Low level central plant optimization
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorsMatthew J. Asmus, Robert D. Turney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for low level central plant optimization are provided. A controller for the central plant uses binary optimization to determine one or more feasible on/off configurations for equipment of the central plant that satisfy operating constraints and meet a thermal energy load setpoint. The controller determines optimum operating setpoints for each feasible on/off configuration and generates operating parameters including at least one of the feasible on/off configurations and the optimum operating setpoints. The operating parameters optimize an amount of energy consumed by the central plant equipment. The controller outputs the generated operating parameters via a communications interface for use in controlling the central plant equipment.
Claims20
A controller for a central plant having a plurality of subplants that serve thermal energy loads of a building or building system, the controller comprising:
- a processing circuit comprising a processor and memory, wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify a thermal energy load setpoint for a subplant of the central plant;
- a binary optimization module of the processing circuit configured to use binary optimization to determine one or more feasible on/off configurations for equipment of the subplant based on the identified thermal energy load setpoint;
- a setpoint evaluator module of the processing circuit configured to determine optimum operating setpoints for the subplant equipment for each feasible on/off configuration;
- a subplant control module of the processing circuit configured to generate operating parameters for the subplant equipment, the operating parameters comprising at least one of the feasible on/off configurations and the optimum operating setpoints;
- and
- a communications interface coupled to the processing circuit and configured to output the generated operating parameters for use in controlling the subplant equipment.
A method for controlling a central plant having a plurality of subplants that serve thermal energy loads of a building or building system, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a processing circuit of a controller for the central plant, a thermal energy load setpoint for a subplant of the central plant;
- using, by a binary optimization module of the processing circuit, binary optimization to determine one or more feasible on/off configurations for equipment of the subplant based on the identified thermal energy load setpoint;
- determining, by a setpoint evaluator module of the processing circuit, optimum operating setpoints for the subplant equipment for each feasible on/off configuration;
- generating, by a subplant control module of the processing circuit, operating parameters for the subplant equipment, the operating parameters comprising at least one of the feasible on/off configurations and the optimum operating setpoints;
- and
- outputting the generated operating parameters via a communications interface coupled to the processing circuit for use in controlling the subplant equipment.
A method for determining optimum operating parameters for equipment of a central plant that serves thermal energy loads of a building or building system, the method comprising:
- initializing, by a controller for the central plant, a database of possible solutions and a database of feasible solutions;
- retrieving, by the controller, a branch from the database of possible solutions, the branch comprising a specified operating status for one or more devices of the central plant equipment;
- determining, by the controller, whether the branch satisfies applicable constraints for the central plant equipment using the specified operating status;
- adding, by the controller, the branch to the database of feasible solutions in response to a determination that the branch satisfies the applicable constraints;
- and
- generating, by the controller, operating parameters for the central plant equipment, the operating parameters comprising the operating status specified by the branch in the database of feasible solutions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.