Dynamic Building Control System for Energy and Flexibility Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control systems for managing energy consumption in buildings are inflexible and unable to effectively accommodate changing business operations and environmental conditions, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising determining components that establish business rules for environments and send signals to associated assets to enforce these rules, optimizing energy usage and maintenance through a Building Management System (BMS) or Energy Management System (EMS) connection, using a virtual audit tool for predictive analysis and asset optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional control systems with timers and scheduling mechanisms are used to automatically activate or deactivate assets, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system becomes inflexible and cannot effectively accommodate changing business operations and schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The control system transitions from static timer-based scheduling to dynamic adaptive control that continuously monitors environmental conditions and automatically adjusts asset operation parameters. The system dynamically modifies activation/deactivation times and operational settings based on real-time sensor data, business rule changes, and environmental variations, enabling both energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (timing, temperature thresholds, humidity levels, equipment settings) based on detected environmental conditions and business requirements. Rather than fixed schedules, parameters are continuously adjusted according to sensor readings and updated business rules, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If system parameter options and customer service representative intervention are added to address inflexibility, then adaptability improves, but system complexity and difficulty of utilization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically detects environmental conditions, interprets business rules, and adjusts asset parameters without requiring manual configuration or customer service intervention. The system self-configures by monitoring sensors, comparing readings against business rules, and autonomously modifying operational parameters, eliminating the need for complex manual setup while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors environmental conditions through sensors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust asset operation. Business rules provide the feedback mechanism that translates environmental data into control decisions, enabling the system to adapt flexibly without complex manual configuration or human intervention.
3Productivity
If control systems track and manage individual unit parameters, then individual asset performance is optimized, but entire building system optimization of multiple units operating in tandem remains unaddressed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system merges individual asset control with building-wide system optimization by coordinating operation across multiple assets. Rather than independently managing each unit, the system integrates control of heating, cooling, lighting, and other assets based on overall building environmental conditions and business rules, achieving system-level energy efficiency while maintaining individual asset performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors and controls individual asset parameters while also optimizing overall building system performance. The same control architecture manages both unit-level and building-level objectives, enabling dual optimization without requiring separate systems.
4Device complexity
If traditional control systems are used without environmental sensing, then system simplicity is maintained, but the ability to accurately materialize desired environment settings is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Environmental sensors serve as intermediaries between the control system and the physical environment, providing real-time data about temperature, humidity, and other conditions. This intermediary layer enables the control system to accurately perceive environmental state and make informed adjustments, achieving reliable environment control without significantly increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Included are embodiments for parameter standardization. At least one embodiment of a system includes a first determining component configured to determine at least one business rule associated with at least one environment and a second determining component configured to determine settings for a plurality of assets associated with the at least one environment to enforce the determined at least one business rule. Some embodiments include a sending component configured to send a signal to the plurality of assets to implement the business rule.