Internet of Things
flow and clogged filter detection in heat recovery units do this by detecting the differential pressure upstream and downstream of the fan or filter, detecting the degradation in performance as it becomes clogged with dirt and providing an alert when cleaning or replacement is required. A more compact alternative is the 2SMPB barometric pressure sensor. The Omron D-6FV can improve efficiency by monitoring the exact air rate at which air is extracted by the fans.
Controlling the outputs If these sensors are the ‘eyes and ears’ of a building automation system, it also needs ‘hands’ to act in response. It needs control
Figure 3: The Omron 2JCIE measures seven popular environmental parameters in one compact unit
preventative maintenance to be undertaken in a timely manner. To be useful in a building automation
environment, such sensors need a wide field of view, to detect the presence and location of people and other issues in a space accurately and reliably. Omron D6T MEMS thermal sensors are based on an IR sensor which measures the surface temperature of objects without touching them using a thermopile element that absorbs radiated energy from the target object. Omron has just released a wide angle version of the D6T (Figure 2) with 32 x 32 elements. The D6T-32L-01A can view across 90.0° by 90.0°, encompassing a wide area such as a whole room from a single point.
Environmental sensors Human operators of systems monitor their environment the whole time, often in
functions from just one small sensor. There are probably seven core parameters that any environmental sensor for building and industrial automation systems should be able to monitor: temperature, humidity, quality of air VOC, light, barometric pressure, noise and acceleration. Sensors like the Omron 2JCIE (Figure 3) provides the capability to monitor all of these, and provides data via popular wireless and wired data interfaces like USB and Bluetooth.
Air quality Ventilation and adequate air quality in a building is a major issue, and building regulations in countries including the UK make detailed stipulations about adequate mechanical ventilation rates in spaces including non-habitable rooms, such as toilets, bathrooms/shower rooms, kitchens and utility rooms in domestic dwellings.
• Relays simultaneously meet insulation and glow wire test requirements Because loads vary enormously and
the latest technologies place new demands on relays, manufacturers like Omron have developed platform relay series that address all of the different requirements. For example, its G5Q family offers different specifications with the same PCB connection to meet different switching needs.
Conclusion As awareness of the impact of wasted energy in buildings is increased, the technologies on offer to conserve this energy and control its use has improved dramatically. The sensors and relays
Figure 5: The Omron G5Q-1A-EL2 was developed for capacitive inrush currents in the µs range
over outputs: heaters, lights, fans and other elements. Relays are still a great solution. Open the case of almost all building automation systems and you’ll find electromechanical PCB relays used at the output. With so many alternative
described above put building managers in an excellent position to reduce both costs and carbon footprint. With the development of the cloud, they no longer even need to be present in a building to receive a full picture of what is going on.
Figure 4: The Omron D6-PH can detect when wear and dirt is degrading the performance of ventilation fans
ways that we’re not aware of. We respond to the breeze on our face, movements in our peripheral vision, small changes of pressure in our ears and in the soles of our feet. A smart building needs to do the same, responding to changes in its environment to optimise energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Multi-purpose environmental sensors
make it very easy for the designer to deliver a wide range of measurement
www.cieonline.co.uk Whilst building engineers will ensure
that such spaces are designed with fans and other means of ventilation that comply with the regulations, building managers need to maintain those fans and ensure that their performance has not dropped below the required level due to wear or to a buildup of dirt in the airway. Suitable sensors are available to help with this task. Omron’s D6F-PH digital pressure sensors (Figure 4) for air
Figure 6: Omron’s G5RL-U can switch up to 16A and deal with high inrush currents of up to 150A
switching technologies available, including solid state switches, this may come as a surprise. There are four important reasons behind this. • Relays have one or more relay contact outputs
• Contacts can be supplied with a changeover output which is used for interlock or scanning circuits
• Relays can individually switch AC or DC voltages
All of the data collected and the actions taken by the system in response can be stored on the cloud, and reviewed by the building manager. He or she can reprogram the system to improve its response in the light of experience, or even intervene directly if needed. Truly, ‘dumb’ buildings are becoming a thing of the past.
components.omron.eu Components in Electronics April 2020 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
