Supervisory-Level HVAC Control for Grid-Responsive Demand Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load management systems for HVAC in buildings are primitive and fail to effectively manage electrical demand imbalances between supply and demand, especially when renewable energy sources are intermittent, leading to potential grid instability and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A supervisory-level control system that adjusts HVAC system set-points to match available power, using a control unit, set-point scheduler, and zone level set-point distribution unit to generate and prioritize temperature and power set-points, ensuring reduced electricity demand while maintaining comfort and operational constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If building sub-systems are turned off during grid events or zone temperature set-points are setback in ad-hoc manners, then electrical load management is achieved, but system complexity increases and comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-calculates and stores optimal set-point trajectories for HVAC subsystems before grid events occur. When a grid event is detected, the system simply executes the pre-computed control actions rather than making ad-hoc decisions, thereby achieving load management while maintaining system simplicity and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors grid conditions, thermal zone temperatures, and HVAC system states to dynamically adjust set-points. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables intelligent load management that adapts to changing conditions without requiring complex manual intervention or ad-hoc decision-making.
2Loss of energy
If renewable energy sources are utilized, then clean energy generation increases, but supply-demand imbalance worsens due to intermittency
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates optimal HVAC set-point trajectories based on forecasted renewable energy availability and building thermal characteristics. By preparing control actions in advance, the system can smoothly integrate intermittent renewable energy sources while maintaining supply-demand balance and avoiding the need for reactive, potentially unstable adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts HVAC set-points in real-time based on actual renewable energy generation and building thermal states. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maximize clean energy utilization while maintaining reliability by responding flexibly to the intermittency of renewable sources.
3Productivity
If supervisory-level control adjusts HVAC set-points to match available power, then electricity demand is reduced, but temperature control precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates temperature set-point trajectories that naturally satisfy both comfort constraints and power availability. By planning set-point adjustments in advance rather than making abrupt changes, the system reduces electricity demand while maintaining temperature control precision through smooth, constraint-satisfying transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts set-points based on real-time feedback from temperature sensors and power availability measurements. This continuous adaptation allows the system to reduce electricity demand while maintaining temperature precision by responding to actual building conditions and comfort requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A supervisory-level control system is provided and includes a summation unit receptive of first and second signals, an HVAC system to generate the second signal according to first set-point signals and to a second set-point signal and a supervisory controller. The supervisory controller includes a control unit, a set-point scheduler and a zone level set-point distribution unit. The control unit is receptive of an error signal representing a difference between the first and second signals from the summation unit. The set-point scheduler is receptive of a demand signal generated by the control unit according to the error signal. The set-point scheduler generates a set-point command signal and the second set-point signal according to the demand signal. The zone level set-point distribution unit is configured to generate the first set-point signals in accordance with the set-point command signal.