Results From Field Testing of Embedded Air Handling Unit and Variable Air Volume Box Fault Detection Tools.
Results From Field Testing of Embedded Air Handling Unit
and Variable Air Volume Box Fault Detection Tools.
(336 K)
Schein, J.
NISTIR 7365; 76 p. October 2006.
Sponsor:
California Energy Commission, Sacramento, CA
Keywords:
air handling unit; air volume box fault; field tests;
BACnet; cybernetic building systems; building automation
and control; direct digital control; energy management
systems; fault detection and diagnostics
Abstract:
Fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) methods that can
detect common mechanical faults and control errors in
air-handling units (AHUs) and variable-air-volume (VA V)
boxes were developed and commercialized. The tools are
sufficiently simple that they can be embedded in
commercial building automation and control systems and
rely only upon the sensor data and control signals that
are commonly available in these systems. AHU Performance
Assessment Rules (APAR) is a diagnostic tool that uses a
set of expert rules derived from mass and energy
balances to detect faults in air-handling units. V A V
box Performance Assessment Control Charts (VP ACC) is a
diagnostic tool that uses statistical quality control
measures to detect faults or control problems in V A V
boxes. This report describes the transfer of the FDD
methods from research to commercial use. An interface
between the FDD tools and the building operator is
introduced. Results are presented from a multiple site
field demonstration in which AP AR and VP ACC were
embedded in commercial AHU and V A V box controllers.
Robust FDD parameters are tabulated for both AP AR and
VP ACC. The parameters, which eliminate the need for
site-specific configuration, were developed based on
experience from the field demonstration.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899