Control techniques in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network based on environmental data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems rely solely on indoor temperature for decision-making, neglecting current and forecasted weather conditions, which can lead to inefficient energy usage and reduced comfort.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC system that gathers current and forecasted weather information via a data bus network, using this data to automatically operate demand units, such as air handlers, furnaces, and compressors, to optimize temperature control and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional HVAC systems rely solely on indoor temperature for decision-making, then the system operation is simple, but energy efficiency deteriorates and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC system performs preliminary actions by gathering forecasted weather information in advance and using it to pre-adjust temperature setpoints and equipment operation schedules. This allows the system to proactively respond to upcoming weather changes rather than reactively responding only to current indoor temperature conditions, thereby improving energy efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control algorithms.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the HVAC system gathers current and forecasted weather information, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary weather data acquisition and processing layer that bridges outdoor environmental conditions and indoor HVAC control. This intermediary layer gathers current and forecasted weather information through sensors and data sources, processes this data to generate optimized temperature setpoints and operation schedules, and then transmits these control parameters to HVAC equipment. This modular approach improves energy efficiency while containing system complexity by separating the weather data processing function from the core HVAC control logic.
3Loss of energy
If the system uses forecasted weather data to control demand units, then operational costs are reduced, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC system implements a multi-functional weather data acquisition module that simultaneously gathers current weather conditions, forecasted weather information, and operational data from multiple sources including outdoor sensors, weather services, and building management systems. This universal data collection capability enables the system to optimize operational costs by processing diverse weather-related inputs through a single integrated control algorithm that adjusts temperature setpoints and equipment schedules, thereby reducing operational costs without significantly increasing measurement and detection difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
An HVAC controller includes (1) an interface coupled to an air quality sensor proximate to the premises and coupled to a data source external to the HVAC system, the interface configured to receive environmental data from both the air quality sensor and the external data source and (2) a processor configured to automatically operate a demand unit of the HVAC system based on the environmental data.