requires only some copper piping, 2 copper joints and one electrical connection.