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A
Low-Cost Method for HVAC Monitoring, Self-Diagnosis and Adjustment:
An Approach to Continuous Commissioning for Residential and Light Commercial
Space Conditioning Systems--Enalasys
Corporation, 250 Avenida Campillo, Calexico, CA
92231; 760-768-3228
Mr.
Raynor Mallory, Principal Investigator, rmallory@enalasys.com
Mr.
J. Eric Taylor, Business Official, jtaylor@enalasys.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83409
Amount:
$100,000
Despite
significant advances in heating and cooling equipment, the overall performance
and efficiency for installed HVAC systems lag far behind.
It is estimated that $15 billion of energy is wasted in residential and
light commercial buildings due to poor installation practice and degrading
equipment. These problems not only represent lost resources, but also lead to
occupant discomfort. This project
will develop a monitoring, self-diagnosis, and control method for new and
existing unitary heating and cooling equipment.
It would utilize inexpensive sensors to continuously monitor an optimal
set of operating parameters, making adjustments or providing a maintenance
indication as problems are detected. In
Phase I, low-cost sensors and support circuitry will be developed and tested for
accuracy in a laboratory. The resulting circuits will be integrated into
application-specific packages for various heating and cooling system components,
and then tested and evaluated in an instrumented house.
Diagnostic approaches and adaptive control strategies will be
investigated and evaluated in preparation for Phase II.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits
as described by the awardee: A
low-cost monitoring, self-diagnosis, and control method would provide the basis
for ‘continuous commissioning’ of heating and cooling equipment in small
buildings. Sensors and supporting
components could be packaged for factory or field installation, including
upgrades to existing equipment.