Stone Virtual Loop is the CAREL simulator that creates virtual models of real thermodynamic units, replicating their behaviour and interactions within a system, using digital twin technology. 

The tool integrates perfectly into the STone ecosystem, revolutionising one of the critical phases in the development of new HVAC/R units.  
Stone Virtual Loop allows developers to test the software application using a digital model of an actual unit in the field, such as a heat pump, chiller or rooftop, without needing to create a physical environment, often a complex and inefficient process.

This technology involves creating a digital copy that replicates the operating conditions and responses of the simulated unit, with numerous advantages. 

It makes the development process significantly faster by allowing developers to test logic and user interfaces in real time. In a safe, simulated environment, any issues or inefficiencies can be identified and corrected before actual deployment in the field. Software debugging and testing are thus faster and more intuitive, eliminating the need for complex set-ups or special labs.

It also ensures greater flexibility, as any changes can be implemented, tested and validated as part of an agile development process. Moreover, the tool itself becomes a means for software developers to continuously learn how the unit functions, making it easier for new team members to come on board and quickly align the skills of the company’s support and maintenance teams. 

It reduces project costs by making the entire development process more efficient and cost-effective, allowing validation tests to be performed on the application even without a real working unit, thus saving on costs relating to the lab and unit prototypes for testing. Development times for new unit projects are faster with less risk of errors and malfunctions, thus improving the reliability and quality of the end product.

The tool is seamlessly integrated into electronic controllers, either physical (e.g. c.pCO, pYC, pCO5+HS) or virtual, such as STone Simula. STone Virtual Loop creates physical values as the system output, based on a mathematical model. The electronic controller receives the values as inputs, executes the response by the software code, and manages the actuators based on the control logic. STone Virtual Loop then updates the values based on the effect due to the actuators, creating a continuous system loop.

In a market where speed and innovation are key aspects, STone Virtual Loop offers a significant competitive advantage for CAREL and its customers: an unprecedented level of control and flexibility. The control logic can be optimised in a safe and risk-free virtual environment, trying out different configurations and operating strategies before final implementation.