# US 12,000,608 B2 · Central plant control system with setpoints modification based on physical constraints

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- Number: US 12,000,608 B2
- Document ID: US12000608B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/046,971
- Filed: 2018-07-26
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-27
- Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
- Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Company
- Inventors: Graeme Willmott; Jared W. Fread; Matthew J. Asmus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000608B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
- F24F 11/58: using Internet communication
- F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data
- F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode
- G05B 13/042: {in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance}
- G05B 13/048: {using a predictor}
- G05B 15/02: electric
- F24F 2140/50: Load
- F24F 2221/54: Heating and cooling, simultaneously or alternatively
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are a system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for operating an energy plant. In one aspect, a system determines a ratio of flow rates between devices of the energy plant connected in parallel with each other in a branch. The system generates a candidate set of operating parameters of the devices according to the ratio of flow rates. The system predicts thermodynamic states of the devices operating according to the candidate set of operating parameters. The system determines whether the predicted thermodynamic states satisfy constraints of the devices. The system determines whether the predicted thermodynamic states satisfy a target thermal energy load of the branch based on the ratio of the flow rates. The system operates the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters, in response to determining that the predicted thermodynamic states satisfy the constraints and the target thermal energy load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A controller for an energy plant including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) devices, the controller comprising:
a processing circuit comprising a processor and memory storing instructions executed by the processor, the processing circuit configured to:
determine flow rates of gas or liquid through a plurality of the HVAC devices of the energy plant connected in parallel with each other in a branch such that outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine to form a combined output of the branch;
use the flow rates and a constraint on the combined output of the branch to generate a candidate set of operating parameters indicating target thermodynamic states other than flow rate of the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the candidate set of operating parameters predicted to result in the combined output of the branch having a thermodynamic state other than flow rate that satisfies the constraint on the combined output of the branch when the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine according to the flow rates to form the combined output of the branch; and
operate the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters by controlling the plurality of the HVAC devices to produce the outputs using the target thermodynamic states indicated by the candidate set of operating parameters.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein:
the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices comprise heated or chilled fluids supplied by the plurality of the HVAC devices;
the candidate set of operating parameters indicate target supply temperatures for the heated or chilled fluids;
the combined output comprises a combined heated or chilled fluid formed by combining the heated or chilled fluids generated by the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
the constraint indicates a target temperature for the combined heated or chilled fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein generating the candidate set of operating parameters comprises:
predicting thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices predicted to result from operating the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters; and
adjusting the candidate set of operating parameters to reduce a difference between the predicted thermal energy loads and target thermal energy loads for the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein generating the candidate set of operating parameters comprises:
predicting thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices predicted to result from operating the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters; and
adjusting the candidate set of operating parameters such that a sum of the predicted thermal energy loads is substantially equal to a target thermal energy load of the branch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein determining the flow rates through the plurality of the HVAC devices comprises:
obtaining hydraulic resistance values for the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
calculating, for each HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices, a flow rate ratio based on a hydraulic resistance value for the HVAC device and a summation of the hydraulic resistance values for the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The controller of claim 4, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine whether the sum of the predicted thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices is substantially equal to the target thermal energy load based on a ratio of the flow rates and outlet temperatures of liquid or gas from the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices by:
generating a matrix including:
a first element associated with a first HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices,
a second element associated with a second HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the first element and the second element disposed in a diagonal direction of the matrix,
a third element equal to a negative of the first element, and
a fourth element equal to a negative of the second element, the third element and the fourth element disposed in a column direction of the matrix.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The controller of claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices by:
generating a first vector including outlet temperatures of liquid or gas from the plurality of the HVAC devices;
generating a second vector including thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
performing a least squares optimization of the matrix, the first vector, and the second vector to obtain the candidate set of operating parameters.

### Claim 9

A method for an energy plant including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) devices, the method including:
determining flow rates of gas or liquid through a plurality of the HVAC devices of the energy plant connected in parallel with each other in a branch such that outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine to form a combined output of the branch;
using the flow rates and a constraint on the combined output of the branch to generate a candidate set of operating parameters indicating target thermodynamic states other than flow rate of the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the candidate set of operating parameters predicted to result in the combined output of the branch having a thermodynamic state other than flow rate that satisfies the constraint on the combined output of the branch when the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine according to the flow rates to form the combined output of the branch; and
operating the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters by controlling the plurality of the HVAC devices to produce the outputs using the target thermodynamic states indicated by the candidate set of operating parameters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein:
the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices comprise heated or chilled fluids supplied by the plurality of the HVAC devices;
the candidate set of operating parameters indicate target supply temperatures for the heated or chilled fluids;
the combined output comprises a combined heated or chilled fluid formed by combining the heated or chilled fluids generated by the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
the constraint indicates a target temperature for the combined heated or chilled fluid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, generating the candidate set of operating parameters comprises:
predicting thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices predicted to result from operating the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters; and
adjusting the candidate set of operating parameters to reduce a difference between the predicted thermal energy loads and target thermal energy loads for the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein generating the candidate set of operating parameters comprises:
predicting thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices predicted to result from operating the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters; and
adjusting the candidate set of operating parameters such that a sum of predicted thermal energy loads is substantially equal to a target thermal energy load of the branch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein determining the flow rates through the plurality of the HVAC devices comprises:
obtaining hydraulic resistance values for the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
calculating, for each HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices, a flow rate ratio based on a hydraulic resistance value for the HVAC device and a summation of the hydraulic resistance values for the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the sum of the predicted thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices is within the target thermal energy load is based on a ratio of the flow rates and outlet temperatures of liquid or gas from the plurality of the HVAC devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein generating the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices includes:
generating a matrix including:
a first element associated with a first HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices,
a second element associated with a second HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the first element and the second element disposed in a diagonal direction of the matrix,
a third element equal to a negative of the first element, and
a fourth element equal to a negative of the second element, the third element and the fourth element disposed in a column direction of the matrix.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein generating the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices includes:
generating a first vector including outlet temperatures of liquid or gas from the plurality of the HVAC devices;
generating a second vector including thermal energy loads of the two or more plurality of the HVAC devices; and
performing a least squares optimization of the matrix, the first vector, and the second vector to obtain the candidate set of operating parameters.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
determine, for each of a plurality of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) devices of an energy plant, a flow rate ratio based on a hydraulic resistance value for said each of the plurality of HVAC devices and a summation of the hydraulic resistance values for the plurality of the HVAC devices, the plurality of HVAC devices connected in parallel with each other in a branch such that outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine to form a combined output of the branch;
use the flow rate ratios of the plurality of HVAC devices and a constraint on the combined output of the branch to generate a candidate set of operating parameters indicating target thermodynamic states other than flow rate of the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the candidate set of operating parameters predicted to result in the combined output of the branch having a thermodynamic state other than flow rate that satisfies the constraint on the combined output of the branch when the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices combine according to the flow rates to form the combined output of the branch; and
operate the energy plant according to the candidate set of operating parameters by controlling the plurality of the HVAC devices to produce the outputs using the target thermodynamic states indicated by the candidate set of operating parameters.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein:
the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices comprise heated or chilled fluids supplied by the plurality of the HVAC devices;
the candidate set of operating parameters indicate target supply temperatures for the heated or chilled fluids;
the combined output comprises a combined heated or chilled fluid formed by combining the heated or chilled fluids generated by the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
the constraint indicates a target temperature for the combined heated or chilled fluid.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor to generate the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices further cause the processor to:
generate a matrix including:
a first element associated with a first HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices,
a second element associated with a second HVAC device of the plurality of the HVAC devices, the first element and the second element disposed in a diagonal direction of the matrix,
a third element equal to a negative of the first element, and
a fourth element equal to a negative of the second element, the third element and the fourth element disposed in a column direction of the matrix.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor to generate the candidate set of operating parameters indicating the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices further cause the processor to:
generate a first vector including outlet temperatures of liquid or gas from the plurality of the HVAC devices;
generate a second vector including thermal energy loads of the plurality of the HVAC devices; and
perform a least squares optimization of the matrix, the first vector, and the second vector to obtain the candidate set of operating parameters according.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein the target thermodynamic states of the outputs of the plurality of the HVAC devices and the thermodynamic state of the combined output of the branch comprise at least one of temperature, enthalpy, or pressure.