Heat flow model for building fault detection and diagnosis
First Claim
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1. A method of using a Heat Flow Model (HFM) graph for detecting HVAC system faults for a building comprising:
- translating formal HVAC system descriptions from a Building Information Model (BIM) for the building as HFM nodes;
retrieving HVAC component attributes from the BIM for each HFM node;
retrieving predefined HFM nodes from an HFM node library that correspond to the BIM for each HVAC equipment type respectively;
creating connectivity among the retrieved HFM nodes from BIM connectivity data;
compiling the HFM nodes into an HFM graph;
inputting real-time data from the building HVAC control system to the HFM graph for fault detection;
detecting building HVAC system faults using node rules which are conditioned inequalities based on node specific configuration data that defines the functionality of a physical HVAC component; and
mapping rule violations from the HFM nodes to the building HVAC control system failures.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described that provide a Heat Flow Model (HFM) graph modeling methodology. Embodiments automatically translate formal HVAC system descriptions from a Building Information Model (BIM) into HFM graphs, and compile the graphs into executable FDD systems. During an engineering phase, a user interface is used to enter parameters, conditions, and switches not found in the BIM. During a runtime phase, real-time data from an HVAC control system is input to the generated FDD system (HFM graph) for fault detection and diagnosis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of using a Heat Flow Model (HFM) graph for detecting HVAC system faults for a building comprising:
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translating formal HVAC system descriptions from a Building Information Model (BIM) for the building as HFM nodes; retrieving HVAC component attributes from the BIM for each HFM node; retrieving predefined HFM nodes from an HFM node library that correspond to the BIM for each HVAC equipment type respectively; creating connectivity among the retrieved HFM nodes from BIM connectivity data; compiling the HFM nodes into an HFM graph; inputting real-time data from the building HVAC control system to the HFM graph for fault detection; detecting building HVAC system faults using node rules which are conditioned inequalities based on node specific configuration data that defines the functionality of a physical HVAC component; and mapping rule violations from the HFM nodes to the building HVAC control system failures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A building Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) fault detection system comprising:
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an interface configured to access a Building Information Model (BIM) file library and import the building HVAC system BIM files; an HFM node library configured to store a plurality of different predefined HFM node types wherein an HFM node models the dynamic physical behavior parameters of air and water flows in predefined HVAC components as derived from the BIM files; a Graphic User Interface (GUI) configured to input and edit HFM node and linkage configuration data during an HFM graph assembly; a compiler coupled to the interface and GUI, configured to compose together the BIM file data with the additional linkage configuration data; and a Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) generator coupled to the compiler and HFM node library, configured to compare the BIM file types for the building HVAC system with the predefined HFM node types and select from the predefined HFM node types, the HFM nodes that correspond and generate an HFM graph wherein the HFM graph is by mass air flow path corresponding to the building HVAC system components and behavior. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program comprising code means for, when executed on a computer, instructing the computer to generate a Heat Flow Model (HFM) node used in a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) HFM fault detection graph that models the dynamic physical behavior parameters of temperature T, humidity H, flow rate Q and pressure P of a physical HVAC component comprising:
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a FwdIn edge configured to receive parameter ranges Aj that represent physical data upstream of the node; a RevIn edge configured to receive parameter ranges Bj that represent physical data downstream of the node; one or more DataIn edges, each DataIn edge configured to receive dynamic HVAC control system data wherein the control system data is used with node specific configuration data that defines the functionality of the physical HVAC component to calculate a node rule tolerance, downstream estimate parameter ranges Aj+1 and upstream estimate parameter ranges Bj+1; a FwdOut edge configured to output the downstream estimate parameter ranges Aj+1 that represent the affect that the physical HVAC component has on the received parameter ranges Aj; a RevOut edge configured to output the upstream estimate parameter ranges Bj+1 that represent the affect that the physical HVAC component has on the received parameter ranges Bj; and two or more RulesOut edges, each RulesOut edge configured to output a failure rule decision from a conditioned inequality wherein a first failure rule compares a downstream estimated parameter range Aj+1 maximum with a like FwdIn edge parameter range Aj minimum and a second failure rule compares an upstream estimated parameter range Bj+1 maximum with a like RevIn edge parameter range Bj minimum and if the first or second rule is true, a fault exists in the physical HVAC component. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification