Actuator for HVAC systems and method for operating the actuator

A method for operating an actuator of an HVAC system, the method comprising:

• storing in the actuator a model definition defining an HVAC control application;
• storing in the actuator an element library which includes a variety of model elements and controller modules, the model elements and controller modules comprising instructions for controlling a processor of the actuator;
• implementing in the actuator, based on the model definition, the control application for execution on the processor, by instantiating from the element library controller modules and associated model elements as referenced by the model definition,
• assigning at least one instantiated model element to a device attached to a sensor/actuator bus, and instantiating the controller modules in each case as a different thread of execution;
• and
• executing the control application ‘by the respective controller modules in each case controlling the sequential order of execution for associated model elements referenced by the respective controller module, propagating external data input to its associated model elements prior to beginning the execution of the model element defined first in the sequential order, and propagating data output from its associated model elements to the outside of the respective controller module at completion of the execution of the model element defined last in the sequential order, wherein data is interchanged asynchronously between instantiated controller modules.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium embodying computer program code means for controlling a processor of an actuator of an HVAC system, wherein the actuator

• receives via a communication network a model definition defining an HVAC control application;
• stores the model definition in a data store of the actuator;
• implements based on the model definition the control application for execution on the processor of the actuator, by instantiating from a stored element library controller modules and associated model elements as referenced by the model definition, assigning at least one instantiated model element to a device attached to a sensor/actuator bus, and instantiating the controller modules in each case as a different thread of execution, and
• executes the control application by controlling the sequential order of execution for associated model elements referenced by the respective controller module, by propagating external data input for the respective controller module to its associated model elements prior to beginning the execution of the model element defined first in the sequential order, and by propagating data output from the associated model elements to the outside of the respective controller module at completion of the execution of the model element defined last in the sequential order, wherein data is interchanged asynchronously between instantiated controller modules.