Approach for monitoring energy consumption and preventive maintenance of a system based on control loop efficiency
First Claim
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1. An approach for controller evaluation comprising:
- providing a controller having one or more controller loops;
operating the one or more controller loops;
measuring settling times of the one or more control loops;
monitoring error values of the one or more control loops; and
determining control loop efficiencies of the one or more control loops from the settling times and error values, respectively; and
wherein the settling times are times it takes the one or more control loops to reach a prescribed amount of a setpoint value.
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Abstract
An approach for monitoring energy consumption and detecting preventive maintenance issues in a system having control loops and associated devices. Settling time and error value in a control loop may be indicative of the loop'"'"'s efficiency. Error value may be a difference between a measurement of a parameter and a setpoint for the parameter. Degradation of a loop'"'"'s efficiency may be an indication of increased energy consumption by the system. Such degradation may also be indicative of a future defect in a control loop or devices associated with the control loop. Thus, the present approach may provide for energy monitoring and preventive maintenance of the system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An approach for controller evaluation comprising:
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providing a controller having one or more controller loops; operating the one or more controller loops; measuring settling times of the one or more control loops; monitoring error values of the one or more control loops; and determining control loop efficiencies of the one or more control loops from the settling times and error values, respectively; and wherein the settling times are times it takes the one or more control loops to reach a prescribed amount of a setpoint value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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10. The approach of claim 1, wherein:
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the one or more controller loops are at least a portion of a controller; and a controller performance index is determined from formulas comprising;
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11. A system having self evaluation comprising:
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a set of one or more field controllers; one or more devices connected to at least one of the one or more field controllers; a central station; and one or more building controllers connected to the central station; and wherein; at least one of the one or more field controllers comprises at least one control loop connected to the at least one or more devices; each control loop has a performance index; and the performance index is determined from an actual value and a setpoint value of a parameter controlled by a control loop; the one or more field controllers are connected to one of the one or more building controllers; the central station determines and monitors the performance index of the one or more field controllers; and the central station provides suggestions as needed to a user of the system based on a performance index of a control loop. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for monitoring a condition of a building controller, comprising:
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monitoring a condition of one or more control loops of a building controller; and wherein monitoring a condition of a control loop comprises; identifying each control loop in the building controller; collecting samples of an actual value in each control loop at a per unit time rate; calculating a control loop performance index from the samples for each control loop at periodic intervals; and identifying each control loop having a decreased loop performance index. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An approach for controller evaluation comprising:
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providing a controller having one or more controller loops; operating the one or more controller loops; measuring settling times of the one or more control loops; monitoring error values of the one or more control loops; determining control loop efficiencies of the one or more control loops from the settling times and error values, respectively; wherein control loop efficiencies of the one or more control loops are determined from control loop performance indexing comprising; identifying each control loop of the one or more control loops; collecting samples of an actual value in each of the one or more control loops at one sample per unit time; calculating a control loop performance index for each of the one or more control loops from the samples; identifying one or more performance indices which have degraded; and checking devices for performance degradation, of the one or more control loops having a performance index which has degraded is an indication of potential performance degradation for field devices connected to the respective one or more control loops.
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Specification