HVAC system configuration and zone management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing and modeling complex HVAC systems for commercial buildings is challenging due to the numerous technical requirements and varying climate control needs, leading to non-optimal designs as the number of components increases, making it difficult for engineers to manage technical requirements efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for constructing and configuring HVAC systems by defining HVAC topologies, identifying common elements, and grouping zones with similar properties, using a rules-based engine to determine candidate positions for HVAC components, and automatically updating system configurations based on predefined characteristics and simulation rules, allowing for efficient and flexible design and modeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of HVAC components increases to meet diverse climate control requirements, then the system's adaptability improves, but the design complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building into multiple thermal zones with similar characteristics, allowing each zone to be managed independently while maintaining overall system adaptability. This segmentation reduces design complexity by breaking down the large-scale complex HVAC system into smaller, more manageable zone-level subsystems that can be configured using standardized templates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter-based zone grouping where zones are classified according to their thermal characteristics and climate control requirements. By changing the parameter organization from individual zone management to grouped zone management, the system maintains adaptability while reducing design complexity through standardized parameter sets for each zone group.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of HVAC components increases to meet diverse climate control requirements, then the system's adaptability improves, but the time required for design and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring zone templates with standardized HVAC components and parameters before actual system design. These pre-defined templates contain typical zone configurations that can be quickly selected and modified, significantly reducing the time required to design HVAC systems for buildings with diverse climate control requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by replicating standardized zone templates across multiple thermal zones with similar characteristics. Instead of designing each zone individually, the system copies proven zone configurations and modifies them as needed, dramatically reducing design time while maintaining adaptability to meet diverse climate control requirements.
3Ease of operation
If manual tracking of technical requirements is used, then design flexibility is maintained, but the precision and accuracy of requirement management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through automated software tools that track HVAC component specifications, zone parameters, and climate control requirements. The system provides real-time feedback on component selections and their impact on system performance, ensuring precise requirement tracking while maintaining design flexibility through iterative refinement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tracking methods with computer-based simulation and modeling tools. These digital tools automatically calculate and track technical requirements, component specifications, and system performance metrics with high precision, eliminating the inaccuracies inherent in manual tracking while preserving design flexibility through software-based modification capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for HVAC system design and zone group management are disclosed. A floor plan of a building is received, and an HVAC system configuration is selected from among a set of template HVAC configurations. HVAC components are selected from set of template HVAC components to customize the configuration. As components are selected, candidate positions for the HVAC component within the HVAC system configuration are determined and presented to a user to ensure compliance with engineering requirements. The floor plan includes a mapping of an HVAC system configuration to an HVAC zone group. If a change is made to the HVAC system configuration of a zone associated with a zone group, it is determined if another zone group shares the same properties as the changed HVAC configuration. If one exists, the changes]d zone is moved to the new zone group. If not, a new zone group is created and the changes zone is moved to the new zone group.