Technology Innovation
Request
<3500 characters Explain the core high-risk technical innovation to be researched and developed during a Phase I project. NSF must understand what research and development is required and how this technical innovation differs from and is significantly better than existing solutions. It may also be that the proposed innovation creates a new market. In this case, why will it be adopted? Describing features or benefits of the proposed technology is not sufficient.
Pitch
Whole system HVAC sensing and system characterization is invaluable to understand the performance of installed HVAC beyond lab calculated efficiency. HVAC design today is driven by cost reduction, and while cost is important, it can push aside the benefits of whole system sensing as too expensive and belittles the value it provides. Sominos LLC wants to challenge those assumptions. Sominos LLC intends to develop an efficient, heavily instrumented, Hydronic Heat Pump using open-source copy-left licensing. This product will contain pressure, temperature, power, humidity, airflow, and switched sensing. Using these sensors the proposed system can perform real-time compression cycle diagnostics, calculate in-situ refrigerant state analysis, and whole system prognostics. This would allow the unit to identify installation issues, continually evaluate COP drift, and pre-empt failures to prevent loss of comfort or avoid potential danger during high risk events such as heat waves. Developing a hydronic monobloc system to integrate this sensor suite is key. Hydronic monoblocs are an important technology in making reparable HVAC systems that do not require refrigerant certification to install and service. These systems allow for more precise manufacture in cleaner conditions than traditional split refrigerant systems. The primary question to answer is, can a system balance sensor accuracy, while providing sensing capabilities in a delivered product and still meet a market viable cost? And, in the same vein, can a field integrated solution for prognostics save technicians time and improve product lifespan? Existing manufacturers require OEM replacement parts, expensive first-party accessories, or monthly fees to access equipment data. These limitations restrict the freedom of the American consumer to purchase accessories of their choosing, repair installed products, and access high efficiency equipment at reasonable prices. In addition to restrictions on consumers, skilled certified HVAC technicians react to system failure needing to carry gauges and are incentivized to replace products they might repair and sell less advanced HVAC systems. Insufficient market forces mean entrenched manufacturers have low incentive for change. There is a market failure today, in that incumbent HVAC manufacturers operate on a business model that is incompatible with the creation of higher efficiency, highly instrumented Hydronic Monobloc HVAC systems as a base model. Investment in this new design will help to drive the industry to adopting these technologies without mandating them via strict edict.
Technical Objectives and Challenges
Request
<3500 Characters Clearly explain the specific research and development required to prove that the foundational technology works and address the associated challenges explicitly with a high level description of how each will be managed. This section must convey how the proposed work is technically innovative and demonstrate that you have an understanding of the core research and development tasks necessary to prove out the technical innovation.
Pitch
Sominos intends to complete technical research analyzing sensor suites in-situ to confirm how accurate and comprehensive a data set can be created. This will involve: Primarily, system design:
- Comparing and selecting sensor options Component Option Examples: Temperature sensing NTC vs PTC Thermistor, Digital (1-Wire/I2C), Ratiometric Voltage/Current Component Option Examples: Integrated Analog Power / Phase Sensing vs Modbus Off-The-Shelf component
- Design implementation to support all selected sensors
- Perform Accuracy Analysis based on stack-up NTC Accuracy Stack-up Example: ADC has a limited accuracy based on conversion bits and inherent accuracy, as well as the quality of passives. How much can calibration account for these issues?
- Cost Analysis of Implementation Cost Analysis Example … For NTC Thermistor: Evaluate Analog conversion, including ADC choices and passive circuit requirements and microcontroller impacts. Determine the trade-off of cost to accuracy.
- Cost-benefit analysis of the prior choices given their value to system state understanding in comparison to cost and controls impact based on selected options
Secondarily, developing a vapor compression model:
- Design an HVAC system that implements a highly efficient Inverter Air-to-Water Heat Pump
- Develop initial vapor compression model for the designed hardware system Note: This is challenging due to the restrictive nature of current modelling software and accurate modelling in areas such as oil migration and its impact.
- Measure equipment performance and state using scientifically accurate equipment For example: Absorption lag characteristics for a thermistor in comparison to a Digital Sensor in comparison to in fluid sensor temperature
- Evaluate sensor accuracy, then based on that and cost, the overall value
There is no consolidated source of information about HVAC design and sensor selection. We intend to share our research via Open Source licensing that would benefit the public. The end result will be a validated set of sensor options, costs, accuracy impacts.
Market Opportunity
Request
<1750 Characters Explain the value of the technological innovation including the potential uses and those who will benefit (who is the customer) and demonstrate a high-level understanding of the competitive landscape and why this innovation has the potential to compete.
Pitch
Complete system sensing and analysis will drive greater understanding of real-world installed HVAC performance, as opposed to purely laboratory-rated numbers. Consumers benefit through identification of install quality and unit suitability for their climate and building. Technicians benefit through native prognostics enabling pre-emptive repair rather than reactive diagnosis after failure. Open-source copyleft development ensures solutions are easier to maintain, with community-driven improvements responsive to real-world conditions, as demonstrated by projects like Opulo and LumenPnP, which have spawned derivative commercial products and markets through shared development. The replacement HVAC market is roughly $165 billion, kept stable by refrigerant phase-outs and energy efficiency mandates. Labor shortages from aging technicians increase install costs, making Air-to-Water monobloc systems, which reduce refrigerant touch points during install and service, an increasingly attractive alternative. European manufacturers and US competitor Chilltrix serve this space, but lack broad US service and sales networks. Sominos differentiates through open-source design and deeper integrated sensing than any current offering. Existing diagnostic competitors either require expensive tooling and licenses or are designed for handheld in-person use rather than permanently installed monitoring — leaving the continuous, field-integrated prognostics market largely unaddressed.
The Company and Team
Request
<1750 Characters Explain the team’s suitability to successfully execute the project based on the proposed innovation and approach to R&D. Provide information on plans to address gaps in the team.
Pitch
Peter McGaughey, who founded Sominos, has 15 years of embedded Hardware and Firmware experience. Ten of those years have been dedicated to HVAC Controls and Product Design, Manager for North American Commercial Controls development at Carrier and Technical Lead at Daikin in support of their Residential and Hotel Control Platforms. He has a passion for making open products and challenging the status quo that is complacent with existing designs and entrenched sales channels. Through Sominos, he is dedicated to making highly efficient, locally manufactured HVAC a success through open product design and cooperative manufacturing techniques. Diana Fisler, founder of EcoSnap ductless mini-splits is advising Sominos and has offered testing opportunities for HVAC sensing products. Leading Mechanical Engineers in the industry have expressed interest in joining Sominos as well. Engagement with Contractors & Service Businesses has been fruitful and generated excitement over the prospects of a more intelligent and reparable HVAC. Sominos will targets small scale development and distributed manufacturing to provide sustainable growth. The opportunity to sub-license with Technicians and Service businesses would provide a secondary path to profit.