Environmental control for HVAC system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems lack efficient energy control mechanisms, requiring frequent updates, hardware modifications, and expertise, leading to high costs and complexity, with combined optimization and hardware logic reducing system reliability and responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
An external application communicates with a building automation system to process real-time HVAC data, generating application data that directs HVAC components to optimized set points, separating energy optimization from hardware control functions and providing redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If optimization logic is integrated into the BAS, then energy efficiency is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to reduced redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments optimization logic into a separate external application module that communicates with the BAS through standardized interfaces. This modular architecture allows the optimization function to be independently developed, tested, and maintained without affecting the core BAS, thereby improving energy efficiency while preserving system reliability through functional separation and redundancy.
2Loss of energy
If complex control functions are added to the BAS, then energy optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An external application serves as an intermediary between the BAS and the complex optimization algorithms. This intermediary layer handles the computational complexity of energy optimization through software modules that communicate with the BAS via standardized protocols, allowing advanced energy management without increasing the inherent complexity of the hardware control system.
3Loss of energy
If hardware modifications are made to implement energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical hardware modifications with software-based optimization solutions. The external application implements energy efficiency algorithms that run on existing BAS hardware, eliminating the need for physical system reconfiguration or specialized installation procedures while achieving the same energy reduction goals.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent updates and repairs are required, then system adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The external application is designed with preliminary configuration capabilities that allow optimization parameters to be pre-configured and tested before deployment. This preliminary setup phase enables the system to adapt to different HVAC configurations without requiring frequent interruptions for reconfiguration, thereby maintaining operational continuity while preserving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling energy consumption in a building having a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) which includes using an external application to perform HVAC energy consumption optimization algorithms and other external energy control functions and transmit application control data to a building automation system (BAS), which in turn provides hardware level equipment control for the HVAC system. The external application evaluates equipment data received from the HVAC system by way of the BAS and processes these equipment data to provide application control data back to the BAS. The application control data are calculated to achieve a desired operating efficiency for the HVAC system.