Hydronic building systems control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building control systems face challenges in reducing energy consumption, particularly in commercial and residential buildings, due to market fragmentation, high costs, and lack of incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, leading to inefficient HVAC systems that consume excessive energy and negatively impact occupant comfort and safety.
Innovation Solution
The Hydronic Building Systems Control (HBSC) is a low-cost, software-based control system that integrates traditional and renewable hydronic system components for heating, cooling, and hot water, using commodity hardware and BACnet protocol to provide interoperability and optimize energy efficiency, addressing the limitations of forced air systems and hydronic control technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional building control systems are used, then system compatibility and ease of installation are maintained, but energy consumption remains high and occupant comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into multiple independent modules: a controller module with processor and memory, sensor modules for environmental monitoring, actuator modules for system control, and communication modules for data exchange. Each module operates semi-independently, allowing the system to achieve advanced energy management through coordinated module interactions without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed as a universal platform capable of managing diverse building systems including HVAC, lighting, and security. The system integrates multiple functions within a single control architecture, enabling it to optimize energy consumption across different building subsystems while maintaining compatibility with various existing equipment through standardized communication protocols.
2Loss of energy
If advanced hydronic control systems are implemented, then energy efficiency is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and occupancy through integrated sensors, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust hydronic system operations. The controller processes sensor data in real-time and modifies actuator commands to optimize energy efficiency, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing building conditions without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates automated decision-making capabilities that allow it to self-regulate hydronic system operations based on pre-programmed algorithms and real-time sensor inputs. The controller autonomously determines optimal setpoints and actuator positions, reducing the need for manual control and simplifying system operation despite the underlying complexity of the hydronic infrastructure.
3Productivity
If building control innovations are deployed, then energy savings are achieved, but market adoption is hindered by cost sensitivity and difficulty of quantifying benefits
Solution Approach 1:
The system serves as an intermediary layer between existing building infrastructure and energy management objectives, translating simple environmental sensor inputs into coordinated control actions across multiple building systems. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve energy savings without requiring complete replacement of existing equipment, thereby reducing implementation costs and facilitating market adoption.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as temperature setpoints, flow rates, and equipment scheduling based on real-time building conditions and energy optimization algorithms. By continuously optimizing these parameters, the system achieves measurable energy savings that can be quantified and demonstrated to stakeholders, addressing the market barrier of difficulty in quantifying benefits.
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
HBSC achieves significant energy savings by optimizing hydronic system performance, improving occupant comfort and safety, reducing energy consumption by up to 50%, and lowering operational costs, while enhancing market adoption of ground source heat pumps and solar thermal technologies.
Implementation Method 1
hydronic coil-to-air heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
thermally-conductive structure
Implementation Method 3
applying a temperature variable liquid coolant
Implementation Method 4
thermally-conductive structure, such as a building floor, wall, or ceiling
Implementation Method 5
means for sensing at least the air temperature in the air space, a relative humidity of the air space
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling heating and cooling in a conditioned space utilizes a fluid circulating in a thermally conductive structure in fluid connection with a hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and a ground heat exchanger. Air is moved past the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger, the air having fresh air supply and stale air exhaust. Sensors located throughout the conditioned space send data to a controller. User input to the controller sets the desired set point temperature and humidity. Based upon the set point temperature and humidity and sensor data, the controller sends signals to various devices to manipulate the flow of the fluid and the air in order to achieve the desired set point temperature and humidity in the conditioned space. The temperature of the fluid is kept less than the dew point at the hydronic-to-air heat exchanger and the temperature of the fluid is kept greater than the dew point at the thermally conductive structure.