Approaching Building Controls a Little Differently
Examining the fundamental differences between the standard control methods described in ASHRAE guideline 36 and a proposed new approach based on AI and casual algorithms.
Industry literature, in particular ASHRAE manuals and guidelines, contains detailed and exhaustive information regarding the design and operation of air distribution systems, specifically for variable air volume (VAV) air distribution systems. However, when it comes to the design of controls for air distribution systems, industry literature is not as exhaustive, even though there are numerous publications outlining best practices and lessons learned.
One document that attempts to combine said best practices into a comprehensive and relatively easy-to-follow guideline is ASHRAE Guideline 36, which provides design engineers with a strong tool when determining baseline control logic for HVAC systems. One of the main purposes of Guideline 36 is to provide standard sequences of operation that use cost-effective strategies to reduce energy consumption. Using the guideline, an engineer can pick and choose sequences of operation that align with specific equipment designs and layouts. The engineer’s designed sequences will then be programmed and commissioned by contractors during a project’s construction. However, using standard sequences of operation that are set once and not dynamically updated results in untapped energy savings potential in a system's performance. This article will discuss some fundamental differences between the standard control methods described in ASHRAE Guideline 36 and a proposed new building controls approach based on new technologies, in particular artificial intelligence (AI) and causal algorithms.