Coordinated control of HVAC system using aggregated system demand

An HVAC system comprising:

• a plurality of HVAC components;
• a plurality of terminal units, at least one terminal unit of the plurality of terminal units associated with each HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components;
• a control system comprising:
• a coordination module;
• and
• a controller operably associated with the coordination module and in signal communication with the plurality of HVAC components and associated terminal units, the controller configured to:
• determine an aggregated thermal demand of the HVAC system;
• determine, with the coordination module, an operational setpoint for at least one HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components based on the determined aggregated thermal demand;
• and
• send a signal indicative of each determined operational setpoint to each associated HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components;
• wherein the plurality of HVAC components comprises a capacity generation plant, a fluid circulation pump, and ventilation equipment;
• wherein the coordination module includes a cooling mode module and a heating mode module;
• wherein determining the operational setpoint for at least one of the plurality of HVAC components comprises at least one of:
• (i) determining one or more setpoints to be sent to the capacity generation plant, wherein the controller is configured to set the capacity generation plant to a minimum effort setpoint below a low demand threshold (La), increase the effort setpoint from the low demand threshold (La) to a high demand threshold (Ha) and to set a maximum effort setpoint beyond the high demand threshold (Ha);
• (ii) determining one or more setpoints to be sent to the fluid circulation pump, wherein the controller is configured to set the pump to a minimum effort setpoint below a low demand threshold (Lb), increase the effort setpoint from the low demand threshold (Lb) to a high demand threshold (Hb) and to set a maximum effort setpoint beyond the high demand threshold (Hb);
• (iii) determining one or more setpoints to be sent to the ventilation equipment that treats fresh air from outside, wherein when the capacity generation plant is operated in cooling mode, a supply air setpoint (SATsp) is determined by the sum of the maximum room air temperature setpoint amongst all zones and the air duct losses/gains, and wherein when the capacity generation plant is operated in heating mode, a supply air setpoint (SATsp) is determined by the sum of the minimum room air temperature setpoint amongst all zones and the air duct losses/gains.