Central Plant Modeling Rules for Valid Resource and Storage Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to optimally allocate energy loads across the assets of a central plant and design an efficient central plant configuration, particularly in managing energy storage and resource distribution under real-time pricing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system with a user interface and set of rules that allows users to model and simulate central plant operations, including resource suppliers, subplants, energy loads, and storage devices, to optimize energy distribution and resource allocation, using a computing device to provide insights for efficient central plant design and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are allowed to create free-form connections between all symbols in the modeling interface, then the flexibility and ease of model creation is improved, but the risk of creating invalid or incorrect plant configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to users as they create connections between symbols. The interface evaluates each connection attempt against predefined plant configuration rules and immediately indicates whether the connection is valid or invalid, guiding users to create correct models without requiring external verification
Solution Approach 2:
A rule evaluation mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's connection actions and the final model configuration. This intermediary layer automatically checks connections against plant logic rules before allowing them to be established, ensuring configuration validity while maintaining user flexibility
2Reliability
If the system provides comprehensive validation rules for all possible connections, then the reliability of plant configurations is improved, but the complexity of the user interface and modeling process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-validation by automatically evaluating connections against embedded plant configuration rules. This eliminates the need for manual verification steps or complex validation interfaces, as the system autonomously ensures configuration correctness while presenting a simple drag-and-drop interface to users
3Manufacturing precision
If the system requires users to follow strict connection rules during model creation, then the accuracy of plant models is improved, but the ease of operation and speed of model development decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Valid plant configuration rules are pre-established and embedded in the system before users begin modeling. This preliminary preparation allows the interface to automatically validate connections in real-time without requiring users to manually check or adjust for accuracy, maintaining both speed and precision
Data Source
AI summary
A system for operating or designing building equipment is configured to provide a user interface comprising a workspace with selectable symbols representing multiple devices of building equipment, evaluate a user input defining a connection between at least two of the selectable symbols on the workspace according to a set of rules to determine whether the connection is valid or invalid, prevent the user from making the connection in response to determining that the connection is invalid, generate a valid model of a system comprising the multiple devices of building equipment in response to determining that the connection is valid, execute a model-based control process or simulation using the valid model to generate control decisions or design decisions for the multiple devices of building equipment, and operate or design the multiple devices of building equipment in accordance with the control decisions or the design decisions.