The Lie Detectors
In spite of the wealth of glowing case studies and reports from almost every corner of the globe, heat pump technology, like all "new" technologies is often the target of some pretty adverse publicity in regions of new deployment such as Canada. Dismissed as impossible or impractical by some and exalted as "the answer" to all our heating and cooling woes by others, we are fortunate to have a rather simple device that can settle the argument and give us all some very accurate evidence to form a reliable basis for future feasibilty studies.
Let me introduce you to an industrial lie detector, a.k.a. the trusty data logger. It is an electronic instrument that records measurements of power consumption, temperatures, on/off cycles, opening/closing, voltages, pressures and many other events, over time. Equipped with a battery-powered microprocessor, data storage and sensors most modern data loggers utilize software on a personal computer or palm pilot to initiate the logger and view the collected data in the form of graphs and reports.
Data loggers are used anywhere you want the convenience of recording measurements without you being there to watch. They are ideal for heat pump technology, HVAC/R and almost all renewable energy disciplines. Nowadays most data loggers are small, making them ideal for mounting in out-of-the-way locations, and best of all they are also becoming very affordable.
To find out how they work GGG contacted Onset Computer Corporation a world leader in portable data logging and monitoring solutions, based in Cape Cod, MA. The company's HOBO brand data logger and weather station products are used around the world in a broad range of monitoring applications, from verifying the performance of green buildings and renewable energy systems to agricultural and coastal research. Onset has sold more than 1 million data loggers since the company's founding in 1981.
First, the data logger is connected to a personal computer. Then the turn-key software is used to select logging parameters (sampling intervals, start time, etc.) and initiate the logger. The logger is then disconnected and deployed in the desired location. The logger records each measurement and stores it in memory along with the time and date. The logger is then reconnected to the personal computer and the software is used again to readout the data and see the measurements as a graph, showing the profile over time.
The tabular data can be viewed as well, or exported to a spreadsheet for further manipulation.
What is a data shuttle?
A data shuttle is a pocket-sized device that can be used to offload/restart multiple data loggers and transport the data back to a personal computer, allowing the loggers to stay in place for continuous monitoring/recording. The shuttle connects to a PC and is used with the turn-key software to readout and view the data.
Some data acquisition systems require the installation of a DA card in a PC and the connection and hard wiring of sensors. These systems work well in permanently configured, on-line applications but can be costly and difficult to implement. Data loggers significantly reduce the price per channel for most logging applications and are significantly easier to implement, and can be placed in areas that permanent digital systems cannot reach.
In view of the confusion that can surround heat pump technology in some regions, perhaps much of the uncertainty, fear, myth and hype could be significantly dispelled if the inclusion of data loggers into our designs was a routine practice.
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