Economizer Control Using Dynamic Outside Air Setpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems with economizers rely on electrical or current load information for telecommunication equipment, which can be unreliable due to equipment relocation, making it difficult to dynamically control temperature effectively without modifying the systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an economizer controller that dynamically adjusts outside air setpoints based on comparisons between outside and inside air temperatures and humidity, allowing for the activation or deactivation of economizers without relying on electrical load information, enabling efficient temperature control within facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If economizer control systems rely on electrical or current load information for telecommunication equipment, then they can monitor energy consumption, but the reliability deteriorates when equipment is relocated outside the facility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the control logic from dependence on electrical load information and relocates the monitoring focus to temperature and humidity measurements. The economizer controller independently determines outside air setpoints based on environmental conditions rather than equipment load data, eliminating the reliability issue caused by equipment relocation while avoiding complex modifications to power plant systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces temperature and humidity measurements as intermediary parameters that mediate between the economizer control and the actual cooling demand. Instead of directly monitoring electrical load, the system uses environmental conditions as intermediaries to infer cooling requirements, providing reliable control regardless of equipment location
2Measurement precision
If systems are modified to monitor energy consuming equipment accurately, then measurement precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to required modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by not trying to improve load measurement precision through modifications, but rather by abandoning load measurements entirely and using temperature/humidity measurements instead. This inversion eliminates the need for system modifications while achieving accurate cooling demand assessment through environmental monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses readily available temperature and humidity sensors instead of complex load monitoring equipment. These simple, inexpensive measurements provide sufficient information for economizer control without requiring expensive or complex modifications to existing HVAC or power monitoring systems
3Ease of operation
If economizers are controlled without electrical load information, then ease of operation improves by avoiding modifications, but the productivity deteriorates due to inability to account for cooling demand
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements feedback control by continuously monitoring inside and outside air temperatures and humidity, then adjusting outside air setpoints based on these measurements. The economizer controller uses this feedback loop to dynamically determine appropriate setpoints that account for actual cooling demand, maintaining effective temperature control without electrical load information
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameters from electrical load information to environmental parameters (temperature and humidity). By measuring and responding to changes in these environmental parameters, the system maintains productive temperature control while achieving ease of operation through avoidance of complex modifications
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a controller of economizers operatively connected to HVAC equipment. The controller is adapted to maintain the temperature within a facility based on inside air setpoints and outside air setpoints. The controller receives inside air temperature readings and compares them to inside air setpoints in order to determine the cooling demand for the facility. The controller also receives outside air temperature readings and compares them to outside air setpoints in order to determine which economizers may be activated. The outside air setpoints may be dynamically adjusted to adapt and meet the cooling demand of the facility. The controller compares the outside air setpoints to predetermined maximum and minimum setpoints in order to determine whether to adjust the outside air setpoints.