Wireless HVAC Sensor Network for Power-Aware Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC control systems face challenges in achieving a balance between human comfort and energy efficiency due to high computational complexity and power constraints, particularly in distributed wireless sensing and control networks, which limit the scalability and effectiveness of energy-saving strategies.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system comprising a network of wirelessly communicating sensing microsystems, each equipped with a temperature sensor and processor, that apportions shared computational tasks based on available power, using power management circuits to optimize energy usage and distribute loads among multiple sensing units, allowing for efficient control of HVAC systems while maintaining comfort and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If computational tasks for HVAC control optimization are performed using distributed sensing microsystems, then energy efficiency and comfort optimization can be achieved, but the computational complexity and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the HVAC control optimization into separate functional segments: distributed sensing microsystems perform local environmental monitoring and data collection, while a centralized server or cloud platform performs the computationally intensive multidimensional feedback control optimization algorithms. This segmentation allows each component to operate within its power and computational constraints while achieving overall system optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication network acts as an intermediary between the battery-powered sensing microsystems and the centralized computational server. The sensing microsystems transmit collected environmental data through this intermediary to the server, which processes the optimization algorithms and returns control commands, thereby eliminating the need for high computational power at the distributed sensing nodes.
2Measurement precision
If more sensing microsystems are deployed in the distributed network, then measurement coverage and control precision improve, but system complexity and power management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple distributed sensing microsystems are merged into a unified network managed by a centralized server. The server aggregates environmental data from all sensing nodes, performs comprehensive multidimensional optimization considering all inputs simultaneously, and coordinates control commands across the HVAC system. This merging approach maintains high measurement precision through multiple sensors while centralizing complexity management.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized server provides universal functionality for the entire distributed sensing network, handling data collection, processing, optimization algorithm execution, and control command distribution for all sensing microsystems. This universal platform simplifies individual node design and reduces overall system complexity by consolidating management functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for controlling one or more HVAC systems using a distributed arrangement of wirelessly connected sensing microsystems are described. A plurality of wirelessly communicating sensing microsystems is provided, each sensing microsystem including a temperature sensor and a processor, at least one of the sensing microsystems being coupled to an HVAC unit for control thereof. The plurality of sensing microsystems is configured to jointly carry out at least one shared computational task associated with control of the HVAC unit. Each sensing microsystem includes a power management circuit configured to determine an amount of electrical power available for dedication to the at least one shared computational task. The at least one shared computational task is apportioned among respective ones of the plurality of sensing microsystems according to the amount of electrical power determined to be available for dedication thereto at each respective sensing microsystem.