Adaptive Safety Controller for Actuator Safe Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety controllers for actuating drives in ventilation and water-pipe systems are inflexible in responding to electrical power failures, potentially leading to suboptimal positioning of flaps or valves during fires, which can result in increased damage to buildings and people.
Innovation Solution
A safety controller with a setpoint output circuit that adapts the safe position based on variable state signals, such as sensor data or installation parameters, using a capacitive energy store to move the actuator to a predetermined safe position during power failures, allowing for flexible and dynamic control of gas or liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed safe position is predetermined for the actuator during power failures, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the adaptability to different fire scenarios and environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-determines multiple safe setpoints corresponding to different scenarios (fire detection, smoke concentration levels, environmental conditions) and stores them in memory before a power failure occurs. When power is restored or during a failure, the controller can quickly select the appropriate pre-calculated setpoint based on current sensor inputs, avoiding complex real-time calculations during emergency conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The safe setpoint is made dynamic rather than fixed. The controller continuously monitors sensor signals (smoke detectors, temperature sensors, flow meters) and adjusts the safe setpoint accordingly. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions such as varying smoke concentrations, temperature levels, and flow rates, optimizing the safe position for different fire scenarios.
2Reliability
If the actuator is moved to a fixed closed position during power failures, then fire propagation is prevented, but smoke gas removal is compromised when large amounts of smoke are developed
Solution Approach 1:
The controller changes the safe setpoint parameter based on smoke concentration levels and environmental conditions. For low smoke concentrations, the safe setpoint may correspond to a closed position to prevent fire propagation. For high smoke concentrations, the safe setpoint is adjusted to a partially open or fully open position to facilitate smoke removal, while still maintaining fire safety through controlled positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from smoke detectors, temperature sensors, and flow meters to continuously monitor the actual conditions. This feedback is used to adjust the safe setpoint dynamically, ensuring that the actuator position optimally balances fire protection and smoke removal requirements based on real-time environmental data.
3Ease of manufacture
If a capacitor is used to power the actuator during electrical failures, then the energy storage requirement is reduced compared to batteries, but the control flexibility for positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-calculates and stores multiple safe setpoints corresponding to different positioning options (fully closed, partially open at various angles, fully open) before a power failure occurs. The capacitor provides sufficient energy to move the actuator to one of these pre-determined positions, and the controller selects the appropriate pre-calculated setpoint based on current sensor inputs, maintaining positioning flexibility despite the limited energy storage of the capacitor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adaptive safety controller minimizes damage by dynamically adjusting the actuator's position in response to changing conditions, optimizing the flow of gas or liquid to prevent fire propagation and ensure safety during power outages.
Implementation Method 1
A safety circuit is designed to use the energy stored in the capacitor to close the flap or the valve in the event of an electrical power failure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety controller for an actuating drive (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) for controlling a gas flow or a liquid flow in an open-loop or closed-loop manner by means of a flap (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) or a valve, in particular in the field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, fire-protection systems, and/or room protection systems. A safety circuit (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) is implemented to ensure the energy supply in a safety operating mode if an electricity supply circuit (8.1, 8.2, 8.3) drops off or is lost. A control value output circuit (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) detects status signals, in particular signals of a sensor (11.1, 11.2, 11.3), and/or status parameters of a system and/or a specifiable setting of an adjustment device that can be actuated manually. The safety control value is set to one of at least two different control values (SW1, SW2, . . . ) depending on the status signals so that the safety position of the flap is determined adaptively.