US2025109878A1PendingUtilityA1
Adaptive flow controller for use with a flow control system and method
Est. expirySep 29, 2043(~17.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
F24F 11/74F24F 2110/40F24F 2110/30F24F 11/63
65
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Claims
Abstract
An adaptive airflow control system can be used to position damper systems or controlling air units utilized in an environment control system. The environment can include a controller. The controller includes a circuit configured to provide a control signal in response to a sensed flow signal. The control signal is related to a desired rate of flow provided across a component. The circuit is configured to provide the control signal in accordance with a system gain factor calculated using a pressure factor which represents a pressure drop across the component associated with a unit of the environment control system.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1 . In an environment control system including an air unit for providing air flow to an environment, the air unit being operatively associated with a controller and controlling an amount of the air flow in accordance with a flow setpoint signal from the controller, the controller comprising:
a flow sensor exposed to the air flow provided by the air unit, the flow sensor generating a flow signal representative of the amount of the air flow provided to the environment; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the flow sensor, the processor configured to cyclically receive the flow signal and generate a controller output signal in response to the flow signal and the flow setpoint signal, the controller output signal being provided to the air unit to cause the air unit to provide the amount of the air flow represented by the flow setpoint signal, the processor calculating the controller output signal in accordance with a system gain factor calculated using a pressure factor, the pressure factor representing a pressure drop across a component associated with the air unit.
2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein a setpoint error signal is related to a difference between a previous flow setpoint signal and the flow signal is determined.
3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory includes a software-based control algorithm and the processor generates the flow setpoint signal in accordance with the software-based control algorithm.
4 . The controller of claim 2 , wherein the memory includes a software-based control algorithm and the processor cyclically generates the controller output signal in accordance with cyclical operation of the software-based control algorithm, and wherein the previous flow setpoint signal is from a most recent previous cycle of operation of the control algorithm.
5 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory includes a software-based control algorithm and the processor cyclically generates the controller output signal in accordance with cyclical operation of the software-based control algorithm, and wherein the system gain factor is a maximum system gain.
6 . The controller of claim 5 , wherein the system gain factor is calculated according to an equation as follows:
5
P
v
a
l
v
e
f
rated
T
where Pvalve is the pressure drop across the component, f rated is a flow rate at a nominal static pressure, and T denotes a stroke time of an actuator associated with the component.
7 . The controller of claim 6 , wherein the pressure drop across the component is calculated using an equation as follows: Pvalve=ρQ 2 e (a+bθ) /(2A θ 2 ), where Pvalve is the pressure drop across the component, Q is a flow value, θ is a damper position associated with the component, A θ is an area of an opening at the damper position, and a and b are constants.
8 . A controller for use in an environment control system, the controller comprising:
a circuit configured to provide a control signal in response to a flow value, wherein the control signal is related to a desired rate of flow provided across a component, the circuit configured to provide the control signal in accordance with a system gain factor calculated using a pressure factor, the pressure factor representing a pressure drop across the component associated with a unit of the environment control system.
9 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the control signal is provided in response to a setpoint error signal is related to a difference between a flow setpoint signal generated in a previous cycle of operation and the sensed flow signal received in a current cycle of operation.
10 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the circuit provides the control signal in accordance with a software-based control algorithm.
11 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the circuit is configured to provide the control signal in accordance with cyclical operation of a software-based control algorithm.
12 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the circuit is configured to provide the control signal in accordance with cyclical operation of a software-based control algorithm, and wherein the system gain factor is a maximum system gain.
13 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the circuit is configured to provide the control signal in accordance with the system gain factor calculated according to an equation as follows:
5
P
v
a
l
v
e
f
rated
T
where Pvalve is the pressure drop across the component, f rated is a flow rate at a nominal static pressure, and T denotes a stroke time of an actuator associated with the component.
14 . The controller of claim 13 , wherein the pressure drop across the component is calculated using an equation as follows: Pvalve=ρQ 2 e (a+bθ) /(2A θ 2 ), where Pvalve is the pressure drop across the component, Q is a flow value, θ is a damper position associated with the component, A θ is an area of an opening at the damper position, and a and b are constants.
15 . The controller of claim 13 , wherein the pressure drop across the component is is sensed using a pressure sensor.
16 . In a control system including a unit for providing a flow of a fluid, a controller for providing a controller output signal, and a flow sensor for providing an actual flow signal, said controller including a memory and a processor, the unit being operatively associated with the controller and controlling an amount of the flow in accordance with the controller output signal from the controller, the flow sensor being exposed to the flow provided by the unit, the flow sensor providing a flow signal representative of the amount of the flow provided, a method of controlling the amount of the flow provided by the unit comprising steps of:
receiving the flow value; provide a control signal in response to the flow signal, wherein the control signal is related to a desired rate of flow provided across a component, the control signal is provided in accordance with a system gain factor calculated using a pressure factor, the pressure factor representing a pressure drop across the component associated with the unit.
17 . The controller of claim 16 , wherein the control signal is provided in accordance with cyclical operation of a software-based control algorithm, and wherein the system gain factor is a maximum system gain.
18 . The controller of claim 17 , wherein the control signal is provided in accordance with the system gain factor calculated according to an equation as follows:
5
P
v
a
l
v
e
f
rated
T
where Pvalve is the pressure drop across the component, f rated is a flow rate at a nominal static pressure, and T denotes a stroke time of an actuator associated with the component.
19 . The controller of claim 18 , wherein the pressure drop across the component is calculated using a model defined by Pvalve=f(flow, damper position).
20 . The controller of claim 18 , further comprising measuring the pressure drop using a sensor.Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
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