Building Load Control With Manual Override and Auto Energy Reset
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load control systems face challenges in automatically managing multiple variables such as lighting intensities, window treatments, and temperature to optimize energy savings, often resulting in unpredictable and disorderly system operation due to non-linear relationships between these variables.
Innovation Solution
A load control system comprising a lighting control device, a daylight control device, and a temperature control device that operate in an energy-savings mode, allowing for automatic reduction of power consumption, with an input control device for manual override and automatic return to energy-savings mode, thereby integrating control of lighting, natural light, and temperature to minimize energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the system operates in automatic energy-savings mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but system predictability and operational control deteriorate due to non-linear relationships between multiple control variables
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control into two distinct modes: automatic energy-savings mode and manual override mode. This segmentation allows the system to achieve energy efficiency through automatic control while providing stability and predictability through manual intervention when needed, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between automatic and manual control modes based on operational needs. The ability to transition between these modes allows the system to optimize energy consumption during normal operation while maintaining stability and predictability when manual override is activated, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides manual override capability for occupant comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but automatic energy savings control is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between automatic energy-savings mode and manual override mode. During periods when manual override is not needed, the system operates automatically to maximize energy savings. When manual intervention is required for comfort adjustments, the system temporarily switches to manual mode, then returns to automatic mode, thus achieving both energy efficiency and ease of operation at different time periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automatic energy-savings control during normal operation, reducing the need for manual intervention. When manual override is activated for comfort adjustments, the system temporarily suspends automatic control, but automatically resumes energy-savings mode after manual intervention ends, balancing automated efficiency with user control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device, a daylight control device, and a temperature control device operable to be controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in an energy-savings mode. The energy-savings mode can be manually overridden in response to actuation of the actuator of an input control device, such that the load control system enters a manual mode for manually adjusting the loads controlled by the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the temperature control device. The load control system is operable to automatically return to the energy-savings mode at a time after the load control system entered the manual mode.