Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the CATALYST Efficiency Enhancing Controller?
A: The CATALYST is a retrofit technology for single-zone, constant-volume, rooftop packaged HVAC systems.
This multi-faceted, patent-pending technology is a hardware improvement that will reduce energy consumption in these
systems by 25%-40% without undermining comfort, indoor air quality, or the integrity of the equipment.
In addition, the CATALYST has internal fault detection to protect the equipment, monitor for proper operation,
and respond to changes in system performance.
Q: How does the CATALYST provide energy savings?
A:The CATALYST technology equips the HVAC system with a number
of advanced, well-practiced energy saving strategies not commonly
applied to constant-volume, rooftop packaged equipment.
These strategies produce the following savings:
- Fan energy savings via our proprietary “Opti-Run” Fan Control
- Cooling savings via Advanced Economizer Logic, which reduces compressor use
- Heating and cooling savings via Demand Control Ventilation (DCV)
- Operational savings
Since the CATALYST uses multiple methods to save energy, it is able to provide significant savings across all climate zones.
For an estimate of the energy savings potential in your market,
contact TWT.
back to top
Q:How will the CATALYST affect my HVAC equipment?
A: Due to the advanced energy efficiency features and dynamic control of the CATALYST, it actually reduces maintenance and service costs.
The fan speed control feature reduces wear and tear on the fan motors, belts, and pulleys by providing soft-start capability.
By improving the economizer control strategies, compressor runtimes are reduced and equipment life spans are increased; offering
the double-benefit of reduced maintenance costs and replacement expense.
back to top
Q: What benefit does the CATALYST offer new equipment?
A: While the CATALYST is primarily designed as a retrofit solution for existing single-zone, constant-volume, rooftop packaged HVAC systems,
it has been successfully applied to new equipment. The added hardware and embedded intelligence in the CATALYST can still produce
significant savings over the typical systems being manufactured today.
back to top
Q: How are energy savings calculated?
A: Energy savings are estimated using location-specific, hourly annual weather data along with specific HVAC unit information
to calculate both baseline and CATALYST power usage. After installation of the CATALYST, savings can be verified in real-time,
at any given point, for utilities and end-users. For example, the eIQ Energy Intelligence Platform has gathered millions of data points
covering hundreds of thousands of operational hours, documenting actual CATALYST performance in the field. As shown in the graph below,
measurement of all the existing CATALYST installations reveals significant fan savings across a wide range of outside air temperatures,
resulting in a total average fan savings of 69%.
back to top
Q:How can I receive an energy savings estimate for my facility?
A: Transformative Wave Technologies is happy to work with prospective customers to provide savings estimates and Return
on Investment
(ROI) analysis based on a building’s HVAC equipment list. These no-obligation quotes are the easiest way to determine how much energy
you can save with the CATALYST.
back to top
Q: What is the life expectancy for the CATALYST equipment?
A: The CATALYST EEC is manufactured by Yaskawa, the world’s largest manufacturer of motion control devices. Because the CATALYST
is installed within the HVAC unit’s fan cabinet, it is protected from the environment and a reasonable life expectancy is +/- 15 years.
TWT provides a 5 year warranty on the CATALYST hardware itself, and 1 year warranty on all sensors and peripheral devices.
back to top
Q: What is the eIQ Platform?
The capabilities of the eIQ Platform include:
- Web-Based Access – The system can be accessed anytime, anywhere from any authorized user with an Internet connection using a web browser.
- Real-time Energy Consumption Monitoring – This provides us with the capability to capture and report the actual energy savings of the installed devices.
- Building Management Controls – The system can be integrated with most Building Management Systems. The eIQ Platform can also act as its own open-protocol
Building Management System; capable of controlling lighting, HVAC, and other facility assets.
- Demand Response – The system can either use preset demand parameters or monitor an automated signal from the local utility (where available) to limit the
energy use of the unit to meet demand response needs.
- Fault Detection and Diagnostics – We have developed several proprietary diagnostic functions to actively monitor the energy consumption and performance
of the equipment. We leverage the addition of the new sensors to verify the status of the equipment and monitor for proper system operation. These additional
points of information are recorded and trended, then normalized based on outside air conditions and time of day. The system is then monitored for any performance
abnormalities, which will trigger an alarm & notification.
- Remote Notification – Through remote access, the system can send notifications based on system performance, component integrity, or comfort related issues.
Often times the system will trigger a warning before occupant comfort starts to suffer. Each site is monitored to verify that the system is operational.
Notifications can be sent via digital media to any contact of choice.
- Preventative Maintenance Cost Avoidance – The CATALYST is able to monitor filter performance and operating conditions of the equipment.
Preventative maintenance programs are often based on the assumption that air filters need to be replaced quarterly. By actual monitoring of the
filter performance and system operating temperatures, it may be possible to schedule filter changes and Preventative Maintenance visits on an “as-needed” basis,
resulting in reduced overall maintenance costs.
The eIQ Platform is a subscription-based service. The cost of the subscription is easily offset by the avoided energy costs, which result from the
advanced diagnostics and fault detection.
back to top
Q: I already have a building management system, why do I need the CATALYST?
A: Most Building Management Systems (BMS) act as remote controlled thermostats. These systems focus on ease of use and standardizing schedules and
space temperature setpoints. The CATALYST is designed to provide energy savings without interfering with the existing control of the space.
The CATALYST is complimentary to your existing BMS and adds features and capabilities that the typical BMS lacks.
The CATALYST will enhance each HVAC units’ efficiency.
back to top
Q: I don’t want to deal with two different building control products. Can my existing BMS interface with the CATALYST?
A: The CATALYST speaks the same languages as the most popular controls systems. As a result, it can integrate cooperatively with an existing controls
system. The best way to know how the CATALYST might function alongside your current controls system is to call one of our sales representatives to for an
assessment. The results of this analysis will allow us to show you exactly what your current system is accomplishing, and how the CATALYST might augment
your HVAC system’s performance and provide further savings.
back to top
Q: Can the CATALYST be customized to meet special needs?
A: The CATLYST and eIQ solutions are easily customized to meet the unique needs of your facility. We have sufficient programmable memory and
expandable hardware to take control of almost anything, and we can make custom applications as necessary. System designs which incorporate lighting,
refrigeration, exhaust fans, or other specialized applications are easily addressed. Please don’t hesitate to contact us in order to find out how we
might adapt the CATALYST technology to your particular needs.
back to top
Q: Does the CATALYST account for humidity?
A: Yes. Depending on the climate, we will use dry bulb, wet bulb or enthalpy control on the economizers to ensure occupancy comfort is maintained
in humid environments. Every CATALYST installation includes dedicated sensors to constantly monitor outside air versus indoor air conditions, in order
to ensure proper space comfort while maximizing energy savings.
back to top
Q: Does the CATALYST account for space static pressure?
A: Many commercial facilities experience pressure problems due to the use of exhaust fans. Where space static pressure is a concern, the
CATALYST program is able to take this into account to ensure that those concerns are addressed. Because the CATALYST provides dynamic control over
all of the relevant components, space pressure and comfort can be addressed while optimizing energy usage.
back to top
Q: How much time does the typical CATALYST installation require?
A: Installation time is dependent on the size of the facility and the number of units to be equipped with CATALYST Efficiency Enhancing Controllers.
The average time per unit is around 6 hours. The installation process is non-intrusive to client operations as the work is largely performed on the roof
and system off-time is minimal. We can provide an accurate estimate of installation timeframes once we have completed a formal site analysis.
back to top
Q: How is information from each unit communicated and transferred off-site?
A: If a CATALYST project includes the eIQ Platform, then each controller will communicate wirelessly to a central access point for the site.
The access point collects the data from the CATALYST controllers and passes it on Transformative Wave Technologies via a hard-wired Ethernet
connection or a wireless data connection.
back to top
Q: Economizers are notorious for not working properly. How does the CATALYST deal with this?
A: It has been well documented that economizers commonly fail and this undermines the unit’s ability to use outside air for free cooling.
We start by making sure that every economizer is working properly. The CATALYST installation eliminates the reliance on the existing sensors
and economizer controller, which are common points of failure. In some cases, the economizer actuators have failed. These will need to be
replaced to achieve a fully functioning economizer.
back to top
Q: How does the CATALYST affect the way in which my service provider interacts with the equipment?
A: It is critical that existing service providers are able to properly service and maintain CATALYST-equipped HVAC units.
To facilitate this, TWT has developed the “CATALYST Service Switch”
to assist technicians when they service the equipment. This switch
allows a technician to perform maintenance or inspection of the
equipment without undermining the technology. It also enables the
technician to test the system in every mode of operation with turn of a knob.
The most common problem with the traditional economizer is how it is currently being controlled. Traditional economizers cannot provide
free cooling and operate compressors at the same time. They function in an “either/or” manner. Additionally, most economizers only
reference outside air and are typically using a low “change-over setpoint”. It is common to find working economizers used only when outside
air is below 55 degrees. This fails to take advantage of outside air at temperatures that are still highly beneficial.
In contrast, the CATALYST EEC allows a full-range of economizer function. Because advanced sensors constantly read both outside air
and return air temperatures, the CATALYST will utilize outside air over the full range of beneficial temperatures. Even if the CATALYST
cannot exclusively utilize outside air through the economizer, it has the capability to use outside air in conjunction with the mechanical cooling if
the outside air has less energy in it than the return air. This means that the system is dealing with cooler air and reduces the reliance on high-energy
mechanical cooling. We have considerable field data that illustrates the usefulness and savings from our “Integrated Economizer,” and “Comparative
Economizer Changeover” functions. We are glad to illustrate this in a free demonstration upon request.
back to top
