HVAC Device-to-Sensor Self-Correlation for Automated Zone Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems face challenges in precisely correlating HVAC devices with indoor environment zones, leading to manual errors and inefficient control, as existing methods require significant manpower and are prone to human errors in determining which devices affect which regions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that successively control HVAC devices based on set target temperatures, deactivate or maintain constant parameters for other devices, and use environmental sensors to determine temperature gradients and weight values for precise correlation, allowing the HVAC system to adjust environmental parameters based on sensor data and occupancy information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual correlation methods are used to determine which HVAC devices affect which regions, then the system can be configured, but additional manpower is required and human errors occur leading to wrong correlations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-correlation by automatically determining which HVAC devices affect which environmental sensors through sequential activation and temperature gradient measurement. The HVAC devices and sensors correlate themselves without manual intervention, eliminating human error and reducing configuration effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of correlating devices with regions is replaced by an automated measurement system using environmental sensors to detect temperature gradients. The system uses computational methods to determine correlations based on observed thermal effects rather than manual mapping.
2Measurement precision
If environmental sensors are used to detect temperature gradients for correlation, then precise mapping is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The correlation process is segmented into sequential steps: activating one HVAC device at a time, measuring temperature gradients at multiple sensor locations, and building the correlation matrix incrementally. This segmentation simplifies the overall complex task into manageable individual measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary correlation measurements during a commissioning phase before normal operation begins. Environmental sensors pre-detect temperature gradients while HVAC devices are sequentially activated, establishing the correlation map in advance so that complex control calculations can be performed using stored correlation data during normal operation.
3Loss of information
If HVAC devices are controlled successively with different target temperatures, then accurate correlation data is obtained, but the control time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic activation of HVAC devices in sequence, with each device activated for a predetermined measurement period to collect correlation data. This periodic approach ensures sufficient data is gathered for accurate correlation while limiting the total time required compared to continuous operation.
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 enables more precise control of HVAC systems by accurately mapping HVAC devices to environmental sensors, reducing human error and improving the adjustment of environmental parameters within indoor environments, leading to enhanced thermal comfort and air quality management.
Implementation Method 1
determining whether one or more environmental parameters detected by the respective environmental sensor change, wherein determining whether one or more environmental parameters detected by the respective environmental sensor change includes the environmental sensor detecting a temperature gradient value
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~4
AI summary
Various aspects relate to a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, HVAC, system and a method of controlling a HVAC system, the method including: successively for at least two HVAC devices of a plurality of HVAC devices: controlling the HVAC device in accordance with a set target temperature value which is different from an environmental temperature value, wherein the other HVAC devices of the plurality of HVAC devices are deactivated or running with unvarying running parameters, and for at least two environmental sensors of a plurality of environmental sensors, determining whether environmental parameters detected by the environmental sensor change; correlating at least one environmental sensor to the HVAC devices for which a change of the environmental parameters is determined; and controlling the HVAC system to change at least one environmental parameter associated with the at least one environmental sensor using the HVAC devices correlated with the at least one environmental sensor.