Benefits of Building Automation Systems - Modern buildings use DDC controls for building automation systems. Building automation systems offer energy savings because they are energy management systems. These systems allow management to automatically control many processes involved with HVAC systems, lighting, and emergency systems. The systems are generally hooked up to the internet so monitoring and control can be done worldwide. (more…)
Direct Digital Controls Commissioning | Building Automation Systems - Preface –This article is not all-inclusive of everything required to properly commission a control system. I wrote this because of my observations of a colleague. The colleague called me in as a consultant to complete the controls commissioning. My colleague’s background was lacking in experience for controls, whereas my background does not suffer from this lack of experience in both controls engineering and commissioning control systems.
Anyhow, buckle your seat belts. It’s a long piece where I cover a lot of ground, although I feel it is not complete. It is simply too long to add to, and I will likely write an accompanying article in the future when I have time from my busy schedule. Comments are always appreciated in the comments section below.
Direct Digital Controls Commissioning | Building Automation Systems - On many commercial construction projects, the HVAC, lighting, electrical, and other systems including life and health are controlled by direct digital controls (DDC). Otherwise referred to as building automation systems (BAS), building monitoring systems (BMS), or energy management systems (EMS).
These systems can be complicated without proper understanding. It is vital before the building is turned over to the owner that these systems are correctly commissioned. Or otherwise set up and tested to ensure they operate correctly. That includes ensuring the operators are trained in its use and are given proper access levels to monitor equipment and systems DDC controls in the building. (more…)
Air Handler Equipment DDC Controllers – These controllers will control an air handler once the wiring is completed. The panel is freshly mounted and waiting for the technician to run the piping and pull the wire from the control points. Other points, such as outside air, temperature sensors in piping or ductwork, flow meters, actuators, or other control points can be terminated to these controllers and the data collected from those input points can be networked over the entire building automation system through the communication trunks. (more…)
This is a current switch sometimes referred to as a CT switch.
The basics of DDC include learning about the status of a fan or a compressor or pump. How does a DDC controller read the status of the device it is monitoring? There are several ways to prove a device is running and some pros and cons of each type of device used to monitor on or off status.
This is a basic DDC guide or reference to help a person understand the basics of DDC status and how it works. When one learns how DDC status works they can improve their troubleshooting skills.
Too many maintenance technicians and others including HVAC technicians don’t understand DDC systems or building automation systems and are therefore crippled when it comes to troubleshooting DDC systems.
High Performance HVAC hopes to change that and help HVAC techs and HVAC maintenance staff learn the basics of DDC systems including how DDC status works. Once someone understands the basics about DDC a light will turn on and they will see that DDC is not really rocket science.
DDC Automated Logic M-Stack - This Automated Logic M-Stack provides a control for multiple pieces of HVAC equipment and integrates network communication all in one single stack. This direct digital control system is integrated with pneumatic controls. DDC allows automated HVAC control processes to take place and adds higher efficiency to an HVAC system. (more…)
Many people wonder what Building Automation Systems (BAS) can do. The primary use of BAS is commercial HVAC control systems and energy management system applications. Building Automation itself is an energy management system that saves management companies and building owners by efficiently controlling air conditioning and heating comfort and process systems.
Enthalpy wheel in a heat recovery unit
Energy Recovery Wheels | HVAC Enthalpy & Heat - As the cost of energy rises engineers are looking for ways to improve and increase energy efficiency. Aside from HVAC equipment with higher energy efficiency rates, improving structures for less heat loss and heat gain, and building automation systems giving the equipment precision control for the
better efficiency of the equipment, there are other ways to increase energy efficiency inside buildings. One of the ways to increase energy efficiency inside buildings is to add energy recovery wheels to the economizer systems. A US Department of Energy study concluded energy recovery wheels can save over 15% of the energy used in commercial HVAC applications.
Siemens Apogee DDC Controller
BAS DDC Learning | HVAC - HVAC Building Automation Systems (BAS) or Direct Digital Controls (DDC) is pretty much one and the same. Basically described BAS and DDC are combining air conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting, electrical loads, security systems, and life and safety systems to a computer and complex algorithms for better control over the systems. (more…)
HVAC Definitions - In air conditioning and heating the name HVAC is often used. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Other acronyms are less used to describe air conditioning and heating applications is HVACR or heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration and HACR or heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. (more…)
Data Center Tridium HVAC Control Panel - As data centers go and HVAC controls function are typically done controlled with either direct digital controls or a very complex SCADA system with direct digital controls being the preference in most situations.
Tridium is a developer of direct digital controls software and hardware and Tridium specializes in controls integration through the Tridium software they develop that allows different devices and different communication protocols to communicate to one another. (more…)
