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Real-World Application

Autonomous Equipment Optimization

Embed machine learning directly in HVAC equipment controllers, enabling equipment to learn, adapt and optimize performance under real operating conditions.

Challenge

Conventional HVAC controls rely on fixed settings that cannot adapt to changing operating conditions. For AHUs, this can mean defrosting too early or too often, wasting heating energy throughout winter.

Solution

Machine learning embedded in the Climatix controller learns the AHU’s normal, frost-free behavior. It detects signs of frost using existing operating signals and triggers defrost only when needed.

Benefits

Help HVAC OEMs deliver more adaptive and efficient equipment while reducing unnecessary energy use, added hardware and setup complexity.

  • Reduce winter heating-energy use
  • Defrost only when needed
  • Avoid additional frost-sensor hardware
  • No additional commissioning effort

Intelligent defrost supports 20–30% lower heating energy use without extra sensors. No additional commissioning or set-up effort.*

*Results vary significantly by location, freezing hours, operating schedule, airflow, AHU size, heat-recovery efficiency, climate, and other assumptions.

Inforgaphic with 5 Icons representing Autonomous Equipment Optimization

How to get started

From static defrost rules to self-optimizing AHUs, with no additional sensors. Siemens embeds machine learning directly into the Climatix controller platform.

Illustration representing Learning for Autonomous Equipment Optimization

1. Learn

The controller learns the AHU's frost-free fan power pattern as a virtual reference, no dedicated frost sensor required.

Illustration representing Monitoring of Autonomous Equipment Optimization

2. Monitor

It continuously compares predicted, frost-free fan power with actual measured fan power in real time.

Illustration representing Detection of Autonomous Equipment Optimization

3. Detect

A growing deviation signals frost formation, validated in simulation, lab and field.

Illustration representing Defrost&Adapt for Autonomous Equipment Optimization

4. Defrost & adapt

Defrost is triggered only when needed. The model keeps learning and refining with every cycle.

Illustration representing Outcome for Autonomous Equipment Optimization

5. Outcome

Equipment that continuously adapts to real operating conditions, triggering defrost only on demand through self-adaptive optimization directly on the controller, reliably preventing ice blockage while minimizing energy costs.

Adapt to real conditions

Learn normal equipment behavior from local operating signals and adapt within engineer-defined limits. Engineers define objectives, constraints, fallback behavior, commissioning intent and release validation.

Incremental learning

Continuously refine the embedded model as operating conditions change, without cloud connectivity or large historical datasets.

Reduce winter heating energy

An estimated 20–30% reduction for defined AHU scenarios without frost sensors, compared with preventive defrost.*

* Results depend on climate, freezing hours, operating schedule, airflow, AHU size, heat-recovery efficiency and other operating conditions. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Kickstart your journey with this solution package

Climatix provides the eco-system to develop learning based functions at scale:

  • Condition monitoring: learn normal behavior and detect anormaly
  • Virtual sensor: learn data model to replace or backup physical sensors
  • Predictive modeling: learn patterns in the past the predict the future
Case Study

Evolving defrosting into automated energy savings

Female and male worker with notebooks standing inside a production area

Validated from simulation to field testing

Whenever outside air temperatures drop below freezing, frost formation on AHU heat exchangers is unavoidable. Intelligent defrost learns an AHU’s normal, frost-free behavior and detects frost without additional sensors. The solution has been validated using AHU data, simulation, field testing and testing at the Siemens performance lab in Zug, Switzerland.

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