Elevator Sectoring for Peak Traffic Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face inefficiencies during peak hours due to multiple stops at various floors, leading to increased travel time and operational challenges in servicing every floor effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dividing the elevator operational route into sectors based on contiguous or non-contiguous floors, assigning specific elevator cars to each sector in response to time, traffic density, and peak traffic conditions, allowing for direct transport to exit or other floors, and dynamically adjusting sector boundaries and elevator car assignments to optimize service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elevator cars service every floor throughout the building, then all floors receive elevator service, but travel time increases and productivity decreases during peak hours
Solution Approach 1:
The building floors are divided into multiple sectors (e.g., upper sector, lower sector, mid sector) with each elevator car assigned to serve specific sectors rather than all floors. This segmentation allows elevators to operate more efficiently within their designated sectors during peak hours while still providing comprehensive building coverage through coordinated sector assignments.
2Ease of operation
If elevator cars make multiple stops at various floors, then all passenger requests are serviced, but travel time increases and speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the building into sectors and assigning elevators to specific sectors, each elevator makes fewer stops within its designated sector compared to serving all floors. This reduces overall travel time and increases effective speed while maintaining passenger service quality through coordinated sector coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different elevators are assigned to different sectors based on local traffic patterns and demand. This allows optimization of stop patterns and travel routes for each sector's specific needs, improving speed and efficiency while still fulfilling all passenger requests across the building.
3Ease of operation
If elevator cars serve all floors during peak hours, then comprehensive coverage is maintained, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented to manage different sectors independently, with each elevator car having a defined sector assignment. This simplifies the coordination complexity compared to managing all-elevator, all-floor assignments dynamically, while still achieving comprehensive building coverage through coordinated sector operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a building elevator system within a building having a plurality of floors including: controlling a building elevator system comprising a first elevator system having a first elevator car and a second elevator system having a second elevator car; determining one or more sectors for the plurality of floors in response to at least one of a time of day, manual input, a density of the down peak traffic, and whether there is simultaneous up peak or inter-floor traffic, the one or more sectors comprising a first sector having a first plurality of floors and a second sector having a second plurality of floors; assigning the first elevator car to the first sector; and assigning the second elevator car to the second sector.