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Building Controls I - An Introduction to Building Controls
Course Description Have you ever been in a meeting in a conference room where the room was just too hot? Or too cold? Did you find it uncomfortable and hard to concentrate? Have you ever considered how much money is wasted when things like that are not addressed? Whats the solution? The control system within a building is very important to the energy efficiency of the building, and also to the comfort of the buildings occupants. In this class, we will learn a simple definition of a control system, learn the components of a control system, and describe some fundamental types of control and control loops.
Objectives Summarize what a basic control system is Describe the main types of control loops Explain the role of input devices, controllers and controlled devices in a control system, and List the commonly used control technologies and identify their advantages and disadvantages
Course Outline 1) Introduction 2) What Is Control? a. Involves different components i. Inputs or sensors 1. First step of control 2. Measure what we wish to control ii. Controllers 1. Collect needed data from the sensors 2. Compare those measurements with a set of standards or instructions iii. Outputs or controlled devices 1. Components that the controller activates in order to produce a change in the system
3) Control Loops & Control Systems a. Control Loop i. One input sensor, a controller housing the control logic and one controlled device b. Control System i. A collection of control loops
4) Types of Control Loops a. Open
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i. The output has no effect on the controlling variable
b. Closed i. The controlling variable is affected by the actions of the controlled device upon the controlled variable c. Cascading i. Used to modify the performance of closed control loops when required
5) Red Wire & Direct Digital Controls a. DDC i. More sophisticated system ii. Use electronic controllers that support multiple control loops b. Enable / disable control i. Another form of electronic control ii. Simply turns another controller on or off iii. One controller will determine when another controller is able to perform its function
6) Summary a. For an environmental control system to effectively manage the environment in a building, thereby increasing energy efficiency and occupant comfort, three things must take place: i. Data must be measured and provided as input to the system ii. Measured data then can be compared to a set of desired outcomes or instructions iii. An output is produced based on the measured data to change or maintain the environment b. A simple control loop is defined as one input to a controller housing the control logic, which provides an output to one controlled device c. Inputs and outputs may be analog or digital d. A controller may contain many control loops, and a control system may contain many controllers e. There are three types of control loops i. Open ii. Closed iii. Cascading f. And there are three common control technologies i. Pneumatic ii. Electrical, and iii. Electronic g. Electronic controls may be i. Direct Digital Control, called DDC, or ii. Enable / Disable Control