Intelligent Batteryless Wireless Systems For Energy-Efficient Buildings

(06/02/2013)

At this year's Ecobuild, the EnOcean Alliance will demonstrate the latest intelligent building system innovations integrating energy harvesting wireless technology. On stand N3770, Alliance members Thermokon, Somfy and EnOcean will show their newest developments based on the EnOcean standard for efficient automation in commercial buildings and smart homes. The batteryless wireless solutions are highly sustainable, offering OEMs and building owners maximum installation flexibility, comfort and energy-efficiency, while minimising maintenance efforts.

EnOcean's energy harvesting technology powers wireless communications by collecting energy from motion, indoor light or temperature differentials. This technology is the basis for batteryless wireless sensors which act as the sensory organs, "the eyes and ears", of a home and supply the necessary information for intelligent control of diverse applications. Based on the international wireless standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10 and using standardised application profiles, all devices can work together as part of different automation systems. This makes EnOcean technology the ideal connection to bridge the last few metres between sensors in a home or an existing WiFi or mobile communication network.

The following members will exhibit at the EnOcean Alliance stand N3770:

For more than 25 years, Thermokon manufactures professional quality equipment for intelligent green buildings with engineering, innovation and quality "Made in Germany". At Ecobuild 2013, the company will present its wireless and batteryless radio system EasySens, an intelligent building control system incorporating EnOcean wireless technology. Visitors can experience the new design-oriented wireless room operating panel Thanos, which enables temperature settings, lights and blinds or fan speeds to be centrally controlled via an intuitive touch glass surface. Temperature and humidity detection, set point adjustment or light control is centrally managed, evaluated and for example transmitted to the SAB02 valve actuator. This new wireless valve actuator offers efficient power consumption and enables a self-sufficient heating/cooling control without the need for time- and cost-intensive configuration or installation. Utilisation of Thermokon gateways means the SAB02 can also operate in connection with wired building bus technologies such as Modbus or LON.

In addition, Thermokon will show additional design-oriented room Operating Units for intuitive multifunctional control of lighting, temperature, blinds and other features in rooms. These are complemented by standard sensor solutions, a huge range of sensors for the measurement of physical characteristics in buildings, such as temperature, humidity, CO2, pressure, flow, brightness and motion.

Somfy, a world leader in motors and control systems for residential and commercial buildings, will launch the EnOcean compatible plug-in module for its range of animeo motor controllers enabling architects, designers and specifiers to integrate EnOcean compatible wall switches into their solar shading projects.

The animeo control range responds to the environmental conditions of the building by analysing and reacting to dynamic variables such as wind speed, sun position, rain and temperature and contributing to reduce the overall energy consumption of the building. The new module extends the possibilities of the animeo range, helping customers to realise additional energy savings, and increased visual and thermal comfort, while lowering maintenance costs and reducing the impact of batteries on the environment.

EnOcean GmbH will present its advanced developer kits covering the entire product range, from energy harvesting and wireless modules to ready-made product solutions. The kits are part of a modular concept with which EnOcean can offer OEMs a cost-effective and customised development platform for fast integration into building and industry automation, smart home as well as machine-to-machine systems.

Furthermore, the inventor of energy harvesting wireless technology comes to the show with new innovations in this field. For example, the PTM 215 is the first energy harvesting switch module integrating rolling code. This additional functionality offers data encryption for secure wireless communication in smart home, security access control systems and other critical applications.

About the EnOcean Alliance
Leading companies worldwide from the building sector collected to form the EnOcean Alliance and establish innovative automation solutions for sustainable building projects - and so to make buildings more energy-efficient, more flexible and lower in cost. The core technology of the Alliance is energy harvesting wireless technology for flexibly positioned and service-free sensor solutions. The EnOcean Alliance aims to internationalise the energy harvesting wireless technology, and is dedicated to creating interoperability between the products of OEM partners. Basis for this is the international standard ISO/IEC 14543-3-10, which is optimised for wireless solutions with ultra-low power consumption and energy harvesting. More than 300 companies currently belong to the EnOcean Alliance. The headquarters of the non-profit organisation is located in San Ramon, California.

Related categories:  Electrical market   Energy efficiency   UPS generators and batteries