A few weeks ago, we reported here on the retrofit of refrigeration and air conditioning systems that the fan specialist ebm-papst has been carrying out at its German locations since 2023 and will continue to do so in 2024. Depending on the type of existing fans, this measure means energy savings of between 10 and 50 percent for the affected systems and thus a very noticeable step towards climate neutrality. In addition to the savings achieved by replacing the hardware, networking with the digital world provides further added value. To this end, the new fans were connected to ebm-papst neo's own cloud platform via gateways. The solution collects relevant data points, analyzes them and derives value-adding actions from them. From predictive maintenance, additional data-supported energy savings through demand-driven operation and higher availability, to automated data export for ESG reporting. However, this in-house retrofit measure is by no means the only topic that ebm-papst will be presenting at this year's HANNOVER MESSE.

Switching to more intelligence

Algorithms learn from user behaviour, building characteristics and environmental conditions to create an optimized indoor ecosystem. This is also the case for Sweden's housing cooperatives: The fan delivers only the required amount of air and adjusts the airflow even at low temperatures to minimize energy extraction and optimize previously inefficient roof ventilation systems. As a result, only a necessary minimum of already heated air is extracted from the building.

Detecting anomalies, optimization potential and contamination at an early stage

The companies Cabero and Heidinger, which manufacture, install and operate condensers, among other things, also benefit from ebm-papst's digital services. The integrated monitoring of the system enables anomalies, optimization potential and contamination to be detected at an early stage in order to avoid subsequent problems, plan service with foresight and ensure smooth operation. Demand-oriented cleaning forecasts prevent unexpected service interruptions and avoid unnecessary downtimes. The project specialists from ebm-papst will be available to answer questions about all these data-driven projects at the trade fair stand in Hanover.

Compact high-speed turbo compressors

The developers at ebm-papst have expertise from a wide range of applications in ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technology and use their core competencies in aerodynamics, electric motors and electronics to actively promote megatrends such as climate neutrality. This is why Mulfingen has now expanded its product portfolio to include high-speed, oil-free turbocompressors for various air and gas mixtures. The turbocompressors are very compact and run vibration-free in the respective medium, meaning they do not require any lubricant that could contaminate the refrigerant circuit, for example. The non-contact and friction-free gas bearings are not only designed to achieve a long service life, but also to impress with their low noise levels. The turbo compressors are used, for example, in the refrigerant circuit, in heat pumps, self-sufficient drinking water systems and in the gas supply of fuel cells.

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