SMART CONTROLS
The result of well-implemented HVAC digitisation is that a variety of systems can be controlled through a single solution to provide optimum comfort levels and significant energy savings.
This sort of ‘multi-technology control’ has
been recognised in a host of sectors for some time. For example, it is used for occupancy sensors to maximise sensitivity and range in difficult spaces with irregular shaped rooms and partitions that can block the sensor’s field-of-view.
Other examples include multi-technology systems that can simplify access control in buildings or manage renewable heating and microgeneration systems. There is even a multi technology-based
controller for wheelchair locomotion. This automated system controls the rotation of the wheelchair based on touch screen and head movement by the physically challenged person. Intelligently managing HVAC units using dedicated algorithms, is, however, a relatively new departure in the multi-technology world. A good example of multi-technology
controls in relation to heating and cooling is the MTM system supplied by my company in the UK, which is designed to manage Rhoss hydronic units intelligently. MTM can manage up to 10 reversible heat pumps and chillers, deciding the start-up sequence by employing dedicated algorithms to manage cooling and thermal loads in a stable and precise manner.
The system comes in one of two
configurations: MTM/SI – with graphic interface and standard functions such as the display of unit operating parameters, operating status, alarms, etc.
MTM/TI – with touch graphic interface. Ac- cess to pages for consultation and parameter editing is simplified in the 7in display; it is also possible to view, through graphs, trends such as water/air temperatures. Moreover, the system allows the user to set e-mail notification of alarms.
As well as reversible heat pumps and chillers with free-cooling and inverter technology, the system can also control units without condensers. A simple ‘Wizard’ procedure guides the user through the set-up of the MTM device and a self-learning function further simplifies configuration of the MTM unit. Once individual units have been ‘recognised’, the system decides which strategy to employ to maximise efficiency, for example preferring free-cooling units if the outdoor temperature is favourable, inverter technology to optimise power modulation or simultaneous operation (cooling plus heating) of the multipurpose units. It is also possible to customise unit
management, according to the customer’s preferences or type of system. The ‘booster’ function, which can be set if there is a backup
unit, can meet the various peak loads that may occur throughout the year. The MTM’s algorithms enable optimal operation of the group of units even in case of partial disfunctions and MTM provides the history of the alarms and, in case of MTM/TI version, also the notification function by mail/ message to designated users.
MTM is accessible directly from the device through the graphic interface, from a BMS connected to the device through serial interfaces, and through dedicated web pages.
Digitisation, of which WiFi and IoT are critical components, has transformed the HVAC controls market by improving energy efficiency, offering faster and better warnings of the need for maintenance, making it easier for people to control their heating and cooling, and providing a mass of data to allow analysis of HVAC equipment in use. But beware. It is important not to lose sight of the human element in all this. After all, even state-of-the-art intelligent control is useless if somebody decides: ‘I’m a bit cold, I think I’ll crank up the stat’. That is why technology is not enough on
its own. It needs the intervention of human- centred programmes such as ‘Soft Landings’, a strategy designed to ensure the transition from construction to occupation is 'bump-free' and that operational performance is optimised. With this caveat, however, digitisation is certainly the way forward.
Smart building controls
M
ore than 80% of new buildings are now es- timated to incorporate
at least one aspect of smart technology such as intelligent security, lighting, or controls. In the HVAC sector, systems
that employ technologies such as demand control ventilation and variable air volume control can be enhanced with
intelligent devices such as smart thermostats and air quality monitoring tools. These allow, for example, energy consumption data to be monitored and analysed to predict future energy requirements. They can also match energy generation requirements with usage and distribution.
Smart HVAC systems can learn the specific preferences of a building’s occupants and automatically adjust parameters to match their habits. They can also be integrated with other smart systems such as lighting, security, and electrical
appliances.
As well as offering excellent control, smart systems can also provide a great deal of useful material to give a building occupier valuable insight into the workings of the building, but this is also where a potential pitfall lies – information overload: being exposed to more data than you can process, leading to confusion and an inability to make effective decisions. That is why it is important for contractors to seek the advice of smart controls suppliers in order to separate the chaff from the wheat.
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www.acr-news.com • July 2021 27
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