Room Pressurization Control Using Adaptive Air Change Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing room pressurization control systems consume excessive energy and face compliance issues due to static terminal box controller configurations, particularly in environments requiring differential pressure management, such as chemical and biological facilities, and food processing operations.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive optimization of the air change per hour set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to dynamically adjust airflow, ensuring energy savings while maintaining differential pressure between rooms and adjacent areas by modulating leading and tracking airflow based on temperature and pressure thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If static terminal box controller configuration is used with fixed differential pressure set point and air change per hour set point, then the system is simple to operate, but energy consumption is excessive and compliance issues occur during HVAC events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the air change per hour (ACPH) set point based on real-time differential pressure measurements and HVAC system status. The controller continuously monitors actual differential pressure and compares it to the set point, then dynamically modifies the ACPH set point to maintain compliance while optimizing energy usage during heating, cooling, and humidity control events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by continuously measuring actual differential pressure and using this information to adjust the ACPH set point. The controller receives feedback from pressure sensors and HVAC system status indicators, then modifies airflow commands to maintain differential pressure within compliance limits while minimizing energy consumption.
2Reliability
If 100% outside air supply is used to maintain differential pressure, then environmental requirements are met, but energy consumption is substantial due to expensive outside air conditioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the HVAC system by dynamically adjusting the air change per hour set point based on actual differential pressure conditions. Instead of maintaining a fixed high ACPH value that ensures compliance but consumes excessive energy, the system continuously adapts the ACPH parameter to the minimum level needed to maintain differential pressure compliance, thereby reducing the energy required to condition outside air.
3Device complexity
If static air change per hour set point is used, then the controller configuration is simple, but the system cannot respond to unfavorable changes in HVAC operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the air change per hour (ACPH) set point based on real-time differential pressure measurements and HVAC system status. The controller continuously monitors actual differential pressure and compares it to the set point, then dynamically modifies the ACPH set point to maintain compliance while optimizing energy usage during heating, cooling, and humidity control events.
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 reduces energy consumption by optimizing air change rates, maintaining environmental requirements, and automatically responding to HVAC system changes, thus conserving energy and ensuring compliance without requiring additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
determining a differential pressure error based on the differential pressure and a differential pressure set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method controls an environmental control system to maintain a differential pressure between a room and one or more adjacent areas by (1) determining a differential pressure error based on the differential pressure and a differential pressure set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller; (2) increasing an air change per hour set point whenever one or more first parameters are satisfied; (3) decreasing the air change per hour set point whenever one or more second parameters are satisfied; and (4) sending one or more control signals to the environmental control system that maintain the differential pressure between the room and the one or more adjacent areas by adjusting: (a) the leading airflow to be approximately equal to the air flow change set point multiplied by a volume of the room divided by 60, and (b) the tracking airflow to maintain a volume differential set point.