HVAC Controller with Integrated Airside-Waterside Cost Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems optimize airside and waterside systems separately, leading to suboptimal performance due to lack of integration and awareness of energy storage/generation capabilities, resulting in increased complexity and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A predictive cost optimization system that integrates airside and waterside optimization processes within a single HVAC controller, using a unified optimization framework to determine control outputs for both systems simultaneously, considering temperature constraints and resource production/consumption relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If airside and waterside optimization are performed separately using a cascaded approach, then the optimization process is simpler to implement, but the system performance becomes suboptimal due to lack of integration and awareness of energy storage/generation capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate airside and waterside optimization processes into a single integrated optimization framework. The HVAC controller now simultaneously optimizes both airside components (AHUs, fans, dampers) and waterside components (chillers, boilers, pumps) by formulating a unified cost function that considers energy consumption from both systems, enabling the airside system to awareness of waterside energy storage and generation capabilities.
2Productivity
If integrated airside/waterside optimization is implemented, then system efficiency and cost optimization improve, but the optimization problem complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the complex non-linear optimization problem into a more manageable form by changing parameters and making reasonable assumptions. The cost function is formulated to include energy consumption parameters from both airside and waterside systems, and the optimization is performed over a prediction horizon with discrete time steps, converting a continuous complex problem into a discrete parameter optimization that can be solved efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optimization problem is segmented into manageable components: the cost function is divided into airside energy consumption, waterside energy consumption, and thermal energy storage components; the system is divided into controllable variables (airside flows, waterside temperatures) and constrained variables (building thermal dynamics). This segmentation allows the complex problem to be solved through structured optimization algorithms.
3Ease of operation
If the airside system operates without awareness of waterside energy storage capabilities, then the control strategy is simpler, but the initial airside optimization becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated optimization framework establishes feedback loops where the airside optimization considers the state and capabilities of the waterside energy storage system. The controller uses real-time measurements of building thermal state, water temperature, and energy consumption to dynamically adjust both airside and waterside operations, allowing the airside system to respond to waterside energy availability and optimize its operation accordingly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A building (10) HVAC system (100) includes a waterside system (120; 200) and an airside system (130; 300). The waterside system (120; 200) consumes one or more resources from utility providers to generate a heated and/or chilled fluid. The airside system (130; 300) uses the heated and/or chilled fluid to heat and/or cool a supply airflow provided to the building (10). A HVAC controller (402) performs an integrated airside/waterside optimization process to simultaneously determine control outputs for both the waterside system (120; 200) and the airside system (130; 300). The optimization process includes optimizing a predictive cost model that predicts the cost of the resources consumed by the HVAC system (100), subject to a set of optimization constraints including temperature constraints for the building (10). The HVAC controller (402) uses the determined control outputs to control the HVAC equipment of the waterside system (120; 200) and the airside system (130; 300).