HVAC Fault Diagnosis Using Control Logic and Operational Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the cause of faults in HVAC systems is a difficult, costly, and time-consuming process, often requiring physical presence of technicians and being complicated by faults occurring at different locations within the facility.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor and memory that receives operational data and control logic to remotely determine the cause of faults in HVAC systems, allowing for remote diagnosis and correction, automatic fault detection, and prediction of future faults, reducing the need for physical presence and minimizing false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technicians physically travel to the facility to determine the cause of faults, then accurate fault diagnosis can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model (digital twin) of the HVAC system that replicates the physical system's behavior. This virtual model allows technicians to diagnose faults remotely by analyzing simulated operational data, eliminating the need for physical travel while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through the copied system representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote diagnostic system as an intermediary between the physical HVAC system and the technician. This intermediary collects, processes, and analyzes operational data from the HVAC system, presenting processed information to the technician that enables accurate fault diagnosis without requiring physical presence at the facility.
2Measurement precision
If technicians physically travel to the facility to determine the cause of faults, then accurate fault diagnosis can be achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual model replicates the HVAC system's operational characteristics, allowing technicians to perform comprehensive diagnostics remotely. This copying approach eliminates the need for technician travel while maintaining the ability to accurately identify fault causes through analysis of the virtual system's behavior under various conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-diagnostic capabilities by automatically collecting, processing, and analyzing operational data from the HVAC system. The remote diagnostic platform allows technicians to independently determine fault causes using processed information from the virtual model, eliminating the need for expensive on-site visits while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
3Ease of repair
If technicians are dispatched to facilities, then faults can be addressed, but the complexity of HVAC systems makes it difficult to locate the actual fault source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex HVAC system into distinct functional components within the virtual model, each representing specific subsystems or equipment. This segmentation allows technicians to isolate and analyze individual components for faults, making the diagnostic process more manageable despite the overall system complexity by breaking it down into analyzable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual model creates an accurate replica of the complex HVAC system, preserving all operational relationships and interactions. This copied representation allows technicians to trace fault propagation through the virtual system, identifying the actual fault source even in complex scenarios where the fault location differs from where symptoms manifest in the physical system.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods, and systems for determining the cause of a fault in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive operational data associated with an HVAC system, receive control logic associated with a controller of the HVAC system, determine a cause of a fault occurring in the HVAC system based, at least in part, on the operational data associated with the HVAC system and the control logic of the controller of the HVAC system, and provide the cause of the fault occurring in the HVAC system to a user.