BMS Sensor Fault Diagnostics Using Historical Data Substitution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building management systems face downtime due to sensor faults in building subsystems, leading to inconsistent data and productivity losses, as existing solutions do not effectively address the issue of faulty sensor data in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A sensor management system that includes a historical data repository and a sensor diagnostic system, which automatically detects faults in sensor data and replaces it with historical data that matches the conditions of the faulty sensor, ensuring continuous operation of building subsystems by providing supplemental sensor data to the building management system controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sensor data is used from faulty sensors, then the building management system can operate, but the data becomes inconsistent and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting sensor faults and replacing data before the faulty data can cause system problems. The fault detection and data replacement occurs proactively, preventing inconsistent data from reaching the building management system controller, thus maintaining both productivity and reliability.
2Reliability
If faulty sensors are replaced immediately, then data consistency is maintained, but system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of historical sensor data to replace faulty sensor data in real-time. By copying and substituting data from the historical repository, the system maintains continuous operation without needing to physically replace the sensor, thus eliminating downtime while ensuring data consistency through the use of validated historical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The historical data repository acts as an intermediary between the faulty sensor and the building management system controller. When a sensor fault is detected, the system retrieves substitute data from this intermediary repository, allowing the system to continue operating with reliable data without immediate sensor replacement.
3Reliability
If real-time sensor monitoring is implemented, then faults are detected quickly, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor diagnostic system performs self-service by automatically detecting faults, retrieving substitute data from the historical repository, and replacing faulty data without human intervention. This automation reduces the perceived complexity for operators while maintaining high reliability through continuous self-monitoring and self-correction.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor management system includes a historical data repository, a building management system (BMS) controller, and a sensor diagnostics system. The historical data repository may store historical data by a plurality of sensors. The BMS controller may control one or more components of a building subsystem based on data provided by one or more sensors. The sensor diagnostic system may receive, from a sensor, sensor data. The sensor diagnostic system may determine at least one fault in the sensor data. The sensor diagnostic system may select, from the historical data repository, substitute sensor data for the sensor based on a comparison of one or more attributes of the sensor data and one or more attributes of the historical data in the data repository. The sensor diagnostic system may provide, in replacement of the sensor data from the sensor, the supplemental sensor data to the BMS controller.