Fault-tolerant multi-node stage sequencer and method for energy systems
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorMichael A. Pouchak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling energy systems such as multiple boiler systems to meet an energy need includes a controller configured as a sequencer with the remaining controllers act as individual boiler controllers which periodically send status messages to the sequencer. The energy need is determined by measurements at the sequencer which maintains runtimes of the boilers. The sequencer periodically sends control commands to the boiler controllers to add or delete boilers. The control commands give consideration to the run times of the boilers.
Claims11
A method of controlling a plurality of energy systems to meet an energy need while giving consideration to runtime equalization comprising the steps of:
- providing digital controllers;
- configuring said controllers for digital network communication with one controller acting as a sequencer and the remaining controllers acting as individual energy system controllers;
- determining said energy need based on measurements at said sequencer;
- maintaining a record of cumulative runtime hours of an associated energy system at said individual energy system controllers;
- sending messages including at least said cumulative runtime hours from said energy system controllers to said sequencer;
- ranking said energy systems at said sequencer based on said cumulative runtime hours;
- and
- sending control commands from said sequencer to said energy system controllers to add or delete energy systems based on said energy need wherein an energy system to be added has the lowest cumulative runtime hours among available non operating energy systems and an energy system to be deleted has the highest cumulative runtime hours among operating energy systems.
A system for controlling a plurality of boilers while giving consideration to runtime equalization, comprising:
- a first digital controller acting as a sequencer node;
- a plurality of second digital controllers acting as boiler nodes, with each second controller connected to one of said plurality of boilers;
- said sequencer node and said boiler nodes configured for digital network communication of control information;
- means at said sequencer node for determining a heating need and turning on a boiler or turning off a boiler based on said heating need;
- storage means at each boiler node for maintaining a record of a cumulative runtime of an associated boiler;
- and
- means at said sequencer node for receiving said cumulative runtime information from said boiler nodes and ranking said plurality of boilers based on said cumulative runtimes wherein a boiler to be added has the lowest cumulative runtime hours among available non operating boilers and a boiler to be deleted has the highest cumulative runtime hours among operating boilers with said system compensating for a boiler that is not operational by selecting an alternate boiler.
A method of controlling a plurality of energy systems to meet an energy need while giving consideration to runtime equalization, comprising the steps of:
- providing digital controllers;
- configuring said controllers for digital network communication with one controller acting as a sequencer and the remaining controllers acting as energy system controllers;
- determining said energy need based on measurements at said sequencer;
- maintaining a record of cumulative runtime hours of an associated energy system at said individual energy system controllers;
- said energy system controllers periodically sending messages including energy system identifiers and said cumulative runtimes hours;
- ranking said energy systems at said sequencer based on said runtimes hours;
- and
- sending control commands from said sequencer to said energy system controllers to add or delete energy systems based on said energy need wherein an energy system to be added has the lowest cumulative runtime hours among available non operating energy systems and an energy system to be deleted has the highest cumulative runtime hours among operating energy systems.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.