Systems and methods for flow control in an HVAC system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems (BMS) and HVAC systems often operate inefficiently, leading to energy waste by failing to effectively control the flow of fluid through heating or cooling coils, which results in suboptimal energy usage and increased demand on devices like chillers and boilers.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic model-based approach is implemented to determine a maximum flow rate that ensures a temperature change across the coil remains above a threshold, using temperature and flow measurements to control the valve operation, thereby conserving energy and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the flow rate through the coil is increased to improve heating or cooling capacity, then the power consumption of pumps and HVAC devices increases, but the temperature change across the coil decreases below the threshold reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow rate through the coil based on real-time temperature measurements and system conditions. The flow rate is modulated to maintain the temperature change across the coil above a threshold value, optimizing energy efficiency while meeting heating or cooling demands. This dynamic control prevents both excessive flow (which wastes energy) and insufficient flow (which reduces capacity).
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter dynamically to optimize performance. By adjusting the flow rate based on temperature differential thresholds and system conditions, the patent achieves optimal balance between heating/cooling capacity and energy efficiency, preventing energy waste from excessive flow while maintaining adequate capacity.
2Productivity
If the flow rate is increased to meet heating or cooling demands, then the demand on chillers and boilers increases, but energy waste increases due to suboptimal flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from temperature sensors at the coil inlet and outlet to continuously monitor the temperature change across the coil. This feedback is used to adjust the flow rate through the coil, ensuring that heating or cooling demands are met while preventing energy waste from suboptimal flow conditions. The feedback loop maintains efficient operation by adapting flow rate to actual system needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system self-regulates the flow rate through the coil based on measured temperature differentials and system conditions. By using embedded sensors and control logic, the system automatically adjusts flow to optimize energy efficiency while meeting heating or cooling demands, eliminating the need for external optimization and reducing energy waste from manual or fixed flow control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach leads to energy savings by optimizing the flow rate, reducing the power consumption of pumps and HVAC devices, and maintaining efficient heating and cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a coil that facilitates heating or cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling flow in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that imposes an upper limit on the flow of fluid through a heating or cooling coil. Imposing this limit on the flow rate ensures that a temperature change across the coil remains above a minimum threshold and can significantly reduce energy waste. The method includes receiving a first temperature measurement associated with an inlet of the coil, receiving a second temperature measurement associated with an outlet of the coil, and receiving a flow measurement associated with the valve, applying the first temperature measurement, the second temperature measurement, and the flow measurement as input to a model, determining a maximum flow rate that ensures that a difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement is above a threshold using the model, and operating the valve in accordance with the maximum flow rate.