HVAC system and related methods

A method of setting-up an HVAC system comprising:

• at least one flow regulator comprising an actuatable element for regulating fluid flow in a fluid path;
• an electro-mechanical actuator associated with the flow regulator, to actuate the flow regulator, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor driving a movable output member;
• one or more sensors associated with the actuator, wherein the sensors are chosen from the group consisting of load sensors, force sensors, torque sensors, current sensors, voltage sensors, power sensors, speed sensors and position sensors;
• a controller operatively connected with the actuator and the sensor(s);
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• i. actuating the flow regulator;
• ii. actuating the actuator per se, without the output member being operatively connected to the flow regulator;
• iii. receiving signals from the one or more sensors during steps i. and ii.;
• iv. determining an actual or forthcoming malfunctioning, based on the signals received in step iii.;
• v. indicating said actual or forthcoming malfunctioning;
• wherein step v. comprises distinguishing between an actual or forthcoming malfunctioning of:
• the actuator;
• and
• the flow regulator.

A method of controlling an HVAC system comprising:

• at least one flow regulator comprising an actuatable element for regulating fluid flow in a fluid path;
• an electro-mechanical actuator associated with the flow regulator, to actuate the flow regulator, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor driving a movable output member;
• one or more sensors associated with the actuator, wherein the sensors are chosen from the group consisting of load sensors, force sensors, torque sensors, current sensors, voltage sensors, power sensors, speed sensors and position sensors;
• a controller operatively connected with the actuator and the sensor(s);
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• i. actuating the flow regulator;
• ii. receiving signals from the one or more sensors;
• iii. determining an actual or forthcoming malfunction, based on the signals received in step ii.;
• iv. indicating said actual or forthcoming malfunction to an operator of said HVAC system;
• wherein step iv. comprises distinguishing between an actual or forthcoming malfunction of:
• the actuator;
• and
• the flow regulator
• wherein in step ii. at least one of:
• at least one of the load profile and the current profile while actuation of the flow regulator is being released;
• full-travel range information associated with an operational range of the flow regulator;
• an integral calculated from at least one of a load profile and a current profile while the flow regulator is being actuated or actuation is being released;
• a position of the output member at least one of at a maximum torque magnitude, at a maximum current magnitude, at a maximum magnitude of calculated derivative of load and at a maximum magnitude of calculated derivative of current;
• a position of the output member in an at least one of open and closed position of the flow regulator;
• a position of the output member at an extremity of a range of travel of the flow regulator;
• a derivative of at least one of load and current when the flow actuator is close to an at least one of open and closed position;
• and
• a variance of at least one of load and current in a predetermined operating range
• is recorded.

A method of controlling an HVAC system comprising:

• at least one flow regulator comprising an actuatable element for regulating fluid flow in a fluid path;
• an electro-mechanical actuator associated with the flow regulator, to actuate the flow regulator, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor driving a movable output member;
• one or more sensors associated with the actuator, wherein the sensors are chosen from the group consisting of load sensors, force sensors, torque sensors, current sensors, voltage sensors, power sensors, speed sensors and position sensors;
• a controller operatively connected with the actuator and the sensor(s);
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• i. actuating the flow regulator;
• ii. receiving signals from the one or more sensors;
• iii. determining an actual or forthcoming malfunction, based on the signals received in step ii.;
• iv. indicating said actual or forthcoming malfunction to an operator of said HVAC system;
• wherein step iv. comprises distinguishing between an actual or forthcoming malfunction of:
• the actuator;
• and
• the flow regulator
• wherein the actual or forthcoming malfunction is determined in step iii. based on a data model, and the data model
• represents a variation of a characteristic during a cycle to open and close the flow regulator, and
• is divided into certain operating windows and each operating window represents a phase of operation.