Coordinated control of HVAC system using aggregated system demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems often operate with fixed or weather-compensated setpoints, leading to deviations in heating/cooling capacity from building demand, resulting in increased energy consumption and costs due to unnecessary high authority production and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a coordination module and controller that determines an aggregated thermal demand and adjusts operational setpoints for HVAC components, such as capacity generation plants, fluid circulation pumps, and ventilation equipment, to optimize energy usage based on real-time building conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fixed or weather-compensated setpoints are used for HVAC equipment, then the system operation is simple, but the heating/cooling capacity deviates from building demand resulting in increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives operational data from terminal units (such as valve positions, flow rates, and temperature deviations) and uses this information to dynamically adjust HVAC equipment setpoints. This closed-loop control ensures heating/cooling capacity matches actual building demand, reducing energy consumption while maintaining acceptable control system complexity through automated feedback processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed or weather-compensated setpoints to dynamic setpoints that automatically adjust based on real-time building conditions. The controller continuously modifies equipment operational parameters (such as chiller temperature setpoints and boiler supply temperatures) according to actual thermal demand signals from terminal units, enabling the system to adapt to changing building requirements and optimize energy usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high authority is maintained in capacity production and distribution system, then building comfort is reliably maintained, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the authority level of capacity production and distribution based on actual building demand. During periods of low demand, the system reduces authority by lowering equipment capacity and adjusting distribution parameters, thereby reducing energy consumption. During high demand periods, authority is automatically increased to maintain building comfort, achieving an optimal balance between energy efficiency and comfort reliability throughout the day.
3Use of energy by moving object
If weather-compensated setpoints are used, then some adaptation to outdoor conditions is achieved, but capacity deviations from building demand persist resulting in unnecessary energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system enhances weather-compensated control by adding feedback from terminal units that directly measure actual building thermal demand. This feedback loop provides real-time information about whether the weather-compensated setpoints are adequate or need adjustment, enabling the controller to fine-tune equipment operations to match actual building requirements rather than relying solely on outdoor temperature correlations, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that reconciles weather-compensated setpoints with actual building demand signals from terminal units. It processes both weather data and terminal unit feedback, combining these inputs to determine optimal equipment setpoints that account for both outdoor conditions and internal building requirements, achieving better adaptability and energy efficiency than weather-compensated control alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC components operably associated with one or more terminal units is provided. The control system includes a coordination module and a controller having a processor and a memory, the controller operably associated with the coordination module and in signal communication with the plurality of HVAC components. The controller is configured to determine an aggregated thermal demand of the HVAC system, determine, with the coordination module, an operational setpoint for at least one HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components based on the determined aggregated thermal demand, and send a signal indicative of each determined operational setpoint to each associated HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components.