VAV Box-Air Source Mapping Using BAS Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring and balancing large HVAC systems with multiple air sources and VAV boxes is labor-intensive and prone to human error, requiring manual programming and association, which becomes complex and inefficient, especially in multi-space buildings.
Innovation Solution
A building automation system (BAS) controller automatically maps and associates VAV boxes with air sources by monitoring sensors and adjusting airflow settings, reducing the need for manual programming and minimizing errors through a one-to-many or many-to-many relationship management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual programming and association is used to configure VAV boxes with air sources, then the system can be configured, but the process becomes labor-intensive and prone to human error as system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-association where the BAS controller automatically maps VAV boxes to air sources by monitoring sensor data and analyzing airflow relationships, eliminating the need for manual programming and reducing configuration errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback from airflow monitors and environmental sensors to automatically determine associations between VAV boxes and air sources, enabling the controller to learn and configure relationships without manual intervention
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air sources are tied to multiple VAV boxes in a large system, then the system can serve more spaces, but the complexity of configuring and balancing airflow increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The BAS controller automatically determines associations between multiple air sources and VAV boxes by monitoring sensor data and analyzing airflow relationships, eliminating the need for complex manual programming even as system capacity increases
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different system configurations by automatically learning relationships between air sources and VAV boxes, allowing the system to scale from single to multiple air sources without increasing configuration complexity
3Loss of information
If design documents are used to transfer relationships into a digital BAS environment, then the theoretical associations are available, but discrepancies between design documents and actual building configuration cause errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time sensor feedback from the actual building installation to automatically determine VAV box and air source associations, bypassing the need to transfer data from design documents and eliminating discrepancies between design and actual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual data entry and document-based configuration with automated sensor-based detection, substituting the mechanical process of transferring data from design documents with an automated electronic discovery process
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method including the ability of a building automation system controller to automatically determine which VAV boxes are physically associated with which air sources in a building or facility with multiple air sources by coordinating the individual or simultaneous manipulation of the fan speed of the air sources or the VAV damper positions, while obtaining data from networked sensors that measure VAV box airflow or duct pressure or the environmental conditions of a space being supplied with air from one or more VAV boxes.