HVAC boiler controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Previous HVAC systems, including boilers, operate on a reactive control basis, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in controlling facility environments due to reliance on outdoor temperature sensors, which can be unreliable and slow to adjust to changing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A predictive HVAC boiler controller that uses a weather forecast and current outdoor temperature, rather than solely relying on local sensors, to anticipate and adjust set points, reducing energy consumption and improving control efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If reactive control based on current outdoor temperature is used, then the system responds to existing conditions, but the response time is long and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using weather forecasts to predict future outdoor temperatures and pre-adjusts the boiler set point before the actual temperature change occurs. This allows the HVAC system to anticipate environmental changes and respond proactively rather than reactively, reducing both response time and energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary heating cycles.
2Reliability
If outdoor temperature sensor is used for control, then the system can sense current conditions, but the sensor may be inaccurate or unreliable due to wiring issues, electromagnetic interference, or sensor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary element (weather forecast service) that provides temperature information without requiring direct physical sensing at the HVAC location. This intermediary source delivers accurate outdoor temperature predictions through wireless communication, eliminating the problems associated with local temperature sensors such as wiring issues, electromagnetic interference, and sensor failures.
3Measurement precision
If local outdoor temperature sensor is used, then the system can detect current temperature, but lengthy wiring and electromagnetic interference affect accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical wiring-based temperature sensing system with an electronic/wireless information delivery system. Instead of using physical temperature sensors connected through lengthy wiring that are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, the system uses wireless communication to receive temperature forecast data from external sources, thereby eliminating wiring complexity and improving measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) boiler controller is described herein. One HVAC boiler controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive a weather forecast for an area in which the boiler of the HVAC system is located, receive a current outdoor temperature, determine a set point of the boiler based, at least in part, on the received weather forecast and the received current outdoor temperature, and adjust the set point of the boiler to the determined set point.