Systems and methods for using a smart valve to control conditioned air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air handler units (AHUs) face challenges in maintaining stable air temperature control, often resulting in inefficient energy use, potential freezing, and simultaneous heating and cooling issues due to the complexity of PI or PID control techniques required for smart valves, which are time-consuming to set up and tune, and prone to instability across varying conditions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of smart valves with integrated air and water temperature sensors and processors that allow for multivariable control, enabling precise modulation of water flow through coils based on real-time temperature data without the need for extensive BAS programming, thereby reducing latency and improving control accuracy and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional smart valves with PI or PID control techniques are used, then air temperature control is achieved, but the system becomes complex and requires extensive tuning that is time-consuming and prone to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The smart valve incorporates an integrated processor that autonomously performs multivariable control calculations using real-time temperature data from sensors. The processor self-adjusts valve positioning without requiring external BAS programming or manual tuning, eliminating the complexity of PI/PID control while maintaining stable air temperature control through automatic adaptation to varying conditions.
2Measurement precision
If extensive BAS programming and tuning is performed, then control accuracy is improved, but implementation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated processor within the smart valve automatically performs the functions previously requiring extensive BAS programming. It directly processes temperature setpoints and sensor feedback to calculate optimal valve positions, eliminating the need for time-consuming field tuning and complex automation system configuration while maintaining high control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control processor is merged directly into the smart valve assembly, combining the actuation mechanism with the control intelligence. This integration eliminates the need for separate BAS programming and tuning operations, as the valve becomes a self-contained control unit that requires minimal setup and adapts automatically to system conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multivariable control with integrated sensors is implemented, then control stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensors (air inlet, air outlet, water inlet, water outlet) and the control processor are merged into a single integrated smart valve unit. This consolidation allows multivariable control for enhanced stability while presenting a unified interface that simplifies the overall system architecture and reduces the number of separate components requiring coordination.
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 provides more accurate, stable, and efficient air temperature control in AHUs, reducing energy inefficiencies and eliminating the need for extensive BAS tuning, while allowing for cost-effective implementation and improved operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
coils (e.g., heat exchanger coils or cooling coils) located to interact with the AHU's air flow
Implementation Method 2
AHUs include fans or blowers that move the air flow over and/or through the coils to obtain a desired downstream or 'off coil' air temperature
Implementation Method 3
smart valves that modulate the flow of the water through the coils inside the AHUs
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an air handler includes providing a temperature setpoint to a smart valve in fluid communication with one or more coils of the air handler, providing to the smart valve an air temperature of air conditioned by the air handler, and modulating a valve position of the smart valve using the temperature setpoint, and the air temperature.