Chiller system with efficiency estimation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems face challenges in determining chiller efficiency due to the lack of appropriate physical metering, which hinders energy management and increases energy consumption, as chillers often do not have necessary meters to measure consumption and output effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes processors and computer-readable media to determine the availability of sensors, estimate sensor values using modelled relationships, calculate enthalpy points, and assess chiller efficiency, allowing for adjustments in chiller operation based on efficiency calculations, even when some sensors are unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical meters are installed to measure chiller consumption and output, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the missing sensor data through mathematical modeling. Instead of installing physical sensors, the system uses available sensor data combined with thermodynamic models to generate estimated readings that replicate what a physical sensor would measure, thereby achieving measurement precision without the complexity of additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement system with an information-processing system. Rather than using physical meters and sensors to directly measure chiller parameters, the system substitutes computational models that process available data to derive efficiency metrics, eliminating the need for complex physical instrumentation
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed to ensure complete data availability, then reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for potential sensor failures in advance by implementing a fallback mechanism. When sensor data is unavailable, the system automatically switches to using thermodynamic models and available data to estimate missing values, ensuring continuous reliability without requiring redundant physical sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing sensors serve multiple functions. The available sensors not only provide their primary measurements but also serve as input data for thermodynamic models that estimate missing sensor readings, thereby maximizing the utility of existing hardware without adding complexity
3Ease of operation
If sensor data is used without validation, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to unavailable or inaccurate data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors data quality and sensor availability. The system checks whether required sensor data is present and valid before proceeding with efficiency calculations, and automatically adjusts its approach based on the quality of available data, thereby maintaining precision without complicating operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the efficiency calculation process dynamic and adaptive. Rather than using a fixed calculation method, the system flexibly switches between different approaches (direct calculation vs. model-based estimation) depending on sensor availability and data quality, optimizing both ease of operation and measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes processing circuitry programmed to perform operations. The operations include determining whether a first sensor is available at a chiller. The first sensor includes a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor of the chiller. The operations include, responsive to determining that the first sensor is unavailable, determining an estimated value for the first sensor based on measurements from available sensors of the chiller (where the available sensors include at least one of an available temperature sensor or an available pressure sensor of the chiller), determining a plurality of enthalpy points using the estimated value for the first sensor and the measurements from the available sensors, and determining an efficiency of the chiller based on the plurality of enthalpy points. The operations also include affecting an operation of the chiller based on the efficiency.