Building automation

:"Building automation" can also refer to Build automation, the practice of programmatically compiling software programs."

A Building Automation System (BAS) is an example of a Distributed control system. Building automation describes the functionality provided by the control system. The control system is a computerized, intelligent network of electronic devices, designed to monitor and control the mechanical and lighting systems in a building.

BAS core functionality keeps the building climate within a specified range, provides lighting based on an occupancy schedule, and monitors system performance and device failures and provides email and/or text notifications to building engineering staff. The BAS functionality reduces building energy and maintenance costs when compared to a non-controlled building. A building controlled by a BAS is often referred to as an intelligent building system.

Topology

Most building automation networks consist of a "primary" and "secondary" bus which connect high-level controllers (generally specialized for building automation, but may be generic programmable logic controllers) with lower-level controllers, input/output devices and a user interface (also known as a human interface device).

The primary and secondary bus can be BACnet, optical fiber, ethernet, ARCNET, RS-232, RS-485 or a wireless network.

Most controllers are proprietary. Each company has its own controllers for specific applications. Some are designed with limited controls: for example, a simple Packaged Roof Top Unit. Others are designed to be flexible. Most have proprietary software that will work with ASHRAE's BACnet or the proprietary LonTalk.

Inputs and outputs are either analog or digital (some companies say binary).

Analog inputs are used to read a variable measurement. Examples are temperature, humidity and pressure sensor which could be thermistor, 4-20 mA, 0-10 Volt or Platinum RTD (resistance temperature detector), or wireless sensors.

A digital input indicates if a device is turned on or not. Some examples of a digital input would be a 24VDC relay or air flow switch.

Analog outputs control the speed or position of a device, such as a variable frequency drive, a I-P (current to pneumatics) transducer, or an actuator. An example is a hot water valve opening up 25% to maintain a setpoint.

Digital outputs are used to open and close relays and switches. An example would be to turn on the parking lot lights when a photocell indicates it is dark outside.

Infrastructure

Controller

Controllers are essentially small, purpose-built computers with input and output capabilites. These controllers come in a range of sizes and capabilities to control devices commonly found in buildings, and to control sub-networks of controllers.

Inputs allow a controller to read temperatures, humidity, pressure, current flow, air flow, and other essential factors. The outputs allow the controller to send command and control signals to slave devices, and to other parts of the system. Inputs and outputs can be either digital or analog.

Controllers used for building automation can be grouped in 3 categories. PLCs, System/Network controllers, and Terminal Unit controllers.

PLC's provide the most responsiveness and processing power, but at a unit cost typically 2 to 3 times that of a System/Network controller intended for BAS applications. Terminal Unit controllers are usually the least expensive and least powerful.

PLC's may be used to automate high-end applications such as clean rooms or hospitals where the cost of the controllers is a lesser concern.

In office buildings, supermarkets, malls, and other common automated buildings the systems will use System/Network controllers rather than PLC's. Most System controllers provide general purpose feedback loops, as well as digital circuits, but lack the millisecond response time that PLC's provide.

System/Network controllers may be applied to control one or more mechanical systems such as an Air Handler Unit (AHU), boiler, chiller, etc., or they may supervise a sub-network of controllers. In the diagram above, System/Network controllers are often used in place of Programmable Logic Controllers.

Terminal Unit controllers usually are suited for control of lighting and/or simpler devices such as a package rooftop unit, heat pump, VAV box, or fan coil, etc. The installer typically selects 1 of the available pre-programmed personalities best suited to the device to be controlled, and does not have to create new control logic.

Occupancy

Occupancy is one of 2 or more operating modes for a building automation system. Unoccupied, Morning Warmup, and Night-time Setback are other common modes.

Occupancy is usually based on time of day schedules. In Occupancy mode, the BAS aims to provides a comfortable climate and adequate lighting, often with zone-based control so that users on one side of a building have a different thermostat (or a different system, or sub system) than users on the opposite side.

A temperature sensor in the zone provides feedback to the controller, so it can deliver heating or cooling as needed.

If enabled, Morning Warmup (MWU) mode occurs prior to Occupancy. During Morning Warmup the BAS tries to bring the building to setpoint just in time for Occupancy. The BAS often factors in outdoor conditions and historical experience to optimize MWU.

An override is a manually-initiated command to the BAS. For example, many wall-mounted temperature sensors will have a push-button that forces the system into Occupancy mode for a set number of minutes. Where present, web interfaces allow users to remotely initiate an override on the BAS.

Some buildings rely on occupancy sensors to activate lighting and/or climate conditioning. Given the potential for long lead times before a space becomes sufficiently cool or warm, climate conditioning is not often initiated directly by an occupancy sensor.

Lighting

Lighting can be turned on and off with a building automation system based on time of day, or the occupancy sensors and timers. One typical example is to turn the lights in a space on for a half hour since the last motion was sensed. A photocell placed outside a building can sense darkness, and the time of day, and modulate lights in outer offices and the parking lot.

Air handlers

Most air handlers mix return and outside air so less temperature change is needed. This can save money by using less chilled or heated water (not all AHUs use chilled/hot water circuits). Some external air is needed to keep the building's air healthy.

Analog or digital temperature sensors may be placed in the space or room, the return and supply air ducts, and sometimes the external air. Actuators are placed on the hot and chilled water valves, the outside air and return air dampers. The supply fan (and return if applicable) is started and stopped based on either time of day, temperatures, building pressures or a combination.

Constant Volume Air-Handling Units

The less efficient type of air-handler is a "Constant Volume Air Handling Unit," or CAV. The fans in CAVs do not have variable-speed controls. Instead, CAVs open and close dampers and water-supply valves to maintain temperatures in the building's spaces. They heat or cool the spaces by opening or closing chilled or hot water valves that feed their internal heat exchangers. Generally one CAV serves several spaces, but large buildings may have many CAVs.

Variable Volume Air-Handling Units

A more efficient unit is a "Variable air volume (VAV) Air-Handling Unit," or VAV. VAVs supply pressurized air to VAV boxes, usually one box per room or area. A VAV air handler can change the pressure to the VAV boxes by changing the speed of a fan or blower with a variable frequency drive or (less efficiently) by moving inlet guide vanes to a fixed-speed fan. The amount of air is determined by the needs of the spaces served by the VAV boxes.

Each VAV box supply air to a small space, like an office. Each box has a damper that is opened or closed based on how much heating or cooling is required in its space. The more boxes are open, the more air is required, and a greater amount of air is supplied by the VAV air-handling unit.

Some VAV boxes also have hot water valves and an internal heat exchanger. The valves for hot and cold water are opened or closed based on the heat demand for the spaces it is supplying. These heated VAV boxes are sometimes used on the perimeter only and the interior zones are cooling only.

A minimum and maximum CFM must be set on VAV boxes to assure adequate ventilation and proper air balance.

VAV Hybrid Systems

Another variation is a hybrid between VAV and CAV systems. In this system, the interior zones operate as in a VAV system. The outer zones differ in that the heating is supplied by a heating fan in a central location usually with a heating coil fed by the building boiler. The heated air is ducted to the exterior dual duct mixing boxes and dampers controlled by the zone thermostat calling for either cooled or heated air as needed.

Central plant

A central plant is needed to supply the air-handling units with water. It may supply a chilled water system, hot water system and a condenser water system, as well as transformers and auxiliary power unit for emergency power. If well managed, these can often help each other. For example, some plants generate electric power at periods with peak demand, using a gas turbine, and then use the turbine's hot exhaust to heat water or power an absorptive chiller.

Chilled water system

Chilled water is often used to cool a building's air and equipment.The chilled water system will have chiller(s) and pumps. Analog temperature sensors measure the chilled water supply and return lines. The chiller(s) are sequenced on and off to chill the chilled water supply.

Condenser water system

Cooling tower(s) and pumps are used to supply cool condenser water to the chillers. The condenser water supply to the chillers has to be constant so, speed drives are commonly used on the cooling tower fans to control temperature. Proper cooling tower temperature assures the proper refrigerant head pressure in the chiller. The cooling tower set point used depends upon the refrigerant being used. Analog temperature sensors measure the condenser water supply and return lines.

Hot water system

The hot water system supplies heat to the building's air-handling units or VAV boxes.The hot water system will have a boiler(s) and pumps. Analog temperature sensors are placed in the hot water supply and return lines. Some type of mixing valve is usually used to control the heating water loop temperature. The boiler(s) and pumps are sequenced on and off to maintain supply.

Alarms and security

Many building automation systems have alarm capabilities. If an alarm is detected, it can be programmed to notify someone. Notification can be through a computer, pager, cellular phone, or audible alarm.

*Common temperature alarms are Space, Supply Air, Chilled Water Supply and Hot Water Supply.
*Differential pressure switches can be placed on the filter to determine if it is dirty.
*Status alarms are common. If a mechanical device like a pump is requested to start, and the status input indicates it is off. This can indicate a mechanical failure.
*Some valve actuators have end switches to indicate if the valve has opened or not.
*Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide sensors can be used to alarm if levels are too high.
*Refrigerant sensors can be used to indicate a possible refrigerant leak.
*Current sensors can be used to detect low current conditions caused by slipping fan belts, or clogging strainers at pumps.

At sites with several buildings, momentary power failures can cause hundreds or thousands of alarms from equipment that has shut down. Some sites are programmed so that critical alarms are automatically re-sent at varying intervals. For example, a repeating critical alarm (of a uninterruptible power supply in 'by pass') might resound at 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and every 2 to 4 hours there after until the alarms are resolved.

Security systems can be interlocked to a building automation system. If occupancy sensors are present, they can also be used as burglar alarms.

Fire and smoke alarm systems can be hard-wired to override building automation. For example: if the smoke alarm is activated, all the outside air dampers close to prevent air coming into the building, and an exhaust system can isolate the alarmed area and activate an exhaust fan to move smoke out of the area. Life safety applications are normally hard-wired to a mechanical device to override building automation control.

Manufacturers

* [Alerton| [Alerton] Technologies]
* AMX, LLC
* ASI Controls
* [http://www.automatedlogic.com Automated Logic]
* Beckhoff Automation
* Carrier Corporation
* The Trane Company
* Cisco Systems
* Computrols, Inc.
* [http://www.convia.com Convia Inc.]
* Crestron Electronics, Inc.
* Dynalite Intelligent Light Pty Ltd
* Honeywell Home and Building Control
* Invensys Building Systems
* Johnson Controls Inc.
* KMC Controls, Inc.
* Reliable Controls Corp.
* Schneider Electric
* Siemens Building Technologies
* Staefa Control System
* TAC
* Teletrol Systems Inc.
* Trane Global Control Systems
* WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Protocols and Industry Standards

*ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) is an international organization for people involved in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration (HVAC&R).
*BACnet is a network communications protocol for building automation and control systems that has been adopted worldwide as ISO 16484-5:2003.
*C-Bus
*DALI
*DSI
*Dynet
*Energy Star is program created by the United States government to promote energy efficient consumer products.
*EnOcean is a wireless, batteryfree standard for home and building automation
*KNX, a system for Home and Building Controls (promoted by [http://www.konnex.org"Konnex Association"] ).
*LonTalk is a protocol created by Echelon Corporation for networking devices.
*Modbus
*oBIX
*ZigBee is a short range, low-powered wireless communication standard targeted at Building Automation.
*OpenWebNet

See also

*Building Management System
*Control engineering
*Control system
*Home automation
*HVAC control system
*Lighting control system
*Smart environment

References

[ [http://www.4chan.org 4chan ] ]