Interview - Mr. Santosh Churmure (Application Domain Expert - HVAC & R, Schneider Electric India)

 

I am grateful of taking the interview series ahead by talking with Mr. Santosh Churmure Sir. He is an Application Domain Expert - HVAC & R in Schneider Electric. I am thankful that you choose this platform to share some insights in HVAC sector and some new technologies related to this in Schneider Electric. 

Hope you all have a good read.

1.  1. Tell us something about the profile that you are currently working on at Schneider Electric.

I am an Application Domain Expert for HVAC & R Domain in Schneider Electric since 2008. I am supporting as technically and developing the consumer accounts to increase the market share for Schneider Electric in HVAC & R Domain. This domain is such that, without it, any company cannot function.

 

2.   2. Being part of such an established and reputed company all over the world, there are bound to be some challenges. In recent times of Covid, what challenges did you face in your profile?

This phase was entirely shocking for me. Everything closed during lockdown and so much difficult roads to find the way for coming out. Fortunately, we have some set of HVAC customers who are technically very skilled; and these consumers have a  very good knowledgeable team to execute their projects with the help of SE team (ADE/SAE) by online support. Obviously, they were also facing challenges with the customer, in face to face interaction or conversion of new customers. But, every new hurdle always finds a new path for coming out. See, we all were not used to working from home and executing our projects and jobs by daily online support. A strong network and uninterrupted power supply are always a challenge when executing these tasks. But, we managed to sail out of it properly; as new things are always great to learn and we have to adapt to it in future. As we gained confidence with these customers, we started to build more market through online platforms and eventually, we are seeing success thankfully. 

I would just like to say in this case that challenges will come in your life. Even we had struggled many a times. But, do not lose your hope and believe in yourself. This will come useful to you not only for your professional life; but even your personal life too.  I am not saying that we have went past everyone; but definitely, by God’s grace, we are trying to be in a good path of success in these times and am myself seeing a trending growth.

I would like to thank all my customers for believing in us.

 

3.   3. HVAC is a field which is of an essential requirement in any company to work. How is your experience working in this domain since a long time?

To anyone new, I would first like to say the full form of HVAC.  It is – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. HVAC & R vertical is a very big segment in any market. Let me explain it by a basic thing in your day to day life. You cannot live without proper air or ventilation around you. So, you will need a liveable environment of air around you to survive. This essential requirement urged me to look into this type of study deeply. As an automation engineer, I had got the opportunity to work in this domain since my first job and seeing vast requirements of HVAC in any industry, I started to gain more experience in this type of automation and eventually developed a liking for it.
As you know, automation can control any machine or system automatically. So, as times passed by and seeing advances in automation, the HVAC machines too saw a great amount of control more efficiently. As I am still working in this domain, I would like to say that it has been a wonderful and learning experience for me. I am fortunate that I got to stick in this field and gain expertise as much as I can. I am hoping that I can contribute more in this sector and help develop a clean and green environment.

4.  4. Tell us something about Ecostruxure Machine HVAC software and how is it useful in integrating all the components of HVAC in single programming software.

As you know, any PLC can control any type of machine. Initially, if you must be aware, we had a series of M168 PLC’s. These PLC’s had specific software libraries designed in it for programmers, to control HVAC machines in a better way. Basically, all the control parameters required to control any particular HVAC system were integrated in a single library and thus, the task was made easy for programmers.

But, time passes and eventually, as programming requirements demand easier interfaces, this PLC became obsolete due to use of single programming language in it (functional block diagram). This developed Ecostruxure Machine HVAC software platform. It is an advanced level of this PLC, where M171 and M172 PLC’s are used. It has all the general programming languages in it, used for automation.  This new platform of programming software is as per IEC61131-3 standard and very user friendly.

Earlier software too had pre defined libraries for HVAC systems. Even this has it, with more advanced function blocks. This makes the work of programmers easier and eventually, the commissioning time for customers is reduced to a great extent.

 

5.  5.  AHU and Chillers are the most commonly used machines in HVAC. Can you tell us something about some other types of machines used in HVAC and how does it pose a challenge to programmers?

A    Apart from AHU and chillers, there are other vastly used machines like heat pumping, humidifier, dehumidifier, rooftop units, ventilation systems etc. The basic control of HVAC is to control temperature, humidity and pressure. I would like to inform readers that HVAC is a very vast field and there so many machines in that. If people become aware of these systems, hopefully they would get a bigger idea on this type of automation.

      Coming to programming part question; in Schneider Electric, there is a concept of TVDA (Tested Validate Document Architectures) for AHU & Chiller applications as per Global Machine Standards. TVDA concept has readymade programs in the software and various architectures are available for machines. One can use this without any program modification or use this partially TVDA templates to minimize their commissioning / programming Time.

6.   6. Can you tell us the most challenging project of your career that you faced to crack it and come out with flying colours?

      My most challenging project was in one of the pharmaceutical projects in India. There was a consultant in between us and client. Normally, consultants do the designing part of the system themselves; right from choosing automation architecture to mechanical designs. But, here, I got an opportunity to design the whole HVAC automation system myself. Right from choosing PLC, HMI, SCADA, VFD to the communication architecture; the whole work was done by me from start to end. It was a very large system with huge number of IO’s. Challenges in these types of projects come not only in programming side, but also in handling consultants and customers due to huge expectations at this scale. Thankfully, it got commissioned successfully and is working fine.

 

7. I have personally programmed HVAC machines since a long time in Schneider platform. The software used is very simple and easy to use with maximum effect. Can you tell us something about some latest function blocks which have been implemented in the software according to industrial requirements?

In software platform, all the HVAC Application function blocks are built-in; but apart from this we have introduced some additional function blocks like Data Logging, Enthalpy Calculation, Evaporator Temperature Control, Floating High Pressure Control, IEEE754ToWord2, Word2ToIEEE754, Word4ToIEEE754, Word16ToString31, Step Compressor Control (Screw Compressor) etc. When you use the software, you will get a manual of application function blocks. You can read it for more information.   

 

8. What are some latest automation technologies that in HVAC that you would like to say?

I really liked smart AHU systems which have been introduced in recent times. These systems are integrated with IOT. Very large amount of data and analytics are adding fire to this system. Uninterrupted service, optimized use of energy and cost-effective solutions are a key feature of this. I have also seen it with remote monitoring of AHU’s by a team of on-field service engineers through mobile applications.

 

9. I have personally seen the struggle of freshers who thrive to make a mark in industrial automation. Even I have gone through struggles. Would you like to give some advice based on any personal experience or the overall actual scenario of this field, which would help them learn properly?

Industrial automation courses are available more the betterment of freshers. Also, I would like to say that once you pass these courses, don’t stop learning. Be active in social media platforms or search engines regarding new trends and learning in automation, so that you get to learn more things and when you face a interviewer, you would be able to face them more confidently. Never lose your confidence and always learn from mistakes. Do not let go yourself or feel down by mistakes. Also, in this field, you need to have a very good connect with all the key stack holders like consultants, PMC, contractors, end users etc.

 

10. BacNET is the most underrated communication protocol I feel which is used in automation. How do you see the scope of this protocol in future?. This protocol is widely used in HVAC softwares of various automation platforms.

 Yes, Bacnet protocol was developed as per ASHARE standard which is used commonly for HVAC & R machines. Bacnet is designed specifically for building automation systems. It is similar to Ethernet or Modbus TCPIP; but has it’s own advantages. Interconnection between building automation and control systems from multiple vendors are made easier in this. It can also be integrated with existing LAN architectures in a system easily. A recent global study has shown that this protocol is gaining large share in the market and is seeing a very bright future.

 

12. As I am a part of Pinnacle Industrial Controls which is a big system integrator of Schneider Electric in India, what is your overall experience in dealing with this company and how has it helped in expanding the base of Schneider Electric here?

Pinnacle Industrial Controls is focused on different verticals and domains with a vast and talented expertise. We are so happy that they have dedicated teams for all the verticals. They have a high rate of technical competency to fulfil the customer requirements and the main thing I like about them is their uninterrupted service to customers with very less hassles.

 

13. Finally, ending this on a good note, any message for readers in these tough times. Many are going through a bad phase of their careers. Do you have any motivating advises for them to sail out properly?

I always urge readers to move on, learn and achieve good success in his life. There are more negative vibes in these times, but don’t stop yourself and just run for your dreams. Consider this situation as a bad phase of your life. You have enjoyed many good phases in your life. So this is bound to happen and is a part and parcel of life. Learn to deal with it and move ahead in your life.

Thank you.

Thank you Sir for your valuable time. It was a great time talking with you and we got to know more about HVAC automation and it's scope in the future.

Dear readers; if you have any questions, then we would be happy to hear from you and would like to share the knowledge as much as possible.