Retrofit Controller for Shielded HVAC Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling heating and cooling networks, especially in buildings and industrial plants, face challenges due to lack of access to internal controllers, complex management systems, and safety constraints, making it difficult to steer energy flow effectively and manage capacity issues.
Innovation Solution
A retrofit external controller that uses external sensors and data flows to manipulate accessible parameters, learning how the system reacts to external variables and constructing response functions to steer the internal controller without overriding it, thus managing energy flow and constraints without interfering with internal control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external controller tries to steer the internal controller by overriding thermostat settings, then the system can be controlled to meet external objectives, but dangerous situations may occur and vendor lock-in is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary external controller that communicates with the internal controller through standardized protocols rather than directly overriding settings. This mediator approach allows external objectives to be achieved while maintaining the internal controller's safety mechanisms and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into independent internal and external controllers with defined interfaces. The external controller operates at a higher level, making decisions based on external objectives, while the internal controller handles local safety and operational constraints, preventing dangerous situations.
2Reliability
If the internal controller is shielded or hidden from access for safety reasons, then system security is maintained, but external steering capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
An external controller serves as an intermediary that interfaces with the shielded internal controller through standardized communication protocols. This allows external steering capability while maintaining the internal security boundaries, as the external controller influences rather than directly accesses protected parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The external controller is designed with universal communication capabilities that work with multiple types of internal controllers through standardized protocols. This provides external adaptability and versatility without requiring access to or modification of the shielded internal controller.
3Productivity
If thermostat settings are overridden to control power demand, then external control is achieved, but dangerous situations like overheating may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The external controller applies preliminary control actions through standardized interfaces that prevent dangerous situations before they occur. By working within the internal controller's safety framework rather than overriding it, the system achieves power demand control while preventing overheating and other harmful conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the external controller monitors system responses and adjusts control actions accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that power demand control objectives are met while preventing dangerous situations by detecting and responding to potential overheating conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A system or a method to at least partially steer systems, e.g. heating and/or cooling and clusters of systems is described, when the controller of the system is unknown or when the transfer function of the system is unknown. Steering of the energy flow, e.g. heating/cooling/electrical energy, to provide energy to the system or the cluster of systems and preferably to manage common constraints, like capacity problems is described.