Building management system with infection modes operating using compliance standards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building HVAC systems face challenges in effectively managing infection control without real-time monitoring and analysis of environmental conditions, leading to potential health and safety risks for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that activates an infection control mode by analyzing air quality parameters and determining an infection risk score, adjusting HVAC settings, and implementing interventions such as modifying airflow, filtration, and occupancy levels to comply with infection control standards like ASHRAE or government health standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time monitoring and analysis of environmental conditions is implemented, then infection control effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, air quality), analyzes occupancy levels, determines infection risk scores, and controls HVAC systems all through a single integrated platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby improving infection control effectiveness while limiting the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between environmental sensors, occupancy detectors, and HVAC control systems. It receives data from various sources, processes this information to determine infection risk, and then sends appropriate control signals to HVAC equipment. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the decision-making logic rather than requiring direct complex interactions between all components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If HVAC equipment is operated to meet infection control standards, then indoor air quality and safety are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts HVAC operation based on real-time conditions. The controller continuously monitors environmental parameters and occupancy levels, then modulates HVAC equipment performance accordingly. When infection risk is high, the system increases ventilation and filtration to meet infection control standards. When risk is low, it reduces HVAC intensity to conserve energy. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain good indoor air quality while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters of HVAC equipment based on determined infection risk scores. These parameters include airflow rates, filtration levels, and equipment runtime. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than maintaining constant high-performance operation, the system achieves the dual benefit of maintaining adequate indoor air quality for infection control while reducing energy consumption during lower-risk periods.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring and adjustment of HVAC parameters is performed, then compliance with infection control standards is ensured, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to autonomously perform continuous monitoring of environmental conditions and automatic adjustment of HVAC parameters without requiring manual intervention. The system self-determines infection risk scores based on sensor data and occupancy information, then automatically modifies HVAC operation to maintain compliance with infection control standards. This self-service capability ensures continuous compliance while simplifying operation for building managers who do not need to manually monitor or adjust settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the controller monitors environmental conditions and HVAC performance, compares actual conditions against infection control standards, and automatically adjusts operations to maintain compliance. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the system remains compliant with infection control standards while reducing operational complexity by eliminating the need for manual monitoring and adjustment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and machine-readable storage media for building standard compliance. One system includes a controller including one or more processors configured to receive an activation signal corresponding to an infection control mode (ICM). The one or more processors are further configured to initiate the ICM including activating one or more interventions, wherein the one or more interventions include operating HVAC equipment of the building to meet ICM requirements maintaining an environment corresponding to one or more infection control standards. The one or more processors are further configured to determine an infection risk score based on a performance of the HVAC equipment of the building based on the one or more infection control standards, wherein the infection risk score corresponds to an analysis of an environmental condition of the building and a target environmental condition based on the one or more infection control standards.