Methods and systems for controlling an HVAC system to identify energy usage under different control strategies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems lack effective methods to demonstrate and quantify energy savings resulting from changes in control parameters, making it difficult to optimize energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calculate and display the thermal energy delivered by Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes in an HVAC system, using sensors to gather data on discharge air flow rate, discharge air temperature, space air temperature, and supply air temperature, allowing for comparison of energy efficiency under different control parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If HVAC control parameters are adjusted to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but it becomes difficult to quantify and demonstrate the actual energy savings
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously measuring thermal energy delivery using temperature sensors and flow meters, comparing actual performance against baseline values, and displaying the results to facility managers. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables quantification of energy savings achieved from control parameter adjustments, directly resolving the information loss problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual energy auditing and estimation methods with automated electronic sensing and calculation systems. Temperature sensors, flow meters, and processors automatically measure and compute thermal energy delivery, substituting mechanical/manual measurement approaches with electronic systems that provide precise, real-time energy savings data.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and measurement devices are installed to measure thermal energy delivery, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using a single integrated platform that combines temperature sensors, flow meters, processors, and display interfaces. This universal system simultaneously performs multiple functions: measuring supply and return temperatures, measuring air flow rate, calculating thermal energy delivery, storing baseline data, and displaying results - thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple measurement and control functions into an integrated system. The processor combines data from temperature sensors and flow meters to simultaneously calculate both instantaneous thermal energy delivery and cumulative energy savings. This merging of functions reduces the complexity that would arise from separate independent systems for each measurement function.
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
This approach enables facility managers to visually assess and quantify the energy savings achieved by adjusting HVAC control parameters, facilitating data-driven decisions to optimize energy efficiency and reduce consumption.
Implementation Method 1
determining a measure of thermal energy delivered by the VAV box to the space based at least in part on three or more of the VAV discharge flow rate, the VAV discharge air temperature, the space air temperature and the AHU supply air temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a measure of thermal energy delivered via a VAV box includes receiving an AHU supply air temperature, a VAV discharge air temperature, a space air temperature, and a VAV discharge flow rate. The measure of thermal energy delivered by the VAV box to the space during the first period of time is determined based at least in part on three or more of the received parameters. The determined measure of thermal energy delivered by the VAV box and a determined measure of thermal energy delivered by each of a plurality of other VAV boxes of the facility are aggregated over the first period of time, resulting in an aggregated measure of thermal energy. This may be used to adjust one or more control parameters to achieve a desired balance of energy consumption versus comfort, energy and/or health.