New controller for heat pumps substantially helps reduce life cycle cost and CO₂ emissions.
The Danish company Lodam electronics a/s - which has more than 40 years of experience in designing and manufacturing controllers for heat pumps, condensing units and ventilation - has just released their new standard controller LMC320 for industrial and domestic WTW and ATW heat pumps.

With the increased focus on energy costs and CO₂ emissions, heat pump manufacturers are using a lot of effort and R&D on improving the COP of their heat pumps by using increasingly efficient compressors, heat exchangers, refrigerants, circulation pumps, drive lines, insulation materials etc.

In order to achieve the most economical combined operation of these optimised components, an intelligent control system and extensive application knowledge is required, which is what Lodam electronics a/s offers with the new LMC320 controller.

The LMC320 controller has a modular design consisting of a basic unit with options for solar control and remote monitoring as well as data log exchange via an Ethernet module with built-in web server function.

The basic unit incorporates the following features:
• Compressor is controlled either ON/OFF or via frequency inverter (0-10V signal).
• Capacity control of compressor via frequency inverter results in lower power consumption, more stable control and longer compressor lifetime - lower life cycle cost.
• Intelligent defrost function only schedules defrost when needed. Automatic selection of hot gas or air defrost ensures a fast defrost time - saves energy and ensures low capacity waste and quick pull-down time to setpoint after defrost.
• Hot tap water prioritising by controlling a 3-way valve in the water circuit.
• Winter/summer operation mode with the heat pump generating heat and hot tap water in winter mode and hot tap water only in summer mode.
The two modes can be selected manually or automatically.
• Ambient temperature compensation using predefined temperature curves saves energy and ensures a high comfort level, especially during low ambient temperatures.
• Room temperature compensation controlling the return temperature in accordance with both room and ambient temperature.
• Pump control of cold side pump, warm side pump and - in case of installations with heating accumulation tanks - also the circulation pump to the radiators.
• Pump exercise control prevents the pumps from sticking during longer standstill periods.
• Hot water control with option for back-up from electrical heater, boiler or solar panel ensures flexibility and high comfort level.
• Anti-Legionella function increases the hot water temperature to 60°C at user-defined intervals. 

Solar control (option):

Controls the solar circulation pump in accordance with hot water and solar panel temperature.

Ethernet module (option):

This module enables remote access to the controller from a PC or smartphone and, via the built-in web server, access to managing accounts, showing alarm status and events, viewing data, adjusting settings and retrieving data log files.

It is also possible to get a quick view of the actual system with the basic readings. See the figure below.

For optimum security access, the web server is of course username and password protected.


The Ethernet module is a very strong tool for monitoring and servicing the heat pump, and together with the Windows PC tool LMT 300 provided free of charge, it is possible to achieve real-time logging of data, alarms and events.

With the LMT 300 PC tool connected to the LMC controller, it is also possible to present the data log graphics as real-time logging curves.
 
The LMC320 controller is delivered with a full-graphics 320x240 pixels colour display, which is built into an IP65 cabinet for panel mounting. Menu navigation and settings are simply performed via six pushbuttons.

Lodam controllers comply with the most stringent industrial requirements and are naturally designed and manufactured in accordance with the highest industrial standards and codes, i.e. ISO 9001 and CE marking.

All PCBs are certified and produced in accordance with IPC J-STD-001D, IPC 610 and IPC 620, and after production an additional coating has been applied in order to ensure additional protection and longer lifetime.

The LMC320 Heat Pump Controller is now available for sale. For further information, please refer to heatpump.lodam.com or contact Lodam electronics by email on lodam@lodam.com or phone +45 7342 3737.