Electrochromic Glass Commissioning with Centralized Controller Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling electrochromic glass systems face inefficiencies and errors due to separate databases and organizational structures for up-front configuration, commissioning, and operational control, leading to data loss and inefficient data flow across phases, especially when dealing with varying characteristics of different glass units and controllers.
Innovation Solution
A supervisory control system and database are implemented with a centralized project database that pre-populates and updates mappings between controllers and electrochromic glass units, allowing for automatic configuration and re-configuration based on characteristics, and enables seamless data exchange between manufacturing and customer sites, reducing the need for manual updates and re-wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate databases are used for up-front configuration, commissioning, and operational control, then each phase can be managed independently, but data loss occurs and data flow becomes inefficient across phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate databases for up-front configuration, commissioning, and operational control into a single centralized database. This unified database structure eliminates data loss between phases and ensures continuous data flow, while the database is designed with modular organizational structures that maintain manageability despite the integration of multiple phases.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual updates and re-wiring are performed during commissioning, then controllers can be re-configured for as-built configurations, but errors increase and installation time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of controllers during the up-front design phase, storing all necessary configuration data in the centralized database before installation. During commissioning, the system automatically retrieves and applies these pre-configured settings, eliminating the need for manual re-wiring and re-configuration, thereby maintaining adaptability while significantly improving installation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The commissioning system automatically configures controllers by retrieving data from the centralized database and applying it without requiring manual intervention for data entry or calculation. The system self-adjusts to as-built configurations by comparing expected versus actual installations and automatically correcting controller settings, reducing both errors and installation time.
3Measurement precision
If different configuration parameters are used for various sizes and types of electrically-switchable glass, then each glass unit can be controlled accurately, but the complexity of controller configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized database is designed with a universal configuration structure that can store and manage parameters for multiple glass unit types and sizes using a consistent organizational framework. This universal structure allows the same database and controller to accurately control diverse glass units without requiring separate configuration systems, thereby maintaining control accuracy while reducing overall configuration complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated computerized control system is capable of automating phases of electrochromic glass configuration, commissioning and control using a database synchronized between a provider side (e.g. manufacturer) and a customer side (e.g. installation location). The control system may support an on-site commissioning process that better ensures that each particular piece of electrochromic glass is correctly matched to glass-specific information used to configure a respective controller to control the particular piece of glass having particular characteristics.