Understanding Basic Building Controls
Understanding Basic Building Controls
Heating Battery
Valves
Pump Fan
Damper
Humidifier
Heater battery
Simple fresh air system with heating only it would have a separate
extract system. This is the type of system you would expect to find
supplying a operating theatre, a kitchen or a toilet to prevent smells
or polution.
A filter is fitted to protect heater battery from dirt particles
A damper is fitted to stop freezing air damaging the heater battery
when unit is not running
Cooling Heating
Battery Battery
A mixed air system is the most common AHU found. The dampers
mix the fresh and return air to air gain free heating when outside air
is cold. Free cooling can be gained if the return air is cooler than the
outside air and cooling is required.
A minimum fresh air is required to keep CO² levels down the normal
amount required is 10% of the volume of air. During the preheat or
off cycles the dampers will go to the full recirculation condition.
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Heat Recovery System (Hydraulic)
Air filter
Mixing
box
Tempered
fresh air
Air to
space
Fan coil units are sited on the floors normally in the ceiling void. A
percentage of tempered fresh air (normally 10%) is fed to each
FCU. from a central AHU. The rest of the return air comes from
the space. The temperature control is local and sometimes one
controller does up to four FCU
Humidifier T
T F
Supply
fan
Deviation
Differential
If this is sustained it is Offset
4 5 6
3 5 7
Load
Disturbance
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Control Terminology
Setpoint
The value desired, set on the controller
Control Point
The value of the controlled condition that is actually maintained by the
system
Offset
The sustained difference between the control point and the setpoint
Deviation
Any difference between the control point and the setpoint
Differential
The difference between the two controlled conditions which cause the
correcting element in a two-position control system to operate.
Heater
Heating valve
Controller
Space
Outside temp
Heat loss
The system shown the valve is adjusted when the outside air temp
changes. The output of the heater is adjusted without the necessity for a
change in room temp
Heater
Heating valve
Controller
Room sensor
Heat loss
Correcting Signal
Correcting Motor,
Element Actuator
Process
(valve, or
(space)
Humidifier) voltage
Switching Differential
Off
Temp Setpoint
On
Heater On
Off On Off On
Output
Setpoint
Controller Heater
Dead Band
Temp Close
Setpoint
Open
Valve
This type of control more stable than two position but still has a
dead band
It is less likely to cycle than two position but depends on the
valve actuator. If it moves too fast two position cycling will result.
If it moves too slow control will be poor.
Setpoint
Flow 5 Litres/sec
Setpoint
Load 10 Litres/sec
As a load is applied the control point is drifting away from the setpoint.
With sustained load setpoint can no longer be maintained.
Flow 10 Litres/sec
Setpoint
Offset
Control point
Load 10 Litres/sec
Output
Setpoint
Controller Heater
Throttling Range
Offset
Temp
Setpoint
Control point
Valve
TR
100%
Valve
0% Temperature
Valve Valve
0% Temp 0% Temp
SP SP
Flow 5 Litres/sec
Setpoint
Control Point
Load 10 Litres/sec
Setpoint
Load 10 Litres/sec
Integral action
8 Litres/sec Flow 12 Litres/sec
Setpoint
Load 10 Litres/sec
As the level rises the proportional amount reduces but the integral
amount still increases but at a slower rate.
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P+I Control
Integral action
10 Litres/sec Flow 10 Litres/sec Only Integral left
Load 10 Litres/sec
Throttling Range
Temp
Setpoint
P+I
I
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PID Control
Throttling Range
Predicted PI over shot
Setpoint
PID
I
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PID Control
Valve Valve
0% 0%
Stages 1 2 3 4
Switching
Differential
Stages Stage On
Stage Off
SP
TR
Temperature
This assumes that the main load in a heating system is the outside air.
This is a way of getting the required setpoint for a radiator system.
When the outside air temperature is low the flow setpoint is high.
When the outside air temperature is high the flow setpoint is low.
By changing the setpoint energy is saved and areas do not get over
heated.
Output
Flow
Setpoint
Controller
Flow
Compensation
Flow SP
OAT
OAT
80 °C Maximum SP
70 °C
Setpoint
60 °C
Flow setpoint
50 °C
40 °C
Start
30 °C
Setpoint
20 °C
25 °C Maximum SP
24 °C
AHU Setpoint
23 °C
22 °C
21 °C Start Setpoint
Compensation Start Point
19 °C
10 °C 15 °C 20 °C 25 °C 30 °C 35 °C 40 °C
Outside air temperature
Temp
Control Setpoint
Dampers
Setpoint Temperature Action = DA
0%
%TR=33.3%
% of TR % of TR % of TR
Cal = 0
Throttling Range
Cooling
-50% 0% 50% Action = DA
Correction Signal XC %TR= 33.3%
Heating Output Calibration Point= -33% Cal = +33
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Sequencing
RH T
100% open
open 0% 20% 100% 0% 100%
closed closed
0% 33%Output signal 66% 100%
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Different Control Terms
Temperature
Time of one cycle
(UP)
UTR
Time
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Ziegler-Nichols tuning technique
TR=UTR x 2
For PI control:
TR=UTR x 2.2
Reset Time=UP x 0.8
Valves may all look the same but there are many different valve
types and uses
Two Port valves stop flow
Three port valves either mix or divert liquid
STEM
PACKING FOLLOWER
BONNET
SEAT RING
PACKING SPRING
(REMOVABLE)
PLUG
BODY
SEAT
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Valve Parts
A AB A AB
B B
B B
Medium Water
Cold/Hot
Medium/Low pressure
If heating circuit line size is normally OK
2/3/4 port
Flanged/Compression/Flat faced connection
System pressure (If 2 port valve)
Circuit pressure drop (Kpa)
Flow rate (Litres Per Second)
Medium Steam
ρ
KV = Q x 3.6
∆ P x 10
Where:
Q = the require flow of fluid in kg/s
ρ = Specific gravity of the fluid (water=1000 kg/m³)
∆ P = Pressure drop in kPa.
What is Humidity ?
Vaporized water molecules
How can we measure humidity ?
Slinging Hygrometer (Sling)
Electronic device (Electro-chemical reaction)
Hair
100ºC
50 ºC
Heat Source
0ºC
-10ºC
Time
Sensible Heat
Latent Heat
Latent heat –
Heat that changes liquid to vapour or vapour to liquid without
change in temperature or pressure of the moisture.
Sensible heat –
Heat that changes the temperature of the air without changing the
moisture content.
This is where a liquid evaporates and leaves the surface colder because
of latent heat.
Lick the back of you hand - its gets colder ?
The water is evaporating and taking heat away
Now blow on your hand - your hand get even colder ?
The evaporation is increased with increased air movement, this is called
forced evaporation.
Radiation
This is heat radiating form the hot surface
the electric bar fire gives off radiant heat
Convection
This is where the air is heated and the warm air rises above the cold air and
causes air movement.
Conduction
Is the transfer of heat between substances of differing temperatures.
Valve
Open
Hot
A B Lag
Cold Temp
Where capacitance and resistance are associated in the loop a lag results called
transfer lag. Consider the tank of water below.
Tank Head
Tank Level
Outlet Flow
Time
When the outlet is opened the pressure is high and the level drops rapidly but as
the level drops the pressure is reduced and the flow slows
The water in the tank = capacitance
The pipe work + water level = resistance
0 ºC 0 ºC
20 ºC 10 ºC
Heat Loss
Heat Loss
20ºC 8 Hours later
51%RH